two, two, two posts in one; 4/6

[wearingguess]

[ hey, it's a prismagram post from 1stQadrMargaFan! you know, that one c-plus/b-minus-list influencer who's always posting magic tutorials, fashion selfies, food pics, and random animal encounters. (well, not so much recently, but... yeah.) ]

Hello, First Qadr!!
Thank you all so much for your comments and messages over the past couple of weeks. I can't believe I went three entire days without responding to anything! 😳 But I always read everything you send me, and I will try to answer you all as soon as I can. 🧡🧡🧡

But now I must make an important announcement!
✨ Starting today, this account will be going on indefinite hiatus ✨
I will keep comments open, but I won't be posting any more pictures or videos. This is just a personal issue and there's no need for anyone to worry! 🦋😸🍇
I want to say thank you again. Your support over the past several months has meant more than I can possibly express!! You're all breathtaking, with and without your Moonheld and Moonblessed traits! Let's all keep doing the very best we can to look out for one another! 👋🥰

[ a few minutes later, there's another post, from another account: laurea. this one's video. long antennae and parts of the colorful underside of a pair of butterfly wings are visible on the subject (who doesn't appear particularly jazzed about them). ]

Hello.
Ah... this message is primarily for my fellow Moonblessed. For those who don't know me, I am Titus Alexius.
I have been thinking about this quite a bit lately, and... I think that we ought to, if possible... that is, to the extent that it is possible...

[ deep breath! ]

I think we should stop moonlacing.

[ and now the hurried qualifiers. ]

We need to do a little, of course, to survive. Obviously we should all feel free to do that amount. But beyond that minimum, we should most likely refrain.

[ he hunches his shoulders and looks down!! ]

This will certainly be a great sacrifice... and terribly difficult, especially during the moon cycles... and no doubt quite unpleasant in many ways as well. For some of us more than others. But while the effects of chroma generation initially seemed exclusively beneficial, with the very worst of them still being harmless, it is now more than clear that there are others that are neither predictable nor safe.

[ now he shuts his eyes. ]
...All of Port Sylvel paid the price for that. And many perished in the subsequent battle as well. We cannot bring them back, but we owe it to them not to let it happen again.

[ another deep breath. then he opens his eyes and looks back into the camera. ]

At least that is what I think.
I would like to know what all of you think.


[ there's a slightly awkward pause!! ]

...On that note, I am also looking for work.
I am willing to do anything, though... physically demanding work is probably best avoided, unless you don't mind its being accomplished poorly and only after a likely unreasonable length of time.
Nothing that requires moonlacing, either, though I suppose that much is obvious.

...
And that is all. Thank you!

Comments

un: music2myears

[afoolshope]

We lose chroma just by moving around all day, Titus. Asking people to stop moonlacing, or only do the bare minimum, isn't really fair to ask them. I get it, but at the same time it wasn't like we unleashed Majestas on purpose.

I arrived just before he was released, but from it looked like... well, everyone was tricked. It's a lot similar to something that happened back home. My friends and I were tricked into believing we would be putting an end to something, instead we nearly brought about the end of the world. It has since been averted but...

I think we as moonblessed can take responsibility for what happened, regardless of our intent, but to stop moonlacing isn't the answer. There's another solution. We just haven't found it yet. The best we can do now is help the prismals and ourselves. All of the moonblessed are displaced, after all. Is it really fair to ask every single one to also live just to survive when many are already going through so much just by being separated by their friends and family?

text; un: laurea

[wearingguess]

No, of course it isn't fair. But how much difference has that ever made in the world? It is not fair when children are born into oppression, or are afflicted with incurable disease, but it happens all the same. It was not fair that everyone in Port Sylvel had to die for something that had nothing to do with them. If we continue to release murderous beasts one after the other, however accidentally, it will not be fair to whomever they strike down, either, will it?

Minato, please believe me. I do not want this to be the answer. I hope there is another solution! But what if there is not? The fact that this would not be a "fair" solution doesn't mean that there is necessarily a better one.

I don't want to ask anything of anyone, much less something so burdensome. I know that none of us chose this. But we are here now, and we cannot leave. For the moment, we are part of this world, and what we do affects those around us. How could I look anyone from Port Sylvel in the eye—or any Prismal at all, who is still living—and say that I alone have the right to live however I want without having to sacrifice anything? No matter what the cost might be to them?

[afoolshope]

And what about the cost to the moonblessed as well?

You haven’t bothered to even find another solution. You’re quickly putting the blame on us. People have since arrived well after he was released and you’re blaming them as well for something they didn’t do. You’re asking people to do something just because of what they are.

You’re placing the lives of those at Port Sylvel over all others for no other reason than because they perished. If you want to be able to look them in the eye, then find a solution that helps everyone. Don’t ask people to make a sacrifice, to take responsibility for actions they didn’t commit.

[wearingguess]

I am asking this because I believe it would help, not because I think anyone deserves to suffer or be punished. If I had the power to force all the other Moonblessed to do as I am asking, I would not use it. It is a choice I make for myself, and a choice I hoped others might make...

I love this world, and I love its people. I love the Moonblessed, too. I don't believe any person's life is worth more than another's, and I desperately wish for a solution that means no one must die, or suffer, or give up anything dear to them. I have not given up on finding that answer, but to simply trust that it exists and will be found, and to reject any less desirable possibilities... Would it not be naive, even careless?

Minato, when I was drained of energy and those golems were poised to attack, you came to my aid. It would have been easier for you to ignore me, and my situation was certainly in no way your responsibility—much less your fault. Will you now say that you did so only because you knew you would come to no harm? Or will you say that, had I been so bold as to ask you for your help, rather than wait for you to give it freely, you would have refused? I know that cannot be true.

If I could protect the people of this world—not only the Prismals, but the Moonblessed as well—by sacrificing myself, and only myself, I would do it. But I cannot. That is why I am asking for help, and why I am asking to talk about it. No matter how hard I think, there are limits to what I can see; no matter how hard I work, there are limits to what I can accomplish. But now that it is clear what the stakes are, I don't believe I can afford myself the luxury of just hoping that we'll figure it out when the time comes.

[afoolshope]

You don’t have the ability to sacrifice yourself to help others which is why you are asking others to do the same on a smaller scale without knowing the consequences of just what it is that you’re asking of not only yourself but everyone around you. Take it from someone with experience on the matter.

That’s totally irresponsible of you.

Not to mention completely unfair to others. Yes, life isn’t fair as you pointed out but that doesn’t give you the excuse to push that onto others as well. Nor is it fair for you use my kindness against me like this, to further your reasoning.

It’s selfish and exactly why you’re not in a position to ask this of others. Clear your head and come back to this with an open mind for suggestions. Work with others to find a solution.

[wearingguess]

I was not
I apologize...
I did not intend to use it against you. I only wanted to understand.

But please, at least give me the chance to listen to your suggestions, instead of saying I will not hear them. More than anything, I want to work with you and with everyone to find a solution.

All I know is that
I can't
keep watching people die.
I will do anything in my power to prevent another tragedy like this.
Anything.
If there is another solution, I beg you to help me find it.

sorry i'm late!

[afoolshope]

I don't know another solution yet, but I want to help you find it too. I know there is another way, I just don't believe we should be drastic about it either. We don't know enough to really make that kind of decision, if that makes sense. Perhaps lessening the moonlacing wouldn't be bad for now, but outright stopping unless absolutely necessary would be too much especially with how dangerous that can be.