Personal Dilemmas

[conjuredskies]

Hey, did you know there’s a way to broadcast messages to the Nexus at large? Anyone might be forgiven for forgetting that, since it doesn’t happen too often these days. And yet, on PINpoints and phones and convenient computer screens alike, people might find an unexpected question incoming:

Given a choice between leaving a friend badly in the lurch, or forcing someone you love to revisit a very painful place, which do you pick?

It’s entirely anonymous and quite untraceable, though it seems certain that the culprit will be able to answer any reply sent. He’s actually hanging out in the bright, luxuriously upholstered environs of a particularly upscale café that offers free computer access, waiting for his IT consultant to come back with the drinks. It doesn’t feel very clandestine to him, but maybe Felix just isn’t used to the ways of the Space Age yet. That’s why he has a consultant.

Comments

[conjuredskies]

Families like to be hidebound about these things. There's nothing more natural, though, than a woman going with her husband and child.

[sordiddetails]

The real world is rarely that straight forward. There are a lot of complication surrounding my choice. Are you faced with a similar decision?

[conjuredskies]

Not exactly. A friend is in a rather bad position because of my actions. I can repair the harm, but only by putting someone I love through great pain. Either way, one of them suffers.

[sordiddetails]

If you have time to ask others, could you talk to the loved one first? At least they'd understand the pain when it came if you choose to help your friend.

[conjuredskies]

Let me clarify: my beloved is a kind, brave, self-sacrificing idiot who will insist on putting himself through hell and claim he's completely fine. Regardless of the consequences. If I tell him, the decision is already made.

[sordiddetails]

He sounds like my husband. Our son had to tell me he wasn't as fine as he made me believe.

It sounds cold but maybe a firm stock of consequences is in order. Of both are tragic, minimizing the fall out might be the best you can hope for.

[conjuredskies]

You have my condolences, then.

If only that were an easy thing to weigh. Which is the lesser harm? Cast one out of his home and his guild and damage his career for years to come, or force my beloved to suffer a wound that barely healed the last time? Something I vowed to protect him from?

[sordiddetails]

Shall I offer mine? He may be a headache but I wouldn't want any other headache.

If I were in this position, there would be no choice. A vow to a loved one shouldn't be broken. Are there things you can do to help your friend recover more quickly?

[conjuredskies]

Perhaps not, but it's hardly fun and games for those of us who have to pick up the pieces, is it?

He can only complain so much: Jim's done the same for him and would a thousand times over. That doesn't make it less frustrating, to know how easily his beloved is drawn back into throwing himself on the pyre for others.

Ah, well, there's the rub. I also promised not to hide these things from him, and yet. Here we are.

I don't have the power nor the resources to make up what the man would lose, no. Some things are hard earned and easily lost.

[sordiddetails]

He lets you pick up the pieces? My husband will try to do that himself too.

He was such a stubborn man but all complaints were done with love. Frustrating as he is, she can't deny the strength.

You do seem to be in a bind.

Which decision are you favoring?

[conjuredskies]

Felix lifts his eyebrows at the screen, unsure if he’s meant to take that in a joking way. He decides he’s not much in the mood for laughing anything off, especially when it’s not a face-to-face conversation and he feels no need to save face. Considering that convincing Jim Kirk to let him close was a rather significant obstacle course in their courtship…

(And still is, in a different way.)

That’s what good spouses do for each other, isn’t it? In any case, ‘try’ is the operative word. You still end up dealing with the consequence, even if that’s a man who won’t admit to his wounds or the pain they’re causing. I wish you luck with yours.

Felix pauses, rereads what he’s just written. Then shakes his head to dispel the image of Jim looking at him with raised eyebrows.

If I knew that, I wouldn’t be seeking other opinions. For the longest time it would have been easy: I’d have chosen the man I liked better. But I’m trying to be a little better than that, these days.

[sordiddetails]

She feels like maybe she should apologize for bringing up a painful subject. Instead her diplomatic side takes over.

His wounds are too deep to ignore, even for his stubborn attitude. I hope things work out for yours, too.

She briefly wonders if Tom and this man's husband are friends. It sure sounds like they would get along.

I felt the same way when I chose to stay with my own species. I thought I was being the better person. I'm not so sure I was being a better person and too often feel regret for not just choosing my husband over what unbiased opinion might suggest. His short lifespan makes for more regret that I chose my species and I'm not sure that comes into most people's decidions.