(( Oh no, he's cute! Why does he have to be adorably preening while they're discussing such a serious matter? Uniformly unfair! ))
I think we may have three.
(( Added with only a smidge of hesitance since he's not sure. ))
Lucifer is an angel... A dragon, by some accounts. He may still have that capability. We should probably find out if he's actually going to help us with this part of it.
[And apparently Osiris has learned a lesson about trying to change Emmanuel's mind once he's determined, because he doesn't suggest removing Emmanuel from the battle either.
He does, however, object to throwing Emmanuel in right beside Lucifer.]
No. You're right about neutralizing the cult members, but I won't - [lose you] - have you rendered that vulnerable with so many powerful gods fighting on his side. If Lucifer is involved, you'll have to take a more distant role in the battle.
[Also impressive: watching his father douse Emmanuel's passionate willingness to throw himself on the sword for the sake of others with a few calmly delivered words. They really have gotten close, haven't they?]
We'll need at least one or two lookouts other than our flyers, since we can't split our attention between that and the battle. [His brows pinch inward with frustration.] There's a trick behind this, I can smell it all over Set's letter, but I have no idea what it'll actually be. We just need to be careful and consider everything.
(( Emmanuel presses his lips together as he nods in agreement. ))
We should check out the place he chose ahead of time. He obviously feels it gives him some advantage. We can do some reconnaissance and find out what to use to our advantage. Like where best to place some lookouts.
(( Well, with what they’re all thinking laid out so plainly... ))
Let’s ask him directly what his capabilities are. I know he isn’t always forthcoming, but in this matter, I think we can impress on him how important it is that he discloses what we’re asking with complete honesty. If he can do even a little of what we suspect, he’d be a good choice to scout the place.
Good call. You or Dad should probably be the ones to do it, though, he doesn't take me that seriously.
[Horus could make a serious move to change that, but Lucas is simply too important of an ally and far too much of a wildcard when it comes to physical abilities. He could fold under Horus's fist or smear him across the wall. Better to call him up on it when he crosses a line and endure the rest.]
I'll get word out to all our fighters and see if anyone's willing to spare some extra forces. Including Lucifer. [Just to let Emmanuel know he shouldn't do anything crazy like approach the devil again himself. No need.]
(( Everyone acting like he goes scurrying off to confront the devil once and hour on the hour! Though, the concern does feel pleasantly warm. Emmanuel nods in agreement. He or Osiris can speak to Lucas. Horus can deal with Lucifer. There's a short moment before the priest looks between the other two. ))
[Excellent question, for which Osiris has no satisfying answer.]
We can no more trust it than we can ignore it. Set's methods may win him few allies but they also mean that no one who stands against him can ever know the firmness of the ground under their feet. All we can do is remain on high alert and ensure that all of our allies do the same.
(( It isn't what he hoped to hear, but it's somewhat expected. They certainly would be foolish to write this off, to do anything but take it completely and deadly serious. ))
Should we tell them tonight that something's coming? That we're working on a more solid plan?
Now that we've had a chance to get our heads around it, we'll have to put out word to everyone immediately, including Setekh. He's clearly got a hair-trigger at the moment and should be given no chance to think he's being ignored.
[Horus huffs out an aggrieved sigh and sits back with his arms crossed over his chest.]
I know. [Osiris doesn't even bother to scold Horus, just nods in understanding.] It's tiresome to have to indulge his moods. I'm not pleased about it either.
Shit, you're right. Should we even mention to our allies that we already got a supposed time and place for this? We need all the forces we can get here in the hotel ASAP.
[It's not exactly a lie, but omission is just sneaky enough that Horus doesn't know how he feels about it. On the other hand, any leader worth their salt would give themselves time to deliberate before making the decision to send help and they might need to circumvent that.]
[Osiris winces. Thinking about Set's playbook is never particularly pleasant for him, but not in the traumatic sense - he was Set's very first patsy, and his pride still stings sometimes when he remembers how easily he was taken in.]
He likes to sheath betrayal within what appears to be a kindness or concession. You were right to call the specific date and lead time into question, Emmanuel. There's a strong chance that it was intended to give us a false sense of security by playing into our natural expectation of civility in warfare.
[And then he outright pinches the bridge of his nose to try and ward off an encroaching headache.]
(( Whatever is really going on, they'll never know until Set reveals the truth of it. It's frustrating, but utterly expected of an agent of chaos. Even Emmanuel himself, who can't really be counted on in a fight to maintain civility and decorum (he fights monsters, in his defense), finds this uncertainty harrowing. ))
I think... all we can do is move forward taking this at face value, preparing for that, while being ready for anything that might come ahead of it.
(( At his point, he sighs and looks to Horus for some guidance. ))
[... poor Osiris. Horus doesn't think he's ever seen his father look so openly exhausted. And the uncertainty on Emmanuel's face is even harder to bear.
Only one thing Horus can do to help them: take command.]
We shore up our forces and start to give our army some shape. Pick leaders, delegate some of the training. Set up a watch here and at the site with rotating shifts. Ask for regular reports from our moles in the compound if they can manage without putting themselves in danger. If nothing else happens between now and then, we show up ready for a fight.
Dad - [Well, no, that's disrespectful when he's talking to him as the commander of this whole outfit.] - Osiris, you take care of monitoring communications from the compound. Emmanuel, you can be in charge of the watch. I'll deal with the army until they can run themselves.
(( Set up the watch, he means. Teamwork has never been a large part of what he does, nor has fighting with a group's support. That's obviously where Horus's leadership will excel. However, there have been hard exorcisms; the kinds where other priests had to watch over him, where they had to tap in and out to keep whatever demon from destroying its vessel entirely in the process of being excised from it. That's not too far removed from setting up a shift of guards to keep watch of their headquarters.
