[Voice- Backdated to the 24th]

[donotcomprehend]

It has been a year since I arrived in Vatheon. A longer time than I was ever truly alive in the Junkyard or in the real world, and more than a year since gaining the Atma. Yet Nirvana seems to remain beyond our reach.

[When Gale speaks again, after a short pause, he sounds more thoughtful.]

At what cost should one give up their emotions?

Comments

[ voice ]

[beauchevalier]

It seems quite a number of people have been in this place for over a year now. So congratulations, I guess.

[Then a small pause after he says that and considers his answer to Gale's question.]

As for your question, it can be either within reason or the circumstances permit it to happen.

[ voice ]

[donotcomprehend]

It is only at a seeming whim that we are kept here, and I was returned home briefly, as were most of the members of the tribe. Others from our world have come and gone. That we have remained together for this amount of time is worthy of note, I believe.

How would you define those circumstances?

[ voice ]

[beauchevalier]

[Another pause, but this one longer until he breaks the silence.]

Mainly negative treatment of others that can extend to cruelty. Could you say any person can live with that while trying to retain emotions?

[ voice ]

[donotcomprehend]

Would they not be capable of the same cruelty without their emotions?

[ voice ]

[beauchevalier]

Perhaps, then again I don't know for certain.

[A sigh.]

I'll simply say that I'm familiar with knowing how to live without emotions.

[ voice ]

[donotcomprehend]

You, as well?

[ voice | private ]

[beauchevalier]

[Yeah, he's going to private this.]

More or less, but few in this bubble know that.

[ voice | private ]

[donotcomprehend]

We of the Embryon have never intended to hide it. It was a fact of our world. Do you not wish for it to be discussed?

[ voice | private ]

[beauchevalier]

That's correct. People in my world would possibly have used it against me if they knew the details and I believe the same of certain people in this world.

[ voice | private ]

[donotcomprehend]

How might they use it against you, if it is not true of you now?

[ voice | private ]

[beauchevalier]

You would be surprise how far blackmailing someone can get you, especially in my world.

[ voice | private ]

[donotcomprehend]

Ah.

[It's a tactic he understands, actually. As a strategist, it's kind of his thing. But informational blackmail doesn't work that well in the kind of battles he plans for.]

And in this one?

[ voice | private ]

[beauchevalier]

It's hard to predict here.

[And he's being honest about that.]

[ voice | private ]

[donotcomprehend]

Nevertheless, it exists as a possibility. Still, it would benefit you to remember that the politics of this world are not the same as you own.

[ voice | private ]

[beauchevalier]

That's very true, yet the possibility of similar politics from other worlds can find their way here.