There is no defense line, but defense territory.

[noonlight]

Who: Illumination & You.
What: Various goings on at the abandoned building that Lu has moved into.
When: Throughout the second and third week of the story.
Where: A former wine merchant (possible smuggler's) abandoned house in the 'neutral' territory.
Content warnings: None, yet.

Comments

[noonlight]

"It's possible that you could. I could help you." Illumination rests their hand on the rough wood of one of the cask shelves by the doorway. "And then what? And what if we fail?"

There's another of those sharp, almost acetone scents. "I hate that this is a choice or a non-choice that you're faced with. That we're faced with. I hate that I am more upset about having to choose than I am about the death of some unknown unfortunate, and I hate that's where my priorities lie."

"I am a coward. And a pragmatist." They brush the dirt off their hands, close their eyes, and take a moment to regulate their breathing. "Which means I will damned well accept what I can and cannot do in the moment, and work towards a better outcome next time."

Does Illumination really believe that they can do better next time? Maybe not, but if they say it confidently enough it could become true.

[ugh_emotions]

"No," it says. "That's too dangerous."

Illumination wasn't a SecUnit. Stopping Curze wasn't their responsibility. And Bringing them to a fight with Curze was an unacceptable risk.

It stares at the door a few seconds longer. And then steps away, wrenching its gaze away. It's not going to stop Curze. It doesn't even know why it cares about stopping Curze; it doesn't care about the humans who live in this place. It shouldn't matter if Curze murders them all. (It does matter.)

"I don't think he'll bring any more dead humans here. But I'll keep monitoring outside the door, in case he does."