catchall horse dad

[exercisms]

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[exercisms]

[He looks at him like the answer is so obvious?]

That person killed Hajime and Pikachu. Why?

[antaressnipe]

... If he is to be believed, he thought the competitive aspect of being here was reason enough to kill.

[Spoken mildly of all things]

But I have not talked to him privately, and so can't completely verify the truth.

[exercisms]

He thought that. . . even though Hajime and Pikachu had feelings, too.

[That answer doesn't sit right with him. It's hard to understand how someone could think that way.]

[antaressnipe]

[...]

Most who are moved to kill are aware their victims have feelings. But they place more emphasis on their own needs.

[exercisms]

How does a person become like that? What happens to make a person care only about themselves, instead of others?

[antaressnipe]

It is not so simple.

Perhaps Virid had family he wished to return to, and felt pressured into killing. Perhaps the world had been cruel to him and he felt the only way to protect himself was to strike first.

We cannot know what resides in someone else's heart, even if their actions lead them to hurtful deeds.

[exercisms]

What resides in someone's heart. . .

[He looks like he's considering this, and then he gives a nod.]

Thinking the world is cruel can change a lot.

[antaressnipe]

Yes... even more so when you think everyone else is the villain.

[A quiet dip of his head]

Does that help you understand a little better?

[exercisms]

It does.

[It's a complicated thing to process, but it sits with him better than wondering why something so terrible had to happen.]

. . . Viridian-san will be removed tomorrow, won't he?

[antaressnipe]

Yes, most likely.

[... Staring at him quietly]

Will you be there to watch? Or will you look away? I doubt anyone would criticize you no matter your choice.

[exercisms]

I don't know.

[He hasn't considered that at all.]

Is that important?

[antaressnipe]

It might be.

[Tapping at his chin in thought]

To watch is to... record the end times of a person into your memory. If you look away, you lose that opportunity.

[exercisms]

To record it in your memory. . .

[Huh. He hasn't thought about that.]

Isn't it better to record something else?

[antaressnipe]

Such as?

[exercisms]

A happy memory.

[antaressnipe]

There is no rule that says you can't do both.

[exercisms]

I'll think about it. I don't want to refuse to look at something I should see. But also - it isn't always bad to hide from things, either.

[antaressnipe]

But of course. Which is why I doubt anyone would judge you harshly for your final decision.

[In the end, it's up to him to decide]