genessia | [Video]

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[When the feed clicks on, it does so mid-bounce as if the device had been tossed aside with little in the way of regard for what happened to it. Those watching it was spared most of the camera shaking if only because the room in which the broadcast originates is pitch black save for three points of illumination. The first two show the shadow-cloaked face of Vlad as his eyes appear to burn with a hellish flame. The third seems to be a small crimson stone, glowing in the darkness, pulsing softly almost as if mimicking a heart beat. When Vlad speaks, his voice is restrained, but the fury is more than evident.]

I have spent quite some time in this place, and during that time I have learned quite a bit of the nature of the realm. Those of us chosen to be ripped from our own worlds seem to have been plucked from them to serve as protectors of the realm, to keep the barriers around the cities in place so that what lies beyond at bay.

It is because of this that I was willing to accept the peace offering that was returning my wife to my side. However, she is no longer here. Sent back to the fate that awaited her in our world; to be tortured and burnt at the stake for the crime of showing compassion. What this realm seems to have forgotten is that I am not as forgiving as Lisa.

[He pauses, clenching his fist around the stone, dimming the lights further but allowing the shifting shadows that fill the room behind him to become a bit more visible.]

Perhaps it is time I remind Genessia why I am called Vlad the Impaler...

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[ The issues in Fayren with magic resulting in little more than petty violence between those with power and those without doesn't leave much question as to why close-minded people might execute someone who was different. Nova had issues with non-organics, Everglade with humans versus non-humans, Attleton with... non-conformists, but on a much smaller level. Even back home, the faunus versus humans conflict had caused many to suffer for it- many at the hands of her father in particular, or the White Fang on the other end of it. It's too familiar a story, repeated in many forms in many worlds.

It's why despite that Weiss certainly can't agree with Vlad's methods, she can feel empathy for his pain. And the lesson she'd learned from Mercury: That sometimes, no one actually reaches out to those who need help the most. The person who reached out to Vlad was Lisa, and that one person who reached out of the darkness to temper his misery had been the same as the person he loved most, and she was taken from him in a horrible way. ]

People have problems with different. From ignorance, misplaced anger... I used to be like that- I used to blame an entire group of people for what I had suffered, because it was better than admitting that my problems were closer to home. I learned better, before I had the chance to let it be born into a monster like this church you speak of, and I'm doing my best to make things right. But I know not everyone sees that point. I know there are forms of hatred that can't be broken so easily, and that sometimes those people do things that... [ Her eyes are dark for a moment, and there's something behind her tone. ] They try to take the people you love away from you even if it costs your soul, because they think they know better. Because despite their ignorance, they really believe they think they're acting righteously. Others still look to those people with trust, even if they've done things to hurt people they can't take back. Still others stand by, aware of the crimes and do nothing.

[ Weiss still doesn't fully understand what it would be like to have lost to one of those situations- she's come out of her near-loses with them only being near so far. But she knows how to feels to grow cold and isolated because of pain, and she knows it goes far deeper than she ever reached. ]

I'm going to try to make things better, and not let those people in my life take anything from me. To the point that I've had to compromise myself to hold onto some of them more than once. And Genessia... it's even harder, because one day those people disappear. If they aren't from your world, or those feelings don't exist in your world, or they're already gone there, this is it. And then they can come back and look you in the eye and not remember a thing no matter how much you loved them, and that... I can't say I blame you for feeling anger toward this place, Lord Tepes. But if what you're saying is true, it is also the only place you may ever see her again same as it's the only place I'm going to love Sun.

[ She doesn't say anything to blame him or tell him what to do, but she does want to remind him of that. When you're hurting, the last thing you want to do is be told not to feel that anger. She knows that much. ]

She will remember you if she does come back.

[There's a long silence before he responds. She reminds him so much of Lisa that it hurts. She's very much like the daughter he never had, and yet several have filled that role as well.]

Weiss... I was born in hate. I was created in direct opposition to the Almighty. I was a monster among monsters centuries before Lisa was ever born, and I have known only hate in the four centuries since she was taken from me. However, you are not wrong. My interactions with those I have met in this world has reminded me that there are things worth protecting. Lisa and I adopted two sisters in all but official channels, and what I do I do both as a response to Lisa being sent back to the flames as well as sending a message to Genessia itself.

