[ A low exhale. A pause, before Amos decides to reach out to her after all, broadcasted movements before his hand rests on her shoulder. A tentative smile.
Because Amos can't read the conflict in her expression. Would Cap agree to help him with something like this, if he was here, if he was Zenith? ... No, he probably wouldn't, and it's the first time Amos has really considered that. He'd trusted Holden to be on the right team, but it's been years since he last saw him. He's pledged himself to Yima now, and she wants this done, so the part where the two would almost certainly be at odds doesn't so much as register for him.
This is war. War is messy. Yima wants this. Yima is his person now, above all others.
Gavial is determined to help him, and only wants as few people to get hurt as possible. It's a good goal, so that's all he sees. ]
Yeah, I figured you might be. [ Good at causing a scene. A bit of levity, right? Since the peskiness of the matter is solved — Gavial is on board. ] Don't think I should really go there until it's time, but anything you can do to help in advance too, that's awesome. There's gotta be a less populated area nearby or something to draw people to. Somewhere you can get a little destructive without actually hurting anybody. Lure people out of their capital... I think there was a park nearby or something? Last time I was there I was with you, so I dunno...
[ He shrugs it off. Gives her shoulder a friendly little shake before withdrawing, hands folded back in his lap. There's no fidgeting anymore. ]
[She should probably feel better about the trust he’s putting in her. It’s like… she does, and she doesn’t. It might be case closed, she’s on board, but the whole thing is already starting to give her a bad feeling.
At least causing a scene should be an easy mode task, considering the state Springstar’s been in over recent weeks. All signs were pointing at those monsters plaguing the streets coming from the Below, but that didn’t stop a lot of the civilians there giving her the stink-eye and all but leveling suspicions her way about Zenith’s involvement. She’d figured it just for nonsense, but this is starting to make her rethink that a little. Though, surely if Amos knew anything about a connection there, he’d tell her. Right?
Ugh, these are exactly the mind games she hates, and as much as the thought of it makes her want to grimace, she refrains. So instead she tries to give a smile in return at that friendly touch of his, but it’s definitely not as lively as those that typically brighten her face.]
Shouldn’t be too hard to cause trouble and draw some eyes away, especially with as messy as things are in the city lately…
[She lets the thought trail off, glancing away for just a moment before her gaze resettles on him.]
Just for the record, [she says, leaning in just a little closer,] I think this is an insane idea. But if it’s Yima calling the shots for this, there’s no backing down, right?
[Normally, she might think to buck against that idea. But after that meeting they’d had with Yima weeks back… maybe she’s not as fully confident in their leader as he clearly is, but there is something there.]
[ Gavial's goal, a good one: Limit the number of casualties. He's all for it.
Silco's goal, a good one: Sow chaos in Springstar, and it just so happens to be done via letting Ryad off its leash. He's all for it.
At no point does it cross Amos' mind that these two are in direct opposition of one another. They're related, and yet not at all — compartmentalized into totally different slots of his brain as he focuses on laying the groundwork, because the latter is setting the stage and the former is his good friend helping him out for a noble cause.
So as Gavial leans in he reciprocates, like they're affectionate friends speaking in hushed tones so as to not spoil a surprise party for someone else. Everything is fine. Everyone is getting what they want here. ]
Yup. No backing down. [ He says it amicably; confirming that the cake has been ordered. ] I know, it's a little nuts. I dunno if anyone's tried to assassinate a Tribune before, let alone if they pulled it off. Just gotta be smart about it, right? I... embraced Zenith fully, I guess. Figure that'll help me see it through.
[ He doesn't know how many before him have ever fully harmonized — maybe that'll be the difference maker for them and this insane plot. Why couldn't it be, right? ]
[She might find this is not quite the surprise party she’d been expecting to help set up. But it’s important to her friend, important to the shared cause they’re supposed to be in together with here, so. Yeah. She’ll do it.
And maybe it’s for the best to follow his lead here, if he’s as all-in on Zenith now as he says he is. She’s been too used to playing the neutral party for most of her life, but it’s been getting close to a year now since she’s shown up here. No longer on Terra, no longer with Rhodes Island—which means it’s no longer necessary to cling to that veil of neutrality that allowed them to do the work that they did. Particularly when she’s already thrown her lot in with one side. She’s gotta make good on that, or what’s the point?
So even if her own footing on treading the Zenith path is more unsteady, she’ll fall back on what matters to her at the most basic level: helping her friends out.]
Well, you don’t need to rely on that alone, alright? I got your back.
[Just gotta be smart about it, right. Gavial usually isn’t one to subscribe to the ‘fight smart not hard’ way of life, but she can see the value of it in something like this.]
Can’t call it a real successful mission unless you get back home when all is said and done.
[ Amos bumps their shoulders before pulling back a little, smiling as he does. She's got his back; he'll have hers if she ever asks for it, too. What else're friends for, right? ]
Well, yeah. I ain't exactly planning on dying.
[ There's good humour in his voice, though; he isn't dismissing the possibility or being flippant about it, but what else can you do, right? Everything is safe and calm right now; no sense in worrying at this exact moment. Especially not with such good company. ]
I mean, I know I might, but I'm working on taking steps to increase my odds. Picked up a new spell I wouldn't have thought to have otherwise that'll keep me stealthy, and... Shit. That's what I got you for, right? And there'll be others, too. We ain't alone.
