audience: robin

[mygod]

Comments

[mygod]

No?

I don't particularly care what people think of me, though banter is more worthwhile than dealing with droves of personal questions.

[sonorant]

I felt like you preferred to be left alone, more than wanting to entertain questions or banter, but if the opportunity arises, I won't let it go.

[mygod]

Hmmm...

In order of preferences, I would rather be left alone. If that is impossible, I will take productive conversation, or amusing company. I dislike the personal questions and annoying, repetitive nonsense the most.

[sonorant]

I'll take that as a small victory. Although I would imagine being an overseer to us would lend itself to a lot of repetitive, if not annoying, nonsense.

[mygod]

Yes.

[ just yes ]

However, I'll fulfill my responsibility. I would rather follow through than leave you all without answers. Context for your experience is the least that you're owed.

[sonorant]

I appreciate that you do. We are owed quite a bit for all that we've had to experience.

[mygod]

You could always try to take revenge on the big cult at the end of all this, if you think that would be satisfying.

Or is that too violent for your tastes?

[sonorant]

It depends on how the revenge is done. It doesn't have to be violent to be effective. If what's most important to you isn't your life, it wouldn't be the best revenge.

[ she shakes her head. ]

But I'm not much for vengeance in the long run.

[mygod]

Oh? Then when you say that the lot of you here are "owed" something for what you've been through, what do you have in mind?

[sonorant]

Even if we are owed, does that mean we'll receive it? We should be compensated for our suffering, but is there anything that could even make up for it? Can we gain our time, our lives, our friends back? Can we receive an assurance this will never happen again?

I don't want to deceive myself. Revenge often makes people emptier, and I would prefer to be fuller.

[mygod]

I ask not in the realm of reality—if it was that, I would not ask for your opinion when you don't get to decide what becomes of all this.

[ shrugs ]

I was merely curious.

[sonorant]

Is that enough allusion to what I wish for? Time, life, security.

[ as a start. ]

I'd like to save people from your cult. I'd like to save your cult from itself.

[mygod]

[ tilts head ]

You would seek to offer salvation to even the people who put you in this situation?

[sonorant]

Yes.

[ famine asked for even the impossible, and this is the impossibility she acknowledges. ]

I don't forgive them. I won't exonerate them, but I would save them. It will never happen, and I accept that.

[ some people can't be saved, and she acknowledges that, too. ]

[mygod]

Some people will refuse salvation even when the hand of it reaches out.

[ that said

famine shrugs ]

... we aren't in disagreement. Most cults are just a few corrupt people taking advantage of the desperate.

[sonorant]

I know. Some people don't wish to be saved, but that doesn't mean I don't wish for them to be saved, too.

Would you say that some of your cult members are being taken advantage of?

[mygod]

More generosity than some people deserve.

[ simply, but it's not a particularly condescending answer. they don't fault her for it. ]

But yes. Of course. They are people who want a wish, who seek something that they cannot grant themselves. That is the definition of a person easily taken advantage of.

[sonorant]

It's a little tragic, but it's also too selfish.

[mygod]

It's not surprising for people. They're often self-serving.

[sonorant]

They can be, but it's not everyone. That's why there's always hope.

I know the chances are low that the cult members will see they're being taken advantage of, but it'd make it easier if they were open to the thought.

[mygod]

Even if they were open to it, do you think that they would place the lives of twenty-something strangers over their own desires? Over their wishes that they want to see fulfilled so badly?

[sonorant]

We wouldn't be here in the first place, if they would, but they should feel guilt.

[mygod]

[ laughs ]

Do you think guilt would be attached to their salvation? I suppose that the hand that offers blessings does not always need to excuse every last sin.

[sonorant]

It is better to acknowledge faults than to wave them all away. It would be a disservice to that person and to everyone around them.

Guilt is as necessary as any other emotion.

[mygod]

[ tilts head ]

I have said it before, but I do find it fascinating how you remain both very grounded and hopeful at once.

Especially given that I am sure you are disappointed each day.