What happens in the library stays in the library. Unless it's demons

[freedom_is_grey]

Ysalwen is seated at a table in the library, tomes and scrolls spread out before her. There's also the remains of at least two plates of sandwiches next to her elbow, and two empty glasses of water. There is one half-empty glass, too.

Liranan, seated at her side, seems to be watching that half-empty glass as if his life depends on it.

Time continues to pass.

Comments

[yinyangwizard]

"Well, my world does not have quite the variety of mortals yours does - so I can only speak to humans."

He looks down at Liranan. "Your species isn't self-interested to the point of foolishness, I hope?"

[freedom_is_grey]

"Motivations are often different, but there's always a few that desire nothing but power and control. So."

Go figure.

Liranan, meanwhile, barks twice, tail wagging.

Mabari like to focus outward, on the person (or people) they love most! It works!

[yinyangwizard]

"I've found that most people aren't evil so much as profoundly deluded." Seimei scratches Liranan behind the ears. "They really think they are doing the right thing. Or that they have no other choice."

Ysalwen's known people like that, right?

"And then there are people who have a great void in their hearts that all the power and acclaim in the world cannot fill. All their striving for these things just widens the void until everything is consumed."

With time and distance, Seimei has come to think of Ashiya Doman as one of those people.

[freedom_is_grey]

"I'm still not sure which kind of person is worse, in the end. Or causes more damage, I mean."

Loghain was the first kind, Howe was the second.

Both of them left wreckage in their wake.

[yinyangwizard]

"In terms of absolutes, the first kind - by sheer force of numbers," Seimei says. "But in terms of which sort of individual causes more damage on their own? Definitely the second. Especially because they are so underhanded about it."

The deluded people tend to be louder and easier to spot.

[freedom_is_grey]

"But in the end, on their own or not -- "

She shakes her head, just a little wearily.

"Maybe it doesn't matter, that comparison. Just -- stopping the ones we can find. Or that make us find them. Or both."

[yinyangwizard]

"Well, as I see it, the first sort of person may be convinced to see the error of their ways. They deserve a chance to make amends."

Some days, Seimei has to work really hard to convince himself of that.

"With the latter sort of person the only prudent approach is to...well, send them on their karmic journey, as it were."

[freedom_is_grey]

"Hmm. Sometimes, I suppose. When their mad actions aren't going to result in more people being hurt. More uninvolved people, I mean to say."

Forgiveness and second chances are great, when you can get them. Letting more people starve or die just to see if you can feel good about redeeming one person -- no.

(Not that this is what Seimei means, but it's what Ysalwen is thinking about. Ah, not-so-ancient history.)

[yinyangwizard]

"The thing is, if one kills a single deluded person, there is quite likely to be another, similarly deluded person ready to step into his shoes."

They tend to travel in packs, after all.

"And then one may be faced with the necessity of killing a lot of people, when death and destruction is exactly what one wanted to avoid in the first place."

This is not always the case, but it's a substantial risk.

[freedom_is_grey]

"That's the problem with generalities," Ysalwen says, mouth twisting at one corner.

"Circumstances never quite line up that neatly."

[yinyangwizard]

"Ah. You would prefer that your enemies line up and let you throw fireballs at them." Seimei says, grinning. "I suppose that would save a lot of trouble, at least in the near term."

[freedom_is_grey]

"No," she says, unexpectedly solemn.

"No, I don't want that at all."

[yinyangwizard]

"Ah, forgive me, I misunderstood." After a beat, Seimei asks, "What do you want, then?"

[freedom_is_grey]

She smiles quickly, a bright flare that isn't matched by her eyes.

"Nothing I can get with the world as it is, I'm afraid."

[yinyangwizard]

"Even if your wishes are unrealistic, I would still be interested in hearing them, if you are willing."

You can tell a lot about a person by how they say they'd change the world, if they could.

"I will even give you some of my idealistic and unachievable dreams in exchange."

[freedom_is_grey]

"I want a world where everyone is free. Where we don't fear each other just because we're different, where people -- "

Well.

"Where sharing instead of hoarding in the rule of the day, because it's what people want to do."

Her mouth quirks at one corner.

"I don't think we'll ever get there, but I can try."

[yinyangwizard]

Seimei nods. "Even getting a little way towards that goal would be worthwhile."

And as a follower of Mahayana Buddhism, Seimei very much approves.

"I promised to share one of my own, and so I shall. It is, I fear, more modest than yours." Seimei clears his throat. "I wish that people would cease being thoughtlessly and pointlessly cruel to each other, and especially to children."

[freedom_is_grey]

"We'll see how it goes."

Her smile is a little less twisted, now.

"I like that one. Yours, I mean."

[yinyangwizard]

"I am glad to hear it." Seimei is genuinely flattered. "I suspect that if my wish came true, the Bodhisattvas would have a lot less work. I certainly would."

The Bodhisattvas probably wouldn't mind, but Seimei might get bored and up to all sorts of trouble.

[freedom_is_grey]

"Then you could develop hobbies."

She only sounds a little wistful.

"I hear good things about those."

[yinyangwizard]

It is perhaps meant to be a joke, but it makes Seimei worried nonetheless. "Oh! I hope you have room in your life for at least one pursuit that is either artistic or idle."

Like playing a musical instrument, or occasionally napping on a sunny hillside.

[freedom_is_grey]

Her smile is quick and a little crooked.

"I don't know that I would call those hobbies, but -- I do have time when I'm not working."

[yinyangwizard]

"Milliways is good for having that sort of time. I mean, hopefully you get at least some at home too," Seimei says. "What sorts of things do you do when you're not working? And" - he grins - "feeding your insatiable curiosity in the library doesn't count."

[freedom_is_grey]

Well, there's sex with Zevran, these days . . .

"Um."

Liranan barks cheerfully. They wander the forest and the labyrinth and fight monsters, obviously!

[yinyangwizard]

"I find myself suddenly and painfully aware of the vast gulf of difference between 'time when I'm not working' and 'free time,'" Seimei says drily.

He worries about Ysalwen a little. She'd be very cross if she knew.

"Ah, Liranan. I am relieved to know that you, at least, have an activity you enjoy."

Although he's not sure what it is. While Seimei speaks many languages, Dog is not one of them.