[ PERMANENT. ] a (k)atch-all log for kenos

[dawnlord]

WHO: Set ( redsoil ), Bondrewd ( dawnlord ), Drizzt ( twohand ), et. al
WHAT: i actually can't stand month-by-month logs so i'm gonna crush my boys into one perma-log for anything outside of events
WHERE & WHEN: Listed in comment headers, or under the cut.
WARNINGS: General warnings for violence, vulgarity and unethical science. Will update/comment with warnings!


I struggle so hard w/ month-by-month logs, so y'all have to deal with my weird organization...

— [MARCH | SET] GOT NO SHAME, GOT NO PRIDE

Comments

[epiprocta]

[ Literal guinea pigs then, huh. Gen frowns at that, but doesn't make any particular comment, simply straightening up and following a few paces after Bondrewd so he can hurry up and put these boxes down. It's not like he likes the thought of these guys being used for experiments. He doesn't mind animals, and he's pretty sure he'd have a stronger reaction to all this if Bondrewd was experimenting on, say, puppies or something. But guinea pigs are stupid, right? They probably don't really understand what's going on, so. It's probably fine. (Probably.)

Especially given what Bondrewd says next. ]

... that's a hell of a thing to be researching.

[ Gen grunts as he turns away, then there's the heavy thump as he lowers them onto a nearby empty space. But more importantly, it gives him a moment to organize his own thoughts on the subject. He'd admittedly wondered himself what would happen to the Meridian if Zenith won -- given the way the fights for the Oracles have gone thus far, he's pretty sure most of the Meridian will emerge from the fight alive, barring some sort of freak incident. And then what? Would they simply be expected to live in the resulting new world? That would be too much of a risk wouldn't it, letting them exist freely? But surely Yima wouldn't vouch for something as barbaric as an execution, right?

He turns to lean against the table, arms crossed now as he watches Bondrewd feeding his little critters; his expression's hardened to something more grim than it is petulant, a touch more serious than his usual shitty scowls. ]

They'll adapt. People adapt when they have to. If their worlds are gone -- too bad, they'll just have to live with it. [ But he's saying it just to say it; his inflection is flat, and he hardly believes what he's saying. ] Or, what. You gonna make them forget their worlds or something to make it easier? [ A squint. ] And why d'you even care so much about them, anyway. You got someone on that side you wanna keep safe?

cw mad science

[dawnlord]

[ LITERAL GUINEA PIGS.

He fetches himself up against a wall, undoubtedly pleased to be able to share his ideas and findings with a member of his faction — as he had always enjoyed conveying his work to others. The Umbra Hands had been fine companions, invested in his vision and efforts either as a result of their free will, or a small application of Zoaholic to their minds, and sharing that camaraderie with other like-minded Zenites was alleviating the need for him to skulk about all on his own. Companions meant help, after all. ]

Not all of them will.

[ He says it simply, effortlessly. As if announcing the death of someone, without verbal affect or compassion — some of the Meridian will choose to die, than accept Zenite victory, he knows. Having spent time among them, Gen ought to know that as well. ]

Do not be over-confident in their ability to accept our victory, Mister Minegishi. Some will choose to not live with it, and will either take their own lives or seek to ruin the world we will create out of spite. [ Or, what. Gen says, and all of a sudden, Bondrewd's posture is hulking. The room darkens around them almost, encroaching and cool and intense as he pulses with faint violet energy. Threatening, without being given to ego — he has no desire to punish or force Gen to submit, he simply exists as a sizeable, unstoppable force for the moment. ] To prevent both options, I will do whatever it takes to preserve their lives and integrate them into the world. If they fight, I will take their limbs so they cannot. If they cry out in denial, I will take their tongues. If they languish in depression, I will change their minds so they can have naught but happiness to experience.

[ All at once, the darkness flickers out. Away, and Bondrewd reaches down to pick up one of the cavies and stroke under its chin. ]

It is because I love them all, of course. Every Shardbearer in Kenos is adorable to me, and deserves a future. Would you not agree? Preserving those we have left is the most important thing.

