[So this Emperor had taken a bunch of teenagers, it seems like, based on the list of people he's putting together, out to somewhere both dangerous and isolated, and then presented them with sunk cost fallacy. They'd come this far for answers, what's one more step, right?
Which wouldn't justify crossing such a clear line, but he's going to take a guess that 'Teacher' had known exactly how manipulative he'd been.]
I see. And some of you objected to killing unarmed prisoners.
Like I told, Imyarek or whatever they're calling themselves these days, I'm onboard to help, in principle. Within the bounds of my moral lines, and all that.
I think enough of those have been crossed for a while.
I call him Merlinus. You should give him a name, too, if you're working with him. He likes seeing what people think of him by what they call him. Don't tell him I told you that.
I understand, but it's a cultural variance for them. Shrikes don't share their true names with almost anyone. Giving them a name is part of how they understand their relationship to you.
[For the brief, strange time that he was one, Paul (Atreus) had finally understood the importance of that to Merlinus, but the truth of why is a secret that isn't his to share.]
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Which wouldn't justify crossing such a clear line, but he's going to take a guess that 'Teacher' had known exactly how manipulative he'd been.]
I see. And some of you objected to killing unarmed prisoners.
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I didn't allow them to intervene.
[It doesn't matter why. It doesn't matter how he felt about it. Those things are ephemeral and inconsequential, so he elides them.]
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Now I understand your status report.
Don't do anything stupid just to punish yourself, please. That won't make anything better.
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There's too much I have to do.
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private
We had a conversation about containment and cooperation, a while back.
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As much as I can.
I remember.
That's not what I'm trying.
[Private]
Then what are you trying? Make things right, how?
private ∞
Then I'll account to my Patron.
private ∞
Who's your Patron?
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[Ezra will understand the extent of that calamity, Paul thinks.]
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Like I told, Imyarek or whatever they're calling themselves these days, I'm onboard to help, in principle. Within the bounds of my moral lines, and all that.
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I call him Merlinus. You should give him a name, too, if you're working with him. He likes seeing what people think of him by what they call him. Don't tell him I told you that.
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[For the brief, strange time that he was one, Paul (Atreus) had finally understood the importance of that to Merlinus, but the truth of why is a secret that isn't his to share.]
ugh, I lost this one
Ok, these sounds like good near future plans. I'm here if you want to talk anything else over.
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It means a great deal to me.