[closed] time to fess up

[yugo]

Who: Those accused in the recent framed plot-- Yugo, Zelos, Zelda, and Jacques.
What: It's time to bring everyone back together and see what they've found in their investigations. It should make things clear that someone is behind it, and there are a certain number of weird inconsistencies that point to... well, we'll see.
Where: Let's say, somewhere in the village.
When: I'm leaving this open-ended, for the most part. After the barrow dens have been cleared, at least!
Warnings: None, but let me know if anything needs to be changed.


[After spending a couple hours interrogating the townsfolk, Yugo is confused and a bit alarmed at what he was able to find out. The truth was: not much. Obviously there was a liar about, but these people were so sure about what they'd seen, or rather what someone else had seen... It's almost like they were told something, and made to believe it.

There's no doubt that someone drew on their faces and did those other things, as he's seen the proof... but the 'eyewitness accounts' are a bit lacking in detail and sense, and it's really telling that only the black and bronze dragonflights were able to go into the village for a while. Maybe there's some magic they don't know about.

Thankfully, he's at neutral, but Yugo's still not happy. He wonders what the others have found out, and so he hangs out by the gates, hoping to grab them before they go back to their sanctums.]

Comments

[highrules]

[ The excitement of combat has left her drained, but Zelda heeds little attention to her body's needs. Not when there are things of importance to discuss. Having always been the one to speak up when wrongdoings were going on, she has no qualms about starting things off with: ]

I believe I have proof on who did this to us.

... unless someone else knows without a doubt who our accuser was?

[ninjacques]

[Jacques was not the sort to interrogate people, but he listened and paid attention to things that most usually would overlook. While they were allowed once again into the Retreat, he could sense the tension yet present, if only slightly.

His eagle Hawk had flown in to find him a while ago, so it is with the large bird perched on his shoulder that Jacques walks back towards the entryway. He lifts his head slightly as he notices the others. It's not hard to notice those whom he's had experience in battle with.

He says nothing, but he turns his head towards Zelda when she speaks up.]

[yugo]

[Yugo looks surprised to see Zelda so open about this.]

Really? I wasn't able to find much, if anything. It's obvious we were set up, but I don't know how they did it.

[highrules]

[ She might have not been so helpful inside, but outside she's certain she has an inkling. ]

Aye, it is only suspicion I have. In the forest some time ago, while playing a melody from my ocarina a man I had never seen before chanced upon the clearing. It would be unfair to think of him as the culprit, however... it isn't as if I have many opportunities to play in between demon and bear slaying.

[ninjacques]

[Hawk screeches briefly, nudging at Jacques' head. He looks down at a few bits of greenery that he holds in his hand.]

...something was put in the water. The smell's faint, but...it was familiar...

[He holds up the plant samples that the eagle had found for him. Being Greensworn certainly has its advantages.]

Sedative. It grows around the area.

[yugo]

I guess that's true. Did you get his name?

[Yugo furrows his eyebrows, glancing between his companions. Well, he certainly feels pretty freaking useless in the light of this new evidence. He uh... couldn't find anything, really.

He looks closer at the plant samples, and then he feels something sink to the bottom of his stomach.]

... Uh oh. I saw someone picking these a little while back.

[highrules]

You did? [ Her ears perk up before the rest of her head follows, golden hair falling in place around her cheeks. ] Do you think it could have been...

No, that cannot be right. If more than one person was involved in these affairs, it would be troublesome for the rest of the Dragonsworn. Perhaps that is their goal: to disrupt our work here.

[ninjacques]

[Even if the boy hadn't found anything himself, he could possibly help fill in the blanks. Jacques arches a brow at Yugo, although not without a glance in Zelda's direction.]

...who?

[He's already getting the feeling that this is pointing at one of the other Dragonsworn, but he doesn't seem to understand why that would be either.]

[yugo]

[Yugo puts on a brave face, but he's feeling like all his worst fears are coming to light.]

Qilby. He's got a big hat, like mine but white, and a brown beard. Qilby's an Eliatrope like me. In the past, we didn't get along very well.

... Is that who you saw, Zel?

[highrules]

[ That only confirms her suspicions as her gaze lowers. It isn't that she wants to keep it from them, but it's a bit too much to take in. They are expecting her to keep a level head (no one expects that of her, but she's so used to having to keep her chin up that it springs to mind naturally), so she takes in a deep breath, steeling herself. ]

He is one of the few I can recall that caught me playing my ocarina. [ Said with a calm breath. ]

I rather not be hasty with an accusation, but it appears so far that that's two of us that can confirm him.

