Continuation of bakerstreet thread...

[tipped_scales]

[[Continued from here.]]

[On the one hand, Robin is wary of accepting any offer from any demon, whether he says she can trust it or no. Not everyone in their army is as trusting as Chrom, after all. On the other hand, well... she also can't see any immediate reason why not to give this man a chance. His reasoning is solid, and hardly any stranger than some of their other recruits.

Besides, his explanation makes sense. It certainly makes more sense than just thinking demons torment humans just for the sake of it. As strange an explanation as it is, it's logical, and that's something Robin can appreciate.]

I agree, it would be more expedient. Gods know it makes my job easier if I can plan for any extra agents in the field.

[Those bonds he mentioned have been both a blessing and a curse. Despite herself, she smiles.]

And our army does have a special bond. It may have something to do with how welcoming and accepting their general is. [And here she quirks an eyebrow at him.] Although he may have some questions for you, what with you turning up in the dead of night like this.

Comments

[arcadianvampire]

[He nods, with a small smile... a smirk, maybe? Hard to tell. But Robin being sharp-eyed could probably catch Valvatorez's fangs showing just a little.]

Of course. But I must say... what time would you expect a demon, a creature of the dark, to show up? Wouldn't it be much weirder to have me walk up in the middle of broad daylight?

[But he really didn't sound bothered by it at all.]

But regardless of my personal entry, I shall answer whatever questions he might have if it means crushing the Grimleal that much faster for all of us.

[...And he'd heard quite a bit about him. He actually looked forward to meeting their leader, a great deal.]

[tipped_scales]

[That answer settles it for her. She deserved that. Robin gives a soft snort of amusement, her guarded look relaxing.]

I suppose that's only fair.

[Rolling her shoulders once again, easing the cramp between them, she crosses around the table and across the room to him. The height difference is much more noticeable from up close, she's finding. One more for the short-but-powerful crowd. Perhaps she'll have to ask Morgan to pair up with their newcomer for his first battle among their ranks. Between the two of them, she's sure she could punch a hole right through enemy ranks...

...She's getting ahead of herself. Here, Valvatorez, she'll offer a handshake.]

Well, Valvatorez, I think that we could benefit from working together. You have my vote of confidence. Although we'll still need to speak with Chrom in the morning.

[Beat. She pauses thoughtfully.] Unless, of course, sunlight would be an issue.

[arcadianvampire]

[And with that, he'll obligingly return it, his grip firm, strong, and confident. Quite a fitting handshake, with how he carried himself, truthfully.

And there was something of a dark chuckle at the comment of sunlight.]

While I am by no means fond of sunlight, it will not hurt or impede me in any way. Only weaker, lesser vampires suffer from a weakness to sunlight... and some merely use it as an excuse to sleep in.

And I appreciate your vote of trust. Most humans are not quick to give that out to demons. For good reason, I will say, but I would not have bothered showing myself if I was not sincere about my offer.

The sooner this damnable war is over, the better.

[tipped_scales]

[Robin makes a small mental note that sunlight isn't an entirely reliable strategy should any vampires appear in the enemy ranks. Hopefully, this is the only one they'll encounter.

She answers his thanks with a soft smile.]

I'm only a part of this army because someone put trust in me against the advice of others. It would be rather shortsighted of me not to pass along the same courtesy.

All that matters to me is that you also want this war put to an end, and for the greater good. [Her smile fades.] We've all too good of an idea what sort of fate awaits this world if we fail.

[arcadianvampire]

[He sobers, his expression darkening when she mentions failure. Oh yes, there was far too much at stake for this to end that way. And while there may be countless, limitless timelines out there, this one? It will not fail.]

...Indeed. The very idea that the souls that arrive in Hades would fare better than those that remain says everything that needs to be.

But you won't fail. Not with the strength you and your comrades possess. I'm just here to help things along... and so Hades won't get overcrowded again. Apocalypses prove to be... a challenge, if you can imagine the logistics of it all.

[tipped_scales]

Strangely enough, I think that I can.

[Looking at it objectively, it makes perfect sense. The logistics of this army are enough of a nightmare. Something on such a grand scale would be exponentially worse.]

