homeless; on considering havenrpg

[discernere]

It's been a while again, hasn't it?

It's nice you remembered and that you're even thinking of taking me somewhere, but does it really have to be a scary place again? I know it's been years, but the city with the giant monster was enough, you know. There has to be some place nicer.

[ . . . ]

There's nothing that's going to change your mind, is there.

Comments

[discernere]

Well, of course I would. That's just part of the job. [ no it's not . . . ]

[extend]

[ . . . ]

Say, Doug. [ no, bookman, this is a bad id-- ] You mind workin' a thought out with me?

[discernere]

[ there's a slightly suspicious squint but the need to (possibly) help out a friend conquers all. ]

Uh, sure? What's on your mind?

[extend]

You think everybody's fit to do Finder's work?

[discernere]

I think it depends on the person, but if they have the will for it, I don't see why not.

[extend]

So, takin' the case of that totally theoretical girl, say -- she oughta be more than capable of savin' herself, yeah?

[discernere]

Eh? Not if she's already grabbed by a huge monster! It's not like I would stand a chance like that either.

[extend]

But with a few more people pitchin' in, she might be able to fight it back—right! So it's all down to how much of a chance you've got?

[discernere]

Well yes, I suppose so. But when it comes down to helping someone, chance doesn't matter much, you can still protect them even if you don't stand a chance yourself.

[extend]

Makes an even bigger difference if you're trained, right? A Finder's got the skill to protect more people than a regular citizen!

[discernere]

Maybe so, but in the end we're still just normal people, there's only so much we can do. Sometimes it doesn't make much of a difference at all.

[extend]

[ . . .

snapping his fingers before Doug's eyes. ]

Focus, man, focus.

[discernere]

[ oh oops, blinking and glancing back up. ]

What is it you're trying to get at anyway?

[extend]

We're gettin' there! I'm gonna have to disagree with the part where you wanna just let all the regular people die off, though.

[ the most serious face. ]

[discernere]

That's not what I meant at all and you know it. [ HUFF. ]

[extend]

Sure about that? [ a tiny smile. ] Thought you just said normal people can't make much of a difference.

[discernere]

What I meant was that in the face of, say, a Level Two Akuma there's little else we can do but be a decoy or shield and hope that's enough. Sometimes it's not.

[ but okay, he gets it and he can only smile wryly. ]

[extend]

[ it would be nice, wouldn't it, if his point stopped there.

sadly, he's not allen walker. ]

But it is, for other times. And some people'll make more of a difference than others, even if they're ordinary. Still soundin' right so far?

[discernere]

Yes, that's right. I never said that wasn't the case.

[ lavi get to it . . . ]

[extend]

Which'd be more worth savin', then: somebody trained or somebody without skills?

[discernere]

Wha— You can't compare human lives like that, Lavi!

[extend]

I can't, huh. [ this is not the face of somebody taking the debate seriously. ] Got any good reasons why not?

[discernere]

You're terrible. [ he's not even going to dignify that with an answer, have a punch in the arm instead. although it's really more of a swat, a very indignant swat!! ]

1/2

[extend]

You're—

[ —a dreamer, an idiot, a dead man walking. the living laws that break for generals and exorcists in crystal shackles will never be less than ironclad for finder boys with open hearts and earnest smiles.

and it's none of his business, the marginal notes of the obscure dead. he wanted one particular answer; he got it.

bad bookman, no cookie. ]

[extend]

—hittin' kinda hard for a grade-schooler, aren't you?

[ ow?! ]