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

[dreamflowers]

Hm. Well, personally I do not believe these worlds are fake -- not entirely, anyways -- but I also don't think it's worth disputing what's real and what isn't. I don't think that's the intention of this "trial" we're enduring.

Of course, all I have is conjecture, though it might be worth more consideration than the old "I'm right, you're wrong" debate.

[But then, she's had enough time to sit and mull over the purpose of all this since her little visit back to her world.]

[punkisntdead]

[Problem is, Chloe is convinced she's right 100% of the time.]

I'm just trying to make it easier for everyone getting hung up on it all. Kinda feels like everyone's overthinking it.

[dreamflowers]

[Yeah, that's a vibe Jade is all too familiar with. But she wasn't much better at Chloe's age.]

Nah, I mostly agree, but I just think people are getting hung up on the wrong details. It's not about whether or not we should be "mercy killing" these worlds. That's not what the Advocate asked of us.

I've kinda been through something like this before. This is a fucking test -- and if we keep fighting over something as short-sighted as this, we're failing miserably.

[punkisntdead]

I thought I was done dealing with tests when I dropped out of school...

[Really making a great impression, Chloe.]

What's even the point of it? Clearly nobody here's agreeing on a right answer.

[dreamflowers]

Mm. I never went to school, so I wouldn't know.

[That is to say, Jade has no qualms about Chloe's "dropout" comment.]

At any rate, I think we should look at this from a different perspective than what we do with these Shards. When I first saw the Advocate, they seemed to want to... I dunno. Understand me? And to extend that understanding to others.

What better way to understand someone than to see into the dreams of where they came from?

...It's just a thought.

[punkisntdead]

[Count yourself lucky, Jade. School sucks anyway.]

The only thing I’ve gained an understanding of is how fucking stubborn people are gonna be about this.

[Pot, kettle.]

If this Advocate thing wants us all to hold hands and sing kumbaya, I don’t think it’s doing a great job of setting the stage here.

[Or maybe she’s just too selfish to really get it.]

[dreamflowers]

[Luck isn't exactly one of Jade's strong suits. Lack of compulsory education probably isn't one of them -- but knowing her world, Vyn would probably suck at that, too.]

No, it's certainly not if people are making it about their personal ideologies and beliefs. We don't know for sure what these worlds are, and arguing over our own interpretations won't get us anywhere.

At least the facts we can take away from it are clear enough -- from what I've read, the "Advocate" is about finding value on the surface level, and prioritizing the happiness of others above oneself.

[She sighs.]

I know it's probably vague, and folks didn't seem to put much stock into what makes these "Aspects" of ours meaningful, but the way the Oracle spoke... just made me think about it a bit. I dunno.