Scene #8893: Stepping on Medpacks 101

Owner	Pose
Kale Hearthward	FALL KALE'S HOUSE Kale's got a modest 3/2 out in a suburb of Fall. It's a multiversally mixed area - baseline humans rubbing elbows with all manner of other beings. Aside from the next closest neighbors being a skeleton, a swamp monster, and a superintelligent shade of blue, it's surprisingly all mundane. There's no car in the garage, but there's a landing pad in the back yard (currently occupied by a generic Paladins aircraft). The class is taking place there, in the recessed living room, couches and chairs moved from their well-worn spots on the carpeted floor to make an ersatz classroom, with a whiteboard wheeled in (currently reading 'Medical for Elites 101'). There's a few trays of snacks and drinks out on the breakfast bar. Currently in attendance: Kale Hearthward, who's staked out his spot in the comfiest armchair, looking generally unhappy to be here. He's got his phone out and is scrolling on it idly, expression unchanging. Skye Woodard, who's lying across two cushions on the biggest couch, even though she'd likely fit comfortably sitting on half of one cushion. "Hey. Welcome to the most boring hour of your life," she says, to whoever ends up approaching her. "I already took this class a year ago, and they're still making me sit in, for no good reason." "It's for solidarity," says Nathaniel Piersson, who has opted to stand. (He is also clearly three kobolds stacked on top of each other wearing a trenchcoat.) "We're all taking or retaking the class, we're all getting caught up to the same page." "It's still useful to brush up!" says Hazelthistle (no last name given), as she sorts through teaching materials up at the front of the ersatz classroom. "The knowledge you refamiliarize yourself with might save a life one day!" "C'mon in!" she says, to whoever's arriving. "Get comfortable, find a seat... Skye, you might want to sit up, we might have a full house." Skye does not sit up. "Right, well, just - find a seat wherever," says Hazelthistle. "Grab a drink and a snack, get settled in, get ready to learn basic medicine and medical ethics!" She says this like it's the most exciting thing ever.
Aidan Proudpick	There was, actually, a moment in time where Aidan was excited for today. It felt like it was going to be a real turning point. When he finally felt like he would be useful to at least someone. Aidan is equipped, at least, to do the best he can. Simple tunic, breeches. He has a notebook, his tablet, and envelope in his side bag and he's spent the morning studying up on some basic first aid. Doing this, 100 percent, is the only way he is going to be able to get through the worst social situation in his entire life. A room full of people who generally hate him, and Piersson. A nod towards Skye, "Skye," a nod towards Piersson, a sheepish wave at Hazelthistle. Skye, much like Petra, is a grounding point here. He is pretty sure he knows where he stands with Skye, vaguely, which is 'indifference.' Aidan glances at Hazelthistle, around the room at each person, passing over Kale, then back at Hazelthistle, trying to mouth 'talk after the class' at her. At least if there's a lot of people, he can get through this without being noticed. He grabs whatever fruit might be on the breakfast bar and hastily makes a beeline to the most out of the way chair, setting himself up a little makeshift place to write stuff down. When Hazelthistle shows that eager excitement, a smile forms on Aidan's lips, then quickly falls away, two words still echoing.
Ru Li Cheng	What's mundane for everyone else is fascinating for Ru Li Cheng, ninth of nine Ru Cheng gods. Suburbs and urban sprawl don't exist in this fashion in Yinghua - and even if they did, he'd never have seen them up close. Everything about this little place is something alien to him, from the well-manicured lawns to the garages with various vehicles in them to the simple houses. And it's all crammed together - so much moreso than any village. It's a little slice of cityscape all laid out in neat little rows with an equal mix of mathematical haphazardness and mathematical precision, arranged in grids that don't always make sense because of geographic concerns. The wheelchair bumps against the front step. Ru Li frowns and fumbles with the wheels a few times before it finally gets up and through the door. It's a surprisingly simple device - Yinghua never put much work into fixing what wasn't broken, with little in the way of ostentation besides prayer strips and a bizarre gearwork device attached to its back. Even more than a week later the bureaucrat god looks exhausted. "Ah...hello," he says, a tired smile on his face. "I am Ru Li Cheng, ninth of nine Ru Cheng Gods of the Empire of Yinghua. It is a pleasure." "Erm. Yes." He shifts very slightly in the wheelchair and, very politely, takes a snack and a drink, because that's part of Yinghuan meeting culture and it would be Rude of him not to. "Thank you for your hospitality." He was about to ask why they weren't having this meeting in Skyra before Aidan walks through the door, and the question dies on his lips. Yes. Right. The exile. That would make things difficult, wouldn't it. He wheels over next to Kale, because it really doesn't matter where he is here, since he can still taste the meal being made by the superintelligent shade of blue on the stove next door (it tastes like green and scrambled eggs) and see the skeleton watching TV (polo, of all things) and smell the swamp monster's newest shampoo (strawberry, trying to cover up for a date).