In any case, I'm glad for whatever help you can lend us. We may need every bit of it before the end... though, obviously, it's my job to keep it from getting to such a point.

[Objective thinking kicking in again, Robin suddenly gives him a keen look. Perhaps with his familiarity with the underworld...]

...I don't suppose you would have any specialized knowledge of how best to keep down the Risen?

[arcadianvampire]

[He frowned, and shook his head.]

I'm afraid not. Despite being a demon and a vampire, I'm not a necromancer. The Risen appear to be more than your garden variety zombies in many cases... and I know not the methods of reanimation Grima actually uses.

Macabre as it may be to you humans, immolation and decapitation of the dead typically destroys zombies or prevents them from rising. ...But that still may not apply to Risen. So... if you have reservations about doing such things to the dead, that's fine. Such measures might not end up mattering anyway.

[tipped_scales]

To be very honest, any reservations I may have mean less to me than a chance to potentially keep any more Risen from appearing. It's the others I'm more concerned about. They may not be so... open to suggestions.

[She's hardly above doing the dirty work if it means keeping her people alive.]

...But I do know that immolation isn't a permanent solution. Even Bolganone doesn't keep them down forever. I'll have to do some more research into it.

[arcadianvampire]

Fire not working is not a good sign. It sounds like you will have to reduce bodies down to nothing but ash to truly be rid of them. And that takes time we do not have. And not everywhere will have the ability to cremate the dead.

[Grima really didn't have respect for how to do things. The old ways. Not being vulnerable to fire. Honestly, no respect.]

Damnable creature. I look forward to dragging Grima's miserable soul to Hades and re-educating the hell out of him.

[tipped_scales]

[That'll draw a smile out of her. His is a strange perspective, and interesting, and certainly not one that anyone else in their army has. And yet, different as it is, it's still the same at the heart of the matter.]

With luck, it won't be much longer until we can do just that. All I need is a way to keep him there.

[Of which she has a way, but Chrom has made her promise not to use that way, and so she's back to figuring things out. It isn't going well.

She gestures to the door, amusement still written on her face despite the thread of conversation. It's in no small part because she has just thought of something.]

I should probably show you around the camp. This is how ill rumors are born.

[arcadianvampire]

As if some dark rumors about my presence would bother me. I am a demon after all. Dark and ill tidings are what we do.

[He laughs a little, a stereotypically evil one. Or what would sound like one. That's just how he is.]

...But I could see that if those rumors came to surround you, that might prove to be an issue. If a tour will assuage those concerns, I will not say no.

[tipped_scales]

[Ill rumors surrounding the chief tactician are one thing. It's the whole queenly aspect that makes it more complicated. A black mark against her means one against Chrom, and that isn't something she's willing to tolerate.]

The less chance people have to whisper about some mystery man sneaking around with me in the middle of the night, the better. Being out in the open should stop just that.

[With another gesture to follow her, she heads out into the night to lead the way on a tour.]

Do watch out for pitfalls, though. My son has been trying to find a way to trick me into one and they turn up in strange places.

[arcadianvampire]

Very well then, you will hear no further argument from me on the matter.

[Better to be safe and helpful. She was his comrade now, so it wouldn't do to put her at risk for something so easily avoided.

But when she mentions the pitfall traps, Valvatorez just beams.]

Ah! Seeking to prove himself from a young age! And such initiative. You must be very proud!

[tipped_scales]

[In spite of herself, Robin lets out a soft laugh.]

I am proud. I would call myself lucky... my children turned out to be strong and clever. [Although little Luci is still so small that it might be hard to tell, but considering how she grows up? Robin figures she can be proud all the same. Even if it sometimes makes her homesick as anything, being out on the road like this and away from her youngest. (But also oldest? Odd, how this all has turned out.)]

Though I wish Morgan would apply himself in a way that didn't place unwitting passersby at risk. He digs those pitfalls rather deep...

Ah-- speaking of -- on your left.

[She moves over so that Valvatorez has enough room to skirt around the edge of one such pitfall. It's off to the side of the road, where she normally would walk to allow the carriages and horses by. Morgan is getting better, that's for sure, but still not quite enough to trick her.]