NIETZSCHE; DEAD PHILOSOPHERS' INBOX

[explosivecombat]

[TEXT; LOCKED TO doitrockapella]

The offer for conversation is always open, should you desire to take me up on it; I can't guarantee that I'll respond immediately, nor will it necessarily be the response you want, but I'll always respond in some way.

In the name of enlightened discourse.

Comments

[doitrockapella]

The blue-eyed one, the prodigy, and the one I met.

You taught me how to activate my circle, Teacher. Or a version of you did, anyway.

[explosivecombat]

What?

What was he like, then?

[doitrockapella]

When you were in Ishval, was there a point where...um. You were about to be...transferred, I think. To a new district? And you thought the war was about to be over soon, or would, once you'd finished whatever it was you had to do. Does that sound right?

[explosivecombat]

Yes, it does - I was working in the Gunja district the first few weeks after I arrived, but I received orders to handle business in the Kanda district close to the war's end.

[doitrockapella]

He was just about to be transferred.

I didn't realize you knew Major Armstrong.

[explosivecombat]

[...oh.]

...I do, yes. Not very well, mind you; we've had more than our share of differences over the years.

[doitrockapella]

I heard something about a breakdown.

...Was there someone else you knew who'd fit the description of "short, dark-haired, handsome, and idealistic"? Someone you didn't like, maybe?

[explosivecombat]

Oh, definitely - do you remember when I was telling you about the various sorts of combat alchemy I've seen utilized, and that person who was able to control fire came up? I believe I mentioned him as being a rival of mine.

[doitrockapella]

I do remember. He fits that description?

That other version of you didn't seem to enjoy the thought that your rival might be my teacher.

[explosivecombat]

Well, he's a good deal shorter than I am and certainly dark-haired; women seem quite fond of him so I assume he can be considered handsome (though I've never found him to be such), and I believe the point in time you're referring to came shortly after I got into an incredibly barbed argument with him regarding ideals. So I can see where he fits that description, and why I might not have been pleased to hear that at the time.

[doitrockapella]

Because you were jealous, or because you wouldn't have liked the thought of him passing on his ideology to a malleable student?

[explosivecombat]

Well, if you want me to be honest, it's because I just find him insufferable.

[doitrockapella]

Now I really do wonder what happened to your sense of either aesthetics or candor.

[explosivecombat]

...I'm sorry, what?

[doitrockapella]

They're your words, not mine.

He was much more inclined to take my bait and stroke my ego than you are.

[explosivecombat]

If anything, you should be grateful that I'm not doing that to you now; that sort of thing was usually a sign that I wanted something.

[doitrockapella]

...Meaning this in the best possible way, I have my doubts that you were really that subtle back then.

[explosivecombat]

Well, that depends on what I wanted.

But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and ask what you mean by that anyway.

[doitrockapella]

There was a point where I said something that must've utterly baffled you.

You stared at me a minute, the gears in your head practically audible as they ground away, and then handed me a stone shaped like a deer in the hopes of pacifying me.

[explosivecombat]

...What.

[doitrockapella]

You know it was Thanksgiving yesterday — have I mentioned I'm thankful for how comparatively well-adjusted you are now?

[explosivecombat]

No, no, you're going to need to explain this deer thing, that's the second time you've mentioned it.

[doitrockapella]

It started when I was asking you for help with my alchemy. I had the circle drawn, but I couldn't figure out how to activate it, so I wasn't getting anywhere. You turned up and asked me about it, and when I explained the problem I was having, you gave me the explanation I needed to figure it out — complete with a demonstration, where you turned a stone into the shape of a bird with one hand. And blue energy, for the record; I checked.

I asked you, once I thought I'd gotten it, if you'd give me the bird as a reward if I succeeded, and you did. Afterward, I had you make another because I wanted to see it again — this time you made a deer, because you said you used to watch them.

You eventually figured me out, despite my best attempts to keep from revealing that I was already familiar with you, and naturally once you'd learned that, you wanted to hear about what your life was going to be like in the future. I didn't tell you much, but I thought you'd like to hear confirmation that you'd made a difference to someone — at least to me.

And you proceeded to have absolutely no idea what to do about that, so I eventually mentioned in passing that it was all right, I'm used to it and that happens often, and generally when it does you try to smooth things over by giving me something to settle the point so we can all move on quickly from it.

I suppose you ultimately determined that the only thing you had was the deer, and decided to give it a try.

[explosivecombat]

[...oh, fuck his life - ]

You know, I wish I could say that's a bigger surprise than it is.

[doitrockapella]

Like I said: not exactly a master of subtlety.