Evangeline	As Ru Li tries to get his wheelchair through the entrance he finds himself lightly pushed forward. The creature that did the pushing did not ask permission, and is not even walking. She is floating a foot or so off the ground, and she sort of fits in with the spooky vibe of Fall. No facial features, jet black over all of her body except for a few glowing spots, and what look like approximations of a plane's engines take up the space where legs would usually be. And when she finally does speak, her voice does not even come from her. It is picked up on nearby radios and broadcasted from a small set of speakers that are set into her shoulderpads. "...greetings...I am Evangeline...it is nice to meet you..." she says, her voice like that of a shy young girl, quiet and only slightly intoned, and carrying with it a bit of the static one might associate with an old record playing. She approaches the refreshments table, but with no obvious hands it is unclear how she will pick anything up. As she reaches her sleeve-like arms out though, fingers emerge from the ends. Not quite a full hand, but enough to pick something up. She too picks up a drink and a snack despite not having a mouth, then floats over to a chair with a slight sound like fingers moving across a guitar string. She 'takes a seat' by Skye, though she does not truly sit and just floats an inch or two above the cushion with her stiff legs sticking out. "...I am excited to learn how to help people better..." she says, her voice still lacking much if any emotion.
Kale Hearthward	Hazelthistle runs over as Ru Li enters, and insists on pushing his chair the rest of the way over to the spot he indicates. She does this even if he demonstrates that he can get around just fine on his own, or if he'd rather move himself. As far as the snacks, a good 90% of what's on offer is vegan, with the meat-based options being 'frozen chicken nuggets in the shape of dinosaurs' and 'a package of generic brand beef jerky'. Kale looks up from his phone for just long enough to nod to Ru Li. Hazelthistle nods to Aidan, but then her focus is elsewhere. Skye, meanwhile, looks up at him. "Hey. Sorry to hear you got kicked out. It sucks." Then, an expertly timed beat later, "I was hoping they were going to put you on trial instead." "Be nice," says Kale, not looking up from his phone. "Did Quicknest still use the firing squad, back before it fell apart? Would it be treason if the country doesn't exist anymore?" She sits up a little bit. "Hey, deus ex wheelchair," she calls over to Ru Li. "Could Aidan still be tried for treason if the country doesn't exist anymore?" "I said be nice," repeats Kale, with zero escalation in his tone, and zero indication that he's actually going to do anything about it if she continues to not be nice. Skye's attention is drawn away by Evangeline sitting next to her. She looks her up and down, and only then does she properly sit up. "Hey. Are you dead? You have to tell me if you're dead, it's the law." "Be nice," says Kale, tapping at his phone. He's browsing used airships, if anyone happens to look over his shoulder and/or be a yinghuan god. "Well I'm glad people are excited!" says Hazelthistle. "If everyone's situated, we'll jump right into things..." She writes Medical Ethics on the whiteboard, in thick black marker, and then underneath it: 1. Beneficence 2. Non-maleficence 3. Autonomy 4. Justice "Before we get into the practice, it's important to understand the theory - because knowledge in the wrong hands is dangerous. Of course, though, once you understand all of this and follow it, it's next to impossible to do any harm, so you don't have to worry about it after that point."
Ru Li Cheng	Both Evangeline and Hazelthistle get a very polite "thank you," from the Yinghuan god as they push him up the steps and into the room. He's not really the type to quibble over this sort of thing, apparently, or if he is, he keeps it firmly to himself. If he's examining Evangeline, he doesn't show it (because he doesn't need to - looking at people is a polite habit as opposed to a necessity). Whatever he was thinking about is interrupted by Skye's question. "I...suppose, yes? I am emphatically not a law god, but the crime continues to exist even if the country does not, and no treaties were signed that would absolve the crime?" He's actually Thinking about this, now, judging by the expression on his face, turning it over in his head as he learns about how polo scoring works and that the swamp monster's date had to reschedule and the four elements of medical ethics. "The trial...I think...could still be conducted by any signatories that represented the nation beforehand, or any allied nations, or any military remnants, or any government-in-exile...and so on. That none of those exist to my knowledge does not erase the possibility of a trial - only the possibility of anyone bringing up charges." He pauses again. "...I am not...completely familiar with the translation effect of the Multiverse, but would the term not be 'deus in wheelchair'? I am...not from* a wheelchair."
