ota;

[baltimores]

[ This isn't exactly something he does. Not on this scale, at least.

This communion's presence is akin to stepping off into the vacuum of space, cold and dark and empty. A void without feeling, submersed into nothingness — but deep enough there's also the faint pulse of a drowned, hurting heart. And even though it's coming from Amos, there's the sense of him curiously poking at it like an open wound.

It has been a couple of weeks since he killed Cyrus, a fact he has not bothered to hide. A couple of weeks since he has been forced to contend with the responsibility he bears for the deaths of innocents in Springstar, and so — ]

Hey.

[ When he speaks his voice is soft, and gentle, and something that could maybe even be called repentant. Or at least trying to be, the concept being a very, very, very new one for him. ]

So, I've been doing some thinking. There was this time I got caught up in a mass casualty event. Lady I knew then was a nurse, so she was doing what she could, because it had to be done. She also took the time to spend time with the dead. All of them, I think. I didn't really get it then, but I think maybe now...

[ He trails off, fumbling with his words. That pulse maybe grows a little stronger, and then he's back. ]

I dunno how feasible it is, but we should be collecting the names of everyone who died during all of this. When we make the new world — [ because there is no doubt in his mind that Zenith is going to succeed, and their new world will be made — ] we can build some kind of monument. Put everyone's names on it. Give people a space to take their moments with them, even if they ain't here anymore.

I know this don't exactly fix anything, but it's a start. I can keep track of the names. [ There's another pause, and when Amos speaks again, he's much more sure of himself. ] I won't forget them.

Comments

[furibund]

[ For what it's worth, Nebula listens, she listens long and hard and thinks - the presence of her in the communion unmistakable as they're both Exalts. The vacuum of space is a familiar one, long lived in herself, and not uncomfortable - but when she speaks, it's with hard purpose and that snow that welcomes, that comforts. ]

You already forgot them. You forgot them the moment your side decided their lives didn't matter in your damned new world.

[ Because if all worlds are list then this is their so called "new world" and all the people in it. It didn't matter who it was, the attacks on the civilians were clearly orchestrated by someone on Zenith.]

I have their names. The names of the confirmed; The names of those lost, but not confirmed.

I've been in the streets for days. [ Pointed, executed. They're only just getting to a place where they can truly confirm people won't be coming back (if they haven't slipped away). ]

Your monument will not bring them back.

[baltimores]

[ And in turn he listens, too. Calm, impassive, and attentive, Amos listens as Nebula speaks her piece, absorbing every word.

And when she finishes his voice is soft and gentle — not in contrast to her purpose, but because he feels it's what the subject matter deserves. If he had any anger, he's long moved past it, on to... this. ]

I know there's no bringing them back. It's okay.

[ Ever the Zenite, ever accepting of death. It's like Flat said: that's that. All there is left to do is look ahead, which is what he's trying to do now. ]

Can I get their names? Of the confirmed... of the lost, when you're pretty sure they'll be confirmed. So they aren't forgotten in death.

[furibund]

It's not okay.

[ She spits it out, words slick with venom. ]

[ This is where the differ; Where he is a void, she is the tempest of emotions she cannot express. And where they are the same are when it comes to their people. Her offense is great, the cool air quick to change shape to roaring fire - ]

[ Through their connection as Exalts he gets the feeling she too accepts death, embraces it more readily than others. Accepts this war - What she does not accept is the slaughter of innocents. It goes against hard earned principles, she's a Guardian - they're Guardians - and with that she cannot look at him the same. ]

I will not share names with a man who's chosen to look at them as an after thought. Their lives meant as much as mine, yours, or any of the others wiped out.`

I will deal with them myself, if I must.

[baltimores]

[ He gets anger, he just doesn't get hers.

Well, in a way he does. He understands — now, long after it happened — that innocent lives being lost as a diversion was... not exactly the approach that should have been taken. Wouldn't have been his first choice, but Silco had already set that in motion, and Amos was simply taking advantage of it. He knows it doesn't absolve him; it's just something he's going to have to remember for the future.

She is a roaring fire, and he is the cool nothingness of a vacuum. ]

Okay. [ But through communion and their shared aspect both, it comes through easily: he doesn't believe her. A belief that it isn't hers to deal with; it's his.

But at the same time he can recognize a fight not worth having, and so: okay. An immediate, calm acceptance. ]

Let me know if you ever change your mind. [ Because it's still a possibility, he figures. Because he's on the right side, and so it's entirely possible others come over to join him. ] I got time.