ellipsanet | Attack on Conference Call (Network Cast Mingle)

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Attack on Conference Call (Network Cast Mingle)

[After learning about the future of her homeworld (not everything, but enough to know that there will be war between Paradis Island and Marley), Frieda had initially comforted herself with the thought that her (and Eren's) continued absence would at least erase the worst of all dangers - if they were allowed to remain here in Ellipsa. If not... well, she's been trying not to think about that.

Over the last couple of months, however, a few potential avenues have opened up to maybe accomplish what she hardly dared to hope for: To free their world of the titans without sacrificing her people in the process. Having spoken to the (most likely) only person who might be able to directly help, and having explored several of the dimensions more recently opened for investigation, she needs to speak to the other Eldians in Nightwake, no longer wanting to decide everyone's fate over their heads.

After getting a crash course in how to set up a conference call, invitation messages arrive in the inbox of Eren Jaeger, Erwin Smith, Falco Grice, Jean Kirstein, Levi Ackerman, and Reiner Braun - all the Eldians in Ellipsa Frieda is aware of. They all can see who the other attendees will be, and the brief text asks them to forward the invitation to any other Eldians who may be present in this world - unbeknownst to Frieda, that's Bertholdt Hoover, Marco Bott, Mikasa Ackerman and Sasha Braus.

Whether they accept or decline the invitation, before long, the day and time of the conference call arrives... a pop-up notice informs the attendants that the meeting will be recorded!]

Everybody, thank you for joining this meeting. I know you must be wondering what I might have to share with all of you. Please, listen to what I have to say first - you may ask any questions you have afterwards.

[Going by the expressions of those who've managed to turn on their cameras, they look more apprehensive than anything else - and who could blame them? To the Paradisians, she kept the truth about their world concealed at all costs, and to the Marleyans, she abandoned them to a life of near-enslavement. To all of them, she's the most awful ruler imaginable. She needs to convince them that she has her people's best interests at heart, now that she's been given the chance to act on their behalf without breaking her ancestor's vow.]

We may in part be divided by birthplace and beliefs, but I'd like to think that we can all agree on one thing: Titans are a scourge upon our world, both for those who live in fear of them and for those who are turned into them to be used against others as weapons. If Ellipsa had space for all our people, would we not want to bring them all here?

[Perhaps there are already some interjections at this point, but she raises her hands to ask for silence as she continues.]

As you are most likely aware, the Research Centre is working on finding a way to accomplish that - and most recently, habitable worlds in neighbouring dimensions have been discovered, locations fit to house our race. However, so far, there hasn't been a breakthrough in the research. As such, I sought out the support of a fellow otherworlder - a deity who helped my friend by transporting her parents from their perilous world to a safer one. His name is, ah... Max Davis.

[She knows that it's an unexpectedly mundane name for a god; she was a little surprised too!]

He offered to relocate all our people to a safe, habitable world under his dominion. The caveat is that said world is out of reach for us here. That being said, I fear that with how uncertain our continued presence here has proven, we can't afford to wait for the Research Centre's efforts to bear fruit, even if their success might enable us to invite our people into Ellipsa or one of its neighbour dimensions.

[There's more to it - Max also offered to help her remove the curse of the titans through a special method that might damage her mind -, but one thing after the other. After all, he isn't yet sure if all of this will truly be feasible, needing to assess the "rules" of their world and the Eldians' role in it further, because apparently even gods need to abide to certain regulations that may be incomprehensible to mortals.]

What are your initial thoughts?

[(OOC: Since this is a conference call, feel free to thread-jump, refer to things said in other threads, hijack the call to discuss other topics, etc, and technical difficulties are naturally par for the course. For reference, Frieda's talk with Max is here!)]

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[Those who can't (or don't want to) attend the conference call will receive a recording of the meeting, along with an ask to share their thoughts via email, or else via one-on-one discussion with Frieda, be it on the phone or in person. She wants to understand how her people feel!]

[Jean isn't exactly impressed nor is he sure this kind of a 'conference call' is a good idea, but he's going to play along anyway.]