Aidan Proudpick	And Skye, much like Petra, knows exactly where to hit Aidan where it hurts. He forces a rictus grin on his face at her, "I'll just run away to Ohio again if that happens." Aidan upgrades Skye from 'indifference' to 'general hatred' in his internal relationship diagram. And a grimace at Ru Li as he explains there COULD still be a trial. Sympathy is written all over Aidan's face when he looks at Ru Li, assessing the full extent of the damage. He was distracted in the battle by making a complete and full ass of himself. He opens his mouth to say maybe 'Sorry' or 'Thanks', but just closes his mouth again, instead nodding towards him. A glance at Evangeline gets Aidan's ears to shoot forward in interest. A glance at the featureless face, then at the speakers in which the voice comes out of. Truly amazing. Though subdued, Aidan gives an eager wave over at the jet black paladin, quickly getting out a "Hi, I'm Aidan!" at her before Hazelthistle can start. When she does, Aidan breathes out. Just focus on himself. Doing good at this so that he can prove himself. That's all he needs to do. A roll of squirrel shoulders, a lift of his chin. He can't fall back into that. This is just another challenge to face. A challenge to succeed at, a hurdle to leap. A really really big hurdle covered in barbed wire and soaked in acid. He's not going to move forward without it. No wallowing. Immediately, Aidan is typing out words on his tablet to see what they mean, tongue stuck out of the side of his mouth and clamped between his teeth as he reads, listens, and writes in a blocky shaky script. "Wait, Justice? Medicine has justice? Handing out punishment justice?"
Evangeline	Evangeline's head turns slightly toward Skye. "...I am not dead..." Evangeline replies before looking slowly toward Ru Li. "...you're welcome..." Aidan issues a quick hello, and Evangeline nods her head in acknowledgement. She listens to all the talk between the others, then tilts her head slightly. "...treason..." she says, not really indicating feelings one way or the other. "...I...defected from my society...so I hope...such things are forgiven after a while...I just wanted to help end a war...if he did things to purposely hurt people though..." The medical ethics discussion is started, and Evangeline goes quiet again. She does hold up her rather random selected snacks as she listens, and an approximation of a mouth appears on her face before...she takes a bite right out of the food and the plate beneath. There is no chewing, but she does take another bite a few moments later. "...justice...is important..." she adds after Aidan.
Kale Hearthward	"Deus ex Pedant College for Pedants," says Skye. "So - justice isn't just about punishments," says Hazelthistle brightly. "It concerns things like fairness and rights." "For example - well, sort of the example, there's more sick and injured people than there are doctors available. Do you allocate doctor time to the most injured, and let those with minor injuries go untreated? Do you prioritize what's easiest to treat, so you have the largest amount of healthy people, and anyone with complex or hard to treat injuries is left untreated?" "So, let's say we have... seven people here, but only six snacks, and assume you can't split those snacks up or share... who doesn't get a snack? Is it whoever's least hungry? Is it whoever will survive longest without a snack? What would you say, Aidan?" "And, another example... let's say, Ru Li Cheng," continues Hazelthistle. "Do you think it's fair that-" Kale suddenly sits bolt upright, putting his phone down. "Don't." "... Sorry?" "Don't. Different example, and different principle," says Kale. "Okay?" "Ah - um, okay... let's say that... our team. The East Wind Rescue Team. We can help a lot of people. But when we have mission choices, we're prioritizing Commonwealth nations, over places that could use our help a lot more, because we're funded by the Commonwealth. Is that just and fair?" "And Evangeline," continues Hazelthistle. She's not as familiar with her, so she struggles for a moment and then gets a generic question. "If you can help someone, if you're the only one who can help them, but it's against the law to do so... would you do so anyway?"
Ru Li Cheng	"Ah..." Ru Li just sort of laughs off Skye. He really does seem like that sort of person. It's real hard to offend him, to make him mad, to really, genuinely piss him off. "I suppose that was a bit overly specific. I struggle sometimes finding the words in my language that best translate. Some words simply do not exist, and I must puzzle them out through intent rather than phrase." Hazelthistle brings him up indirectly. Ru Li shifts, slightly, in his chair, when Kale stands up. "I do not mind," he says finally, "I suppose I am...curious...about what she wanted to say. I am certainly more curious about that than I am about the dry cereal your neighbor is eating." Poor swamp monster. It got all dressed up and everything. "It will not offend me. If, erm, if that is the concern. If the concern is otherwise, then my curiosity obviously does not outstrip such."
Aidan Proudpick	"Tf he did things to purposely hurt people though..." "I might as well have," he says somberly back to Evageline. "So I gotta be better to make it up to them." He watches the mouth form AND part of the plate go in. Evangeline is on the low end of 'creepy' and high end of 'really interesting', which makes her immediately catch some of Aidan's child-like wonder. Aidan scribbles in his notepad, having to shorten things as best as he can because he can't exactly keep up with Hazelthistle. Hurricanes, she's so good for still being nice to him. It makes Aidan feel even more like a shit. When the question finally comes up, Aidan stops. His fingers clench around the pencils. A flash back. A room in front of a mighty man and his miniature peon. Aidan sitting with people who had been pulled out of their beds to entertain someone. A question that Aidan refused to answer. Make a new trolley problem. "The third option," he whispers to himself, "If I just tried hard enough..." But that's not the question. "If I had a choice, don't take a snack. I'd... no, I guess if I asked people if they wanted to give it up, they'd feel bad, forced to give it up." He stares at the whiteboard as if it had the answer, "I'd give it to the people who are the most hungry," he finally says. "So everyone has the same chance of surviving." He nods slowly. "The sickest people first." A glance at Kale, then back at Hazelthistle. It's not hard for Aidan to immediately pick up on what would be the subject.
