[fail!locked from Taiki]

[pillowcatchermaster]

I... I was wondering if I could ask everyone a question.

A lot of you have seen a lot of combat, from what I can tell, and... well.

What do you do when you see someone you care about getting... well. Getting badly hurt. Like, think he might die hurt? He didn't, really, but...

I don't know, my being attacked the other day and him coming to help me got me to think about this a lot...

Comments

[fearmyclaws]

Simple. You go to their aid as they would yours. You destroy the threat trying to harm the one you care about.

[pillowcatchermaster]

I couldn't really do much at the time...

[fearmyclaws]

Then find a way to get stronger. Become more powerful so the next time, you can.

[pillowcatchermaster]

... Get stronger...

[fearmyclaws]

Yes. Grow strong to protect those you care about.

[pillowcatchermaster]

Well, I guess now I have the opportunity...

[fearmyclaws]

Then pursuit it.

[illuminatings]

You help them at any cost, even if they might say they're fine. It's like the saying goes, "Two heads are better than one."

[pillowcatchermaster]

... Well, I do help keep him on task.

[illuminatings]

That's the first step to a long road of success.

However, with what I've been given, fighting here will be inevitable as well as danger. You'd just have to plan as much as you can in advance and just go with it. Sometimes, it really is best to play it by ear because sometimes, your plans might end up failing.

[lyricalmagical]

I'm going to presume this is in regards to something specific that happened... Akari, is it?

[pillowcatchermaster]

Um. Yes, that's right, um...?

[lyricalmagical]

Takamachi Nanoha. I'm one of the DATS Commanders.

[pillowcatchermaster]

Oh! Um, I've heard of you!

[lyricalmagical]

It can be a difficult thing to deal with.

Though to some extent, you have to understand that with what we must deal with, danger is often imminent. Not that the worst is inevitable, but understand that it's possible, and be thankful that it didn't end up that way.

[pillowcatchermaster]

I know.

It's just... I couldn't even do anything when it happened...

[lyricalmagical]

Is it something anyone could have prevented?

In that case, or ANY case, there are things you can do to become stronger.

If it's something that couldn't have been prevented, then there's no sense in you blaming yourself for such things.

[pillowcatchermaster]

... No. Someone we'd put our faith in betrayed us, and took Taiki by surprise...

[lyricalmagical]

Ah, so it was Taiki, then.

It was something you couldn't control. You're still very well within your right to worry, and in fact it would be strange if you didn't.

Rather than making that worry your focus, however, you should focus on what you can do to better yourself, and in turn help him more.

[pillowcatchermaster]

... I see...

Can I... can I ask you another question?

[lyricalmagical]

Absolutely!

[pillowcatchermaster]

Wanting... wanting to help him, and protect him... that's the main reason I want to join DATS.

Is it wrong that I don't... know if I have another reason for doing so yet?

[lyricalmagical]

It's a reason with very good intentions.

Given what I've seen and heard so far, I don't have much doubt those other reasons will surface in time.

[pillowcatchermaster]

... Th-thanks.

I wish I could have as much confidence in myself...

[unreliablenarrarator]

Well... no matter what you end up doing, don't get yourself almost killed helping your friend.

[pillowcatchermaster]

That seems... kinda unheroic, the way you said it. It makes sense, but...

[unreliablenarrarator]

You can be heroic and not die.

[pillowcatchermaster]

Well, yes...

[kenkabanchou]

Speaking from experience, eh?

[unreliablenarrarator]

... shut up, Daimon.

[kenkabanchou]

Oh come off it, you should be proud of yourself!

Throwing yourself into the way of danger for the woman you-- uh, tolerate is the sign of a real man!

[unreliablenarrarator]

...

Don't have new recruits you should be hassling, Daimon?

[kenkabanchou]

Still plenty of time to harass you.

C'mon man, we've been both doin' this a long time.

You need to start lookin' at the bright side of things sometimes.

[unreliablenarrarator]

I am a realist, Daimon. Or as close to one as someone like me can be, you know?

[kenkabanchou]

Not sayin' it's a GOOD thing you got a drill to your back or anything, and probably a bitchin' scar to go with it...

But hey, you gotta be positive SOMETIMES. We did end up winning, you saved Suzumiya, you're alive.

You need to loosen up once in awhile, man.