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[temperedinpride]

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[temperedinpride]

Senpai...?

[That's a hingan word right okay.]

I see. I shall keep it to myself. I do hope I am somewhat more... Experienced than Sho, at the least, in some matters.

I hope you do not encounter situations you may regret, but it is true you will likely encounter situations you do not at least foresee or plan for. I wish for you only to be well enough equipped.

[weenwoon]

[Levity grins and raises a finger, much like Sho had done when first explaining the concept to him.]

A senpai is a reliable, knowledgeable senior! I adore Sho, but I do feel like the title is more appropriate for you. And I share the hope that I won't run into such scenarios that I might regret, but I want to think I can keep my head enough not to do aught rash.

[temperedinpride]

You... flatter me, Levity. Yet I do hope I may live up to the expectation.

Merely think of it as a precaution to satisfy my own worries if it will comfort you, then. I can be a fussy old man.

[weenwoon]

Is it flattery if that is how I see you?

[The question sounds genuine - he is curious to see if that was simply a turn of phrase or if Cosmo thinks he doesn't deserve it.]

[temperedinpride]

[It can be both! Yet he can also be perfectly arrogant so.]

Well! You are not wrong. I am reliable and knowledgable and senior.

[weenwoon]

[He chuckles.]

Are you truly older than me? We do not look to be so different in age! Ah, or is it like Five's situation?

[temperedinpride]

Well, I am older than just about everyone by more than a few millennia.

I simply happen to maintain my youthful good looks and charm quite well.

[weenwoon]

It did seem to me the Baritones defining trait is charm!

[He starts enumerating, uncurling a finger for each member he talks about.]

Yours is indeed the charm of a mentor, someone older than oneself, wise and caring but not coddling. Alexander... I would compare to some manner of a cat. Graceful, fascinating, but wilful, someone you haven't truly any say over. Absinthe is that curious combination of both delightful danger and safety, is he not? Little gestures that make you feel special and hints of darker things that you can't help wanting to see. Lily...

[He stops, smiles warmly.]

I know not what to name it yet! But Lily is very kind and gentle, like the morning sun. I can't help wanting to be around her.

[temperedinpride]

[He laughs softly.]

I am fully biased but I do agree, charm is part of each member.

I am quite glad they have all captivated you. I am terribly fond of them. And they will be good to you, if you are to them. Some take a bit more coaxing to open up than others, but your assessment is solid.

[weenwoon]

[He beams at the news that he is Correct.]

I hope so! To tell you the truth, at first I was somewhat worried when the nature of the games and such were brought up... but I do feel much safer when I think of how kind everyone is. It does give me hope that even should we meet in one of the darker games, we would still find ways to be human to each other.

[temperedinpride]

Mm. That is often the goal.

But each unit plays their own ways. Each has their own priorities. Baritones places Baritones first, in all things.

[weenwoon]

I imagine that would be true for every unit, no?

[temperedinpride]

Not so. I believe sensitIV often lets themselves die for the sake of others. Rather.... irresponsibly, given they are the healing unit.

[weenwoon]

[Oh... Hmm. That seems to send him in deeper thought.]

A double-edged sword, hmm... I am not sure whether I can blame them. I imagine I would be hard pressed to choose between saving someone right now or ignoring them for the sake of helping others later. It feels like a rather unpleasant choice, and one that would weigh on me if I were forced to make it repeatedly.

[temperedinpride]

The choice seems plain enough to me. I can think of nothing so cruel and vexing as vain self-sacrifice. An exercise in alleviating one's personal feelings of guilt; avoiding hard choices by refusing to make any at all. And placing the burden of pain on the ones who love you when the dust settles.

And in the case of SensitIV, more than just a burden on your loved ones.

Such lack of self-preservation is frankly the height of selfishness.

[weenwoon]

[haha wow bread it's like you're speaking from experience!!]

I do understand where you are coming from, but is denying yourself an outlet for that guilt not simply another manner of self-sacrifice? How long would it take someone to forget that they are a person, not merely a machine for saving others?

[temperedinpride]

[Shut up.]

There are other avenues to dealing with guilt and pain than dying.

[weenwoon]

Such as?

[temperedinpride]

Leaning on friends, talking, receiving love, and offering it. Not letting it fester.

[weenwoon]

[He smiles.]

All rather good ideas, I fully concur. But all things that are quite hard or impossible to do or hold on to when you've someone being tortured in front of your eyes.

[haha anyway guess who's been having all sorts of fun nightmares thanks to yall]

[temperedinpride]

[Buddy we are literally the dream manipulation unit just... just ask for an assist.]

So you would forsake those who love you for the life in front of you? Is that not exactly the definition of selfish, to indulge your own whims to escape guilt or willfully trade your life so you need not suffer the sight of another's pain, all over the promises and duty you owe to those who love you?

[weenwoon]

[HE DOESN'T KNOW THAT HE THINKS YOU'RE JUST, THE BOOZE PEOPLE

Levity gives him a careful look, silent for a time. Despite everything, he's not stupid.]

Is it something that happened to you? You speak as though you've suffered such loss yourself.

[temperedinpride]

I simply find it a frustrating mindset. It shows a naivety. A lack of actual consideration for the consequences to those left behind. It is no better than abandonment and neglect to those you would proclaim to love, in my opinion. Thoughtless, at the very best, and mostly selfish.

[weenwoon]

[Both Cosmo and Five are sure very negative about "naivety", huh... He doesn't have anything to vocalize about it yet, though, so Levity just notes it down for himself as an observation.]

Then the question I would pose to you is thus: is it not selfish to pick those you love over others? For in that moment you are choosing people who are dear to you personally. The person you choose to ignore surely has those who love them, too. Do those people deserve to be left behind, instead?

[temperedinpride]

Not at all. Everyone deserves to live and thrive and be protected.

But I ask you this, when you have those who would be hurt by your pain and who would be crushed by your abandonment, who rely on you and need you, where is your responsibility? Is it to the person in front of you or is it to the people to whom you have a previous connection?

Not all responsibility is selfless, and not all selflessness is responsible. Sometimes the responsible thing is the selfish one, and sometimes it is the altruistic one.

To me, duty lies with those you are sworn to and those you love. While saving others would be nice, and should be pursued, it is not always viable. In that case, priorities must be made.

I myself must prioritize a certain duty above all else, and after that, I prioritize my loved ones, for it is to them I owe fealty--and that does not necessarily mean putting their lives above mine, sometimes it means protecting myself or their own loved ones above protecting them.

In a place where death has no meaning, Levity, throwing away your life and safety to "protect" others, while your own pain rends the hearts of those who love you, is, as I have stated, only an empty gesture. A means to dodge personal guilt and nothing more.