recrowns | [ clem is perfect and must be protected ]

Aren't we supposed to be repairing it or whatever?

[ clem really should try harder to understand the whole nova situation. ]

... I don't mind, but I feel like I can't get anywhere talking to them. It's all just magic and The Realm.

We're meant to be repairing the current flow of nova - collecting it, however it's unclear what the methods to collect nova currently are. If killing another leads to absorbing their nova, does that put someone's point total ahead?

The Realm itself is meant to connect to other worlds and universes, and repairing the nova would mean saving the Realm, and all our worlds.

[but he also offers a look of commiseration]

It all feels rather... fantastical, no? There's no magic in my world either - so it all feels like I'm trying to catch up to understand.

This just might be what they meant by a friendly competition. Even if they didn't know it.

[ she is so relieved, though, to find another non-magic. ]

There's always a cop-out explanation for things. And it doesn't follow any rules that I can think through for myself.

Perhaps so - even though it seems that the Leaders themselves are rather startled at all the developments. I'd be impressed if Rabbit was so fantastic an actor that they would be swept off their feet that often.

[like honestly]

But you're right. It'd be nice if we were working with anything even remotely.... familiar or concrete.

Though at least, no one else heard of nova before now either.

I definitely don't think Rabbit is acting.

[ ... ]

Which sucks. Because I want to be pissed off at them. [ but how can you when they're just as distressed as everyone else? ]

It's easier when you have a clear target as an enemy, no?

[there's a sigh]

... I think it's fair to be frustrated, and hold onto anger - but maybe you can harness it into collaboration rather than opposition?

If there's a way we can all work together, I'm all for it.

It's not like I want things to get messy. [ she just expects it. ]

I'd hope that no one here does but... sometimes people have concepts and memories more important to them than peace.

[to which he sounds both understanding and resigned]

Even still, that doesn't mean we can't all try to collaborate at the same time. The sooner we stabilize the nova, the more of us win.

I can't decide if I want to let go of my memories or keep them. Seems cruel to forget.

Might be a relief, though. I don't know.

[ ... hm, she looks uncomfortable at having admitted that, though. ]

[while she looks uncomfortable, he doesn't seem to flinch away from it]

It might be simpler, if you did not have to carry the weight on your heart. No one can fault you for that.

I don't know if I can help you decide but... you know yourself best.

What about you? Don't you have sad memories that it might be easier to go on without?

[ah

there's a bit of a... soft smile at that]

I do. I think that's... very common.

[a beat]

But if I were to lose those memories, for myself... I think that I would lose sight of my path, and make it harder to acknowledge that I'm the same as everyone else -

I also make choices that can hurt people, and part of living is carrying those alongside the happy memories.

No one can make it this far without hurting people.

Sometimes you have no choice. Other times you just have to make peace with the choice you made.

[ hm. ]

... What do you mean 'your path'?

I mean the goals and ambitions that I have.

[he tilts his head]

But you're right. It is impossible to live a life in which you do not cause harm to others.

We can only try to make it so that the total sum of our lives adds more good to the world than bad.

[ she can't even quite agree to that. it's a nice sentiment that she doesn't disagree with in theory. but in practice... it's impossible. it's just impossible to have enough control over your life and circumstances to choose to do good. ]

... I mean - what are those goals and ambitions?

Ah - I want to help both my country and my countrymen! Things were pretty bad before... so I want to improve whatever circumstances I can so that people get to live easier lives than what they had before.

[and he's quite dedicated to it, based on the way that his eyes light up]

That's... Pretty amazing. Honestly.

[ maybe that's the luxury other people get - the chance to actually improve things, even if it's hard to do it. to her it sounds like a daydream. ]

Do you know how to get that done?

I have a few ideas... but I'm afraid it's mostly politics.

[to which his expression drops a bit]

I love people... but I admit that at times it can be hard to find compromises and move forward.

Huh. I don't really know anything about politics.

[ so she has no idea what that really comprises. the only politics she knows are on very, very small scales. ]

It'd be nice if you could keep it that way.

[he says this

so easily]

Most people shouldn't have to worry about them - they should just be able to expect that their country has the ability to protect them.

[though - ]

... though I recognize the world I speak of likely sounds a bit different than what you know.

Sort of... It's smaller than countries, but there's still conflict between settlements.

[ so she's at least familiar with that kind of thing. ]

[he looks thoughtful for a moment before - ]

... if you could run away to one of the other worlds that can be connected to this place - with AJ, of course - would you?

I...

[ she goes quiet for a very, very long moment. ]

I don't know. I don't want to leave behind everyone from the boarding school after everything, but... There's no saving that world. Even if that place is our new home, it's still never going to be safe...

[ ... hrm. she's too conflicted. ]

I can't think about it. [ she doesn't want to get her hopes up for a miracle, let alone a miracle she's indecisive about. ]

[ . . . . . ]

Okay. [and his voice is soft]

... but I'm going to look into it, and based on the answer that I find - if it's possible, I'm going to let you know, alright?

So if it's something you ultimately want to think about, I'm sure my country has room for you and a few others.

Everything else here is rather impossible - there's no need to shut out possible routes of escape if you don't know that they lead to a dead end.

[ hrm. ]

I... Appreciate it.

The offer. And that you'll tell me. Anything you can tell me is helpful; I don't know how to figure anything out in a place like this.

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recrowns - 2020-10-14 17:45 (UTC) - Expand

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stillnot - 2020-10-14 17:48 (UTC) - Expand