seventh fusion - audio

[beholdmydemons]

[Walter starts talking almost immediately after turning on the recording, sounding tired but as though his message was prepared ahead of time.]

You're the king of a country, and you hold a great contest - or a game. One man who comes to participate is very tall, and strong. Would you let him compete as any other, or bar him from the game to even those others' chances?

A man comes to a remote village, one that's remained as it is for a thousand years. He brings with him technology that would change life as the people know it, bringing them comfort and luxury. Should the village send that man away, or accept his gifts?

The person you love is gravely ill, doomed to sleep and never wake...you've tried every remedy you can imagine, and there's nothing left at your disposal. Would you tend to them for the rest of your life, or let them die naturally?

[He goes quiet, not sure what to follow that up with. The radio, playing tinnily in the background, switches to a holiday song that's been on at least five times already today.

...Yeah, that bears asking about. In just as tired a voice, but a much less rehearsed one:]

What the hell is Christmas?

[[ooc: canon update to end of first route split, complete!]]

Comments

[beholdmydemons]

[...Okay, you can have a few points for the free will thing.]

I can't object on that point - this land is a paradise.

[redenzione]

[Yay for points! It's a mark of character development for him.]

So what troubles you then? Your words match those of a war-weary knight, rather than a young man as yourself.

[beholdmydemons]

...Well, I...am a knight, more or less. [...] Was. In my own world.

[Or so he thinks? He's heard the term crop up here and there in this world, mostly in the context of fairy-stories, and from what he can tell it means about the same thing as the "Samurai" he knows.]

That in itself never gave me much trouble, but...I've seen how people can rob those below them of everything but their lives in the name of "order". Telling them what they should want, what they should know, what their lives are worth...it drives men to madness, and they haven't the freedom to raise a finger to help themselves. [His voice goes strained and angry as he goes on.]

[redenzione]

[Walter, you do not know how much your words are stirring up all the guilt that he thought he's managed to put behind him. Dante does look uneasy though; whether it's because he's disturbed by the injustice or because he's feeling the weight of sins past is up to Walter's discretion.]

...and have you seen such injustice here, that it has affected you so?

[beholdmydemons]

[Why, how could it not be the former? Shit sucks.

Walter sighs, the tension in his voice easing a little.]

Not here. This is the world I'd make of mine, had I the power. I'd like to know what's made it so different.

[redenzione]

[...it might not be a good idea to let Walter know that once upon a time Dante was one of those people who did the robbing.]

Perhaps it is the people.