Evangeline	Evangeline is asked her question, and is quiet for a long moment. "...that is simple...I help them...unless they are asking me to do something that will hurt people...if the law says not to help someone in need then...the law is unjust..." she says. As for the other questions. "...I do not actually require normal food...so I can give up my snacks..." she says, then holds out her (literally) half eaten plate. "...if anyone needs them..." she says, then tilts her head lightly at the first question. "...I do not know...but...I would rather save as many as possible...so those that do not have life-threatening injuries seem like they could wait..." As for the last question, she has a quick answer for that one. "...prioritizing aid based on who paid the most for it...sounds bad to me...but...they would be upset if they did not receive help after paying..." 'I might as well have.' Evangeline regards Aidan for a few moments, then nods ever so slightly. "...I have had to hurt Neuroi who think that humans need to be eradicated...so that means if I had not defected some Neuroi would still be alive....but then...some humans would have died if I did not...and probably a lot more humans than Neuroi..."
Kale Hearthward	"Good, very good Aidan. You can go pick out another snack from the kitchen," says Hazelthistle. "Fortunately we have plenty. Enough that everyone can take some home with them, in fact." To Evangeline: "That's correct - they'd get upset. Unfortunately, there is a balance, and a need to think about the future. If we can get more funding and resources later, by letting our sponsors get priority? That could help more people overall." Kale and Hazelthistle share a glance. After a moment, Kale settles back down. Hazelthistle speaks again, though a little hesitantly. "I was going to ask, if it's fair and just for you to be out here with us, instead of performing your original function? You were handling a tenth of the paperwork needs of your home country, right? That's a lot to backfill." "I'm not intending to get bogged down in the weeds of one of the four pillars here, especially the one that's last on the list for a reason, but - these are the things you need to keep in mind. Do good. Do no harm. Keep in mind the patient's choices. And be fair and just." "This," she says next, going over to a nearby table. "Is the CMK-7000. It's the standard issue medical kit provided by the Commonwealth - you may have encountered one already." She picks up a white plastic box with a generic, non-copyrighted red + symbol on the front. "This is not a cure-all, nor is it long term treatment. It's intended to get you or your patient into a condition where you can get out of danger, after which you should seek further medical attention." She opens it. "Inside we have... bandages, an extendable splint, an adrenaline syringe, a general usage antidote, sterile and antiseptic supplies, an emergency flare, painkillers, and a calorie bar. Among some other items. There's usage instructions inside the lid, and another pamphlet with more detailed instructions." "I'll go pass these around, take a look, familiarize yourself with the contents. You'll be using one of these or something like one of these out in the field."
Ru Li Cheng	Ah. Ru Li's face is completely impassive at that. There's no sign of emotion, nothing but the quiet, ever-present ticking of his internal structure. It doesn't even speed up. He's silent for quite some time, feeling the crunch of the dry, cinnamon cereal across the way, and the lingering green upon his tongue in the aftermath of the eggs from next door, and the little electric tingle that dances across the TV screen as someone scores against the skeleton's team. He just sits there, without any emotion visible, though the ticking is...perhaps a bit louder than normal. It's hard to judge. It's hard to tell. Finally, he laughs, even more awkwardly than before, and says, "A ninth." "That is an excellent question, but it has little to do with medical ethics or prioritizing patients." And that's all he says. He rolls past it (figuratively; he's not moving) without any other words. Instead he lets other people hold the kit, examining it with a bit more focus than he might normally as they pass it around, feeling the pieces out, reading the lid and the pamphlet. The fact that his ticking sound has gotten a little bit louder, as if he's thinking very hard about something, or feeling something very intense, is very hard to pick out if one isn't paying very close attention. He might just be focusing very hard on memorizing the pamphlet, after all. Who knows.
Aidan Proudpick	"Good, very good Aidan. You can go pick out another snack from the kitchen." Aidan heads over to the kitchen to grab a vegan cookie. He's never had a kindergarten teacher. He perks an ear around for the actual question, and then winces. 'Get over yourself.' Aidan bites down into the cookie, which tastes like crow. A twinge of sympathy for that question, and a nod at the attempt to redirect it. Good for them both. Both strong people. A goal to reach towards. He makes his way back to the chair with his cookie in hand, humbled once more. He has to dwell on those words until the kit comes around to him. The pamphlet... and then the instructions. Eyes flick over the various words, a soft groan of dismay coming out from his lips. He brings up his tablet and takes a picture of the instructions to practice reading later. Then the pamphlet. He picks up the syringe, "Oh, I remember this. This is the thing you stuck in me so I could keep fighting." He carefully puts it back down. "Seems scary to put one of these in someone," but then a grin, "But so is learning to use a gun, right? I'd rather know how to use one of these then know how to use a gun." I have had to hurt Neuroi who think that humans need to be eradicated. Another slow nod, a smile, "That's a much harder choice. That requires a lot of strength, yanno?"
