[ ... it's not that McGillis didn't see this coming, but it's still a lot. ]
That explains the strange leniency of your family.
[ Maybe how lowly he thinks of family shouldn't be his first thought here, but it is. Things clicked back into a place that makes sense, however cruel that sense is turning out to be. ]
What do you want to do about it? Fight for them, even still?
If humanity would resort to something like that, I don't really feel like wiping out the Futurans for their sake.
I'm here looking for a cure for the sake of my friends and family. If any of the humans on the artificial satellite want it, they'll have to make peace with the Futuran people.
[Yugamu just throwing in a bunch more lore bombs for free.]
[ There's a lot going on here. McGillis feels like he should get out a notepad to map out the setup of that war. But also that isn't really the core of this conversation.
The core is that, despite all he is (someone would make a guy like this intentionally?), Yugamu isn't as unreasonable as he might seem. McGillis smiles, more genuinely. ]
Once upon a time in my world, there was a great war that threatened to wipe out humanity. It took a group of brave knights who abandoned their humanity through surgical procedures to take down what was threatening us. They're the founders of the organization I am now a part of.
There is nothing I think of a more noble, beautiful and powerful than their actions.
... and despite that, it's a relief you don't feel like continuing your 'duty'. Agnika Kaieru made his choice willingly, defying the fate the world was headed towards. You must seize your own future with your own hands as well.
[Yugamu truly a guy of all time because he IS extremely reasonable but somehow also insane. Anyway he smiles up at McGillis. He can tell this is his way of being supportive.]
Well, they cloned us from Futuran DNA so that we could use their powers of hemoanima. So, in a way, us siding with the Futurans is the same as those heroes of yours that defended humanity.
Though, to be clear, I don't think humans in general are bad. I'd rather we find a path to peace. I just don't know if that path still exists.
[ Why is it just one thing after another with this story!! But yeah, sure, that's fine. He's ready to accept just about anything these days, you all live in some weird realities. ]
And you'll only find out if you find a cure to the disease... Does it affect Futurans and humans alike, in your world?
Yes... Even among us, we are not all the same kind of human. It would be troublesome if it was a virus that mutated quickly to adapt to different host systems.
[ That much harder to find a proper cure for... ]
But then, it seems magical in nature so my common knowledge about infections need not apply.
[Nodding. Luna I was literally about to write the same thing but decided to wait a tag.]
Most diseases don't cross the species barrier without mutating but obviously this is different. It doesn't follow any known transmission routes either.
I feel like I know the answer, but I have to make sure. You don't think less of me for being inhuman with a fabricated life?
Good grief... Alright, fine. My question is: What's most important to you? Who or what would you be most willing to defend with your life? Surely even if you'd like the be a completely different person, you still have things you care about now.
[ Look, McGillis would share mundane details of his mundane life without problem, but all of this started because of his refusal to share The Torment Of His Past and he is not budging on that, wow.
But also maybe he really ought to stop allowing Yugamu questions, because he keeps going for the jugular. ]
Of course I do. Being a different person is a distant fantasy, but the life I live now is immediate.
[ What is most important to him... His ambitions. The armor around his soul that he won't allow to break. Telling Yugamu as much would be telling him too much. But there is something else he can say, easily fitting the facade of McGillis Fareed while saying the same thing. ]
She's nine years old right now, and trying very hard at becoming a real lady. She promised me that when I return from my mission, she will be able to welcome me with a surprise new skill to those ends. She wouldn't say which.
Our engagement was decided when she was five, to strengthen the bond between our houses. It won't be formal until I come home though - that's when the engagement party is scheduled for.
[ Or would be if he wasn't stuck in disease village hell. Everyone must be out of their minds with concern by now. ]
It's just power play of the rich and powerful. My father plays the game rather well.
How fortunate I am that her older brother is my own childhood friend, so I had nothing to worry about on that front.
[ Gaelio, who pretty regularly expresses his pity for McGillis in this situation... ]
It's common enough in the upper echelons, where marriage is more about power than sentiment. The Seven Stars especially do not have a lot of offspring, so there was a limited amount of us children to go around - I am not surprised they did not waste time on securing the deal.
Huh... I wonder if Kurara was expecting to be married off in that way. She's the richest person I know.
