the burned man walks (or, well, posts on dearmun)

[baptizedtwice]

One thing, first. Starting isn’t the hard part. Stopping is. Every time.

I won't deliver platitudes, so you'll have to look elsewhere for that. But if it's help you need, I'll provide what I can. There are more qualified people to give it. You know that.

And you know me well enough. I wouldn’t be here otherwise. Reciting psalms has nothing to do with it. Scripture can be changed or go missing entirely. Especially here. The meaning matters, not the words themselves. But if it’s the words you need, that shouldn’t be a problem. If nothing else, I can speak.

After you.

Comments

[quixotically]

You shouldn't sell yourself short, Joshua. [Elle puts on her best encouraging smile.

... she should say -- more. Something more. But she's having trouble finding her words right now. She just doesn't want him to put himself down like this, like he does.]

[baptizedtwice]

Telling the truth doesn't count as selling. Not usually. Not this time.

[quixotically]

[... that stings. (Because she knows what he's thinking of, knows what he's talking about, and because she uses the truth like that, too. To lead people to what she wants them to do. She never does it for the same purposes the Legion would have had him doing it for, but still. She ends up feeling guilty.)

Aaaaand, it begins. She wants to reach out and rest her hand on his shoulder, or his elbow, but -- no. No. Even if she felt like she was allowed, she doesn't want to risk hurting him. She's never been able to bring herself to ask if touch hurts.

Elle takes a deep breath and draws herself back up. Her smile only flickered, then softened, even if her words are tentative.] You can provide a lot more good than you think you're capable of. The Dead Horses have faith in you; that's not for nothing, you know?

[baptizedtwice]

[Everything hurts. It's just a matter of degree, these days. There's some pain you can live with. Some you can't. Some that burns. Some that doesn't.

Knowing where it all fits together? That's the hard part. Something you can't tell until it happens, and by then, you're neck deep in it. At least, that's what experience would say.]

I made an impression, I know. A big one. [He's not entirely sure it's a good thing.] But having faith in arms is different from having faith in people.

[quixotically]

[Elle shakes her head.] They believe in more than just your ability to wage war. They believe in you, regardless of how much they do or don't understand what happened with the Legion. They look up to you; that's more than just trusting that you'll know what to do. [She knows how much of a burden that is.

But she pauses, here, trying to work out the words to express what she means. The things that she has felt from her friends, from the people who depend on her... from what she herself has felt, looking up to others.] It's... It's that, even if you don't know the way, you'll find it. Or else you'll make the road yourself, for you and for everyone who follows after. ... You know? That you'll... [ARGH.]

It's a faith in you, it is. Not just what you can do. But that you'll have it in you to become more. If... that makes any sense.

[baptizedtwice]

You don't have to tell me who they idealize. I've heard it myself. [Literally. They tend to hush up when he comes around, but there's definitely something... building up, when they talk about him. Impossible not to notice. A kind of legend taking shape. Like the Father in the Caves. Or...

Something else, back East.]

We put faith in the paths we follow. We'd never walk at all otherwise. Changing which way we walk, is... less clear, though doable. But it doesn't erase the tracks left behind by the other paths we've chosen along the way.

[No one should follow in his footsteps. But they will.]

[justnumbers]

"The path is always there for us to follow, no matter how many times we may fall." [And Therese... smiles, a little sadly.]

Hello, Joshua.

[baptizedtwice]

I wouldn't use my own words against me. [...was that a joke?]

Was there something you wanted? [Polite. Well, polite-ish. Making conversation.]

[justnumbers]

No, no, it was a big help. I thought... it might be helpful as a reminder. [A big help. Especially after the Divide. Hoo boy.]

No. I'm just glad to see you well. That's all. [Damn it, Speech skill, why you gotta flake out now?]

[baptizedtwice]

No, I remember. Though I'm glad you were helped.

Are you well, too? [Sorry, only 90 rank or over may pass.]

[justnumbers]

I've been better, but I'll live. ...Things'll get better for the Mojave now. Caesar's dead. [And most of his camp, too. Oops.]

It just feels... strange, you know? Like a weight being lifted.

Surprisingly Joshua's made a good impression on the mad god xD

[cheese_for_everyone]

From where I'm standing you look pretty qualified to me.

Honestly wish there was a person like you back home. Things would be interesting to say the least. Maybe even better for it.

[baptizedtwice]

No, you don't.

There are much grander things than being interesting in this world. Better ones, too.

[cheese_for_everyone]

Certainly there are more admirable traits than just being interesting, but I've found that it's interesting people that often make the changes that matter. Without experiencing the world or at least their little slice of it how could someone know enough about it to make the right changes or willing to make them? Although some are more obviously needed than others.

I don't know exactly what you would do in Mundus, but at the very least I'd be interested to see what happened when you were introduced to the Thalmor.

[baptizedtwice]

You don't always get the change you want, even if it's a righteous cause. Much of it is out of our hands, left up to the whims of those above us, be they God or man.

You're going to have to repeat that. I've never heard of the tribe.

[cheese_for_everyone]

Oh I know it. Even with the power I do have I can't do much to change things anymore.

Ah right none of their kind are here nor would there be any in your world.

I'll explain them in your terms and answer your questions at the end. The Thalmor are a bit like the ghouls of your world in that they don't age as quickly as the rest. However instead of being marred by the scars of a war they might of never fought in they're fair-skinned tall people.

Of course that in itself isn't a problem. The problem is behind their refined facade they distrust and outright hate anything that isn't their own. Any other people are just commodities in one way or another. If they can't bend you to their will they'll just keep going until they break you.

Which is the case with the worshipers of Talos. The Thalmor never worshiped him as a god, as he was a man himself and a leader at that. So he was involved in some wars. That's fair enough, but now that they have the Empire scared and forced into a treaty they have free reign to arrest worshipers of this god. I won't mention their tactics in polite conversation, but let's just say they don't just put them in a cell and call it a day.

[thecourier]

[See, the thing is, Joshua is one of the few people who can really get Dan to listen. So he does, sidling over to the other man like a moth drawn to a particularly bright flame.

He's curious. Joshua's speeches always remind him of how his mother used to talk.]

You always did know how to capture an audience.

[baptizedtwice]

[There's a lot to be said about moths and flame. He would know, wouldn't he?]

It's a skill, like any other. [Not quite a gift, though nowhere near a curse. A talent. That's the word.] Though captivating an audience is much different from getting them to listen. [The former's much easier than the latter, most days. Not when he's trying to avoid... Old Habits.]

[thecourier]

[There's a smile, albeit a small one.]

You'd know, right? [Better than most. He'll take a seat, if you don't mind.] But I ain't seen many who could get someone to listen like you can.

[He got Dan to listen, after all.]

[baptizedtwice]

Command attention loudly enough, and you need not raise your voice to be heard. [It's true. At least, that's always been the case for him. Speak softly. Carry a big stick. More than that, use it. As often as necessary. Until the point sinks in.

But there's a different point he's making now. So he remains standing. Hands to himself.] Words and deeds often go hand in hand, but when they are in conflict, deeds last far longer and make a far bigger impact, if you must choose one.

[gonnabe1st]

All that sounds very straightforward, but what do you want?

[baptizedtwice]

The job done right. If nothing else.

[gonnabe1st]

No indignation at being yanked around? No terms for your cooperation?

[Not that these would be any less ridiculous now than they always are, but it is unusual to see something else for a change.]

[baptizedtwice]

She already knows my terms, and she's doing very little of the yanking.

[gonnabe1st]

And have you got a reason for all that calm? It's just that I've never seen a first timer who's got it as together as that.

[Liar. But that doesn't mean he's not curious.]