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

[wearingguess]

More thoughtless than calling the mass murder of Port Sylvel's residents a "makeover"?

[getting_better]

[ There's a pause as he sort of thinks that over. ]

Yes more thoughtless than that. Good question. I applaud your attempt to learn. [ There might be hope for him yet. ] my statement was crafted, intentional, with clear intent to rile to really see how sincere you are. So yes, mine had thought.

[ A beat. ]

Also I hate being here so I already have a disposition for partial apathy.

[ ooc: I am so sorry for him. Also I can't tell if this thread is devolving or not, but amusing. ]

[wearingguess]

So intentionally making light of the victims of a real tragedy is acceptable, but a hypothetical statement about preventing a hypothetical tragedy is properly met with threats of violence. I see.

But in any case... I can only assume you somehow interpreted my words to mean I wished there had been a famine... I assure you that was not my intention.

[getting_better]

[ He lets out a loud amused laugh. ]

Threats? Threats? I said no threats, only advice.

[ He's right about the interpretation though. He and the rest of his world are a touch sensitive to things like that. ]

It is your intent, however, to suggest that we Moonblessed trouble ourselves with some half-baked idea by appealing to some collective misplaced guilt over a tragedy that had little to do with us but we still helped out with regardless. By help I mean aid in resolving, by the way.

[wearingguess]

I simply cannot accept your premise that it had little do with us. And I ask this of everyone not because I think we deserve to suffer due to our actions, but because, to me, the evidence suggests that it could make a difference for the better. If others truly don't believe that it would, that is one thing, but... I cannot understand the point of view that we shouldn't try this, not because it wouldn't work, but because we don't want to and ideally should not have to.

[getting_better]

[ He rolled his eyes as his shoulders slumped in exasperation. ]

Evidence? Evidence??? Your evidence is a freak coincidence that no one could have - [ He paused just brief enough to run a hand down his face and say 'God, I'm repeating myself!' away from his device though faintly audible. ] And what if the next time another town is obliterated because we weren't moonlacing, huh? What are you going to do then, hmmm? Tell everyone to start moonlacing? Brilliant planning! Much foresight!

[ Bishop felt himself getting carried along by his emotions, and that wouldn't do. He couldn't take back the obvious provocation he just said but, he can try to keep himself on track. That is this guy doesn't decide to cut it here. ]

[wearingguess]

My "evidence" is that generating chroma awakened a murderous beast! That is a fact, and it has nothing to do with whether it was predictable or ethical or anything else. And yes, if future incidents suggest a different approach is better, then of course I will not continue to advocate for something that no longer appears beneficial! But there is no point on making decisions based on hypothetical situations. Indeed, imagine if a town is obliterated because people spent too much time having stupid arguments on Prismagram! We will both feel guilty then, won't we?

[getting_better]

Speak for yourself!

[ He doubts he'll guilty, but certainly a little sorry if it did happen. He sighs once more but takes a moment to pause and reel in his emotions before they got too hot. ]

I'm just gonna lay things clear then, your little idea is incredibly flawed. You believe your going to help but you're not. You're just delaying what could or could not come and people could even get killed cause they were caught with their pants down when something bad did come. It makes people think you're afraid, and that inspires fear in others. That's what I think, and that's why I can't, in all good conscience, approve of your idea. Because people will be scared.

If you wanna know how to help, then I'm gonna to tell ya. And this advice from someone who actually survived through one of these tradgedies. You keep your strength up, in fact, get stronger and smarter so you can fight back and protect those who can't. You make the city stronger, make defenses and weapons, come up with evacuation plans and back up plans on top of that, build shelters and roads, ready vehicles to take them somewhere safe, ANYTHING to make the people feel safe!...Or inspire them to be brave even while their world is crumbling around them. [ His voice was pitched, angry, lonely, sad, passionate and...hurt. Emotional despite his attempts to calm himself. ]

Because when the bad guys come, and they always do, that's what people want. They don't want to see a soldier rushing to put on their fatigues and gear, they want the guy who's...who's faster, braver, and stronger than they are. People want the guy who's ready to tell them "it's going to be okay, I've got this" even when the odds are against them...That's what people want.

[ He sighs once more, heavier than any he'd let out so far. ]

That's my two cents, take or leave it. Oh and for the record, I didn't think this argument or you were stupid at all. You're just a little...misguided.

[ He shuts off his device after, sorely in need a really strong drink. ]