Evangeline	Evangeline takes one of the medkits when offered. She holds it in one hand while steadily finishing off her plate that is in the other. The question aimed at Ru Li makes her tilt her head in curiousity. "...how can paperwork be more important than helping people...if Ru Li is so powerful that he can help restore a nation...isn't it a misuse of his powers to simply have him filling out paperwork...why did his creator make him so strong and capable only to fill out paperwork...?" She might pick up on the ticking, but she gives no indication of it. 'That's a much harder choice. That requires a lot of strength, yanno?' Evangeline lowers her head slightly at that. "...thank you..." she says. With her plate finished, she opens her own medkit and looks at the items inside. "...humans are unusual...they need these things to repair themselves...it would be better if they could all regenerate like a Neuroi..."
Kale Hearthward	Hazelthistle looks pensive at Ru Li's reaction. Kale shifts, uncomfortably. "Oh man, a ninth," says Skye. "(A whole ninth...)" says Piersson to himself, at a volume that's not intended to be overheard by anyone, but unfortunately gets picked up by the one person that should be hearing it the least. "Well, uh, paperwork is... important to things needing to get done," says Kale, feeling the need to answer but also feeling incredibly awkward in doing so while within earshot of Ru Li right now. "So that nothing gets left undone, or that people don't do the same thing twice..." "A- ahem! That's good, Aidan. I'll have some materials you can take home to practice with, too. It's very rewarding, learning how to help people." "And - I think... a break? A break would be good, we've been going over a lot of stuff, let's - all take a break." Hazelthistle looks worryingly at Ru Li. "A break's good. Okay? Kale, can you..." she says. trailing off. "I read you..." says Kale, getting to his feet. "C'mon, Proudpick. Let's walk and talk." Kale ends up going over to Aidan, and practically drags him over to the kitchen. "Look. Thank you for coming to this, and for taking it seriously. And for talking to Hibiki." "Those are... good first steps. Small steps, but you're starting." Meanwhile, Hazelthistle goes over to Ru Li... "I wanted to apologize - I shouldn't have asked that, or - come up with something else to ask, or... I mean I didn't realize it was a sensitive topic," she says, awkwardly, as she perches in the seat Kale just left. "I just - figured you had already given it a lot of thought, and would appreciate being able to give your perspective?" And Evangeline gets Skye and Piersson. "So you can regenerate?" says Piersson. "All this talk of medicine must feel kind of alien to you, then?" "Hey, if you regenerate, can we practice surgery on you?" says Skye, sitting up. "That sounds a lot more fun than sitting here and-" All three of the other squad members have broken their conversations to give her A Look. "-Fine, fine, forget I asked," she says, slouching back down.
Ru Li Cheng	Unfortunately, it's more or less impossible for Ru Li not to hear things. He can hear the skeleton's bones creaking as he jumps up and down angrily at the referee's call. He can hear the crunch of the dry cereal and the swamp monster's quiet sigh as if it's right next to his ear. There's no way for him not to hear things. It almost caused serious damage when he visited Lobotomy Corporation - at least this time, any damage is restrained entirely to himself. "Because paperwork is the veins of a nation," Ru Li says finally, his usual habit of actually looking at people currently abandoned in favor of focusing very hard on the medical kit. "Material is its blood. Allocating it is important. And handling one ninth of an empire of billions requires more than an ordinary person could handle. Even thousands of ordinary people struggle with that precision." He continues staring off at nothing. It's a little eerie - normally he does the favor of making eye contact, if only to keep up appearances, but right now he's just...not bothering. "Ensuring that people have what they need. That nothing is lost. That nothing is gone." Then, he goes quiet again, until Hazelthistle addresses him directly. His eyes finally focus on her, and he smiles, awkwardly. "I asked you to ask it. It is alright. The mountain should not blame the river for flowing the way the mountain leads it. There is no need for an apology, Miss Hazelthistle." "Doctor?" He corrects himself after a moment, "Medic? I do not know your title. I apologize." Finally, he says, "My perspective," in a tone that is, again, incredibly hard to read. He taps his finger. "I suppose it must be examined as to whether or not alliances and goodwill in a new mode of existence are more or less valuable than one ninth of the bureaucracy being streamlined." He doesn't answer whether he believes it is or not. Quite pointedly, in fact. Instead, he says, "You do not need to worry about it overmuch. As I said, the mountain should not blame the river for flowing the way the mountain leads it."
