maisondeportes, but speaking generally

[the_earths_salt]

Mundane. A word, if I may? I notice that you seem to have AUs on your mind a fair bit lately. Please don't think I'm here simply to complain; on the contrary, I'm honored to see you find me interesting enough to want to explore how different I might be in lives that could have been.

However, I also realize how your mind wanders these days. I appreciate your potential interest in such a project--so please, for your sake and mine, don't do this halfheartedly. I would far rather one life lived and explored in full than a dozen only briefly touched; to offer only a glimpse seems cruel.

In short: if you act, do so purposefully and mindfully. I don't intend to stand in your way--but Number VIII asked me to pass on his request to still be able to "blow shit up" in some capacity, to use his own wording, whatever else you intend to do with him. I'm not sure if honoring his request is wise by any definition..... But in the interest of solidarity, I ask that you take both of our wishes to heart as you move forward.

Comments

[self_replication]

It's never wise to honour his requests.

[the_earths_salt]

So I've noticed.

[self_replication]

I would suggest locking him in a closet or some such, but that only makes his attention seeking stupidity all the more apparent.

[the_earths_salt]

I'd rather not lose a perfectly decent closet, given that he'd no doubt burn the door down--and quite possibly take the rest of the area with it. So far, a light touch has seemed to be the best approach.

[self_replication]

A metal coffin tossed in the ocean would do nicely then. [:|]

Lexaeus, a light touch never works with him. One simply has to be...forceful.

[the_earths_salt]

On the contrary--I've found that using force with someone like Axel only motivates him to defy you out of sheer spite. Carefully picking my battles and selectively ignoring and acknowledging him seems to at least keep him somewhat less destructive than he might otherwise be.

[illicitresearch]

I would hope that you take the concerns of your closer allies into consideration as well, at least before Axel.

[the_earths_salt]

As I'm forced to live with Axel, maintaining some courtesy and peace is necessary; I don't mind playing messenger. Still, you can rest assured that your opinions will always carry more weight than his. Might I ask just what concerns you?

[illicitresearch]

A pitiful conundrum indeed. You're very good, to bother keeping peace at all.

Why dawdle around in What-Ifs and Could-Bes in the first place?

[the_earths_salt]

I rather prefer a quieter living situation, myself--and when Axel isn't focused on you, his antics can be entertaining.

As for What-Ifs and Could-Bes..... well, why indulge in any sort of fiction at all? There seems to be place enough in the worlds for such contrivances, whether literature or drama alike.

[illicitresearch]

On me? Oh Lexaeus, surely that is kept to a minimum, I hope!

Not when you could be focusing on here and now, on our time. Don't wear yourself thin. You're already being made to suffer so much...

And so much for acquiring post-its down there. Your ordeal with the phantasms has thoroughly dissuaded me.

[the_earths_salt]

"You", in this instance, would be a universal referring to whoever is observing Axel at the moment--whether that's you, me, or anyone else.

[Have a wry smile.]

Not that Axel doesn't make his fair share of comments about you, as well..... But then, it's hard to think of anyone he doesn't snipe at when the opportunity presents itself, save for our Keybearers.

At any rate..... to be honest, it seems a welcome distraction to allow an alternate focus, until I'm slated to return and deal with this fiasco's consequences. Alternate doesn't necessarily have to mean bad, after all.

It would be no trouble to bring back a pad or two along with some medical supplies from my explorations, either..... Surely my carelessness shouldn't cripple your potential mobility so strongly?

[asparkofsilence]

Axel's requests? Nothing good can come of those.

[the_earths_salt]

Of that, there's little doubt. But there's no harm in passing them along to the right hands, and it satisfies him to be heard.

[asparkofsilence]

I must admit, I'm rather surprised he'd request to "blow things up" but I suppose you do have a point, apart from that.

[the_earths_salt]

As near as I can tell, it seems to be his favorite pastime, ice cream aside. Is a request like that really so strange?

[asparkofsilence]

In this case? Yes. Very much so.

[when_turks_fly]

If Number VIII is who I've gathered he is from my writer's snorting and giggling, I'm in agreement insofar as it not being wise to honor his request. "To 'blow shit up' in some capacity"...

[ She shakes her head a moment, then pauses, looking at the stranger again. ] Lexaeus, right?

[the_earths_salt]

Number VIII, The Flurry of Dancing Flames. If you know him, then it would probably be by the name Axel. That's right, though--it seems you have the advantage of me, Miss.....?

[when_turks_fly]

Valeria. Just Valeria. It's a pleasure I'm sure, Mr. Lexaeus.

[ And she offers him a genuine, easy smile with that. He doesn't need to know how she came across his name and she's not particularly inclined to share unless he should ask. It's simply her good fortune that her writer likes to run her mouth is all. ]

That's him alright. Have you two known each other along?

[the_earths_salt]

Valeria, then; the pleasure is mine.

[Have a mild smile and nod at that; he's polite and friendly, certainly, but not nearly so inclined to such readily and broadly displayed warmth.]

We have known each other for quite some time, yes. Not always on anything resembling a personal basis, but the fact remains.

[when_turks_fly]

How much time is quite some time, if you don't mind my asking?

[ She is genuinely curious and it's hard to gauge with an answer as vague as that. And she is gauging. Quite a bit, in fact. ]

[pullsheavendown]

It's not so bad to think about what might happen if...if things were different.

[Unspoken: I do it all the time.]

[the_earths_salt]

No, not at all. It's a nice glimpse at what life could have been, or perhaps still could be.....

So long as you don't let it consume you, or interfere too much with the life you're leading in the here and now, there's no harm at all in dreaming.

[pullsheavendown]

How do you know when it's too much? Before, when we were comrades, didn't the whole Organization dream of having hearts again?

And everyone was consumed in the end.