DIRECTED TO MERIDIAN, OPEN TO ALL.

[twohand]

[ In the midst of the Advocate's beginnings, perhaps a few world adventures in ( ignore pax's belated posting in that case ), there is a quiet presence that coalesces within the minds of all. An Advocate, dusk-skinned and thoughtful as he addresses all present. Even his voice is morose, a little saddened by what he has taken notice of — though that is mostly on behalf of Meridian. He cannot imagine what it must feel like, to look upon something familiar and have it not be exactly what they want. ]

They're dying. These worlds — they're already lost, they're torn up and left in pieces, they're dreams of what was; please don't make them suffer when you can bring them a gentle end. Even if you fight to restore them in the long run, choosing to save them now is torturous. It is asking someone with a terminal illness to fight on, when they ought to be given the ability to rest.

[ He sounds like he is pleading with the Meri, a call not to stand so firmly with their impossible desire to restore all that they make such a glaring mistake. ]

All things have a right to live, I agree. But, all those same things also should have a dignified end. I am only asking that you understand this, and choose to help us give what is left of these worlds the ending that I wish our worlds could have had.

This time, please... just this time. I am asking on their behalf, for all to choose a difficult thing — but, the thing that only we now have the power to do for them.

Comments

[twohand]

[ The nature of their being Advocate means that he can feel Subaru's empathy, his desire to understand and make good decisions on behalf of others. Because like it or not, the Advocate has asked them to make a decision on behalf of others — just because one might vote "preserve" instead of "release" doesn't mean they're any better than one another. Only an "abstain" vote would give anyone the moral ground to stand on, really. ]

I don't mind. I know that this is ultimately a fight between two different beliefs, and I have seen religions tear themselves apart for such things. I only want to do... not what is "best" for these people, but what is most compassionate for them. That it is monstrous and difficult for me to propose this has no bearing on my consideration for them.

[ Which is the part that frustrates him; the insinuation that because he is asking others to consider "euthanizing" or "mercy killing" these worlds, he cares for the people any less. If anything, and if he were any less humble a person, he'd claim he cared for them more, since he's able to set aside his own morality and desires to protect them to do what is most painful for his heart. ]

Were I able to save them, I would. Absolutely, without a doubt. All I can do, in this one situation, for these people... is advocate for mercy. I want to show them grace and dignity and gentleness, not Oblivion. I don't want them to feel the way we did, and have recently, too. Hunted and terrified to the point of our Shards, our souls, leaping from our bodies — I want to spare them that, is all. It's not about Zenith.

[ Not to him, not right now. ]

— mm, I think we would benefit from that too. I'd always like the company.

[ex_fend346]

[ The silence that follows isn't empty. Instead, it's an air of consideration. Subaru is not so young as many called into this place, yet he can't say he's had any experience rendering such a decision with such limited information. He can't help but wonder what becomes of the souls involved.

This is all some sort of dream, he's sure, yet that doesn't mean these worlds aren't real. That the decision doesn't matter. Because of course it does — it must, or they wouldn't have been put to this task. ]

I would not wish suffering upon them either... If only we knew what becomes of their souls.

[ If something of those people remains, it may not be the end. Not if anything here is at all like the worlds he's known, yet he has no way to gauge that, either. ]

While I can't say what choice I'll make, I will consider what you have said. I've never had to make a decision for so many beyond acquiring for them what they needed to survive, but we're faced with no such option, and now it seems we must do just that.

[ It's a heavy thought, and he fears in all his newness that he isn't in the best position to make a determination like this. But he must give it his best. ]

When this test is over, I hope we'll have another opportunity to speak. I suspect it it may be the only way all of this ends well.

[ He has seen factions grappling over limited resources, after all. ]