moraled | week six, tuesday

week six, tuesday

[...As ever, they pick up the pieces, and they carry on. A day or two does little to cushion the blows of the previous week, but they can't stay moping forever. Barnham knows that to be true, and so he's attempting to go about his business like normal, inspecting the town, looking through their supplies in the general store, and other things that were once strange but now have become mundane.

It's odd.

But... it's something they have to do, he believes.

No matter what.

They have to keep moving forward--which means in the day to day? They can't stop moving at all.]

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[it's the same for all of them, really—picking up and doing their best to carry forward, even when it sucks.

but noct definitely has a lot on his mind. recent revelations and conversations—including their own from the night of the trial—are weighing on him a bit, and curiosity as well as his desire to help both find him seeking out barnham once he's got his thoughts in order.]

Hey, Barnham. [he'll approach, casual as ever, once he finds barnham. it's not that difficult, and even the noisiest of places is quiet with how much their numbers have dwindled.] Got a minute?

I certainly do.

[That answer comes easily; for Noctis, he's always got a minute. He nods simply in greeting, turning his attention to the other immediately.]

Here, or elsewhere?

Whatever. Probably somewhere a little quieter than this... but I dunno how much it matters at this point.

[it's so quiet everywhere that he doubts there will be many eavesdroppers, but you know.

just to be safe.]

[Yeah everyone sure is deader than dead thanks for the reminder]

Perhaps simply in here, then.

[He'll nod to the general store--it's highly doubtful anyone is anywhere nearby to eavesdrop.]

Works for me. There's never a lot of people in there anyway.

[and even more so now, what with the whole.... you know, 26 people being dead thing.

to the general store, apparently!]

[To the general store!!

And once they're there and quite clearly alone, he turns to Noct and quirks an eyebrow.]

... Now. What is it?

I've... just been thinking a lot, I guess. About what Sara said after she confessed.

[about her reasons for going along with it, and what they meant.]

What... do you think you would do? If you're a bandit and you need to make the same choice. [it's definitely a line of morality that's really hard to breach, and noct himself is struggling a bit with it for a few reasons.]

[Not pulling any punches there are you Noct. Barnham's quiet for a moment, thinking hard on that.]

... If it was my own death he threatened me with, then I would still not back down. I would accept that death as simply an inevitability of my duty.

[...]

However... Sara stated that he threatened her home, and the people in it. I do not know if the Sheriff truly has that capability, but...

[...Hrm.]

It is certainly a quandary. My loyalty is, after all, to Labyrinthia first and foremost, but I could not call myself a knight if I were to kill someone in cold blood here.

What if he's lying, though? When Sara was threatened... what she said that she'd be the only one left on her world.

[but!]

...One of the roles is responsible for killing bandits who don't comply with their task.

[he draws in a breath—he's still not really sure what it means, either. but he knows there's still something "off" about it and how it should sway their decision.]

Killing someone in cold blood... I wouldn't want to either. [but he's thinking about his people too, about lucis, and also about how they have people who've willingly bloodied their hands outside of the game for little more than just merit.]

If the Sheriff is lying, then he just made a fool of the Lady Instructor.

[Which makes his lips twist into a disgusted expression.]

In truth, I would not wish to believe him capable of such a feat. It seems unlikely. And if you were to kill for that reason and it is a lie...then it would have been an innocent life lost.

[But.]

However...much that should not be possible has been done here. That we are all here, that there are many incapable of using their abilities--that makes me wary that he might, in fact, be capable of such a thing.

And we are both well aware that you have a duty.

[To his people... to his world. That's what this comes down to, isn't it?]

It doesn't add up, though. It wasn't a threat put on her life—it was her world. But I know that if she didn't listen, she would be killed anyway. So... what is that really supposed to mean?

[something's gotta give there. but he's not sure what yet.]

It's not like I don't think it's possible. I just... don't know if that's really what's at stake.

[either way, noct shakes his head.] I have a duty, but taking out someone innocent to do it, I'm not sure I could do that.

... I believe it means that the Sheriff would be willing to say whatever needs to be said to get someone to participate in his game.

[That said--]

Whether or not he is telling the truth... is a different matter entirely, and one you should think of very carefully if you are ever put in that situation, Young Noctis.

It is a decision that cannot be taken back.

[Lives are at stake. But they're at stake in Noctis' home, too, if that happens, possibly. So Barnham...can't give him a definitive answer. That's something Noctis has to figure out for himself.]

Yeah, I know.

[he's not trying to dump that decision on barnham, after all.]

Guess... I was just wondering what you would do if it was you. I trust you... that you'd make the choice you believed in.

... I wonder.

[He crosses his arms thoughtfully, eyes closed as he ponders that. What would he do in that situation? With the Sheriff threatening his life, and all he holds dear, and Labyrinthia?

But in the end...]

... Labyrinthia shall carry on without me, and I believe it to be in good hands. I do not believe... that such a creature as the False Sheriff could truly harm it.

