[M is the one who dealt the shattering blow to Estinien during Inoseri. Ciel didn't participate much during Binghe's communion summary, but she did pay attention. Having heard summaries of what happened in Venera from both Silco and Eustace, she's also at least informed of key events. Thus knowing all that...]
We have the pieces in place to lure Estinien, the entity's vessel, to Acamoth, where the Regent will be able to directly action upon them. Given your history with him and your shared Legacy, would you be interested in [...] sending him the invitation?
[M had witnessed firsthand what Estinien and the Innocence are capable of together, what sort of "invitation" this is leaves no room for interpretation. Drawing them to Achamoth is no light matter, but it was initially suggested by the Regent, their mention isn't evoked in vain. The details can come after, once he gives his answer to this surface proposal.]
( the impression of curiosity curls like wisps of smoke through the sustained connection of their Communion. then they disappear, swept away in the sudden eddying of a buoyant and mirthful wind. he can't help but laugh, the sound warm and lingering. what a delicious opportunity he's been given, and their misadventures in venera and godsblood are scarcely a few days in their wake...
yes, there are very few things that he would like more than to ensnare both that dragoon and that loathsome creature here so that the Regent could tear them to pieces. well, except the hope that he could assist.
playing the messenger is certainly a way he can do that, though his preferences were typically more tactile and bloody. ) Of course. I would be happy to help.
Given how dangerous a trap we are meant to set, I have to assume the bait is suitably tempting.
[It's especially difficult to miss the uplifting current through communion, metaphorical as it may be in how it very much fills his sails and drives his spirit soaring. He agrees; good. Their plan can proceed forward.]
Yes. We have in custody two of the oath-sworn who promised the entity to protect him: Himeka Sui, his companion and confidant hailing from the same world as him, and Abel Nightroad, the priest who reaches out to all. [The reply is accompanied by brief visuals of the two together, wounded and unconscious with the Citadel as the backdrop. Ciel doesn't believe it necessary to elaborate further: as M didn't seem aware until now, all he needs to know is that the Kenomas effectively have those two Pleromas in captivity.]
As two of his closest allies, Estinien will come for them. Knowing the Innocence manifests through his pain and anguish, you're welcome to take any liberty you see fit to further motivate him.
[Giving a demon the devil's work may be a little on the nose, but it should also prove to be the most effective.]
( ah. not just one of the Pleroma that had scrambled to the scene after the dragoon's death, but two? he will have to give his best regards to those that captured them later, when they weren't in the Communion version of a zoom meeting.
there's a feeling of brittle contempt that emanates from makoto as she mentions himeka — hes, he does remember the red-haired woman, and it was hard to forget her considering he'd had a remarkable view of her wroth expression, outlined in flame, as she'd weaved her magics to attempt to burn him to a cinder. kaeya had foiled that attempt, but he didn't let go of grudges that easily.
abel, though... it's not that makoto is foolish enough to betray anything compromising to ciel. but that's just the thing: he's been moderately open to her thus far, allowing the faint impression of emotion to speak for him when he didn't necessarily want words to. but as soon as she mentions the priest, it's like the pane of that open window slides shut. he is curiously reserved for a long moment, viewing the visuals she sends of the two in captivity.
he knows immediately what she means, and he would have arrived to that conclusion even if she hadn't pointed out a path towards it. makoto is not necessarily an accomplished torturer. a sadist, yes, and he has occasionally taken out his frustration on others, but there is a difference between merely venting and...
making what would throw estinien into an uncontrollable rage.
regardless of what he might (or might not) have let on about the two prisoners, after a moment's thought, he gives the vague impression of assent. ) I will arrange for some time alone with them, then. If our goal is to give Estinien no other choice than to come to their rescue, then... I'll make sure to provide him a good show.
