I Will Give My Life For Love, For I Am Winter Born

[eeeonetwothree]

Omega is quiet on the first Monday after Snow White’s execution. He keeps to himself mostly, patrolling dutifully, keeping to his thoughts to himself.

It’s after the sun goes down that he decides to act on those thoughts, sliding a poorly scrawled note under Ferdinand’s door. The writing is barely legible, but it reads: “MEET ME AT THE ARENA.”

It’s there that he waits for his friend, staring up at the moon, nervousness and guilt weighing on his mechanical heart.

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[pariunt]

There's a slow, sardonic clapping that comes from the other side of the arena as approaches from the shadows. Astarion reveals himself, a dangerous smile on his lips. "My, my. This is one of the most twisted plots I've heard, and I spent two hundred years luring beautiful men and women to their dooms."

He laughs, a clipped little noise. "After what happened with Snow White, how can either of you possibly think this will work?"

[eeeonetwothree]

Omega doesn’t seem surprised. In fact, he invited Astarion here.

”ON THE CONTRARY. THIS PLAN HAS ONLY 33% CHANCE OF SUCCESS. THE ODDS ARE NOT IN OUR FAVOR.”

[pariunt]

No, they aren't. Astarion lets out an exaggerated sigh. "This entire plan is suicide," is what he starts with. "One single shot is not going to do much damage. I have fought against a god's avatar before— not the real thing. And it was still one of the most powerful entities we slew in our travels."

From his perspective, this is just going to anger Typhon. Make things worse for the people left.

...and what of Velvet? Astarion isn't the sort to talk people out of plans they're already set on, but he does pity the girl. She doesn't know what happens next.

[eeeonetwothree]

Omega’s hands tighten into a fist.

”ASTARION. I HAVE ALSO CALCULATED THE ODDS OF VICTORY IF WE DO NOT DO THIS. I HAVE COMPARED TYPHON’S ENERGY TO ATHENA’S. IF WE DO NOT WEAKEN HIM, IF WE DO NOT FIND A MEANS OF WOUNDING HIM, SHE WILL HAVE NO CHANCE, EVEN ACCOUNTING FOR THE UNKNOWN VARIABLE OF A MORE POWERFUL WEAPON.”

He turns and looks at Astarion directly. ”I HAVE TO TRY. I CANNOT SIT BY AND DO NOTHING.”

[pariunt]

He's silent for a long while, looking anywhere but Omega. "So that's it, then? More violence. More sacrifice."

At least it doesn't involve someone unwilling. Astarion is here because he wants to be. Ferdinand agreed... "If this is what you think is our best option, our only option, I won't disagree." However, he's not certain where his involvement comes in. "Though I'll be honest, I don't know what my role in this should be. This does seem to be a two-person job, so to speak."

[eeeonetwothree]

”I NEED YOUR HANDS. I KNOW YOU SCARCELY COMPREHEND WHAT I EVEN AM, BUT TO INSTALL NEW EQUIPMENT, I NEED SOMEONE WHO CAN FOLLOW DIRECTIONS, DEFTLY USE THEIR FINGERS, AND KEEP A TERRIBLE SECRET. YOU MEET ALL THOSE QUALIFICATIONS, ASTARION.”

There’s a pause before he continues.

”THAT, AND…I NEED SOMEONE TO PASS ON MY INSTRUCTIONS AFTER I AM GONE. I WILL HAVE MESSAGES FOR YOU TO GIVE AWAY AFTER MY BODY IS LEFT INERT.”

[pariunt]

Astarion dips his head. "Very well."

He's quiet for a long, long moment. "I'm quite dexterous. I'll need you to give me instructions, of course, but I can follow them. Add whatever delightful modifications you need in order to make things extremely painful for Typhon."

Astarion doesn't think he's the sort who should be giving final messages, but after an even longer moment he sighs. "...and I'll pass on your words. Tell Ferdinand I can do the same for him."

[eeeonetwothree]

"VERY WELL. I WILL BEGIN BURNING BRIDGES TOMORROW WHEN TYPHON DELIVERS HIS SO-CALLED MOTIVE. THEN OUR WORK CAN BEGIN. WE WILL MAKE OUR MOVE IN TWO WEEKS. AFTER MY WORK IS DONE...IT WILL BE YOUR JOB TO DELIVER FERDINAND AND I'S MESSAGES TO OUR COMRADES."

He thinks for a moment. Would a simple message absolve him of everything? Make them forgive him? Likely not. But at least...they may come to understand.

"THANK YOU, ASTARION. FOR DOING THIS. YOU HAVE MY GRATITUDE."

[pariunt]

Astarion's expression wavers before collapsing completely.

All of that bravado, all of that arrogance he has— it's not real. An act a slave put on to give himself some modicum of control. He looks away, his teeth gritted. "What if you miss? What if you do no damage at all?"

His voice breaks. "Then Ferdinand will have died for nothing. You will have done all of this for nothing."

And yet, he'll still do this.

[eeeonetwothree]

Omega is quiet for a long time, before finally answering:

”I WILL SIMPLY HAVE TO DO MY BEST.”

He hates it…but that’s the best he can offer. And yet he knows he can’t let this chance slip through their fingers.

[pariunt]

"For everyone's sake— for those still alive and those now dead, do not miss, when the time comes." Certainly, he can make the modifications needed, but Astarion's role in all of this is a small one.

...He hopes.