[center][h3][color=C0392B]Rudolf Sagramore[/color][/h3][/center]

Rudolf took a deep, contemplative breath, folding his arms while he pored over the angles that one could take with that card in hand. Truthfully, his had been a really, really long day— if he zoned out, he could still hear the phantom percussion of crushing thunder, cracking rifle reports, even after they'd long stopped assailing his ears. He was beginning to feel heavy, between the hearty fare they'd tucked in (his, Miina's, and Chisato's portions all being forcefully doubled) and the fading rigor he'd been supplied by Eliane's shared coffee— it'd not be terribly long before he was in a state he'd personally consider totally useless for much more than rote labor, rather than anything technical or strategic. If you threw him into a bedroll, he'd be gone before he knew it.

[color=c0392b]"Hand you over..."[/color] he repeated, speaking in a low murmur before cupping his chin and projecting properly. [color=c0392b]"Regarding Isolde: If we were to try that, we'd want to maximize our chances she bites at all. That's tough— she's already got ample reason to be wary of everybody, after the mess with Leviathan. It'd have to be somebody that could plausibly have a change of heart on the whole thing, at least how I see it."[/color]

He cast his gaze in a slow, wide arc, looking over each person in their assembly in turn. He couldn't see Eliane, Miina, or Izayoi even remotely registering as genuine from Isolde's perspective, either by way of the things she already knew of them or by how quickly they'd tried to cut her down. She'd be biased against them from the start.

Galahad and Esben had laid their arguments out, and at least engaged in what dialogue Isolde had had for them, but Rudolf imagined that the former's line in the sand had been drawn too firmly, a knight's conviction to "do what he had to" and stand in opposition not so easily cast off as to ring true. That the latter's glib refutation in front of her troops had undercut her, even if only a little, too much that she wouldn't expect some [i]angle[/i] being played.

Robin was gone. As were Ciradyl, and Arton, the both of them having had nothing to say to begin with. In their places was Chisato— a clipped professional with their lot at best, but her background beneath Izayoi's employ at the very least suggested extensive experience with presenting the correct facade— but given the personal nature of this idea, Cid's existence being a contention between the Kirins and Grovemasters alone... her being an unknown to Isolde wouldn't get her anywhere. Why would some random Viera know about Cid, let alone have a crystal to summon him?

...

He frowned, furrowing his brow, cognizant of where this line of thinking left him and searching for something he could have missed. An avowed and eager warmonger suddenly capitulating to somebody else's demands? No chance. The Wild Dance suddenly forgiving the knife in the back and handing over an ally? Not after she had laid down her sword, let alone having picked it back up.

Miina?

...

Maybe? He didn't [i]buy[/i] it, she had clearly been [i]wanting[/i] to assassinate her just from the first discussion they'd had regarding Brightlam's infiltration, but maybe there was a way she could sell... No, he simply didn't see it. Everything he could come up with: Zeke, her study of White Magic, even the tribe's settlements, angles like those could only work if they had any reason to suspect Isolde [i]knew about them.[/i] Rudolf had none.

Leaving only one person. He started again, tone carefully neutral.

[color=c0392b]"Might have to be me, presuming that. Even with our standoff at the shrine, as far as I can tell Isolde and I have the most... [i]mutually sympathetic[/i] outlook towards one another, in the words we've exchanged. I've already gone and sought her guidance once, before all that— and argued towards idealism because of that conversation."[/color]

He steepled his hands in front of him. His mind was steel.

[color=c0392b]"She knows I'm turbulent, but place a high import on responsibility. Greater good. She might buy me 'taking her words to heart' as I have before, and seeking some redemption— I admit this is flimsy. It hinges on casting myself in opposition to the rest of you guys, which would run counter the same 'pull yourself out of a hole for the sake of those around you' idea I'm banking on, unless we change the scope. Even so, if there's anyone here she has reason to believe she could actually 'win over', I suspect I top the list."[/color]

He glanced off to the side. Esben was the one who held the crystal at the minute, and any such handoffs he'd make would be quite thoroughly vetted before they happened. Rudolf, while earnestly engaging with the notion, didn't see it happening very easily, especially when they'd already reached a very different conclusion before this element entered the picture.

[color=c0392b]"Of course, we were already planning on isolating and appealing to Zacharias, and our infiltration necessitated splitting, anyway. It would take some overhauling to divert course from what we've already prepared for over to that, and with sketchier odds— though it solves the issue of them all being able to sniff the blackflame out [sup]1[/sup] more neatly than just praying none of them decide to bring alms for the poor."[/color]

His cards on the table, he found his posture still rigid, even when he tried to go a little more slack.

[color=c0392b]"That's my read, for whatever it's worth. Worth saying: That final bit might prove an obstacle no matter what route we take. Superstitious folk have noticed something off since we were aboard the [i]Fishman[/i], saying nothing of mages."[/color]
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[*][sub]1. You know who else can do that, Rudolf? [i]Cid[/i]. You know how far away Cid is? [i]Sniffing distance[/i]. Please, for our own good, [i]shut the hell up[/i].[/sub]

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