Log:Frustration in Diplomacy

2020/12/21 	 Wade Artemis Lennox Baker

1

Artemis is speaking with JULIUS on the main Workout floor, trying to negotiate with the talking head. "Why can you not disengage thy safety protocols? I am in need of a TRUE battle!"

JULIUS responds like speaking to a child, "The safety protocols are non-negotiable, Artemis. Lethal power levels have been restricted."

Wade steps into the workout room and looks around.

Artemis's frustration grows at lack of battle for so long. It must be the holiday spirit. There hasn't been much to openly fight. "Very well, then perhaps ye can set things to 'maximum effort'? I have not had a true battle since Overman! Every situation has been won over with words!" complains the battle-starved Godflora with increasing volume. She finally sighs and falls silent a moment as she looks down at her feet. After a moment, she speaks more normally. "No. No, it would not be a true battle, anyway," she comes to realize in defeat.

Wade calls out, "Artemis...go ahead and use the gym at the max setting. It may not be a real opponent, but it's something."

Artemis looks over her shoulder at Wade, who in many ways was the reason she wasn't able to even battle rats over cheese. Though in that realization, such a battle would be unworthy of the Ashildr. "Aye, 'twould be something, but it would not be to a worthy cause," she says in disinterest.

Lennox, entering more-or-less on Wade's heels, has been watching with interest from the observation room. "How quickly does she come back?" he asks.

Wade raises a brow as he realizes that the Ashildr don't consider practice a 'worthy cause'. He shrugs and shakes his head as he goes to stretch over by the wall.

Artemis's immaturity has shown due to her frustrations. She isn't sure what it is she seeks, but she feels restless and restrained. Her eyes flit to Lennox, then back to Wade. "Ah. Greetings, Friend Wade. Friend Lennox. I shall not...hm...'hog' this room while I am feeling ...something." The Godflora can't even put it into words as she heads to the wall by the entrance.

Wade shrugs, "Frustrated because I used diplomacy rather than punching?" He keeps stretching his quads, pulling a leg up as he places a hand on the wall.

Artemis opens her mouth to respond, but her voice catches as she says, "Nn...n...."

Wade raises a brow. "It's okay to feel frustrated. I don't understand WHY, mind you, but it's okay."

Lennox has settled down on his heels, wrists resting on his knees -- an oddly natural-looking position for him. "I do. She's a warrior, trained to fight. You enter a tense situation, your body gets primed for it. If it doesn't happen ... that priming doesn't just magically go away. There's energy that's been summoned that needs to be burned off. And for someone like Artemis, ideally in fighting that has purpose."

Artemis sighs and folds her arms over her chest. "I...am...frustrated," she say slowly, testing the words to see if they really are true. She even sounds a little surprise as she says them, since she hadn't quite realized that's what she was. She looks to Lennox and nods, surprised once again. "Aye, that is a better way of saying it than I could express."

Lennox shrugs. "Seen it before in a lot of men. Primed with adrenaline, it comes down to one of the three 'F's. Though if you can't get into a fight, training ... can be almost as good."

Wade keeps stretching, switching to his hamstrings. "Mmm. Well, I'm sorry that you're feeling that way, Artemis...but I still think it was the right decision."

Artemis nods slowly at Wade's words. "You're not wrong. I...am not frustrated at you. It is good that peace won the day," she realizes. "The universe has its need of peacekeepers."

Lennox mmmms briefly, eyeing the sizeable holographic room thoughtfully. "Artemis ... have you ever been a soldier? Or always a warrior?"

"A warrior," Artemis answers. "Though I am no stranger to working with others for a common goal. Whether for battle, averting disaster, or rescue."

Wade keeps stretching, though he's paying attention to the conversation.

Lennox shakes his head slightly. "Warriors working together in a battle is /entirely/ different than trained and disciplined soldiers in a battle. Ten thousand warriors fighting for honor and glory will shatter like glass against a well-placed line of a thousand soldiers fighting for the men beside them." He looks around. "I wonder if JULIUS ... well, on the other hand, he probably has better files on the nearest supers than I've received."

"I think I have difficulty in understanding. Soldiers do battle because they are told, while a warrior fights for a cause," Artemis clearly misunderstands the difference.

Lennox smiles a little. "That is true," he concedes. "But soldiers /join/ because they believe in the cause of the organization they join -- most often that of their nation. But if you saw a powerful foe thrashing a boon companion of yours, even unto death, which would you do -- pursue your assignment, one which furthers the cause of victory for your side, or go save your companion and fight the great and terrible foe?"

