002 text | un: highwind

[unweave]

Been a little quiet lately. Like the calm before one big shitstorm. With Wyver and Olympia only playing nice in public, anyone who went to the gala can attest there's still bad blood.

Maybe it's pettiness — politicians tend to be like that.

But, I'm not here to recycle the same shit everyone else is saying. So, I'll be blunt: don't get enchanted with either of them. Use 'em like they use their citizens, stay safe and adjust as much as you can — but getting starry-eyed over your new "home" could get you on the wrong side of conflict.

If you're looking to make cash and toe the morally gray line as much as possible, hit me up. I'm the one responsible for wasting parchment paper for all those jobs in the cities.

Name's Aranea. When you're ready to get off your ass and work, I'm always looking for capable hands.

[ The one in which Aranea puts a recruitment text out, I guess? ]

Comments

un: TeaOnRice

[gekkajuu]

I don't think there's anything wrong with appreciating our new home, wherever we choose to make it.

It doesn't mean picking a side.

[... Okay, it kind of does. Shhh, let him dream.]

[unweave]

You tell that to cushy politician that expects you to pick up a sword to defend them when the time comes.

[gekkajuu]

Expectations or not, I will defend whoever I can, if it does come to that.
But, until then, I will keep hoping that peace is an option.

[unweave]

I mean, hey — who am I to make that call? These two big babies of nations can learn to play nice, but it's just highly unlikely.

[gekkajuu]

"Unlikely" isn't "impossible".
If there's a war, everyone will lose.

[unweave]

I don't think they care.

[gekkajuu]

They should, if lives are lost on all sides, and property destroyed.
Not to mention it probably costs a fortune.

[unweave]

Doesn't matter the price tag, a nation'll find a way to fund it. It's the bottom ring of civilians that suffer most.

The last thing I need is worrying about where my jobs are going to take me — worrying about if I'm doing the right thing. So, I stay out of it.

[gekkajuu]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but
That's just running away, isn't it?

[unweave]

Running away from a fight that isn't mine, yeah. Trust me — I love to fight. Pretty good at it, actually. But I'm not laying my ass on the line for someone else's problems.

[gekkajuu]

That's not what I meant.

[No, it sort of is - or close enough. But he's focusing on one specific thing she mentioned.]

You said you don't want to worry about if you're doing the right thing, didn't you? Then obviously you do care about doing the right thing.

Not doing anything isn't a way to avoid doing the wrong thing. If anything, it's the only way to be sure you won't be doing the right thing.

this is such a good thread!!!!!!!!!

[unweave]

Look. There's a time and a place for everything. Putting yourself into some situation because of other people's mistakes doesn't make you noble or just. It makes you stupid.

If a city is burning and civilians are involved? Yeah, I'm the idiot that is going to finally draw a line in the sand.

But now? When the right thing is letting Wyver and Olympia sort their shirt out alone like it's been in history? I'm going to keep out of it.

even so, sushi doing all the nagging... I AM SORRY!!

[gekkajuu]

[He thinks about that for a while, but in the end, he can't really fault her. As long as she'll do the right thing when it's necessary, that's more than good enough. It's not like he's managing to do the right thing, himself: he's just sitting around, waiting for shit to hit the fan, too... not that it makes him happy.]

I don't know that they'll be able to solve this peacefully.
That said, I don't know what to do to guarantee peace, either.

[It's extremely frustrating. But he's no politician, or even a smooth talker: he doesn't know how to even try swaying the people that matter to keep from going to war.]

im here for it

[unweave]

No one does. Just so long as we have plans to deal with it or not deal with it, there's nothing left to do.

It's not. our. fight.

[ She isn't going to sit there and argue — it's a reality that she accepts and she hopes he will too. Would a refugee stop a war? Unlikely. Would their presence spur one? Possibly. Aranea has no crystal ball to see into the future, but like any leader... she wants to have plans in motion. ]

What's your name?

\o/

[gekkajuu]

I'm sorry, but I can't agree with that.
We live here, now. That makes it our fight, too.

[He's not going to take advantage of everything Olympia has given him, only to complain when shit does hit the fan. Whatever happens will affect everybody, so it's everybody's business.]

It's Atsushi. Nakajima Atsushi.

[unweave]

Didn't ask for it. Didn't book a one-trip vacation to this place. But, agree to disagree.

[ HEADACHE!! She pinches the bridge of her nose. ]

And what are you doing to get involved right now? There's a ton of discriminated citizens in both cities. There's tension between farmers and bigger shopkeeps. There's imbalance of religion to the non-believers.

How can you get involved, if you're keen on it?

[gekkajuu]

[There's radio silence for a long time, and one might easily assume that Atsushi is typing his very detailed peace plans. But, in the end, all that he sends is:]

I don't know.

[Of course he tries to stop (or, rather: circumvent) discrimination when he sees it; of course he helps people in trouble where he can. But that's still not a lot, and he can only admit that it's like mopping with the tap still running. Little things like that don't even count as involvement, and listing them would only sound like making excuses.

It's frustrating, but in the end, he can only admit that he has no idea what to do.]

[unweave]

[ She isn't going to scold this stranger. The last thing she needs to do is tote around a big stick and act like she knows better. The person definitely has some involvement in vocalizing their side, who was she to turn that away? ]

Well, you know my name if you want to get started. No time like the present.

[ No "I told you so" or "don't bitch if you're not doing anything" — she offers her small, thinly-veiled pep talk. ]

[gekkajuu]

But, Aranea-san, you said you have no plans either, didn't you?

[Technically, she only said she wasn't taking any action, but. Details.]

[unweave]

My plans don't involve Wyver or Olympia exclusively. I see people needing help, not Olympians or Wyverns.

[gekkajuu]

I still think there isn't a lot of helping that can be done, if we don't settle the bigger conflict, first.
But I know that's unlikely to happen.

[One day, he will stop thinking in circles and be trapped by what he can't do, but this is not that day. For now, maybe trying to accept what he can't do is as much progress as he can make.]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Even if we can't agree on everything, it was nice talking to you.
And, if you do stumble on something that could help keep the peace, please let me know.
I would gladly get involved.

[Famous last words.]

we can close the thread and plot for a follow up after this!!!

[unweave]

[ They're both snared by their inability to truly make an impact. It's not like she wants to, she wants to just follow the cash. That's simple — doesn't require loyalty or allegiance. ]

I guess all we can do is play the waiting game. But, don't worry.

I'll look for something extra warm and fuzzy for you to handle to help kick your conscience up.

Keep your inbox open.