IC Inbox (Imeeji)

[firstworldproblem]

[It just goes directly to the beep.]

Comments

[deicider]

[Cardinal nods. Their expression is troubled, but mostly thoughtful, as if trying to feel the shape of those limbs now.]

You're right.

[firstworldproblem]

Do not be discouraged. The path you are looking for will find you of that I have no doubt. You will settle for nothing less.

[deicider]

[Smiles at him, a bit - bashful?? As if Emet-Selch had gifted them a significant compliment.]

Thank you, Emet-Selch.

[firstworldproblem]

[He reaches out and pats their shoulder.]

Follow your heart, for while it may lead you astray, well there are worse things. But do remember to keep an open mind. 'Tis a complex existence we live and we should not be bound by preconceptions.

[deicider]

[Another serious, studious nod. Cardinal reaches their own hand to lightly brush against Emet-Selch's, a tacit appreciation.]

[firstworldproblem]

[He takes a step back with a laugh. Making a motion with his hand to wave off the heavy topic.]

Though I do believe you've further soured your relationship with Five.

[deicider]

Oh, well. He had already given me an earful about how he doesn't like me or trust me. So he can just keep doing that.


You know the worst part? The game host, Yasuragi. He's the reason I have bad blood with Shu in the first place.

[firstworldproblem]

A graduate?

Do go on.

[deicider]

Yeah. One of Taisho's original members.

There was a hostage game, but the hostages were public. Everyone was together in the same room, and everyone had to work together to solve a puzzle in order to save both hostages. The catch was, there were two hostages up at any given time, and either unit could save their own hostage by crying uncle and killing the other one. The hostages underwent some escalating torture while everyone else worked on the puzzle.

The game had been going so-so, we'd gotten a couple puzzles right, but in the round before me one of the teams had to cry uncle at the last second. I was put up with Taisho's hostage, a kid, and we were rigged up to bleed to death.

[pausing briefly for questions.]

[firstworldproblem]

You wished to save him, and I imagine you asked for him to say the words that would spare them.

[deicider]

I didn't get a chance to say anything. Two minutes into the game Yasuragi called it, and I bled to death there right there in front of everyone.

It was my first death. I would have given my life, but Yasuragi took it from me in full public view, and no-one cared.

[firstworldproblem]

Then the mantle of a demon does suit him well if I understand what the term means.

[He pauses.]

No one? Not even your unit?

[deicider]

He's nothing so elevated as that.

I told my unit to stand down. I thought... I thought if I understood why he did it, everything would be fine. But he had no interest in explaining himself to me; I was nothing to him even though he killed me. Later, I learned he was simply a coward with no stomach for violence, even though he went on the commit quite a lot of it.

When I went over to Taisho to demand an explanation - demanding explanations was a thing I did a lot back in those days - he stonewalled me. I demanded Taisho secure his good behavior, and that's when Shu pulled an axe on me.

[Cardinal snorts.] I'm not allowed to be mad about that, though, because Shu didn't mean it. [Said with sarcasm, Cardinal rolling their eyes.]

[firstworldproblem]

Shu is the dramatic sort, for ill or for good. And it does seem his personality is the type to rub incorrectly among many. Though to resort to violence, well, I imagine emotions are high.

Though I would caution you on expecting a unit to control their own. They are not bound together by choice, but by circumstance. I've had my own encounters with a member of my own unit which I doubt either of us could be placated in the short term. Nor do I imagine we could influence each other.

And you are in your right to feel as you ought to, upset or no. Actions wrought actions, and injury of person is one that will cause bad faith.

[deicider]

[Cardinal makes a gesture waving it all away.]

This was ages ago. I know better now. Back then I was desperate; I just wanted something to change. So I was reckless.

[firstworldproblem]

Is that from whence the bad blood between Taisho and Avante began?

[deicider]

Right. And then I swore a public oath that I'd kill Yasuragi if I ever caught him commiting an act of wanton violence again. That didn't do me any favors but at least I enjoyed myself when the time came.

[firstworldproblem]

Of course not. You riled up the righteous. I'm sure tales of your evil and unkind words reached your ears from more than one, even if you were the one to suffer.

[deicider]

You got that right. Nobody thought it was their business when they watched me die, but everybody had something to say when I wanted to hold by murderer accountable.

[firstworldproblem]

We had a few guests come and give their 'opinions' on how we handled our hostage and how our hostage should have acted.

How ridiculous.

If one is going to build a relationship they first must show they actually care about the other side. Or at least are willing to meet them partway.

[deicider]

The question is how to show you care... I tried to talk to Shu and Yasuragi countless times to try and understand them better, but they had already made up their minds.

[firstworldproblem]

Some you simply cannot. I am running into similar troubles. The blame is not on you. One cannot open a dialogue if they are not open to it.

[deicider]

[Flicks a glance at him, inviting elaboration. They don't want to dig uninvited into Emet-Selch's social business given how badly they just mismanaged their own.]

So, back to my initial plan of making sure all the units have an even dispersion of lovers on other units.

[firstworldproblem]

... Do you not worry that will cause more jealous lovers if one should be forced picked above another?

One of the newest on sensitIV I know. Lahabrea used to wear his face. Do I need to say we do not get along?

[deicider]

[laughs.] Maybe I am being optimistic again. This seems to be another thing that just doesn't work here. [a pause while they consider an example.] Like in my profile. I don't know who said that about me, but they saw value in me, because someone they loved saw value in me.

Competition isn't a bad motivator, either. Anything is better than tepid helplessness.

Right... I haven't had a chance to go say hi to him yet. So Lahabrea had his body at some point, I can see why he'd take offense to that. Do you think he's going to be a problem for you?