"Save my companion," Artemis answers with no hesitancy.

Lennox nods; he expected no less. "What if you did not know the person who fought the foe, only that he was on your side?"

"If he appeared to not be a match for his foe, I would aid him," Artemis answers with some thought.

Lennox nods again; also as expected. "And if the foe was there, saw you, and challenged you to fight?"

Artemis chortles. "Then I would have to accept his challenge."

Lennox nods. "Wade, can you guess what a soldier would do, in all three cases?"

Wade thinks about it. "I think it would depend on the cost-benefit at the time. The most important thing is the mission. But...it's easier to accomplish your mission if you don't take casualties."

Artemis waves off Lennox' explanations and questions. "Soldier or warrior matters not. I am a Goddess of Battle and honorable combat with no battles! An unneeded Goddess is doomed to wither. It is as craving something thou needst but cannot have."

Lennox shrugs. "Your friend -- or your ally -- is occupying a powerful foe. Which would keep them from stopping /you/." He pipes down as Artemis declaims. "Ah, yes. Well, some gods grow into their roles -- because a 'battle' is not always something involving a fist or a sword. Still," he adds, pushing himself back up, "it is good to confirm my analysis."

Artemis asks finally, "And what analysis be that?"

Lennox grins. "That if I had to direct who to be where, I'd send you to challenge the powerful foe, and Wade around the side, not the other way around." He waves a hand. "No offense is intended, Artemis. We are what we are, or what we become."

Wade chuckles. "I see." He smiles. "In a pinch, I can occupy a powerful opponent as well. But that's probably the approrpiate way to assign roles. Especially since it'll keep Artemis from being moody."

Artemis gasps and tries to deny it, but her mouth opens and no sound comes out. She snaps it shut, and the Godflora folds her arms over her chest. She tries to speak again. "Aye, Friend Wade is more than capable in challenging a powerful foe," she confirms, but is a bit pouty at finding out a truth about herself that is less than noble.

Artemis adds to her praise, "He was admirable in forcing me to do battle with him to protect his teammates when I was indentured to the Would-Be Tyrant."

Wade keeps stretching. "Well...I certainly kept you occupied when we were on opposite sides, Artemis. Part of that was knowing what would keep you focused on me, though."

Artemis's frustrations gradually start to drain away at the reminder of one of her worst hours and she sighs. "Aye, thou knew exactly how to. And while it pained me, I am glad of thy tactic to protect thy fellow Guardians," she says with remorse.

Lennox nods. "That," he says, "is getting the job done. No matter the personal consequence."

Wade nods in agreement with Lennox. "Artemis outmatches me in combat. There's no question. Just as Cobalt did when I started."

Artemis is surprised to hear Wade say that. "I know not about that, Friend Wade. I think without shield and weapons, thou would best me in combat."

Wade shakes his head, "That might be the case, but I'm not convinced. You are vastly stronger than I am. If you get a hold of me, I'm going to have a very difficult time."

"Techniques are relative, as are specializations," Lennox agrees. "I doubt the future war will prefer close combat, though."

Wade nods to Lennox, "Part of the reason I have a ranged attack integrated with my shield bracer now. I didn't initially."

Artemis is standing by the entrance and off to the side, arms folded over her chest. "'Tis wise to have a way to deal with a larger battlefield with opponents armed with lasers," she agrees.

Lennox is against the wall as well, while Wade stretches in preparation for a workout. "How are you against a personally weaker but numerically superior foe?"

Baker triggers the door to be greeted by voices before he even steps inside. This makes it easy to offer a courteous "Hello" as he does enter. He looks to be dressed for exercise, in SG-logo'd (issued?) running shorts and tee. The greetings get appended once he realizes exactly whom he is greeting: a nod to Lennox, a bit of grin to Artermis and a "Sir" to Wade.

Wade gives Baker a wave. "Hey there, Baker. How are you doing?"

"Should they not realize the folly of their ways to stand before me, I would sweep them aside," Artemis answers idly. She looks to Baker and finally offers a smile, though her voice doesn't have its usual boom of enthusiasm. "Greetings, Friend Agent Baker."

Lennox smiles a little at Artemis's grand declaration; he's heard -that- one before. To be fair, she can probably do it, at least for a time. He nods courteously to Baker.

Wade says to Lennox, "She fights well against a single target. Or multiple. I've seen both."

"Doing well, sir, thank you," Baker replies to Wade first. "Yourself?" Next is Artemis, who seems... less than enthused while speaking of others' folly in standing before her? That sounds off somehow. He looks from her to Lennox to Wade and back, now getting curious. "What's up?"

