[Just, you know, less aggressively. But Ion can tell that he has Luke's attention...and much more importantly, his interest. This is a huge relief.]
And I want nothing more than to do just that. You lead, and I'll mediate. I'll make sure everyone has a chance to speak and be heard. Together, we can make sure that we overcome our divisions and become a united front.
You really think that'll work out? [It's hesitant but also someone who doesn't fully believe it. It's never worked out that way. It's why he wants to lead with everyone else respecting him.]
It all sounds nice in theory, but look at where we are now. Even when we pick a winner, how're you gonna help me keep everybody in line?
Nobody listened to me, before, due to my lack of confidence and conviction.
[He pauses. He's soft-spoken, docile, sometimes even a pushover, but no coward. Ion holds his ground.]
But you don't have that problem. Alice is more willing to listen to you than anyone else. Regina and Chloe are your friends. Kuzco is frightened of you, so he becomes amenable to reasoning. The rest all already listen to me well enough. Right now, there's a great division between two halves of our Pantheon. Don't you think that coming together on more even terms might be a start to solving that?
[Ion outstretches both hands, as if to mimic two sides of a set of scales.]
Your open support of me and my open support of you, that will bridge that gap.
Some might even call me arrogant. [He can acknowledge that, at least, but he goes quiet as he listens to Ion break it down. That's about the way things were split, yeah. The "bad" half and the "good" half. But was it really that simple? They all had issues, Luke wasn't dumb enough to think otherwise, but...the gap was pretty huge.]
If we extend the olive branch and whatever, it'll make everybody else get their shit together. Yeah, I got what you're saying. Doesn't entirely solve that we're in the middle of the game, but you're right. It'll bridge the gap and maybe we can figure out what to do from there.
I've been getting a lot of questions about your behavior, in particular. With a name like Cunning, it's only natural that people worry, and of course, I don't try and hide the way that I feel about others.
[Which, Ion being Ion, means that he doesn't short change on compliments or downplayed faults.]
I've been truthful so far, and I don't plan on changing that anytime soon. If I'm open about the fact that I'm in support of your leadership and that you and I have spoken and formed an accord, I don't believe I'll be doubted.
You know how annoying it is to be talked about instead of talked to? The only reason they're worried is because they haven't bothered even asking me anything.
[Then again, Luke's also aware that Cunning is a name that fits him to a T.]
...and if I say I'm in alliance with you that actually won't sound that weird since a lot of the others are, too. They've got no reason to think you're lying, and it'll be too bizarre for them to think I am. I've been working on making some deals...I'm fair, but I'm not a saint. I've always been upfront about that.
[There's a lingering pause.] Fine. I'll be your back-up if you're gonna be mine. I usually don't care about strength in numbers, but this whole game's counting on that. You're gonna get a really fast lesson in what it means to be strong. Think you can handle that?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[Just, you know, less aggressively. But Ion can tell that he has Luke's attention...and much more importantly, his interest. This is a huge relief.]
And I want nothing more than to do just that. You lead, and I'll mediate. I'll make sure everyone has a chance to speak and be heard. Together, we can make sure that we overcome our divisions and become a united front.
no subject
It all sounds nice in theory, but look at where we are now. Even when we pick a winner, how're you gonna help me keep everybody in line?
no subject
[He pauses. He's soft-spoken, docile, sometimes even a pushover, but no coward. Ion holds his ground.]
But you don't have that problem. Alice is more willing to listen to you than anyone else. Regina and Chloe are your friends. Kuzco is frightened of you, so he becomes amenable to reasoning. The rest all already listen to me well enough. Right now, there's a great division between two halves of our Pantheon. Don't you think that coming together on more even terms might be a start to solving that?
[Ion outstretches both hands, as if to mimic two sides of a set of scales.]
Your open support of me and my open support of you, that will bridge that gap.
no subject
If we extend the olive branch and whatever, it'll make everybody else get their shit together. Yeah, I got what you're saying. Doesn't entirely solve that we're in the middle of the game, but you're right. It'll bridge the gap and maybe we can figure out what to do from there.
[...] Think they'll buy it?
no subject
[Which, Ion being Ion, means that he doesn't short change on compliments or downplayed faults.]
I've been truthful so far, and I don't plan on changing that anytime soon. If I'm open about the fact that I'm in support of your leadership and that you and I have spoken and formed an accord, I don't believe I'll be doubted.
no subject
[Then again, Luke's also aware that Cunning is a name that fits him to a T.]
...and if I say I'm in alliance with you that actually won't sound that weird since a lot of the others are, too. They've got no reason to think you're lying, and it'll be too bizarre for them to think I am. I've been working on making some deals...I'm fair, but I'm not a saint. I've always been upfront about that.
[There's a lingering pause.] Fine. I'll be your back-up if you're gonna be mine. I usually don't care about strength in numbers, but this whole game's counting on that. You're gonna get a really fast lesson in what it means to be strong. Think you can handle that?