[MINGLE] One-Man Show

[sixthiteration]

WHERE: Inari Shrine and elsewhere
WHEN: 25 January 2019 through ?
OPEN TO: All opted in characters
WARNINGS: Please warn in the subject line of your comment as needed, and remember to move anything turning adult to a new post.
IMPORTANT NOTES: Final reminders and informational links are here. Please label all top-levels clearly so that there is no confusion who they are open to and what they are for, and DON'T FORGET TO ADD YOUR TAG!
Have fun and ask questions here!

Comments

[firacrux]

Trying, succeeding, and being brought back to life no less! To say it was complicated would be putting it mildly. There were a lot of details that snippet of memory left out. A lot of details it threw into sharp focus, as well. Like just how zonked out he'd looked standing next to Edea.

A huff. "I've had better days, that's for sure." Not his most flattering moment. He was still waiting for the judgement hammer to come down. Still surprised it didn't appear to be forthcoming. Finally with some faculties about him he took a moment to look around, frowning in confusion at the unfamiliar building around them. Great, now they're stressed out and lost. "Wasn't exactly somethin' I wanted put on blast after bein' brought here." He grumbled, more to himself than Reyes.

[vidal]

"Me either," Reyes admitted. Just two words, but significant enough, revealing their shared withering discomfort at having their baggage aired for all to see.

And then, because he recognises and empathises (deeply) with that wariness, that waiting for judgment to come, Reyes offers what he can: "I can't say I understand exactly what was happening, but-- for what it's worth, you don't look like you were entirely in control back there?"

Was it drugs? Was it actual mind control, magic or technological or biotic? Hard to tell, but the boy that had risen from the ground had been jerky-limbed, like a marionette shuddering into movement at someone else's beck and call.

[firacrux]

Absolutely no one wanted their dirty laundry aired for the world to see, or even a small group of strangers. Nothing about this was pleasant. At least, so far, no one had been especially judgmental about the whole thing. Didn't mean Seifer wasn't bracing for it regardless.

There's a thoughtful sound at that, one tensed up shoulder drooping slightly. Not fully relaxing, but put at some degree of ease by Reyes' observation. A frown creasing that trademark scar of his. "Hadn't seen it from this angle before," He confesses. It certainly looked that way, didn't it? "You think so?" Maybe Rinoa was right. Perhaps there was more manipulation going on then he understood at the time.

Dragging himself up from the brink of death sure hadn't been normal by any means. Definitely looked zombie-like then. "Think I preferred not remembering it clearly." The fog of uncertainty also obscured the humiliation.

[vidal]

"And on top of that, you don't actually remember this," a wave of the hand at the shrine around them, as if the video was still playing, "happening? Sounds even more questionable, then."

It wasn't a complete blank cheque or utter absolution from blame -- Reyes didn't go in much for excuses -- but it was a valid point regardless, this new angle to consider. There was a difference between decisions made in callous clarity and the cold light of day, versus the choices made when you were muddled or compromised.

[firacrux]

"I said well," He's quick to clarify, because he's not letting this suggestion of influence absolve him from blame. He's made plenty of bad decisions here. Played his part. Though it's a good point, he certainly doesn't remember the details in this sharp contrast. Sure had no idea how bad the state he was in during that time. It was very suggestive that manipulation of some kind was going on there.

He had a point. Maybe everyone had a point. Perhaps there was more going on than he was just a complete monster after all. "Things get weird during war." That's his explanation. Yup. Clearly it was all him and just the weird shit you do during wartime. Even he doesn't sound completely convinced this time.

lol pretend seifer's already aware of the nida connection by this tag

[vidal]

"Don't I know it." War. The thing that Reyes did every damned thing possible to avoid, because he didn't fare well in open warfare, and did better with the behind-the-scenes manipulation; because one person assassinated behind closed doors was preferable over hundreds of people dying.

There was a beat while Reyes considered how far to pry, how far to beck off, before settling for: "Mercenary contracts during wartime?"

that works!

[firacrux]

The very thing Seifer and Nida were specifically molded to do, fight wars. And, theoretically, win them. That didn't pan out so well on his side, not for a lack of effort that is. Nida would likely agree with Reyes on this. Seifer was the guts and glory type.

"Who, with Nida? Same school." Mercenary school that was.

[vidal]

"Yes. I mean--" There's that eternal consideration of how much to give away about his own past, but after that small pause, Reyes went on again. "I knew a few mercenaries, in my time. Sometimes they were just glorified security guards, protecting a lab or trade shipment. Others tried to be noble. Just straightforward rescues, liberation of slave rings, that sort of thing, never getting involved in a larger messier war. Sounds like your school wasn't like that."

By the nonchalant way Reyes talks about it, though, it's a pretty safe guess that he's rubbed shoulders with the more realistic, jaded sort of merc.

[firacrux]

"I guess calling us mercenaries isn't really accurate for the normal definition. Technically we are, but we don't hire ourselves. More like a small, non-affiliated highly-specialized military unit." So, mercenary was a simplified term for the role they fulfilled. Still swords for hire, but not swords that picked their own jobs. That was up to Garden. "Did a lot of the same things, just depended on who could afford to hire Garden." SeeD, in particular, were very expensive.

They all ended up jaded. It was just a job, or a life, for them. Many never had any other options. A good use of orphans some might say, fucked up according to others. It all depended on what side of the fence you were on.

[vidal]

"You get what you pay for," Reyes says mildly. It's a remark on the base realities of a for-pay lifestyle -- but in its own way, it's a kind of compliment too. If Garden cost a lot, the implication was that those kids knew what they were doing, and Reyes knew it. They'd all seen some of those fighting skills on display just a few minutes ago, after all.

And Reyes wasn't blunt enough to pry just yet, to dig into what had just unfolded in front of them all, and what possible circumstances could've led to the friends being turned against each other like this. How do you go from trying to kill each other to living together?

It must be complicated. He knows complicated.

So in the end, he shrugs a shoulder, as if trying to shake off everything they've seen. "So. Want to check out where the hell we are?"

[firacrux]

"Exactly," He agrees, though there's the slightest hint of an expression that might indicate he didn't entirely like that about the situation. What was the point of just doing people's dirty work, when all it did was make things worse. Exactly the situation he'd ended up in anyway, unfortunately, despite his efforts to do something noble and glorious instead.

Maybe there really was no such thing. Just wishful thinking on his part. Stupid, idealistic thinking that got him in way over his head. Of course Seifer was good. Much better when he wasn't a puppet. Not that he had any opportunity to put those skills on display anymore. No proper weapon to do it with.

Definitely complicated.

A frustrated sound as his eyes cast up to the numerous, unfamiliar rafters above them. "Yeah, might as well. See what kind of stupidity we've been dumped in the middle of."