Those close to me are off limits to its manipulations. Any time they are hurt or mistreated, Genessia will suffer for it.

After what happened with... [ She doesn't like talking about this but ] with Battler, if Genessia is sentient enough for the suffering of its people to matter to it, it either doesn't care or wants it.

[ That's the most painful for her, but she realizes one example probably isn't going to make her point. ] Lucifer, Kefka, the Red Claw, the Hands of Decay... This place has some nothing to save the people here from those. What would set yours apart?

There is one thing that none of those you mentioned did, nor even attempted as far as I know. I know how this realm works, what its goal is. I know what it intends to keep out.

[He turns his gaze to the still pulsing stone in his hand.]

Let us just say that knowledge is power. And for your own sake, stay away from Everglade.

Really? What is its goal? Because I spend most of my time trying to understand this world better and I have my doubts the goal is to keep those empty spirits out so much as a side-effect.

[ She's clearly losing a bit of her temper. She's still Weiss, even if she's learned to empathize a lot better. ]

Those things, as far as anyone can tell, go after pendant-holders. Which means we have something that they want or they want to stop whatever it is we're here to do. If we go home, the creators of this place likely aren't rejoicing about it because that means we're further away from their goal. I doubt they intentionally took Lisa from you, Lord Tepes. So what you're doing is asking me to stand aside and watch you destroy the place I've decided is my home, the one place in which I can be with the person I love in any universe. You're asking me to stand aside while you hurt people because you have a vendetta against someone else.

I'm understanding and I sympathize with you about Lisa, and I know some people are born in hatred and pain and everything about their lives keeps them so far down in the darkness that they can't see the light anymore and barely recognize it when they do. This place makes it impossible to feel like you're in control of your own life and it's terrifying. But I didn't essentially die back home fighting for a kingdom most of the time I've spent in was getting boot-stomped in the face because I have the intention of anyone hurt others as a stepping stone to get to whatever their goal is. [ She got healed, but that in itself was of a miracle. She would've died for that fight if Jaune hadn't discovered his semblance. She recognizes that. ]

I'm still going to fight in Remnant, and as much as I both appreciate and like you most days [ not today clearly :T ] I will fight in Everglade if they need help. Whether it's the people with or without pendants, they don't deserve to die for your crusade against the creators of this place for what I suspect is more an incapability of being able to keep everyone here more than a desire to send people home.

Weiss, respectfully, you have no idea how I was created. My soul was created when Death fused a mortal with a vampire lord's. I exist because of that mortal's vendetta against the almighty God that he felt betrayed him. Anything I may have felt beyond hatred or rage was because of Lisa, not because of anything within me.

This place feeds on our emotions to keep its barriers erected. Clearly it seeks to keep what is beyond out. And whether or not they intentionally sent Lisa away or not is irrelevant. This is a message, that me and mine are their top priorities, and that I will tear down all that they have built should they fail in their responsibilities.

[He sighs, seeing more and more of Adrian in Weiss.]

Then you, like my son, will see no mercy should you oppose me.

Yes, and respectfully, how you're created doesn't have to have bearing on the choices you make and who you become. I don't have to be a racist, spoiled brat without a mind of my own any more than you have to be a vendetta against your world's god.

I would imagine so considering their goal seems to be for us to thrive, not feed us to the wolves. All you're doing is putting your failings on someone else to make them responsible for your own inability to protect your own. And that's a choice you're making not out of rage, but out of fear.

[ She would know. She's felt that fear of loss many times here. She's even had someone she cared about brought back without memories and had to deal with that. ]

You don't have the right to call someone family if you don't think anyone but yourself matters. [ She doesn't know Adrian, but she knows all about imperious fathers. ]

Then it would seem we are done here. You have made your position clear just as I have made mine. It pains me to say it but when next we meet, we will likely be enemies.

[He's tired. The swirling inferno of emotions aren't helping matters, especially when Chaos is acting up. In fact Weiss may even see a bit of light flickering through a crack in a door some ways behind him.]

I really hope not.

[ But she will fight if she has to. ]

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