LABYRINTHUM INBOX

[placation]

THE DOCTOR IS IN text / audio / video / action art credit code credit

Comments

text; un: u"\U0001F408"u"\U0001F408"u"\U0001F408"

[belheir]

Hey, Maruki.

Just letting you know I think you're in the right here. Sometimes people don't learn things the easy way, and then when the hard way comes about it's everyone elses fault it got to this point.

This "Webby" reminds me of a friend I had back home, who was nearly killed by an angry mob because she refused to listen when she was told that something would have consequences if she kept doing it. She ended up safe, thankfully, but the result for it was other people losing their lives when someone else who cared for her took his emotions to the extreme.

I hope it doesn't come to that. I don't think it will, at least at this point from what I can see, but I hope this was a valuable lesson for her.

[placation]

Kazuya, we really need to get you a new username...

Thank you for saying so. I would hope that more people will eventually engage with the facts of what happened rather than their emotions and biases, but it seems unlikely. Hopefully nothing as serious as what happened to your friend happens here - but if it does, I'm prepared to take the undue blame.

If she's allowed to continue running from this, she won't learn anything. We'll see what happens.

[belheir]

I don't know. I'm kind of attached now.

You can't argue against emotion with facts. It just doesn't work. But you should know that given your occupation. People here clearly have love for Webby, and it's hard to deal with someone you know and care for doing the wrong thing. Even harder to see them punished for it. It makes you want to lash out at the perceived antagonist instead of deal with the facts of the matter.

Or, you might not care about those facts to begin with, so long as the person you care about doesn't get hurt. Physically or emotionally.

I don't think she'll be able to run from this anymore, from what I've seen. That being said, I hope the eventual coddling that happens is also followed by reprimanding and impressing upon the impact of what she'd done.

[placation]

Oh, I'm very aware. And I have little faith in any real change coming from it for that reason. Unfortunately her "guardian" is unable to even address the concern about potential extant recordings. The ethical violation will likely be forgiven by all but the ones affected by it, and my reputation as a bully will proceed. So it goes!

However, it is heartening to know that there are a few others able to engage with this objectively. I appreciate you reaching out.

[belheir]

I'm only able to interact with this objectively due to my unique position of dealing with this same sort of situation and not being affected by the situation personally.

I don't think I'd be able to interact in good faith if it had been someone I knew. I think I would have been just as upset as anyone else if it had been my own family or someone I knew.

[placation]

Well, at least you're aware of that.

[belheir]

Let me know when your office is back up and running.

I think I might like a visit.

[placation]

I'll be very honest with you, Kazuya. At this point, that's "if," not "when."

But if I do reopen, I'll let you know.

[belheir]

Don't sell yourself short.

There are still people who rely on the service you offered, as I've clearly seen. Don't tell me you're the sort to give up because things got a bit difficult because of a duckling.

[placation]

Oh, I won't give up. I never do, even when it's to my own detriment. The people who know me best would tell you that.

"To my own detriment" is the keyword. There are issues that predate this.

We'll see. I certainly haven't made a decision yet, and I won't until I've settled certain matters. Whether or not I formally reopen, though, my door will always be open to you.

[belheir]

So that's the type of person you are. You remind me of someone I know. Who knows if that's a good or bad thing, though.

[Probably not, if he's honest.]

How about we have a chat over coffee? I still owe you, so it'd be my treat. No arguments.

[placation]

Oh? Have you managed to collect some shards?

[belheir]

I may or may not be close to getting my powers back, if I'm not mistaken.

[placation]

See? It doesn't take long at all.

Sure. We can meet for coffee sometime soon.

[belheir]

[And because we're smt we gotta be weird-]

Then it's a date.

[placation]

Yuck. Don't say that again.

[belheir]

Sorry, it's out of my hands now.

Be sure to dress nice for our




Date.

[placation]

I'll reopen my counseling practice simply to learn the intricacies of your psyche that make you act out in such a way.

[belheir]

Usually I don't get a chance to speak for myself.

Or the other Bel demons are obnoxious and bad influences when I do.

[placation]

Who normally speaks for you?

[belheir]

My friends. Or my brother. Either or.

[placation]

Well, welcome to your newfound independence where you're able to freely speak for yourself.

[belheir]

Oh, I could before. I chose not to. What's the point if my friends know me best anyway? They pretty much knew exactly what I wanted or was thinking all the time, so there wasn't really any point to speak up in most cases unless I was directly addressed.

[placation]

That's a surprising lackadaisical attitude about your own life.

[belheir]

You think so?

I feel more touched that the people I care about would know me so well to know what I'd say in a situation without even having ask. They're important to me, so I'm grateful to be so important to them too.