I have to admit... [ Mercedes pauses for another sip of tea, breathing out slowly as she lowers the mug. ] I do find them... very compelling. When I wake up now, the thought of such a scenario actually happening scares me more than anything I can imagine.
... And if this is their way of ensuring our loyalty, I will say it's a very cruel method.
They don't know how to be anything else. They lure us here without giving us the whole story and then just keep lying. When that stops working, they start threatening our people instead. They need us to fight for them, so they do whatever it takes. Even things that just turn us against them.
[Hope and Serah both crumbling to crystal dust in her arms, Pulse and Bodhum both empty and gray. Whether that was a threat or a promise the images are seared into her eyelids every time she blinks, and she has to take a breath before she can say anything more.]
It's not that simple. She's long since learned that destruction without a plan just makes more destruction. This war's caused enough damage. Ending it is a priority, but how? When it's already at their doorsteps, how...]
Fight. Not much else I can do. [She pauses to take a sip of the tea; sweet, but warm.] There's people back home counting on me.
[And if the Emperor wins, if the Emperor gets their way...all turns to dust. Despite the warmth of the tea and the shop, Lightning shivers.]
... Truth be told, something has been bothering me about the nature of this dream.
[ Though she can't blame Lightning for deciding to fight. Nor can she blame the people of either faction, though it certainly doesn't make things easier for Mercedes herself. ]
The whole thing's a mess. [In more ways than one. Watching their worlds die...it takes effort to shove the image aside, focusing on Mercedes in the here and now.] What's eating you about it?
... Felix must have had that dream. Marianne, as well. Both of them come from the same world as I do.
[ Mercedes stares down at her mug, focusing. ]
So it stands to reason that... well, these dreams make no sense. My dream strongly implied that if the Priestess wins, my world will be completely destroyed. While I'm sure their dreams implied that it would be gone if the Emperor were to win.
So... which is it? Is it meant to be destroyed, either way? Or is it not?
[People from the same world, set on opposite sides, experiencing the same dream from two separate sources. The exact same outcome in both.
Yeah, she can see where the thorn would jab into Mercedes. Lightning snorts quietly into her tea, utterly unimpressed at the antics of the Gods of this world. Did they not think someone would notice?]
Pretty sure they both think it's doomed if the other side wins. They've gotten so wrapped up their side winning that they can't see the bigger picture anymore. [She closes her eyes.] They've tried so hard to fool us that they're even fooling themselves.
[how human of them. with the faintest shake of her head, she lifts one hand to her heart.]
Just more smoke and mirrors. Seems like that's all they know how to do.
Then I can't commit to harming people on the other side. I understand that you'll fight, Lightning... but for now, if I don't know for certain that defeating the Priestess will protect my world...
It probably won't, but letting the Emperor win won't save it either. They said they'd let Fellden die if they won the war.
[It's a lose lose situation. The Priestess--if she was telling the truth--would use things wisely. Save all worlds. If she was telling the truth. Lightning's seen too many fal'Cie lies to believes that on face value. With the pieces they have now...she sighs quietly, tone becoming resolute.]
I'm not fighting to help the Priestess win. I'm fighting to buy us time to find another way. If we can figure out what really started this, we can stop it. Make them solve their own problems for once.
[It's a long shot, a pipe dream, but she's done one of those before. l'Cie deal in impossibilities. She looks up, meeting Mercedes' eyes.]
You have to stay alive to protect your world, Mercedes. You have to fight for that, if nothing else.
[Not naive so much as tired of all the fighting. Some people just handle it better than others, that's all.
But choosing to fight by choosing not to fight? It strikes her as an odd decision, one that reeks of not fighting at all, but. Everyone fights in their own way. A blade, magic, it's all she knows. It's what l'Cie were made for. Mercedes' quiet strength and faith is...different. Too different for her to understand. Even so...]
Just be careful. I don't know how the Emperor will take that.
