WHAT'S A KING TO A GOD? | MEETING 5.20

[CAIN]

Cain had mixed feelings about Axel's murder, one might say. He had been loyal to the man, that much was certain; he had been raised to feel loyalty and feel it deeply, and much as he had disagreed with his policies, Cain would have fought for him to the death. Axel had always had good intentions, a burning passion to take care of their own. It was a goddamn shame that Frederick was too cowardly to fight them outright, resorting to these ploys -- Axel had undoubtedly deserved better.

But... Well. He was a King. Cain had made it clear what he thought of the man's choice in position, arguing that they were leaving the monarchy, not looking for a new one. Blackfall was about rebellion, about abandoning those prejudiced royals and finding a space for where they could treat one another like equals. It was about solidarity and family, about the thriving connections they'd made on the black market and in the slums. They didn't need another monarch enforcing the old ways. No, they were past that, now. And he would make sure they never returned.

It was not questioned that he would step up. They knew him from the war, the young Commander who spent through the royal ranks viciously, without mercy; Harbinger of Chaos, who laughed in the face of their threats, who ensnared their minds and cut them down while they were still dazed from his ploys. And many of them knew him from before that, the military reject who'd been killed to the docks when his abilities came out. They knew him as Dreamwalker and Silvertongue, knew the sharp wit and deadly capabilities hidden beneath the kindness and easy personality. They had liked him then; Cain had little doubts about whether or not they'd like him now.

He stood on a stack of crates on the docks, watching as Blackfallen passed around him, continuing on with their lives -- trading, planning, discussing the news. He had no use for Axel's throne room; he could speak here, among them, and be just as at ease with his authority. A few had already taken notice of him, curious, and after a few minutes Cain called evenly, "Blackfall. I'm sure you're aware of the news by now; spread word, let everyone know we're having a meeting here, on the docks."

A quick hum of voices, of movement, but no one questioned him. He hadn't expected them to -- it wasn't like the King had a Crown Prince, anyway. He gave them time to join him, circling around the crates, his sea-green gaze flicking from one to next as they slid into the crowd. Running over names in his head, confirming who was here and who wasn't, analyzing reactions. Once he had determined that this was about everyone, he continued in that same measured tone.

"Today, we mourn Axel. The royals are cowards, and they killed him unjustly; they scoff in the face of our independency and would see us scramble without leadership. They want us to fail -- either to die out here on our own, fighting amongst ourselves, or to crawl back to them and their oppression. I don't think I have to tell you that we're not that weak." A hint of a smirk as he continued, "No, we will make them pay for this. We will survive, just as we always have, with or without the Crown. They push us down because they know that we're stronger and we're better, and soon, we will remind them of that. First, however, we have our own matters to attend to.

"Axel had no heir, which leaves me to step up in his place. I will not, however, accept the title of King. I will remain Commander, and abolish the King and Prince. We have no use for royalty in Blackfall. We are not Kalopsia, and we never will be; I will be to you what I always was, and you will be to me what you always were. We are in this together, and we're in this as equals."

Cain paused as he let his words settle, gaze flickering over the crowd once more. "Any opposition before I move on?" The words were level, easy -- he had no qualms with it if there was opposition, but knowing him he likely had already considered every counter argument and had a rebuttal prepared.

© MADI