[ For someone who has been out of touch, that was a moderately accurate way to name the two sides. The rest he ignores, because he thinks Licyn mostly says these things to get a reaction out of him and he refuses on principle. ]

I see you've had time to catch up.

If it makes it simpler, only one is openly pulling for an apocalypse. [ Real or not: see principles. He could explain that he's been working as Messalina's strategic advisor so he's in deep already, but he's curious what Licyn thinks he can accomplish here. ] You think you can manage that on your own?