And not surprising. So Abel already sank his sticky paws onto M too, huh? Ciel spends a split second wondering why, curious and human that she is. Was it back during their time inside that cave, or the trip there from the shrines? Or some time after that, like Venera perhaps? That M dissipated Estinien is common knowledge among the Kenoma. Knowing Abel's part as one of the Innocence-bound means he's certainly closely associated with Estinien, which she already knew since the Pleromas' escape from the caves as Abel was the one who guided Estinien away from her. (She has yet to pay him back for that mauling... And she is in no hurry to.) Would Abel have reached out to M, Estinien's murderer?
A pointless question with a foregone answer. The abrupt cessation of M's feelings already implies enough. Her professional courtesy mired with a vague sense of interest shifts into something almost derisive and contemptuous, M may very well be the first Kenoma to experience this facet of her none other on their side had ever come close to glimpsing.
It's not directed at him per se, no, but towards that gap she will not leave unaddressed.]
Please do. [A beat.] That self-professed priest isn't giving you second thoughts, is he?
( he's a prolific little bleeding-heart, that priest, isn't he?
the answer is, of course, a combination of several of those opportunities. theirs was not a relationship pinned in one particular event but spread throughout several. abel had been the first person makoto had spoken to after being forced to ingest the Kenoma liquid in the throne room; he had asked the man how he weathered adversity, only to wither when he realized that the saccharine answer was not one he could properly replicate. they had gravitated towards opposite sects, and though he had reached out to him via Communion shortly after arriving in achamoth, his message was frank: they are amicable, but they are enemies.
after returning from venera the first time, he had gone to meet with the priest to speak about what had happened there — about why exactly he did what he did. memories of that meeting are still a vexing wound to the demon.
he picks up on the slow slide of her emotional timbre, and he responds in kind, bristling in aggravation at her perceived judgment. he responds swiftly and unerringly. )
Do not insult me. Demons don't allow petty things like that to cloud their judgment. ( they aren't bound to concepts like "contradiction" as humans are. on his path to surpass J, makoto had left his former employer, a man he truly felt he owed for how well he treated him, absolutely ruined both in mind and body. it had been no hard feelings; it had simply been necessary to use him as a stepping stone. a brief pause. ) I've already told the man that no conversation we've had will stay my hand when it comes to what I decide to do.
[That Pleroma sure is, and it's all the more reason she has to... make sure. She's under no delusion about how different their allies all are here, from their backgrounds to their philosophical and moral stance to what drives them to the Kenoma and so much more. That priest is a nuisance all the same, though he is useful for one thing: weed out the weak-hearted who shouldn't be on this side to begin with. Those who can't stomach the Kenoma's work will not last, they must either learn to adapt or face the consequences.
Not that she thinks M as particularly susceptible, but if he has a softer spot for that fool, then he should at the very least not let it interfere with his work.]
Think of it as a reminder, then. That bleeding heart fool won't stop at anything, it wouldn't be surprising if some among our ranks are already sympathetic towards him. Then let me simply add that he's far tougher than he looks, hurt the woman and it will hurt him more.
[The borderline provocative prick of her disdain fades. They are both Martyrs, but her distaste remains palpable. Nevertheless, M would most certainly know the art of torture better than her, all she can offer are scraps of insight about the naïve Pleroma who wants to "save" everyone without exception.]
( they are, of course, of the same mind. there might be no one else among the Kenoma more dedicated to separating out those who could not meet muster than makoto.
to say that he has a soft spot for abel wouldn't be entirely accurate. perhaps there is a part of him that yearns for the acceptance that the man supposedly offers him, but... the rest of him, the part of him that drives him day by day, finds it incredibly aggravating. for him to offer him acceptance and forgiveness, as if he had any idea what he might be accepting and forgiving...
it will be far easier for him in the long run if he can simply break the man of his compassion towards him. )
Oh, I wholeheartedly agree, and on all fronts.
That would have been my plan from the start. He is the type to want to take on pain so that others might be spared it — a common thread to find among Martyrs, I suppose.
