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[avephoenix]

Hiya, Hadriel.

[It's Faith on screen, looking no worse for wear except in how brittle her smile is and how dimmed her gaze looks. (She's trying to smile because Shadow asked her to. She's trying, but the weight of all that happened is still heavy on her shoulders.) Even her voice is missing some if its verve, despite how it lilts and bobs like normal.]

I just-- I want to apologize for what, erm-- for what that other me said an' did. Want to take responsibility for it all. She, erm-- she's all the things I hate in--

[This is hard. All her time here, she's downplayed her status to her community at home. Should she try and keep doing that? Is it even possible to anymore, after what the other Faith did?]

She's who I could've been, I guess. But I'm not. That's why 'm sorry.

[She sighs. Okay, that's done. Now the easy part.] An' before it gets said, I've got to say: please don't blame the gods for this. S'not their fault they have to do things like this to survive. They're people, just like us, an' sometimes we need to hurt other people for our own sakes, yeh? Like when y'break someone's heart 'cos you know somethin's not workin'. Or animals, right, when we kill animals to eat. Breed 'em and kill 'em for us, for our needs.

Don't blame the gods. They're not the ones what burnt those temples and buildings. That was my shadow, and I'm sorry.

[Her smile long since gone, Faith stares at the camera for a second or two longer, then shuts off the feed.]

Comments

[avephoenix]

They've got to keep living their lives, just like we all do.

[bheidh]

Causing such danger isn't something that have to do.

[avephoenix]

Dunno about where you're from, but sometimes people do that back home, destroy things. Mistakes. We learn from 'em.

Maybe the gods will too, after this.

[bheidh]

They have made many similar mistakes.

[avephoenix]

Has anyone talked with them about it? Mentioned exactly what hurts, exactly why.

[bheidh]

I don't know. I haven't spoken with them myself.

[avephoenix]

Then perhaps some of us ought to.

[bheidh]

Some do, but there are a few requests that wouldn't be entertained. Or couldn't, if you believe them.

[avephoenix]

Makes sense, though, doesn't it? They're not gods in the way we know the word. And we've all got things we won't talk about.

[bheidh]

Yet they choose that name when others would be more appropriate.

[avephoenix]

What name would you tell 'em to use, then?

[bheidh]

They seem like mages, or demons.

[avephoenix]

Then maybe talk to them about changin' the term. I can't compare 'em to anything back home, so I'm no help.

[bheidh]

So that is why you call them gods?

[avephoenix]

Well, ye. Just easier that way.

[bheidh]

Perhaps we should all find another name from them, take some power that they have.

[avephoenix]

Sure. Guess if anyone comes up with one, we can share it. Or maybe we can brainstorm on the network or somethin'.

[bheidh]

They may even offer suggetions of their own.

[avephoenix]

Maybe, yeh. Then we could all work together to find a better term.