video; the god of loyalty really doesn't like traitors

[asgardsloyalty]

[ The morning of day 505, a message from the gods is broadcast over the network: ]

Greetings, Travelers.

Some of you may know already that there was a breach of the castle barrier. We apprehended an individual using Thiazi's magic to attempt assassination of the Queen, and have confirmed that he is Thiazi's informant inside Asgard. This man has been actively assisting her in making attacks on the city as well as misleading our own intelligence efforts.

[ Heimdall is understandably quite cross at this. He gestures offscreen and the feed shifts from Heimdall to a wider shot of the room, where there is a man being held in place between Thor and Loki, who also look quite cross. ]

His name is Satan and he pleads innocence by corruption -- that all he has done while sabotaging Asgard was Thiazi's influence. While he lives we cannot tell his intent, only that he is indeed the perpetrator.

Since he is one among you, we leave his judgment in your hands. What would you have us do with the traitor?


(( The poll is to be filled out ICly and once per character! This will decide Satan's fate. Please feel free to threadjack at will to discuss the trial! ))

Comments

voice | private

[selfmadman]

Has he expressed remorse? [ Asked with a brittle curiosity that stops just shy of sarcasm. ]

[asgardsbeauty]

Do you think that changes the full breath of his actions? [Asked with more curiosity than scorn.]

[selfmadman]

[ The breath he draws and releases is nothing more than a whisper over the bracelet. Flatly: ] I'm wondering how far he's willing to take this.

[asgardsbeauty]

So a traitor with a long-term goal makes a better corpse than a poor planner?

[selfmadman]

You misunderstand me. How far he's willing to take the lie.

[ A tentative wonder bleeds into his voice. ] You don't want him dead at all.

[asgardsbeauty]

Which lie? In his world, I hear he is the prince of them.

Among other things, I preside over compassion, Donald Draper.

[selfmadman]

[ A pause, abrupt as a page torn from a book. ] Compassion seems to be out of season.

I don't believe Thiazi was in control from the start. [ His speech is pared down. He's listened to most of the debate and wants no part in it. Around people like this every word is a risk, an exposure. ] "I'm sorry" wouldn't have changed my mind, but it would have surprised me.

[asgardsbeauty]

I have noticed.

And what is that surprise worth? When another man's life is on the line, how goes your idle curiosity?

[selfmadman]

[ Less a pause this time than an absence. He steps out of the conversation for some air. ] He's dead. [ A pronouncement. Fumbling noises; Don's lighter rasps three times. ]

You've heard how they're talking. No matter what you say, no matter how I vote. Someone's gonna kill him. [ He swallows the last word. ]

So. Every question I ask, Freya, I ask out of either idle or morbid curiosity.

[asgardsbeauty]

I am coming to the conclusion that, far more disheartening than the readiness to see another destroyed is this trend of fobbing off the guilt for an action on another. Let him die, they say, because if not, someone else will kill him. It is not my fault, advocating death and dismemberment, I am just doing what everyone else is! I wonder, perhaps, what would happen if all had such unanimity in a decision to stand against the darkness and say no.

[There's a pause, as she settles down from that little tirade.]

I should hope that in the process of deciding another's fate, one would be less than idle. Morbidity, it seems, is an unfortunate inevitability.

[selfmadman]

We're not deciding anything. [ Snapped. ] The vote's irrelevant. It takes one person to kill him, and the rest of your family has made it perfectly clear that that's what they want. Meanwhile, who's protecting him? Not you, you're too busy lecturing me on the scourge of human indifference.

And what the hell did you expect, bringing us back over and over? [ Revulsion fouls his voice, darkens it. ] Gluing your toy soldiers back together with magic. Life's cheap here. I'm tempted to kill myself just to end this conversation.

[asgardsbeauty]

You are very bold, Donald Draper, but your vehemence is misplaced, as is your claim. I have only one family member, here, and if you are curious about the state of life and death, I hasten you to ask him how it went for him.

If you find my company so disreputable, I will remove myself from your view.

[selfmadman]

No. [ Not a rough edge to the word. He resumes smoking, taking regulated breaths. “Bold” isn't praise. ] That isn't necessary.

Tell me something. If this had happened before your brother's death, would your position have been different?

[asgardsbeauty]

No. [She mimics his tone.] Immortal beings are a very poor hand at changing.

[This is all a lie of the highest order, but even she's not aware of the extent. Her pride and vainglory protect herself from such subtle urges as self-reflection.]

[selfmadman]

[ A choppy exhalation, an elongated voiceless laugh. ] I'd say we're all of us mortal, at this point.

[asgardsbeauty]

Only if the war is lost.

Re: voice | private

[asgardsloyalty]

[ But for what it's worth: ]

He has not, as such.

voice | private

[selfmadman]

[ He acknowledges the answer with an "mm," unsurprised. ] Does Thiazi know we have him? When that bond snapped, could she sense it?