peace, love, and sail boats [OPEN]

[manyminds]

CHARACTERS: Keya & YOU
WHERE: The Red Coast
WHEN: DAY :028 - :036
SUMMARY: A catch-all for whatever fun romps you wanna involve Keya in.
WARNINGS: None, yet. Cuteness from a very moe alien, perhaps.


DAYS :028 - :034 MEET CUTES OR MEETS CUTE ((note: if you want to have interactions with Keya between days :024 and :027, you can wildcard off of this post))

[It seems that, after the first few days at the Red Coast, the timid young farana who swore her service to the Carbauschians is finding more courage and confidence to speak. Not just with hosts, but with other envoys, much to the chagrin of her kin.]

I just don’t understand why nobody will even consider it-- [she can be overheard saying, to whomever she’s selected for the time being. It seems a fairly arbitrary selection process; really, just anyone who won’t walk away while she’s talking. Sometimes, even those unfriendly few.] --Who knows when the next time such a meeting might happen?

[Inevitably, anyone of consequence she might entreat will eject from the conversation, leaving her discouraged and frustrated.]

DAYS :035 and :036 SHIP SHAPE

[With the ships complete and the training underway, Keya can be found trying to learn to sail.

Oh sure, she hopped aboard gung-ho and ready to harpoon a big beastie, but as soon as a fisherman puts one into her hands, she becomes stricken with an uneasy pallor and pleads for it to be taken back. She’s not quite ready to be pitted against another behemoth, armed only with a spear by a different name.

So, she sticks to learning her way around the boat. Pulling on ropes, tying knots, rushing hither and thither and following instructions as best she can.

Over the course of training, on a handful of occasions, you’ll hear her yell “HEADS UP!” as something falls from above--a tool, a rope, what-have-you--and she lunges after it, trying to catch it without falling herself.

Sometimes, she actually succeeds.]

WILDCARD

[You know the drill.]

Comments

:29

[adamance]

[There are a number of angles that Lexa can explore here, but taking on the role of the adviser seems best. Naturally, she knows something that Keya does not: that the Enemy is here, and calling for peace is the last thing anyone wants. Otherwise, this pilgrimage would be something more worthwhile. It would be about selling the various different nations on that concept.

But more importantly: she has bridged her people before. They also had reason to want nothing but war. Her knowledge can help here ... so long as she manages to utilize it without revealing it.]

It's because they think little of you. Of your motivations, and of what drives you. One death to save another means nothing, even in a ritual like this. And the death was of someone with little weight or control, from a culture of the same circumstances.

[It's a sharp beginning, but then she goes on:]

Which isn't to say that your idea is incorrect. But your methods may have to change.

teach me ur ways, sensei

[manyminds]

[A sharp beginning indeed. Keya seems to deflate a little, aware enough of the truth in Lexa's words to feel how much her futile attempts weigh.

But then, a spark of hope.

She looks at the Carbauschian, unconsciously leaning closer, propelled by interest.]

Change how?

[adamance]

You have to have the ear of someone that matters. Beginning with your people. Can you think of someone?

[If not, this will be a greater struggle than Lexa even imagines. Still, it's better to begin this way. Lexa hopes that Keya is only ... desperate, which is leading her to not think, rather than merely without connections to start with.]

[manyminds]

[Well, there goes that hope.]

Unfortunately, no. I've already tried to speak to my aunt but she thinks I'm naive.

[Almost as an afterthought, Keya extends a hand.]

So sorry, what is your name? I'm Keya.

[adamance]

Lexa. [She doesn't bother to point out that people are well aware of who Keya is by now. Her plaintive appeals to everyone haven't gone unnoticed. It would be too much to begin there, and ... it would be unfair to begin there.

She does take her hand, knowing the custom by now. (It wasn't among her people.)]

Was your appeal similar to what you've made elsewhere? [A beat.] And I assume you've no experience in affairs like these?

[manyminds]

[Keya's knowledge of the custom is still in its infancy, and she clasps Lexa's hand in both of hers, shaking it once and holding it for a moment before letting go.

Nobody's corrected her so far, so...she must be on the right track.]

It was similar, but more...conversational, I suppose. [She considers making a joke about being well versed in such matters, but decides against it.] You assume correctly.

[adamance]

To broach peace, you need to have more consideration behind it. What do we gain from peace? What do we lose? Though we are all technically of the same origins, there's a reason why we have no peace, and why this pilgrimage has made no strides to promote it. Even though it very easily could have.

[Breaking it down to the bare essentials is important. Lexa recalls having to set aside her pride to accept Azgeda into the coalition. To this day, the decision still pains her. She wishes she could have acted on her personal wishes. So much could have changed if that were the case.

On the flip side, an argument could be made that she made a mistake in setting aside her personal concerns for the greater good of removing her people from that war. Keeping Azgeda as enemies would have ensured that they did not lose sight of them when it mattered most.

