explosivecombat | 018. [Text, and one other thing.]

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Due to various circumstances in my world of origin, for quite a while, time was immeasurable for me. It came to lack meaning. Weeks bled into months, months into years. In some ways, this world seems like that for many of us; there's a lack of structure, and the list of things that one can do with themselves before they settle into some sort of day-to-day routine is incredibly short. These creatures become a part of our daily lives; this world becomes a part of our daily lives. And before we know it, we've spent weeks here. Months. Years.

That blank spot in my life lasted for seven years, I believe. Yet with nothing else to focus on, I discovered more about myself in those seven years than I did over the course of most of the rest of my life. Spending that long in the dark - whether it's physical or otherwise - tends to teach one a lot, I believe, even if it's just where your limits lie.

You'll have to forgive me for the needless introspection; if you're humoring me by continuing to read, either you have more patience than most at half-midnight, or this is one of those messages on the feed that greets you first thing in the morning. But apparently time does have meaning to most people in this place - in which case...

Tell me how long you've been here, if you choose, and what you've come to discover about yourself in that time.

I suppose it's worth saying that personally, I've been here for a year, as of half an hour ago.

For me, it's been another year where time has next to no meaning, despite the fact that I have an easy way to keep track of it; another year with no direction, though I wouldn't say it's been spent in the dark. Whether I like what I've discovered about myself or not within that year has yet to be seen; however, I find myself content with the way things are.

While I know that I have no choice in the matter, I think I could tolerate another year.

[PRIVATE TEXT TO KATO]

I have a favor to ask of you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[...mages.]

Your world and mine seem to differ quite a bit in that regard, then. I wouldn't say it's immensely common, but we do understand the concept and recognize it as valid, even if some don't agree with it.

Your world must be far more palatable in that regard than mine, then. Granted, there seems to be something of an emphasis on that here, even if the stakes are not quite as high.

[ACTUALLY, THEY'RE KIND OF BACKWARDS FROM WHAT HE UNDERSTANDS, BUT SURE, "PALATABLE" WORKS TOO]

I've discussed that with several people here, actually - the fact that this world is built around a sort of battle culture, though admittedly a far lighter one than what I'm accustomed to.

I've found that others are generally unwilling to think of it that way; they seem to associate these creatures as being pets and/or companions first, weapons second. I suppose they have some sort of point, but since my Pokémon also my primary line of defense, I can't say that I agree with those that say that.

I've met plenty of these people myself, and I find them quite difficult to understand. Given that these things seem to respond well to being used in battle, it's rather pointless to act like they're simply pets.

[oh my god kayneth

stop being likable right now

stoppit]

Perhaps you're more interesting than I thought, Lord El-Melloi.

Admittedly, the repression comment still stands, but at the very least your views on battle are something I can agree with.

[nope.

he will have his moment of likability goddamnit

also of course he's interesting, and he'll pointedly ignore the 'repression' angle...]

Well, I suppose I should be glad about that. Really, though, it should be common sense.

Tell me something, if you don't mind - have you been involved in any kind of war before, or is this your first time doing anything like this?

This would be my first time participating in something of this magnitude, yes. I've dueled other mages before, but that was strictly one-on-one--that, and I have reason to doubt that they were as skilled as the majority of the participants I'll be facing.

[...called it.]

That explains a lot, actually.

...And what is that supposed to mean, exactly?

While the glory of war is something that we're fairly familiar with, where I'm from, most of those who openly extol it are those who have never seen it for themselves.

We had a rather bloody civil war on our soil recently; most who were there don't speak of it. I understand what you're saying in regards to doing everything for victory's sake, but I know better than to voice it aloud in mixed company.

So I see. Granted, we're talking about very different kinds of wars, I'm sure-but I can certainly see how that confusion would arise.

[because, you know, dumb commoners who don't know shit about mages and all.]

[...is there any sort of response to this that isn't "oh, you"?]

Either I'm misunderstanding you, or you're trying to claim that a battle involving fourteen people is at all comparable to the slaughter of an entire race carried out by an army of those just as powerful as you.

If that is, in fact, the case, you really are laughably naive.

Did I not say that they were entirely different? Of course I'm not attempting to compare them. It's impossible to compare a honorable battle between fourteen people with stringent regulations in place to keep the uninvolved out of the way with genocide, for heaven's sake.

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