Aidan Proudpick	Aidan glances over at Evangeline, "Sometimes you aren't created for one thing. Sometimes you grew up being one thing, then had to learn how to do another. Sometimes... neither. Just matters what you do, right?" He listens quietly to Ru Li speak, addressing Evangeline in action, if not in spirit, "And there are all kinds of heroes, right? It's easy to shout about keeping people fed. But not easy to do it." Aidan beams at Hazelthistle. If there was the guillotine hanging over his head, this would actually be fun. Sword of Damocles? Once he's at the kitchen, Aidan listens quietly, a look of confusion, a frown. He presses his hands against the kitchen counter, out flat. Some anger bubbles up in him. "I came because I hafta make my word mean something. And to be useful. And talk to Hazelthistle. You can kill me later." 'Disgusting.' 'Loser.' "If yer gonna only show me some kinda compassion when you are surrounded by all yer teammates, then suffocate yerself, Hearthward." He snatches another cookie and heads back to his chair.
Kale Hearthward	"Well, the river still feels bad," says Hazelthistle. "I think you're doing well? You've already impressed a couple key people. You've got plenty of fans in Skyrah. And you got the colony that's being set up there..." "... Between you and me, Kale wouldn't have said yes to anyone else asking, I think. I don't think he would have said yes so easily to even Lilian, and she's, well, she's Lilian Rook." "So that's something only you could have done, in that moment. I can't say whether it's more or less important than one ninth of the paperwork? But if we're talking medical theory, then..." She points up at the board. "Autonomy. It's taught before we teach about justice and fairness. Your choice to be out here, doing this, holds weight that's pressing down on whichever end of that scale that you want it to. And don't let anyone else convince you that it isn't." "... That said." She reaches over and taps the arm of the wheelchair. "Maybe take it easier next time? You elites are always so rough with your own bodies and so dismissive of your own well being. It makes me really anxious to see everyone thinking they're-" She pauses. She giggles. "Well, I was going to say 'thinking that they're invulnerable', but now I want to say 'thinking that they're a god'."
Evangeline	A break is declared. Evangeline...does not move. She really does not need a break, but she is not going to tell the others not to take one. She nods lightly at the questions of regeneration and medicine feeling alien. 'Because paperwork is the veins of a nation,' "...because humans cannot simply remember all of the information their worlds have collected and agreements that have been established...? ...where I come from...there is no paper or paperwork...Neuroi follow the directions of their hive, and the hives follows the directions of the ultra hive..." She pauses. "...and...they do not make deals with non-Neuroi nations..." At the question of surgery practice...Evangeline stares at Skye. Which carries a different feel without eyes to really stare with. It is just the blank mannequin face pointed in her direction. Even after saying to forget it Evangeline continues to stare. Finally, she says, "...no..." but the word carries some extra and very noticeable distortion. Like the signal is stronger than the device trying to play it. That definitely caused some kind of reaction. Then, she takes a large adhesive bandage from the medkit and unpeels it, then reaches to stick it to Skye's forehead. "...I think...you might need repairs...this is supposed to help..." 'Sometimes you grew up being one thing, then had to learn how to do another. Sometimes... neither. Just matters what you do, right?' "...it just matters what you do..." Evangeline repeats, then nods lightly.
Kale Hearthward	> "If yer gonna only show me some kinda compassion when you are surrounded by all yer teammates, then suffocate yerself, Hearthward." Kale takes a moment to get his response together. "Well. Unfortunately for you, I don't actually care about your opinion at this point. Including why you think I'm doing it or whether you think this is forced or not." If Aidan tries to exit the kitchen regardless, Kale grabs him by the arm and keeps him there. "You also, frankly, aren't in a position to refuse even if it was pity and charity. How many people do you think that know you already, are going to be nice enough to even talk to you like this? That aren't friends with you already? You're going to drown in a sea of well-deserved malice." "I'm saying you're doing good, Proudpick. Take the damn compliment, and keep at it."
Ru Li Cheng	Ru Li laughs. "It is, again, quite alright. I pressed. You attempted to avoid it, and I appreciate that, but there is no need to feel uncomfortable when the one you are worried about is the one who pressed the subject. I assure you, I hold no lingering anger towards you. In truth it is very difficult for me to hold lingering anger towards anyone." "Mostly, I just feel pity, or sympathy. Love, in one particular case. Admiration, in a few. But I do not hold rage long. Perhaps it is simply not in my nature." His face remains impassive at 'only you could've set up the colony.' That's certainly true. And that's certainly Something that he's been rotating in his head, too. But he moves past that, too. "That is a very...mortal perspective," he says finally, "That autonomy is important. I do not think it is one gods can share easily. To choose not to be what you are at your core is more-" He stops himself. Whatever he was going to say vanishes, like the crumbs from the plate as the sentient shade of blue washes the last of its breakfast away and prepares for a late shift at the plant. Instead he simply smiles. "I am afraid that I am a god, and I am well aware that I am not invincible. I am aware of every bit of my body down to the smallest threads of muscle and the most minute of springs. I assure you - if it was not important to me I would not have pushed myself so hard." "But if you are not willing to put everything on the line when you are doing something important to yourself, then when will you? Not everything is as crucial to me as keeping a word plainly given. It is a heroic effort for a reason. Not everyone can do it. So it is important that, when it matters, I do."
