don't wait for a knight in shinin' armor, your savior's reflected in the mirror

[perpend]

[That sure was a fucking thing. That execution was a fucking thing. Those secrets are a fucking thing.

Cabanela retreats to his room, but not for all that long. Everyone will get a note eventually, written in very neat handwriting

I do not plan on bowing down to threats and intimidation. If you did not act, it means you were, like me, aware of the risk, but decided against it. Your reasons are entirely your own.

Join me in the dining room if you agree enough is enough, and that you won't acquiesce to threats. I don't plan to let this stop me, and neither should you.

-C

In the dining room itself, Cabanela has set up coffee and tea for those who want it-- there's no food, because to be honest, he doesn't know how to cook. Two more candles have been lit-- he wasn't really sure what to do about the whole... parasite thing... so Fern's candle will have to make due.]

Comments

[hesperos]

[ You bet Yuri's going to be lingering here, especially since he wants some answers, especially in regards to Rideaux's. ]

I was curious about something. You probably already know what it is.

[ And okay, looks like he's just diving into it anyway. ]

What's going on with the whole dimensions and worlds, thing? I don't know how you managed something like that, but I'd like to hear from you why any of that even happened.

[evilfrenzy]

I don't--

["I don't have to explain myself to you." That's what he wants to say. But it's not so simple, is it? Rideaux has known as much for days now. Jericho could have dredged up any other part of his past—parts that he is legitimately ashamed about—and he maybe could have gotten away with that response. But this secret...it affects him here. Paints a target on him, perhaps. He's the branded world destroyer now, and with zero context it's uh. It's bad.

Yuri's giving him the option to explain in his own words, so...he might as well take it, for his own good.]

...Get in.

[He backs away from the door and opens it wide enough for Yuri to enter.]

[hesperos]

[ For a moment, Yuri's tensed up in preparation for the man to maybe go on a tangent along with those words and offering no other explanation other than it was how it looked like. He feels a touch of relief, but he's not going to immediately subscribe to it just yet. ]

Alright.

[ He walks straight into Rideaux's room and, huh, there's an errant though that it's been the first time he's in here. He shrugs it off and heads over to stand against the wall in the room, leaning against it all casual-like. ]

I'm ready, so you can start wherever and whenever.

[evilfrenzy]

[It's the first time that Rideaux has let anyone in his room, but Rideaux would rather discuss this subject in his room than anywhere else right now.

The room itself is neatly-kept, kind of sparse but Rideaux seems to have done a little bit of interior decorating since the sewing room showed up. The windows, though useless since they're blocked off, have been decorated with some red curtains, and the bed had a matching red bed skirt.

Rideaux seats himself at his desk, leaning against it in the same way he sits at the bar. He's quiet for a moment, but eventually sighs and glances at Yuri.]

Do you recall everything I said about my position so far? [He'll wait for Yuri's confirmation, then continues.] I was being truthful about that. I simply did not tell you what we travel to dimensions for. Under normal circumstances, that is classified.

[It's obviously not anymore, so he doesn't need to say it.]

One of the purposes of the Department of Dimensional Affairs is combating the rise of dimensions known as fractured dimensions. They did not always exist, but were instead created and continue to be created out of the impurity of humans. This impurity is, essentially, a poison to our dimension. If too many are created, then, to put it bluntly, we're screwed.

[He pauses there, so Yuri can ask for further clarification. Because holy shit, this is such a Thing.]

[hesperos]

[ Yuri did kind of marvel a little at the set up here, especially because there was obviously a lot of work that went into making all of this happen. He's patient enough that he does wait for the other man to begin, and he's honestly not sure what he's expecting here, but Yuri's definitely all ears.

He even gives a nod to confirm so Rideaux cam continue. Otherwise, he waits until Rideaux's done. ]

What do you mean you guys are screwed? Does that mean if too many are created, they'd wipe out the main dimension or something? Also, why's this happening when it didn't before?

[ Since he figures...impurity of humans had been a thing for a long time. ]

[evilfrenzy]

The reason why it's happening now is because the primordial spirits that watch over our world decided to give a little test to humanity. They didn't think we were ready to properly handle the power of spyrix. I believe the Princess [Estelle] likened them to your Blastia? Anyway, they began the creation of fractured dimensions and tasked us with preventing the creation of one million of them. The ability that some of us have to travel to and destroy them was, you guessed it, given to us by them as well.

[He pauses to make sure that Yuri is following along.]

So, yes. If the number of fractured dimensions reaches one million, humanity has failed this test. Our existence hinges on it.

[hesperos]

So the spirits or whatever decided to be a couple of bastards just because they felt like it, got it.

[ Because apparently that's how Yuri's going to be taking this. He's following along great (this time)!

Well, he's relieved Ridaeux isn't destroying worlds or dimensions for kicks, but that's still a shitty situation. Talk about being stuck with a job nobody would want. ]

Man, that really sucks. I'm actually glad I came on by to ask--it looks like with the way's Jericho is phrasing this stuff, he's not allowing any of us to understand the full story behind them.

