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... It's fine.
[it's nothing that he doesn't think about constantly here anyway.]
There is no magic or anything like that that can stop the witch. But his magic isn't omnipotent either—a person becomes a Membrum only because when he calls, something in their heart answers them.
Crius Castlerock, for instance, never killed once even after becoming a Membrum, because his will was stronger than the witch's.
[between his own experiences and witnessing the memory just now, where crius was basically right about everything ever while lucien otoh has the worst judgment, lucien is convinced that crius is one of the greatest people in the world, actually?]
So the solution is to give the people a reason to reject him. To reveal that contrary to popular belief, he doesn't provide them with any special power, and is nothing more than a stranger to their ear suggesting that they kill. [...] If they realize that, and can truly bring themselves to believe that becoming a Membrum will only result in tragedy and their own death, then they have no reason to accept his contract.
[it's nothing that he doesn't think about constantly here anyway.]
There is no magic or anything like that that can stop the witch. But his magic isn't omnipotent either—a person becomes a Membrum only because when he calls, something in their heart answers them.
Crius Castlerock, for instance, never killed once even after becoming a Membrum, because his will was stronger than the witch's.
[between his own experiences and witnessing the memory just now, where crius was basically right about everything ever while lucien otoh has the worst judgment, lucien is convinced that crius is one of the greatest people in the world, actually?]
So the solution is to give the people a reason to reject him. To reveal that contrary to popular belief, he doesn't provide them with any special power, and is nothing more than a stranger to their ear suggesting that they kill. [...] If they realize that, and can truly bring themselves to believe that becoming a Membrum will only result in tragedy and their own death, then they have no reason to accept his contract.
[a nod]
Of course, people already know rationally not to give into temptation, so we needed to go further.
The plan was for me to give an imperial decree, as those are done so rarely that the people know it to be important. Ideally, Father would've done so, but we knew he would refuse, and thus it fell on me. [when your father reliably sucks so that you can plan based on it...] Even Lister came around to it, and he accused me of having unripe bananas in my head at first.
But as he said, we need three things: credibility, folklore, and impact. We had all three covered with the finer details, thanks to him and Zenn.
[there is an elephant in the room here but anyhow.]
Of course, people already know rationally not to give into temptation, so we needed to go further.
The plan was for me to give an imperial decree, as those are done so rarely that the people know it to be important. Ideally, Father would've done so, but we knew he would refuse, and thus it fell on me. [when your father reliably sucks so that you can plan based on it...] Even Lister came around to it, and he accused me of having unripe bananas in my head at first.
But as he said, we need three things: credibility, folklore, and impact. We had all three covered with the finer details, thanks to him and Zenn.
[there is an elephant in the room here but anyhow.]
Alright. Creative insult. Uncalled for.
[ UNRIPE BANANAS IN THE HEAD? ]
Sounds like you got a lot of things figured out between all of you.
That's good.
[ Whoa... power of friendship or whatever... Tokinaga's not going to point out any flaws or wrenches here, he wants you to succeed. ]
[ UNRIPE BANANAS IN THE HEAD? ]
Sounds like you got a lot of things figured out between all of you.
That's good.
[ Whoa... power of friendship or whatever... Tokinaga's not going to point out any flaws or wrenches here, he wants you to succeed. ]
[tyril started being so mean to lucien the moment they learned [redacted] but (anastasia voice) it's probably okay since lucien doesn't seem to mind
...
there is something bitter, if guilty, in lucien's smile, but he's not going to point out the glaring issue if it hasn't occurred to tokinaga, given that it'll only make tokinaga feel bad.]
The four of them—Lady Anastasia, Crius, Lister, and Zenn—are some of the most reliable people I know. [...] Lady Anastasia wasn't able to work with everyone altogether in her previous lives, so may that be her greatest strength from now on.
...
there is something bitter, if guilty, in lucien's smile, but he's not going to point out the glaring issue if it hasn't occurred to tokinaga, given that it'll only make tokinaga feel bad.]
The four of them—Lady Anastasia, Crius, Lister, and Zenn—are some of the most reliable people I know. [...] Lady Anastasia wasn't able to work with everyone altogether in her previous lives, so may that be her greatest strength from now on.
[lucien is at least pretty sure the witch wouldn't bother with making anastasia a membrum again considering it didn't lead the witch any closer to victory the last time he did that (and also, unlike him, she'd probably be able to resist this time around), so the sole problem really is lucien himself, because nothing says "you are the one and complete failure in this operation" than becoming a membrum the night before your anti-membrum speech, so maybe they should find someone less pathetic to do it? somehow?]
Indeed. They're good people. [and despite lucien's own failings—] And even if it may seem naive, I do genuinely believe in the people's strength, when it comes down to it.
Indeed. They're good people. [and despite lucien's own failings—] And even if it may seem naive, I do genuinely believe in the people's strength, when it comes down to it.
Edited 2025-12-22 16:20 (UTC)
[ Can you stop, you just need to wait until your friendship speech route...
He's quiet again while he stares out at the icy flats of the lake surface. It's not thoughtshare week anymore... he's free to think whatever he wants... ]
I hope you find out what this witch's deal is with your kingdom's history.
He's quiet again while he stares out at the icy flats of the lake surface. It's not thoughtshare week anymore... he's free to think whatever he wants... ]
I hope you find out what this witch's deal is with your kingdom's history.
[unfortunately lucien has accepted there is a real possibility anastasia might rewind time if they can't figure out a replacement for him (the idea that she might rewind time because she doesn't want lucien being dead, personally, does not occur to him) even though he really doesn't want her to use that ability again.]
... As do I. [...] It might sound strange, but a part of me was thinking... if everything could be settled [if lucien can safely come back to life], that I might ask the witch what happened. Not just to understand why he hates us, but...
[has the witch been ruining their lives repeatedly? sure, but—]
Father burned every piece of rare historical text, in the name of some kind of conspiracy. If Ish—the witch—is the only being left in the world who knows the full and true history, then I want to leave behind a record of it.
... As do I. [...] It might sound strange, but a part of me was thinking... if everything could be settled [if lucien can safely come back to life], that I might ask the witch what happened. Not just to understand why he hates us, but...
[has the witch been ruining their lives repeatedly? sure, but—]
Father burned every piece of rare historical text, in the name of some kind of conspiracy. If Ish—the witch—is the only being left in the world who knows the full and true history, then I want to leave behind a record of it.
Edited 2025-12-22 16:36 (UTC)
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