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[lingeringhope]

[Hope's voice is clear and clipped.]

If you would like to leave a message, you may do so here. I can't promise to respond. I have many demands on my time, and this sort of thing is far down the list. Still, if you would like to, you may.

Comments

[mismanagement]

[Maketh thins her mouth.]

It was not meant to be. The Null have made certain claims.

[She eyes him up and down.]

They ought to be discussed.

[lingeringhope]

What is it that you want to discuss?

[mismanagement]

They claimed they could send us home. And that they'd kill you, of course.

[She smiles at him, not gently.]

Of course they're lying.

[Or are they? Perhaps. Maketh hasn't decided. But that's not the point right now. Maketh tips her head to the side.]

What we're discussing, Hope, is why we shouldn't feed you to the proverbial wolves. I want a reason why we shouldn't cheer the Null on when they rip you apart.

[lingeringhope]

You want me to beg you for our lives? You want me to beg you to support us, rather than the creatures that have committed genocide, have murdered all others of our species and the species that we lived here with before you?

[He returns her look, cold.]

No. Let it be on your conscience if that is your choice.

[And he disappears.]

[mismanagement]

My conscious--!

[She meant to do this quietly, calmly. Not with yelling. Maketh clenches her fists and forces herself to breathe. Just because she can't see Hope doesn't mean he isn't listening.]

Do you know what you would be called, in my world? Hmm? We have a word for it. Do you want to know it in all the languages? No?

[She laughs, feeling insane.]

I don't care if you live or die, slaver. I care if the people I protect stay alive. And if you can't separate your precious feelings from the reality of our situation, then you're of no use at all.