chemoscion | IC Contact

Because my will is greater than anyone else's, and so whatever I desire is rightfully mine.

A man might merit killing for any number of reasons – but in the end, if his will to survive were greater than my desire to kill him, he would find a way not to die.
Simple, isn't it?

[That is the dumbest thing AM has ever heard, but... in a strange way, it makes sense. He won't say either of these things.]

I suppose it is simple, especially when you seem to have no consequences for failure.

[ Look, Lucius is absolutely not about to claim it isn't a self-serving ideology. He knows it is. ]

True enough! In either case, the point remains: Whatever you say a man deserves, it means far less than the will to make sure he gets it.

You are correct in a way, I suppose.

Would you say then that you are still in Ryslig because that is your will?

[ That question finds its mark in a way AM's other queries haven't. Immediately, Lucius can feel unease prickle up his spine, the words teasing at thoughts he'd rather keep buried. He tamps them down before they've had the chance to coalesce into anything more than ill-formed shapes within his traitorous mind, and in the blank space left by their absence, his answer forms quickly. ]

No. It is a matter of destiny.

[ It isn't a lie, even if it is less than the whole truth. After all, does Lucius the Eternal seem like anything less than a man who supposes the very Fates look upon his life and smile? ]

[There is so much to question here. It's a mere excuse, of course, and AM can see right through it, but he won't call Lucius out on it. Not yet.]

Destiny is what, the will of a greater power?

[ Is this really the game we're going to play? he almost asks, but perhaps it will suit him better to play along for now. ]

It is what it is. I do not believe it is designed by some being with its own will - but there are times when a coincidence is simply too great, wouldn't you say?

[Likewise, he supposes he'll play along, because there are way too many questions he could ask.]

Yes, I suppose. And yet the universe is full of great coincidences. But if that's what your definition of "destiny" is, I can't fault it.

How I would define it is events preordained, formed in the very fabric of reality at the time of its creation. But, I don't suppose you would subscribe to such romantic notions of the world, would you.

Yes, I suppose "romantic" would be the right word for such suppositions. However, there is truth in what you say. For example, in every world, humans will destroy themselves if pestilence or natural disasters don't do it first. One could say it's written into their very DNA.

Now, now. We're hardly alone in that, AM.

[ He can't say he disagrees, but given the xenos histories he knows, he hardly sees mankind as unique in that regard. ]

Yes, I suppose that should be amended to "any sentient organic species."

Thank you. That is much better.

IC Contact | ryslig

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