shapeupship | Opening & mingling!

[He catches the flash of red, noticing it properly for the first time since they started talking. It's surprising, but so was Jade having magic. He wonders if the aspects are linked.]

Not ...really, no. [Pause.] But it's a question of armor, honestly–– Do your men wear something much heavier, Colonel?

[They're certainly linked. Simply not how Mordred may expect.] It varies depending on division and position. Foot soldiers tend to wear plate armour. I'm in my own uniform at present.

[In stepping forwards and gesturing, he reveals the extent of it. Unlike Mordred's movement, it is not silent.] Generally speaking, I'd say our soldiers are more lightly armed. The state of warfare is likely quite different—unless I'm mistaken in assuming you don't use sorcerers in your armies?

[Mordred's quiet for a moment as he accepts the physical invitation to look Jade's uniform over. His immediate thoughts are that the outfit is fine and very detailed; This alone suggests to him certain levels of distinction and competence.]

It's very fine. [A small smile, as he looks up at Jade again.] You must have have worked hard to earn the rights to it.

[Mordred shakes his head.]

You're not mistaken. [He stops there, not eager to highlight Camelot's continuing prejudice.] That your armies use sorcery is... a surprising thing to hear. Wouldn't it be a danger to men of all sides?

Not particularly. [It isn't modesty. Jade doesn't think of himself as working hard to attain his rank because Jade has always found military service very easy. So a simple dismissal as he moves on.]

[But he raises his eyebrows.] Not if the fonists are well-trained and the soldiers are prepared in advanced. I won't go into the technical details, but a mark can be cast on members of one's own side to ensure that attacks do not affect them. Of course, the markings are only so viable on a battlefield with limited visibility. The commanding officer is responsible for anticipating those problems and working through them on the battlefield, as he or she would for technology-based range weaponry—cannons and the like.

[You do have cannons, don't you?]

[Mordred blinks a little in surprise. This is getting technical–– much more technical than even he understood magic to be.]

Markings as barriers I understand, but I fear I'm unfamiliar with canons. [Have... some tech!fail, Jade. Sorry, it's kind of imminent in conversations like these. He does know two range-based weapons, though...] Are they like ballistae and catapults?

[A pause.]

Yes, to a certain extent. The technology is more advanced.

[Mordred's world must be very primitive. Perhaps they're so harsh on mages because they don't understand them?]

I suppose I understand, then. [Enough to get the base concept, anyway.]

Battles remain strategic, even with the use of sorc–– fononry. I confess, that's not what I would have expected. [A beat of silence, in which Mordred reflects on their conversation.]

Malkuth must be an interesting place to live.

[Jade only nods and notes,] I'd be interested in hearing about the sorcerers of Camelot.

[He silently resists the question for a moment, this subject being closer to the bone than Camelot or armor.]

It's not a very pleasant story, I'm afraid... [He sighs.]

Their lives are a never-ending conflict with Albion's people. The five kingdoms fear magic and hunt those who have it [like animals. There's a tiny swell from the underground current of his anger as he says it, but it mostly registers as a deepening of his tone voice and a pause.] and in turn, sorcerers wage war against them.

It's a cycle of fear and violence that continues without end. [His tone says very clearly that he doesn't understand it in the least.]

Edited 2013-04-03 03:50 (UTC)

[That tone, that lack of understanding, that anger is very interesting. Because Mordred is a knight. And yet he sympathizes with those he is charged to protect his people from?]

You sound like you disagree with public policy.

[And as fast as it swelled up to meet him, his anger suddenly turns cold, and dissipates like mist. Mordred sighs, his gaze dropping.]

I think people shouldn't be made to suffer needlessly, if they've not earned it. [A pause, as he turns this back around on Jade, assuming, he, being a soldier, will totalllllly be able to relate to the depths of his capacity for revenge. Totally.]

Don't you agree?

[The thing is, Jade does agree that this shouldn't be allowed.]

[But agreement doesn't really show you what a person thinks. You have to push against them, test them. Don't let them have it easy.]

Is it entirely needless? If there is general distrust for mages, their persecution will consolidate a leader's power, and a stronger, more centralized leader will be able to govern more effectively.

