[ 14 ] Voice

[oldsoldiersneverdie]

On Earth - my Earth, anyway, though I'm sure it's true on other ones too - today is celebrated as Remembrance Day or Armistice Day in much of Europe and North America. It marks the day World War One ended, and in remembrance of those who've served in the armed forces, particularly those who died on the battlefield in sacrifice of a cause.

I've been a soldier most of my life - at times an unconventional one, but it doesn't make the battles any less real. I've seen a lot of people die fighting.

And here we are, today, conscripts in the middle of another war. So take a moment and remember those you may have lost at home - people close to you, or people you never knew who were fighting for you all the same. And think about why you fight here. Or why you don't fight, if that's the case. Both are choices not to be made lightly.

Comments

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[lazyinlove]

not everyone can fight. just saying. it's not always a choice people make. the big claw machine is kinda sucky at telling us apart.

[voice]

[oldsoldiersneverdie]

More than one way to fight. And more than one way not to. It may not be an easy choice, but it's still a choice.

still text

[lazyinlove]

so you're good at it. fighting.

[voice forever for Nate]

[oldsoldiersneverdie]

For better or worse - yeah, I am.

text unless otherwise noted!

[lazyinlove]

no offense dude but that makes you the last person who gets to say that to people.

[oldsoldiersneverdie]

[And that hits a sore spot - on today of all days. He's not shouting, but there's definitely some barely-restrained anger in his voice]

You think I got up one morning and thought 'you know what, being a soldier and watching most of the people I care about die sounds like a great life'? I may be a good fighter now, but it's not exactly something that happened overnight.

[lazyinlove]

ok so...you're bitter so you want to guilt trip everyone else?

there are 12 year olds here. maybe 16 is old enough to fight in your opinion that's fine maybe your country is more fucked up than mine.

i'm just saying it again. not everyone can fight. being a dick about it just makes you a dick about it it doesn't change things.

[voice]

[oldsoldiersneverdie]

[There's a pause, and then a heavy sigh. He hadn't realized he was dealing with a kid. When he speaks again, he sounds... tired. The anger is gone.]

You could fight - but I wouldn't want you to. The UE destroys enough as it is, and youth isn't something you can win back.

Audio

[lazyinlove]

[Alright, yelling isn't going to happen. Good. He'll swap for voice now that there doesn't have to be a shouting match or anything exhausting like that.] the voice that replies is indeed young, and a little hoarse. And tired. Very tired.]

People keep freaking out. Everyone just keeps freaking out. How's that supposed to help?

[voice]

[oldsoldiersneverdie]

It doesn't. We don't have any cohesive organziation among ourselves, and we haven't for months. And every time people get up in arms at each other, it just makes it worse.

[lazyinlove]

No duh.

[Adults are pretty stupid, dude. You get used to it.]

not actually a reply, he is out of intelligent discussion

[oldsoldiersneverdie]

[Humans a pretty stupid more like. Nate has had a lot experience in that department]

[lazyinlove]

[Hes just going to assume a non reply means the conversation is over. Hey, sometimes it just is.]