[ He doesn't quite beam back at her, but there is warmth in his voice, to his expression. Like down in the basement, like in Highstorm proper, and like they will be on this mission — they aren't alone, and they'll all be the stronger for it. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Because Amos can't read the conflict in her expression. Would Cap agree to help him with something like this, if he was here, if he was Zenith? ... No, he probably wouldn't, and it's the first time Amos has really considered that. He'd trusted Holden to be on the right team, but it's been years since he last saw him. He's pledged himself to Yima now, and she wants this done, so the part where the two would almost certainly be at odds doesn't so much as register for him.
This is war. War is messy. Yima wants this. Yima is his person now, above all others.
Gavial is determined to help him, and only wants as few people to get hurt as possible. It's a good goal, so that's all he sees. ]
Yeah, I figured you might be. [ Good at causing a scene. A bit of levity, right? Since the peskiness of the matter is solved — Gavial is on board. ] Don't think I should really go there until it's time, but anything you can do to help in advance too, that's awesome. There's gotta be a less populated area nearby or something to draw people to. Somewhere you can get a little destructive without actually hurting anybody. Lure people out of their capital... I think there was a park nearby or something? Last time I was there I was with you, so I dunno...
[ He shrugs it off. Gives her shoulder a friendly little shake before withdrawing, hands folded back in his lap. There's no fidgeting anymore. ]
I trust you. I know you'll do the right thing.
no subject
At least causing a scene should be an easy mode task, considering the state Springstar’s been in over recent weeks. All signs were pointing at those monsters plaguing the streets coming from the Below, but that didn’t stop a lot of the civilians there giving her the stink-eye and all but leveling suspicions her way about Zenith’s involvement. She’d figured it just for nonsense, but this is starting to make her rethink that a little. Though, surely if Amos knew anything about a connection there, he’d tell her. Right?
Ugh, these are exactly the mind games she hates, and as much as the thought of it makes her want to grimace, she refrains. So instead she tries to give a smile in return at that friendly touch of his, but it’s definitely not as lively as those that typically brighten her face.]
Shouldn’t be too hard to cause trouble and draw some eyes away, especially with as messy as things are in the city lately…
[She lets the thought trail off, glancing away for just a moment before her gaze resettles on him.]
Just for the record, [she says, leaning in just a little closer,] I think this is an insane idea. But if it’s Yima calling the shots for this, there’s no backing down, right?
[Normally, she might think to buck against that idea. But after that meeting they’d had with Yima weeks back… maybe she’s not as fully confident in their leader as he clearly is, but there is something there.]
no subject
Silco's goal, a good one: Sow chaos in Springstar, and it just so happens to be done via letting Ryad off its leash. He's all for it.
At no point does it cross Amos' mind that these two are in direct opposition of one another. They're related, and yet not at all — compartmentalized into totally different slots of his brain as he focuses on laying the groundwork, because the latter is setting the stage and the former is his good friend helping him out for a noble cause.
So as Gavial leans in he reciprocates, like they're affectionate friends speaking in hushed tones so as to not spoil a surprise party for someone else. Everything is fine. Everyone is getting what they want here. ]
Yup. No backing down. [ He says it amicably; confirming that the cake has been ordered. ] I know, it's a little nuts. I dunno if anyone's tried to assassinate a Tribune before, let alone if they pulled it off. Just gotta be smart about it, right? I... embraced Zenith fully, I guess. Figure that'll help me see it through.
[ He doesn't know how many before him have ever fully harmonized — maybe that'll be the difference maker for them and this insane plot. Why couldn't it be, right? ]
no subject
And maybe it’s for the best to follow his lead here, if he’s as all-in on Zenith now as he says he is. She’s been too used to playing the neutral party for most of her life, but it’s been getting close to a year now since she’s shown up here. No longer on Terra, no longer with Rhodes Island—which means it’s no longer necessary to cling to that veil of neutrality that allowed them to do the work that they did. Particularly when she’s already thrown her lot in with one side. She’s gotta make good on that, or what’s the point?
So even if her own footing on treading the Zenith path is more unsteady, she’ll fall back on what matters to her at the most basic level: helping her friends out.]
Well, you don’t need to rely on that alone, alright? I got your back.
[Just gotta be smart about it, right. Gavial usually isn’t one to subscribe to the ‘fight smart not hard’ way of life, but she can see the value of it in something like this.]
Can’t call it a real successful mission unless you get back home when all is said and done.
no subject
Well, yeah. I ain't exactly planning on dying.
[ There's good humour in his voice, though; he isn't dismissing the possibility or being flippant about it, but what else can you do, right? Everything is safe and calm right now; no sense in worrying at this exact moment. Especially not with such good company. ]
I mean, I know I might, but I'm working on taking steps to increase my odds. Picked up a new spell I wouldn't have thought to have otherwise that'll keep me stealthy, and... Shit. That's what I got you for, right? And there'll be others, too. We ain't alone.
[ He doesn't quite beam back at her, but there is warmth in his voice, to his expression. Like down in the basement, like in Highstorm proper, and like they will be on this mission — they aren't alone, and they'll all be the stronger for it. ]