Two questions.

What kind of a deity is this guy and what does he want in return?

[Holding a conference call like this certainly was a risky idea, and as of yet, the outcome is still uncertain. Frieda hopes that in the very least, honest communication may create more of a sense of unity among the Ellipsan Eldians, but in the worst case, the opposite might happen!]

He's a fae god. As for the payment, it's still undecided, but he said that the more of us are willing to contribute to it, the less each individual will have to pay. He's very open to, ah, haggling and suggestions, and seems to favour services over material payments.

[She decides to withhold Max' idea of her leaving the titans at his disposal, should he find himself in conflict with third parties - after all, he easily let go of it when she explained that she doesn't want her people to be further used in such a way.]

[Of course it's a fae god. Jean shakes his head, looking stern.]

As someone who considered making a contract with a fae goddess from Avalon... I can't support that. The more I put thought into the idea the worse it became. There's not big enough safe prize for what you want to do.

[It would have likely cost all of his memories to pull off what he wanted to do. Possibly even more. Who knows what else Morganna would have wanted.

At first it had seemed like such a good idea, but he had been desperate, he supposed. Now that the Research Center had plans he wanted to help them find a safe and non-sacrificing way.]

Fae deities are fickle. They can word their contracts in a way that costs you more than you bargain for. You've probably seen what the fae can do in this world already, too. Why would you put the fate of anyone into one's hands?

[She listens seriously, taking a moment to consider what he said. Max seemed very kind, and while he did tell her that if no one were to support her endeavour, he'd ask for her soul, he was upfront about it... but he also toyed with the demons of his world, resurrecting and then eating them when he found no further use for them. She still isn't entirely sure how to feel about that. On the one hand, demons are evil and arguably deserve no compassion, but on the other hand, who's to say that a fae will make a distinction when push comes to shove - and is there even a distinction between Eldians and demons? (Another thing she shouldn't say out loud if she wants this meeting to continue in an orderly fashion.)]

I was warned about that... and yes, the trials we went through spoke for themselves.

[Jade didn't mince words about how dangerous fae can be, and the experience in the usurped fairy kingdom would have left her badly damaged if not for Rinku - and still, she went for this opportunity, similarly desperate as Jean was when he considered striking a bargain with Morganna.]

Can I ask what contract you wanted to make?

[If he had the same base idea, they'll have that common ground at least!]

[He takes a moment, looking awkwardly away from the screen for a while.]

Similar reasons. But at first they were purely selfish and only about one person in particular. But they appeared here, so I thought about using the same method for others, until I realized it wouldn't work or wouldn't be worth the risks.

[He still had the papers about his plans, written neatly in eldian script, tucked away in a locked box. He really ought to just burn them at this point.]

I'm placing my trust in the Research Center about this, instead. They have plenty of resources and methods at they arsenal without the need of sacrificing anything to a random fae god.

So whatever you're planning, you can count me out.

[ What the fuck...? Hello, did you want to meet a young woman, who is clearly a mix of Ackerman and Asian?? ]

You'd trust someone, who says he's a deity or whatever, who's apparently actually a fae, whose real name could be whatever else instead of that? Does your friend even have any proof, that her parents are in a safer world or that that world's going to stay safer at all? Besides, faes almost always ask for something fucked up in return too aside from all the other twists, that happen easily when dealing with them.

[ Congratulations, Frieda, you've unlocked ... something. Mikasa doesn't talk this much most of the time, at least not to most people, and instead of her usual calm poker face, she seems -- less calm, but somehow she's still pretty much keeping that poker face. Oh, and she's not even done yet.]

Besides, he's stuck here like the rest of us, right? Why would you trust--

Hey, even real, local gods and most powerful witches and wizards and whatever else in other worlds couldn't bring

[EREN!!!!]

anyone into them no matter how much they might have tried.

[ ... Hahah, this isn't even the first time here, recently that is, when something has made her think about her first moments in Empatheias followed by thinking about all of those years without him around at all.]

