faterecanted | [Voice]

[ Filtered to Abysscast // 100% ]

I've a proposition to make.

I've considered the situatuon, and believe that a truce would be to our mutual benefit. I don't have personal quarrels with any of you, so I see no reason to continue fighting over a matter that we presently have no means to change.. [...Dist and Asch excluded. You're on notice, traitors.] All of our energy would be better spent searching for means to deal with the current situation. I would also like to remind you that I've been here for some length of time, and have not done harm to any of you, despite being assaulted more than once. [Asch.] Take it as a measure of my sincerity.

However, if you reject me now, I will not be offering again; and the next person among you to attack me [Asch.] will be dealt with severely and without mercy. I don't know what you could hope to accomplish with such actions, apart from uselessly antagonizing me. I am still entitled to defend myself.

My suggestion is to consider this offer carefully. I can be a valuable ally to you, or a dangerous enemy. The choice will be your own.

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[ Filtered to clinic staff // 100% ]

Are there any doctors here with specialist knowledge of toxins?

[ end filter ]

If a man wanted to find productive employment in this village, where might he begin looking? Pay is obviously impossible, but I'm willing to work for personal satisfaction and perhaps a favor or two later.

I have twelve years of service as a military officer, and a decade of experience in sword instruction. I've been told I'm also a fair cook, and a talented musician. I can play the piano; and the pipe organ, though I doubt this village has one available.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

While I have no direct quarrel with you either, I hope you understand the likely reasons behind any attacks. In the past, residents in a similar position to yours have chosen to attack unprovoked, rather than work together; caution is preferable to vulnerability.

[Even if 'caution' means wariness for some, and attackfirst for others.]

In light of your statements being correct, I am willing to set aside the danger you pose to our home, for the time being.

[The way Van sees it, attackfirst means idiot, but he won't be pointing that out. And caution vs. vulnerability is exactly why he's doing this, though he's hardly going to admit that. The situation is dangerous and delicate for all sides.]

I do understand, though at this point 'unprovoked' is far from the truth. That is why I made this announcement. Misunderstanding each other's intentions will not help anyone.

[Oh, Nephry doesn't condone attacking for nothing either. It's just that, for Asch and Luke especially, it's hardly nothing, you see?]

I expect you will still face opposition. [enough of a pause to be significant] Please try not to hurt anyone. I'm sure you realize that for most of them, words are just words.

[Try not to hurt anyone? That's certainly more than he's capable of. Van hurts people simply by existing... As Asch and Luke and Tear can testify.]

I can't promise that. I don't want to hurt anyone. [except for... Dist and Asch and Luke has bad odds for being collateral damage, and...] If someone attacks me, my wishes don't matter. Injuring them won't be something I can reasonably avoid.

[There is a fine line to walk here. If he is too willing to forgive and show mercy, the threat he poses will diminish, but not in any way beneficial to him. He wants them to think he doesn't want to kill them; but they are far from friendly to him, and it is safer if they never forget that he could.]

[Hmm. It seems he isn't quite willing to concede the point. Ah, well, it does happen occasionally, in diplomacy, and it is diplomacy with which Nephry will still respond.

Which is why she's upping that filter to just him.]

If something happens to one of your former subordinates as a direct result of your actions, General, there is no one here who will stop the rest of them from whatever actions they may take.

[Nephry doesn't count herself among 'them' because of her extremely noncombatant status. She wouldn't want the others risking themselves against Van, but she would be just as unable to convince them otherwise if something happened.]

I don't mean to threaten you. Just to inform you.

My former subordinates are being afforded the same courtesy as everyone else. [Which as traitors is honestly more than they should expect. Or deserve.] One of them has chosen not to accept it.

Attempting to hold me accountable for a party not covered in this treaty, however informal it is, would be an act of bad faith. [Van is hardly an amateur when it comes to these sorts of negotiations. He is a general, after all, and one with most of his tenure as Commandant served under a puppet Fon Master.] To agree to this truce and then take action under the guise of retaliation because I defended myself from attack by a hostile party would be to break the truce.

[How interesting - her "former" referred to his death; his to Dist and Asch's perceived betrayal. Behind her solid voice and demeanor, Nephry might just be smiling.]

If we are to believe you have the control over your actions that you claim, then there shouldn't be a problem.

[Behave, Van. You're giving conditions as though the others from Auldrant are the weaker, less numerous party - or would be, in a confrontation.]

Regardless, you may be assured that I will take no personal action against you without a valid cause. [She can't vouch for her brother, though.]

[This is a truce, not a surrender. He's not going to roll over and accept whatever conditions are lobbed at him.]

It isn't my control in question here.

[Nephry's only condition is that none of them start fighting each other.]

There are so many different points in time represented here, I don't know how many of the others will agree to this.

That is why I don't demand you agree as a group. You should all be allowed to choose for yourselves.

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