[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

[callmegladio]

... Is that what you took from this, Pyra?

[He is. He's all of those things and so much more. But mostly he was tired.]

I'm not changing who I am.

[iustaegis]

[ She appears uncomfortable. ] If you do not trust what they tell us… refraining from contact would be the ultimate way to protest, and cut a supply to the power they receive.

[callmegladio]

What am I protesting?

I'll say it again, I wont change who I am. No matter what. And that's why I did what I did. Because I thought it was the right thing to do. I don't regret it, Pyra.

Whether it gives them power or not, I won't give up who I am.

[iustaegis]

[ Her hand comes to her chest, and she appears worried. Eventually, though, she takes a breath. ]

So long as you continue to help this world... then all is well. Did you discover anything?

Threadjacking with permission!/ Switching to private

[runs_on_batteries]

[Tony's been paying close attention to all of the conversations on here. As much as some he's just chalked up to overreactions, this is one that he can't be quiet on. However, he respects his relationship with Pyra far too much to do this on an open channel. Hopefully that counts for something.]

Pyra, are you honestly suggesting that if we suspected someone was being hurt- like the natives having their memories manipulated or someone who has been taken from here and being used as material for experimentation- our best way to protest is to simply refrain from contact?

I've been in many, many situations where those in authority have lied and manipulated the population even under the rouse of treating them well. Please tell me you wouldn't suspect of me or Gladio that we would've done something like this lightly or without good reason. You know us better than that.

[iustaegis]

[ She appears hurt by something he's said, but doesn't elaborate. Her eyes dart to the side, then back to the camera. ]

This world is dying... All I want to know is if you still intend to help it.

[runs_on_batteries]

[He opened his mouth to react before purposefully shutting it again. His frown deepened, visibly confused by what she's trying to say.

Wait, maybe he heard that wrong..]

I'm sorry, sweetheart. I've been defending Gladio and the others all day from angry people who just want to condemn us for what we did. That's not what you're saying at all is it?

Of course I want to help this world. I wanted to protect the natives even when we acted here. I still plan on helping.

[iustaegis]

[ Her gaze elevates to his-- across the screen, anyway, but it seems burdened. ]

Okay-- that's.... Okay. [ She nods. ] That's all I wanted to know. That's what's most important.

[runs_on_batteries]

[He sighed, watching her. He wished it was easier to talk to her. Usually he had more energy and focus to give to this dance of theirs to get her thoughts bit by bit out of her.

However, even with other fires to put out, this was Pyra and he was going to give her everything he had left in the tank.]

Is that really the only thing on your mind? Getting that reassurance?

[iustaegis]

[ She watches his expression and thinks-- he looks rather tired. ] No, of course not, but... [ Earnest, ] That's why we're here, isn't it? To help them save this world.

[runs_on_batteries]

[He nods.]

That's what we've been told, yes. I hope that's true. Do you know of any kind of evidence that would support that I could look at or hear about? Doesn't have to be right now, just sometime.

[iustaegis]

Maybe later, mm. [ She replies with a nod, quiet for a moment, but then speaks up again. ]

Did you find anything in those towers, yourself?

[runs_on_batteries]

[Tony paused and double/ triple checked the privacy locks on the chat before giving a single nod.]

Please don't say anything, but yes. We fortunately didn't find any person being experimented on in the towers we were able to investigate. Now we're going through the data we collected, but that's going to take us a while.

[He ran a hand along the back of his neck and gave her a guilty smile.]

I'm sorry I snapped at you. If this thing makes it too awkward for you to be around us for a while or anything both Gladio and I will understand, okay?

[iustaegis]

[ Pyra’s head lifts with interest at his first statement, but at his second, her smile is sympathetic; her eyes, warm. She shakes her head. ]

You said you were defending him. Gladio, I mean. You care a lot about him. That’s very sweet. [ Then, her cropped hair sways as she tilts her head to the side, a crease forming above her brow. Something seems to warrant this question: ] Is… he doing okay?

[runs_on_batteries]

[Tony glances off-screen toward wherever Gladio probably is and back with a cautious smile.]

He'll be okay. He's not used to bad press like I am- none of them are. It's not going to phase Sephiroth unless the whole city showed up at his door with pitchforks and torches but Gladio's more sensitive than he likes to let on. I'm proud of him for speaking his mind but I don't think he was prepared for how unsympathetic people have been.

[He shrugs and shakes his head regretfully.]

People don't like it when you call them out or say what they've been doing hasn't been enough. I sure didn't. I'm just hoping that some people will keep thinking after they get done being angry.

In the meantime.. would you maybe like in on our super secret spy squad? There's a lot of data to go through.

[He can trust you, right?]

[iustaegis]

[ She seems worried to hear about Gladio which-- is perhaps why she had asked, since he had seemed so upset. It had hurt hearing his words, too.

But to the second part, she shakes her head sadly-- in decline. ]

I can't. I'm sorry. Perhaps a different project, Tony... later.

[runs_on_batteries]

[He nodded, not taking offense.]

I understand. You'll keep what I told you safe though, right? It won't be forever. We'll share the knowledge as soon as we know what there is and how to protect it.

[iustaegis]

Okay. [ A nod, to the first part, then another. ] Take care. You and Glaido, both.

[runs_on_batteries]

Thanks sweetie. Call me if you need anything, okay