middaeg | {catch-all}

[He may not exactly be out there on the frontlines with the resistance, but that does not mean that Ozymandias' time in this city has not proven exhausting in its own way. Being part of the dignitary team means masking every natural reaction to what's been carefully curated as part of their tour of the city. It's of little surprise that their secrets and their greater cruelties are either merely out of the way for now or entirely inaccessible. Then there is the matter of tracking aforementioned resistance efforts while trying but not always successfully managing to avoid getting swept up in one of their flashier attempts at liberation.]

[And then, finally, there is the matter of his Bonded. Ozymandias tries not to think of it much, but he has been looking increasingly unwell since their arrival. Ozymandias doesn't what exactly is the source of his being so unwell, but he doesn't trust the Coven of Dorchacht to make any sort of appropriate diagnosis or treatment. So, as much as he might dread the impending argument to get Arthur back to Aefenglom when the other half of the dignitaries arrive, it's one he's still willing to mentally prepare himself to take on sooner rather than later.]

[This is going to be a long month...]

[But at least these baths are here. If there is to be anything about this city that is welcomed, it is lowering himself into the warm water with a deep sigh. Although they certainly don't hurt, he's not even certain the magical enhancements to the water are strictly necessary for alleviating his tension. After a moment or two, he opts to close his eyes and with an almost thoughtful hum, sinks just low enough that his hair just barely dips into the water. He rests the back of his head against the wall of the bath and goes still and quiet.]

[Sheva, however, has been on or near the front lines for the better part of her time in Dorchacht. Time has lost substantial meaning, her patience has been tested on more occasions than she can count, and she's taken precious little time for herself. Aside from basic necessities such as food, water, and enough sleep to function well enough, she's dedicated most of her time to fueling and helping the efforts of the resistance, which includes acting as a liaison with her dignitary contacts.

In order to do that, the foul smell of poorer streets and the belly of the resistance's territory beneath the city must be cleansed thoroughly from her skin and hair. Needless to say, she's been looking forward to this hot and magical bath to cleanse and recharge her low batteries.

Truth be told, she was in worse shape when she first arrived from Kijuju than this particular day, but even so, her exhaustion causes her to overlook Ozymandias' presence in the bath as she strolls past him towards the bath with nothing but a clean towel in her hand and her knife strapped to her thigh. The towel's set well enough aside before she wastes no time stepping into the hot water with a groan that may sound suspiciously like a purr.

It's only as she's lowering herself to the point of decency that she notices that she's not alone.]

[As one might expect, sound carries fairly well within the bathhouse. So, at the sound of approaching footsteps, Ozymandias cracks one eye open, turning his head just enough to see who is approaching. Though it's a little difficult to feel any further tension while soaking in this bath, he is a little relieved that it's someone he's met. Ozymandias is a little tired of strangers in this strange city by now.]

[Opening his other eye, he almost says something to her in greeting, but when she continues on swiftly a little further down the bath, it becomes apparent that she's not exactly present. Ozymandias' lips quirk into a smile as no doubt she is experiencing the same singular thought he had just moments before settling in. He decides to wait then, not risking startling her. Or embarrassing her. (Soldier though she may be, Ozymandias is aware of modern sensibilities around nakedness.) So, he gives her a little privacy by not pointedly looking elsewhere, but certainly finding something else to look at that's not her.]

[He looks her way again after he hears the sound of water coupled with that low purr, and feels eyes move in his direction.]

It's considered rude to stare, you know.

[Good choice. Startling an already paranoid and exhausted soldier is never a fantastic idea, especially when her main goal is to clean up and steal herself some relaxation.

She's just as relieved to see a familiar face, even if she's impolite and doesn't bother to pull her gaze from his, merely lifting an eyebrow with a challenging glint and a curl of her lip into a ghost of a smirk.]

There are far ruder places I could settle my stare.

[She counters with an amused flick of water his direction.]

You look well.

[Ozymandias holds up a hand to block what amount of water manages to make it over to him with a smile, sitting back upright once more. He hums in mild agreement of her assessment. Despite whatever might occupy his mind and the general ugliness of Dorchacht, he is physically no worse for wear than he's ever been.]

And you look like you've been busy. [He cants his head to one side.] I assume doing things that our most "gracious" hosts would find unacceptable.

[He doesn't sound so much sarcastic as he does skeptical of the chosen adjective. Considering all the literal and figurative doors that have been kept restricted and locked from them, all the secrets that are no doubt being buried, gracious doesn't exactly begin to describe Morgana and her ilk.]

[A soft 'tsk' of disapproval slips past her lip as he blocks her splash, but it's not out of any genuine irritation. Whatever amusement and fledgling flirtation evaporates at the proverbial mirror he puts in front of her. He's right, or so she assumes. She's not taken a gander in the mirror recently, but by the way she feels Sheva can interpolate the degree of wear she's displaying.

She exhales and sinks a bit lower into the water, contemplating how she wants to answer as well as the entire situation.]

I've been busy. [She finally agrees.] And this is my element. I feel as though I'm back in Africa.

[And it's clear that--in addition to all the weight of self-appointed responsibility on the matter--the woman feels guilt. She shouldn't be in this magic bath when people have been enslaved on the basis of genetics and nothing else.]

They put on a clean coat of paint for appearances, but scratch enough at the surface and it reveals the true nature of the city and those in charge.

[That simple act of concealment means they know what they're doing is wrong, and that just adds fuel to her fire on the matter.]

