forthebothofus | [ 14 ] [ Audio ] Backdated to the day of the uprising

People lost they're mind. They're revolting in the keep!

[And guess who's trying to stop it.]

What. Why!?

[That's the stupidest thing she's heard all week--]

Zack, where are you?

[She knows him to well.]

I've got no idea.

[He's got no idea how this is going to solve anything.]

Heading towards the keep.

[That is exactly what she didn't want to hear.]

So you're heading into trouble. Great.

[Thanks for telling her, love.]

[Sorry hun, it was a spur of the moment thing.]

Someone has to stop this!

That doesn't mean it has to be you!

[She's already going after him. Abeni won't let him get into a fight without her to watch his back. It's what they do. They're a team, no matter what. Even if she doesn't agree with his reasoning, she won't leave him.]

Especially not without knowing the reason.

No one else is even trying!

[Later he'll feel terrible for leaving her behind, but right now he's just so tired of the way things are. It seems like too few people here will actually stick their necks for anyone these days. When trouble comes everyone is left to fend for themselves. Someone needs to help and if has to be him then so be it.]

What good reason could there be? People are going to get hurt if this gets out of control.

[Abeni makes a frustrated noise.]

Dammit Zack!

[She's worried. It's a feeling she's still not sure how to handle.]

You could of at least told me you were going.

I'm...I'm sorry, but just because we're safe doesn't mean we should ignore everyone else.

[It all comes back to Deadworld for him. He tried so hard to help everyone, and though he failed at every turn, he had to keep trying. It shouldn't be any different here.]

Look just... where exactly are you?

[She might not be happy, but she's not about to tell him no.]

I figure people who do stupid things and throw themselves at trouble deserve, at least to some degree, what they get.

[A beat.]

But if you're going, I'm coming.

I'm by the inner gates.

[He can tell she's upset, and while he doesn't like the idea of making it worse this is just something he has to do.]

Maybe they do, but I don't want anyone else getting hurt.

[And a revolt sounds like a lot of people could get hurt.]

Okay.

Okay.

[Give her a minute or two to catch up. Zachariah might of left before her, but Abeni is faster. When she does reach him, her expression is serious, remnant of the one she wore in Deadworld. She makes no effort to touch him, simply coming to a halt a few steps away.]

What's the plan?

Right now I want to keep everyone inside.

[His look is much the same. At the moment he's relying on much of what he learned in Deadworld, both when she was there and when she wasn't. It doesn't please him to be in that same vein of thought right now, but there's no denying that the experience is useful.]

After that I want to find the guy who started this and convince him to stop.

[Hopefully he'll listen to reason.]

[She shakes her head.]

We need more information. Or I do, at least. This Keep is big, Zachariah. Where is this idiot leading his crowd? Sure we can stop the ones still in the barracks, but what about the ones already gone?

[Zachariah fist clenches.]

I know, but there is no information right now. Just a lot of people scared and freaking out. That guy said the Great Hall, so I'm guessing they went there. As for the others, I've just been trying to warn people. Keep them inside so they stay safe.

[There's no hiding that she doesn't like this. Not that she wants to sit back and do nothing while others are in danger, but the lack of information and the fact that people put themselves in this position willingly bothers her quite a bit.]

So we split up then?

[She hates to suggest it but there's no way they'll be able to cover all that ground in time.]

Or do we dash from one to the other? If you're doing this, I'm with you.

[That's easy enough to tell, and when this is all over he fully expects to get an ear-full from her about several things. Right now though he doesn't think about that too much.]

I want to stick together.

[He keeps thinking about the last time they got split up. Zachariah won't lose Abeni again, not ever.]

We head for the Great Hall and try to convince them to stop this. If we can't, then we just try to keep everyone else safe.

[She takes a deep breath and nods. They can fight about this later.]

Alright then.

[And she's moving. Abeni never was one to wait around.]

Let's get this over with.

If it comes to a fight, just run.

[He knows Abeni's not a coward, neither of them are, but Zachariah isn't looking for a fight here. If the people involved in this are willing to attack others trying to convince them to stop, then they can have whatever comes down on their heads.

Zachariah heads towards the Great Hall. Hopefully it won't be too late to end this.]

[Run. Really?]

Do you even remember who you're talking to?

[The words are quiet and light, but the point still stands. Abeni isn't one to back down. Once she commits to something, she's with it until the end. That's half the reason why she's following Zachariah right now.

She follows after, eager to get this over and done with.]

[Now Zachariah gives her a worried look.]

No, if they're that set on doing something stupid then they can go ahead deal with the consequences.

[They made the decision to do this themselves so anything that happens to them is their fault. What he hopes to do is stop them before any of their actions can hurt people who don't want to be involved.]

[It's a look she ignores.]

Now that I'll agree with.

[That's not good. Zachariah holds back a sigh. He doesn't wan her to be angry but this is just something he's got to do.]

Thanks.

{He presses on towards the Great Hall.]

[She doesn't lead or follow. Abeni moves in step beside him, careful to move fast and keep quiet. It's almost too reminiscent of Deadworld for her liking. Perhaps that's the reason for her being as ill-tempered about all of this as she is.]

Revolting.

What the hell are they trying to achieve? What's the goal?

I don't know, to find the Deior guy. Or get out of here. Or just make as much of a mess as obnoxiously as possible. Probably a mix of all three.

Ah, the ever elusive Lord that no one has seen and the exit no one can find. Smart of them, really.

[Oh people. Why so silly.]

Where are you?

Sticking around my room in the barracks. Getting in the middle of this bullshit is the last thing I want to do.

Where are you?

Thanks for being smart.

[She sighs, frustrated.]

Trying to keep people inside and others from getting themselves killed.

I could come by and help out. It would beat sitting around on my ass all night.

Have you been living under a bunch of rocks?

[That's where she'd like to be.]

They're breaking some rules. Or they're talking about it.

[It all sounded like talk, to her anyway.]

Nope. A tree.

[Hey, it's true.]

Did they mention a goal at all? Breaking rules for what?

Nope. No idea.

Great. Really great.

[Unimpressed with this whole thing? Why yes, yes she is.]

I'm guessing you're not involved then. Stay safe, wherever you are.

Pfft, no! I fight to win.

...

Yeah, you too.

You fight?

[She's curious, not mocking in the slightest.]

What kind of fighting?

[ 14 ] [ Audio ] Backdated to the day of the uprising

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