Then he sighs quietly. ))
I'm sorry any wards I could actually set to alert me to danger are utterly useless.
(( What with deities and yokai and demons and who knows what other sort of supernatural creatures all around. ))
(( Osiris isn't the only one impressed. Though, he's suspected this side of Horus would come out eventually, it's still pretty awe-inspiring to see. Interesting how he ended up at the metaphorical war table with two seasoned leaders. It can't simply be their emotional bond that inclined them to include him in this discussion. They must find some value in his thoughts and expertise.
Then, before they wrap up, he looks over to Horus: ))
Let me know if any weapons are needed. I have a rather large supply and access to a lot of options if I don't already have them.
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no subject
I think we may have three.
(( Added with only a smidge of hesitance since he's not sure. ))
Lucifer is an angel... A dragon, by some accounts. He may still have that capability. We should probably find out if he's actually going to help us with this part of it.
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but would Lucifer's presence not disable all of the human combatants in attendance - including you, Emmanuel?
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(( It doesn't even occur to him that a place could be found for him elsewhere, perhaps away from this main battle. ))
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He does, however, object to throwing Emmanuel in right beside Lucifer.]
No. You're right about neutralizing the cult members, but I won't - [lose you] - have you rendered that vulnerable with so many powerful gods fighting on his side. If Lucifer is involved, you'll have to take a more distant role in the battle.
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I can accept that.
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We'll need at least one or two lookouts other than our flyers, since we can't split our attention between that and the battle. [His brows pinch inward with frustration.] There's a trick behind this, I can smell it all over Set's letter, but I have no idea what it'll actually be. We just need to be careful and consider everything.
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We should check out the place he chose ahead of time. He obviously feels it gives him some advantage. We can do some reconnaissance and find out what to use to our advantage. Like where best to place some lookouts.
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[If one can trust anything he says, Osiris thinks to himself, but it’s an uncharitable thought he doesn’t want to voice.
Horus, however:]
Does he, though? I never know if Lucas is bullshitting me when he talks about what he can do as an angel. Guy’s a smartass.
[Well, it’s out there now.]
Mm… he’s harmless on the whole, but you aren’t wrong.
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Let’s ask him directly what his capabilities are. I know he isn’t always forthcoming, but in this matter, I think we can impress on him how important it is that he discloses what we’re asking with complete honesty. If he can do even a little of what we suspect, he’d be a good choice to scout the place.
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[Horus could make a serious move to change that, but Lucas is simply too important of an ally and far too much of a wildcard when it comes to physical abilities. He could fold under Horus's fist or smear him across the wall. Better to call him up on it when he crosses a line and endure the rest.]
I'll get word out to all our fighters and see if anyone's willing to spare some extra forces. Including Lucifer. [Just to let Emmanuel know he shouldn't do anything crazy like approach the devil again himself. No need.]
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Can we take this declaration at face value?
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We can no more trust it than we can ignore it. Set's methods may win him few allies but they also mean that no one who stands against him can ever know the firmness of the ground under their feet. All we can do is remain on high alert and ensure that all of our allies do the same.
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Should we tell them tonight that something's coming? That we're working on a more solid plan?
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[Horus huffs out an aggrieved sigh and sits back with his arms crossed over his chest.]
I know. [Osiris doesn't even bother to scold Horus, just nods in understanding.] It's tiresome to have to indulge his moods. I'm not pleased about it either.
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We have to behave as if this is a bluff and he could openly attack us at any time.
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[It's not exactly a lie, but omission is just sneaky enough that Horus doesn't know how he feels about it. On the other hand, any leader worth their salt would give themselves time to deliberate before making the decision to send help and they might need to circumvent that.]
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Do you think he'll give us at least a day to weigh our options and make a plan before possibly attacking us?
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He likes to sheath betrayal within what appears to be a kindness or concession. You were right to call the specific date and lead time into question, Emmanuel. There's a strong chance that it was intended to give us a false sense of security by playing into our natural expectation of civility in warfare.
[And then he outright pinches the bridge of his nose to try and ward off an encroaching headache.]
What to do about that? I have no earthly idea.
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I think... all we can do is move forward taking this at face value, preparing for that, while being ready for anything that might come ahead of it.
(( At his point, he sighs and looks to Horus for some guidance. ))
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Only one thing Horus can do to help them: take command.]
We shore up our forces and start to give our army some shape. Pick leaders, delegate some of the training. Set up a watch here and at the site with rotating shifts. Ask for regular reports from our moles in the compound if they can manage without putting themselves in danger. If nothing else happens between now and then, we show up ready for a fight.
Dad - [Well, no, that's disrespectful when he's talking to him as the commander of this whole outfit.] - Osiris, you take care of monitoring communications from the compound. Emmanuel, you can be in charge of the watch. I'll deal with the army until they can run themselves.
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(( Set up the watch, he means. Teamwork has never been a large part of what he does, nor has fighting with a group's support. That's obviously where Horus's leadership will excel. However, there have been hard exorcisms; the kinds where other priests had to watch over him, where they had to tap in and out to keep whatever demon from destroying its vessel entirely in the process of being excised from it. That's not too far removed from setting up a shift of guards to keep watch of their headquarters.
Then he sighs quietly. ))
I'm sorry any wards I could actually set to alert me to danger are utterly useless.
(( What with deities and yokai and demons and who knows what other sort of supernatural creatures all around. ))
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That was a trade-off we chose to make with this place, and I believe it serves us well. We can work around it.
Is there anything we've missed? If not, this feels like a good point to move from discussion to action before we start talking ourselves in circles.
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Then, before they wrap up, he looks over to Horus: ))
Let me know if any weapons are needed. I have a rather large supply and access to a lot of options if I don't already have them.