Video Two// This threat produced by your local high school theater department

[royalguard_style]

[Dante's been the closest things to diligent and vigilant as he can be since the other foreigners were attacked. Since he saw the initial reason for the meeting as a petty political squabble, he was sound asleep until it was too late to go help with the attack. It's not the worst news that could have come out of that meeting, but it still sucks to find out that a war you were supposed to be fighting turned hot, a bunch of innocents got hurt, and the enemy was nowhere to be found.

So here he was, speaking in front of the console and sitting on a flimsy wooden chair. The video is harshly lit with a black background. Dante wanted answers, but apparently circumstances aren't dire enough to scrimp on the dramatic flair. Things only get worse once he actually starts talking.]

You. Yes, you jerks hiding out in the castle right now.

[He makes an exaggerated pointing motion towards the screen.]

A few of the folks here have been waiting a good long time for a piece of you. You know how much it sucks to sit around waiting for an enemy that doesn't feel like showing it's ugly mug?

[He stands up and starts pacing around the flimsy chair and starts pacing around it, never straying out of the light. All the while, he keeps talking with an increasingly theatrical timbre.]

And then you finally decided to show yourselves! But apparently the people who actually want to kick your ass aren't worth your time. No, you wanted that good-for-nothing emperor, didn't you? That's why a bunch of cowards like you decided to charge into a building full of foreigners.

[He swings back onto the chair and crosses his legs in one fluid motion. Afterwards, his voice drops down to it's normal, casual tone of voice.]

Let me give you a bit of friendly advice. That guy's not the guy you want to worry about. Haven't you heard the news? I'll tell you what: why don't you come on over so I can kick your ass personally. There's a nice little bar not far from here you can try and ambush me at, and you'll have me outnumbered. I'll be waiting.

[And he waves before turning the video feed off.]

Comments

text;

[skeletonenigma]

Well, that's certainly a unique way of drawing the enemy out. I hope you have a plan.

text

[royalguard_style]

Of course. I'll go everywhere armed to the teeth, and when they decide to show up, I can finally kick their collective asses. That is, if they show up. I get the feeling they can't be bothered to.

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[skeletonenigma]

You're going to take them all on singlehandedly, then?

[royalguard_style]

If they want to fight me that way. It's up to them. I kinda hope they do, it would make things a hell of a lot easier.

text;

[skeletonenigma]

[Ordinarily, he'd offer his help, or at least some more useful advice. But the effects of Malicant's poison are increasingly difficult to ignore, and he can't really bring himself to care.]

Your funeral.

text

[redlightgreenlight]

Do you seriously think that is going to work?

Re: text

[royalguard_style]

I'd feel bad if I didn't at least try.

Re: text

[redlightgreenlight]

If you are trying to appear as an idiot, then you shouldn't feel bad.

Re: text

[royalguard_style]

What's so dumb about wanting to put a stop to this?

Re: text

[redlightgreenlight]

Nothing. It is your dramatics that I have issue with.

video

[backwordscompatible]

[...huh]

[Several seconds passed in which she had no words. None at all. Maybe it wasn't the first time she'd ever seen something like this, but there was just something about it being broadcast so publicly. Especially given recent events.]

Subtle.

[royalguard_style]

That's the idea. I figure those sons of bitches will actually go for it if I make enough of a scene.

[He knows that he has all of the subtlety of an airhorn, and he revels in it. This was his way of coping with recent events; he was taking any action he could, even if it was pointless, and acting out a bit in the process. Granted, he would do this more privately, but the cultists didn't exactly leave detailed contact information.]

[backwordscompatible]

And you decided to do this on your own, broadcasting for the entire Network to see, without backup?

[Just so we're clear.]

[royalguard_style]

I couldn't find out who the guys were, so I didn't really see much of a choice. Half of the guys at the hotel are laid up, so the best idea right now is to take care of the small fry before they get to the other half.

[Dante hasn't been here long enough to realize he's in over his head. Being top dog in your own world for so long tends to give people like him a mild case of testosterone poisoning.]

