bindsthedead | Ximilia inbox

Yes. No one else seemed to have a plan, and given the prices the orbs tend to extract... I wanted to give her a choice that didn't involve paying even more to that thing.

In the future, please take care to consult the rest of us before deciding such things on your own.

It worked out in this instance, but it may not always.

I'll forewarn everyone if I share the notes with anyone else. But I don't think we'll face such circumstances again.

[As for the second sentence...]

Certainly better than doing nothing would have.

（ it's the 'if i share' that vivisects his casual annoyance and spills actual, rising anger like blood in the air. the inference that such a thing is still her choice, her decision, and not something that should be made as a collective gets under his skin in a way precious few things do. ）

How kind of you.

（ it is very rare he lashes out like this — and the irony of his protestation is not lost on him. he knows too well what it is to stand in her place, to live this sour truth and be wrong. it has worked out for her once, he does not want to see the false sense of righteous certainty born of that come back to haunt her. ）

The antipode of doing nothing is not taking any available action because it is there to be taken. Making a decision on behalf of all of your comrades with unforeseeable consequences is at best arrogant and foolish of you.

Would you echo that sentiment if it had gone poorly, that it was better than 'doing nothing'? Or are you simply speaking from the secure position of hindsight?

And if no one can agree on what should be done, what should I have done? Do nothing, even though we all knew a war was going to happen soon, and could see people suffering in front of us?

If the merger of Taeum and Sedorum had gone wrong?

[And it's probably telling that this is what Sabriel's mind jumps to when Itachi speaks of things going poorly. Not Entr'i turning out to be untrustworthy, or the Highest One being misunderstood.]

I would probably say 'we should have done this thing instead' rather than 'we shouldn't have done anything at all'. Because even at the time, we all knew doing nothing would not end well, even if we didn't understand what the Highest One was actually planning.

Edited 2022-06-04 03:30 (UTC)

I am not speaking in favour of having done nothing — you will note, I said that the opposite of doing nothing is not to do any available thing. There are paths one might have taken that did not leap immediately to putting a powerful and dangerous magic in the hands of one who you had known less than a month and had no guarantee you could trust.

You act as if it was your only option, as if you alone had the wisdom, knowledge and responsibility necessary to make this call, despite being a novice at war and all its sundry aspects. Yet, you insist that in the event of a poor outcome, you would say 'we should have done this thing instead?' without recognizing the irony in such a statement — that only one who chose to act in this manner was you, and if it had gone poorly the responsibility would be only your own. How is it you will not take accountability for your thoughtless actions, but are willing to infer that the blame in the event of a disaster or tragedy would belong to all? You are the one that robbed us of having a voice enough to say what 'we' might have done.

I ask you — when have any of us chosen to do nothing? How is it that is your defense? That you did something foolish 'just in case' a decision could not be reached?

Even now, you continue to justify what you did rather than admit you may have been hasty, or overstepped yourself. I expected better of you.

I have nothing further to say to you. Please reflect upon my words.

（ and if she responds again, he will not trouble himself to read it. ）

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