Shadows of the Past

[Jihadjoe]

"No no... You're all the product of exactly the same mind. You are different, in the same way I'm different when I get angry, happy, sad or feel guilt. The difference is, I don't split them off into these little shards. Do you think this element of yourself could take responsibility for the actions of the others? That's what most of us do."

She paused for a while, thinking deeply.

"Maybe the fact these people who tried in the past were your closest friends is a part of the issue. It's quite a long road you are gonna be going down, and frankly, I'm not giving up until this is dealt with and finished. Somehow I doubt this little element of yourself is going to be the hardest to deal with."

She turned sideways and folded her legs under her on the chair, leaning forwards, supporting her chin on her hands and her elbows on her knees. She smiled, musing idly.

"Honestly, you should see the Fleet Admiral when he gets down. It's kinda sweet in a way, but he's not the easiest person to manage when he's not happy. Poor man, far too much on his plate."

She looked back at Natalie for a while, studying her face for a moment.

"You're a good person under all that. Then again, everyone is really. It's just we end up hiding it. Some more than others. Defense mechanism, they say. What are you defending against, Natalie?

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