therookery | (no subject)

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Thranduil
RECIPIENT: All characters on the Galicia and the Walrus.
WHAT: DONT BE THAT BITCH.
WHEN: During the boat flight from Minrathous.
WHERE: Boats, Ocean.
NOTES: oooh god I’m on my phone don’t make me link to thing.

Those on the Galicia saw it first hand, but to those on the Walrus, the Venatori abroad the warship pursuing us have made us an offer of safe passage in exchange for the currently incapacitated Archon Radonis, who is aboard.

I would hope [ thranduil’s voice low and dangerous. ] that no one need reminding that the Venatori are liars and their promises worth nothing.

[ but there’s one in every batch who might think first of saving their own skin, and that’s why thranduil is hanging out with the (unconscious) radonis and his friend, a knife. ]

And I would think that we would far prefer to strike fear into the hearts of the Venatori after the ordeal we were put through in Minrathous, with some of our comrades still missing and presumed captured, rather than simper and beg their mercy.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Are we really going to treat an ally's life so cheaply? I can't be a part of that.

...Do you not know who the Archon is, dude?

Yes, I know who he is. I know he's the man they took this trip to speak to. Whatever else he's done, we can't let that work be for nothing.

What work?

Their work! Why do you think they went to Tevinter in the first place?

Tell me what that work was. Tell me what they accomplished. You can't, because you don't know, and also because exactly none of it matters now. The situation's fucked, and if it's between us dying to protect this one asshole and us making a clean getaway, I'm always going with option two.

If we're keeping the Archon, the Venatori are going to fire on that ship. If we toss him in the water, maybe they still fire, maybe they go to scoop him up. But it's better than knowing for sure they're gonna try and sink the Galicia.

Except we aren't talking about his life for ours. It's not as simple as that. Our choices are to give him to them, keep him with us, or kill him now.

We aren't murderers. [ A pause. ] At least, I'm not. He's more use to us alive than dead, especially if they want him, and besides that, they're going to fire on the Galicia anyway.

[ Aro trusts the word of these usurpers about as far as he can throw them. Their guarantees are worthless. ]

If the Archon's not an ally then at the very least he's leverage. Killing him is poor strategy, and we can do better than that.

Look, I'm not saying kill him now. But if I were on that ship and the Venatori were on my tail, I'd be wanting to ditch the albatross around our necks.

If we all risk our lives to save this asshole, he won't be leverage. The Venatori will just tell everyone in Tevinter he's dead and it's not like the citizens can run to Kirkwall to check. If he's good for anything, it'll be insider information on how to get the rest of our people out, and after that he can rot in the dungeons for all I care.

If I'm the end he's only good for information, it's still more use to have it than see it drown with him. Besides, they want him. If they don't mean to kill him themselves then they either want something from him or they don't want us to have him,

Our hand is always stronger with him in it. We have to think beyond this battle.

[ She sighs. ]

Provided we kick ass like I'm hoping we do. Whatever happens, I doubt I'll be involved in the decision making process anyway, but if even one of us dies protecting that--

[ Stopping herself abruptly, she takes a breath. ]

Whatever. You know my feelings on it.

We'll just have to make sure none of us dies.

[ Firmly. He looks set, anyway, and he glances around the deck with some unease. ]

I'm not sure it matters what any of us say, anyway. It won't be our decision in the end.

Probably. Guess we should all shut up about it.

Nothing else for it now. [ He shrugs. ] I'd best get back to work.

Same, dude. Catch you on the flipside.

[ If they end up getting through this. ]