Kale Hearthward	Skye has a bandage on her forehead. She blinks. Then she crosses her arms. "Hmph. So there is something alive in there after all." Pearson has pulled a camera out and is taking a picture. "Hey!" says Skye, but it's too late. "Well just - remember that you aren't a part of that hive anymore, alright?" she says, turning her attention back to Evangeline. "You're making your own decisions now, and need to, you know, own them. And stuff. Don't ask me for some inspiring life advice, that's just how it is. Own stuff." "It can be difficult for hive-minded individuals to get acclimatized to the wider multiverse," says Pierrson, feeling the need to pick up where Skye left off. "If you think you're ever having trouble, please do reach out to the rest of the Paladins."
Kale Hearthward	> "To choose not to be what you are at your core is more-" Hazelthistle waits patiently for him to finish his thought. When he doesn't, and moves on, she looks confused. More... of a mortal thing? More difficult? (Kale gets the answer, but he's halfway across the house.) "... I still don't like it," says Hazelthistle. "And I hate it more that you say you're going to spend yourself again like this. Being in a wheelchair for a while isn't the worst thing that can happen to you if you go all out." "So if keeping your word is so important to you..." She leans forward, and taps him on the shoulder. "Then give me your word that you'll remember that other people care about you, and want to see you again in one piece, alright? That you'll remember that and give it weight before you do something... heroic."
Aidan Proudpick	As soon as the arm grabs him, Aidan's weight shifts. He's about to throw a punch, but clearly restrains himself. He grabs Kale's wrist to force the hand off him, but doesn't leave. Those words are sinking in again. You're going to drown in a sea of well-deserved malice. Making him lean against the counter. Finally he swings around, pushing a finger viciously at Kale. "You were gonna KILL me, Hearthward. I get it, I deserve it after everything, Quicknest, the East Wind. I'm a fuckless loser who can't tell Hazelthistle is uninterested. I'm disgusting. I did this all to myself. But I ain't exactly gonna take a compliment just like that after last time. I'm not a child you can scold and then pat on the head later."
Ru Li Cheng	"I do not treat my own life as worthless," Ru Li assures Hazelthistle with a smile, "I have someone very important to me who would be very hurt if I died. I already consider it. I am not a reckless fool who spends his life meaninglessly, nor throws himself into situations seeking danger. So you do not need to worry." He's about to say something else when he hears Aidan announce his anger to the whole room. There is the sound of gears grinding furiously against each other. Springs out of alignment and reinforced metal bones creak and groan as Ru Li grabs the wheelchair's edges. Shakily, he stands up. He takes a moment to breathe, sharply, before he walks over to Aidan, stumbling the whole way, the ticking of his body loud and slightly discordant. The words are ringing in his head as he does so, and anyone trying to stop him gets brushed aside with a light - but forceful - touch, enough to stumble most people backwards. Even wounded, he is still a god, and far beyond the strength of most mortals. He grabs the counter, leaning on it as the strain grinds audibly against his spine. "You declared she was your lover when she was not even interested in you?" "You would turn aside encouragement because he is your enemy?" His free hand goes for Aidan's collar. There's enough speed and enough force there to very probably force Aidan off the ground, to raise him more or less by the throat, so that he can meet Ru Li's eyes. Ru Li is not short. Sometimes he seems short, but he is still a god, and he is larger than most people when he puts his mind to it. "You think that simply saying you deserve malice absolves you of their feelings? That the feelings of others are so much less important than your own that you do not even wish to acknowledge when they are positive?" He moves to hoist Aidan up. "And you called yourself a hero at any point in your life. You called yourself a knight. A defender." "Do you not understand that no one wants your apologies? No one wants your self-pity, your wallowing, your self-loathing? No one enjoys listening to your self-inflicted worthlessness. No one wishes for the burden of your one-sided understanding except you. What they want is for you to do better." "This is not better." He goes to release Aidan with a forceful shove that makes his arm creak angrily, but may still be strong enough to break some furniture. He turns away and starts heading back to his wheelchair, fumbling with the couch on the way. "Do not announce your sins with pride. Hold them close and reflect upon them, and stop wielding them as a cudgel. Do not say you are trying and then list your failures. If you stop failing, people will stop remembering them, until you bring them up again." "Your failures are not a currency to be spent on pity." He slumps back into the wheelchair and groans, then holds up a hand at Hazelthistle before she can fuss. "I am fine. A bit strenuous, but for the best. If I do not stand up once in a while I may have to have my legs replaced, and that would be very expensive for the Empire."
