[oh, hmm. they nod slowly, and move to stand up a little, like they're digesting that thought. a glance up at the sky and then at the garden and the trees that surround it.]
Okay. That makes sense to me.
[at least, while it isn't clear whether they agree still, they seem to understand the reasoning, enough to stop pushing quite as hard against it.]
You want to follow your god, and faith is something important. [...] I don't really...know anything about the god you follow, so if you think that's what they ask, then I don't have issue with that.
[there's quiet for a moment, as though they're done talking, but these sorts of long pauses are not uncommon with shale, and suddenly they start again.]
The god I believe in is a little different. Justice isn't really her purview. The opposite of it, I'd say. What she represents is more...what is. What exists. The random chaos of the natural world, beautiful but often cruel. I don't spend a lot of time thinking about what's fair and unfair, because fairness doesn't exist in her domain. People suffer and die every day for no reason at all. Lightning strikes, a flood washes away, a predator hunts. It's sad, but it's the way things are. You can't punish nature.
[a soft sigh, running their fingers through the moss of their head.] Of course, people aren't quite the same as that. The gods gave us the capacity to make decisions for ourselves, and we're responsible for our own decisions and the consequences we create. But we don't control other people, we only control ourselves.
If you told me she should die because she might hurt someone else, or because she's going to get worse, or any other reason related to something within your control, I'd get it. But killing her because of something that's already happened, and won't be changed...that's hard for me to understand.
[That draws her attention. Something they remembered, perhaps? She doesn't know, but she listens, and listens well.]
...Hm. So in your opinion, its more that killing her would be a way to prevent future problems, versus punishing her for doing something in the past. [Essentially reiterating their point - she leans on the table, thoughtful.] I suppose on my side of things, though, there's also an element in it that prevents other people from doing the same thing. Consequences for actions, you know? If there were no consequences, if someone who may murder doesn't see that their actions could lead to their own death, then they'd be free to do as they pleased. In a way, killing someone for killing someone else is, in its own way, a warning, and may prevent others from getting worse themselves or hurting others.
Even saying that's the point in punishing her still shifts it to something we can do to change things in the future. That's better. I'm not sure I agree that's what would happen, but it's better.
I'm somebody who tries to focus on the present and the future. It's easy, it's probably in everyone's nature, to be preoccupied by the past. I try not to be. What's gone is gone.
9S and Buzen are gone. And here in the present, I think we both feel grief over that. But nothing we do will change the fact of what happened, so I don't want to see us get lost in regrets and punishments. The things that can be changed are the things that are still ahead of us, the people who are still alive.
Grieving is important. It's the way we prepare ourselves to get free of what's tangled up inside, keeping us from moving on.
[but at the latter part, they turn and look towards her, very seriously.]
Good. It's important to have a goal. Whether we mean it to or not, the type of intentions we have are going to color everything we do, so it's important to make them good ones. [...] You remind me of someone, I think. If you make that the goal that guides you, you're going to do some great things.
No, all of you are pretty respectful towards me, even though I'm pushy and make you tell me about your feelings when you don't want to. I don't disagree that's pretty insufferable.
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That's what God asks.
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Okay. That makes sense to me.
[at least, while it isn't clear whether they agree still, they seem to understand the reasoning, enough to stop pushing quite as hard against it.]
You want to follow your god, and faith is something important. [...] I don't really...know anything about the god you follow, so if you think that's what they ask, then I don't have issue with that.
[there's quiet for a moment, as though they're done talking, but these sorts of long pauses are not uncommon with shale, and suddenly they start again.]
The god I believe in is a little different. Justice isn't really her purview. The opposite of it, I'd say. What she represents is more...what is. What exists. The random chaos of the natural world, beautiful but often cruel. I don't spend a lot of time thinking about what's fair and unfair, because fairness doesn't exist in her domain. People suffer and die every day for no reason at all. Lightning strikes, a flood washes away, a predator hunts. It's sad, but it's the way things are. You can't punish nature.
[a soft sigh, running their fingers through the moss of their head.] Of course, people aren't quite the same as that. The gods gave us the capacity to make decisions for ourselves, and we're responsible for our own decisions and the consequences we create. But we don't control other people, we only control ourselves.
If you told me she should die because she might hurt someone else, or because she's going to get worse, or any other reason related to something within your control, I'd get it. But killing her because of something that's already happened, and won't be changed...that's hard for me to understand.
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[That draws her attention. Something they remembered, perhaps? She doesn't know, but she listens, and listens well.]
...Hm. So in your opinion, its more that killing her would be a way to prevent future problems, versus punishing her for doing something in the past. [Essentially reiterating their point - she leans on the table, thoughtful.] I suppose on my side of things, though, there's also an element in it that prevents other people from doing the same thing. Consequences for actions, you know? If there were no consequences, if someone who may murder doesn't see that their actions could lead to their own death, then they'd be free to do as they pleased. In a way, killing someone for killing someone else is, in its own way, a warning, and may prevent others from getting worse themselves or hurting others.
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[She tilts her head.]
You're very much someone who thinks of the future more than the present, aren't you?
[Not an accusation, just an observation.]
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[but on the other hand.]
I'm somebody who tries to focus on the present and the future. It's easy, it's probably in everyone's nature, to be preoccupied by the past. I try not to be. What's gone is gone.
9S and Buzen are gone. And here in the present, I think we both feel grief over that. But nothing we do will change the fact of what happened, so I don't want to see us get lost in regrets and punishments. The things that can be changed are the things that are still ahead of us, the people who are still alive.
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I agree with that. As much as...one wants to grieve, one needs to move forward and think about what's ahead, too.
[She looks down at the table.]
I want to save these people at all costs. I will work towards that.
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[but at the latter part, they turn and look towards her, very seriously.]
Good. It's important to have a goal. Whether we mean it to or not, the type of intentions we have are going to color everything we do, so it's important to make them good ones. [...] You remind me of someone, I think. If you make that the goal that guides you, you're going to do some great things.
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[She huffs at that.]
That's some real faith in me. ["To do great things"...she doesn't see herself as great as that, but...] I appreciate it, all the same.
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I haven't been wrong so far. And I appreciate you coming to me to talk these things out.
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[She tilts her head at that.]
A certain someone said I need to reach out to people. I still don't like it that much, but...you've always been easy to talk to.
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It's alright.
[>8/]
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You're making the effort, that's what counts.
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[SQUINTING BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T KNOW IF THEY'RE TEASING OR NOT]
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but yes they are teasing.]
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You know, if you weren't so levelheaded, you'd be incredibly insufferable.
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I've heard that before, and put less nicely, too.
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Really? And who told you that? One of us?
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No, all of you are pretty respectful towards me, even though I'm pushy and make you tell me about your feelings when you don't want to. I don't disagree that's pretty insufferable.
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Well, accept it. Though...you can be insufferable and helpful at the same time. Good for you.