un: eclipse | video

[soloritur]

[ Marcos shows his face on screen for the first time in what feels like a long time. The last couple months have been hard on everyone, and he's no exception. There's a small white dragon settled beside him, trying to get into the frame, that he pushes back. He knows he shouldn't have it, but it still follows him around like a puppy. It hurts his heart to think that it doesn't know it's dead.

Not what this is about. ]

Hey there. [ He clears his throat. ] Listen, we need to talk. It's... been a rough few weeks. It was hard enough keeping track of everyone when we were separated between the two cities, but now. Now I think it might be time to take stock of survivors. Maybe make a list of who we've lost and who we need to look out for.

[ He remembers all the skeletons in the tower. They didn't seem like an illusion to him. ]

Kaneki is missing. Has been for a while. I wasn't worried until I found something he wouldn't have left behind if he had any choice in the matter. Luckily I got to it first. [ Which is why — ] I might need a hand with a beating heart in a box. I don't know if it has any other power, but the Merchant called it leverage, and I don't think I'm the right person to keep it safe. If anyone wants to take a look I'll send you my location.

[ The dragon makes a noise, and he rubs its head to keep it quiet. Sometimes he feels helpless, but it's important to remind himself of what he says next. ]

I know why most of you wanted to stay, to help these people, but be careful out there. Remember you're not alone.

Comments

[soloritur]

[ Eximus? He hasn't heard the term, but it's very possible that they had mutants where he's from too. He even smiles a bit when he doesn't seem to be afraid of them or offended by their mere existence. ]

I agree with you there. [ The Inner Circle was only the latest mutants to decide peace wasn't an option. Unfortunately, they had significantly more funding and going up against them... they had too many losses. ]

It's complicated. Changing someone's beliefs isn't easy, and we're a long way from learning to peacefully coexist. [ He used to be more optimistic, but he's seen too much to think it'll happen even in his lifetime. ] Maybe someday.

At least that's not as much of a problem here, for all the others we have.

[kahl_175]

Good. Not make mistake like Grineer. [He was glad that Queens in other places didn't seem to live forever, like the Grineer ones did. But Captains didn't live forever, and they still used people just as bad. Everyone had to be careful to not let that happen.

Because once they got power, it was hard to get people to stop following them.] Kahl know. But, people can change. Kahl see it. See very old, very powerful, very bad thoughts. Still get better, if want. [He wasn't good at describing it. And he wasn't going to try. Blue Girl had learned. She deserved to be known as somebody who helped make things better.]

Kahl glad to have Eximus here. Eximus brother, even better.

[soloritur]

[ His terms are different, and Marcos isn't getting the full story, but it's surprisingly easy to follow what Kahl is saying. Even if some of it is hard to hear for a different reason. He'd been a driving force to keeping the Mutant Underground going, but their resources were practically non-existent and it got a lot harder to be idealistic.

Changing the mind of one person at a time might not be enough. But it's something. He and Lorna haven't seen eye to eye before, and she managed to come back when he thought he'd lost her. It's possible. ]

You're right. It's rare but it happens. We can only take it a day at a time.

Thank you. I'll do what I can, but we're stronger together. Once everything calms down, maybe we can compare stories and see just how much they intersect.

[kahl_175]

Mmhm. Many small wins make big ones. Hard work. But good to do. [That was how he saw it all. This place was a big setback for Kahl. Something new to fight, when Narmer was still back home. When the Queens still tricked his brothers into following them. But he'd fight here. Help how he could. Stay as long as it took. And it would be worth it, to keep his family safe.

So he smiles, the expression made lopsided by the scars that pull at his face.] Kahl like telling stories with brothers. Marcos always welcome.

[soloritur]

[ He smiles back, tired but sincere. As bleak as it's been the past few weeks, it's nice to find someone who is still optimistic. Especially after what he's hinted at going through. It's what he needed. ]

I hope we get a chance.