[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/5r7OTIh.png[/img]
[b][color=Aquamarine]wordcount:[/color][/b] 785 +2
[b][color=Aquamarine]Midna: level 5[/color][/b] EXP: [color=Aquamarine]///////////////////////////////////////////[/color]//////// (42/50)
[b][color=Aquamarine]Location:[/color][/b] Sandswept Sky -  Al Mamoon
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Midna rode in Mao's shadow as they zipped through town, and was pleased that her exposition skills were still up to snuff when all her talk went down smoothly. It was even a little nostalgic, though as she’d find out the overlord was cut from far different stuff than her Link.

[color=Aquamarine]”I haven't been able to observe/analyze the difference in depth myself, but they are more or less who they are, and they go about their lives as they would if they were home, though I imagine the cognitive dissonance between where they actually come from and Galeem’s adjustments to make then think this is where they are from has its influences on how they do thing, as well as the whole inability to back down thing.”[/color] She added a bit more about the Gleeming, but this was mostly speculation on her part, and then listened with interest about the nature of the Resistance.

They were a mixed bag apparently and apparently this “number two” had brainwashed the good eggs and made them fit in with the bad ones. That was interesting. Maybe it had been a mistake to blame Galeem directly for the resistance’s methods, though, of course, it was because of them that this number two could do this in the first place. Plus, if people couldn't back down, then would it force people who wouldn't kill to do so to end fights? And then warp their understanding of themselves in the process? Make moral people into killers? It was a disturbing thought, and it matched the little girl’s horrified response to being asked if she wanted to blow people up.

While she tried to psychoanalyze the more indirect effects of Galeem’s influence, Mao had easily managed to work out on his own why they had gone nonlethal, but she added a bit more context just because she could.

[color=Aquamarine]”We’re not above killing on principle, there's plenty of monsters out there that it’s best to just put down for everyone's safty, but yeah, the resistance is salvageable, so if we can avoid landing any killing blows here, that’d be for the best. If some of them are like you, tough, and able to see the bigger picture, then we want their help. This quest we’re on can always use more heroes after all”[/color] That would still leave the issue of the Grimleal. She didn’t really trust that they wouldn't get up to something evil once they were in uncontested control after all, but maybe they could snag some during the fighting and get them to see that same big picture too? She had her doubts, but there was only one way to find out if they could be on-boarded or not. Integrating them could maybe allow them to insert mercenaries from home-base into their ranks to act as moral compasses.

While she was theorizing their rush to the shop paused suddenly, Midna not needing to be told to wait because, as she was in his shadow, the Overlord was doing all the work moving them and, as a result, had complete control over their pace.

[color=Aquamarine]”Oh, goddesses”[/color] she sighed, rather exasperated, as she saw who it was who had caused them to stop. It was Lahral and, apparently, these two had a connection of some kind, being from the same world and having some power that was distinctive enough that even the Gleeming Laharl could pick up on the connection. What followed was a round of bickering, boasting and chest puffing, the context of which went over Midna’s head. What she did get was that, like Crow, Mao self identified as Evil and, by the fact that they shared a title, the other overlords probably also did? Midna asked herself if that was better or worse than the Grimleal’s lies/lack of self awareness about that fact, but if they were working with the seekers they were working with the seekers. She’d just need to keep a closer eye on them from now on.


[color=Aquamarine]”So yeah, as you can see, we do work with Gleeming people other than just Band... probably should do something about seeing as he’s not going away any time soon. Maybe it’ll do something about his rotten attitude”[/color] she said just to Moa, before pulling herself out of his shadow and then leaning an elbow on his shoulder while telling Lahral that [color=Aquamarine]”Yeah, you 100% arn’t killing anyone on my watch Lahral. That goes for the people we’re about to fight too. Speaking of which, the hourglass is running low, so let's keep moving”[/color] before jerking a thumb back the way they had been heading. [color=Aquamarine]”You two can deal with whatever this ‘Overlord’ business is when lives aren’t on the line”[/color]