[video]

[greyerrant]

An armored figure glowers out over the Hinoto-Ri COMP network

"I found the actual combat skills displayed recently at these so-called persona fights somewhat lacking. You may understand how to use your sorcerous.... things, but if you need to learn how to fight with bullet, blade, mind and hand, seek out Cerberus. I shall instruct you on how to not completely embarrass yourself when asked to fight."

Comments

[greyerrant]

I am physiologically incapable of feeling fear.

[pistolsakimbo]

That doesn't make any sense.

[greyerrant]

Why?

[pistolsakimbo]

Because, how can you not feel an emotion? That's like saying you can't get happy if you wanted to! Or you can't feel a random body part or something!

[...now who's not making sense?]

[greyerrant]

Gene-modification and psycho-hypnotic conditioning.

[pistolsakimbo]

[...yeah, hi. You just hit one of her triggers.]

TH-THAT'S EVEN MORE STUPID! Why would anyone want to go through that?! Willingly?!

[greyerrant]

Duty and service are their own reward.

[pistolsakimbo]

That doesn't mean anything if you have to sacrifice a part of yourself!

[greyerrant]

Most people would gladly give up their ability to fear.

[pistolsakimbo]

I-It... it's still not right...

[greyerrant]

It was our choice, and our honor.

[pistolsakimbo]

[Rune let out a disappointed noise; it was obvious she didn't like it. She pouted at the screen, letting her disappointment be whoen.

[greyerrant]

[ He just stares at her. ]

I totally meant "shown" up there.

[pistolsakimbo]

...

[She's quiet for a long moment.]

...experimenting on people and doing stuff like that is terrible. You really shouldn't do it unless it's really, really important...

[greyerrant]

How does a war for the survival of humanity sound? Important enough?

[pistolsakimbo]

[...sounds familiar, that's what. Rune made a face, looking away from the COMP.]

...so long as it's not an excuse to ruin lives instead of save them.

[greyerrant]

All wars both ruin and save lives. The question is what lives have value, and where and when does the war end?

[pistolsakimbo]

All life has value.

[It was a firm, determined response. She truly believed that everyone existed for a reason, and that no one had any right to tell another they didn't deserve to exist.]

[greyerrant]

All right. But what gives life value? Is it inherent virtue, or is it something that must be earned and understood?

[pistolsakimbo]

I... don't really know how to say it, but...

[She trailed off a moment, looking down at her hands.]

...everyone needs a chance to live out their life the way they decide to. No one else has the right to take that away, whether by killing them or... something else.

[greyerrant]

Even if that way is as a slave to darkness, a corrupt servant of corpse-whisperers?

[pistolsakimbo]

[Rune blanched at that.]

Servant of what?

[greyerrant]

Corpse-whisperers. Sorcerers and those that would pact with the ruinous powers of Chaos.

[pistolsakimbo]

That... that sounds awful.

Does everyone on your world make really bad choices?

[greyerrant]

No. Some of us are loyal sons of the Emperor.