001 | Video

[surgent]

[ The scene set is that of a living room. It does not appear to have been lived in much, no trinkets on shelves or the table, and no pillows set up on the couch. The video is static for a long moment before the Outsider appears on screen in a wash of black smoke and shining pieces of onyx. He's set himself up in the center of the couch, on the back of it, his feet planted on the cushion. His hands are folded together as he leans forward. There's a twinkle of amusement in his beetle-black eyes. ]

Have you ever heard the tale of Empress Emily Drexal Lela Kaldwin, first of her name? [ No response? No problem. He's going to tell it to you anyway. ] A child born to take the throne, she grew up privileged. She learned about the world from a distance and when people killed her mother and stole her throne, her father took up sword to take it back for her. [ He disappears in a wisp, reappearing further from the camera. The distance has no effect on the loudness of his voice. He gestures widely with his arms. ] Her father returned the throne to her and though she tried to be the Empress her mother once was, she lost sight of what was important: the voices of her people.

Another came for her throne while she was blinded, a woman who had been born in the hole and clawed her way out to the top, and that woman took it with blood. If only Emily had paid attention. If only she spent a little less time on the rooftops of her city or in the arms of her lover. If, if, if. [ Again, he disappears, this time appearing to lean against the left arm of the couch. He shakes his head. ] She took up sword, same as her father. She took on my mark, same as her father.

But do you think she managed to get her crown back? Could she do it as bloodlessly as her father? [ A quiet chuckle in the back of his throat. ] Or would she be as ruthless a killer as her betrayers?

It's a tale that can end in so many different ways.

text/action; backdated

[occupiesvitalregions]

[text, March 18]
[Prussia doesn't understand why he's on Team Delight, but that doesn't mean he's not going to help out. He wanted to do this plan, contest or no contest, so he might as well not wait on it any longer.]

okay, listen up losers

so many of you i've met here have been sad and mopey and jumpy like scared little mice. and i mean I GET IT, i've been here for like a month now and i've fought monsters and heard the stories and it all sucks. but seeing so many of you like this is just depressing okay, and it got me thinking

[That phase, coming from him, is never good.]

if i can get you guys exercising, in shape, and better at self defense, you'd all be better off. you'll feel better physically and mentally, and be able to handle yourself better in dangerous situations. look i have been through some shit in my lifetime but you don't see me moping! i'm still out there every day with a sword fighting monsters or exercising cuz if i just sit around in my apartment and stare at the walls, waiting for bad shit to happen to me, i'd be depressed and scared too. well i'm not so trust me! JOIN ME!!

[A bit hypocritical seeing as he's spent the last few decades lazing around in his brother's place playing video games and being depressed, but hey. Hadriel has given the defunct nation a renewed sense of purpose.]

meet at 7AM outside the spire apartments. dress for exercise cuz we're gonna stretch and do some jogging and maybe some grappling training?? let's see where the morning takes us. also i'm available for weapons training cuz i know how to use pretty much everything in the armory cuz i'm ~awesome~ like that. i can prove it too cuz i get it done son

[action, March 19]
[And true to his word, Prussia will be outside the next morning waiting to see if anyone heeded the call. He'll be very pleased that anyone shows up, but will give a discerning eye to them trying to size them up.]

Okay! You think you're ready for this?