[ninjacques]

[His pale gaze slips back towards Zelda at her confirmation.]

...but why would he do this?

[He's looking at Yugo as he speaks up again.]

[yugo]

[He lets out a sound through his teeth, kind of like a growl.]

Qilby...!

[Okay okay time to be a mature person here. ... No, it's not working. His hands ball into fists as he glares downward. He never thought that his entire flight-- no, all of the Dragonsworn would be inconvenienced by Qilby's grudge. He thought Qilby might set things aside so they might get back to their homeworld.]

... He's a traitor. Because he was from before a certain time, I thought we could call a truce. It didn't make sense to fight each other when we have the demons to deal with.

If it really is him, he's probably found some way to make people believe he's a king, or that he's a good guy. He's really good at talking to people.

I can believe he'd try to do this to me. Maybe you guys ended up involved because he was angry at this whole place... I don't know. He can attack me all he wants, but if he's dragging innocent people into this, it has to stop.

[highrules]

[ Listening to him speak, Yugo's outburst only raises more questions for her. Qilby is a king--or feigning it? Interesting, it does explain why he thought she was royalty herself.

(Fine, she really is a princess, but she rather not tell other people that.)

Lifting her right hand to her mouth in thought, her eyes focus on the back of it to remind her of everything she's fought for so far. Getting caught in another conflict worlds away from her own isn't her ideal way to help Hyrule be free of demons after all. ]

How was he able to convince them of our supposed wrongdoings? The accusation is strange now that I think on it. [ Really, how many people were there in her world that know of the power of the Ocarina of Time? It makes little sense that someone here would know if it. ] When has music ever offended one's ears?

whenever you're ready!!

[traitre]

[Silverglen is not a large village, and so when the elves' former "tormentors" all gather in one place and furtively share secrets among themselves (never mind the fact that they've absolved themselves of their crimes) the news travels quickly. It's not long before it reaches the inn where Qilby's taken to staying when he's not checking in at the sanctum.

It doesn't surprise him to hear it. He spends so much effort making sure that nothing does; knowledge, after all, is power and among the flights power seems to be the only thing that matters. It's all that pleases the big black lizard that calls himself his leader, at any rate.

Are his ears burning? Maybe a little. But no matter how hot his curiosity burns, he refuses to be the first one to reveal his hand. He can't quite speak for the others, but he knows Yugo well: if the boy has a reason to be suspicious of something, he certainly won't keep it a secret from him.

In fact-- if Qilby knows him as well as he thinks he does, he should be getting an earful from his eliatrope brother pretty soon here.]

IM READY IM READy IM REady

[yugo]

[And he would be right. Of course, Yugo isn't charging in here without a plan or backup. He's perfectly capable of teleporting to the front of the village now, so he can squeal if something bad happens. After asking around about a tall, 'kind' dragonsworn with white robes and hat, Yugo finds him in the inn. It's got a nice open floor-plan so there isn't any dramatic door slamming, just a tiny cat-eared shadow appearing in the doorway.]

Qilby. [He keeps his voice even, but he doesn't smile.] I need to talk to you about something.

[traitre]

[Qilby, on the other hand, does smile at Yugo's approach. But it's mostly because he's just that pleased with himself (as he usually is) that he's guessed correctly.]

Yugo. This is a surprise. [He doesn't rise from his seat; he's already well over eye level with Yugo even sitting down, languidly settled back in his chair as he is. There are some sort of notes on the table next to him, and he does bother to slide them in the book he's got to mark the page before setting it aside so he can turn his full attention on the boy.] You never talk, you never visit -- I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me.

Well, what is it you need to talk to me about now?

[yugo]

[Yugo doesn't tell him to drop the act, though he's sorely tempted. He's never sure if Qilby is being sincere or not, but he can guess it's probably the latter. Qilby seems like the kind of person not to show his anger until he absolutely has to. His lovely little lies and stories, with just a bit of truth to make someone care, were very indicative of that.

But that's in the past, and Qilby's future. He has to deal with things the way they are now, and face the fact that a past life grudge could be screwing up his time here.]

Well, I was kind of busy. Someone tricked the villagers into thinking the Dragonsworn were out to hurt them. [He crosses his arms.] We managed to set it right, but there's evidence that it might've been someone we know.