( he gives her this small jab as payback for doubting him. )
I shall make arrangements, and I will let you know once I have what I need.
It's good that you understand this well. In that case, please feel free to call upon me if you end up doing too good a job. I did make this request of you, so it's only proper that I take responsibility if things go awry, too.
[Is it really a jab when he's right, and she doesn't perceive it as a slight even a little? It's a self-deprecating sort of amusement on her end, though she does put in a bit of effort to not make her offer sound... Intrusive. He has his pride as a demon too, and far from it from her to imply he can't handle himself. But having heard of what Estinien is capable of, and more importantly, having experienced what Abel is capable of, hopefully he understands?
Firebrands for Firebrands, Martyrs for Martyrs. It's almost poetic, really, if it wasn't so twistedly laughable.]
Thank you, M. I look forward to hearing back from you.
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We have the pieces in place to lure Estinien, the entity's vessel, to Acamoth, where the Regent will be able to directly action upon them. Given your history with him and your shared Legacy, would you be interested in [...] sending him the invitation?
[M had witnessed firsthand what Estinien and the Innocence are capable of together, what sort of "invitation" this is leaves no room for interpretation. Drawing them to Achamoth is no light matter, but it was initially suggested by the Regent, their mention isn't evoked in vain. The details can come after, once he gives his answer to this surface proposal.]
no subject
yes, there are very few things that he would like more than to ensnare both that dragoon and that loathsome creature here so that the Regent could tear them to pieces. well, except the hope that he could assist.
playing the messenger is certainly a way he can do that, though his preferences were typically more tactile and bloody. ) Of course. I would be happy to help.
Given how dangerous a trap we are meant to set, I have to assume the bait is suitably tempting.
no subject
Yes. We have in custody two of the oath-sworn who promised the entity to protect him: Himeka Sui, his companion and confidant hailing from the same world as him, and Abel Nightroad, the priest who reaches out to all. [The reply is accompanied by brief visuals of the two together, wounded and unconscious with the Citadel as the backdrop. Ciel doesn't believe it necessary to elaborate further: as M didn't seem aware until now, all he needs to know is that the Kenomas effectively have those two Pleromas in captivity.]
As two of his closest allies, Estinien will come for them. Knowing the Innocence manifests through his pain and anguish, you're welcome to take any liberty you see fit to further motivate him.
[Giving a demon the devil's work may be a little on the nose, but it should also prove to be the most effective.]
no subject
there's a feeling of brittle contempt that emanates from makoto as she mentions himeka — hes, he does remember the red-haired woman, and it was hard to forget her considering he'd had a remarkable view of her wroth expression, outlined in flame, as she'd weaved her magics to attempt to burn him to a cinder. kaeya had foiled that attempt, but he didn't let go of grudges that easily.
abel, though... it's not that makoto is foolish enough to betray anything compromising to ciel. but that's just the thing: he's been moderately open to her thus far, allowing the faint impression of emotion to speak for him when he didn't necessarily want words to. but as soon as she mentions the priest, it's like the pane of that open window slides shut. he is curiously reserved for a long moment, viewing the visuals she sends of the two in captivity.
he knows immediately what she means, and he would have arrived to that conclusion even if she hadn't pointed out a path towards it. makoto is not necessarily an accomplished torturer. a sadist, yes, and he has occasionally taken out his frustration on others, but there is a difference between merely venting and...
making what would throw estinien into an uncontrollable rage.
regardless of what he might (or might not) have let on about the two prisoners, after a moment's thought, he gives the vague impression of assent. ) I will arrange for some time alone with them, then. If our goal is to give Estinien no other choice than to come to their rescue, then... I'll make sure to provide him a good show.
no subject
And not surprising. So Abel already sank his sticky paws onto M too, huh? Ciel spends a split second wondering why, curious and human that she is. Was it back during their time inside that cave, or the trip there from the shrines? Or some time after that, like Venera perhaps? That M dissipated Estinien is common knowledge among the Kenoma. Knowing Abel's part as one of the Innocence-bound means he's certainly closely associated with Estinien, which she already knew since the Pleromas' escape from the caves as Abel was the one who guided Estinien away from her. (She has yet to pay him back for that mauling... And she is in no hurry to.) Would Abel have reached out to M, Estinien's murderer?
