Title: Chapter 58-10, Lessons Learned Post by: AlleyCat on May 12, 2009, 06:21:16 AM Alicia calls on Jack Wednesday evening for training. To anyone observing her as she exercises and spars, she's her normal self. Jack can tell, though, that her attention is not wholly on the session. When Jack calls a break, Alicia finally works up the nerve to ask in a tentative voice, "Jack? Did you ever have someone... close to you die because of what you did?" Title: Re: Chapter 58-10, Lessons Learned Post by: secretoracle on May 12, 2009, 06:57:06 AM Jack hands her a bottle of water. "More than once. I saw the news. You starting to have doubts about yourself?" Title: Re: Chapter 58-10, Lessons Learned Post by: AlleyCat on May 12, 2009, 08:27:29 AM Alicia takes the bottle but doesn't drink from it. "I dunno," she says honestly, staring at the label in contemplation. "Did you keep going afterwards? How did you manage to do it?" She paused as another thought struck her. She looked up to fix Jack with her golden eyes. "Is that why you live alone?"" Title: Re: Chapter 58-10, Lessons Learned Post by: secretoracle on May 12, 2009, 08:42:08 AM "I live alone because I travel most of the time, and I age really slowly. And you keep going because it's what we do. People make mistakes. You forget your keys, you forget to carry the two when you're doing math. Most people's mistakes don't get other people hurt or killed. Some people, some people live and work in situations where it does happen. Crane operators, doctors, police officers, race car drivers, vigilantes, super heroes, the list goes on and on. The risk is not unique to us. You live and learn." Title: Re: Chapter 58-10, Lessons Learned Post by: AlleyCat on May 12, 2009, 09:29:15 AM Alicia sits quietly, for a moment fulfilling the image of a feline in her stillness. "Just like that? You just keep going like it doesn't matter?" Title: Re: Chapter 58-10, Lessons Learned Post by: secretoracle on May 12, 2009, 09:55:32 AM "I keep going because it does matter. Someday, maybe I will stop. But it wont be because I failed someone, it will be because I know it's time to stop. Get used to failure. It's part of what we do." Title: Re: Chapter 58-10, Lessons Learned Post by: AlleyCat on May 12, 2009, 10:11:12 AM It's obvious the answer doesn't satisfy the young girl, but she doesn't keep pushing. So what else is new? You knew it all along; you'll end up hurting the people you love. It's in your nature, the dark voice in her mind whispers mockingly. She spends the rest of the session working off her frustration against the much-abused heavy punching bag. OOC: Hmm, this went quicker than I thought it would. Unless Jack decides to push, I think this is done. |