[Look at Yugo, trying to be all professional and detective-like.]

[traitre]

Ah, that? [Qilby arches a brow in surprise. "Why, who would do something like that?" his expression seems to say. Or maybe, "That's awful, you should have come to me sooner!"

But instead of either of those, he throws back his head and laughs incredulously-- and what he goes on to say is something far more unexpected.] Why, yes. That was me. I'm sorry, I thought you knew.

[He could play dumb, but where would that get him? Yugo's come to expect duplicity from him -- it's far more useful to keep the boy ever guessing, ever wondering at his motives. And what could be more surprising than him actually telling the truth for once?]

[yugo]

[... Well, having someone laugh in his face was not exactly something he expected. He takes a step back, almost expecting him to go full on space juggalo or something, but Qilby keeps his hat on and his beard isn't about to kill anyone.

But Yugo is far from happy. Before he can get a handle on his temper, he's blurting out a question.]

But-- why?! I thought you wanted a truce, but then you set us up-- and for what?

[traitre]

[He stares impassively at Yugo, still leaning back in his seat. For how casually he's taking their conversation, they might be talking about the weather.

A few seconds pass in silence before Qilby finally replies slowly, quietly, in a voice one might use to speak to an unruly child.] Are you here to speak with me, or to cause a scene? You must know who I am to these people. [In other words, Yugo will just make himself look worse barging in here shouting at him like this.

That, and he doesn't necessarily want the elves overhearing anything about a "set-up." If by some chance they did become suspicious of him, it'd just be too much work to cover it all up again. Qilby looks down expectantly at Yugo, waiting for his head to cool off. He'll be the one to control this conversation.]

[yugo]

[The younger Eliatrope resists at first, not wanting Qilby to gain the upper hand. But in truth, he's always had it. He fumes for a bit, but in the end he leans in and puts his hands on the table, speaking with quiet intensity.]

I just don't understand why you would say one thing and do another. You know that if we're divided, we won't be able to beat the Burning Legion.

If you hate me-- then-- I will accept it. But don't drag everyone else into it. It's not fair to them.

[traitre]

[A pleased little smile, bordering on cheeky. Qilby 1, Yugo 0.

He shakes his head.] You really just don't get what it is I've done, do you?

Where are your three friends? [A pause to glance around the room, as if he's expecting to find any of them hiding under a table or hanging from the ceiling.] --I mean, you must be friends now. A group of heroic types like you four don't go slaughtering monstrosities for a few hours and not see it as a bonding experience.

[He drums his fingers idly on the arm of his chair.] I do have to wonder, though, if you all would ever have come together like that if a reason hadn't been practically hand-delivered to you.

[yugo]

[Now that gets a bit of confusion. Qilby is obviously trying to spin it that he did it so that Yugo would have allies, but...]

They're not here. [Yeah, he's not falling for it. Sorry, he's just feeling the pressure of having people suffer for his sake.] If you've tried to bring us together, it's only against you and the black dragonflight.

[He shakes his head.]

There's nothing noble about framing people, Qilby. What if someone tried to get into the village and they were attacked? Zel can barely fight.

No... I think you did this for yourself.

[traitre]

You would think that, but that's because you always assume the worst of me.

[A careless little shrug.] Perhaps I underestimated how useless my chosen Dragonsworn would be-- [The ones he'd chosen completely at random, he means to say.] --but you're an eliatrope, Yugo. Better than they are. I knew you'd make up for their shortcomings if you had to.

It seems you did. And now, aren't we all in a better place than we were before? [Because who is he kidding? Without him, the black flight would never have gained footing here. They're clever, most of them... But diplomacy is certainly not their strong suit. If he'd cared to try this the honest way, they'd all inevitably end up working against him.]

[yugo]

[Something vulnerable flickers across his expression.] I want to believe that you're good at heart. I want to believe that you're as nice as you seem to be... but you keep doing bad things. Me and Ad' looked up to you! Do you really think sneaking around like this is admirable?

[He lifts his chin.] You're wrong. We're no better than anyone else. Do you really think two Eliatropes could stop the whole demon army? It took more than that to save our people last time, but you know that. So why are you still acting like we're better?

We're not. [He's trying to keep his voice low, trying really hard.] The Burning Legion wants to suck the life out of this planet and all the other ones. That's not any different from using the Zinit.