THIRD ORDER ♛ ANONYMOUS TEXT

[decrees]

[Logan has been the King of Albion for twelve years. His reign is at an end, however - his sister staged a coup and will take the throne as soon as he returns to Albion. Logan isn't upset with her - if anything, he's relieved that he no longer has to deal with everything. He's relieved that he doesn't have to face down the threat of incoming darkness - a threat he's known about for four years and hasn't been able to stop. He's confident that his sister can handle the throne, but it isn't a position he ever would have wanted to put her in. He does care about her in his own stunted way, after all.

It's been nearly eleven years since Logan's mother, the previous Queen, died. She was the one who united Albion under a monarchy and ruled for fifty years of peace and prosperity. Yes, there were issues - any country with 6.5 million people is bound to have them - but she handled them all as best she could and will most likely go down in history as a benevolent, wonderful monarch. She would be disappointed in him; Logan's positive of that much. He started his rule as a monarch dedicated to his people, but circumstances drove him to become a tyrant.

He's spent the day being far more subdued than usual, keeping to himself and occasionally examining the 'Gear, but it takes hours for Logan to finally get up the courage to actually post to the network, even anonymously. He's adapted to this world far better than he ever thought he would, and now that he has adapted, he's finding that he rather likes Johto. He doesn't have the same responsibilities and expectations placed on him. He's free. It's not something he ever would have thought he wanted back home, but it's something he's finding that he's desperately needed this entire time.]

How do you deal with failure? How do you deal with not living up to the expectations set for you?

I believe there are some monarchs or rulers here. How do you deal with the people of your nation despising you for what you've done, even if what you've done was for their own good?

[...He's kind of the most obvious anon. Just let him pretend, alright.]

Comments

[pretentions]

[...JUST...]

Dare I ask what you were even doing that led to such a revolt?

[decrees]

[That... does sum is up pretty accurately, yes.]

I've made quite a few unpopular decisions. The majority of those who have been hurt by this live right outside the castle in the industrial area of town. I have done a lot of terrible things in order to make money - but that is the only possible way to save anyone from the threat that faces our nation. It's not something the people will understand, but I aim to protect as many of them as I possibly can.

[pretentions]

[YOU

JUST

WHAT

YOU

OTL]

Is there a reason you couldn't train your countrymen to fight and instead felt that you had to fund some sort of personal militia, or am I misunderstanding the situation?

[decrees]

My country has been at peace for fifty years. The thing that we're fighting against is not the sort that can be defeated in a traditional swords-and-guns sense. I tried. It didn't end well.

I am the only one who has faced this thing and lived. I can only prepare so many soldiers for what they will face. Preparing the entire country was out of the question from the start - not only would that be far too many people for me to handle, but there is the distinct possibility that none of them would believe me. They have never heard of anything like this. They would not want to believe that their country would come under attack.

My actions have not been perfect. They have been the only way for me to ensure the survival of my country.

[pretentions]

[...that...weirdly gets him to calm down. He seriously has had no idea what you are looking at - seriously, man, you have been making it sound like everything is fine, but you know that the goddamn Fire Nation is going to attack.]

Is this threat you're referring to supernatural in origin? That changes things.

[If this is anything like Caster...]

[decrees]

[Well, that's... kinda how it is...? Except with less fire and more shadows. :| ]

Yes, it is entirely supernatural. The supernatural is not unknown in my country, but the few monsters that could qualify as "supernatural" are not widely believed in. I can assure you, they do exist, but they are not something a normal person would stumble upon in most towns.

Have you faced a supernatural threat before?

[pretentions]

I have, yes. As I said, that changes things; part of my job is ensuring that the people in the area I'm designated to protect are kept both safe from harm and largely unaware of this sort of large-scale threat, due to the amount of disbelief in the best-case scenario, and large-scale panic and destruction in the worst.

Do you have anyone that can engage such a threat on its level - mages, exorcists, or others who are capable of harnessing the supernatural for themselves?

[decrees]

The closest we have are Heroes - they are the only ones capable of using magic at all in our country. Unfortunately, there are only two Heroes alive. One of them would have nothing to do with the fight if he has his way, and the other has only recently discovered her powers. I don't wish to send her into battle alone against these creatures. As powerful as she is, she will not be able to defeat this threat alone. At least with the soldiers I have prepared we may stand a chance.

[pretentions]

[...oh wait just a minute]

...King Logan, I'm going to assume this is you that I'm speaking to...

[anonymous text -> text]

[decrees]

[ALKEMRKNSKEL WELL HE DID JUST KIND OF GIVE HIMSELF AWAY THERE, DIDN'T HE... Just give him a moment to come off anon, then.]

My apologies. I didn't want to state this so openly while there are those from Albion who could see it.

[pretentions]

I'm not faulting you for that; again, I've been in a similar situation to what you're facing, from the sound of it. I wouldn't want anything like this getting to those from Fuyuki City, either.

What sort of supernatural threat are you facing? Have you any idea what it does?

[decrees]

I know far too well what it does. It is capable of communicating without speaking, controlling shadows and shadowy creatures it calls its "Children," and it can manipulate people very easily.

That is how I received these scars. I was the only one who made it out alive - though from the sound of it, my sister encountered it as well.

[pretentions]

[So basically, it's Caster all over again...]

And do you know the source of its power? Any ideas what its vulnerabilities might be?

[decrees]

Unfortunately, I don't remember everything about my battle with it. It does appear to be rather weak physically, however, and I believe that it would be entirely possible to take it out if one were to get close enough to it. The Children can be easily destroyed with swords or guns; I have no doubt that a few well-placed hits would defeat it. The problem is preparing the soldiers to face it; it's like nothing they've ever seen, I can say that for certain.

[pretentions]

I would continue strategizing with you if I felt that it would do you any good; however, as one that's been returned to my own world and brought back to Johto, I can tell you now that anything you do here won't be remembered back in Albion. Whatever advice you receive here can bring you temporary comfort while you remain here, nothing more.

[decrees]

None of it will be remembered?

[That's definitely not promising at all.]

That's unfortunate.

[pretentions]

I wasn't even aware that any time had passed upon returning home; it was as though literally nothing had happened. I was there for what must have been less than a minute before being returned here. I remember seeing my daughter, and then suddenly I was here again, several months apparently having passed in that brief period back in the city.

It was a bit...bizarre, to say the least.

[decrees]

Understandably so. Did you remember everything that had happened here immediately?

[pretentions]

Not immediately. Some of the conversations I had here have needed some reminders; those were mostly unpleasant conversations, however, that it would make sense that I would try to forget.

[decrees]

I see. You didn't do anything special in order to return home, did you?

[pretentions]

No. The man I was travelling with didn't return home, either, and we were engaging in very similar activities the entire time; he's from the same world I am. He didn't seem to recall my doing anything strange, either.

He's currently researching this world, as am I; perhaps we'll find answers eventually, but for now, we aren't optimistic.

[decrees]

That is unfortunate. Thank you for sharing, however. I do want to return home, even if it does mean facing the incoming darkness.

[pretentions]

We don't have much choice, regarding the trials we're about to face; all that can be done is to greet our fate with composure and elegance.

I'm aware of my outcome already. I wish you luck when you discover yours.

[decrees]

How do you know what will happen? Has someone told you?

Composure and elegance... Well, I suppose that is one way of dealing with things. Thank you for the advice.

[pretentions]

I've been told, yes; the reactions of a few others I've spoken to confirm what's been said.

And that particular belief is one that I adhere to in all things; it has yet to do me wrong.