[Frieda can only wonder whom among the others here he wanted at his side so badly... it can't have been Mikasa since he told her that they got married before being called to Ellipsa, but ultimately, she won't press him on it in front of everyone.

As his clear declaration of not wanting to support her endeavour, she inclines her head in acceptance, though she still wants to understand better what led him to distrust the fae so utterly. Having dealt with them in another world gives him an advantage other those among them who have less experience with them.]

What do you think is the worst that could have happened? Why do you think it wouldn't have worked?

[Jean never mentioned Mikasa by name - he always referred to her as "my wife" -, but hearing her given name alone wouldn't have made a difference (her family name is a different story). Even after Frieda glimpsed her at his side on a few occasions, she didn't realise quite what her nature is, though she did notice that there was something peculiar about her. Now, seeing her on this call, it all falls into place. She's an Eldian-Hizuruan mix - and there was only one Hizuruan clan on Paradis Island.

In addition to the strong surge of - what is it, apprehension, animosity, or even fear? - that Frieda feels at the realisation, Mikasa's strong start takes her aback, and she'd wonder what has her so angry - if Jean's contribution hadn't made it clear that both of them must have accrued plenty of bad memories of fae across different worlds. She internally calms herself down, determined to not feed into the other woman's anger.]

I know that it's almost impossible to bring specific people here. Max can't do that, either - he can only call people to worlds under his dominion. It's the best option we have in the short term, given that the Research Centre's efforts are still a work in progress with no date of projected completion.

[That being said, though...]

While he has demonstrated abilities beyond those of regular mortals, it's true that there is no tangible proof that my friend's parents really did arrive in the sanctuary world, given the lack of communication or visitation options. As such, this operation indeed requires a degree of trust.

[Hearing herself say all of this makes her feel like Mikasa's questions dismantled her entire argument structure, leaving only a blind leap of faith in a deity of a notoriously deceptive species. As the one who spoke with Max, she felt that he was genuine in his dealings - but that will hardly constitute convincing grounds to the others, especially to those who have made such negative experiences with fae.]

[He likely makes it obvious for anyone else about who he's talking about with this. Not that it was a secret or hard to figure out.]

I would have had to get two things. An ability to go back in time as well as an ability to travel between worlds. I thought that maybe giving up my memories of the person I'm saving would be enough, but I realized that was a naive thought.

[Desperate enough to bargain with memories.]

Sure, the fae goddess of Avalon would have been able to grant what I needed, but the cost would have had to have been bigger. Emotions play a big part... They say love is the strongest thing in Avalon... so she might have wanted my feelings of love and I could have lost the ability to love anyone.

[Or just had to start from zero emotionally. Either way, it would have been too much to handle.]

Or I guess just my soul. The point is, I want to find a way that doesn't require anything sacrificed. The people we love and want to bring over wouldn't want us to do something so radical.

Thank you for explaining. What you say makes sense for your situation - if you're trying to save a loved one, but the price would make it so that you can't remember or love them anymore once they're by our side, it'd leave neither of you happy.

[However, she views the situation at hand in a different light.]

I assume you'd have needed to travel back in time since the person you wanted to say way deceased? That shouldn't be of concern in our current position, not if we use my location in the timeline back home as our anchor point.

[After all, she came here from a moment in which the Walls were still undamaged, before mass casualties occurred within their nation.]

Personally, I'd be willing to pay any price for our people's freedom - but not without fully understanding the potential repercussions.

[She can't sacrifice her care for the very people she's trying to save! She'd need to ensure that her powers couldn't be used to advserse effect once the deed would be done - another reason to remove the curse of the titans first before transporting anyone across the multivers. However, she knows that Eren, for one, is opposed to that, given the advantage their powers currently give them in the fight to free Ellipsa from the Darkness.]

If you're aiming to every single Eldian there is, even your soul might not be enough. And giving up your powers as a founder to a fae is also out of the question.

[Who knows what a fae would use such power for. Titans as fae familiars? It's too big of a risk.

But there is also another issue he's taking with this great plan.]

Also just using your time wouldn't work. Our friends would be just infants if you dragged them here from your time. Sure, they'd be alive, but just little kids in a world full of dangers and with no memories of any of us.

