exsilium | (no subject)

[the name associated with this post/account and all her subsequent comments herein (or elsewhere) is "Haruka Takahashi"]

I used to have dreams like this.

Well, not exactly like this, I mean. Nothing so specific. But you know how it goes, don't you? Girl dislikes her situation, the way her life is going, the way people treat her, wishes she were anywhere else but there. Then a strange thing occurs, and there's this whole other world that needs her, specifically her. This place sees her for who she is, sees her strengths and the change she wants, and it tells her that she's needed to save this other world. Protect it. She's the only one who can. Like a hero, a ruler, or something else. That part changes pretty easily, I think.

There's a lot of stories like that, too, of course. I don't think I'm the only one who's had a dream like that. We all have our little unhappinesses. And sometimes the new kingdom, she loves it so much she never wants to go home. Sometimes being there just makes her miss everything she left behind, and she does everything she can to go back.

Of course, when I say I used to have dreams like this, that would mean I woke up from them, too.

I suppose this is like that. In a way. It's been almost three weeks now, but I guess I'm still trying to get used to it, that's all.

What were your dreams? Did you have them? Or do you, still? Whatever they are, or were, I hope you keep in mind that you can't trust them. There's no Truth to dreams.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I guess you can look at it that way.
I don't think they care what we choose.
Either way, we'll be sent on missions.

I'll make sure to pack a deck of cards.

You might want to bring more.
The last mission... lasted for a week.

Ew.

What was it?

It was Black Rock. We had to rig an election.
After that, we were sent to another place. I don't remember its name right now.

Black Rock?

It was in western America. In the past.

I can't say I'm familiar with it. But, rigging an election? These guys sound more trustworthy by the minute.

It's war.

Right, because a nation's conduct during war DEFINITELY doesn't reflect on their peacetime morality.

I wasn't trying to make an excuse for them.
Even if they didn't assign such missions, the Initiative is the only side we can choose.

Is it, really? That doesn't sound like much of a choice.

It's because we don't have a choice.

I may be pretty pessimistic about all this, but I'm not so fatalistic as to believe in a no other options scenario. Not yet, anyway.

What other options are there?
I don't think we can choose to fight for United Earth.

Off the top of my head? There's fight against the Initiative, regardless of how United Earth sees us. We could refuse to fight for anyone, reject their compensations, and find some way to carve out an existence here without them. Destroy the technology, or whatever it is, that brought us here in the first place, to ensure that nobody else is forced here.

I know there are many people who were brought here who feel grateful for this opportunity, and want to fight for the Initiative's cause. That's their choice to make. But it's an injustice for those that DON'T want to, to be forced into that army. Do we even count as "citizens" of this attempt at a country, in the same way as the people born here? People have claimed they don't choose who is brought here, but even assuming that's true, it IS their choice to say that us fighting for them is OUR only choice.

I don't know about anyone else, so I won't speak for them. But for me, I'd sooner die than fight for a cause I don't believe in.

Edited (wow that was the wrong span shortcut) 2013-02-27 03:53 (UTC)

[He chews over the reply. She's right. There are other choices. But for a coward like him, it's unlikely that he'll take any of them.]

You're brave, then.

No, I'm not brave. I'm selfish.

You're doing what you want, even when others tell you differently.
I think that's brave.

I'm doing what I want, even if others suffer by my action, or deliberate inaction.

That's a thing usually called "cowardice," where I'm from.

[Ouch.]

... I see.
Sorry.

Don't be. There's nothing to apologize for.

~~Sor~~
You're right. It isn't anything at all.

In any case, I hope you can figure it out. What you want to do.

[What he wants to do... if he can think of something remotely useful about himself, he might have somewhere to go off of.]

Thank you.
I hope you do too.

(no subject)

heartsink - 2013-03-06 04:01 (UTC) - Expand