002 - Looks like a discoball and tastes like strawberries and dreams

[wolfuncaged]

Who: Fenris and you!
Broadcast: Video: Fleetwide
Action: Tourist.
When: Today. SPONSOR DROP for all characters who have started a romance aboard the Fleet



[Fenris had a very unsettled night, sleep wasn't the cards after his run in with Cole. Eventually, he does leave his armory to find breakfast. He goes by way of the cargo hold (just to check the horrible little wretch isn't lurking there) but instead finds a gift basket with his name on. Fenris can't read the rest of what's on it, but the gift basket is full of condoms, lubes and other sundries that only naked people will really have use for. Emblazoned on everything is Madame Gertrude's Pleasure Barn. Not only has Fenris been given one, but any character who have decided to indulge in a little romance, up to and including flirting has been sent one. The Fleet has got itself a sponsor. For today, at least.

Fenris is well aware what these things are (thanks, Exisilium) so it's with a largely bemused expression that he turns on his communicator, pointing at the...gift. ]

Please tell me that I'm not the only one who has been given one of these today. I suppose Atroma expects us to be grateful? Though it is roughly as subtle as a brick to the face.

Comments

[realhumanbeing]

Maybe you should have a coach. Like, somebody to bounce decisions off of.

[He wipes his eyes again, but his voice is bright, at least.]

A morality coach!

[wolfuncaged]

...I already have one of those. His name is Hawke.

[Actually, Hawke makes terrible life choices, he's the worst life coach. ]

[realhumanbeing]

Oh, good! You can always have more, though. I mean, Avaline sounds pretty good.

[wolfuncaged]

[That gets a soft huff of amusement.]

Yes. She's also someone I turn to for advice.

[realhumanbeing]

Who else?

[wolfuncaged]

Varric, but he is no longer here.

Jove, I find, is a great source of support. She is from my world, but I have not met her there.

[realhumanbeing]

Sounds like you've got a whole network!

[He grins, because he barely knows this guy, but he's terribly glad for him.]

That's the best kind, when there's a ton. You get way better advice that way.

[wolfuncaged]

[There is the slightest hint of a smile. ] Hm. Perhaps I do.

They certainly do have varying opinions, at times.

[realhumanbeing]

What, about morality?

[wolfuncaged]

Yes. They all come from very different walks of life.

[realhumanbeing]

Yeah, but-- I mean, even if violence is the answer for some, there's gotta be a general, you know, don't kill people.

--right?

[wolfuncaged]

Some people deserve to die.

[Just...absolutely blunt about that. There's no venom to his tone, he states it as matter-of-fact. The sky is up, water is wet. ]

[realhumanbeing]

What? No they don't!

[He glares right back into the screen.]

Even if they're horrible, they don't deserve to die! How's anyone gonna learn that way? How's anything gonna get solved that way?

[wolfuncaged]

You seem under the impression that everyone is willing or even capable of learning. This is not the case.

My former master, he burned lyrium into my flesh, so he could have a living weapon on a leash at his disposal. I have killed countless for him, so he could gain power and respect.

Once, I watched him slit the throat of a boy your age, all so he could use his blood to power the magic required for a party trick, so he could impress his guests. He laughed and joked and drank more wine poured by me and his other slaves while the boy died on the floor.

He was a monster, and I do not regret for a second tearing his blighted throat out.

[realhumanbeing]

[Surprisingly, he doesn't cry this time-- just listens. It's horrifying, to be certain, and perhaps because of all his adventures he can picture it perfectly. But--]

He sounds horrible.

[And so, so tentatively:]

But . . . if he's dead, then you can't punish him. There's people-- Gems-- who want to kill all my people. All the humans-- my dad and my friends and even me and the other Crystal Gems. They tried. They almost killed Garnet. And they're gonna try again, when I get home, and it's up to me and the others to stop them. But I don't want to kill them. Cuz just cuz they're wrong, or evil, or whatever, doesn't mean they deserve to die.

I think you have to be better then them.

[wolfuncaged]

He was evil.

[The word is growled out. His memories are tugged at, things he buries in order to get up every morning. He can't and won't tell Steven everything, he doesn't need to know it, and Fenris isn't willing to tell it.

He listens to what Steven has to say, and when he replies, he isn't dismissive, but he doesn't agree, either. ]

And what happens, if your attempts to garner peace or simply lock them away fail? And they slaughter those you care about most? At what point would you draw the line in not stopping them permanently? When they kill your Gems? Your father? Your planet?

Sometimes, taking the high road is not an option, and you have to eliminate someone before they destroy innocent lives. Some people are not salvageable.

[realhumanbeing]

[He shrinks at the tone, unused to challenging anyone, let alone an adult-- but this is his core belief. If he doesn't argue for this, how can he stand for anything?]

Maybe not salvageable. But anyone can be locked up. And they should. Or else at the end of the day, when you're killing people and they're killing people-- it starts to blur together.

[wolfuncaged]

And if they escape? My master was a powerful mage. No bars, no prison would hold him.

[He gives a shrug. ]

There is a difference, between killing to protect yourself and those you love, and killing for sport or power. You speak of being 'better' than them, that is one of the ways.

[realhumanbeing]

[He pulls a face-- clearly, Fenris doesn't have him convinced. But--]

At least he's gone.

[Danarius, he means.]

Have you killed many people?

[wolfuncaged]

[And Fenris is fine with that. Free will is important to him, Steven should keep his own opinions, albeit more educated for them. He doesn't respond to the comment about Danarius. He knows only too well the man could be brought back, he might even show up on the Fleet, one day. There is no certainty in these places, not even in death.]

More than I cared to count.

[realhumanbeing]

Is it hard?

[Perhaps someday he'll have to kill someone. He hopes not. He hopes he can reform the gems, convince them that Earth isn't worth it-- but perhaps not.]

[wolfuncaged]

Not for me, but I was made into a living weapon. For a long time, it was all I really knew.

[There are times he misses the simplicity of it all, as terrible a life as it was. He had no questions about his place in the world, then.]

Likely, it should be hard, and not a decision taken lightly.

[realhumanbeing]

[He wipes his nose on his arm-- thoughtfully, if the word can possibly be applied to the action. He wishes he could offer a hug, but as he can't even get his shoe right now, that will simply have to wait.]

I guess I'll figure it out when I come to it.

[Not now, anyway. Thank god the Homeworld Gems aren't here.]

I don't even have my sword here.

[wolfuncaged]

We come upon planets and waystations where you will be able to procure one.I did much the same to get my greatsword.

[realhumanbeing]

Maybe you could help me pick one out?