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

[bakedapple]

[ Link listens attentively to Drizzt's message, and to the conversations that follow, almost without any interjection at all. Eventually, he feels like he's heard enough — these conversations between the two sides always hit an impasse, and Link understands the Meris' take on the situation too well to want to argue with them.

But there is one thing. Something Drizzt should hear. ]

You'll never convince them by saying we should let our worlds die. That we should focus on letting them have a "good death"...

They're just going to accuse us of "killing" people.

[twohand]

What I am asking for is — I know it is monstrous.

[ I have spoken a thought that is evil, his mind cries; a deep pain to have voiced this, to have asked of anyone the presence of thought to even consider this route. He has said something unforgivable, not only to these people, but to himself and his own belief in the beauty and sacredness of life.

But, someone had to. It cannot be a deviation from his overarching morality, to look at this moment and say what needed to be said. To ask for mercy, for people who might choose to struggle before they die — but, who will not know enough to understand what is happening. None of the Shard-Bearers did, and is it so evil to want to spare others agony? ]

I know this choice is as good as murder, but. I just can't bear the idea that right now, we can protect them from pain. Meridian might even prevail and restore them — so, why not do this now?

[ It's so horrible! To demand people experience a bitter end, unknowing and unprepared; to demand they experience it, alone, because the ones choosing for them will not be there to feel every inch of their terror and pain. ]

I may be killing them, but at least my choice will be made because I cannot abide the thought of making them suffer without having the ability to suffer at their side.

[bakedapple]

[ Drizzt is so quick to self-flagellate, Link thinks to himself. What he doesn't think, at the same time, is just how similar they are in that regard. But Link has always been sensitive to what others are going through while purposefully ignoring his own emotions or the way he fails to address them.

The sensation of Link resting both his hands on Drizzt's shoulders, temperate but firm, hopefully helps bring him back to focus on what he's trying to say. ]

You didn't do anything wrong.

[ Plain, simple. Blunt. He needs Drizzt to listen. ]

What I'm saying is that you aren't killing them. None of us are. Our worlds aren't like people on their deathbeds — it isn't like putting them out of their misery.

They're already gone.

[ It stings to say it aloud. It's something Link had only very recently grasped and accepted for himself. ]

What the Meridian wants is more like... reanimating a corpse. And then telling yourself that the zombie you made is the same as the person that was lost.