PLAN TIME

[twibeast]

[ Beast waits until the next morning to say anything to the rest of the group, in part because it's a little late when they get home and he doesn't want to gather everyone on short notice and also because he needs some time to collect himself. First thing in the morning though he sends the message through discordia. ]

@ everyone
The Authority has been found.

She's one of the regulars at the Phantasma Fantastique that Sir Lion described. There is no doubt about it, she confirmed it once she realized what I was. I fortunately managed to record the conversation between us and I will upload it as soon as [ he figures out how ] I am able to.

I would like to propose a meeting at the mansion in Invidia this afternoon so we can pool together any other knowledge we have and start to formulate a plan. It should be easier to figure one out in person than over messages. If you know of any new Executors or ones who don't check their phone as often be sure to let them know.

[ He pauses a moment, thinking something over, before quickly adding: ]

On another note, I would like to make a personal request.
I would greatly appreciate it if you could all try calling me Achilles for the next little while.
Lately I have been thinking of picking a new name for myself and am quite fond of this one so I would like to hear how it sounds coming from everyone else before I make up my mind. Don't worry though, I will still respond to Beast if you call me that instead.

Thank you. I shall see you all later today.


[ A few hours later, with some help from Rei, the audio file gets uploaded to the group chat. The irrelevant stuff with the "masked guest" and security has been cut so all it includes is his conversation with Greta from beginning to end, but he still provides a time stamp to when she reveals herself for anyone that wants to get to the point. The audio quality is shockingly well for being in his pocket the whole time, so both he and Greta can be heard clearly. (because that'll just make it easier for all of us) In case anyone misses it or needs a refresher, he plays it again at the meeting, right at the start.

Now, let's hash this out. ]

Comments

[mementomoritz]

This whole layer does seem to be about winning, even if it means taking a big risk... Maybe especially then.

[discutio]

[hm]

...So what happens when she does lose, I wonder?

[swordofajerk]

Someone becomes the new Authority, I'm assuming.

[He's new to this but the logic follows.]

[discutio]

That's what I presume as well, as it's what happened last time.

I'm proposing that's the exact angle we take on this. Meet her on her own battlefield, and ensure she loses by any means necessary.

[alcahest]

I don't think it's about the "winning" kind of losing, though... She sounded more like she didn't want to lose things. Like maybe there was a time in her past when she had nothing.

So we'd have to take it from her.

[ she sounds pretty depressed about this. ]

[discutio]

...I suppose we will. But it's what's going to be necessary, if she can't be reasoned with.

[alcahest]

[ if she can't be reasoned with, huh... ]

Well — it seems like maybe we could still "win" against her, if we could convince her to gamble her fortune. Otherwise, a theft, or going through the bank's system to take her funds...

[discutio]

...Or perhaps both.

[alcahest]

No matter what we do, I think it'll have to be at least a little dramatic. It doesn't need to be public the way we did with Esme, but... just taking it behind her back won't have much of an impact, will it?

[twibeast]

You... may be onto something there.

[ He still doesn’t think staying in purgatory long term is good for any of these people even if they don’t turn into revenants, but he can’t help thinking back to what Monarch said about Esme’s memories. ]

Perhaps there is a way to give it all back to her after we’re able to pass through... assuming of course she doesn’t become like Esme did...

[alcahest]

It won't help. If it was about that, she would have just let us pass.

[ she's sure of that. because the reason Greta refused, the reason Esme refused, the problem looming over all of this that is only frightening when she thinks of it— ]

It's because the Cogs of Renewal are going to take everything away from her.

[daughterofthemark]

[............oh.]

For her, the question is whether she will protect herself or simply give up.

[alcahest]

Right. Letting us through, when she knows what we're going to do... is like suicide to her.

[daughterofthemark]

...it will be like this every time.

[twibeast]

[ He eyes Mona carefully for a moment, considering what she said. She’s right, that is most assuredly the real issue and to an extent he sympathizes but... ]

Unfortunately... that is the reality of being dead.

I truly believe... that we are not meant to stay here for eternity. This is not a second immortal life where we do whatever we want with no consequences. It is death. It is an end. We are meant to lose what we had. And it is frightening and tragic but...

...If she stays here... if she truly stays here forever like she wants to, it does not matter what material gain she has accumulated or how certain she is that she won’t “lose herself”. If she does not accept that this is death then she will be hollowed out. She will not recognize herself anymore.

Nothing is meant to live or exist forever. All immortal beings are just emotionless husks.

[ He seems to be... very certain and passionate about this? And honestly he could not even tell you exactly why. He just feels this deeply in his soul to be correct. ]

[phantasmagorial]

[ Though she's been quiet through most of the proceedings since I had to catch those Zs, something about all that makes Rei look profoundly, distinctly uncomfortable. ]

[alcahest]

I understand. But... I don't know if she can accept it. I don't know if it's possible.

[ Mona holds her arms across herself, a clear gesture of unease. ]

I think, what Esme thought, and what Greta thinks, is... she "might" lose herself, if she stays here for too long. If the Cogs of Renewal are repaired, then she knows she will. Letting us past... To her, that's suicide. She doesn't want to disappear. So she can't just... not defend herself. And—

[ her hold tightens. ] And— to me, at least... There's a big difference between dying, and being erased.

[twibeast]

I— [ “understand” he almost says but then he stops himself with a sigh. ] Actually, if I am being completely honest I do not fully understand. This sort of thing may just be too alien to me, as someone who was never human in the first place.

[ Oh he’s just. Coming out with it now huh. He had agonized about even just telling one person before but... well there’s no sense in hiding it anymore, is there? The recording even has him saying to Greta that he’s “a few thousand years old” so it’s practically out of the bag anyway, even if no one’s brought it up yet (or noticed, he don’t know). ]

But I do see what you’re getting at. And I can at least understand being afraid to a degree and the instinct to protect yourself. It’s... unfortunate that it needs to be this way.