[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

[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.