Inbox

[artistinexile]

You have reached the inbox of the former Grand Admiral Thrawn of the Imperial Star Destroyer Chimaera and the Seventh Fleet, also formerly known as Senior Commander Mitth'raw'nuruodo of the Springhawk.

I will return your message promptly.

[The message repeats in six different languages]

Comments

[artistinexile]

Why not?

[planetdialup]

I haven't been paired up with anyone permanently. No pairing, no deal.

[artistinexile]

Not yet.

But I see no reason to lose hope. What is your deal?

[planetdialup]

It was to ensure the world would heal and lessen the conquences of Jenova but...

I really...want to live.

[artistinexile]

What is stopping you?

[planetdialup]

It's a hard choice Thrawn. It's choosing between myself, and my duty and responsibility.

[artistinexile]

Can you explain that further?

[planetdialup]

I'm not sure how...? Or why we're focusing on my deal that I may not get.

Because even if I get either one, I'm going to stay with Zack until he's ready.

[artistinexile]

I am simply curious if your deal can be enacted without the Admiral's assistance, if you are interested.

[planetdialup]

I think we've covered the idea before and for both...

No. World stability- I'm being literal in that sense- and revival is...

Especially complicated, because it sounds like I will be in the planet, with the memories of all things, for two years at least.

It's not bam, here I am kind of thing. It has to be done carefully.

[artistinexile]

You will be in the planet?

[planetdialup]

Technically? Yes.

Along with trillions of lives that have lived and will live in the planet.

[artistinexile]

[a sharp, confused look at Florian: is this a metaphor or some allegory I am not understanding?]

[a_titanum]

[ He looks back before looking to Aerith. ]

Can you explain the relationship between life and your planet and individual souls for him?

[planetdialup]

All life comes from the planet.

The Lifestream to be specific. It is a river thay goes throughout the planet, that is filled with memories with every living thing.

Not a metaphor. Our bodies break down to planetary essence and goes back to the planet.

Including the soul. Most of the time, the individual soul will break down overtime, and while the memories remain, the soul comes back in the form of new life.

In short- I can't return to any planet to visit, because...I'm essentially planetary water, held together by the Admiral.

[artistinexile]

[oh okay that just makes his suspicions worse]

Have you tried?

[planetdialup]

No?

I'm...dead back home? It's too risky to try.

[artistinexile]

If you are dead, then there is no feasible reason not to try.

[planetdialup]

Thrawn, I understand this comes from a place of care.

But this is starting to sound more like a high risk experiment where, at best, if I do try, I won't be able to come back.

And you already know that I have a background where I was experimented on as a child.

Please reflect on that for a moment.

[artistinexile]

[His eyes, perhaps shockingly, narrow with slight insult. Thrawn will only speak when he is sure of himself; asking him to reflect on his words is to indicate wrongness. But he takes it for disagreement in personal opinion instead and relaxes his hold. He does not wish to fight.

He nods, once]

Very well.

[a_titanum]

[ A small bit of smoothing- ]

I'm sure that, as something of an expert in this energy, Aerith has good reason to believe that her understanding of how it works makes the risk of the experiment greater than the potential gain in knowledge in regards to this subject in ways that would be difficult to easily summarize and explain to us both when we are so new to this system.

[He dips his head to her.]

[planetdialup]

I've been in tune with this energy since I was a child. And, while there have been allusions that I can do things in my future while in the Lifestream, it doesn't mean I will know how to leave.

Or that something wouldn't go very wrong if I did try.

I could come back, physically, but only physically. Living people who are exposed too much to the Lifestream can have their minds and souls swept away.

There's still a lot that I don't know when it comes to having any control over the Lifestream. I can only assume that if the reports are true, it's something I learned after I entered it, and have because I'm a Cetra.

[artistinexile]

[a brief nod of thanks to Florian]

So you are essence made manifest, only here by the Admiral's grace. Is that correct?

[planetdialup]

Correct.

[artistinexile]

[a short nod.

Then, Thrawn reaches forward and prods Aerith, quite hard, on her arm]