[Video]

[callmegladio]

[The feed opens on Gladio, sat in his garden, the sun shining down on him. The sky is bright, the weather warm but a cool breeze ruffles his hair. The garden is well tended, green and well kept. The scene might have been a lovely and calm one if not for the serious look on Gladio's face. He's not quite looking at the screen, but off to the side, seemingly lost in thought for a long moment before he heaves a heavy sigh.

Still not looking at the screen, he starts to speak.]

It's been long enough. I've had time to think, so I'm going to tell you why I did what I did.

[He goes quiet again, considering his next words.]

I know... some of you are pissed we did this. You were happy livin in blissful ignorance, trusting this world without question. And for a while I was too. Till I realised how messed up that was.

I was so desperate for a peaceful life I didn't think...

[Gladio glanced at the screen then, his eyes narrow slightly.]

When did we all just roll over and accept this insanity? We were kidnapped from our homes, our families, and trapped in this bubble. We were given the most basic info and told to accept it. The most basic food we can't even really call 'food', and we accepted it. We were given tasks and rules and hoops to jump through, and we accepted it. We were forced to touch, kiss, hold and reveal secrets to strangers, and we accepted it. It was the 'will of the Gods'. We all just nodded and accepted it. Why? Why have we accepted all this? Why do people keep coming and going? Where do they go? Do they just go home? Or are they taken? Are they being hurt? Experimented on like the animals they had us catch? Why do these weird things keep happening? Why can't they answer our questions?

And why are we terrorists for wanting answers? We hurt no one. We destroyed nothing. We're the heroes of this world, right? Here to save the planet. So what are they keeping so secret?

Why aren't you all asking questions?

Why're you just rolling over and accepting their truth?

[Again he looks away, heaved another heavy sigh and brought a hand up to rub tiredly at his eyes. He definitely looked tired. Stressed. His tone shifting from angry to confused to desperate for people to understand, and for himself to understand why no one else was fighting.]

We're forced from our homes... Our families. We form bonds with people only to watch them vanish. And... I don't know bout anyone else, but I didn't consent to this. I never signed up for this world.

I want answers. We wanted answers. And we weren't gettin them. So we went looking for them.

[Here he laughs, low and without humour. A shake of his head and a sardonic glance at the screen.]

The fact the natives reacted the way they did should be a red flag. What're they protecting so badly? What's so secret? What aren't they telling us? Is it about what really happened to this world? Who these 'Gods' are? How we actually got here and why? Where our friends go when they suddenly disappear?

And we're the bad guys?

How's that make sense?

[Gladio shrugged and with one last sigh he reached out and switched the feed off. He'd said what he wanted. Now he would lie down in the sun and try and calm down.]

Comments

[scourgingstars]

And you take action based on mere assumption? You accept something as outlandish as dimensional travel, yet you draw a line of disbelief at the idea of living souls in mechanical bodies? Are you truly so shortsighted, or do you merely care so little for anyone and anything apart from your own research?

...On second thought, you needn't even answer that. I suspect I already know.

[original_is_best]

There are no assumptions that people are missing or that they are performing experiments. Nor did I assume that they keep their research from us. It was not an assumption that they were doing genetic experiments. It is not an assumption that they wished to reverse what happened to them. It is not an assumption that they discovered they could not proceed without samples. I acted based on what I knew in order to find that which I did not know.

I do not draw the line at souls in mechanical bodies. I draw the line at us knowing if that is what we're dealing with. We should not assume that we know who we are talking to when we have no proof. I find that many here are operating on assuming the best case scenario, and it is usually recommended that we prepare for the worst case.

You are much older and wiser than I. You must understand what our circumstances truly are, regardless of surface-level appearances, if we are incorrectly assuming that the natives are exactly as they present themselves. Malicious intent would not even be required, because they themselves would not need to know that they are being manipulated.

[scourgingstars]

I was trapped in a glorified closet for two millennia, Verstael, I don't know a damn thing and I have no idea why in the Astrals' name you've convinced yourself otherwise.

But even I know you've done something monumentally idiotic in method even if the intent is not strictly wrong.

[original_is_best]

You greatly underestimate yourself.

Then, may I ask: What methods have you found that work? I am always of open mind.

[scourgingstars]

Have you considered not making yourself an antagonistic force or otherwise any manner of nuisance?

[original_is_best]

Yes, from M.E. 722-IV-7th, 1-Lasdia-13th to M.E. 724-III-16th, 3-Dianir-20th. Seven hundred and eight days, or approximately two years.

[Perhaps he got a little pushy with what he wanted sometimes, but he didn't classify himself as a nuisance before that.]

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn pinched the bridge of his nose, repressing the urge to openly sigh.]

I know better than to argue with you. All I can do is advise you not to do something this asinine again, lest you land us all under some manner of suspicion for your sheer recklessness.

[original_is_best]

I make no guarantees should the opportunity for research call again.

...Be well, Ardyn.

Threadjacking with permission!

[runs_on_batteries]

[Video: Tony is seen grinning devilishly at Verstael and clapping for him.]