Valour 5: I'm alone. Well. With the rest of Taisho but we're not talkimg to them.
[ dw thancred he's just a short granpa what's the worst that can happen. Once he arrives he'll let him in and head to his room, gesturing for him to follow ]
Thancred: The idiot in question is a member of your unit I believe. One I don't trust to mind his own business. Thancred: Dogs on the other hand are perfectly fine. So long as you're sure this involves only the two of us, I shall join you anon.
[ he's in front of the door as promised, and will gesture for him to come inside as soon as he spots him. Though he does look vaguely amused that he isn't keeping a hood ]
My thanks for accepting the invitation. I appreciate it.
[ going to just head for his room and expect him to follow along IF HE DOESN'T WANT TO SEE VERGIL!! ]
I'd ask about how your Unit is doing after the game and the mess, but I dislike pointless small talk and you'd see right through it, so.
[ once they are in his room he gestures toward the bed so Thancred can sit on it.
His room is
Full of dog toys and supplies, currently. And there's a giant teddy bear on his bed. Mr. Pennycrumb is asleep on his own CUTE DOG BED so the room is very gap moe is what i'm saying ]
[He is absolutely following along without dawdling. He wants to avoid pointless arguing as much as Valour wants to avoid smalltalk.]
I appreciate your honesty.
[He also appreciates the gap moe, but he's keeping that to himself. He is, however, staying standing. He'd rather be awkward than get comfortable in what he can't help but see as enemy territory.]
Now what is so important we need to discuss it in person?
"Time Travel. I have the ability to do that, and we've been looking into ways to achieve that. The fact that G'raha was able to points out to it being more than doable in your world.
Though obviously doing that in the same timeline in which you and your friends are currently residing would mean - well. You would cease to exist. You won't die but you would never have existed in the first place.
Doing it on a different timelime, potentially the one G'raha has abandoned already, would mean reversing the clock, undoing untold suffering, and allowing Emet-Selch and the others to restore their home.
[On a gut level, Thancred doesn't want to give even the slightest consideration to anything an ascian wants to do. But he isn't brash enough to follow through on that dismissive impulse. He's quiet for a moment, thinking, before he ultimately shakes his head.]
I sympathize with them. I honestly do. But the lives in any world belong to those who live them. It isn't up to us to decide they should be erased. As I told G'raha Tia, if I could save what remains of his timeline I would. It would go against everything I've fought for to do the opposite.
[ it's time to talk again apparently, and he sets his notebook aside ]
But I fail to see exactly why you think the way things are is how they're always meant to be. Even if they were do you really think you have any right to decide that either? They want to save their world, too.
He will turn back the clock on a timeline whether you agree to this plan or not. I'll see to it. So you can stand aside and agree to the one way this would not actually harm you and yours, or you can be stubborn and hope you'll reach graduation before any one of us does.
Whatever the worlds that followed become is yet to be seen. Perhaps one day they too will end, despite all we do to prevent it. If so, what comes after us is no less valuable.
If one could reverse the sands of time on every loss, every mistake, no progress would be made. I don't seek to preserve only that which I love and find familiar. ...Even if I may find the consequences of these values difficult to bear at times. And thus I cannot simply "stand aside".
You have no idea of what you're talking about. You think the end of the world is preferable out of principle? I've lived it.
And I can tell you there's absolutely no progress to be made after that.
I'd understand if you simply said you're not hot on murdering people or just undoing their existence, but saying that things need to stay as they are because that's how they're meant to be is ridiculous.
How can you even think that? If you have the power to change something then you should.
If there was nothing to be had after "the end of the world", I would never have been born.
[Although hearing that makes Valour's position make more sense.]
I never claimed to want things to remain the same forever, with no intervention. If you knew a thing about me, you wouldn't assume such. I only question why their people are worthy of continuing on, above anyone else.
You assume I was talking about what caused your existence with the end of the world — I wasn't. You're right there was something to be had after that. And I'm not about to say your lives have less worth. But G'raha's timeline is already beyond salvation. You saying that they should keep struggling because that's how things are meant to be is also deciding for them.
