brandishes a knife

[sageguidance]

aki hiding in the gy like

Comments

[sageguidance]

[ THE BRUNKING...... and the cyoa... ]

I see... So I've not seen all the sides to you yet, hm?

[illomened]

[THE CYOA...WHERE HE CHOSE VIOLENCE FIRST EVERY TIME.]

Mm... Perhaps not, but I think that you've seen more than most here. [Sweet Alphinaud and Clementine who had to deal with Souji With A Sword.] It's not such a loss, anyway! I don't often get the chance to be "just Souji".

[sageguidance]

Oh, no, that is quite fair—I wager there are many in your position who feel similarly, from fellow soldiers who a nation's leader. It can be a heavy burden to bear.

[illomened]

Mm, a bit. [It's more like his HORRIFIC REPUTATION makes things hard to deal with when he just wants to be a civvy and befriend people.] Would you know something similar?

[sageguidance]

Hm… Well, I am no leader, nor am I officially a soldier of any sort. However, I have worked alongside the like for several years now, so I have come to witness the faces they must put on for the sake of fighting for their people.

[illomened]

[Sasuga... He just nods since that about makes sense to him.]

It seemed you had some sort of familiarity... I suppose these things are similar in any world with war.

[sageguidance]

Indeed, unfortunate as it is. But... where there are people, there shall always be such conflicts.

[illomened]

That seems to be the case... Though I've met at least one person who apparently doesn't have war on their planet?

[EMET????]

[sageguidance]

[ While Alphinaud has to think about this for a moment—who among the dead wouldn't...

But then realization dawns upon him. ]

Ah. Yes, you are right. I'm fairly certain I know who you mean.

[illomened]

[this icon is always so funny to me]

It's hard to believe that sort of place exists... Even after so many others that I've met from so many different places, murder and war appear to be one of the common ties.

[Unfortunately... Though he doesn't seem particularly fussed. That's just how it is sometimes, apparently.]

[sageguidance]

[ he stares o_o ]

'Tis not the only utopia that exists out there in the universe. Many worlds have achieved great things, allowing for their societies to prosper in such a way.

The real question, however, is how sustainable that enlightenment is.

[illomened]

Hm... [These are topics that fly over Souji's head, since he is a very practical-minded individual and also extremely myopic.] ...I suppose it would depend on a number of factors, but I find it hard to believe that any place with people who have individual thoughts and wills could go for all eternity without ever coming to some sort of trouble.

[sageguidance]

[ he nods. ]

Aye. That is precisely it. This is strictly between you and I, but the world he knows is no exemption to that.

[illomened]

[Oh... Hm. He just nods first.]

It will stay between us, then. [He's way closer to Alphinaud than he is to sweet Emet anyway help.] ...But somehow, that feels much, much less surprising than the idea of a utopia persisting. Perhaps there's something sad in that.

[sageguidance]

'Tis ironic, is it not? Once I would have thought the same, but I've since learned that in a world where man knows not suffering, he cannot possibly learn to cope with it when it eventually dawns upon him.

[illomened]

[If he considers it from the angle Alphinaud presents it at, it makes sense. He's but a simple lad at heart who wishes for the happiness and peace of all, but he's not a child, nor a fool; he understands that life simply doesn't work that way. And if it doesn't, why not prepare for the worst?]

That's quite a way to look at things... Having it pointed out like that, though, I can't say that I disagree.

[sageguidance]

Would that we could all go without it, of course, but...

There is no perfection to be found in life.

[illomened]

[There sure ain't, huh... But he's still smiling, regardless.]

...I suppose that it's through the imperfections that we find ourselves and know one another, though.