[And you're normally a decent ways from her being able to help, Mercedes. She doesn't like that, either.]
They might have a problem with people who don't fight others head on.
But I've accepted that much and I'll face it to the best of my ability. Please don't worry about me, Lightning; you'll have so much to contend with already.
Wouldn't be the first time. And I won't be fighting alone, so save your worry for yourself.
[That is how this works, right? Seriously, don't worry about her. She has Odin! The two of them can handle just about anything, she'll have you know, so it's really not a problem. The attacking force likely won't see it that way, but...]
I don't want to hear that you got in over your head and got yourself hurt, alright?
With a sigh that borders on both a laugh and a groan, Lightning leans her forehead on one hand. She has two teenage siblings and still walks right into Sass. fal'Cie, but it's been a long week.]
That's not what I meant. I meant you need to be careful to not get hurt in the first place.
[She did get Lightning to kind of smile, yes, and it's followed up by the quirk of her lips as she pauses to take a sip of her tea. We. Funny. Finding allies instead of enemies on what should have been a two sided conflict but is proving to be anything but.]
They can try to manipulate us, but we all have worlds to save. Easier to do that if we're working together.
[Rhetorical question. They'll find a way, or make one if they have to. She's not about to let these fal'Cie act-a-likes win, not this time. It's just going to take time. There's never enough of that. She sets her mug back down, lowering her voice.]
Have you heard from a man named V? He might have some ideas how to get things going.
[Thoughtful is not how she'd ever describe Griffon, the mouthy dickbird that he is, but...yeah, actually, V isn't too bad.]
He definitely uses his head more than his sword. [If he even has one of those. Still.] He's looking into something that might help save this world. Could use the help, if you're willing.
[It'll be dangerous goes unsaid. Who knows how the Faction leaders will take it, but to save this place from them...could be worth it.]
Looks like we'll be working together, then. Good to have you on board.
[It's said honestly, with no small amount of praise leaking into her tone. She's honestly impressed by Mercedes, both on and off the battlefield. Having her on the same team is a blessing.
One they're probably going to need by the end of this, too. You can never have too many healers on board for a mission like this.]
I'll try not to cause you too much trouble this time.
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... And if this is their way of ensuring our loyalty, I will say it's a very cruel method.
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[Hope and Serah both crumbling to crystal dust in her arms, Pulse and Bodhum both empty and gray. Whether that was a threat or a promise the images are seared into her eyelids every time she blinks, and she has to take a breath before she can say anything more.]
It's almost human of them.
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[ But she doesn't approve of it. ]
What will you do, Lightning?
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It's not that simple. She's long since learned that destruction without a plan just makes more destruction. This war's caused enough damage. Ending it is a priority, but how? When it's already at their doorsteps, how...]
Fight. Not much else I can do. [She pauses to take a sip of the tea; sweet, but warm.] There's people back home counting on me.
[And if the Emperor wins, if the Emperor gets their way...all turns to dust. Despite the warmth of the tea and the shop, Lightning shivers.]
I can't let them down now.
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[ Though she can't blame Lightning for deciding to fight. Nor can she blame the people of either faction, though it certainly doesn't make things easier for Mercedes herself. ]
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[You know. Other than the obvious.]
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[ Mercedes stares down at her mug, focusing. ]
So it stands to reason that... well, these dreams make no sense. My dream strongly implied that if the Priestess wins, my world will be completely destroyed. While I'm sure their dreams implied that it would be gone if the Emperor were to win.
So... which is it? Is it meant to be destroyed, either way? Or is it not?
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Yeah, she can see where the thorn would jab into Mercedes. Lightning snorts quietly into her tea, utterly unimpressed at the antics of the Gods of this world. Did they not think someone would notice?]
Pretty sure they both think it's doomed if the other side wins. They've gotten so wrapped up their side winning that they can't see the bigger picture anymore. [She closes her eyes.] They've tried so hard to fool us that they're even fooling themselves.
