video;

[purestambition]

[Video flickers online of a young woman with long dark hair and a stern expression. Beyond that, it's fairly unreadable.]

I suppose I should say this is not what I anticipated. The "heroes" who saved Locke City from certain doom had been scurrying and hiding in the shadows for nearly a year prior. [Pause, a slight lift of her considerable eyebrows.] Not without reason, perhaps, yet... not what one anticipates.

My question is, are you satisfied with what path now lies before you, and what it took to get there? [Her tone grows quicker, and far sharper.] What do you think that path is?

After that snake, this city was beset by creatures once more, yet beings from another world cleaned up the mess. Altruistic thought their intentions may be, and I will give credit for cleaning up their own disaster, or what was left of it... I for one am not satisfied to simply let myself just be protected. To simply be reactive to the problems we are sure to face.

[Her eyes narrow.] I imagine the same must apply to more of you out there. To push forward, become stronger, and seize the power that's been put within our grasp. Because there will be other threats. Out in the open, Numbered will not remain so good natured forever. People will use us. Monsters and aliens are real, and even if these visitors mean us no harm, who knows what else may be out there now?

So, I am curious.

[Her head tilts back, voice raising a little.] Who has the pride in their ability and self worth to truly steel themselves, to really be prepared for what else may come down this road we've been forced upon?

[She lowers her head, expression never wavering throughout.] I would simply like to know those whom I am dealing with.

Comments

[originaloddcouple]

Oh, okay! Then mostly yes.

[purestambition]

What brings you to that, then?

[No, she has no real consideration for this thing called "privacy." For other people.]

[originaloddcouple]

[Meanwhile Miria (and Isaac) have no concept of not being far too helpful for their own good.

Miria pauses to consider.]

Well, a lot of bad stuff has happened, that's true... But I've made lots of great friends! There's all sorts of people here I'd have never met otherwise and they're some of the greatest people in the entire world!

So, I'd say that, even if things are tough, it's pretty okay!

[purestambition]

[Such shining optimism is... really, really weird to Saretha. People like that in her experience were usually incredibly fake, or just nonexistent. She looks a bit skeptical.]

And to just what reaches would you go to protect these "friends?"

[originaloddcouple]

[She pauses again before giving a shrug.]

Anything I could do, I guess.

[purestambition]

Would you kill, then?

[originaloddcouple]

[She pauses a third time, this time in surprise. She slouches down a little.]

I...

I guess....

If it really could help...

Or... but...

[She sighs.]

I guess I don't know...

[purestambition]

[It was actually a good question of whether or not Saretha could, to be honest. But... the will she felt flowing through her made that answer feel a lot easier. If it was her life on the line, and the choice between hers and theirs was there? It seems like an obvious choice.

However, she can't quite equate that to caring for other people.]

Soldiers are trained to deal with such things, but that is not what many of us are, is it? We could look at potential matters of life and death, down the line, and yet... we are rather unevenly equipped in that area, mentally.

[originaloddcouple]

That's... true...

...I guess I'll just try my hardest to ensure no one has to die! Then no one will have to deal with that stuff!

[Miria no.]

[purestambition]

[She shifts her head to one side... and then the other, and then just gazes at her for several moments.]

I wouldn't waste my time hoping for the impossible.

[originaloddcouple]

You'll never know until you try!

[purestambition]

[...]

Death is not so easily controlled.

[originaloddcouple]

Well, I can't die anymore. The least I can do is make sure no one else does either!

[purestambition]

[...] You are immortal?

[That seems to be what she's saying, but...]

[originaloddcouple]

For a couple months now, yeah!

[Spoken with as casual good cheer as though she discovered she still had a couple bags of popcorn left in a cabinet.]

[purestambition]

[There's a flicker of something in Saretha's expression, that sternness breaking... but only momentarily. She sits back and frowns, however.]

You realize, don't you? That can't work, then. The... "keeping people alive" thing.

[originaloddcouple]

[The grin quickly changes to concerned confusion.]

...What do you mean?

[purestambition]

[Saretha's head bows, just slightly, and continues calmly.]

It means you'll outlive everyone.

[originaloddcouple]

[The expression quickly shifts to horror as the realization washes over her. There's a long moment where she doesn't respond, just trying to process if the possibility was true. She... could age, right? There was no way to tell without just letting time pass. And even then, could she die of old age? So... the girl's words could be completely accurate.]

...oh.

[purestambition]

[She closes her eyes.]

In the end, though... I suppose that sort of ability should facilitate you well in the present.

[originaloddcouple]

Y-Yeah.... I guess so.

[She looks like she's gonna cry. GOOD JOB SARETHA.]

[purestambition]

[...yeah, she's probably decently equipped to bring out that reaction in people.]

Do what you must in the present, then. To dwell too far on the future [Or past.] won't serve you very well, especially in your position.

[originaloddcouple]

...Yeah. That's a good point! I can't help anyone if I worry about death and stuff! Thanks!

[She cheers up quickly.]

[purestambition]

[Saretha almost visibly bristles at that. She hadn't come on here to start giving out adviece to people, and the very last thing she's expecting was to be thanked.

She's not actually terribly used to that, at least not on a genuine level. If nothing else, this woman seems... genuine.]

Just be thankful you do not have to worry about it.

[While it was an all too inevitable fate for... basically anyone else in the world.]