...And with that said, I'm also glad you told me. I know this stuff's supposed to be classified or something, but it does make a difference knowing what's actually what here.

[evilfrenzy]

[...oh.

Rideaux has to turn away from Yuri for a moment so he can process that reaction. It was not what he was expecting at all, honestly. He has been so accustomed to the destroying dimensions thing for so long, he doesn't really give a damn if the people here look at him differently. It's the people back home he has to be a bit more concerned about. But for whatever reason, he finds himself appreciative that Yuri seems to be understanding about it. The fact that he cares what Yuri thinks about it is more surprising to him, really.

Huh. He wonders if Yuri's own experiences played a part here...?]

Well, you gave me the opportunity to explain, so I figured I may as well take it. I've given you the quick summary, but...if you really want to know the entire story sometime, just ask. Maybe after a few drinks.

[He turns to smirk that trademark smirk of his. It's a little lighter this time, though.]

[hesperos]

That's just the summary?

[ ... Yuri figures if he has a question too he can just ask about it, even without drinks because he's sure Rideaux would be able to explain it. At least somehow the whole 'dimensions' thing is easier to comprehend than something like, let's say, alternate timelines.

That said, he'll just decide that instead of just leaning against the wall he will just comfortably seat himself on the floor, but still with his back to the wall. ]

Heh. I actually would like to know the full deal. I mean, I might have a few more questions even before the night's over or we're talking about it after a few drinks or something. But at the moment I guess I just got most of the pressing ones I could think of out first, you know?

[evilfrenzy]

...It's not exactly pretty.

[And since things already aren't pretty, there's probably a good reason why Rideaux would rather talk about it after a few strong drinks. It gets a little more personal, considering what else he had already revealed to Yuri.]

But, yes. The most pressing part is out of the way. [...] I imagine you've been hounded about your secret as well?

[He got a brief glance at it before exiting the dining hall. It's...intriguing out of context, that's for sure.]

[hesperos]

I'm sure I can handle hearing the whole thing when we get the chance.

[ Yuri can only imagine -- if it involves all that complex stuff with gods and all, it must be a nightmare to even explain it all in full detail. He wonders if he'd be able to understand it all but he still would want to know. ]

I guess. I haven't been exactly accosted at every corner for mine.

You curious about the context behind my secret?

[ He doesn't mind telling Rideaux about it, at any rate. ]

[evilfrenzy]

As deep and dark as all of the secrets are, I imagine some seem much worse in comparison.

[He wouldn't even be surprised if some were momentarily overlooked because of the more "what the fuck"-worthy ones like his.]

That said, I would be lying if I said I wasn't curious. The way yours was written practically begs for context.

[hesperos]

Oh yeah, for sure.

[ ... ]

Anyway, the high-ranking councilman has a name -- it's Ragou. Getting rid of him didn't bring back all of those people he had killed in his sick dungeon of his or elsewhere, but it did stop him from getting anyone else hurt or killed.

You see, that guy decided it was a great idea to make the port town he was the magistrate of suffer from heavy taxes. Those who couldn't afford to pay ended up having one of their loved ones kidnapped and thrown into his dungeon until they could manage to pay what they owe. It didn't even matter to him if it was someone's child he was taking -- and he wasn't the type of guy to wait around. If he didn't have his money when he wanted it, he'd feed who he'd kidnapped straight to monsters.

'Course he had an alternative to them paying him; he told anyone in dire straits that if they brought back a horn from a monster called a 'Rhybgaro' that he'd forgive their debts. Not that was any better because it was tough to even beat something like that, and people were still going to their deaths trying to do exactly that.

After the guy got caught by what he was doing back at the Capital, he used whatever power he had in the council to get off with a slap on the wrist. He planned to go back to doing the same damn thing he was doing before too. So I took matters into my own hands and killed him.

Then there's the knight captain, Cumore. He was already an annoying bastard when he was hanging around Zaphias, but being out of the Capital seemed to upgrade him into a full bonafide, unrepentant asshole. When he became in charge of a new town called Heliord, he spread false rumors that anyone who'd help with the construction of the town through to the end would end up as nobles for their hard work. Of course, he had the people working in terrible conditions with hardly any pay or rest.

When he was run out of there, he became a magistrate for a desert town, and he began to subject the people there to a mission of chasing down Pharaoh in the middle of a desert with no supplies. So, that was practically a death sentence in of itself. He wasn't afraid to send his own men out there too if they pissed him off enough.

Of course, I figured that he'd have too much influence for the law to touch him, so I decided to take care of him too.

[ ... As for the other thing -- there's a bit of pause as he considers his next words carefully. ]

The other part has something to do with a friend. The way things were going I thought it was the only way to put an end to their suffering.

[ No names, though. At least not yet. ]