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[A certain detective is stalking through the streets, puffing away on his pipe. Irene is in crow form on his shoulders, preening her feathers. When he sees the other, he pauses, puffs away, and then just gives a nod.]
Greetings. We've had a very long day, haven't we?
Greetings. We've had a very long day, haven't we?
Edited 2021-10-10 20:49 (UTC)
Stable, now. He's resting in the Solar.
[A low huff.]
What a mess, isn't it.
[A low huff.]
What a mess, isn't it.
Most certainly. This so-called conflict seems to operate on cruelty alone. It is...
[He frowns.]
It's horrifying.
[He frowns.]
It's horrifying.
...
[A sigh.]
Almost certainly it will. Especially since we know that bargains are being held over people's heads.
[A sigh.]
Almost certainly it will. Especially since we know that bargains are being held over people's heads.
[A frown. That dilemma...]
We all have people we love. And I hazard to say...I know how most would answer that particular question.
We all have people we love. And I hazard to say...I know how most would answer that particular question.
...
[He stares at the other for a moment.]
As a noble, have you ever had to make a decision like that?
[He stares at the other for a moment.]
As a noble, have you ever had to make a decision like that?
[his mouth presses into a line.]
... My land is a slowly dying one, thanks to the most fearsome enemy there is—nature. Because of that, I've sacrificed others and made selfish decisions that I wish I could take back.
[...]
When it comes to turning your weapon against friends, there is no winning. [in that respect, he can probably understand bertolt's reaction at trial. whether or not you stand by what you did, there's nothing left but a horrible feeling.] However, you're correct. As a noble, it's expected that my first and foremost duty is to ensure the well-being of my family and my people, even if it means laying my own life on the line.
... My land is a slowly dying one, thanks to the most fearsome enemy there is—nature. Because of that, I've sacrificed others and made selfish decisions that I wish I could take back.
[...]
When it comes to turning your weapon against friends, there is no winning. [in that respect, he can probably understand bertolt's reaction at trial. whether or not you stand by what you did, there's nothing left but a horrible feeling.] However, you're correct. As a noble, it's expected that my first and foremost duty is to ensure the well-being of my family and my people, even if it means laying my own life on the line.
...I see. That's a drastic enemy to face - one that has no humanity behind it. Simply the nature of, well, nature.
[It isn't as if you could outsmart a sandstorm, of something like that. His expression turns pensive.]
That must be a hard life. For your decisions impact more than a few. [...] Do you think you will succeed? In keeping your family and people safe?
[It isn't as if you could outsmart a sandstorm, of something like that. His expression turns pensive.]
That must be a hard life. For your decisions impact more than a few. [...] Do you think you will succeed? In keeping your family and people safe?
... I don't know.
[truthfully, because they really have no solution to the longterm problem. but—
there's a glimmer of something thoughtful in his eyes, as he gives a deliberate shrug.]
However, I'm a greedy person, you see, and I've decided to embrace that. If I can have everything I love—my family and home, and even my friends outside of them—without sacrificing one for the other, then I will.
[he's not so idealistic as to think he can get through life without ever hurting another person in general, especially in times of war. he's no pacifist.
but at this point, he's tired of settling for decisions that only make him feel guilty.]
[truthfully, because they really have no solution to the longterm problem. but—
there's a glimmer of something thoughtful in his eyes, as he gives a deliberate shrug.]
However, I'm a greedy person, you see, and I've decided to embrace that. If I can have everything I love—my family and home, and even my friends outside of them—without sacrificing one for the other, then I will.
[he's not so idealistic as to think he can get through life without ever hurting another person in general, especially in times of war. he's no pacifist.
but at this point, he's tired of settling for decisions that only make him feel guilty.]
[Here's Sholmes, trying to gingerly walk through a field of shards. This is. Probably going to end up in disaster. His daemon, Irene, in hare form on his shoulder, looks...anxious.]
Hello, hello, hello! [He's waving!] We live in precarious times, hm?
Hello, hello, hello! [He's waving!] We live in precarious times, hm?
Ah, well, I'm doing my best not to, but...
[He turns, and the heel of his shoe bumps against a shard.]
[This memory is rather simple. A very young girl with pink hair gets up to her feet, toddling towards a younger Sholmes, who, in his delight, reaches out for her. It's her first time walking.]
[He's never been more proud.]
[Sholmes pauses, smiling a bit distantly, but fondly.]
[He turns, and the heel of his shoe bumps against a shard.]
[This memory is rather simple. A very young girl with pink hair gets up to her feet, toddling towards a younger Sholmes, who, in his delight, reaches out for her. It's her first time walking.]
[He's never been more proud.]
[Sholmes pauses, smiling a bit distantly, but fondly.]
...Yes.
[He looks back at Rochalizo, continuing to smile lightly.]
That's Iris, alright. Though that's an older memory. She's older now.
[He looks back at Rochalizo, continuing to smile lightly.]
That's Iris, alright. Though that's an older memory. She's older now.
...I suppose some would call you selfish for that.
[He pauses, looking away.]
But I understand the sentiment. Sometimes, to be greedy is a good thing. It's only human to want the ones you love to be at your side, despite everything.
[A shrug of his shoulders.]
We all must make choices in life. And this is yours. Deep down...I don't think you can be truly blamed for that.
[He pauses, looking away.]
But I understand the sentiment. Sometimes, to be greedy is a good thing. It's only human to want the ones you love to be at your side, despite everything.
[A shrug of his shoulders.]
We all must make choices in life. And this is yours. Deep down...I don't think you can be truly blamed for that.
...Yes. It's just me and her.
[He tilts his head, like a thought came to mind, but he doesn't say it.]
It's been a long ten years. And I don't regret a single moment of it.
[He tilts his head, like a thought came to mind, but he doesn't say it.]
It's been a long ten years. And I don't regret a single moment of it.
Edited 2021-10-15 04:09 (UTC)
[... the sentiment makes him envious, but he squashes down that bubble as it forms. no one else needs to feel it.]
Well, family is important.
[and then he accidentally touches a shard, as a memory plays. throughout it all, a heavy sense of guilt and shame—for so many reasons—permeates. a terrible, sinking feeling in one's stomach, like everything is going wrong.]
Well, family is important.
[and then he accidentally touches a shard, as a memory plays. throughout it all, a heavy sense of guilt and shame—for so many reasons—permeates. a terrible, sinking feeling in one's stomach, like everything is going wrong.]
...
[He may not understand much of anything that those men were talking about, but...]
[To see a parent hit their own child...]
[His eyebrows furrow, and an unnaturally serious expression settles in his face.]
...It's only important if your family treats you like family.
[He may not understand much of anything that those men were talking about, but...]
[To see a parent hit their own child...]
[His eyebrows furrow, and an unnaturally serious expression settles in his face.]
...It's only important if your family treats you like family.
[...
his gaze flickers away, before it meets sholmes's again.]
... Regardless of what they think of me, they're still my family.
[despite everything, rochalizo (unfortunately) loves them to the end. he may envy what sholmes has with his daughter, but he's made his peace with lacking that kind of affection from his father.]
his gaze flickers away, before it meets sholmes's again.]
... Regardless of what they think of me, they're still my family.
[despite everything, rochalizo (unfortunately) loves them to the end. he may envy what sholmes has with his daughter, but he's made his peace with lacking that kind of affection from his father.]
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