[She nods. He's not wrong - especially not on the first count, so she addresses that before all else.]

The powers of the titans, above all the powers of the Founder, mustn't fall into the hands of anyone who might abuse them - as a matter of fact, they shouldn't be in anyone's hands at all. Part of my considerations was to do away with them before setting the rest of the plan into motion. Max may be able to help with that, too.

[Now that cat's out of the bag! To preempt an interjection from Eren or other titan shifters, she's quick to add:]

I'm aware that those among us who hold such powers can leverage them to great benefit in our current situation here in Ellipsa, but we may need to reassess whether that justifies maintaining them.

[Now, for the other matter...]

If we cannot pick and choose different points in time, we should go with the majority consensus. If most of you were brought here from the same year and want to save those who surrounded you at that time, I'd be happy to accommodate your wishes. However, that person will need to meet with Max to help facilitate the move.

[It's hard for her to imagine that most of the others would want to select a point in time after the disastrous breach of Wall Maria. Shouldn't it be natural to want to save as many people as possible? What harm is there in finding oneself a few years older than one's friends, family, and neighbours? (Surprisingly, not everybody feels that way!)]

[ Reiner sits with his arms folded, expression guarded, caution behind golden eyes. He's no longer the only Eldian from Marley; he's not alone in whatever decision they'll make. (Because of course he'll listen to Bertholdt, and act in Falco's best interests—for Gabi's sake, if nothing else.) However, as he listens, his eyes narrow. ]

No. [ Spoken with absolute certainty. ] I'm not entrusting my loved ones to a random man who promises a safe world.

I don't know him. I don't trust him. And I don't believe for a second that he can wield that much power while in Ellipsa—if he could do it at all.

Hold on, [ he interrupts. ] Back up. What do you mean, "do away with them"? Are you talking about removing our Titans? Destroying the Nine?

[ Judging by the concern mixed in with his confusion, it's a possibility Reiner doesn't like.

But that can't be what she's suggesting—can it? ]

[So far, everyone had the same reaction... it surprises Frieda, to a degree, but then again, all of them have made rather negative experiences with the local fae, and besides she is the only one who actually spoke with Max. How should the others have any faith in him? However, she does have an offer for Reiner.]

Perhaps I should have invited him to attend this call together with us so you'd have a chance to meet him. I thought it better to first discuss among us Eldians, but in hindsight his presence might have alleviated some concerns.

["Might" being the operative word here.]

That being said, he expressly said that he's eager to meet more of us to better understand the situation of our homeworld. Let me put his contact information in the chat.

[She posts Max' phone number. Whether his voicemail will actually alleviate any concerns for those who do call him... well!]

I am.

[He's so shocked... but how could he not be? All his hard work, all his striving, all his childhood hopes, were aimed at attaining his titan. To Reiner, it's his purpose. This must be an absolute rug pull for him, and Frieda hopes that she can explain her reasoning in a way that won't leave him feeling like he's been betrayed. Once again, she opens her arms at her side in a pacifistic gesture.]

Imagine a world in which Eldians are regular humans like all others. We'd be equal to everyone else.

[For better or worse.]

However, if such a dream could ever be realised, our world wouldn't forgive us for the deeds already done. Our race, bereft of its usefulness for warfare, would almost certainly exterminated. As such, we cannot hope to survive if we strive for that outcome while remaining in our homeworld.

[Part of her is fully willing to accept that outcome - why should any Eldians survive? As a matter of fact, removing the curse of the titans from their world and letting them all be eradicated in time appears as a more palatable alternative to her inherited will's initial radical reaction to learning about Eren's war against Marley. But another part of her recoils from the sheer horror of such a death toll, just as it recoiled from the prospect of having to destroy the people of the Walls. She struggles, but manages to not lose herself in her ancestor's mind... for now.]

Edited 2024-12-09 23:00 (UTC)

[ Reiner takes note of the number, but leaves it alone for now. ]

Trust can't be built with a single conversation. No matter how pretty this person might talk, I'm not willing to take that risk.

