[homophonic] catchall for shu

[dendroculi]

SHU

code

Comments

[dendroculi]

I think most people have. It's just that they seem to disagree on whether having the option to do something means we ought to do it. "Just because we can doesn't mean we should," or something like that.

[she sighs.]

But it's unrealistic to think that people won't, so we need to plan for the eventuality that they will. Shu, have you spoken with Kaveh much?

[roseoftexas]

They'll have ways to twist our arms, if they have to.

[ positivity! ] But until it all gets going, we're running blind.

A couple of times. Why?

[dendroculi]

I'll be upfront: I want to form a team with you.

But Kaveh will be on any team that I am. Is that something you feel like you could work with?

[roseoftexas]

[ ..... ]

Why?

[ might as well find out her reasoning, more than anything else. ]

[dendroculi]

Because you have a realistic view of how this game is likely to work.

I admire and agree with Kaveh's ideals, but... I'm aware they're not going to be easy to live up to here. If we can, I'd like to. But if we can't, then having a perspective that differs from our own would be helpful. The skills listed on your entry in the data app are impressive. And... from our discussions, I'm under the impression that you and I at least would be able to work well together.

[...]

You also... remind me of someone I know in Sumeru. So, I'd like to help you get home. ...but that's just a personal feeling.

[roseoftexas]

[ she saw "sniping" was like yes this one. ]

...

[ well, he's listening at least. and she's not wrong? this isn't exactly a surprise to him, from speaking to her a few times she does seem very clued in and reasonable. idealistic without losing her grip on realism, and understanding limitations. he's more likely to follow someone who is idealistic in a realistic way, after all.

it wouldn't be worth his time to listen to someone who looks only with rose coloured glasses on and thinks with only the softest, most idealised plans in mind. idealism isn't the foundation that makes change, it's the flourish at the end when the hard work is done. ]

Aside from Kaveh, who else do you have in mind?

[ also help, nahida finding someone al-haitham adjacent and going "this one x2" ]

[dendroculi]

I was thinking maybe Hikari. He seems to have a similar mindset to Kaveh and myself, but he possesses physical skills that he and I don't. So, it seemed like he would be easy to get along with.

[


also she feels bad that hikari doesn't have a castmate.]

I could introduce you, if you would like.

[roseoftexas]

[ hmm. ]

I can't say I know him. Outside of looking at his profile, I mean. You know we have the same kinesis ability, right?

[ he's just. pointing that out. ]

I don't have any reason not to see him and make a choice.

[dendroculi]

Yes, but I don't mind that. It puts us in a stronger position if that ability is needed by the other teams for any other reason - they'll have no choice but to negotiate with us.

And I'm not worried about negotiating with other people if they have abilities we need. I'm sure I'll be able to make a deal with them.

[who can refuse a small child, after all? :) ]

[roseoftexas]

Hoarding resources. That’s a pretty good plan. We can make fire, find water, generate a spark and find a way to manipulate wind ourselves if we need to. Light and darkness would be a bit trickier.

[ nahida: well it won’t hurt for negotiations!
shu: hoard the resources, got it. ]

Healing’s probably going to get the most use those. Especially if things are going to turn violent.

[dendroculi]

Yes.

[she crosses her arms.]

There is a wide spread of healers, so it's possible that the other teams may not need us to help with that. However, there's an equally likely chance that multiple healers may end up on the same team, like Kaveh and I did. And in that case, there would be teams that simply woudn't have a healer at all. If we move quickly to offer our help them, they'll also be more inclined to help us out if we need their skills in the future.

[roseoftexas]

So, you want to play to their sense of fairness. Make them feel like they owe you a favour and cash that in when you need it.

[ nothing accusatory here. ]

[dendroculi]

Yes.

[matter-of-fact.]

Of course, I do genuinely want to help them. But if they feel like they owe us a favor because of our help, I won't stop them from paying us back.

[roseoftexas]

[ wipes a tear from my eye. good girl. ]

The dislike of owing someone is usually more powerful than the willingness to return a favour. The first one’s more likely to make your skin crawl.

[dendroculi]

I haven't felt that way myself, but... I can believe that. I'm closely acquainted with someone who seems to feel that way quite often.

[hehe. hat guy.]

[roseoftexas]

It doesn’t feel great, knowing you owe someone and not knowing when they’re going to demand collection.

[ don sombrero… he gets you. ]

[dendroculi]

I guess it wouldn't...

[roseoftexas]

Depends on who you owe the favour to as well.

[ owing a favour to, say, kaveh could be lethal because it’d be like kicking a puppy not paying him back. but also you might not care about puppies, so… ]

[dendroculi]

Yes... I suppose that's also true.

[hat guy must really hate owing favors to a baby]

[roseoftexas]

Hopefully you'll run into people who just enjoy doing like for like, without any of the complicated spite associations.

[ hat guy can deal ]

[dendroculi]

THat would be nice... but we'll deal with it if we don't.

[roseoftexas]

We won't have much choice but to.

[dendroculi]

[MY TYPOS UGH goes back to sleep

anyway she nods because she does not disagree with that]

[roseoftexas]

[ immortalised, just like nahida. ]

[dendroculi]

[wow]