To me their people are worthy of continuing on above anyone else because I care about Emet-Selch. But I have no illusions on it being morally right or just - I'm simply able to be honest about it. Whether it's the people of Amaurot or those who came after, each choice require the other to be gone. And I'm sure you can guess I'm not a fan of keeping things as they are because that's how they're meant to be, so that argument doesn't work for me.
You're right that I don't know anything about you. That's part of why I've invited you here. I want to understand, so regardless of my stance on this, I do want to have a civil conversation.
Given the power to do one or the other, I would choose to solve the problems of that timeline, rather than erase it. It may seem impossible, but those I consider friends have done the impossible time and time again. In fact, I have personally aided them in repairing the stagnant aether of parts of the First, so I don't see why we couldn't do the same for that future, given the chance.
[He takes a slow breath, willing himself not to scowl. It'll solve nothing to be angry. Snapping at people has never helped. But snapping is exactly what Thancred is naturally inclined to, so it's taking quite a bit of effort.
Where are the diplomats when you need them? This isn't a conversation that can be salvaged by cursing or playing the fool.]
And given that ascians created those problems in the first place, I'm not inclined to give them any rewards regardless. The number of lives they've destroyed, and were prepared to destroy even before their world was shattered, afford them nothing. I have spent my entire life trying to stem the bleeding they have caused. I will not pretend personal grudge plays no part, but I would be willing to set it aside if I thought this plan was a fair one. You may not care about justice, but I do.
[ there's a pause at that as he considers the words. He'd assumed Thancred's problem was just murder, but if it's a sense of justice it's already way more complicated and Emet may be right in guessing it's not salvagable.
I do. They may have more wits about them than tempered mortals, but they're out of their minds all the same.
[His voice softens when he says that. It's not an easy thing. He does feel for them -- both the tempered mortals he's dealt with and even the ascians, in a way.]
I do wonder if they would want to destroy so much, were they capable of choosing for themselves.
They already don't want to. I have strong reasons to suspect if they weren't compromised, at this point they wouldn't even function. They're essentially held together by that.
I know you don't owe them anything. I'm not stupid or cruel enough to expect someone who was a victim of their scheming to forgive and let go either.
But if you really do feel for them, well. Maybe take in consideration most of their choices were dictated by something else, and caused by despair. It might not be just, but there is a way to fix things.
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[ dw thancred he's just a short granpa what's the worst that can happen. Once he arrives he'll let him in and head to his room, gesturing for him to follow ]
I hope you're not allergic to dogs?
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Thancred: Dogs on the other hand are perfectly fine. So long as you're sure this involves only the two of us, I shall join you anon.
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Valour 5: We'll just have to make sure nobody sees you. Well. Him. The rest of Taisho likely doesn't care.
Valour 5: And I won't hide Mr. Pennycrumb, in that case
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Valour 5: But I'll wait for you at the entrance. Maybe put a hood on or something if you're worried.
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[And soon he will arrive! Not wearing a hood because he doesn't want to look like a COWARD.]
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My thanks for accepting the invitation. I appreciate it.
[ look he can be polite when he wants to be ]
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[He's still all crossed arms and grumpy faces though. Of course.]
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I'd ask about how your Unit is doing after the game and the mess, but I dislike pointless small talk and you'd see right through it, so.
[ once they are in his room he gestures toward the bed so Thancred can sit on it.
His room is
Full of dog toys and supplies, currently. And there's a giant teddy bear on his bed. Mr. Pennycrumb is asleep on his own CUTE DOG BED so the room is very gap moe is what i'm saying ]
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I appreciate your honesty.
[He also appreciates the gap moe, but he's keeping that to himself. He is, however, staying standing. He'd rather be awkward than get comfortable in what he can't help but see as enemy territory.]
Now what is so important we need to discuss it in person?
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You can probably guess it's not about our budding friendship, so. No reason to dance around the subject.
I wanted to talk to you about Emet-Selch's agreement with G'raha Tia. I've heard you're not inclined to uphold it.
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And? If you plan to convince me otherwise, you'll only waste your time.
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I can talk about the next few details, so please hold on.
