A few individuals I had the misfortune of meeting while working for a city-state.
[ Difficult leaders, that sort of thing. ]
There are several that stand out, however. The Ascians are by far the most difficult individuals I’ve come upon. They worked to sow chaos and destruction with the sole purpose of reuniting our star. [ He crosses his arms. ] ‘Twould have caused billions of deaths, of which we simply could not allow.
[ Difficult leaders, eh? Somehow that doesn't surprise Blade, especially because of the fact that he's mentioned having a grand duty before - which, on its own sounds fantastical enough. Even if he doesn't have every single aspect, he believes he was told enough.
But, in regards to the Ascians, another question bubbles to the surface... ]
Did you have to kill them?
[ ...disagreements do not necessarily equate to killings, but also they are things that can happen nonetheless. ]
[ Which is why he finds a bit of it almost completely surprising, but...
There were signs that he feels meant the man wouldn't necessarily be completely against pursuing that course of action. ]
Sometimes, the only way to stop someone is to kill them.
[ ... ]
They gave you no other choice. It was either them or practically your own world. [ With so many dying, that to Blade speaks to it being the world at stake, as far as he's concerned. ] Forcing your hand at that point would have been easy.
'Twas a shame. I could understand their actions and the desire to have their loved ones back at their side. However, ending the lives of countless individuals was not the means they should have employed.
[ Even if there were no other means. They should have accepted their loss, even as all-consuming as it was. ]
...The motivation to bring a loved one back from the dead can be the quickest way to bring pain and despair.
It can push someone to create a sin where they must pay a heavy price. On the Xianzhou, the act they committed would have been considered an unpardonable sin.
[ ...
He doesn't remember his time as that craftsman much, but he knows that part of the reason he became like this is because the loss of someone's life. He thinks...that part of it was that attempt at bringing back the dead; though, trying to recall gives him a headache, so he lets the grab at memories slide away. ]
I agree. There... is no means of bringing someone back that is without consequence. Mayhap that is why so many try and put their all into their attempts, hopeful that the outcome will be different for them.
Attachment can never be easily destroyed. For better or worse.
[ People's hearts are fundamentally weak. Sentimentality will destroy them, at times...
...or save them. But he doesn't think of himself of the latter. He knows of all the worst that he is capable of. Though a part of him wonders if some day he can be at least a little stronger. Even if he doubts it.
He wonders if G'raha doubts his own strength. But, whatever the case... ]
...I'll leave the rest of the day to you. I've never been much good at lightening the mood.
[ Blade isn't much of a talker - never has been - and so, he will move to depart from the gardens. ]
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[ Which, like. Fair enough. But he's going to make Blade admit it. ]
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...I don't see a point in being 'courteous'.
[ Yeah, he'll admit to it after a bit. He is pretty bad at obfuscation, anyway. ]
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Not even to make those you like happy?
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...Which is just regular-flavor sullen Blade. That's the price. ]
No.
They will be forced to deal with myself as I am.
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'Tis not a terrible thing, that.
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Many wouldn't dare to say so.
[ Because he's got rabies (he's crazy) ]
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I like you as you are right before me.
[ Which is true, and he still likes Blade despite their little tiff in the suite.
Blade doesn’t scare him. ]
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Then, he imparts him a genuinely amused look - he thought the tiff was enough to cause a riff. But, the reality surprises him even more. ]
...you must be crazy.
[ DON'T BE RUDE, BLADE- ]
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[ Blade looks amused, so he’s taking this as a win. ]
We may disagree on some things, but disagreement breeds opportunity. I learned that lesson long, long ago.
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...Opportunity.
Did you meet someone very disagreeable?
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I’ve met an assortment of disagreeable individuals.
[ Extremely vague, but Blade has probably noticed this little habit by now—G’raha keeps things vague if he can.
That, of course, doesn’t mean he can’t be called out. ]
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...Like who?
[ Blade is, indeed, going to go ahead and call out G'raha.
Apparently, when he's been vague enough it does at least get him to be relatively curious. ]
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[ Difficult leaders, that sort of thing. ]
There are several that stand out, however. The Ascians are by far the most difficult individuals I’ve come upon. They worked to sow chaos and destruction with the sole purpose of reuniting our star. [ He crosses his arms. ] ‘Twould have caused billions of deaths, of which we simply could not allow.
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But, in regards to the Ascians, another question bubbles to the surface... ]
Did you have to kill them?
[ ...disagreements do not necessarily equate to killings, but also they are things that can happen nonetheless. ]
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We did. We had no other choice. Surely you know some can only be stopped through death.
[ G’raha lets out a soft sigh. ]
We have had to kill many. I have had to kill. Such is the way of the star I hail from.
[ He looks at Blade. Does that surprise him? ]
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[ Which is why he finds a bit of it almost completely surprising, but...
There were signs that he feels meant the man wouldn't necessarily be completely against pursuing that course of action. ]
Sometimes, the only way to stop someone is to kill them.
[ ... ]
They gave you no other choice. It was either them or practically your own world. [ With so many dying, that to Blade speaks to it being the world at stake, as far as he's concerned. ] Forcing your hand at that point would have been easy.
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[ Even if it means killing. ]
Would that we could have befriended the Ascians instead, but that was not meant to be.
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...No, it wasn't.
[ ... ]
And, good riddance.
[ Blade doesn't see a point in saying otherwise. It's an issue of survival at that point, than anything else. ]
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[ He lets out a soft sigh. ]
'Twas a shame. I could understand their actions and the desire to have their loved ones back at their side. However, ending the lives of countless individuals was not the means they should have employed.
[ Even if there were no other means. They should have accepted their loss, even as all-consuming as it was. ]
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...The motivation to bring a loved one back from the dead can be the quickest way to bring pain and despair.
It can push someone to create a sin where they must pay a heavy price. On the Xianzhou, the act they committed would have been considered an unpardonable sin.
[ ...
He doesn't remember his time as that craftsman much, but he knows that part of the reason he became like this is because the loss of someone's life. He thinks...that part of it was that attempt at bringing back the dead; though, trying to recall gives him a headache, so he lets the grab at memories slide away. ]
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[ It never is, he's certain. ]
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Attachment can never be easily destroyed. For better or worse.
[ People's hearts are fundamentally weak. Sentimentality will destroy them, at times...
...or save them. But he doesn't think of himself of the latter. He knows of all the worst that he is capable of. Though a part of him wonders if some day he can be at least a little stronger. Even if he doubts it.
He wonders if G'raha doubts his own strength. But, whatever the case... ]
...I'll leave the rest of the day to you. I've never been much good at lightening the mood.
[ Blade isn't much of a talker - never has been - and so, he will move to depart from the gardens. ]
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He doesn't say that, however, settling into a contemplative silence by the time Blade speaks up again.
Ah. He's already leaving. ]
I will see you in our suite, Blade. Enjoy your day.