KENOS INBOX

[erbe]

COMMUNION

Reaching out to Rin is like stepping into a moonlit parlor. Everything is quiet, muted, and neatly tucked away. Almost like a "lobby," of sorts to keep visitors away from the rest of what goes on in her head... and her heart. This space is cool, and placid. Much like the surface of a lake in winter as it reflects the pale glow of the celestial bodies hanging above it in the sky.

A reflection of serenity rather the true thing. A mask of elegance to hide anything that may be unsightly. Anything that may betray her.

✧ Specifics

✦ Unable to block out: Harbinger
✦ Compatible with: Iconoclast | Advocate
✦ Discord Accrual: Exalt

(CODE)

Comments

[fishfearme]

[Byleth was aware Dimitri had attempted to kill someone - the man had confessed it himself - but he was unaware it had been Rin and declared in such a... bizarre and villainous way.]

...no, she didn't. She did warn me to stay away from him, though.

[Which he had, y'know, ignored (teenage rebellion!).]

[erbe]

Mm, he might be better now, but he's the type to keep taking on too much until it breaks him. And clearly when he breaks it can be fatal.

[A beat, a breath, before something occurs to her. A reminder. The feeling of ( ! ) going off like a bell in her mind.]

Actually, Sothis said she'd have you make a list of people you know so I could weed out the troublemakers for you.

[fishfearme]

[Yes, Byleth knew Dimitri shouldered too much - had told him to prioritise his own health over the others, but knew he'd been brushed aside even as Dimitri smiled and verbally agreed. It left him at a bit of a loss on how to handle it, because if Dimitri turned into a murderous crazed man whenever the stress got to him...

But these thoughts were derailed when Rin spoke up again.]

A list...? Oh. Oh!

[Yeah, Sothis mentioned a list! Uh, but...]

Well, she told me to write a list, but she called it a 'list of degenerates'. She didn't clarify on what constituted as a degenerate either, so... I haven't written it yet.

[erbe]

That's because everyone is a degenerate to her! Just give me a list of people that you feel close to, or happen to be in your life fairly often. Like "recurring characters" in a book.

how many red flags can you spot

[fishfearme]

I see. One moment.

[Beep boop he's compiling his list, and: done!]

These are the ones I feel close to either in terms of friendship, comradery, or friendly acquaintanceship: Claude, Dimitri, Set, Hayame, Jyn, Link, Bondrewd and yourself through Sothis, apparently.

[...]

And Sothis, of course.

wow its like wearing rose tinted glasses

[erbe]

I'll have to do research on some of those, but Set is an "undesirable" for sure. He was laughing and cackling and cheering Dimitri on to have me killed. I mean — unless you condone that behavior, but it might be directed at you one day.

[fishfearme]

There's no need to be concerned about Set. I've a plan regarding him.

[His plan is literally: 'I'm going to ~~change him~~' except by 'change' Byleth is going to out-stubborn him into happiness somehow (he has not actually finished his plan, he has about 10% of a plan, but do not underestimate the human willingness to dedicate themselves to an impossible task just because someone told them it couldn't be done (yes Sothis has told him this is dumb (yes he is ignoring her))).]

I don't condone encouragement of cold-blooded murder, of course. If you find that Set is influencing Dimitri or others to endanger your life, please reach out to me. I'll protect you.

[erbe]

[Oh, Byleth. If Rin knew your plan for Set she'd send you to hell, drag you back out, and beat your ass again over it.]

No. I'm also someone on your list to be cautious about. As someone who wasn't completely honest with Dimitri and who is aligned to a rival faction you should only view me as a necessary resource when it comes to unavoidable transactions. This may sound odd coming from someone helping you, but I promised Sothis I'd be honest because she saved my life.

[fishfearme]

...I see. Thank you for your honesty, but it doesn't change my offer.

[Byleth knows this game, he's danced this dance with other mercenaries! Transactional relationships were more their thing, with how fleeting connections could be - the life expectancy of a mercenary in Fódlan was alarmingly short, with Jeralt being the notable exception. You didn't have to trust the mercenary you were partnered with to achieve mission objectives - you just had to be aware enough to not be backstabbed or to be screwed over. They were still allies, though.]

I don't need to trust you to preserve your life, or to aid you. I'm also aware that you may have ulterior motive... it matters not. I only have to be careful not to be tricked by you, right?

[erbe]

Very well. If that's what you insist on, then I shall use you as I see fit.

[So she says, but Tohsaka is the type to harbor an odd sense of responsibility or obligation. Byleth might just find that when Rin refuses to keep her word it's usually for the benefit of others despite how unsavory a picture she may paint of herself.]

Are any of your list in Zenith?

[fishfearme]

I'll try my best to be useful.

[And he means it too.]

The only Zenith on my list is Jyn, a new convert. Bondrewd was a Zenith, but recently converted to Meridian. And, of course, there's you.

[erbe]

[Zenith to Meridian seems like a natural pipeline to her, but isn't the other way around backwards? She'll have to look into Bondrewd. That sounds suspicious.]

And what about non-humans? They're more unpredictable since they share different sensabilities.

[fishfearme]

Do you mean Hayame? She's a jinba and part of Meridan.

[There's a bit of... defensiveness to his tone there.]

And you already know of Set's status, I assume.

[erbe]

Oh — is Hayame the woman who ripped out Sebastian's eye?

[fishfearme]

I wasn't there for that but that sounds like her, yes.

[erbe]

Then I would consider being cautious around her, too. She seems extremely volatile. However if she's plucking eyes from demons she can't be all bad.

[fishfearme]

We have an understanding, and yes, likely Sebastian deserved it.

[erbe]

There is no "likely" about it. While his hospitality may be second to none, he is still a demon. A true demon, and you would know if Sothis wasn't at the forefront.

Anyway, I will conduct research on the rest. Is there anything else you think you may need of me?

[fishfearme]

[Hold as he thinks for a moment.]

...one thing. Why exactly did Dimitri try to kill you? I'm... wondering what may trigger such outbursts in the future.

[erbe]

When we first met I didn't trust him, so I gave him an alias. He found out my real name in a time of mental unrest, and also found out I was Zenith aligned. The combination of the three factors broke him, and he assumed that I personally wanted to prevent him from his world being reborn.

[fishfearme]

That is........ quite the leap in logic.

[Hopefully, it was mostly the 'mental unrest' that drove Dimitri to do that.]

[erbe]

[Sorry Byleth. Dimitri is the kind of guy who assumes a 9yo girl orchestrated the death of his father when he's unwell.]

Mm, it caught me off guard and I had to make a run for it.

[fishfearme]

I think I... vaguely recall something like that...

[His awareness of the outside world while Sothis was firmly at the wheel was reduced to nothing more than vague flashes and split-second moments of clarity. He did remember hearing Rin's voice at some point.]

But that's troubling, that he'd make such... ah, creative conclusions from such a minor infraction.

[erbe]

He reached out to apologize, but I doubt he's "all better". Keep an eye on him, or he's bound to destabilize again

[fishfearme]

Understood. Thank you for the advice.

[He made a mental note to keep a close eye on Dimitri. Well, he's invited him to join him in sparring more often, so...]

I'll leave you to your research. Feel free to contact me with any questions or needs you may have.