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[ Oh geez. If there's that much of a difference between them maybe he should go with professional. But Lance's personal opinion might take both their feelings into account. Drake winces a little. ]

I don't suppose you'd let me hear both?

[Lance offers a small shrug at that.]

The professional advice would involve some more questioning first, but generally ask you to examine more carefully your motivations for making this decision, and if you truly believe it's as good a choice--let alone the best choice--as you're stating considering you have such strong reservations.

[And all of that said--]

Personally, I'd ask you if any number of positives about the situation could outweigh the possibility of having to participate in a war.

[And everything that goes with it, because no matter how in the 'right' one since might be--and who knows how much that's the case here--horrible things happen and are done in wars. The moral issue isn't one to ignore.]

[ Examining his motivations and weighing the positives, huh? That sounds... difficult. At least it's a starting point. ]

I guess I've got a lot of thinking to do. But this is too complicated for a pro/con list.

Edited 2018-03-09 03:30 (UTC)

It is, especially as one single aspect can outweigh all the others, on either side.

[There's another issue to consider as well.]

Have you spoken with Ephemera about your concerns?

[ Ah, he knew that question was coming. Drake shakes his head, looking vaguely guilty. ]

No. I don't want him to think I'm backing out before we even know if it's possible, when I'd rather just find a way to make it through. But on the other hand, I don't want to lead him on either.

This is a decision that should be made together, not just because you're a couple but because it will affect both of you.

[In many different ways.]

How do you mean?

Whether you do or don't go with Ephemera, back to his world, it will directly impact his life going forward. In particular, if you go with him but hate it there and regret what you have to do because of it, that will take a toll whether consciously or subconsciously.

Oh. Yeah, that would really suck. It's a risk with going anywhere, though, even with staying here. I know you're right. I just wish I could--

[ Wait. He could know the future. It would just require talking to Wash's people. ]

What is it?

[Because obviously he just thought of or realized something.]

Maybe Carolina knows how it ends.

Would it be safe to ask her?

[Because Lance hasn't spoken to her yet and had a chance to judge anything for himself, and so can only go by Ephemera's warnings.]

...safe? Yeah. My issue would be telling her why I want to know.

Look, I love him, but Ephemera is incredibly biased about these guys. Even if they were exactly like he says once, they're not now. He's only just figured that out with Washington, and I think Carolina's going to be harder for him... but she seems okay, to me. Actually, way less of a threat than Wash.

I'm aware that Ephemera's biased, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be cautious

[Not just with them, but with everyone in Hadriel; so many people here seem to come from places where violence is a first resort and life is not particularly valued, and so asking a relative stranger a bunch of questions about their world can be risky at best.]

However, you know them better than me, so if you feel it's a viable option then it's worth trying. The more information the better when it comes to making a decision.

I don't know about it being a viable option. I think it's safe, but she might not tell me anything. She isn't exactly cuddly, and I'm sure she'd want to know why I'm asking first.

Either way, you should speak with Ephemera first. Both about your concerns, and the idea of asking Carolina about the future.

[Not that Drake has to make his decisions based on what Ephemera says about them, but as a couple it's something they should talk about. And considering Lance doesn't know Carolina--or any of them at all other than Washington--he really can't give Drake any advice on whether to talk to her or not.]

Okay. You're right, I'll talk to him. It's probably not something I should put off even if we don't have to decide right now.

[ He leans back, letting the dread settle in. That's always been his trick. Accept it and then push through. ]

So how was your adventure into the wasteland?

Exactly; you don't want to have to rush this decision.

[So the earlier to get it all discussed and have time to think about it the better.]

It was alright, though it got a little boring after awhile. I didn't learn anything interesting while I was out there either, unfortunately.

I don't think anybody did. It sounds like it was a good time to be out of the city, though. And the orbs will help Hope, so even if it kicked off an existential crisis I'm glad I went.

Oh well. Fear could probably use some energy anyway.

It was worth it just to get to do something different, and yeah, avoid that event.

[It sounded really terrible, from what he saw on the network.]

Although I wonder if it would continue to work in the future; could we just leave again when the next event occurs?

I mean... in theory. But I feel like the gods would stop sustaining us if we pulled that because they'd starve. And we can't leave the city without supplies, there's nothing out there.

They'd starve if they stopped sustaining us and we died, too.

[Not that Lance things Drake is wrong in that the gods wouldn't allow them all to avoid events so easily, but still. Lance is tempted to see what they would do, if the issue were forced.]

It'd be a stand off, probably. They need us and we need them. But since we're not trapped in a cave anymore, we could wander off.

I think it might be worth seeing how they would handle this issue. We've all been so busy focusing on the common threat of the Null--as we should have been--but that doesn't mean we should forget that the gods are using us.

[And therefore aren't on their side, at least not really. Whatever information, options, or advantages the people here might be able to gain, the better.]

[ Okay... so Drake's not the psychologist here, but this seems like a dangerous road to go down and he feels like he should steer his friend away from it. ]

What are you thinking? Just proposing everybody does it next time we get screwed with, or bringing it up to the gods first? Because a hunger strike out in the desert isn't really an option for all of us.

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lifetothefullest - 2018-03-10 05:20 (UTC) - Expand