@marcos.diaz

[heliophilous]

with everything that's gone on lately, i had a question.

if given the choice, how many people would stay here and how many people would leave? i get that it's a pretty personal question and don't feel like you've gotta answer. i'm just curious considering the way the place has changed lately and the people that have been lost.

could you live your life here? or would you leave and take your chances?

Comments

[kleptocratic]

Both?

[ Mostly #2 though. ]

[heliophilous]

comforting.

don't know if i've ever dealt with actual gods. don't wanna either.

[kleptocratic]

That would be a wise move. But Clarke thinks we might not have a choice.

[heliophilous]

you think there are actual gods involved in this place?

[kleptocratic]

I know that I don't know. Where I'm from, everyone blames the gods for everything.

Do you have a more plausible explanation?

[heliophilous]

it's a fairly common thing where i'm from too, people blaming the gods. they make convenient scapegoats.

but i don't know if the gods are really into meddling so specifically. to pick and choose such a particular set of people? seems too picky.

[kleptocratic]

It helps that no one really thinks they're listening.

Who can know the will of the gods? But more importantly, who would choose this random assortment of miserable souls? It makes sense a god would do it because I suspect they enjoy misery.

[heliophilous]

[if that's true, then the god needs something better to do.

i don't like being someone's puppet just to put me through hell.]

[kleptocratic]

"Rise and slay. Throw your chest against your enemy.
Stand like an arrow when the enemy's spear thuds at your feet."

That's what they're supposed to have said to Ibykon, according to the poets. They're always telling people to go and fight wars like that. I can't imagine anything more tedious.

ugh eff my terrible html

[heliophilous]

i'm already dealing with one war.

do i really want to get involved with another?

html, our mutual nemesis

[kleptocratic]

[ That sounds like the kind of question only you can answer, buddy. ]

That's why I have to go back.

[heliophilous]

to deal with a war? you have my sympathies then. i'm pretty tired of it.

[kleptocratic]

Not yet. But soon, I think.

Anyway, I hate it.

[heliophilous]

so do i.

doesn't accomplish anything but death and destruction. no one really wins.

[kleptocratic]

Ah, but the beauty of it is that many people lose.

[heliophilous]

including possibly yourself.

[kleptocratic]

More likely than not, I'd think.

[heliophilous]

a comforting thought.

but an unavoidable one.

[kleptocratic]

Except, as we've established, I might just stay here and avoid everything.

[heliophilous]

you might.

until a war comes to this place.

[kleptocratic]

Until then. But I think I could avoid it pretty well here. I've done a good job of avoiding responsibilities so far.

[heliophilous]

hey, if burying your head in the sand works, do it.

but i wouldn't expect anyone to help you if you need it.

[kleptocratic]

Oh, most of the bleeding hearts here do things without expecting recompense. That will be what saves this place, or sinks it into the underworld.

[heliophilous]

even bleeding hearts have their limits. i wouldn't push it too far.

[kleptocratic]

It sounds like you're speaking from experience.