@MODERATUS | voice + attached image

[bloodings]

[ It's time. Mordred's in full armour, but without her helmet — just like her father would be during these moments. That way, her voice is clear when it rings out, clearly speaking towards her network audience as much as Kebechet. The BCE's can't transmit video, so this is the next best option. ]

I told you then, didn't I? You could never hope to stand against my father. Now face the judgment of the King of Knights. [ Always him. Always him, even as she wields the blade, hands down the decision. ] The punishment for rebellion— is death. It's time for your execution, Regency dog.

[ She'd know. It's quick, at least: Agravain was the torturer, not her, and they won't get anything else out of Kebechet now regardless. The doomed woman says some final words, translated over the BCE: Be unwearied, unceasing, alive; let not the heart be troubled during your sickly sojourn on this rotting Earth— until the vicious sound of a blade cutting through flesh interrupts her, and then a dull thud. Even without video, it's obvious what just happened. ]

The fool Kebechet is dead. Of course, you don't have to merely take my word for it.

[ Attached is a photo of the woman's head, bald with numbers tattooed along it, and complete with Mordred's armoured boot resting atop it. It's not as grisly as it could be (the neck is out of shot), but it's still... well, a severed head. Don't worry: she's not sorry at all for this.

Still part of the recording, but aimed towards those she's with: ]

Ensure her corpse is disposed of properly. I won't have her return to be a nuisance again. [ Then, more generally— ] This was the wish of our Commander as well. The dragon woman has proof of that, so speak to her about such matters. Oh, and give her all your complaints, too. I have no use for the wailing of soft-hearted idiots.

Comments

[ryuji]

[Jesus fucking christ.]

Mordred...

[bloodings]

What's wrong, Master? I handed down the punishment like I said I would.

To tell the truth, I wanted to draw things out a bit, but... the others felt it was distasteful. She's still dead either way, so it's fine like this.

[ryuji]

Yeah dude... it's pretty freakin' distasteful. Maybe you didn't need to show a pic of the head?

[bloodings]

And deal with countless fools asking for proof? What a waste of my time. This way, there can be no doubt.

[ryuji]

What!? Isn't your word enough? You're a knight!

[bloodings]

... I see, even you can be wise sometimes, Master. Perhaps my word would have been enough.

But not everyone here knows of my title. Even if they did, I'm Mordred, the Treacherous Knight. Normally, I don't care if people doubt me, but this is far too important.

... @beatyourmeat

[trample]

You did good.

crying

[bloodings]

i dont need you to tell me that dumbass
who the hell are you anyway??

[trample]

It doesn't matter.

[bloodings]

the hell it doesnt! i asked you a question!!
that name is way too suspicious! beat your meat? whose meat is that supposed to be? and why?

[trample]

Yours.

[bloodings]

huh?
are you saying you want to fight?? come on then!!

action ig??

[dorzalta]

[ Her look isn't sour, she's far above such displays, but there's a note of dissatisfaction with being called dragon woman. And about being volunteered to field complaints. ]

You're being lazy, knight. [ In truth, a queen would assume this role, so she reigns in her own complaints, instead opting to regard the head. Nothing she imagined their captor to appear as. ] But it should have been one of us who sentenced her for her crimes.

[bloodings]

Yeah. So what?

[ She's not even denying her laziness. She did her job; the cleanup and complaints aren't her problem. This is what happens when you let a seven year old play executioner.

Almost idly, she swings her sword a few times, trying to flick some of the blood off. She'll have to clean it later, but for now, this is more important. ]

... That idiot. Even after everything they did, she served them right till the end. It's the same with that nurse we captured. If my Master hadn't used his abilities on her, she would have died for her beliefs as well.

[dorzalta]

You did well, [ she says, after a pregnant pause. Weighing her options between bolstering a child-knight's ego, versus reprimanding her. ] Both at their compound, and here.

[ She meant it: one of them should have sentenced and executed Kebechet. Rey was preoccupied, Kylo was missing, and Ashitaka was... not interested in killing. Which left her, or Mordred, and she was far less equipped to behead someone than most. ]

I'm not surprised. Her mind was fractured when we used Arthur's PASIV. I imagine it might've been the same thing your Master witnessed.

[bloodings]

... It feels weird being praised like that. Not a bad feeling, though.

