"Oh! Yeah, I've got a pen. It's important to write down notes."
She nods like this is very important, and rummages in her pockets for a brush pen and inkstone in a little bag which is honestly probably more familiar to Exalteds anyway.
"Um—you mean the red ink? I'm not really sure, but that's definitely not me. I don't think the Professor would write in books like that, either."
[ thank fuck. she takes them and sets the inkstone on a shelf. ]
Well then, I hope that both you and she will forgive me for committing what I'm sure is a cardinal sin amongst scholars.
[ and with that they start writing. very, very slowly, and very very carefully, sounding things out as they go. ]
Hypocrite. Immortality suited you just fine, didn't it? You got all the opportunity you dreamed of.
Is it not possible that one may reject for others that which they would gladly accept for themselves? That one may choose and revel in something that is yet considered by oneself to be a curse, not to be freely spread amongst all those who ask for it? That something may suit one individual, yet not another?
If one wishes to fight monsters, then one must become one. However, this road is not one anyone should be encouraged to walk, for one more monster in the world is one more monster in the world no matter how many of its own kind it fells. In this beast's humble opinion, to do anything but dissuade someone from becoming such a thing (so long as they can be dissuaded) is to ultimately aid monstrosity, regardless of the benefits in "opportunity" such a thing has brought.
What does it mean about you if you chose all your mentees because they reminded you of yourself in some way, and they all turned out terribly? She may well want you dead, as rosy as this seems.
Why must it mean something? These children found a role model whom reflects values they themselves hold. It should hardly be surprising they would turn out the similar, and if they *are* at all similar to Miaoshan then in this beast's estimation "terrible" is a vastly incorrect and unnuanced description, if such a label could be considered anything but subjective rhetoric in the first place.
Aria may blame herself for me turning out as I did, and she may consider what I am to be a horrid beast, but does she have any right to do so? No, she does not. Only I, as I am now, have that right, and her tendency to consider me as she would like is nothing more than a lack of love for herself. This beast therefore puts forth that it is the same for Miaoshan and her children (though perhaps somewhat less literal in terms of "lacking love for oneself"). As for whether or not any of them wish for her to be dead, why not simply ask them? If they have in no way been compelled or coerced into speaking in some way that is untrue to themselves, why would the answer be anything but what they believe?
"Ah, you're a really good writer," she says. "I guess if someone's going to write in the books it's good to write better things in them, too. The red words seem pretty unhappy."
Oh, thank you. My skill with words comes from quite some time ago, when I was somewhat less beastly yet possessed a blade no sharper than I currently do, in the times where a sufficiently powerful argument was a force greater than any weapon. There are few remaining arenas in which that holds true, but in the realm of one's self there is no other force that holds any power at all.
The red words are very unhappy, and I shall not allow them to go unchallenged.
"I wonder if... there's an assignment, right? About what all of this means? So maybe... that person is trying to complete the assignment, too. But I think yours is definitely better so far. I think it's really... what was it... what you said about there being no other force that holds any power at all in the realm of one's self..."
She nods, sagely. "That's an idea she likes. And also the red person seems like a pessimist and she hates those guys."
Mm. That makes sense, yes. And she is correct in that pessimists are in general not very worth heeding, as is any other charlatan that claims to know with certainty what the future holds.
[ they reach for her hand, looking down the aisle. ]
There is still more to go over, and those sounds to investigate as well. Let us go.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Re: PRIMARY SOURCES: EARLY-TO-MID 20TH CENTURY
their ears perk up at the sound, though, and they tilt their head back at Miaoshan (Small). ]
Ah. Do you happen to know what that might be?
Re: PRIMARY SOURCES: EARLY-TO-MID 20TH CENTURY
She seems to be trying to think of really big things. "A boat? A really big rock?"
It is probably not a boat.
Re: PRIMARY SOURCES: EARLY-TO-MID 20TH CENTURY
they smile gently at her, before turning back to the books. ]
I see. An investigation for later, then.
These intrusive texts. Do you think these are representative of guilt or self-doubt? Further, do you happen to have a writing utensil on your person?
Re: PRIMARY SOURCES: EARLY-TO-MID 20TH CENTURY
She nods like this is very important, and rummages in her pockets for a brush pen and inkstone in a little bag which is honestly probably more familiar to Exalteds anyway.
"Um—you mean the red ink? I'm not really sure, but that's definitely not me. I don't think the Professor would write in books like that, either."
Re: PRIMARY SOURCES: EARLY-TO-MID 20TH CENTURY
Well then, I hope that both you and she will forgive me for committing what I'm sure is a cardinal sin amongst scholars.
[ and with that they start writing. very, very slowly, and very very carefully, sounding things out as they go. ]
Hypocrite. Immortality suited you just fine, didn't it? You got all the opportunity you dreamed of.
Is it not possible that one may reject for others that which they would gladly accept for themselves? That one may choose and revel in something that is yet considered by oneself to be a curse, not to be freely spread amongst all those who ask for it? That something may suit one individual, yet not another?
If one wishes to fight monsters, then one must become one. However, this road is not one anyone should be encouraged to walk, for one more monster in the world is one more monster in the world no matter how many of its own kind it fells. In this beast's humble opinion, to do anything but dissuade someone from becoming such a thing (so long as they can be dissuaded) is to ultimately aid monstrosity, regardless of the benefits in "opportunity" such a thing has brought.
What does it mean about you if you chose all your mentees because they reminded you of yourself in some way, and they all turned out terribly? She may well want you dead, as rosy as this seems.
Why must it mean something? These children found a role model whom reflects values they themselves hold. It should hardly be surprising they would turn out the similar, and if they *are* at all similar to Miaoshan then in this beast's estimation "terrible" is a vastly incorrect and unnuanced description, if such a label could be considered anything but subjective rhetoric in the first place.
Aria may blame herself for me turning out as I did, and she may consider what I am to be a horrid beast, but does she have any right to do so? No, she does not. Only I, as I am now, have that right, and her tendency to consider me as she would like is nothing more than a lack of love for herself. This beast therefore puts forth that it is the same for Miaoshan and her children (though perhaps somewhat less literal in terms of "lacking love for oneself"). As for whether or not any of them wish for her to be dead, why not simply ask them? If they have in no way been compelled or coerced into speaking in some way that is untrue to themselves, why would the answer be anything but what they believe?
Re: PRIMARY SOURCES: EARLY-TO-MID 20TH CENTURY
"Ah, you're a really good writer," she says. "I guess if someone's going to write in the books it's good to write better things in them, too. The red words seem pretty unhappy."
Re: PRIMARY SOURCES: EARLY-TO-MID 20TH CENTURY
The red words are very unhappy, and I shall not allow them to go unchallenged.
Re: PRIMARY SOURCES: EARLY-TO-MID 20TH CENTURY
She nods, sagely. "That's an idea she likes. And also the red person seems like a pessimist and she hates those guys."
Re: PRIMARY SOURCES: EARLY-TO-MID 20TH CENTURY
[ they reach for her hand, looking down the aisle. ]
There is still more to go over, and those sounds to investigate as well. Let us go.
Re: PRIMARY SOURCES: EARLY-TO-MID 20TH CENTURY
"Okay!"