(And they most certainly did just that.)]

[manyminds]

[ There are many sides to this, Keya understands. She nods as Lexa speaks, saying nothing and listening intently. A frown draws a crease in the center of her brow. ]

But what is there to gain from war besides death and destruction? I don't understand how some might think there's more to lose from peace than there is to lose in war.

[ Surely there's more opportunities for the betterment of all in peace than there is in war, which begets only pain. Do the losses incurred by war profiteers outweigh the importance of the loss of life? ]

[adamance]

[It reminds her of Clarke's plaintive hope for Lexa to not turn her fire upon Arkadia. The problem is, Clarke's perspective was far less naive. Explaining why someone would need to be at war is difficult.]

Our nations would not stand alongside one another in peace. There would need to be one ruling nation keeping all the others in check. To maintain that peace. When you look at our situation now, which nation do you believe that would be?

[Lexa isn't trying to foster suspicion against the Hyrypians, but it's just one of many examples as to why peace isn't possible. Peace itself comes at a price, because the leader has to meet the demands of all parties.

And often, blunt force isn't enough to carry that out.]

[manyminds]

I...I don't know. [ She casts her gaze downward, feeling like her only actual answer is...wrong to voice. ]

I suppose I trust my own people the most, but...that feels biased, I don't think I can even begin to claim that I have an objective stance on who could rule.

[ She sighs, once again going through the list of people she's spoken to, and those who might have the power to actually do something. Her aunt is high enough in standing to get something done, but won't do it. Who else is there? The Admiral, who is far beyond her reach and unlikely to listen even if she could arrange a meeting, and...The Second. ]

Why can't our nations stand alongside each other in peace? Is it not even in the realm of possibility?

[adamance]

Peace must be something that benefits all parties involved. That means that a leader must act on the wishes of their people. Everyone is here to play a role and set aside their issues on the surface, but no one here cares to set aside their people's wishes permanently. That's why they play their parts.

[Lexa doesn't point out Keya's naivety again, but it seems to be a constant sticking point here. While some people may benefit or even desire that peace, they are one voice out of many.

And Keya herself lacks the sway to be an indomitable force.]

[manyminds]

[ Keya frowns. ]

Then...I should just give up? Or are you saying I need to find a way to show that peace would benefit everyone?

[ She doesn't want to give up. She can't give up. Not until she's home and the Pilgrimage is far behind her will she even consider that she should give up on trying. ]

[adamance]

I think you need to learn enough about these people to see how it might appeal to them on an individual level. You are outclassed by your goals, even if your ambitions are coming from a good place. [If she were older and had more weight, it would be different. But she's not, and Lexa can tell she was never prepared for this particular life.]

If you come out at the end of that learning experience believing that peace is the answer for everyone, then you can broach it. But you will be all the wiser for it.

[manyminds]

[ She nods slowly, suddenly wishing she'd started far earlier in this endeavor. She could have been talking to everyone sooner, learning about them and what they believe is best for their people.

But she can't do anything about that, now. She just has to press onward and try. ]

I think I have an idea of what I need to do. And, if peace truly is the answer as I believe it to be...perhaps I could manage to speak to Shee Naraxa about putting something in motion. She's the only other high-standing person I could even have a chance at speaking to.

[adamance]

Do you think you can persuade her to do the work for you? If you go in unprepared, you won't be able to do much more than receive acknowledgement for your intentions. [Lexa knows the name, but recalls that it's not as ... powerful as many of the other ones. Then again, she's been working an angle on this mission that doesn't require the knowledge of the houses. It's an angle that hasn't panned out, so she's now forced to shift her attention.]

[manyminds]

Hmmm maybe not all the work, but I could tell her that we should talk to the other envoys, and maybe she'd help with the work. I only know her by reputation, really.

[ Which makes asking her a favor--something equatable to currency among Descendants--especially tenuous. ]

[adamance]

Work on persuading her first. Consider your argument. She has to know why this will benefit her. The pilgrimage is an opportunity since we cannot strike each other, but peace arrangements take time. Don't rush the matter.

[And it may be something that Keya should give up, but Lexa is here to advise. Besides, it seems like Keya won't give it up, so she has to work under that perspective.]

[manyminds]

[ Keya nods, focusing very intently--or intensely--on Lexa's words. She looks determined, and as if she's trying to memorize everything Lexa's saying.

Probably because she is. ]

I feel like I should be writing this down or something.

[ She nods once more. ]

Consider the argument. Persuade Shee, tell her how it'll benefit her. Don't rush.

[ And then, she looks at Lexa as if tentatively seeking approval. ]

[adamance]

Yes. And otherwise, keep a low profile. You've drawn too much attention already. Peace arrangements aren't made on streets, but behind closed doors.

[Understanding that diplomacy is largely handled by people who are much higher up is difficult, Lexa imagines. But showing your worth behind those closed doors is the most important aspect of the arrangement.]