[video]

[glassinine]

[The thing about employing text is that when you start using it when all your broadcasts are in video, people tend to question why you've suddenly switched. So he makes the decision to instead compose himself as best as he can and use video instead.

Unfortunately, he always sort of overestimates his ability to compose himself. He certainly doesn't seem distraught, or panicked, or anything of the sort, but he's definitely shaky. This is definitely a far cry from his normal, slow, quiet, lengthy broadcasts.]

I'm leaving on a business trip abroad for...some length of time. I'm - not certain how long. Please don't try to contact me; I'll be far too busy to answer any messages.

Good day.

Comments

[dragony]

Can you tell me about those incidents, as you remember them?

[glassinine]

I - I would prefer not to.

[dragony]

[ She sighs, shifting position - her arms fold on her desk, and she leans forward a little, giving the communicator a serious look. ]

Sir, please don't misunderstand me. I'm sympathetic to you, but I'm not asking to tell you that it wasn't your fault, or that you're forgiven. But leaving like this in the hope you won't hurt anybody else - that's irresponsible.

Wouldn't you rather learn to control it?

[glassinine]

...Yes. Of course.

[dragony]

The first step to control is understanding. Understanding comes from examination... from knowing what happened. Why, and how.

[glassinine]

The information isn't mine to give.

[dragony]

[ She shakes her head. ]

You don't have to tell me who they are. The people you affected - mask their identities as best you can.

[glassinine]

It's not my information to give. I can't.

[dragony]

Why can't you?

[glassinine]

Because if they choose to press charges, I do not want you having to be called as a witness.

[dragony]

[ She bites her lower lip, thinking on this, and shakes her head. ]

If you believed they were going to press charges, you wouldn't be leaving the country.

[glassinine]

It may still happen in the future.

[dragony]

Fine. Why wouldn't you want me called as a witness, in this potential future?

[glassinine]

...Because I don't want you put through that. Not for something so foolish as this.

[dragony]

Are you certain it's not you, looking for excuses, this time?

An inconvenience like that is nothing, if this can help you attain control of your power.

[glassinine]

I do not see how it would.

[dragony]

How many other people with emotion-based powers do you know?

[glassinine]

Yours are different. Yours can't help with this.

[dragony]

My powers are different. [ She concedes that point with a small nod. ] And my teacher's powers were different from mine. I've known people with abilities like yours, and others in this same family, nowhere near either of us. I've lived in circumstances like these for more than half a decade, sir. In something like this, I'm as close to an expert as you'll find in this world.

If you want to learn to control it... if you want to help people, rather than hide from them, you have to let yourself be helped.

Or is something like that impossible for you?

[glassinine]

Ruka, you have absolutely no reason to put yourself in harm's way again. I've already hurt you enough.

[dragony]

[ There's a tensing in her face as he says it, and for once it's her gaze dropping, refusing to meet his. Her voice is a little quieter when she speaks. ]

There's no hurt you could do to me worse than discarding your life like this.

[glassinine]

Yes, there is. There are a hundred hurts worse than that.

I've done you no good and much harm. Please - do not expend your energy on me any longer.

[dragony]

Stop assuming you know anything about what hurts me and what doesn't.

If you want me to leave you alone because I irritate you, or because I'm a nuance, or a waste of your time, or a burden on you, I will. If you want me out of your life from some fault of mine, I'll never speak to you again. End of story.

But, you said it yourself. I don't get to tell you whether the energy you spent on me is worthwhile. Don't expect me to allow you something you wouldn't allow anyone else.

[glassinine]

I just - Look. Do you agree that avoiding hurting others is rational.

[dragony]

As a concept, yes.