caughtinanetwork

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Um, excuse me, would anyone here mind a spar with me? I don't want to hurt anyone but ...I think it's been a while since I last fought someone. I'm a Crystal Eren so that means I'm not a physical fighter...

[After a couple of seconds, Shirley thought about it some more]

Actually, I want to ask, would anyone mind teaching me how to fight using your fists? I think I might need some help training... [And you know, getting ready for the Fishlympics]

I'll promise that I'll teach you about Crystal Erens in return!

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[There was a pause.]

At first, not everyone. Thyra...didn't agree with this at first but...

I told her that it was easier to hate than to actually promote peace. It wasn't until... [Well, might as well tell him now. Somewhere, a part of her was wondering if Grune was proud of her for what she had done] that we fought Schwartz that she agreed to it.

[Thyra and Schwartz.

They seemed like names he should know. But he didn't. Still, Thyra was clearly Ferines -- the one he might have agreed with on gut instinct.

. . . Then who was the other?

She was dumping hardly any information on him, but the few that she had imparted left him more than a little overwhelmed. Gaze trained on her, he kept quiet; a silent indication to go on. Elaborate. End it there. Anything.]

[And Shirley let a small smile at him]

Schwartz is a god like being. Nerifes had asked her to end all the suffering from both Ferines and Orerines alike and that was what she planned to do; kill everyone so we won't have to suffer anymore.

[Pause] Isn't it kind of funny, Walter, that we tried to kill the Orerines and in return, Schwartz wanted to kill everyone.

[He was quiet again. Shaking his head, he offered quietly,]

. . . no, Merines. That kind of death serves no cause.

[Walter found nothing humorous about it.]

[As Shirley hoped it wouldn't]

It didn't matter what race you were, both Orerines and Ferines alike helped us fight against Schwartz. In the end, we won and that's all that matters. Don't you agree?

[She hoped that maybe telling this story would change Walter's mind about the Orerines but...she doubts it. 4000 years of racism isn't easy to erase...]

[She was right to doubt it. It might have been a pleasant thought, but Walter had no mind for it, still fixated on the detail that she hadn't repeated history. For the better.]

None of that would have happened if the Cataclysm had succeeded . . .

[Oh Wally...]

I don't think so, I believe Schwartz still would have arrived regardless.

Who is to say that what Nerifes met by suffering isn't only limited toward race?

Then what could Nerifes have meant?

[It wasn't a challenge so much as he genuinely couldn't think of another reason. Nothing that would warrant the end of even their kind.]

[In which Shirley goes marching up straight to Walter and pinches him]

Who is to say that the Ferines won't end up causing some kind of suffering against each other? It isn't limited to race at all.

Merines, what --

[The pinch didn't hurt; rather, it surprised him, and he was clearly taken back by the physical contact.]

But the Ferines all mean to rally under your name. There shouldn't be disagreements so quickly . . .

[Are we making some progress here Wally?]

But there would still be some disagreements eventually and ,thus ,creating some tension in our group.

Suffering would still happen no matter what.

[He had to mull this over for a bit. It was not his place to question Nerifes' decision, but he was in no position to argue with Shirley, either. He had no intention to.]

. . . was Nerifes fine with your choice?

Yes, he was.

And I believe he hopes that I keep this promise to him.

Merines . . .

[He was a little torn on what to say. Or perhaps massively so.]

I know that you might not like it, Walter but...

It is what I believe in. [Pause] I'm ready for what else you might want to say.

[And she's waiting for it......]

. . . It is the Merines' will. I have nothing to say to that.

[Because she said she believed in it, and he would not be one to contest that. As much as he disagreed with the overall direction of her newfound choice.]

[For a moment, Shirley raised an eyebrow at him. With that, she smiled at him]

I'm surprised, I thought you would disagree. Or rather...I'm surprised that you agreed right away.

[He disagreed. History was bound to repeat itself. Orerines were bound to betray and cause numerous deaths. In the last four thousand years, they'd spelled nothing but trouble.

Still . . . ]

You are the agent of Nerifes, the divine will of the sea. If it's from you, then surely . . .

[Surely, it must yield some good for the Ferines.

But he was nothing if not honest.]

But I cannot trust the Orerines.

It's okay, I'm just glad that you're being honest with me!

[Pause]

And I've noticed that you seem...calmer compared to the last time I saw you. [But then again, death can change a person...]

That I am happy about too...

[Considering especially stressful circumstances during the time she spoke of, he was indeed calmer, if not more prone to boiling over on the inside. It had been easier to be less vocal when he'd traveled in disguise, pretending to be one of them, but going back to that mindset had proved impossible after all that which had transpired.

. . . ]

I've had time.

[To think. Get angry. Cool off. Get angry again.]

The last time was . . . [the memory was vivid was he recalled] the Wings of Light.

Yes...that was the last time I saw you... [And then there was a sigh] So much as happened since that time...[And knowing that she can't look back anymore]

But the both of us have grown stronger in our own way, that's what I think.

Stronger?

[He felt weaker and listless. That she would say they were both stronger, in "their own ways," no less, puzzled him. In his own way, he was the opposite of what she said.]

It seems that you're much more patient now.

[At least she hopes]

So you're more willing to think instead of charging straight forward.

[If he was to be the judge of that, he really wasn't. He knew he wasn't -- ah.]

There's nothing to charge at here. Monsters are unheard of.

[And by virtue of a weak "disguise," he would be a fool to attack people at random.]

[Oh Wally]

Are you getting more frustrated with the people here? To the point where you couldn't stand it? It seems like you've ...grown more tolerate.

[Was that even the word to say?]

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