[ and at that he's going to get up so he can grab one of his notebooks, starting to write, and then turning it around to show him ]
"Am I correct in assuming you're under the impression the only way for him to achieve what he wants is through additional calamities?"
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That does seem to be the preferred method, yes. I take it he's concocted something else?
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"Time Travel. I have the ability to do that, and we've been looking into ways to achieve that. The fact that G'raha was able to points out to it being more than doable in your world.
Though obviously doing that in the same timeline in which you and your friends are currently residing would mean - well. You would cease to exist. You won't die but you would never have existed in the first place.
Doing it on a different timelime, potentially the one G'raha has abandoned already, would mean reversing the clock, undoing untold suffering, and allowing Emet-Selch and the others to restore their home.
That way no one would have to die."
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I sympathize with them. I honestly do. But the lives in any world belong to those who live them. It isn't up to us to decide they should be erased. As I told G'raha Tia, if I could save what remains of his timeline I would. It would go against everything I've fought for to do the opposite.
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[ it's time to talk again apparently, and he sets his notebook aside ]
But I fail to see exactly why you think the way things are is how they're always meant to be. Even if they were do you really think you have any right to decide that either? They want to save their world, too.
He will turn back the clock on a timeline whether you agree to this plan or not. I'll see to it. So you can stand aside and agree to the one way this would not actually harm you and yours, or you can be stubborn and hope you'll reach graduation before any one of us does.
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[And also, Thancred's stubborn.]
Whatever the worlds that followed become is yet to be seen. Perhaps one day they too will end, despite all we do to prevent it. If so, what comes after us is no less valuable.
If one could reverse the sands of time on every loss, every mistake, no progress would be made. I don't seek to preserve only that which I love and find familiar. ...Even if I may find the consequences of these values difficult to bear at times. And thus I cannot simply "stand aside".
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You have no idea of what you're talking about. You think the end of the world is preferable out of principle? I've lived it.
And I can tell you there's absolutely no progress to be made after that.
I'd understand if you simply said you're not hot on murdering people or just undoing their existence, but saying that things need to stay as they are because that's how they're meant to be is ridiculous.
How can you even think that? If you have the power to change something then you should.
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[Although hearing that makes Valour's position make more sense.]
I never claimed to want things to remain the same forever, with no intervention. If you knew a thing about me, you wouldn't assume such. I only question why their people are worthy of continuing on, above anyone else.
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To me their people are worthy of continuing on above anyone else because I care about Emet-Selch. But I have no illusions on it being morally right or just - I'm simply able to be honest about it. Whether it's the people of Amaurot or those who came after, each choice require the other to be gone. And I'm sure you can guess I'm not a fan of keeping things as they are because that's how they're meant to be, so that argument doesn't work for me.
You're right that I don't know anything about you. That's part of why I've invited you here. I want to understand, so regardless of my stance on this, I do want to have a civil conversation.
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[He takes a slow breath, willing himself not to scowl. It'll solve nothing to be angry. Snapping at people has never helped. But snapping is exactly what Thancred is naturally inclined to, so it's taking quite a bit of effort.
Where are the diplomats when you need them? This isn't a conversation that can be salvaged by cursing or playing the fool.]
And given that ascians created those problems in the first place, I'm not inclined to give them any rewards regardless. The number of lives they've destroyed, and were prepared to destroy even before their world was shattered, afford them nothing. I have spent my entire life trying to stem the bleeding they have caused. I will not pretend personal grudge plays no part, but I would be willing to set it aside if I thought this plan was a fair one. You may not care about justice, but I do.
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So it's time to take the NOTEBOOK again ]
"You know they are tempered."
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[His voice softens when he says that. It's not an easy thing. He does feel for them -- both the tempered mortals he's dealt with and even the ascians, in a way.]
I do wonder if they would want to destroy so much, were they capable of choosing for themselves.
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I know you don't owe them anything. I'm not stupid or cruel enough to expect someone who was a victim of their scheming to forgive and let go either.
But if you really do feel for them, well. Maybe take in consideration most of their choices were dictated by something else, and caused by despair. It might not be just, but there is a way to fix things.
And ultimately I simply want them to be happy.
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