[He does not miss Anduin's usage of the word 'friends'. Nizuo and Chi-Ji had said something similar. It feels odd to be thinking of them now, after he'd just had his arm broken by someone he had once begun to consider one of his friends.]
Indeed.
[It was, indeed, what friends were for. When Anduin leaves his company, he reaches over for his empty cup, swirling the dredges of liquid left in the bottom to himself.]
I think I want to help them.
[He says it quite suddenly, as one might have confessed some dark secret, one hand moving back to his beard. So long as they're not beating around the bush here, he may as well get to the point of bringing up Rey in the first place.
Rey was not the only submissive he had met who was losing hope while living inside of this city. He'd met Nile not too long ago, who was wary of speaking in her own self-defense. And then there was even Ramir, who he had needed to cover for when the authorities arrived to places where she wasn't allowed to be.
[ The way he says it means everything. It means despite his earlier posturing, he cares about these people.
Not that Anduin doubted he could. But since he'd known him Wrathion had ever seemed to look at the grand scheme, rather than the individual lives contained within. This sudden desire to help isn't employing new agents or petitioning champions to do his dirty work for him. This is something selfless and genuine, or he wouldn't be so reluctant to admit to it.
This is perhaps the first true notable change in the dragon since they'd reunited. He finds himself smiling slowly, despite himself. ]
Of course.
[ He motions for Wrathion's cup, after a moment. ]
[He offers it, his face mostly unreadable save for that apparent permanent furrow of frustration in his brow. It starts to soften only as his mind goes to other things.]
Only the beginnings of one. A dominant cannot be the face of this -- those in charge will absolve us of our ability to support their efforts. Therefore, we must identify a submissive to rally the others behind. I believe that submissive to be Rey, but...
[His frown deepens.]
She is contracted now to a man I still know little about. I gather the nature of their partnership is...complicated.
[There is a way he uses that word that suggests he does not necessarily want to use it. After all, he did not see his "complicated" relationships in the same light that Rey appeared to be associating with this "Kylo Ren".]
And because she does not trust you, getting more information is proving difficult.
[ It's a guess, but it seems to follow in line with what Wration had mentioned before. Despite his good intentions, he wouldn't have been at all surprised if Rey had balked at any effort to pry. He suspected even from what little he did know of her that she probably would have done so on principle. ]
You know she's just as likely to distrust me. If it's the position she's opposed to, and not the person.
[ There's a pause, the quiet trickle of tea being poured into both cups, and then Anduin retakes his seat beside the other. ]
What about another Submissive? One with a similarly rebellious nature. I can already think of a few.
I can get the information without her immediate trust. That is not my concern.
[He's almost insulted by that insinuation. But he waves it off before accepting his cup back.]
I will be frank. You are much more suited to inspiration than I -- particularly when it comes to matters where the odds are stacked highly against the party in question. For every rebellious submissive, there are three more who have had the fight taken from them. That is the bleeding that we must seek to staunch, if there is any hope of such a movement taking root here.
[Matters of faith, to quote himself. He pauses to take a sip of his tea before elaborating again.]
But encouraging those rebellious sorts to befriend one another should be the ultimate goal. Preferably once they are in a better position to act upon those instincts.
A 'better position' being one where they aren't immediately rounded up en masse and punished to send a message to the rest of the city, I assume.
[ It's one thing to inspire people when you have the weight of a kingdom behind you. An army, resources, shelter, any sort of reasonable defense. He's in the same position as the rest of them here, regardless of the comforts of the cage he sits in.
It won't stop him trying to defend them. Not in the least. Even so, his faith is not blind. He understands where their limits are. Something Wrathion's surely already taken into consideration.
So he nods, thumb worrying the edge of his cup for a moment. ]
I think my position at the hospital will likely help. Both in identifying those willing to fight, and aiding those who've lost hope. I don't think we're at a shortage for either.
[He is glad to see Anduin thinking of solutions almost immediately and nods along with his ideas.]
We will want to be careful with the fighters.
[Something he is sure he does not need to explain to Anduin in great detail. Those most eager to rise to the challenge were often the first to prematurely do so. If they had any problems with authority, it could be that they would not be convinced to hold their position for an extended period of time while Wrathion planted more seeds for the uprising.]
