02-18-2016, 06:17 PM
A long time has passed in which Nick has been quiet. He, too, has had his own fantasy while listening to the others speak. Nick's involves the human connection between the people in this room and whatever hypothetical faction might exist within the Union, that understanding and common purpose, that maybe there are as many shepherds and healers among them as Agent Westons.
He fantasizes that perhaps this will be enough to avert a war. That the Alex he meets will be the same Alex everyone here remembers. That he will not be called to be executioner when the aftermath of every war grinds the Wheel to a halt.
But this is fantasy, and one man doesn't change the fundamental nature of the human heart with Will alone. He knows that.
He probably would have remained quiet, had Pen not mentioned his affinity for working within the spirit world, that he is slowly becoming a creature of both this reality and that Other. He makes eye contact with Kiara then, a second time, and the glance is at once meaningful and opaque: there is a sort of tired readiness in it. "Let me know how I can assist."
He fantasizes that perhaps this will be enough to avert a war. That the Alex he meets will be the same Alex everyone here remembers. That he will not be called to be executioner when the aftermath of every war grinds the Wheel to a halt.
But this is fantasy, and one man doesn't change the fundamental nature of the human heart with Will alone. He knows that.
He probably would have remained quiet, had Pen not mentioned his affinity for working within the spirit world, that he is slowly becoming a creature of both this reality and that Other. He makes eye contact with Kiara then, a second time, and the glance is at once meaningful and opaque: there is a sort of tired readiness in it. "Let me know how I can assist."