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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[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.
no subject
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. ))
no subject
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.
no subject
(( 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. ))
no subject
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.
no subject
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.