Rey and others need to know that there are Dominants interested in disrupting the system with them in a way that does not compromise the advantage we have. And you are quite good at making friends.
[His smile stretches. Is that playful sarcasm or honesty? Impossible to tell.]
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no subject
Indeed.
[It was, indeed, what friends were for. When Anduin leaves his company, he reaches over for his empty cup, swirling the dredges of liquid left in the bottom to himself.]
I think I want to help them.
[He says it quite suddenly, as one might have confessed some dark secret, one hand moving back to his beard. So long as they're not beating around the bush here, he may as well get to the point of bringing up Rey in the first place.
Rey was not the only submissive he had met who was losing hope while living inside of this city. He'd met Nile not too long ago, who was wary of speaking in her own self-defense. And then there was even Ramir, who he had needed to cover for when the authorities arrived to places where she wasn't allowed to be.
It was all terribly ... unfortunate.]
I thought perhaps you might also be interested.
no subject
Not that Anduin doubted he could. But since he'd known him Wrathion had ever seemed to look at the grand scheme, rather than the individual lives contained within. This sudden desire to help isn't employing new agents or petitioning champions to do his dirty work for him. This is something selfless and genuine, or he wouldn't be so reluctant to admit to it.
This is perhaps the first true notable change in the dragon since they'd reunited. He finds himself smiling slowly, despite himself. ]
Of course.
[ He motions for Wrathion's cup, after a moment. ]
Dare I ask if there's a plan, yet?
no subject
Only the beginnings of one. A dominant cannot be the face of this -- those in charge will absolve us of our ability to support their efforts. Therefore, we must identify a submissive to rally the others behind. I believe that submissive to be Rey, but...
[His frown deepens.]
She is contracted now to a man I still know little about. I gather the nature of their partnership is...complicated.
[There is a way he uses that word that suggests he does not necessarily want to use it. After all, he did not see his "complicated" relationships in the same light that Rey appeared to be associating with this "Kylo Ren".]
no subject
[ It's a guess, but it seems to follow in line with what Wration had mentioned before. Despite his good intentions, he wouldn't have been at all surprised if Rey had balked at any effort to pry. He suspected even from what little he did know of her that she probably would have done so on principle. ]
You know she's just as likely to distrust me. If it's the position she's opposed to, and not the person.
[ There's a pause, the quiet trickle of tea being poured into both cups, and then Anduin retakes his seat beside the other. ]
What about another Submissive? One with a similarly rebellious nature. I can already think of a few.
no subject
[He's almost insulted by that insinuation. But he waves it off before accepting his cup back.]
I will be frank. You are much more suited to inspiration than I -- particularly when it comes to matters where the odds are stacked highly against the party in question. For every rebellious submissive, there are three more who have had the fight taken from them. That is the bleeding that we must seek to staunch, if there is any hope of such a movement taking root here.
[Matters of faith, to quote himself. He pauses to take a sip of his tea before elaborating again.]
But encouraging those rebellious sorts to befriend one another should be the ultimate goal. Preferably once they are in a better position to act upon those instincts.
no subject
[ It's one thing to inspire people when you have the weight of a kingdom behind you. An army, resources, shelter, any sort of reasonable defense. He's in the same position as the rest of them here, regardless of the comforts of the cage he sits in.
It won't stop him trying to defend them. Not in the least. Even so, his faith is not blind. He understands where their limits are. Something Wrathion's surely already taken into consideration.
So he nods, thumb worrying the edge of his cup for a moment. ]
I think my position at the hospital will likely help. Both in identifying those willing to fight, and aiding those who've lost hope. I don't think we're at a shortage for either.
no subject
[He is glad to see Anduin thinking of solutions almost immediately and nods along with his ideas.]
We will want to be careful with the fighters.
[Something he is sure he does not need to explain to Anduin in great detail. Those most eager to rise to the challenge were often the first to prematurely do so. If they had any problems with authority, it could be that they would not be convinced to hold their position for an extended period of time while Wrathion planted more seeds for the uprising.]
Rey and others need to know that there are Dominants interested in disrupting the system with them in a way that does not compromise the advantage we have. And you are quite good at making friends.
[His smile stretches. Is that playful sarcasm or honesty? Impossible to tell.]