11 March.

[apwbbumblebee]

[locked to Ahime]

Ahime, my dear girl ... I am aware this may be a painful subject for you, but I have just heard about your rather unfortunate encounters in the past week.

I wished only to assure you that if, at any time, you require a sympathetic ear--you need only ask.

Comments

[warriortigra]

I've been better. Physically at least.

Really I just want to get the hell out of here and kick that bastard's ass.

[apwbbumblebee]

That is understandable; a man such as that must, of course, be stopped. [gently] However, such an action would serve no purpose if the only intention is to wound or kill--particularly if it is you who may turn out injured for the second time.

But, naturally, I do not need to tell you any of this, either.

[warriortigra]

Hng...

I don't care. I don't. If I have to go and take him down with me--...

Who I was before... it was my job to protect people. Some one is going to die because of that asshole. ... it might as well be some one who can put a sword through his gut in the process.

[apwbbumblebee]

Ah. [softly] And what of those you leave behind, my dear? Yes, it is true that something needs to be done. But that hardly means it should or must be done at the cost of your own life, Ahime.

I would not dream of attempting to stop you from doing what you feel you must, my dear. But please do remember that it is easy to rush into a righteous battle; it is much harder, and a much more highly prized skill, to rush in and emerge alive. And I, for one, would much prefer the latter for you.

[warriortigra]

... sometimes people have to sacrifice to keep those they care about safe.

[apwbbumblebee]

[gently] I do understand this, Ahime; indeed, you may recall that such was the nature of my death. And yet, there is a rather large difference between merely being prepared for the eventuality and expecting just such an occurrence. From your words ... I cannot help but fear you might be inclined toward the latter.

[warriortigra]

I'm not going to make a promise to come back when I don't think I can.

[apwbbumblebee]

I would not ask you to, my dear. But there is no need to go into a fight expecting to die if there are other ways the problem might be solved, and there is no need to go into the fight at all without first pursuing those other options. Even were you to succeed, and lost your life in the process, if there was another way it could be done then your sacrifice would have been meaningless.