pc catchall for shess (nonbelligerent)

[foodbin]

Comments

[foodbin]

[She nods.]

It sounds like him, at least, and I can't think of anyone else it's likely to be that has a name that starts with an S.

[But.]

...That isn't the only thing I wanted to talk to you about.

[nonbelligerent]

What is it?

[foodbin]

Did Sol say anything to you about why we needed to have a trial, even though there were no corrupted to find?

[nonbelligerent]

I didn't ask.

[foodbin]

...Because it’s easier for corruption to surface and spread in people who have killed someone here. He said that’s why they had to purify Akane anyways.

[nonbelligerent]

... Makes sense.

Are you worried about yourself and North, then?

[foodbin]

Of course I am. I don’t know what to...

[What to do.]

I don’t want to hurt anyone. He said he couldn’t sense anything in me yet, but... He hasn’t been able to tell everyone else who was corrupted beforehand, either.

[nonbelligerent]

... So it's a matter of chance.

[foodbin]

Yes. But he said my chance might be higher than anybody else.

[She takes a breath. It isn’t hard to see how this, even more than dying, frightens her.]

Shess, I... I don’t know what to do.

[nonbelligerent]

[...]

I can carry out your request, if need be—but it's your decision.

[and... not exactly one to make lightly.]

Does Axel know?

[foodbin]

...I know. I just - it’s not like there’s a lot of places I can go for a second opinion. [...] Sorry.

[But - she shakes her head.]

I know he would try to stop me.

[nonbelligerent]

Don't apologize. It's a difficult choice to make, so I don't blame you. I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

... Most likely.

[foodbin]

...I won’t keep you waiting. Is tomorrow too late to let you know?

[nonbelligerent]

[he shakes his head.]

Take your time. [...] But I'll have to let Milla know not to protect you this week, in that case.

[foodbin]

I wouldn’t want her to do that in either case.

[...]

It’s okay if you can’t answer, but - if you were in my shoes, what would you do...?

[nonbelligerent]

... I would take the risk and face the consequences for it. But that's also because, as cruel as it might be, I know I could live with myself even if I ended up killing someone against my will.

[you don't get far as a sura if you can't handle something like that.]

To struggle with that decision is part of what makes you human.

[and not in a bad way, either.]

[foodbin]

[She listens to that, and after a few moments:]

You didn’t see it... Did I ever tell you how I died back home?

[nonbelligerent]

[um.]

... No.

[foodbin]

You know the basic situation, right? Aliens taking over people’s bodies, piloting them around... That kind of thing.

[nonbelligerent]

Yes, I remember.

[foodbin]

There was someone that... I was close with. You remember the second memory you saw of mine, right? Where I saw him again, but he was - wrong.

[nonbelligerent]

[he nods.]

... It did feel that way, based on your emotional reaction.

[foodbin]

That it was how it was for most people who were infected. I knew someone who was killed by the alien who took over his daughter’s body, because she knew how to manipulate him. There was another woman in our group who got killed by the alien that took her husband. And the reason I didn’t run as fast as I should have...

[Well. He can probably guess.]

...I don’t want to do that to anybody else. I’m sure most people don’t, but... I know what it’s like. I’m scared it might take that idea and go after someone I care about.

[nonbelligerent]

... What a cruel species.

[not that his own is above that, but it's not their pattern, if nothing else.]

Axel and Naminé... both would probably find it difficult to fight back.

[foodbin]

...They would. You’re right. I doubt Naminé would stop me at all.

[She takes another breath.]