Audio

[fearsdaughter]

[Where she's tucked herself away is unimportant, which is why she's not giving that bit away. Mother Nature sounds more resigned and contemplative than anything, and there's the faint sound of crowds in the background.]

Death is like gravity, it cannot be stopped or all of the universe begins to go out of sorts. Things unravel when people come against such things, more than they believe they are already. Things die, it is a part of existence and a rule of the universe that should never be broken.

And yet here we all are, being forced in to a fight that will be ultimately lost. Forced to take a side and prepare ourselves and others for what? To be felled in battle? To fade out of existence?

[She sighs.]

I don't know how many of you have seen war, but it is not anywhere near so glorious as anyone wants you to think. It is blood and death and terror for little more than bragging rights over some pile of dirt or another.

It is people sitting at windows waiting for their lovers to come back with scars that will never go away if at all.

It is those you love leaving and never coming back.

It is watching everything you love burn to ashes in your fingers for some ideal that will never fill the hole they leave.

[She sighs, shaky.]

Worlds have died before, entire civilizations and people have been erased from existence and yet... here we are, still alive, still existing despite all of that.

We should be planting a new tree, making new homes, not trying to save a burning ship... but what do I know about anything. I'm no god, no war hero.

I've just been dragged here and forced against my will in to a fight I've no interest in. So please; sell me a reason to fight, give me something to believe in that will work.

Comments

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor looks... weary, but there is a fell light in his eyes (he does not like war, but the Feanorionnath are very good at it, and his father's famous fire stirs at the call to battle) ]

War is never glorious, and yet... [ a small shrug ] I cannot countenance staying behind and waiting either, kemenamil. The horns of battle call, and e'en if it is in vain, I must go, for the chance that these hands might save even one life. I do not look for glory, for you speak truly that there is none to be found - yet, I look towards morning, still. That you would stay and guard the seeds of tomorrow is a comfort also.

[ A shy smile ] I go for those who cannot, I go to buy the rest even a little more time. Will you give me your blessing to go, kemenamil, although I leave you behind?

[fearsdaughter]

If you truly wish to throw yourself on some sword for such a thing then that is your choice. I will not stand in your way.

[She sighs.]

I will not bless your leaving, but I will plant the stones for the path of your return and keep a light for it. It is up to you to follow the way back.

[bythewaves]

[ He smiles sadly and her and bows ]

What is the life of a kinslayer worth, if not to save those who have not stained their hands beyond redemption? And I am very good at killing kemenamil. I will look for your light then, and set my steps by it, that it might give me courage and hope in the darkness. And if I return not you will know that I tried.

video

[ka_sera_sera]

If you know how to plant a new tree and send every person in every world over to it before this one burns, you should probably get started. Until then, our only choice is to fight.

audio

[fearsdaughter]

I could do it, if I had my own power here and wasn't being forced in to a battle I have no interest in. Creating life takes time I'm not being given.

Earth wasn't made in a day after all.

[ka_sera_sera]

Oh, aye.

[He's making no effort to sound as if he believes her, but he's not being snide either. Believing she can do such a thing indicates either madness or a great deal of arrogance, and there's often no arguing with either. The restrained anger of his previous reply, though, is gone. At least she's willing to do something to help, impossible as it may or may not be.]

The thing, Ms... [He glances at the name beside her post, raises his eyebrows, and continues dryly.] ...Nature... is time. Many of this tree's branches have fallen already. The worlds of its leaves are withering. Even if power on that magnitude were available, would there be time to use it?

video

[fintastic]

[ Thank you, finally someone else who understands. ]

I don't think there is any reason to fight, unless you are brainwashed like everyone else here! Everyone is going to die one way or another, and I for one do not want to waste anyone's time forcing them to fight and pretending they are going to be okay afterwards, when they could be enjoying the life they have left.

[audio]

[fearsdaughter]

Precisely.

If it were something else we were fighting the situation would be different but... fighting death is just a fool thing to try to go against.

[video]

[fintastic]

[ Feferi gives an audible sigh of relief, her fins perking up a bit. ]

I am glad to see there is someone else who understands that! Everyone had the same dream, you would think they would understand it!

[Video]

[comeonthensexy]

[ Oh, plenty of them have seen war ... And this seems so small compared to what he's seen. Whether it is or isn't, it's far from the worst. ]

And what if we won't be able to just plant a new tree?

[audio]

[fearsdaughter]

Has anyone even tried?

permavoice;

[sufferably]

All the worlds are connected, if you believe what we're told. Where exactly were you planning on putting this new tree?

permavoice

[fearsdaughter]

Slightly sideways of he current one I suspect, do you not know how gardening or forests work?

[video]

[boogerman]

Once again, you don't want to do anything. What a surprise.

[audio]

[fearsdaughter]

If by 'anything' you mean senselessly throw myself in to a death I have no desire for then yes. I really would rather not do that, thank you.

[So much sass.]

I'm surprised you haven't talked about this before I did or have you gone native now?

video;

[frothing]

Em, anyone who thinks war is glorious needs to get their heads checked.

audio

[fearsdaughter]

You would be amazed at how quickly the horror is forgotten and the victories are glorified. Case and point is most of european history really.

[allpurposescarf]

I don't think very many people here are gods or war heroes. But just because we aren't heroes doesn't mean that we can't still make a difference. Sometimes the smallest of people can make the biggest of differences.

Besides, if everything is going to be destroyed, who's to say that there will even be somewhere to plant a new tree?

[fearsdaughter]

And sometimes that difference involves creating a larger monster than the one you think you've defeated.

[She's incredibly deadpan about that, as if she's speaking from personal experience.]

You've obviously not been to very many forests; fallen trees make wonderful compost and mulch for new ones.

[digophelia]

In case anyone has forgotten, we don't have much of a choice in the matter. Whether or not you chose to pick up a weapon is your concern and no concern of others who are forced to do it.

[fearsdaughter]

You always have a choice.

video;

[twoendings]

There should be no one selling you a reason to fight. [Though, Kirigiri is going to agree with this woman. She has needlessly died here because of this war, and learned how one small thing can complicate a relationship with someone or how things can end up directly impacting your life like this.]

If you don't wish to fight, then don't. No one should have to die for a fight they don't believe in.

video;

[fearsdaughter]

I am being forced to fight, one way or another, so a reason needs to be had beyond it being "for the greater good". Nothing is worse than the greater good.

audio;

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

[It takes him a while to respond. He knows only too well of destroyed civilisations, of losing everything, all to defend something that was nearly lost as well. But he's a creature of hope, it's his gift and his burden, it's something he can never lose. Never AGAIN, anyway.]

Planting a new tree isn't the same as defending this one, if it's even possible. This might be the only one we got, and if we give up on it now, we might lose even more than we realised.

You're right, though. There's nothing glorious about war. But sometimes, it's got to be fought all the same.

audio;

[fearsdaughter]

No. It doesn't. There are always other ways besides a fight against... do we even have a concrete enemy to throw our rocks and scream at or is this all just against some nebulous ness with no face or name?

[She's gonna be the downer of the group for a while with this, considering.]