Either way... I feel bad for all of you. Marriage should be about love. Can't they just make business deals without treating children they should love like chattel?
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I will. That's only fair.
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It would make me angry because that's what happened to me.
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That explains the strange leniency of your family.
[ Maybe how lowly he thinks of family shouldn't be his first thought here, but it is. Things clicked back into a place that makes sense, however cruel that sense is turning out to be. ]
What do you want to do about it? Fight for them, even still?
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I'm here looking for a cure for the sake of my friends and family. If any of the humans on the artificial satellite want it, they'll have to make peace with the Futuran people.
[Yugamu just throwing in a bunch more lore bombs for free.]
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The core is that, despite all he is (someone would make a guy like this intentionally?), Yugamu isn't as unreasonable as he might seem. McGillis smiles, more genuinely. ]
Once upon a time in my world, there was a great war that threatened to wipe out humanity. It took a group of brave knights who abandoned their humanity through surgical procedures to take down what was threatening us. They're the founders of the organization I am now a part of.
There is nothing I think of a more noble, beautiful and powerful than their actions.
... and despite that, it's a relief you don't feel like continuing your 'duty'. Agnika Kaieru made his choice willingly, defying the fate the world was headed towards. You must seize your own future with your own hands as well.
[ This is what counts for a pep talk from him. ]
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Well, they cloned us from Futuran DNA so that we could use their powers of hemoanima. So, in a way, us siding with the Futurans is the same as those heroes of yours that defended humanity.
Though, to be clear, I don't think humans in general are bad. I'd rather we find a path to peace. I just don't know if that path still exists.
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And you'll only find out if you find a cure to the disease... Does it affect Futurans and humans alike, in your world?
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Despite being from completely different planets, humans and Futurans are extremely similar biologically.
[A pause before he adds;]
I suppose it's not that surprising given it's impacting a world like Y'shtolas which has even more diverse races.
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[ That much harder to find a proper cure for... ]
But then, it seems magical in nature so my common knowledge about infections need not apply.
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Most diseases don't cross the species barrier without mutating but obviously this is different. It doesn't follow any known transmission routes either.
I feel like I know the answer, but I have to make sure. You don't think less of me for being inhuman with a fabricated life?
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Not at all, no. If anything, it's the opposite.
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You think better of me for it?
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Because I understand you better now.
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Hah, such is the power of being open and honest! Maybe you're more interested in talking about yourself now too?
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I'm interested in what your question is going to be, at least.
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Good grief... Alright, fine. My question is: What's most important to you? Who or what would you be most willing to defend with your life? Surely even if you'd like the be a completely different person, you still have things you care about now.
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But also maybe he really ought to stop allowing Yugamu questions, because he keeps going for the jugular. ]
Of course I do. Being a different person is a distant fantasy, but the life I live now is immediate.
[ What is most important to him... His ambitions. The armor around his soul that he won't allow to break. Telling Yugamu as much would be telling him too much. But there is something else he can say, easily fitting the facade of McGillis Fareed while saying the same thing. ]
My fiancée, Almiria.
[ Because Almiria is the mirror of soul - and the completion of his ambitions will see her safe and happy. ]
Our engagement was arranged by our parents and we are far apart in age, but that does not change how precious she is to me.
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How old is she, then?
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[ He does sound fond of her when he speaks. ]
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She's even younger than my little sister... I can understand why you're fond of her but why are they marrying her off so young?
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[ Or would be if he wasn't stuck in disease village hell. Everyone must be out of their minds with concern by now. ]
It's just power play of the rich and powerful. My father plays the game rather well.
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So this is normal where you're from? I think if my parents tried to promise my sister's hand to a man over twice her age I'd kill them myself.
No offense. You seem fine but how would I know if this hypothetical man would be?
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[ Gaelio, who pretty regularly expresses his pity for McGillis in this situation... ]
It's common enough in the upper echelons, where marriage is more about power than sentiment. The Seven Stars especially do not have a lot of offspring, so there was a limited amount of us children to go around - I am not surprised they did not waste time on securing the deal.
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Either way... I feel bad for all of you. Marriage should be about love. Can't they just make business deals without treating children they should love like chattel?
[Yugamu like maybe we should eat the rich.]
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Not in a social class that builds its legitimacy on blood relation to long-gone war heroes, no.
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