welcome to the jungle we've got fun and games

[saddleclub]

Who: Y'all
When: Day 8 noonish
Where: THE JUNGLE

[So there is a mostly unexplored jungle out there.

It seems like a good day to explore it, eh?

Please look out for:

Venomous snakes, the smaller ones will leave you fevered and nauseas, the larger may stop your heart.

Spores, inhaling them can leave you with mild to severe continuing hallucinations

Pollen, it may make you sneeze.

Dark shadows in the undergrowth, that seem to whisper as you pass. In familiar voices...? Or that's just the wind.

Vicious monsters. They want to eat you.

And look out, if you go exploring, because halfway through your adventure the sky seems to open up and pour on you, try to find a safe shelter--if that exists in the jungle.

For those of you not inclined to explore well, you may see lights in the jungle, little wisps, of light in the growth, or maybe it's your team colors you see? The more you look the more you feel practically compelled to follow those lights and flashes of something familiar....

Maybe you get caught by the jungle's dangers, trapped in a cave by the downpour, or maybe you make it to an odd break around a still pond, the surface so smooth it's almost like a mirror. If you look in, your reflection looks back. And it smiles at you.

And if you make it this far, if you look deep into your reflection and let it stare back, you might find yourself leaning down, towards it--hopefully you have a companion to pull you back before pale arms reach to pull you in and drown you.

Even if you're pulled back from the glass pool, a strange dread lingers with you for a while. And the urge to be near others is incredibly strong. Be it their presence or their touch you crave, you need reassurance.

((OOC: Explore, use this an excuse for wet huddling together in a cave while hallucinating, get cool new scars from fighting beasts, encounter the glassy pool, or whatever! Grab a buddy, have a good(?) time.))]

Comments

[ruinatings]

Jusis...

[He's sitting back now, to look Jusis sternly in the eye.]

The Chancellor and I orchestrated a world war, and a near-assassination of the emperor. It is entirely likely that, aside from the charms of our imperial heirs, only the ability to label it a coup stands between the empire and dissolution. For such a grave crime, the international community must be given a sense of justice.

With that in mind, do you think standing behind my right to rule is what's best for our people?

[saddleclub]

I'm not talking about the dukedom! You've made it clear that that title is not yours nor shall ever be.

But resigning yourself to never speak to me? To some punishment that would leave you dead or bound away from anything you might do to atone for those actions is cowardice and I will not stand for it.

[ruinatings]

It is not cowardice!

[At least, Rufus doesn't think so. Or didn't intend it to be, anyway. But Rufus has also been depressed and insecure for like, his whole life, so.]

This is the way I choose to hold my head up both as that man's follower and as a noble. I understand it was foolish to avoid you, but do not belittle that decision.

[saddleclub]

Is sacrificing yourself alone really the conclusion you've come to, after all you've told me?

[ruinatings]

Is it self-sacrifice now to face judgement for crimes you truly committed?

[saddleclub]

It is when there are other things you could do to make up for them that aren't resignation to your own execution!

[ruinatings]

I'm sure the law would find your argument enlightening.

[saddleclub]

There are a myriad of ways you can be held accountable, legally. Don't just assume I'll accept the easiest one.

[ruinatings]

It was a world war, Jusis!

[saddleclub]

Yes, you've said. That's quite a lot for you to make up for, so I suppose it may take your entire lifetime to make a decent start.

[ruinatings]

Well unfortunately, that decision is in the hands of people who are not so soft.

[saddleclub]

If things go as you say they do you cannot expect me to have no say in your fate.

[ruinatings]

...You likely will.

[...Actually probably a lot of soft people will including the fucking soft-ass imperial family. AIDIOS there are so many soft people!!]

But I don't intend to defend myself.

[saddleclub]

You can have your own intentions, I will have mine. However, as you've forfeited your claim to the power and responsibility of our household I will hear no complaints about how I conduct myself or choose to use that influence.

[ruinatings]

Then I shall watch you quietly. But I will not approve.

[saddleclub]

Then it is fortunate I'm not looking for your approval.

[Not about this, anyway.]

[ruinatings]

...Right, then.

[Okay. FINE this is how it'll be. The conversation has definitely sobered Rufus up a bit and now he's grumpy, so--]

You can leave now.

[saddleclub]

...

[Maybe he ruined a tender moment by being stubborn but... he can't regret anything he said. He loves his brother, even if Rufus won't accept it. So he gets to his feet kind of stiffly. He feels a bit like he's 12 and being dismissed and silently scolded for being stupid and he doesn't like it. But he also doesn't have any excuse to stay that won't sound either pathetic or petulant, and he definitely at least wants to maintain some dignity so his brother doesn't think entirely badly of him.]

Very well.