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[dragony]

It's been a while, but I suppose I'm curious—and it's hard to do much for curiosity, once it's born, is there? Some feelings can't be snuffed out, once they exist, no matter how much you might wish for it.

[ The voice is that of a young woman, somewhere between late teens and early twenties, lower-middle pitch and a steady cadence. A little tired, perhaps a little bored, but not irritably so. ]

Darkness, Earth, Water, Light, Wind, or Flame.

Choose one, please. But, before you do, know that there's no right answer, or wrong answer, and there's no moral component to any of them. "Light" doesn't mean good; "darkness" doesn't mean evil. Only whichever suits you. Something a little trivial, perhaps, but I'd like to hear your answers.

Thanks.

Comments

[hypnotherapy]

It's not really important to me as an existing entity, but in the more metaphorical sense, I suppose. Darkness is comfortable. Water is calming. Flame is a weapon. Earth I have no connection to...nor Wind.

But light will always be the one I hold closest to me.

You also chose light, I see. [ It's not a question or a hook, just a statement. ]

[dragony]

I did. That's no secret. And most of your observations are on point, but there's one you've made that's mistaken.

[hypnotherapy]

If it was a secret, I doubt you would have revealed it so easily.

No doubt these choices mean different things to you. I wonder if you'll reveal what meaning you get out of them.

Am I allowed to know my mistake straightforwardly, or must I work for it?

[dragony]

You said Flame is a weapon. That is false.

All of them are weapons. In equal measure, and without exception.

[hypnotherapy]

You have me there.

I admit I am biased in that regard, since the conjuration of flames is part of my moveset, and the theme of someone close to me.

What other meanings do they hold for you? Each and every weapon means something to the person who uses it in time. I do wonder.

[dragony]

Some are more personal than others, of course, but I'd rather not submit to you my dissertation on the whole. Knowing what I think affects how people answer me.

If you've heard me confess my own, then you've likely already heard what I've had to say on others.

[hypnotherapy]

Understandable. You wanted to hear others' opinions, after all, not a rehashing of your own.

I know someone back home who would gravitate to saying 'flame is the best one', though. [ He saw that other conversation, he's amused, okay. ] You've asked this before, then. I wonder how the answers differ - but it's your data. I shouldn't pry.

[dragony]

I have asked this before. Two times, on a network like this.

Last time I had a lot more people refusing to answer, but mostly I think it was because they suspected I was preparing for my debut as a supervillain. This time non-responders stem from a more pedantic failure to understand the purpose of a multiple-choice question.

[hypnotherapy]

wwwwwwwww

Some people seem very determined not to choose, but I suppose it's only to be expected. Perhaps they fear that their choices will reveal something, even inadvertently, about them.

But curiosity should be indulged, if it's an interesting question with no right answer. And so far, both response and conversation has been interesting, so it was worth it.

I'll leave the topic of 'preparing for my debut as a supervillain' alone. I don't think I possess the clearance for that.

[dragony]

No, it's alright. I may not be the best person, but even if I wanted to, I'm not nearly proactive enough to be a criminal mastermind. Too exhausting.

[ she's joking. she is probably joking. ]

Even so, while I can understand the desire to not reveal one's true heart, I still don't quite get the motive behind this sort of response. To engage with the person asking the question, and to make such a big show of not answering it.

It's a great deal more illuminating than the difference between light and flame.

[hypnotherapy]

It's exhausting but rewarding if you play your cards right, but perhaps I shouldn't say that so casually. [ He's speaking from experience, but he's also aware she's probably joking.

He is such a terrible role model. ]

They're trying to prove something by not answering, I suppose. That they're above such a question, or that asking such a thing is wrong somehow.

But if they were truly above it they wouldn't bother answering in the first place, so I suppose it loops back around to the eternal answer of "I'm not sure, because people are strange."

It does shed light on people's characters, though. Much more efficiently than if they'd just answered the question.

[dragony]

I won't say anything if you don't.

[ Ruka this is why eighty percent of your cr eventually turns out to be the ones who murder people. Good going. ]

I suppose it's their loss, in the end.

[hypnotherapy]

I shouldn't be a bad influence. I'm trying to keep my hand out of those things, after all. [ He's mostly clean.

Mostly. ]

Well, I suppose it's to be expected...you did say that there was no right or wrong answer. Some people will just take that further than most. Something like that.

[dragony]

I've likely had worse, but I've no reason to cause you to lose a hand to something.

Although, something you said before has me curious. What is your "moveset" ?

[hypnotherapy]

Considerate of you.

I have default attacks in my original form, ones I'm equipped with and don't need operator input for. I call it a moveset, at least. Others of my kind use different names for theirs. [ Because he's a nerd, is what he means there. ] I have a sword and a long-range fire attack.

[dragony]

Your "original form"—may I presume you are not natively a human?

[hypnotherapy]

I was given a human body by the Porter - so your presumption is indeed correct. I am a true AI, normally.

[dragony]

I doubt it's the case, but I know I would regret not asking if I don't. Are you familiar with the term "Medabot" ?

[hypnotherapy]

Not in a personal sense, no. But it was a reasonably popular show where I come from.

I assume this relates to an acquaintance of yours?

[dragony]

Someone I spoke with, a long time ago. The way you described it before, it sounded a little similar, is all.