[No matter what he says.

And then, more firmly:]

I do not care about this petty little game. That is what I have decided upon. And I refuse to play a single part in it. I shall take the consequences that may come of that.

[noct finds himself exhaling a breath that he didn't even realize he was holding; truly, it's relieving for him to hear barnham not just say those words...

but to say them with that measure of certainty.

of course, he's truthful in saying that he trusts barnham's judgment; he trusts the things that barnham believes in as well. but hearing it...

it just helps him a lot.]

You're... really a great knight, either way. [to put his faith in his home, to be so unyielding to his beliefs and his desire to do right—

noctis really does admire it.]

[... Noctis.......

Barnham snorts softly at that, shaking his head.]

Well. Thank you, then. I have not yet had to put it to the test, but... I believe that is my answer.

As for the rest... well, you shall have to come to your own conclusions. That is simply a fact of this game.

[A beat, and:]

But I do have faith that you shall come to the best conclusion for yourself.

I hope we won't have to put it to the test. That... we'll be able to find a way to end this before that.

[that's what he wants most of all. to end it, to save as many people as possible—it's tricky, though.]

I wonder if we can.

[he's worried about it, frankly.]

... We shall.

Young Noctis, we shall find an end to this game, an end that allows for the best possible outcome considering the situation.

That is something I am certain of, though I have no proof of it.

[He's sure of it anyway. It's... all he can do, really. He has to hold on to that.]

I guess it would be hard to show proof even if you did have. Nature of the game, and all that.

[it's not like he doesn't get it. but the sentiment is there, and that's enough for noct, at least.

the more people can hold onto their convictions, the better a chance they stand, right?

(at least, he wants to believe in that.)]

Not sure how we're gonna do it. But... we have to.

[... Yeah, that's kind of hard. Even if he had proof (which unfortunately, he doesn't), he really wouldn't be able to show it.

... Well.

That's not entirely true.]

It sits ill to me to not share what knowledge I have with one I trust, Young Noctis.

[... but.

Unfortunately.

That just means--]

... Though I fear that means I truly do not have any proof for that conviction. It is... merely a feeling.

[noct shakes his head—knowledge that barnham has, that catches his interest.]

It's hard to have proof for anything right now. But... the more we can share, the better. I think...

[he's not going to say "everything," because that's not really viable or fair, no matter how much trust is there. with the information all flying under the table, throwing their friends under the bus wouldn't help anything at all either.

he sighs quietly.] It might be the only way.

[He wishes he had knowledge to share, bro. Maybe it would make all of their lives easier.]

I understand. [His lips quirk, amused.] I know there is information that you and the others have that I do not. It does not bother me. Miss Maxwell has said much the same.

[He shakes his head, simply, and says equally simply and plainly:]

I trust you, Noctis. You shall inform me when you feel I need to know, and no sooner. If it means your safety and the safety of others, then remaining silent is wise.

[He's certainly not offended by it.]

[he nods, grateful that barnham is so understanding of the situation.]

As soon as I can... I will.

[he wants to. he wants to share some of the things he knows with barnham, because he trusts barnham as well. but there is trust in other people at stake too, in ways he really can't afford to break.]

Just... trust me. Everything—it's to try and end this right. [which is to say that he wants to save people, that he's trying to live up to his title and status to be a true king.]

[That gets a faint, but sincere smile out of Barnham, even as he shakes his head. He'd accepted the request to be Noct's shield--but even more than that, he has faith in Noct and everything that he stands for.]

You do not even need to ask.

[He trusts Noct--with his life, at that, even.

And he trusts that Noct will tell him what needs to be said when the time comes.]

I would truly expect nothing less from you.

[in turn, he smiles weakly. he's still not ready to say anything yet—

but he truly trusts in barnham. more than most people, he really believes in the ideals that barnham stands for, and that he wants to do right by others.]

Thank you. Seriously. Thank you.

[barnham is so good, he just hopes that he won't let barnham down in the process.]

As ever, there is certainly no need to thank me.

[The expression on his face is tired, yes, but otherwise he smiles, because...well, they have to, don't they? Noct is trying so hard, and Barnham has to respect that.

He knows that he won't let him down.]

...But even so, that faith shall remain. And so... you are most welcome.

Still... what kind of friend would I be if I didn't tell you I appreciated it.

[noct can be kind of a punk, but he's not the sort to completely brush over something like that.

especially in a time and situation like this. he's got reasons—a lot of them, actually—for why he's approaching things in this way. barnham's patience and trust... it means a lot to him right now.]

[That's cute.

wtf Noct that's very cute.]

Indeed? Your manners are impeccable, if nothing else.

[cute]

I, uh... guess so.

[don't make him feel awkward about it! he's a prince, of course he has some manner...]

[Well, he's still proud okay.]

Was there anything else, Young Noct?

[Or are they done here?]

No... I think that's it for now.

[they're good.

or as good as it gets for them.]

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week six, tuesday

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