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[ pls lahabrea third party tools are not approved!!! ]

Good. I wouldn't be satisfied with anything less than that either — settling for mediocrity would be a terrible way to start our cooperation.

That said, you've already admitted I learn quickly, so you're actually far easier to please than my father ever was. You will not be disappointed, and I will have ample reasons to continue stroking my ego.

Our lessons aside, I'm curious. You haven't asked anything about my actual motivations, and how and why I have decided to help your cause. I admit I expected that to be the first thing you'd be wondering about.

I am not unreasonable, if something is done well it should be acknowledged. Likewise, when done badly, that too must be pointed out.

[He sighs, closing the book and standing.]

Well then, do you intend to tell me those reasons and motives?

Not if you don't care. I don't care either way, if you wish to know I'll say, if not, that's not necessary. But it did strike me as odd that you haven't.

Then again. I suppose it's simply not relevant to you.

[He sets the book down and lifts a hand.]

Go on. Continue the line of thought. Why is it not relevant to me?

Because regardless of my motivations I am already providing my aid, and what expertise I can bring to the table.

You obviously know Emet-Selch trusts me, and I make no mystery that I'm loyal to him. Which means I'm potentially easy to manipulate, if it comes to that. You've also been in my dream, so you can at least take a guess as to why I feel strongly enough on the matter.

You don't need to know any more than that to evaluate whether I have use or not. And as such, it's not relevant.

Edited 2020-05-26 15:00 (UTC)

[The corners of his lips curl in an almost nasty smile.]

Not bad. You are on most points, correct. Whether I get to know you as a person and understand your motives does not matter insofar as your assured cooperation or Emet-Selch's investment in you are concerned.

In that sense, it isn't relevant to me in the least why or for what reason you are involved, the fact of your involvement is already decided.

But you have missed the mark if you assume your reasons entirely irrelevant to me.

Well, I didn't say entirely. But if you had any interest in them why not ask yourself? That's what I'm curious about. Even Emet-Selch found it odd that I so readily accepted your own motivations, you know, given all the mass genocide.

He had to leave the room to take a moment to collect his thoughts.

Quite simple really. I do not and have no reason to trust you.

But here you are. And so I work with what's presented.

In the context, then, there's no reason to ask your motives because I have no particular reason to believe them.

[ there's a laugh at that, and honestly he's just delighted by the turn this conversation is taking ]

Fair enough. I suppose if you're not going to believe me, then you wouldn't care to hear.

Certainly I could ask you to explain to see what you say. And should I ever be convinced of your sincerity then your motives will be most relevant indeed.

But as it stands there's little point beyond gauging your response.

Though I suppose in itself that's a worthy enough reason.

So, in light of my complete distrust, do you feel like enlightening me?

Unlike you I do have a vested interest in getting to know you. And I understand that won't happen before I manage to get yours in turn.

I understand I've already got your attention - you wouldn't have agreed to teach me otherwise, regardless of your attitude towards it. But that's different.

My reasons are simple enough. I understand the value and worth of the knowledge your kind possesses, and it would be of immense use to me to save my own world and oppose those who'd like to prevent me from doing so.

I mentioned it before, but I'm not so generous that I'd put in so much effort for nothing in return. Initially, it was simply a matter of that. Things have change now, of course. I'd also like to see him returned to his home, and his people.

Hm. A very nice response. I shall keep it in mind.

[Well, he does believe the pragmatic part more or less. As to the emotional last bit, he really has yet to see whether that's worth any weight. It is to Emet though, so he's not simply dismissing it, even if he has no reason yet to believe. It's enough that Emet believes it.]

You aside now, there's no one else in this place who understand what it means. A lifetime lived in solitude, among ruins of what you once loved.

Though I suppose he did have you and Elidibus, at least. I did not mean to get attached, but well. Now we're here. And I don't do anything halfway through.

Needless to say should something happen to him, I expect you to be able to pick up the slack.

No creature is meant for solitude.

That I do understand.

And your interest in pursuing a different course.

[He's just going to ignore that anything could happen to Emet]

[ He's letting him do just that instead of calling him out on it, but only because he doesn't particularly like thinking about it either ]

Thought you might understand that much at least. Obviously I have an easier time than most in looking at the situation through logical lens, and not emotional ones. So even before I found myself attached to him, the idea you'd have to undo the existence of several billions of people across multiple reflections didn't bother me.

[They're never talking about that possibility because it makes him uncomfortable beyond belief okay.]

Hmm. Why is that. Because of your time correcting history, the view we take on the worlds, or some other reason?

Logically speaking bringing a world to a state it was in before it was destroyed is the most obvious and sound choice. If people have been diluted into 13 different reflections of themselves, each which significantly reduced abilities, intellect and lifespan, it only stands to reason that it's hardly an ideal state of being. I certainly wouldn't want that to happen to myself.

Besides. Favoring the shards' existence means inevitably denying that countless lives already have been lost, being divided into several pieces doesn't change that. Saying that you should keep the world as it is simply because that's how things are now, so you should just accept it, is ridiculous - not to mention insensitive, and that's coming from me.

It sounds to me that if anyone has a claim over your world, well. It should be those who came first, not those who were only created as a result of a tragedy on a massive scale. Though it's easy for me to say, since I'm not living in one of the shards.

That is logical yes, from our perspective.

[He doesn't say anything else about it. Why play devil's advocate against something he believes in? So few see his perspective. Though because of that it is hard to trust that Five really does see it that way, even if he's hearing it himself.]

If that's how you feel, then I'll accept that for now.

Not just from yours. Like I said. Anyone who isn't blinded by emotions would be able to see that much. And since I'm not typically, it doesn't bother me.

But there you have it. I believe that does cover everything.

[He snorts. It does not cover everything but he won't bother about what's been left out.]

Do you? Well. It is currently sufficient.

Is there anything else you needed here?

If you have anything else to ask you can just ask, I'd rather get it done now rather than later, you know.

But no, I don't have anything else I need from you currently.

And I would rather wait to judge things with my own eyes. You've told me everything you believe relevant to me, that should suffice for now. If I believe you fully, you are indeed an ally. A rather precious commodity.

You education will proceed, and i expect further additions to these journals before I finish what you've brought.

Unfortunately, on that I'll have to have you adjust expectations - somewhat. As I'm sure you've no doubt noticed, our common friend is quite intent on making sure I don't overwork myself in my eagerness to push my way forward.

[ gesturing toward him ]

He's used you as an example of what not to turn into a couple of times, I might add. I will need to take the rest of today off, and while I'll start on compiling more material as early as possible, I'll have to at least put some effort into pacing myself out.

The same goes to you. He's already worried. Don't make it worse.

Nngh.

[He pinches the bridge of his nose, expression truly pained.]

Yes he's made me aware of his concerns. And I have agreed to accomodate them--

Pardon. He used me as a negative example? That brat.

As I said. A number of times.

Though rest assured he spoke of you fondly as well.

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