[backwordscompatible]

[Meanwhile, Zatanna has been here long enough to realize that this guy is either painfully new, or else just an idiot.]

You couldn't wait?

Video:

[solo_patria]

So you are just...calling them out, instead? That is...rather stupid, actually.

[But then, Enjolras is smiling, unable to keep up a stern facade with this.]

And very brave, and I think, rather close to what we need. I should not like the way you think, perhaps, but I do. I like it a great deal. Should something like this work, I would gladly stand with you.

Re: Video:

[royalguard_style]

Look, I get it. It's not going to work. But I'm pretty much out of ideas here, so I figured I might give it a shot.

You're that guy who runs the newspaper, right? I never figured a journalist as the type of guy who'd go running out to actually fight. Speaking of, has anyone even started to figure out what happened?

Video:

[solo_patria]

Well, it is as good as anything else, I think. At least it means that you are doing something, and sometimes it is better to try. It is rather strange, how we are meant to be at war, but no moves have been made yet.

[And there is a nod, and Enjolras can't help raising an eyebrow a little.]

I am, yes. But writing is not all that I have done. It was...one way to fight at home, but I do not mean to hide from other means. I am a bit unversed in modern weaponry. It's been a bit since I've seen or held a carbine or my rifle, but I did use them.

I am here because of that, I think. Or, Well. Because the barricade my friends and I lead fell, and we all died, at least.

Re: Video:

[royalguard_style]

They're making all of their moves too far apart and opportunistically. Since they have that barrier to hide behind, they can go ahead to wait and attack diplomats and people like that, instead of fighting the people who are ready for them.

Sounds like you know more about guns then the locals do, which gives you a leg up on them. Provided you could get your hands on one, of course. Anyway, you sound pretty calm for a dead guy.

Video:

[solo_patria]

It does give them an excellent strategic position, I do admit. Eliminating our abilities to do a thing, without even trying. I do not like long drawn out games of power, which of course, is rather obvious for anyone, I suppose.

If we might find a way to combat that barrier, to lift and move it along, perhaps we would have something of a chance.

And I have, though I've been fortunate enough not to require one before all of this. And Death...well, so far, it does not seem to have silenced me, yet. Good enough, for now.

video; private

[gistful]

[He's amused. It just might be hard to tell.]

That may not be wise. However, the same could be said for our endeavour.

Would you like some backup?

[He didn't like all that poisoning going on, so Dante may as well have someone to drag him back to safety if things go wrong.]

Re: video; private

[royalguard_style]

Even if it wasn't, the enemy came out of hiding, so that's something. Not gonna lie though, I'm pretty pissed that so many people got hurt. How many kids were at that meeting again?

[If the emperor ever lets any of them speak to him again, he's going to have a word with him about how many small children get summoned to fight this war.]

I thought you were dead-set on that whole "neutrality" thing. So all bets are off now that they've attacked your hotel?

video; private

[gistful]

Too many. I overestimated the ... discretion of the instigating players.

[Anton's been wondering about that as well. Or he would, if he was the type to dwell on things that enrage him. He smiles. Unlike the smile he once gave Daisy, this one is almost wolfish.]

The Hotel is a place of neutrality. I am but a man seeking to avoid his allies being harmed more than they have currently.

Re: video; private

[royalguard_style]

Can you blame them though? That little party was supposed to be as interesting as watching paint dry.

[Dante recognizes that smile, but isn't too worried. "Wolfish" isn't that bad, at least not compared to the downright sadistic smiles he's seen from some of his friends back home.]

Huh.

Well, if anything happens, you'll probably be able to hear it from miles around. I'll admit I don't exactly feel like dealing with these guys peacefully right now.

video; private

[gistful]

This is war. It hasn't been as well commanded as I thought.

[He just hadn't realised quite how badly until now.]

I am not much of a diplomat, I assure you. If you want someone to fight alongside, I am your best choice.

[He'd fight. Just be on hand to pull Dante out of the fire if he needs to. And he really wants to punch some things.]