Round 3 [closed]

[sunborne]

Characters: Daylight, Castiel, Cao Pi, Rosinante, Kuai Liang, Vanitas, Riku, Maes Hughes, and Bucky Barnes.
Location: Town hall.
Date/time: February 8. In the 'evening'.
Content: Townhall Meeting 3: This Time, It's Personal. (Or how Daylight and Cao Pi bring the others up to date on Dr. Solis.)
Warnings: Pending.

After some time has passed and information has been compiled and notes - so many notes! - have been reviewed and organised, Daylight decides it's time.

With the help of some spirits he's made friends with, he sends out sealed notes to those who are in the know of what's going on. It's a short and simple note, informing the recipient of a date, a place, and only five words:

Ready. We've got to talk.

Comments

[evulsed]

OTA

[ Vanitas turns up, maybe much to the surprise or chagrin of everyone at the meeting, with Riku. He doesn't say much in the beginning, but there's a sharpness in his eyes as he stares down Cao Pi and Daylight with almost unblinking focus. His gaze tends to linger threateningly on Daylight, like he's waiting for him to slip up and say something incriminating.

What really seems to catch his attention is the reference to 1979 and when talk of the World Eater picks up. He sharpens, and his gaze darts around, calculating. ]

So, they're on this world already. [ Then, because he apparently can't be anywhere without starting something, he adds antagonistically: ] All those weapons and they couldn't drive them off, so what exactly do they think we're supposed to do about it?

CLOSED TO DAYLIGHT

[ At some point, when everyone seems otherwise occupied in conversation, Vanitas corners Daylight with predatory intent. ]

You sure took your time. [ Again, it doesn't seem to matter that their heights are drastically different. Vanitas looks no edge. ] What happened? Tell me how she was.

[ This isn't about what they discussed— this question seems to be more personal in nature. ]

rip day. :'>

[sunborne]

[ daylight raises his arms yet again, trying to signal he isn't looking for a fight. never hurts to be too careful when vanitas is around. ]

I wanted to be sure we all could meet up safely. Given... you know... everything that happened a while back. [ the lanterns causing everyone to act weird. he didn't think it would be the wisest decision to force several compromised individuals into one area and drop alarming information on them. he didn't have the ability to put multiple people into timeout bubble shields now.

... the question of dr. solis' well-being has daylight's winglets relaxing into a more neutral, less wary stance. ]

She's holding on and trying to stay strong. From what I can tell, she's doing her best. Just... Really tired after having to do all of this for over seventy years.

[evulsed]

She's stronger than any of you.

[ He snaps it back like Daylight has suggested otherwise. Its a fair conclusion, in his mind. She had to be strong to live this long, surviving this long. Nobody else has done what she's done. ]

I meant what I said. If something happens—

[ He shoots a nasty look at Cao Pi. ]

I'll know whose fault it was.

[sunborne]

[ daylight looks surprised by that statement and for who it's directed at. ]

I know Sir Cao Pi won't do anything to her. That wouldn't benefit him or anyone else. [ why try to harm the one individual who could aid them? sir cao pi struck him as the sort to try and play the long game whenever possible. ]

Besides- From what I can tell, Dr. Solis' security is pretty good. [ he pauses for a second and then reaches out to rap his knuckles across the nearest wooden surface that's close to him and vanitas. just in case. ] She can lock the church doors from the inside and, from experience and observation, the hatch is pretty tough to break.

... That said, I have a feeling you won't like my later proposal then, huh?

[evulsed]

[ Vanitas only knows what he's seen on the surface of this man, and what he's seen reminds him uncannily of the only other authority figure he's had in his life. He doesn't doubt Cao Pi would keep the strings of as many people wrapped around his fist as possible, but he also thinks this man is self serving at the expense of whomever will get in his way. Whether it's right or not doesn't matter, when this is the judgement Vanitas has already made. ]

It's only safe from the inside. We're not on the inside.

[ And this step, having tea, sharing information— it makes her vulnerable. Vanitas, coming from the dark side of things, refuses to accept how working together can often bring about a better end. From what he's seen, it's never worked out in his favor. ]

What proposal? That we all work together? I already know that's your aim, Daylight.

[sunborne]

No- My proposal is that we tell the others about Dr. Solis' presence.

[ and he quickly goes on, while he has the chance, ] I only informed some of the others - the other people who also had the visions during the feast, because she asked - and you guys. Everyone else is in the dark so far.

And given everything that's happened and what we know, I think it's better that we explain the situation while we have the chance. Better that than have someone accidentally find out and do something reckless. [ because, to be honest, daylight is surprised no one is suspicious of all the spirits scurrying about, passing or leaving notes. or daylight running about beacon more than usual.

a good stroke of luck but he knows the luck is going to run out, sooner or later. they might as well get ahead of it. ]

[evulsed]

[ Vanitas visibly sharpens at the suggestion. His eyes narrow and a covetous sort of anger rises up in him. Despite the fact the cluster of them with their lanterns creates enough light to throw everyone into relief, the shadows seem to flex around Vanitas in response. ]

Is that what you think? Do you realize how many idiots will be marching right into that church if you do that?

