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 Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 8:23 am
They said that Melvin could be visited in the main entry without any troubles. This was the main thing that satisfied Al at all about this whole situation. It was shitty and there was no other real way to describe it. He also wasn't entirely relying on the concept that statues knew how to properly care for Melvin so he made sure to pack some fried chicken, hot sauce, and a bottle of whiskey in several layers of Ziploc bags tied at his hip as he dove down.
When he emerged he looked around nervously before dragging himself up on the craggy ground. "Melvin?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 10:14 am
Melvin was sitting at the entrance way, doing his usual routine of visiting the lobby area for a hour before he decided if anyone would come or not and then leave. He was in the middle of debating if he should go back into Atlantis when the water rippled and Al showed up. It was always a nice reassurance to see that nobody was having difficulties now in the water.
"Hello Al." He said from his spot on the ground beside the main doors. He rose up slowly.
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 10:37 am
Al may have shuddered a little at the voice and looked relieved to find it was in fact Melvin. "Oh, you are really good at scaring me without even trying."
He peeled his goggles off as he approached to sit down next to Melvin. "Are they treating you alright?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 11:30 am
He slowly settled back into his spot. "They have been kind to me as they always have. It was only other people that made them upset and initiated a protocol to do something about it. I'm not one to insult, start fights, or straight up steal from them. I only regret I wasn't more attentive of the people when we left. It's sad to think I'd have to check anyone for that kind of behavior."
He looked Al over. "How are you? You seemed pretty shaken up last time."
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 11:50 am
"Look, you had no idea those kind of people were in our midst. Not your fault or your burden to carry."
He untied the bags from his hip and slid them into his lap.
"I was scared. I'm not afraid to admit a big part of me thought that was it and I'd be losing another friend. This place sort of has a way of ripping your heart out and stomping on it." He eyed Melvin over, he knew better than anyone. "And there's just nothing you can do to stop it when it happens."
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 12:03 pm
"And if I died? It would have allowed an entire team of people to escape Atlantis and let the city be appeased. It wouldn't be ideal, but you saw the attack power this place has and would continue hitting us with everything it had. It would have that same power here. If they wanted me, then I am in no position to argue with them in order to see the people I lead here be sent back home. Like you said, Deus has many enemies and people loose loved ones all the time. Why would I allow an entire team of loved ones to be taken too?"
"That's not to say I don't want to be here."
He opened the bag and looked back up at Al. "Chicken?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 12:12 pm
"Because I ******** couldn't let you if that was the case? This whole mess was Kim's fault. Not yours. I'd rather continue fighting then sacrifice you in hopes they might have been true to their word." He shook his head, trying not to let himself get too worked up but failing miserably at that. "The few times we get a choice, it is always ******** all of us or none of us. You idiot."
He took a deep breath and then nodded, "fried, and hot sauce, oh and a bottle of booze. Figured you needed something to get you through - whatever it is they're doing with you?" He eyed Melvin over curiously. "It's not like a repopulating the place sort of thing is it? Cause of your STD and all it... wont work... and the lack of women folk."
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 12:23 pm
He worked out the other bag of hot sauce and set the bottle of whiskey beside him, popping the cap to the hot sauce and sprinkling it on a piece of chicken. "There are no Atlantians left. They died out. Also, I don't think one man and one Atlantian can populate an entire city and they would have kept more people then just me if that was their aim." He said, taking a bite of chicken. He chewed and then made sure to swallow.
"And you're wrong. One small group of people should not be worth the life of everyone on the island. Hunters die every day on missions in hopes of ending a war. A war isn't one without scarifies. If you feel you are so important enough to be worth more than hundreds of hunters, then you need your eyes checked. This wasn't a situation you can fight your way through, even if Rep would lead you to think that way. They would have just killed us here and continued their onslaught. Even if it was Kim's fault, she represented Deus just as we were representing Deus when we showed up to fix things. I'm also responsible in that I opened the door to Deus in the first place."
"Instead, we should think of ways to keep the death tally low and to form alliances and not enemies or at least keep less people hating us. Before in the Atlantian court, if you didn't want me to die, then I would have told you it wasn't your choice. If a person is wiling to sacrifice themselves to keep others from being harmed, then it is a death just like any other hunter who goes to the Sahara to fight and dies to save their team. One person is not worth the lives of many. It's why they don't go on many rescue missions. One team isn't worth risking for one person."
He took a bite of chicken, glad for a taste that wasn't spam or fish. "It's a game of numbers, resources, tactics, and power in wars."
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 12:39 pm
"Well, they came back for me," he sighed and propped his head up on his palm. "Did you give up on me? Back then?" He looked off distantly not fond of watching Melvin eat. Swimming made him hungry again but he could wait till he got back.
"-and, Rep didn't make me feel unstoppable for the record."
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 1:18 pm
He looked at him. "It was a long time ago. I can't remember what I was thinking." He went back to eating the chicken.
"Do you wonder if I'd let you die if you were trapped somewhere?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 1:50 pm
"The thought crossed my mind at the time but then..." he shrugged. "Would you now?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 2:05 pm
He picked some meat off a bone with his fingers. "Depends. Would saving you jeopardize the lives of more than 1 person? Would saving you create a war? Would saving you put people at risk?" He looked over at him. "How many would need to die to save you?"
He pulled some more meat off a bone. "It's not a straight forward yes or no."
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 2:08 pm
"Nobody said anything about other people being involved. Just Me. Just you. Am I worth that risk?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 2:13 pm
"If it's a even exchange, then yeah. I'd go after you if I thought there was a chance. If it was something you hadn't decided. I wouldn't go after you if you told me not to through. I don't chase suicidal people." He chewed a bit more meat off the bone. "But Noah probably would look for you instead if I didn't." So the pressure was off him.
"Asking questions like this doesn't make much sense. People do things in the moment. They risk their lives in the moment....throw themselves into danger just to save another." He didn't want to think about it too much.
"Why do you even care so much. We're not super close friends and I'm not a lover." He put the bone away and wrapped up the bag, hoping to save the rest for after work tonight. "Thank you for the food."
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 2:42 pm
"You're the one who brought it up," Al replied haughtily and then sighed.
"I don't know if you noticed; I don't have very many friends and I don't want to lose the very few who, like, don't hate me and everything I do now. The few who haven;t turned their back on me yet. Plus who the ******** is going to pay your tab and all my ******** tips?"
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