028 [Video]

[wingsandwill]

[Here everyone, have a distinctly unimpressed-looking Castiel. He's out exploring, looking at tomestones; for anyone who is out there, there are hundreds if not thousands for angels alone, scattered amongst the city and most recognizable by their '-el' name suffixes. But that's not the problem; he's coldly indifferent to most of those gravestones,

Comments

[Video]

[buntails]

Five?! [Crap. How many is she going to find of... everyone? Suddenly, Usagi has a terrible feeling about the prospect of going outside.]

[Video]

[wingsandwill]

Yes. One would have sufficed.

[Video]

[buntails]

I'm sorry. Look, you shouldn't look at them! You should come back to the temple. Just stay here awhile.

[Video]

[wingsandwill]

They mean little to me.

[In other words, as much as dying is unpleasant, he's not all that bothered. Just a little insulted.]

This event is too interesting not to experience.

[Video]

[buntails]

[She's starting to get the picture, and...

She vehemently disagrees.]

I don't want to see these things! I don't want to think about them happening and remember them!

[Video]

[wingsandwill]

Why not?

[The memories aren't good, but they mean something, and they've have an impact on him. He's not sure why anyone would want to forget anything, let alone something so important as dying.]

[Video]

[buntails]

[She wouldn't want to literally forget, either; she just doesn't want to face it.]

Because it hurts. When I remember those times, I hurt all over again.

[Video]

[wingsandwill]

[He's quiet a moment at that.]

It's strange, that feeling.

[Video]

[buntails]

[She nods, and the ghost of a smile touches her lips.]

The truth is, I'm a coward. I don't want to face that feeling again.

[Video]

[wingsandwill]

It isn't cowardly to wish to avoid something that causes you harm when unnecessary.

[Only when you put your well-being above others.]

[Video]

[buntails]

[The only reason she ever faces her fears is to save someone else. Though she doesn't quite see it that way herself, maybe that's courage.]

Maybe that's true. As long as it doesn't make us do something we shouldn't.

[Video]

[wingsandwill]

[He's silent at that a moment. He's made bad decisions--terrible decisions--out of fear before. He refuses to do so again.]

Knowing when to act despite your fear is difficult.

[Video]

[buntails]

[That's all he needs. In an alternate world in her future, she ran away from the decisive final battle - the worst decision she could have made - and spent so long putting it right. Putting aside fear as her decision-maker.]

There are still times I want to run away. Do you know that?

But if I did that, I'd be leaving Rei-chan and everyone to handle everything on their own. I can't do that.

[Video]

[wingsandwill]

It's usually for others that one doesn't give up.

[It always is, for him. When it's down to just him, alone, with no one to fight for, he gives in every time.]

[Video]

[buntails]

[It's the same for her. When the girls are gone, she thinks of horrible things if it will bring them back to her. She's considered handing over innocent hostages, even joining the enemy herself, to be reunited.

And when that hope is gone, she falls to her knees because what is the point and what should she fight for now?

It's very fortunate she's had at least some of the senshi, and made new friends, in Adstringendum. She can be their light of hope as long as she has that much.]

Maybe you're right. People don't do great things for themselves. They do great things for everyone.

[Video]

[wingsandwill]

I believe that's so.

[Terrible things come out of acting for yourself alone. The desire to help others and do the right thing is what prompts great ones.

Even if the line between those can be so often blurred, and sometimes it's hard to tell if you're doing something for someone else or ultimately yourself.]