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.]
[ 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.
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.
...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.]
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.
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.]
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.
It doesn't have to be everyone, and I don't think we should just avoid all events both due to practical issues and that we do need at least some of the gods to have power, but we should keep in mind that some of the worst events could potentially be mitigated. If one is bad enough that a large number of the populace decides to leave to avoid it, the gods may decide not to risk such a loss of power in the future and therefore lessen the severity of a future event.
[And so maybe they can all save themselves from unnecessary trauma. It would give them sort of a bargaining chip, instead of just having to be at the mercy of the gods and what they want.]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2018-03-08 10:08 pm (UTC)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.]
no subject
Date: 2018-03-09 03:30 am (UTC)I guess I've got a lot of thinking to do. But this is too complicated for a pro/con list.
no subject
Date: 2018-03-09 04:04 am (UTC)[There's another issue to consider as well.]
Have you spoken with Ephemera about your concerns?
no subject
Date: 2018-03-09 04:25 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2018-03-09 04:35 am (UTC)[In many different ways.]
no subject
Date: 2018-03-09 04:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-03-09 04:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-03-09 05:12 am (UTC)[ Wait. He could know the future. It would just require talking to Wash's people. ]
no subject
Date: 2018-03-09 05:15 am (UTC)[Because obviously he just thought of or realized something.]
no subject
Date: 2018-03-09 05:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-03-09 05:31 am (UTC)[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.]
no subject
Date: 2018-03-09 05:46 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2018-03-09 05:59 am (UTC)[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.
no subject
Date: 2018-03-09 02:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-03-10 01:45 am (UTC)[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.]
no subject
Date: 2018-03-10 02:07 am (UTC)[ 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?
no subject
Date: 2018-03-10 02:14 am (UTC)[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.
no subject
Date: 2018-03-10 02:28 am (UTC)Oh well. Fear could probably use some energy anyway.
no subject
Date: 2018-03-10 04:29 am (UTC)[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?
no subject
Date: 2018-03-10 04:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-03-10 04:39 am (UTC)[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.]
no subject
Date: 2018-03-10 04:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-03-10 04:56 am (UTC)[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.]
no subject
Date: 2018-03-10 05:13 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2018-03-10 05:20 am (UTC)It doesn't have to be everyone, and I don't think we should just avoid all events both due to practical issues and that we do need at least some of the gods to have power, but we should keep in mind that some of the worst events could potentially be mitigated. If one is bad enough that a large number of the populace decides to leave to avoid it, the gods may decide not to risk such a loss of power in the future and therefore lessen the severity of a future event.
[And so maybe they can all save themselves from unnecessary trauma. It would give them sort of a bargaining chip, instead of just having to be at the mercy of the gods and what they want.]