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

dining hall

[firstaid]

[Well, she's been wondering about Rideaux's secret and it's the one she's looking at and honestly judging a bit. However, as she keeps telling everyone, they shouldn't judge without knowing the whole story...!

So since he's now here...]

Hello, Rideaux.

[She's... doing her best to keep a smile on her face.]

[evilfrenzy]

[Rideaux gives Estelle a slight glance before turning back to the secrets. Her presence causes him to reread her own secret. Hm.]

Princess.

[Kind of a cold acknowledgment rather than a greeting, but he's obviously not in a good mood right now.]

Did you need something?

[firstaid]

[Well, there's no beating around the bush, so...]

Could you elaborate on your secret?

[evilfrenzy]

[...]

Depends. What do you want to know, exactly? I would think that the secret says it all.

[It doesn't. But man, it's such a complicated topic, so a starting point would be good. He and Estelle haven't spoken about his job in the past.]

[firstaid]

Well, I suppose the first question to ask is 'why'?

[Why does he do what he does.]

[evilfrenzy]

To protect the prime dimension.

[He says that in a tone that doesn't sound entirely his, like he's quoting someone else. But then he returns to his actual tone a moment later.]

I don't do it for fun, if that is what you're so concerned about.

[firstaid]

I wouldn't think destroying worlds and dimensions would be fun in the least.

[She's silent for a moment as if pondering over something...]

What is the prime dimension?

[evilfrenzy]

The true, original dimension. The dimensions that we destroy are fractured variations of the prime dimension. Their very existence threatens it.

[firstaid]

...do you know why fractured dimensions exist?

[evilfrenzy]

Yes. [...] Because humanity is currently being tested by the primordial spirits who watch over our world. They began the creation of fractured dimensions, which are in turn created out of impurity. We have been tasked with eliminating the fractured dimensions and striving toward passing this test.

[firstaid]

What would happen if you fail the test?

[evilfrenzy]

Effectively, all humans in the prime dimension will be wiped out.

[firstaid]

So if you don't destroy the other dimensions then your world would perish... You really don't have a choice...

[evilfrenzy]

Afraid not. There's not much we can do about it but accept that it is what it is. Dwelling on it too much is going to be detrimental to our progress.

[He says this all with a certain sort of cold casualness. He's aware of what he's done, but he's been doing it for so long that the gravity of his actions no longer registers.]

[firstaid]

[She notes his tone. That it's probably been something he's been doing so long that he's numb to it.]

I would understand that. You have a job to protect your world that comes at... quite the cost.

[evilfrenzy]

[More than you even know.]

It's not a pretty business, but someone's got to do it.