[CLOSED: KEBECHET PLAYER PLOT] A thousand armies couldn't keep me out

[northerndragon]

WHO? Everyone involved in the plot to abduct Kebechet from the Regency villa!
WHAT? All the pertinent information is here.
WHEN? Somewhat after the return from the Eclipse and the discovery of the destruction of the COST villa and Grothia's abduction.
ANYTHING ELSE? Each group should write its own starter, but I've linked the pertinent information for everyone so you're not flying blind.

Those who had been abducted by the Regency in Gallipoli managed to escape, but their experiences -- interrogation, intimate psychological torture, and sleep deprivation among them -- left them hungry for revenge. Their tormentor, Kebechet, also made an appearance on the COST network while they were being held, and her insults, manipulation, and disdain managed to anger even more of COST's operatives.

It's not that there's been an uneasy peace since both the Regency and COST have been working on their objectives in Jhashch; it's more that hostilities have mostly stayed at a relatively low buzz, played out in the arenas, or the deaths of the Aranean noble family most sympathetic to COST's cause. But a few things have changed that. A COST operative, Hei, learned that Kebechet has been present on Jhashch, disguised as the meek little shabti secretary who follows Mhic Nathair around (in reality, Kebechet's rank is much higher than that of the woman she pretends is her boss). He wasted no time in passing this information on to one of the abductees, Daenerys Targaryen, the sort of woman who's full of kindness until you give her good cause to turn you and everything around you to ashes.

Much like the Regency just did to COST's villa, and to their Commander, Grothia -- a real shabti herself, escaped from her creators, helping to lead the fight against them, not someone merely acting the role of one of the Regency's clone-slaves.

Using the BCE¹, Daenerys and several of her friends and fellow abductees recruited willing and able help from among other COST members, until they arrived at a plan. Breaking into several teams, they would create a significant distraction near the Regency compound, sneak in, drug and abduct Kebechet... and use PASIV technology to try to get into her head.

After that... well, before Grothia's abduction, when Daenerys approached Grothia for permission for the operation, Grothia had strongly implied that it could only end in Kebechet's death. And Mordred is involved, which makes the chances that Kebechet will walk away at the end almost infinitesimal.

¹ Handwaved.

Comments

[northerndragon]

No. But you're not her.

I heard that she had some trouble with the Faith. That they cropped her hair and paraded her naked through the streets. I don't know much of it other than that. It was the other end of the world from me, just before I left the Watch.

[Small wonder that she blew up the Great Sept, he thinks. That much came through in rumor and by raven. There was to be a trial, and then there was a terrible accident, one no one thinks is an accident, one most won't call anything else.]

[dorzalta]

True, I'm not. Nor am I arguing in her favor.

[ What he tells her is troubling in and of itself. Her brows furrow. Finally, finally she looks away from him and toward the others in the room. The quiet hum of conversation echoes all around them. ]

That's a terrible thing to do to someone.

[northerndragon]

[You haven't met her yet, he thinks -- but no, Dany is right, it is a terrible thing to do to someone. And a stupid thing to have done to someone like Cersei.]

They died for it. We need to be sure we don't do the same. If we have to kill her, she dies quickly and quietly, no show, no humiliation. Her head can be put on a spike, if need be, but she can't be given time to plot.

As it is, we have a truce for the time being. It won't last past the war against the Dead.

[dorzalta]

[ She's all too aware of those who died for it. Those who were not directly involved in such treatment. Olenna Tyrell was a sharp woman, perhaps even cruel at times with her tongue, undoubtedly as vicious as she'd alluded to in their conversation. To wipe out the entire future of a line... She exhales sharply through her nose. ]

She's killed or captured my allies. Just like Kebechet, there will be no mercy.

There's no way we can ensure that her death will be swift and clean. If we're battling the dead, there will be chaos before, during, and after. But she will not be humiliated.

[northerndragon]

How swift and clean her death is depends on when it happens, and at whose hand. But if it's in ours, we have to strike hard and fast. It's the only way.

You haven't seen what's protecting her yet. The Mountain.

[dorzalta]

[ Looking at him again. The affection in her gaze is replaced by steel. ]

And she's yet to see my dragons. Or my warriors.

But her bannermen have, and they've either burnt or bent the knee to me.

[northerndragon]

She's seen your dragons now. Tried to act as though she wasn't very impressed by them.

[dorzalta]

A respectable attempt. She's all the more stupid for standing in opposition to me.

[northerndragon]

[After this night's work, and what's still to come, all he can give her is half of a tired, helpless smile.]

I always wish I had your faith, love.

But aye, it's stupid to stand against us after that. Maybe she thinks

Maybe she thinks we'll die, or maybe she thinks we'll all kill enough people bringing her down that it will turn the people against you.

[dorzalta]

I seem to recall a discussion about my teaching you.

[ Us. She inclines her head in acknowledgement, for he's just as much involved in this. This speak of Cersei and her plots is best for another time, and his look... gods, the answering ache of exhaustion echoes deep in her bones. ]

I wish I could

[ A sigh. She shakes her head. ]

Do something to make this easier.

[ Not for her, but for him. This place drains, it's a strain, it's so very much what she doesn't wish for a life, but he faces far more challenges than she, and she's seen the toll it takes after a while. ]

[northerndragon]

You're here. That's enough for me.

[He holds his hand out to her, subtly, at his side.]

Maybe it's not supposed to be any easier than that.

[dorzalta]

You're a silly, beautiful man.