[epiprocta]

[ He doesn't disagree with that first bit -- Gen has no doubt that some of the Meridian he knows would rather bite their own tongues and choke to death on their own blood than accept a Zenith victory. And while he doesn't really care about the fate of whatever new world will come about if Zenith wins, an uneasy sensation prickles in his chest at the thought of the some of the Meridian he favors choosing such fates instead of accepting their places in a new world where they can probably flourish.

So it's only when Bondrewd keeps going that his brow furrows.

And how can it not? Gen says nothing at first, and doesn't move from where he's leaning against that table, but there are subtle indications in his body language that he's not immune to the overwhelming pressure Bondrewd is starting to exude. The line of his shoulders hardens with tension, and those pointy canine ears of his flick back for a moment; every hair at the back of his neck is standing on end. He pauses before answering less because he needs to think, and more because he needs that moment to steady his breaths and iron his voice flat once more. ]

Didn't you get the order wrong? Feels like you should be starting from that last one before you go straight to cutting off limbs and tongues, you fucking psycho.

[ The insult is said so casually that it could almost come across as friendly, if it weren't for the sharp edge to the way Gen spits out his words. Like hell he wants to imagine some of the Meridian Shardbearers mutilated like that. ]

You're not supposed to talk about people like that if you really 'love' them. They'd probably rather die than exist like that.

[ A guinea pig chooses to come snuffling curiously at him the next moment, and Gen huffs a sigh before nudging it away with the side of his boot. There's the quiet thump of his tail lashing behind him in agitation, knocking against the table's leg, a sharp contrast to his attempts to feign calm. ]

... an' how're you planning on changing their minds? You better not start saying some horseshit about how you're gonna drug them to the gills, or something like that.

[dawnlord]

My, my. Naturally, I will exhaust every other avenue — perhaps, I should admit that I am only thinking of those who have fully given themselves to Meridian. You see it in some of them, do you not? The absolute refusal to accept Zenith.

[ There are a few glowing examples he speaks of, those who look at Zenith like it is the antithesis of all they are. The ones who will cut off their nose to spite their face, even. Certainly, there are and will be Zenites who feel the same, but because he's part of their faction, he's more inclined to accept their behavior and the way they subsume themselves within its power. ]

The ones who falter in their faith will not require such extreme treatment. However.

[ Casually, he tilts his head to the side. He'll answer the "change their minds" part later, when he has an idea that is scientifically sound. Gen's not far off the mark, though. He knows drugs and has heard of spells now that can accomplish such a feat easily. ( Why not just modify a memory, or strip it away? ) ]

They cannot die if they have no ability to. More than that, if you love someone — would you not want to protect them from themselves and their own shortcomings? No matter the cost, ensuring they enter the future you created for them and want for them is the ultimate showing of love. So, perhaps I should ask. What do you think love truly is, Mister Minegishi?

[epiprocta]

[ This is fucked. This whole conversation is fucked. He knows it, he knows it. But even so ...

he hates that his first thought is that, if this is truly a 'solution' that Bondrewd is thinking of reserving for those Meridian who are too far gone to waver in their devotion, then it should serve well as a threat to sway those who can be swayed, right?

Distracted by that niggling little thought, Gen huffs as he throws out a half-assed, dismissive answer in response to Bondrewd's question: ]

Yeah, yeah, whatever. Love is making sure that the people important to you are safe no matter what. I get it. [ But that in itself is telling, isn't it? That Gen can throw out such an answer with zero hesitation and zero nuance. Because despite his casual wording, that truly is the crux of what he believes. He would sell his soul to the devil five times over to protect the one he treasures most; love means keeping those most important to you whole and close no matter the cost. ] ... but is whatever you're doing with these guinea pigs really going to help? They're just guinea pigs.

[ Stupid little creatures lacking shards. There's a big difference, isn't there? Gen can't imagine whatever Bondrewd is planning with these rodents working just as well for Shardbearers, and the thought has an uneasy feeling squirming in his guts. Even worse than the prospect of losing some of the people he cares about to this war would be having them around, but warped beyond recovery because whatever Bondrewd is planning went awry. ]

Can't really bring myself to trust in whatever you're doing here, if all you're doing is fucking around with these things.