[ Kairi and Ryuji had both praised her skill as well, but neither of them were royalty. Given her tumultuous relationship with the crown, she's torn on how to feel, but settles on 'pleased' after a moment. ]

So she was completely broken. We wasted our time even trying to get stuff out of her. [ She grimaces. ] Next time, I'll kill her fair and square in her sleep. That's way easier than all this formality. [ That's not what 'fair and square' means. ]

[dorzalta]

Does it?

[ That makes her heart ache a bit to hear. It was so easy to focus on the negatives of Mordred, to quarrel and make snide remarks between one another. But how often did she receive praise for the good she's done in this place?

She lifts her chin, suddenly stubborn in saying: ]

None other could have accomplished what you had, and no other should have taken Kebechet's head. [ As for Kebechet being completely broken, Dany sighs. ] I don't know if it was a complete waste of time. We've further understanding of the extensiveness to the Regency's manipulations. Some of our allies have softer hearts, but that won't win us this war.

You think she'll come back?

voice @all - for anyone who wants to 'complain' c:

[dorzalta]

The Commander gave approval for the pursuit and handling of Kebechet, for prior to her death, she and her operatives kidnapped six COST members in Gallipoli. Some, you are familiar with, whilst others have left us. Kebechet was offered mercy and rejected this. She tortured those of us she took.

[ A pregnant pause, one where she's regarding not one, but a second head -- not that those on the network can see it. ]

And she murdered our Commander. Mordred's sword has given her the mercy of a quick death. It's far more than I imagine Grothia received.

[mylawn]

[This is not a new complaint--he'd made his opinion on the matter clear when it became apparent what was going to happen, before he'd left with the intention of washing his hands of all this. War is war, which he knows better than most people and he has the feeling that Dany does as well, but there are some lines it seems he finds difficult to cross.

To hear the execution in its finality means he can't help but interject again.]

If you have to defend your decision this much, makes you wonder if it was the right one.

[Dany should know he's not talking about the murder itself--he hasn't yet stood in the way of the revenge she feels she's earned, and through it all was realistic about Kebechet's fate--but the method seems to be a sticking point for him. The disappointment that they went through with it is evident in his voice.]

[bloodings]

[ 'Leave the complaints to the dragon lady', she said. But here she is butting in — maybe because of who it is. ]

"Kebechet is dead." Do you think that would have sufficed?

No, a king must deal with criminals publicly, in a manner that leaves no doubt as to their fate. We had no way of gathering everyone together to witness it, so this was the only option. [ ... Yeah, she wanted to behead Kebechet in front of a crowd. ]

[mylawn]

Yeah, I think so.

[But the reason he'd addressed Dany in the first place is because he already knows how different he and Mordred are, ideologically speaking. He's not sure how this will go over, but he might as well try.]

This kind of thing is for despots. Maybe that's what you were going for.

[bloodings]

Perhaps. I do not seek to emulate tyrants, but there are times when such things are necessary.

My father was a perfect king. Even so, he bowed to the will of the people, and sentenced his wife to be publicly executed for her betrayal. I'm certain that it hurt him, but — any weakness is something to be seized upon. A seed of doubt can grow into something much larger.

[ She doesn't mention her part in orchestrating that entire disaster. ]

This is as much for the Regency as anything else. It is proof of how we regard traitors. If there are spies among us, or if they access our communications again, then they can see for themselves what their fate will be.

[dorzalta]

[ Truthfully, she doesn't understand what caused him to step away--not after they'd discussed that this would likely end in Kebechet's death. ]

I've no need to defend my actions and role in this. [ She is a queen, and gone are the days of being a victim. ] She received mercy in her death, and an execution which announced the role she played. It's the way it's always been for this.

private;

[ The next she speaks, it's for his ears only. ]

Explain to me what displeases you of this.

private

[mylawn]

[He knows on some level that this is more a cultural thing than anything else--that they all come from vastly different worlds. It seems to him that this is the kind of thing is seen as a necessity where she's from, so he's not sure how far he's going to get.

Still, she wants to know why he balked, so he's ready to provide an explanation.]

We're trying to be better than the Regency. You don't have to make people fear you. Killing her was enough.

perma-private etc etc

[dorzalta]

[ A long and marked silence. Perhaps some would read it as dangerous. But then, in a rush of breath: ]

You think this was about making our allies fear me?