[audio]

[emasculates]

[Her tone is blunt, sharp, faintly accented. No preamble.]

We are here to fight a war. How many of you are remotely prepared?

[She's guessing like three. But then again, she has high standards for preparedness.]

Comments

[emasculates]

Is it not, to some? War is profit. It is population control. It assuages the boredom of those that fancy themselves generals [Or presidents because fuck Taraki.] and it causes scientific, medical and technological advances not seen in peace time. It allows people to take resources not their own. Tell me that you have not seen such things on your world.

[heartofgraces]

I haven't. I've seen people desperate for solutions but war never solved any of their problems. It just makes more of them. Technology advances trying to find a way to avoid getting to that point.

[His tone has gone flat in an attempt not to get too angry. He can't imagine what kind of world Aisha must come from, that she thinks like that.] What kind of world do you come from, if people start wars out of boredom?

[emasculates]

I did not say war is a solution.

[Vague annoyance.]

I am from Earth.

[heartofgraces]

I don't mean to misinterpret...I just don't think those reasons are really valid ones.

[He's quiet for a second, after that.] What a sad place, if that's what goes on there.

[emasculates]

[excuse her she actually laughs. It's about the furthest thing from a pleasant noise you can imagine, even if it's got all the hallmarks of it.]

I come from a place that breeds survivors. I cannot say the same of the others here.

[heartofgraces]

You don't have to believe in it. But...it's not the first time an entire world's been in danger for me, and I'm sure that's the same for others.

[emasculates]

You have not known the right sort of danger if you insist upon such blind optimism.

[heartofgraces]

I've heard that before. [She can't see it, but he smiles faintly.]

But I couldn't protect anyone if I was so willing to give up. So I won't.

[There's an iron strength to how he says that. Idiot he may be, no one can say Asbel lacks conviction.]

[emasculates]

Then you will die.

[She hates optimists, okay.]

[heartofgraces]

[He will optimist you into submission.]

I won't.

[emasculates]

Thinking like that will result in myriad deaths, yours but one among them.

[PRAGMATISM OVER NINE THOUSAND.]

[heartofgraces]

It's saved lives before.

[He doesn't sound mad, because he isn't. He just, very gently, thinks Aisha is completely wrong. But hey, that happens!]

[emasculates]

A broken clock is correct twice a day, is it not? Your luck will not persist.