[ But Daylight is right, this is the exactly the sort of thing he'd expected would happen. She'd secreted herself away to stay safe. There is no evidence that they are any better than those what came before them.

Vanitas knows better than anyone what the darkness is, what it does to people. Nobody is immune to it's effects, not even Riku, who would be best equipped out of every person in Beacon, as far as Vanitas can tell. ]

Every person here has Darkness in their hearts, even you.

[ He points at the barrel of Daylight's chest, and the only reason he doesn't touch him is because he's too short to do so. ]

Just because you're naive enough to believe everyone has good intentions doesn't make it true. I don't care if you want to tell everyone what you know, but if you two tell that she's in there, I'll make sure you suffer for it.

[sunborne]

[ being tall has its benefits, it seems, though day does make it a point to scoot back to avoid any touching actually going down. let's keep possible fighting to a zero number during this secret hanging out, please.

daylight huffs and crosses his arms over his chassis, to both project confidence he doesn't feel and to protect himself he certainly feels he needs right now. size difference or not, he doesn't feel confident in taking vanitas on. ever. ]

Of course I'm not going to tell the others where she is. [ he could leave it at that but- ] But I am going to tell them that Dr. Solis is around and she wants to help us out.

They have a right to know that she's here. Some of them could have information that could help us and her, if they can pass it along. Some of them could help her in a way we can't. We can't keep hiding this forever.

[evulsed]

Of course you can't, you're an open book.

[ Vanitas gestures at him as a whole, like he's disgusted by what he sees. Giant robot or not, he's still more honestly expressive than a lot of people Vanitas has spent his time around in his own world.

But he doesn't argue the point. Maridel asked Vanitas, too, to have the others write letters. He just never had the opportunity to figure out how to go about it, before Daylight came to him, before he was saying he would meet her.

It still fills him with vicious envy; because Vanitas wants to see her, be around her. The first person to soothe him through a pain he couldn't handle.

But he's not about to share that with any of these idiots. They'd never understand, and beyond that, why should they care? ]

Nobody here has a right to anything. She's the one in charge.

[ He shoots another cruel look across the room at Cao Pi. ]

People will do anything for information and power.

[ His eyes snap back to Daylight. ]

I know that better than any of you clowns.

[paletteswap]

Not everything responds to weaponry, there are other options than missiles. The fact that they survived tells us that they are resistant to the blast effects, which will be helpful in figuring out what they are susceptible to.

That also means this whole world is likely radioactive as well.

[So you know.. good thing they're already dead?]

[evulsed]

That doesn't mean anything to me.

[ Radioactive? Who cares. It clearly isn't effecting any of them, and this world was already in the Darkness. It's mostly dead, the only life being them and the spirits.

Vanitas gestures at the man, the movement is somehow belittling and aggressive all ato nce. ]

Do you have some bright idea to get rid of them, then?

[paletteswap]

Then you're not paying attention.

[Try harder Vanitas.]

I have a few ideas, bombs use concussive blasts and heat. And now we know those are ineffective. We can narrow down what they might be vulnerable to before any sort of attack as we may only get one chance at this - making it count will be vital.

[evulsed]

[ Vanitas cocks his head, his eyes going heavy with disdain. Instead of being offended by Kaui Liang's tone, Vanitas seems to find him funny. ]

You want to cut it down with a sword? Shoot it with an arrow, maybe?

[paletteswap]

Of course not. Why would that work?

[He scoffs. Don't be stupid.]

Do you honestly think no one would have tried that previously?

[evulsed]

Yes.

[ He raises both eyebrows, arms loose at his sides. ]

Did it sound like anyone got close enough to attack them before, genius?

[paletteswap]

Feel free to try then. I look forward to hearing the results.

[He'll wait for you in the church.]

[evulsed]

[ Vanitas smirks; the very idea that he'd put his life at risk for the benefit of this town is pretty hilarious to him. ]

As if.

I don't hear you offering up any solutions. Or do you just like to hear yourself talk?

[paletteswap]

And I've yet to hear a reason you should be included in such discussions.

[evulsed]

Maybe you should've asked.

[paletteswap]

I should not have to.

[evulsed]

Really?

[ There's a laugh in Vanitas' voice, something arch. He's not actually surprised. This guy bleeds arrogance all over the place, Vanitas can taste it on the edges of his teeth. ]

And why is that? Should we all just do what you want, Kuai Liang?

[paletteswap]

Of course not. You presume much.

[Reminds him of every teenager he's ever trained.]

We're all trying to help each other, to provide beneficial information that will keep us alive and defeat that which threatens us. Pointless posturing serves nothing.

[Or whatever it is that Vanitas is trying to prove.]

[evulsed]

[ The joke is on Liang, since Vanitas isn't trying to prove anything, really. Unfortunately, everything he does looks and sounds like antagonism, but it also means he isn't put off at all by this man trying to put him in his place. ]

Then you shouldn't get so smart about trying to kick me out.

Someone has to be here to point out how useless some of your observations are.

[paletteswap]

[Chillax through and through he finds this amusing more than anything. It's like a smaller Kung Jin but with spikier hair. ]

I'm not trying to kick you out. I'm unsure what I would even be kicking you out of?

[He folds his arms with the barest hint of a smile.]

I see. Any other observations you wish to comment on?