[The appearance of some guilt is not all that surprising. In fact, Ozymandias feels quite familiar with it by now. Those who have felt compelled enough to do something about the situation in this city despite the risks that it carries do so with a noble heart. Noble hearts just also happen to be quite prone to guilt if they are not submitting themselves beyond their limits to their causes.]

[He shakes his head a little.]

I would be inclined to agree with you, but you're approaching it from a moral perspective. That's not one Morgana or anyone else in charge of this city likely shares with you. [Wrong or right, Ozymandias suspects, doesn't even begin to factor into their equations. Within this city's walls, it's cold cost-benefit.] To them, everything is a flaunting of power they've cultivated. They use that power to create fear and thus, create obedience.

A city that intimidates so much of its population would not hesitate to do the same to foreign powers, particularly after it has felt violated in some capacity.

[It's really the only sense that Ozymandias can make of the very invitation for anyone to travel from Aefenglom to Dorchacht. It's difficult to seem so powerful if one is so far away and unable to place demands. But Morgana has done just that by allowing the mirrorbound to come along and permit them carefully curated roam of the city. She wants them to be horrified and afraid. Horrified and afraid leads to stupid decisions that she might exploit.]

There are some things they likely want no one to see, but things like the opposition put forth by the Resistance must be empowering to Morgana in some way. One cannot have power to create fear if it is not wielded occasionally. What is an easier target than something within your own city?

I'm aware that people without moral standards not only exist, but thrive on keeping people underfoot. [She just tries to be the balance of that as best she can while sometimes weaving through more lawfully grey areas herself for the greater good. Not all laws, as Dorchacht exemplifies, are rooted in strong morals.]

Besides, they can only flaunt their power so long as they maintain it, and... I believe that's shifting as we speak, much like in the dream.

[There's definitely a pleasure that weaves in with that statement, a proud, knowing glint in her eyes. Sheva clearly will delight should the leaders culpable in such moral debauchery meet terrible ends, all of which better include losing said powers.

She means to ask him about his opinions from a cwyld centered perspective, but something clicks and her expression dilutes at what she suspects is a rhetorical question.] Perhaps a distracted city that's lost some of its newly gained fodder... I mean populace.

[A beat.]

Do you think Morgana might have sent a covert team to Aefenglom?

[Ozymandias genuinely considers it for a moment, gaze dropping to the water between them for a moment. There is enough secrecy within the walls of this city to keep a covert team busy for months that it doesn't seem exactly out of character for Morgana to implement a more subtle hand when necessary. But would it be necessary to investigate Aefenglom without detection? Or would protecting her secrets weigh more to her?]

[Then there is also the matter of this woman's ego and pride. Her very image that is now inextricably linked with Dorchacht and its history.]

[He slowly shakes his head, bringing his gaze back up to Sheva.]

If she perceived Aefenglom to be a threat, I believe she would strike with obvious force. It would send a clear message to Aefenglom and her people. Anything less than that would seem unconfident and cowardly. Despite how she seems a viper, she does not truly comport herself as an assassin. Her people would likely still rally behind her even if she were to use such methods, but that would be far more fragile than acting as the city has come to know her.

[She would not be seen as inherently strong and righteous as she does in all the public opinions and literature on the history of this city if she was so underhanded. Whatever she might do in aggression would require brutality.]

[Every organization or country worth their salt found a way to deal in secrets, so while she's not arguing with Oz's earlier statements, Sheva thinks that there's much more going on beneath the surface. Then again, the BSAA agent trusts exactly zero percent of either of the cities' ruling witches and monsters.

She's quiet for a moment, listening as she steps closer so that they might speak in less carrying voices.]

You think like a man. [It's not spoken as an insult or with heavy bias. He's a man, and therefore he thinks like one. Just as the opposite can be said of herself.] A pointedly visible display of power could easily serve more purpose than putting fear into the hearts of literally anyone else. Especially when she may be making a larger power grab beneath everyone's noses.

[She seems like the sort of smart, calculate survivalist to play the long game even while brutally leading. Biting the hand that protects them all would be ill advised, even if she thinks herself better than Aefenglom.]

Whoever holds the ability to either keep the cwyld at bay--or if possible, control it--holds the true power in this world.

[It is exactly due to that lack of insult that Ozymandias raises a slight eyebrow, curious as to where exactly her logic may lead. Ozymandias' lips quirk into a smile as he remembers an earlier, similar conversation with Iskandar, back when the possibility of war and conquest in this world were merely distant hypotheticals. If such a person could exist, would they share it or would they use that power to decimate and seize all the power in the world? Ozymandias and Iskandar both concluded that both situation and the person wielding the power would more definitively answer that question, and in this case, he doesn't see Morgana acting all that charitable to her neighbors.]

That is, of course, assuming that a more permanent solution may yet exist or there is a willingness to use it. [Not all cures are without pain after all.] So far, it seems this world only possesses stop-gap measures.

We're not from this world.

[She points out, counter his eyebrow lift with one of her own. ]

I don't know how exactly they're pulling us here through mirrors. [It's obviously something she thinks is rather ridiculous still.] Maybe it started as an accident, but it wouldn't surprise me if they believe the permanent solution that they're searching for exists in another world, maybe in one of us.

[Given how integral the bioengineering of diseases and the negative consequences that stem from them are in her world, her perspective is a bit biased.]

[He cants his head a little. It's certainly not unheard of to him that one might call upon someone else beyond their time and place to fight where the stakes are certainly quite high, but this is different. There doesn't appear to be any evidence of control associated with the way the mirrorbound are brought to this world, and that alone opens this world up to even greater dangers potentially.]

Do you believe the situation has already grown that desperate?

for sheva

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