[ One step closer. She reaches, fingers weaving with his, palm to palm. ]

Maybe you're right. When things are easier, our unit tends to mess things up.

[northerndragon]

[However inappropriate, that does get a half-hearted laugh.]

That isn't what I meant. People should fight for their lives. Killing isn't a joke.

-- You think I'm silly?

[He looks at her with raised eyebrows, as wry an expression as he can muster over his grim demeanor.]

[dorzalta]

[ He's silly for thinking she would joke about death. It is, however, entirely true that COST tends to muck things up when they're given free time and too much liberty, such as in Paris.

She meets his look with a warm eyes and the hint of a smile dancing on her lips. ]

Oh, very much so. You're properly grave at the appropriate times, as well.

[ Her look turns sly. ]

I've noticed you've ignored my comment on how I think you're beautiful.

this isn't the time or the place, you two

[northerndragon]

[That's because that kind of compliment, especially when there are other people around, makes him feel shy and abashed; he takes it better in bed, when he's dazzled with her and the mood seems right.

He looks down, nearly blushing, with his half-smile still cracking through.]

You're the one who's beautiful. And properly grave.

[He leans in to kiss her forehead, a quick brush of his lips.

Well, if Kebechet is watching them, some part of her must be satisfied that she guessed correctly.]

[dorzalta]

[ She looks like a dragon hunting sheep, the glint in her eyes offering nothing but trouble as she all but slinks closer, her back to the others. Close, until their fronts are brushing. Close, so he can easily press that quick kiss to her forehead.

Oh Jon, this precious, lovely man. Her fingers--index and middle--dance up along his chest. ]

My love, you can't steal my compliments.

[northerndragon]

[He kisses her again, then moves to tuck her head under his chin in a hug.]

Can't I?

I'm not a thief. We're just of similar minds.

I want to be able to speak to you again. Not so many mind ravens.

[dorzalta]

Or you're being lazy 😘

[ She wants privacy to kiss him properly, but settles for this moment of being held close. With a soft exhale, she leans into him. ]

I like the mind ravens. It makes me feel closer to you, somehow.

[northerndragon]

[It's true: picking out words letter by letter can be tedious, but there's an intimacy to her words appearing in his mind that isn't always matched by regular speech. That said...]

I don't think anyone has ever accused me of being lazy before. 🙄

This place, though. All their science, all these weapons and abilities we can barely dream of, things that would surprise even the wisest maester, and they're still fighting like this. They're still killing like this. I'm going to wonder what's in the mind of every little spider I ever see, but more than that, why doesn't it ever change?

[dorzalta]

No? My beautiful, silly, lazy wolf. All we need is a bright sunny day and a cliff overlooking the ocean.

[ Oh, she went there with the teasing. ]

I've never cared for spiders very much. Why have all these advancements and still war? Mamoru and I have spoken on strategy and battle often enough, and his world sounds much more advanced than ours as well. Perhaps not to the extent of this one.

War seems to be as natural to some as eating and breathing. It's their culture, as it is for the Dothraki. It seems senseless to us, but there are longstanding traditions they seem to follow.

[northerndragon]

[The first part of that only gets a mildly reproachful look from him, the sort that implies that he's taking her teasing in good humor and is playing along. It's the second part that he speaks to.]

To me, too. I've trained since I could walk. But I can't go and choose what parts of each of us I want to make into our children, like they can here. I can't add someone else's eyes or strength, and I wouldn't want to. They think they're making the best of themselves, but the best is just more fighting. And for all their talk, the Regency is just the same.

We want better for our people. We can't change everything. It makes me wonder how much we can change. How much of it will last past our lifetimes, or even that long.

[dorzalta]

[ She leans back enough to smile at him, fond and gentle and soft. Soon enough, a more serious look replaces that teasing and happy one. ]

The Conqueror's legacy lasted. Our people only need that reminder. The years brought with it not only a distancing from those times, but also from each other. They think it's better to remain separated, loyal to one's house as opposed to the realm. It's not just the smallfolk suffering, but the highborn as well.

[ One might argue life is suffering. ]

They need to be reminded that change is possible. It's why the wheel will be broken. I can't speak much on creations and alterations to the body. It reminds me too much of the Dead.

[northerndragon]

It lasted, but his cruel son came after his weaker one.

[He breaks off there, shakes his head. No matter what they do -- if they can do anything at all -- will their children be good, and strong, and wise, and whatever else he and Dany would want them to be?]

The Dead are some kind of magic. This here isn't magic — we're more magic than the spiders, whatever that means, or they wouldn't always be looking at me like I look at a beefsteak.

But you're right about the loyalties. I told you what the Northern lords are like — loyal amongst themselves, but suspicious of anyone who isn't them. Sometimes rightly, sometimes in a way that only works against them.

[He will still have a Targaryen bride and queen to explain to them.]

[dorzalta]

I can think of another reason why they look at you like that.

We can't live our lives wondering 'what if' at every moment. We'll accomplish nothing if we do.

[ Her gaze is steady, until she looks away, her attention shifting to what she believes is Grothia's head. It's selfish of her to have forgotten it, though to be fair, he's drawn her out of her wariness after being in a dream for hours and days, it feels like. Three levels, and time dragged on until she life itself seems to have shifted. Days upon days of nothing but bleakness, because of what the Regency did to Kebechet.

And then things were normal again. 'Normal.' ]

Is that Grothia?

[northerndragon]

We can't. But what do you think their reason is?

[But he follows her gaze, and as her demeanor shifts, so does his.]

It was. What's left of her. It hasn't been dipped in tar.