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"You've reached Quintus Falxvale, Head Peacekeeper.

In this time of crisis, I ask that all personal and non-urgent correspondence be directed through my secretary. Her number is [xxx-xxxx].

Alternately, media requests may go directly through the Public Relations office at [xxx-xxxx].

Thank you."

[ VOICE | TEXT ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

pythianjudgment

QU1NTUS F4LXV4L3,

1 4M 4W4R3 OF TH3 D1SPL4Y TH4T YOU PUT ON FOR TH3 C4P1TOL 4ND FOR TH3 R3ST OF P4N3M. 1 C4N NOT S4Y TH4T 1 4M 1MPR3SS3D. YOU SHOULD H4V3 T4K3N YOUR OWN 4DV1C3 4ND NOT L3T TH3 4CT1ONS OF ON3 M4N CLOUD YOUR JUDGM3NT. NO ON3 S3NT TH4T 4SS4SS1N 4FT3R YOU, 4T L34ST NOT FROM D1STR1CT TH1RT33N. 1 DO NOT 4PPROV3 OF TH3 4TT3MPT ON YOUR L1F3, 4ND 1 4M GL4D TH4T YOU 4R3 OK4Y; BUT YOU DO NOT G3T TO JUST1FY YOUR 4CT1ONS BY W4RP1NG TH3 TRUTH. WH4T YOU D1D W4S WRONG. TH4T M4N SHOULD H4V3 B33N PUN1SH3D, BUT NOT 4S 4 M3SS4G3 OF F34R TO TH3 P3OPL3 OF P4N3M.

1 F1ND 1T H4RD TO B3L13V3 TH4T 4 M4N WHO R3SORTS TO PUBL1C TORTUR3 W4S QU3ST1ON1NG MY P3RSP3CT1V3 ONLY 4 MONTH 4GO, BUT 1 GU3SS TH4T 1S TH3 WORLD TH4T 1 H4V3 B33N UNW1TT1NGLY TOSS3D 1NTO. TO 4NSW3R YOUR QU3ST1ON: 1 C4N NOT S4Y FOR SUR3 TH4T 1 KNOW WH4T MY COMR4D3S W4NT, BUT TH4T M4K3S NO D1FF3R3NC3 TO M3. 1 KNOW WH1CH ON3S 1 C4N TRUST.

DO YOU R34LLY TH1NK TH4T 4S 4 S33R 1 WOULD L3T TH1S W4R GO B4DLY? DO YOU R34LLY TH1NK TH4T 1 WOULD SUPPORT SOM3TH1NG W1THOUT 3X4M1N1NG 3V3RY POSS1BL3 OUTCOM3? TH3R3 4R3 4 M1LL1ON POSS1BL3 FUTUR3S OUT TH3R3, BUT 1T 1S ST1LL UP TO US TO CHOOS3 WH1CH P4THS TO W4LK. TH3 FUTURE IS M34NT TO B3 SH4P3D, NOT S1MPLY 3NDUR3D. 1 C4N NOT CONDON3 YOUR 1N4CT1ON 4NY MOR3 TH4N 1 C4N CONDON3 YOUR F34R T4CT1CS. TH3S3 P3OPL3 D3S3RV3 FR33DOM. TH3Y H4V3 HOP3S 4ND DR34MS, 4ND TH3Y D3S3RV3 4 CH4NC3 TO L1V3 FOR MOR3 TH4N TH31R US3FULN3SS TO TH3 C4P1TOL.

1 W1LL H4MM3R OUT 4 FUTUR3 WH3R3 4LL OF P4N3M C4N H4V3 4 CH4NC3 TO GROW 4ND FLOUR1SH, NOT JUST ON3 C1TY. 1 DO NOT N33D TH3 C4P1TOL TO DO TH1S. 1 DO NOT N33D D1STR1CT TH1RT33N. 1 DO NOT N33D YOU. BUT 1T WOULD H4V3 B33N N1C3 TO H4V3 YOUR TRUST. 1T WOULD H4V3 B33N N1C3 1F YOU COULD UND3RST4ND TH4T P34C3 4T TH3 3XP3NS3 OF OTH3RS 1S NOT WORTH PROT3CT1NG. P4N3M DO3S NOT H4V3 TO 3X1ST L1K3 TH1S 1F YOU COULD JUST H4V3 4 L1TTL3 F41TH 1N M3.

1 R34LLY THOUGHT TH4T YOU W3R3 SOM3ON3 TH4T 1 COULD H4V3 SOM3 F41TH 1N TOO. CONGR4TUL4T1ONS ON F1N4LLY PROV1NG M3 WRONG. 1 HOP3 TH4T V1CTORY 1S WORTHWH1L3 FOR YOU.

DO NOT BOTH3R R3SPOND1NG B4CK. 1 DO NOT TH1NK TH4T W3 H4V3 4NYTH1NG L3FT TO S4Y TO 34CH OTH3R.

-T3R3Z1 PYROP3

Edited Date: 2016-03-24 10:55 pm (UTC)

From:

lex_paciferat

[He almost doesn't read the letter--it ends up on his desk amidst a pile of papers, and he's drawn tight and stressed and still in pain from his healing wound. He knows, given the circumstances, that her words are bound to be unpleasant.

But he does read it, and when he gets to the third paragraph from the end he reads that passage over again. And again. At first glance it sounds like bombastic anger, which disappoints him given what he knows of her logical mentality--but then he makes the connection. The dismissal of Thirteen, rendering her rejection of her comrades' motives not willful blindness but an acknowledgement of risk. She's still questioning, as he always has.

(The thought rises unbidden: has he, really? Or has it been easier, these past months, to believe?)

He stares at the letter for a few more moments, then crumples it between his hands, tossing it in the trash. His back aches as he turns, and he considers fetching more painkillers.

Better not, he decides. He has to stay alert.

After all, he has work to do.]