A pointless question with a foregone answer. The abrupt cessation of M's feelings already implies enough. Her professional courtesy mired with a vague sense of interest shifts into something almost derisive and contemptuous, M may very well be the first Kenoma to experience this facet of her none other on their side had ever come close to glimpsing.
It's not directed at him per se, no, but towards that gap she will not leave unaddressed.]
Please do. [A beat.] That self-professed priest isn't giving you second thoughts, is he?
no subject
the answer is, of course, a combination of several of those opportunities. theirs was not a relationship pinned in one particular event but spread throughout several. abel had been the first person makoto had spoken to after being forced to ingest the Kenoma liquid in the throne room; he had asked the man how he weathered adversity, only to wither when he realized that the saccharine answer was not one he could properly replicate. they had gravitated towards opposite sects, and though he had reached out to him via Communion shortly after arriving in achamoth, his message was frank: they are amicable, but they are enemies.
after returning from venera the first time, he had gone to meet with the priest to speak about what had happened there — about why exactly he did what he did. memories of that meeting are still a vexing wound to the demon.
he picks up on the slow slide of her emotional timbre, and he responds in kind, bristling in aggravation at her perceived judgment. he responds swiftly and unerringly. )
Do not insult me. Demons don't allow petty things like that to cloud their judgment. ( they aren't bound to concepts like "contradiction" as humans are. on his path to surpass J, makoto had left his former employer, a man he truly felt he owed for how well he treated him, absolutely ruined both in mind and body. it had been no hard feelings; it had simply been necessary to use him as a stepping stone. a brief pause. ) I've already told the man that no conversation we've had will stay my hand when it comes to what I decide to do.
no subject
Not that she thinks M as particularly susceptible, but if he has a softer spot for that fool, then he should at the very least not let it interfere with his work.]
Think of it as a reminder, then. That bleeding heart fool won't stop at anything, it wouldn't be surprising if some among our ranks are already sympathetic towards him. Then let me simply add that he's far tougher than he looks, hurt the woman and it will hurt him more.
[The borderline provocative prick of her disdain fades. They are both Martyrs, but her distaste remains palpable. Nevertheless, M would most certainly know the art of torture better than her, all she can offer are scraps of insight about the naïve Pleroma who wants to "save" everyone without exception.]
no subject
to say that he has a soft spot for abel wouldn't be entirely accurate. perhaps there is a part of him that yearns for the acceptance that the man supposedly offers him, but... the rest of him, the part of him that drives him day by day, finds it incredibly aggravating. for him to offer him acceptance and forgiveness, as if he had any idea what he might be accepting and forgiving...
it will be far easier for him in the long run if he can simply break the man of his compassion towards him. )
Oh, I wholeheartedly agree, and on all fronts.
That would have been my plan from the start. He is the type to want to take on pain so that others might be spared it — a common thread to find among Martyrs, I suppose.
( he gives her this small jab as payback for doubting him. )
I shall make arrangements, and I will let you know once I have what I need.
no subject
[Is it really a jab when he's right, and she doesn't perceive it as a slight even a little? It's a self-deprecating sort of amusement on her end, though she does put in a bit of effort to not make her offer sound... Intrusive. He has his pride as a demon too, and far from it from her to imply he can't handle himself. But having heard of what Estinien is capable of, and more importantly, having experienced what Abel is capable of, hopefully he understands?
Firebrands for Firebrands, Martyrs for Martyrs. It's almost poetic, really, if it wasn't so twistedly laughable.]
Thank you, M. I look forward to hearing back from you.