Inbox (Synflux)

[curingidiocy]

Dr. Ratio

"There's no rush."

Dr. Ratio

Greetings, I am Veritas Ratio.

Dr. Ratio

Knowledge should flow freely between people, and the same fate should befall truth. You can ask me about technical problems at any moment, and I shall do my utmost to give you a reply.

Dr. Ratio

But before you ask, remember to establish best practices for intense self-rumination, and remember that time is precious for everyone, as for me, so for you.

Dr. Ratio

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[queenofkur]

[ Ereshkigal freezes on the spot after what he's just said. That's... She'd invited him to try and help him, even knowing he wouldn't make it easy on her. That much, she had expected.

What she hadn't expected was for him to pick at her insecurities. For him to accuse her. She's aware it's her failing. She'd voted to stay, but it hadn't been enough. She knows as a goddess, she should have found a way to convince everyone. But she didn't. ]

...

[ Ereshkigal remains silent a moment longer, staring absently at the cash register. Is that what she'd been trying to do...? To feel better about herself? Is that why she's contacted him and others? It's true, she doesn't do that usually. But... ]

... The store is closing.

[ Her voice is cold, her tone distant. She turns her back to Ratio and moves some things on a nearby shelf. She utters but one more word: ]

Out.

[curingidiocy]

[ She crumples like a wet paper towel after being called out just once. He scoffs at her, opting to approach instead. ]

And now you wish to wallow in self-pity? For a goddess that claims to serve humanity, your reaction is utterly pathetic. You criticize me for my flaws, yet when confronted by your own, you wilt without resistance. Where is your conviction, goddess? Are you even trying to preserve humanity's future on this planet? Will you cry every time someone dies due to your decision?

[ Is he trying to goad her into anger? Maybe. ]

[queenofkur]

[ There is a lot she could say here. That she didn't make that decision, for one. That she's been trying as hard as she possibly can ever since the day she's been summoned. That she intends to keep on going, no matter what hardships await. She could say all of those things. But she won't

It gets cold all of a sudden. So very cold, one would be forgiven for thinking winter has suddenly fallen upon Neo Tokyo. ]

I said: out!

[ She turns back to look at him. Though she is obviously teary-eyed, she is also uncharacteristically angry. But more striking of all are her eyes: they shine a golden hue, rather than the usual red. ]

I will not tell you a third time.

[curingidiocy]

[ She didn't, but he thinks she would have cried just the same, if not more, had she been the one to make that decision.

Her anger doesn't scare him. For all that she is angry, he knows she will not hurt him in any way that would permanently harm him. She is a kind, gentle goddess—maybe far too much for this planet's cruel reality. Far too much to handle Ratio, a mere human who has nothing but his words and his brain and tries so hard to help humanity.

He sighs, and turns to leave, but not without one last quip. ]

Our decision to chase the kaiju is not your burden to bear. Do not demean our will and intelligence. Humanity does not need to be coddled by you. We must bear our own failures in order to learn and improve.

Think carefully about what your role should be, goddess.

[ And with that, he departs, his mind clearer and even more determined than before. ]