[how human of them. with the faintest shake of her head, she lifts one hand to her heart.]
Just more smoke and mirrors. Seems like that's all they know how to do.
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[ She can't. There has to be another way. ]
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[It's a lose lose situation. The Priestess--if she was telling the truth--would use things wisely. Save all worlds. If she was telling the truth. Lightning's seen too many fal'Cie lies to believes that on face value. With the pieces they have now...she sighs quietly, tone becoming resolute.]
I'm not fighting to help the Priestess win. I'm fighting to buy us time to find another way. If we can figure out what really started this, we can stop it. Make them solve their own problems for once.
[It's a long shot, a pipe dream, but she's done one of those before. l'Cie deal in impossibilities. She looks up, meeting Mercedes' eyes.]
You have to stay alive to protect your world, Mercedes. You have to fight for that, if nothing else.
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[ She's not that naive. ]
But I think I'll need to fight... in my own way. And for now, the only fighting against the Moon Temple I'll be doing will be defending myself.
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But choosing to fight by choosing not to fight? It strikes her as an odd decision, one that reeks of not fighting at all, but. Everyone fights in their own way. A blade, magic, it's all she knows. It's what l'Cie were made for. Mercedes' quiet strength and faith is...different. Too different for her to understand. Even so...]
Just be careful. I don't know how the Emperor will take that.
[And you're normally a decent ways from her being able to help, Mercedes. She doesn't like that, either.]
They might have a problem with people who don't fight others head on.
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[ Well. Yes. ]
But I've accepted that much and I'll face it to the best of my ability. Please don't worry about me, Lightning; you'll have so much to contend with already.
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[That is how this works, right? Seriously, don't worry about her. She has Odin! The two of them can handle just about anything, she'll have you know, so it's really not a problem. The attacking force likely won't see it that way, but...]
I don't want to hear that you got in over your head and got yourself hurt, alright?
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[ So very solemn. ]
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With a sigh that borders on both a laugh and a groan, Lightning leans her forehead on one hand. She has two teenage siblings and still walks right into Sass. fal'Cie, but it's been a long week.]
That's not what I meant. I meant you need to be careful to not get hurt in the first place.
[She. Probably knows that, but still!]
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[ But it got Lightning to (kind of) smile, didn't it? ]
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[She did get Lightning to kind of smile, yes, and it's followed up by the quirk of her lips as she pauses to take a sip of her tea. We. Funny. Finding allies instead of enemies on what should have been a two sided conflict but is proving to be anything but.]
They can try to manipulate us, but we all have worlds to save. Easier to do that if we're working together.
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[ If that's possible, she wants to find that method. ]
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[Rhetorical question. They'll find a way, or make one if they have to. She's not about to let these fal'Cie act-a-likes win, not this time. It's just going to take time. There's never enough of that. She sets her mug back down, lowering her voice.]
Have you heard from a man named V? He might have some ideas how to get things going.
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[ "Companion". ]
He's a very thoughtful individual, I've come to find.
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He definitely uses his head more than his sword. [If he even has one of those. Still.] He's looking into something that might help save this world. Could use the help, if you're willing.
[It'll be dangerous goes unsaid. Who knows how the Faction leaders will take it, but to save this place from them...could be worth it.]
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[ She knows. And she'd still wanted to help. For the sake of all of the worlds dragged into this, and the one they'd been pulled into. ]
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[It's said honestly, with no small amount of praise leaking into her tone. She's honestly impressed by Mercedes, both on and off the battlefield. Having her on the same team is a blessing.
One they're probably going to need by the end of this, too. You can never have too many healers on board for a mission like this.]
I'll try not to cause you too much trouble this time.
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[ Which she does mean, because so far, any interaction involving Lightning has never been what she's considered to be "trouble". ]
But likewise! I can think of very few people I'd consider more reliable.
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