[ Speaking of: ]

You said payment is "undecided." What has he proposed? What "services" does he want?

[Reiner sure is asking the uncomfortable questions!! But since Max accepted Frieda's refusal of letting him avail of the titans as an army, she feels that she can withhold that proposal in good conscience. What she will share shouldn't be met with much outrage, given her position... though the nature of the ask does make her feel unease about what the reaction will be.]

He said that anything that holds value constitutes a potential payment, and he's open for debate about the value of things.

[Could it be any more vague?! Alas, he is a fae.]

My friend ended up owing him one favour for each person he relocated - she could exclude things she wouldn't be willing to do under any circumstances -, however since my request is so big, the price will be higher.

[She really wanted to avoid sharing this part, but since Reiner asked outright, there really is no way around it...]

If multiple people share the price, it may amount to something similar, but if I pay alone, the price will be my soul. That's still a cheap price for so many people saved, if you ask me.

Edited 2024-12-10 01:45 (UTC)

No. Not just almost, it's literally impossible to bring specific person or people to any of these worlds.

[She has tried. In all three worlds but that's not why or how Eren, Sasha or any others suddenly showed up here. So instead, she had so much fun in a world, that was all about emotions and turning her worst fears and everything else against her among everything else.]

Just in case you need a reminder, it's entirely random who arrive, stay or leave here.

[At least for now. Does Mikasa even think that it being less random in the future will ever be possible? Probably not, no matter how much the Research Centre says that they're trying to do stuff. Did she really need the reminder? Of course not, but she gets it anyway.]

But this isn't a world under his dominion. Neither are any of those portal dimensions to the point, where he would be able to do that.

[Or at least she thinks that's how it works and she'd be surprised if it doesn't work like that...]

You think one of us, well you, making a deal with a fae is our best option? Bullshit. The best option is never ever doing that for any reason. They have things like hidden intentions, or very tiny small fine prints and bullshit between the lines in their deals, and things that they just casually "forgot to mention" in any deal, and any other vague bullshit, that they can later use to fuck you and everyone else over...

I'd never make a deal with any of them. Not even for ... One person. And neither should you or anyone else.

[ . . . she's not naming any names but . . . if you know, you know who that one person is or which two (or three or more but especially one and two) she would have summoned anywhere if it worked like that. Aaaaaaaaaaand Frieda gets a really, fucking long silent staaaaaaaaaaare at the whole lack of communication and visitation options.]

Right, well the lack of them is just very convenient for him then. Tch. It would require a hell a lot more than just a degree of trust.

[Frieda can't help but feel that Mikasa is abrasive... but what right does she have to complain about that? If she's really half Azumabito - and there can be no doubt about that, given the circumstances -, then Frieda's family persecuted hers, just like they persecuted Levi's. (Come to think, why is she getting such a strong sense of resemblence between the two of them... surely, it's not just because they are both rude!)

She struggles to maintain her composure, wanting to avoid a clash at all costs. She could, technically, reveal that Evangeline had somewhat of a mind-merge with Max and could sense that he wouldn't do her any harm, but that would take the discussion to a whole other level of esotericism, not to mention share some very private things about her friend, anonymously or not!

As such, all she manages is to hold Mikasa's gaze... and even that feels difficult. While she maintained her moral high ground, or what passes as such, during her fierce argument with Levi at their first proper meeting, she doesn't think she would conduct herself in the same manner if it happened again with Mikasa. What is it about her..? Don't tell me she's also an Ackerman! Seriously, what would the chances be?!]

...

I understand your reservations. What I can offer is for you to meet Max yourself. I'm sure he'd be happy to answer all of your questions.

[Alas, she doesn't expect Mikasa to feel receptive towards that invitation.]

Your soul.

[ Reiner repeats it, just to make sure he heard that right. His guarded (or armored) exterior softens slightly, his voice dropping. ]

Frieda, this man can't be trusted. He's promising you a solution—a peaceful solution—to a problem that has torn our world apart. You must care about it more than anything, right? You'd be willing to do just about anything. You'd give just about anything.