[The limits of how much Mordred is willing to share with a stranger are quickly being reached. And well, shit. Touching on a core belief here, Jade. Because you haven't clearly demonstrated your views about anything related to morality, Mordred has no way of picking out if this is inconsistent coming from you, or not, either.

He hopes you aren't really okay with killing cute little druid creepers.]

Are you... [A beat] You're not serious, are you?

[Jade's opinions on the value of life are entirely his own business. He isn't the one under question right now, after all.]

Is the theory incorrect? I'm unfamiliar with the power structures in Albion.

[...Apparently you are. Silent judgment time, and Mordred's going to clam up further.

He knows there's no lack for logic in the truth about it satisfying someone's needs, but he finds the idea irrelevant and morally bankrupt.]

...You're a sorcerer, a fonon-user, you say. I would think you better than most would understand the meaning behind what you mean to say.

[It's said largely without emotion.]

[Jade does not relent. His own opinions are irrelevant. He is here to advocate for the Devil.]

Do you mean to say that the kings of Albion would not start a hunt for sorcerers for the purposes of strengthening their own holds on their thrones? I can certainly imagine past Emperors of Malkuth undertaking such actions.

That is...

[He's not sure how Jade's continuing to make him feel his own feels, despite him not responding directly and having deflected the conversation back at the other man twice. Mordred knows he should just find a way to excuse himself before he says more than he wants to, but.]

I know King Arthur, a kind and just man, wouldn't be able to bring himself to kill innocent people for the cause you say. He would not think the throne of a kingdom like that worth having... [His idealism might be showing.]

His father... I do not doubt Uther could, but the King's father was... someone... [He trails off, suddenly caught in his own thoughts and feeling a little lost for words.]

[Jade observes the difficulty Mordred is having. He is loyal to his king, but he questions this aspect of his policy, then. And of course he doesn't like the father. But in Jade's own experience, a terrible father can easily produce a much better successor. There is no man to whom Jade would sooner trust a nation than Emperor Peony.]

[His tone remains calm.]

I see. Then, though I myself can't condone killing people for what they are, I trust that the case with your sorcerers must have some justification. A just and kind king, after all, would not hunt innocents, just as a responsible soldier would not follow orders that lead to injustice.

Edited 2013-04-03 06:48 (UTC)

[There seems to be something else there, some unspoken assertion, but Mordred can't be sure, so he simply says;]

Of course. [He doesn't feel much need to explain or discuss further. There's no sense of loyalty or responsibility here. Arthur is kind, Mordred has faith he will bring change in Camelot, and that is enough. Doubt, when and where it occurs, is something for him to deal with on his own time.

He is, however, glad Jade wasn't being legit about the killing of sorcerers thing.]

If I could... [A thoughtful, but not uncertain, pause.] Why did you ask those things? Are you involved in matters like this in your world?

[It was all asked fairly dispassionately, too, Mordred thought. He's level-headed, himself, but Jade's on an entirely different plane. Some things are too close to be subjected to dispassionate scrutiny...]

Edited (...."weren't") 2013-04-03 17:46 (UTC)

Aside from my work with replicas, no. [There's that shrug to Jade's shoulders, like he isn't concerned about anything.] But as we will be working together to reform potentially dangerous lost souls, I think it's important to get to know one another, don't you?

[He stares at Jade. Opening up with a story about sorcery might have been Mordred's choice, but he doesn't see it or what he walked into that way. Will getting to know this person mean having to be even more deliberate about what he says sometimes?

There's a feeling of being watched, and it's strange and a little wearying.]

[When all is said and done, however, Jade is a sorcerer, a soldier and another warden, and for those reasons Mordred still wants to like him.]

[He smiles.]

Ah, well. I suppose there is no harm in that. [He gathers up his communicator, casually signaling his leave.]

I look forward to sharing what we learn, Colonel.

As do I.

[Sorry, Mordred. But you're going to be under a lot of scrutiny. Like everyone else.

Opening & mingling!

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one srs monologue, coming right up

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laaaast one sorry

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1/2 ......napalmed with minimal effort. well done.

2/2 ....woops! nodded off in mid-tag. sorry about that.

no problem