[And in return, Valvatorez remains quiet and keeps his eyes in contact with Leo's without falter. It's not hard to hear the frustration in knowing how time is limited, and the sadness and desolation in his tone describing his life both before and presently at Daybreak. His face remains passive throughout, though a small, almost wistful smile does make its way to his lips after he finishes.]
I can assure you, teenage rebellion is a universal constant.
[The smile fades after making that comment, returning to a more serious, albeit passive, neutral look.]
Perhaps it is obvious to state, but you have lived quite a hard life. Made worse by none of it being fault of your own. And truthfully, I cannot blame you for considering not wanting to save the world, when the status quo has seen you persecuted unfairly and unjustly. I do not believe feeling that way is wrong; in fact, I find it actually quite sympathetic. "Why risk your neck for a world that would sooner see you dead or marginalized" is a good question to ask yourself. What good will it do if by stopping the apocalypse, you and your family are simply driven aground again? What if that happens and nothing changes or gets better?
Frankly, Leonardo, you do not owe anyone anything. You do not have to be a hero or a savior, nor are you obligated to try to stop the Nightfall from happening. Especially in light of everything that's happened to you. A perpetual outcast, neither truly mundane nor fully supernatural.
[Valvatorez shrugs his shoulders lightly, before leaning against the lectern he spoke at during class.]
But there is one thing that you said that bothers me. Something I feel like is important that you are looking at the wrong way; and you are far from the only one who ponders it.
It's that you believe you should be told what you are meant to do in life. That you would prefer it if you were given a path to follow, as if that were your purpose from moment one. Believe it or not, I hear that one a lot. But I never believe it to be a good way to live, nor a particularly healthy one. I believe that does nothing but chain one's potential, and limits their ability to truly grow. It might look easier, but it might lead to a dead end all the same.
Leonardo, a young man such as you? Should not be asking other people what your purpose in life is. You should be determining that yourself. Of course, it is never as easy as it sounds... particularly in circumstances like yours. But I am of the opinion that if you do not like the world as it is, do something about it. It does not have to be grand, nor do you have to do it right away. Do it as you see fit, and as you are comfortable with doing. If you do not know where to start, start with something small, and feel it all out. Let the experience guide you where it may, so you can cut your own trail. Embrace yourself, and in so doing, make yourself more than you were. And you do not have to save the world in doing so, if you do not wish to. Determine what or who is important to you, and work toward that.
You need not rush. Even if Nightfall approaches, it will be beaten back. They will not succeed.
[Valvatorez blinks, then shrugs again.]
And if they do, you probably won't be worrying much about it anyway.
[A little bit of dark humor there, but... he's a daemon, what do you want?]
no subject
I can assure you, teenage rebellion is a universal constant.
[The smile fades after making that comment, returning to a more serious, albeit passive, neutral look.]
Perhaps it is obvious to state, but you have lived quite a hard life. Made worse by none of it being fault of your own. And truthfully, I cannot blame you for considering not wanting to save the world, when the status quo has seen you persecuted unfairly and unjustly. I do not believe feeling that way is wrong; in fact, I find it actually quite sympathetic. "Why risk your neck for a world that would sooner see you dead or marginalized" is a good question to ask yourself. What good will it do if by stopping the apocalypse, you and your family are simply driven aground again? What if that happens and nothing changes or gets better?
Frankly, Leonardo, you do not owe anyone anything. You do not have to be a hero or a savior, nor are you obligated to try to stop the Nightfall from happening. Especially in light of everything that's happened to you. A perpetual outcast, neither truly mundane nor fully supernatural.
[Valvatorez shrugs his shoulders lightly, before leaning against the lectern he spoke at during class.]
But there is one thing that you said that bothers me. Something I feel like is important that you are looking at the wrong way; and you are far from the only one who ponders it.
It's that you believe you should be told what you are meant to do in life. That you would prefer it if you were given a path to follow, as if that were your purpose from moment one. Believe it or not, I hear that one a lot. But I never believe it to be a good way to live, nor a particularly healthy one. I believe that does nothing but chain one's potential, and limits their ability to truly grow. It might look easier, but it might lead to a dead end all the same.
Leonardo, a young man such as you? Should not be asking other people what your purpose in life is. You should be determining that yourself. Of course, it is never as easy as it sounds... particularly in circumstances like yours. But I am of the opinion that if you do not like the world as it is, do something about it. It does not have to be grand, nor do you have to do it right away. Do it as you see fit, and as you are comfortable with doing. If you do not know where to start, start with something small, and feel it all out. Let the experience guide you where it may, so you can cut your own trail. Embrace yourself, and in so doing, make yourself more than you were. And you do not have to save the world in doing so, if you do not wish to. Determine what or who is important to you, and work toward that.
You need not rush. Even if Nightfall approaches, it will be beaten back. They will not succeed.
[Valvatorez blinks, then shrugs again.]
And if they do, you probably won't be worrying much about it anyway.
[A little bit of dark humor there, but... he's a daemon, what do you want?]