Do you think "Max" didn't notice that?

[ Reiner knows how much he gave to "save humanity." And he knows Frieda, too. She's kind, generous, trusting—all things that this mystery fae must have spotted. ]

I don't know how souls work. But I know you are tied to all of us. What happens if you hand that over? What if you're giving him the keys to influence every single Eldian?

[He raises a very good point. Nevertheless, Frieda initially argues it, albeit feebly.]

I'd never hand over the Founder. You all have to believe that I wouldn't. That would mean giving away the keys to our fate. My soul... is just mine, as a human.

[But what does she really know about souls? What do any of them know about them? What if her soul and the Founder - and Reiner's soul and the Armoured, and so on - have become one and the same? Perhaps that's what the connection between them and their predecessors means. How could they tell?]

I just don't think that that's his intention. I don't believe...

[She trails off, realising how vague and insubstantial her words sound - "feel", "believe". Max truly seems like a sincere person to her, but isn't that exactly how a god out for profit would want to come across?

She may have been able to steer her conversation with Jean back to her plan, given that he admitted to having wanted to do a similar thing before and was willing to compare and contrast the situations, but between Mikasa's blunt dismissal of even just the possibility that the plan might work and Reiner's quick and sensible logical jumps to it being a skillful deception attempt, she's losing her footing.

She can't help but think, How often were you all betrayed to think like this? - but one of those traitors is only a mirror away for her.]

[ Eren doesn't really plan to attend whatever this is. He knows that he and Frieda do not — cannot — see eye to eye on most things. Ironically, she cares a lot more about Eldians as a whole than Eren ever has. He's just not capable of it, especially now. His motivations have always been myopic by comparison.

But he also wasn't going to just let the Eldians who were actually on the island get slaughtered! Some ended up dead when the walls came down (he hasn't done that yet). Many more died because Zeke turned them all into titans (he doesn't even know about this yet). There are always casualties. He's reminded every time he sees Sasha's face, younger and grinning around whatever food it is today and alive.

So anyway, he's not down for a meeting about this.

But Reiner goes, and Eren is somewhere in the background. He gets the popup notification on his phone reminding him of the time and dismisses it, but curiosity gets the better of him.

He hears something about do away with them and suddenly he's right there shoving into the frame next to Reiner.

First things first. ]

We are equal to everyone else.

[ Does he even listen to the rest of it? Hard to say. ]

If you think I'm going to let you take away the thing that makes us the most formidable in a fight, you're dead wrong. You have no idea the price I paid for the titans I carry.

[ She is part of the price, which she knows she has to be since Eren couldn't have acquired the Founder from thin air, but doesn't ever know the half of. But Eren knows. He's been seeing that memory since long before he knew what it really was. ]

You know the Marleyan Eldians hate us too, right? So you're, what, going to just shove everyone in the same place and let them all kill each other as humans instead of titans? Yeah. Great plan.

Do away with them... without the consent from the titan shifters here, I assume?

[He doubts Frieda's talked to any of them and gotten an "Yeah sure, sounds awesome". Or that she would. Reiner's reaction does confirm it once he notices.]

I may not like titans as beings, but they're a valuable asset and help fight the monstrosities here. They can all heal and take hits better than most people here. I doubt any of them would want to get rid off something like that. I say this as someone who's fought alongside the titan shifters here. Here they're not viewed as a sin upon the world.

[Then he shakes his head. Returning to the very topic at hand. This Max person they know nothing about. ]

I still don't trust this Max person and neither should you. He could be screwing us over with carefully chosen words that fae very well know how to use. 'All eldians' would also mean all of us here falling into his dominion. I, for one, don't want to trust my life into a hands of a suspicious guy like that.

[Says the person who almost made a deal with Morganna, but at least he started to see sense.]

Edited 2024-12-10 09:57 (UTC)

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Attack on Conference Call (Network Cast Mingle)

This Meeting Could Have Been an Email

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video; un: reiner

barges through wall

Video | UN: frieda

NOT AGAIN REINER

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INTERRUPTS

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