WE'RE STILL HERE AND THAT'S WHAT MATTERS FOR GRUMP'S SAKE

[ahelpingpaw]

[Well today was quite the unusual way. Filbo pretty much went into his room and collapsed on his bed and just fainted because hey, everything that happened? It's overwhelming. Bluuuuuuuh.

A few hours later, once he recovered somewhat, Filbo just goes and gets paper. This is a ridiculous situation, but...hey, no matter what, stuff needs to be done]

I know today was a really weird day, but let's try to gather and see what happens. There will be ice cream at the ice cream parlor in half an hour. With everything that happened we really should try to at least not forget we need to stick together for whatever reason.

---Filbo Fiddlepie (pawprint)

[Geez.

Well, he goes and does exactly what he said: this time it isn't booze, it's all kinds of ice cream available for anyone who comes. The tables all have spoons and water because really, this is going to be a whole lot of sugar for everyone. Better this than alcohol, especially since things clearly have gone off the rails one way or another, so may as well gorge yourself with ice cream and try to gather your wits for whatever the next week can bring]

Comments

[scouserer]

I know. I know s'probably not gonna work, I know. But what would you have me do, instead?

[He lets out a sharp, disparaging laugh.]

If there's even the slightest chance that teaching this'll help, I'll take it, because I am at my wit's end.

[jibunwo]

I never said I was rejecting the offer. Just pointing out how improbable it is that anything will come of it.

[scouserer]

Don't tell me the odds of anything. Now, are you going to sit your ass down and learn some Latin, or what?

[jibunwo]

Alea iacta est.

[So yes, he's going to sit down.]

[scouserer]

[Constantine watches as Lelouch sits. Without another word, he begins scribbling out something on a piece of paper using an orange marker. It's difficult to make out anything--his handwriting is atrocious--but as he writes, he speaks.]

I need you to promise me that you won't try and use it when we return to our respective homes. Hell, I don't even know if this kind of magic'll carry over to your world, but it's better safe than sorry.

[Promises mean nothing to him. But they might mean something to Lelouch.]

[jibunwo]

I’m not interested in making the attempt. I have enough of the supernatural to contend with, and enough problems without needlessly overcomplicating things.

[he said, blinking like one of his eyes wasn’t glowing.]

[scouserer]

[Listen, Constantine doesn't know if that eye was the result of Lelouch doing something stupid with magic or if someone did it to him.]

Good.

[He stops scribbling for a moment, double-checking his work.]

What is your experience with the supernatural, anyways?

[jibunwo]

[Yes.]

...I’m in a contract with a witch. The terms aren’t important right now, but needless to say she granted me power that doesn’t function here.

[scouserer]

[Huh. Constantine lets out a snort.]

I assume it has somethin' to do with that eye you tried to use on Jack before.

[jibunwo]

I was going to try to get that thing’s name out of it back at Lorna’s trial when it seemed like we were out of options. That’s all. We haven’t been in a situation where I could have used it on Jack, except for whatever the hell just happened—I need direct eye contact.

[scouserer]

[Ah. Right.]

So it's a type of compulsion thing. [Constantine lets out a small snort.] Gotta say, we would've gotten outta here a hell of a lot faster if you did have access to that. But I suppose that's why the bastard took our powers from us in the first place.

[jibunwo]

Something like that.

[exactly like that, actually.]

That’s the reason I was so irritated when I realized it wasn’t functioning. This would have been over weeks ago.

[scouserer]

[Constantine leans his hand against his chin, tapping the marker against the paper.]

Oh, come on, now. It's just one tool out of the things in your toolbox. You said you were part of the Black Knights, right? You didn't become a part of that just on magic alone, did you?

[He looks back down to his papers, running a hand through his hair.]

...Look at me sayin' this while trying to write out incantations. Christ.

[jibunwo]

I said I was the leader specifically. Strategy got me that role, but my power is what helps me keep it. Especially when it comes to impossible situations, hence ‘Miracle Worker’.

[scouserer]

[Constantine pauses.]

I think I'm understandin' your situation more and more.

[He falls quiet again. His fingers rap against the surface of the table.]

So, what--if you were robbed of that power, what would happen to the Black Knights?

[jibunwo]

I'm not sure if that's a positive or negative thing.

[But he paused to think over the question, eyes drifting to the side as if to not make direct contact with Constantine.]

Allow me to explain it like this, since we're well past secrecy if I'm going to just stop wearing the eyepatch for now. Let's say a cavalry soldier corners me outside of my Knightmare, points a gun at me, and moves to pull the trigger. Without this power, I can't say 'I command you to stop' or anything that would save me from being killed on the spot.

No Zero, no leader of the Knights, the entire operation falls apart and any resistance against Britannia more than likely crumbles.

[scouserer]

[Another pause.]

If you'll excuse me for saying so, but if your movement relies on a singular piece to tip the scales, it's pretty shit.

[Oh, shit. He speaks all of this in a very calm, level tone. He leans forward, crossing his arms.]

You ought to have better strategies than just relyin' on your magic eye to solve your problems. If I was the leader of a resistance movement, I wouldn't be caught in a situation where someone could corner me and take a shot, thus dismantling all of the group's efforts. Movements die if they're built on a single scaffold. Where's your contingency plan, hm? What are you going to do when things go wrong?

[jibunwo]

It was a hypothetical situation. I'd never be so stupid as to be caught that unaware and I never go into battle without a plan. I manipulate the entire game board; use the geography, my soldiers and their individual skills, and present situations unwinnable for my enemies the moment they make their opening move.

...I'm not going to act like I've never failed. I've made plenty of missteps, only most of them I've managed to recover from. But I'm the only one who can do this, 'magic eye' or not. The others don't have the same skills I do in strategy, and utilizing that in tandem with this power is how we've managed to get as far as we have.

[scouserer]

[Constantine's face screws up in a dubious expression.]

Bullshit. You're telling me that you can't bother to train anyone to follow in your footsteps? Sounds more to me like you're just trying to justify your...your...whatever complex you have.

[Pot calling the kettle black--Constantine is renown for trying to take things on by himself when he clearly cannot or should not. Especially guilty of saying that "he's the only one who can do this". And yet, here he is, arguing with a teenager about this.]

I'm surprised your rebellion has held on by the skin of its teeth for so long.

[jibunwo]

'For so long'? After one month? No, actually, I have more important priorities. Establishing a secure foothold and gaining enough ground that the rebellion can have a real chance of success comes long before bothering with the idea of a second Zero.

[What a weird concept. Who would ever have been crazy enough to be his successor, anyway?]

[scouserer]

[And that's when Constantine remembers the 'age' listed on Zero's--no, Lelouch's profile. One month old. He lets out an absurd laugh and dragging a hand down his face.]

Oh, bloody hell--that's right! You're new to this whole rebellion thing!

[For a man supposedly so observant and attentive, this is something he never made a connection with. Perhaps it's because he's dismissed Lelouch for so long on the sole fact that he's "just" seventeen years old.]

My God, the people must've been fucking desperate for any sort of movement. But, hey--if your little movement fails, you're probably at least guaranteed to be martyrs.

[jibunwo]

You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were antagonizing me on purpose. But for the record, they were.

[scouserer]

I'm John bloody Constantine. S'my job to be a miserable, stupid bastard.

[So, uh, that's...a yes? Maybe?]

[jibunwo]

Well, at least I can respect that.

[some people are just Like That]