[ kaveh gestures for alhaitham to sit. alhaitham, who cannot deny kaveh, joins him. the two of them squeeze in along the water's edge. the lily pads float aloft. the lotuses, alhaitham knows, bloom only at night, when the edgeless slant of moonlight bathes their petals to their core. there is a time and a season for everything in sumeru. the natural order is something meant to be studied, to be lived alongside, and to allow and let live. the rules and regulations that govern their world creates a box in which creativity is allowed to flourish, for without restriction, there cannot be creation.
this, alhaitham knows. but the rules and regulations of the world have never been accused of being kind, nor fair. nor, in a court of law, could they be judged as such. mankind has never signed a contract with nature. the rules that they follow are their own. and alhaitham has never been good at following the rules of others. ]
You do. Up until you disagree. [ but there's a secret joke there between two people who have argued long enough that the mere notion of right or wrong no longer apply. alhaitham cants his head, acquiescence in a moment of grace as he considers his words. ] My answer has never changed, not when it comes to the matter of mattering. One must always have something they hold onto to the very end, lest the vicissitudes of life lead you astray. If one has made the decision to value something, whether weal nor woe, one must hold it to the higher standard in decision-making.
For example, if you were to value fun above all else, then your choice today to hide from the eyes of the common people runs against that value; your instinct is to minimise your embarrassment, rather than to maximise amusement. I have no critique for one whose views are congruent with one's actions. However, living in contradiction only ensures that each choice you make takes you further from your ideal.
[ alhaitham slowly shakes his head. the motion is like that of ripples upon water, the barest shadow of which cants towards the depths. ] Therefore, my position is thus: that what is important is congruence between choice and action. There is nothing more to it.
no subject
this, alhaitham knows. but the rules and regulations of the world have never been accused of being kind, nor fair. nor, in a court of law, could they be judged as such. mankind has never signed a contract with nature. the rules that they follow are their own. and alhaitham has never been good at following the rules of others. ]
You do. Up until you disagree. [ but there's a secret joke there between two people who have argued long enough that the mere notion of right or wrong no longer apply. alhaitham cants his head, acquiescence in a moment of grace as he considers his words. ] My answer has never changed, not when it comes to the matter of mattering. One must always have something they hold onto to the very end, lest the vicissitudes of life lead you astray. If one has made the decision to value something, whether weal nor woe, one must hold it to the higher standard in decision-making.
For example, if you were to value fun above all else, then your choice today to hide from the eyes of the common people runs against that value; your instinct is to minimise your embarrassment, rather than to maximise amusement. I have no critique for one whose views are congruent with one's actions. However, living in contradiction only ensures that each choice you make takes you further from your ideal.
[ alhaitham slowly shakes his head. the motion is like that of ripples upon water, the barest shadow of which cants towards the depths. ] Therefore, my position is thus: that what is important is congruence between choice and action. There is nothing more to it.