hadriel | video

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.]

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[Well, that's - hmm. Mello managed to escape having a double of his own cause chaos this time around, but it wasn't so long ago that he was taken over by a demon and put on display. It's not exactly the same, but it's similar enough for him to find discomfiting.]

How do you know that the gods here are acting out of necessity?

[Regis has been silent in regards to his dislike for deities but this message prompts him to speak publicly for the first time since arriving.]

If they are not to blame for the travesties that befallen us, then who is?

[His voice is stern, far too stern and unforgiving.]

I refuse to turn a blind eye to their wickedness no matter the reason. Nor should you if you have bore witness to their horrors.

I talked with Sorrow about it. He told me a little about the time before we got here. You don't see what he did and not do what you can to survive. To help the others.

[Her chest aches like it did in Sorrow's temple when they talked. Yeah, she still believes him. She understands.]

[Sorrow is one of the few gods with whom Mello hasn't yet spoken (he has Reasons), but if anyone can understand being driven to drastic measures by necessity, it's him.]

Would you be willing to share what Sorrow told you? In detail.

Edited 2017-02-01 20:18 (UTC)

There are other ways to survive. Choosing to hurt someone does not make you blameless.

[Faith's voice is calm as she replies, heavy with compassion for her fellow non-gods and for the gods alike.]

Why do we have to place blame? Are we wicked for raising chickens an' cows for slaughter? Have you ever done something for a person's own good, or your own?

I've heard tell of their sadness. They care for each other like we care for our own. I can't-- I just can't blame them for that. Not now I've seen it from their persoective.

[And didn't Rosenberg blame Creatures just for being themselves?]

Yes.

[Sorrow himself would want her to, if it'll help them understand why the gods do what they do.]

[Have a Faith giving him a bittersweet smile.]

Just starting to try and make up for things, Mr. Hedgehog.

Are we blameless, then? If I fight to kill on a battlefield, or in my own home, am I to blame for the suffering that follows? Or do we make exceptions for cases where harm is done without ill intent?

There is always blame if someone is to suffer, but it is not always to the same degree.

I'm not some lamb to be brought for slaughter.

[The fury within his tone is gradually rising with every word.]

None of us are. Has the hubris of your alleged 'goodness' blinded you to this truth or have you chosen to ignore it?

[He cares nothing or these deities. Nothing. All Regis cares about is protecting those who deem the closest to his heart. Regis utterly despises the Gods for putting his loved ones at risk. Noctis and Lunafreya deserve so much better---]

Do not ask of others to forgive when forgiveness is earned. They've done nothing to earn forgiveness and continue to do nothing other than further this abusive cycle.

What would you want in exchange for this information?

[Well, Jo agrees that the doubles aren't to blame and neither are the people left behind, but...]

Are you really arguing that the gods have to hurt us sometimes?

'm saying it's in the nature of everyone to cause hurt now an' then.

Yeh, exactly. It's... guess what I should've said was don't be too hard on 'em? Oh, I dunno. I'm just-- I don't blame them. I can't.

[That actually draws a soft giggle out of her.] Not me best metaphor, no. I'll do better next time.

[Exchange? She actually says taht out loud when she reads his message. She wasn't even thinking of that.]

Well, I guess if you know anything about the gods, we could share it. Keep each other informed. That sound fair?

[Faith takes a deep breath before responding, because what she's going to say deals with exactly that, with not reacting from a place of emotions running high.]

'M not asking you or anyone to forgive. [Even though she, herself, does forgive them the damage they've done her.] I'm asking that we not run to judge them without knowing more about them. How many massacres could've been avoided if people'd tried to listen? Small scale, large scale--

[She sighs heavily.]

I know it sounds like dreamin' or wishful thinking. An' I know I'm not all goodness -- you saw yourself what I could be. But just-- I know in my heart there's more to it than manipulation an' cruelty. Can't convince you, don't want to try to. I just needed to say it.

[Maketh looks tired more than anything else. It's the only reason she's not yelling.]

Of course we should blame the gods. All of this is their doing.

Possibly your world is different, but in mine, we do not torture animals before slaughtering them.

What makes them blameless for you?

So would I, 'f I'm honest.

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

Depends on who y'ask, doesn't it, about the torture. To me, torture means there's cruel intent behind what's done. Survival's not a cruel intent, in my mind.

Sayin' "of course" assumes you're right without a doubt.

[And Faith... she doesn't like absolutes. Not even absolute compassion. More and more, she's living in the grey area of life.]

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

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.

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