Wade says to Baker, "Artemis was feeling frustrated since I solved a mission with diplomacy rather than fighting. The conversation has evolved a bit from there."

Wade smiles. "I'm doing okay, though. Thank you for asking."

Artemis makes a sound that is soft and displeased, more because she can't much deny the claim. "Yes. Though since I battle for the peace and safety of those in need, peace and diplomacy is not a poor outcome." But she really wanted a battle!

"Well, there are always training scenarios," says Lennox.

Baker nods, returning Wade's smile. "Ah." None of that sounds surprising at all... except, perhaps, Artemis' odd sound. Is that a whine? A pout? He's not immediately sure whether to grin more or feel bad for her, so he just keeps the smile where it is. Roughly. Mostly.

He waves a hand at the room and is about to mention exactly what Lennox does. "Stomp some simulated scum and villainy? That tends to make me feel better."

Wade nods. "I often use the room to fight against a group of enemies. Something like ninjas. Though they're probably not tough enough for Artemis."

Artemis had originally come for training scenarios, but now she's left questioning things about herself that have her troubled. For once, she is slowing down for some introspection. "Nay, these ninjas interest me not. I shall leave thee to thy trainings." She unfolds her arms and turns for the door.

Wade watches Artemis as she goes to leave. He's a bit torn. On one hand, he wants to find out what's wrong, but on the other...he's also finding her attitude toward battle kind of difficult to stomach at the moment. He finishes stretching, and figures that he'll have a chance to talk to her later, after she's had time to process things in her head.

"Artemis," Lennox calls out. When (if) she turns, he says, "Stop by Valhalla later. We'll ... talk."

Baker nods to Artemis and steps aside. "Understood. I don't really care for ninjas, either. Nor flying strongmen with radioactive eye-beams that throw hillsides and asteroids..."

Artemis halts and looks over her shoulder to Lennox. "Mayhaps I will," she says, but oddly, does not sound enthused at the possibility of drinks and fights while she's questioning her own nature. An uncertain Godflora? Who ever heard of such a thing!? Artemis continues on and heads out of the workout room, unsure of whom to consult on such matters. Perhaps her Bloodbound Brother can assuage her personal doubts.

Lennox was wise not to promise either. But he notices, and when she is gone he turns to look at Wade. "/You/ get to tell Wayne that we broke Artemis."

Wade shrugs, "He's smart. He'll figure it out quickly. And she'll probably open up more to him than to either of us. I was viewed as part of the reason for her frustration, after all."

Lennox nods thoughtfully, agreeing with that analysis. "True. Well, if she shows, I'll let her beat on me a bit, get in a good lick or two myself."

Wade shrugs, "Do as you like, I guess. I'm not inclined to do that. She made it pretty clear when I walked in that she thinks training isn't worth her time if it isn't a full bore combat."

Lennox mms, and smiles. "Do you have any idea how quickly she comes back?" he asks.

Wade raises a brow. "Comes back? From what?"

Wade says, "Dying? I have no idea. A day?"

Lennox hmmms again. "That's a little long," he muses.

Wade nods. "It's not instantaneous. But she always does come back."

Lennox nods. "Good to know," he says. "I'll have to ask her how long, see if she knows." He glances sideways at Wade and Baker, and smiles a little. "I have some experience with the type," he explains.

Wade says, "Why are you asking? Thinking about going in on an all out fight with her?""

Lennox shrugs. "That's the idea, but not if it takes her a day to come back."

Baker is silent for several moments. When he does finally look about to say something, his mouth opens. Pauses. Closes again. It's moments after that he finally speaks. "That sounds absurd. Death-defying deity or not. Dying saving people? Sure. For a random fist fight? No. Even if you can just sleep it off."

Wade nods in agreement with Baker. "Yeah, it's ludicrous. I agree. Training is so when you're ready for when it really matters. And it could matter at literally any time. That space ship showed up rather suddenly. It would suck if Artemis was out of commission for a day when that shows up again."

Lennox grins. "It is a cultural thing, you see. In the United States, after its Civil War, its citizens have always put the expenditure of materiel above that of its soldiers; armies of old were the other way around. You could always get more men; you could not get more metal. And I did just say that a day was too long."

Baker nods to Lennox. "Yep. People used to keep other people as slaves, murdered and pillaged whenever they could, too. I call that progress."

Lennox nods. "Having been enslaved and all, I agree. For someone for whom death is a momentary inconvenience, though, training to destruction can be educational. And theraputic."