Kale Hearthward	Kale lets Aidan go and takes a step back when he steps up. His eyes are wide. "You - do know that I wasn't about to say-" Meanwhile, Skye's about to say something more to Evangeline when Aidan speaks up. "... Excuse me for a moment," says the songbird, getting up to her feet. "I gotta go see to something." But she then pauses, as Ru Li Cheng is also getting up. Ru Li Cheng is a guest, thus he gets the first swing. Skye will wait patiently. Okay, not so patiently. Skye isn't a patient person. But Ru Li having a good chewing-out lecture helps keep her entertained. Nobody seems to mind the furniture getting broken. "... I was going to keep that between us," Kale says to Aidan, as Ru Li heads back. "I talked to Hazelthistle, and we were going to work this out with you after everyone had left, if you hadn't just blurted it out." Once Ru Li is back in his chair, Hazelthistle fusses over him anyway. She's also... looking quite a bit more awkward about everything. "I swear, I'm going to duct tape you down to that chair if you end up in it again after getting better..." she mutters, keeping her head down. Also, once Ru Li is back in his chair, Skye stomps her way into the kitchen, towards Aidan... ... past Aidan, and to Kale, who she winds up and punches in the arm. "Ow?" says Kale hurt, but also puzzled. "That's for keeping that from the rest of us," says Skye. "You gave me that big lecture about acting like a squad, fucking act like it then." And then she turns to Aidan. "I don't have fancy words like mister Deus in the Wheelchair over there," she says. "And he beat me to the violence so I won't go all double geography on you. But I will beat you to within an inch of your life and then beat the last inch out of you too, if you so much as look at Hazelthistle wrong again. Do you get me?"
Evangeline	The picture is taken of Skye, and there is a slight chirp from Evangeline's speakers that could possibly be some kind of short giggle. "...I am alive..." she agrees. Both things might be drowned out by what is going on with the others. She gives another barely perceptible nod to Sky when she talks about making her own decisions, and headtilts slightly at Pierrson. "...it was not difficult for me to acclimate...to not being in the hive...since I was made specifically to be an ambassador to humanity...it has been very difficult...to acclimate to non-Neuroi behavior...I still have trouble with it sometimes..." Her head turns toward Ru Li as he stands. She can of course hear the angry shouts from the kitchen, and like Ru Li she too has enhanced senses so even the non-shouts are audible. She just listens for now. She is just an outsider as far as this situation goes, so there is not much to add. She is curiously looking at Aidan and Hazelthistle now, though. Organic matters of love are pretty foreign to her, so this is an interesting exchange. Ru Li standing despite his damaged state causes Evangeline to also rise when he does, ready to go and try to support him if he falls over or something. When he does not, she remains floating above her seat for a few moments before 'sitting' again.
Aidan Proudpick	"You declared she was your lover when she was not even interested in you?" Damn. He didn't want it to go like this. "I didn't announce it, I just... didn't correct them." He can't even be angry. Not when Ru Li says it outloud. It's like an ice pick into the heart, the heavy weight of shame creeping up in him. Any sort of anger completely drains out of him. Aidan doesn't go limp, but he doesn't put up a fuss this time. He lets himself get pulled up, staring down at Ru Li, defeat again in his eyes. He doesn't bother being struggling against being pulled upward. Only Aidan's reflexes keep him from getting his own bones broken by the furniture. It's natural reflex to turn his body around, brace his feet against something, twist his tail around, move well enough hit the couch and go smashing through it, hitting the ground on the other side, and coming to a stop. Aidan just lies there, breathing, taking in everything. All of Ru Li's words. All his failures once more weighing down on him. Knowing it is true, sucking in short breaths. One step forward, two steps back. He pulls himself up slowly to his hands and knees. There's confusion on his face. That's the Kale he expected. The Kale he admired and respected. Hurt. Confusion. "Why didn't... why didn't you tell me. You coulda just told me at the airport." He pushes up onto his knees, looking at Skye. He remembers the arena with the Combaticons. Words spoken. Things changed in all this time. He never even knew. Slowly, Aidan pulls himself back up, going over to the bag. "Sorry, Hazelthistle." He pulls the bag up, "I shoulda said something to them. But I didn't. And then I never had the courage to ask you out until last week. Got tickets to the Golden Saucer in Eorzea and everything." Aidan pulls himself up to standing, "I'll go-" No one really cares if he studies or not, do they. "I'll go. Sorry fer ruining the class." He yanks the bag back up over his shoulder. He looks at Kale. Confused. Cold indifference. This actual flicker of compassion. He pushes towards the door. "I owe you for the couch too."
Kale Hearthward	> "Why didn't... why didn't you tell me. You coulda just told me at the airport." "Because it's not my job to coordinate covering-up your mistakes," says Kale, not looking at Aidan. Nobody on the Kale Squad moves to stop Aidan as he leaves. "... I appreciate your strength of feeling and your feedback is taken into consideration, but..." "... Skye Woodard. For striking your superior officer, your punishment is to clean up the mess Ru Li made," says Kale, after a moment. "Yeah, I get ya," says Skye, going to get the broom and dustpan out. "... And then to serve everyone post-training ice cream," he adds. Skye grins. "There we go." (The ice cream is vegan, but it's still decent enough.)