voidtreckernet | Domino 18 [Video]

Domino 18 [Video]

Before I came here, the residents of the train chose a Council.

They chose unwisely.

You ask me to bend my knee to an unworthy leader, one who you have chosen for me. I will not. If my refusal to swear allegiance to one not of my land, not of my clan, and not of my choice is objectionable to you, then now is the time to bring your complaints to me. I await them.

[There is hot anger, and there is cold anger. This is cold anger. It brings out the formality in Edge as few things can.]

Let's see how this train is truly run.

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...The leader. I'm specifically talking about the leader. Was I not clear there? I'm pretty sure I was clear there.

[Thanks, you're spoiling his perfectly good mad-on by making him second-guess that awesome speech!]

But there's more than one leader? I mean they're all called team leaders? And they didn't put me in charge so they definitely did something right.

Edited 2020-02-05 04:21 (UTC)

No. No. Stark. The one who insists he is in charge of us all.

Yeah, I'm even more confused. Do you just not know how democracy works?

'Cause like, Mr Stark's been head of the Counsel-who all make decisions together through a vote, btdubs- since like... third week since the start of this trip?? If you didn't like him then why didn't you something before?

Sorry dude, all I'm getting is you're the one that needs check your self 'cause you're the one throwin' a tantrum.

What happened, did he tell you, you can't do something so you you're mad? My dude, this is no way to act.

I see your loyalty is so blind and unquestioning you dismiss any challenge to it as childish rather than assess it on merits. That does explain a lot about how he got into power in the first place.

Um.. what merits? Cause all I remember is you whining about how Mr Stark is not of your land or clan or whatever-and dude, that's hella racist sounding.

And also, he's been the head of the counsel since he first purposed it? He wanted people that weren't afraid to tell him no and lay out a sound argument as to why they're telling him no. If the Counsel though Mr Stark needed to step down, they'd tell him to.

And I'm dismissing you as childish because you are. You haven't given one single good reason as to why Mr Stark and the Counsel are unworthy leaders? In the meantime, I could easily write an entire ten thousand word essay on why Tony Stark should be the man in charge and why he's a good leader.

So you believe that he should keep us 'safe' no matter our opinion on the subject. You're okay with trading your self-determination to him.

Well, um. I’m sixteen and Mr Stark is literally one of my guardians it is literally his job to keep me safe and I haven’t died yet-so so far so good.

Look, I know he can be like really controlling, but I have never doubted that he always wants to do what’s right and protect the people he cares about.

So let's say we could all go home if we defeated a giant monster in a battle. You would be perfectly okay with him saying, "you don't get to fight, I'll handle this alone"?

Um.

He wouldn’t do that??

Like where do you even get off, Edge?

And I think you missed the part where he’s my guardian? If he benches me then I’m benched and any time I’ve thought it wasn’t for good reason I found out really fast I was so SO wrong.

That is exactly what he has said he'd do to all of us. He views this as his responsibility alone. He'll extend none to us at all. That is directly what he said.

If you're comfortable letting him make your decisions for you and dictating how you're allowed to respond, to this situation or this train or anything we encounter, then that's your business. I... I assume you saying 'I'm sixteen' means you're not considered an adult where you come from? [Edge loses some of his vehemence as he has to consider that. How weird.] But that doesn't mean he can just tell me to sit back and let him take care of everything. Or anyone else. We're all involved. This is everyone's problem.

Okay, I'm starting to get the feeling there's been a huge misunderstanding here. Also, it's like you've never met a super hero before.

Hi. I'm Peter Parker-Also Spider-Man I have Spider powers and use them protect those around me by any means possible. That's kinda our MO? Protect everyone no matter what the cost. You can't save everyone but you can't stop trying, either.

And, just so I've got this clear, you're mad at Mr Stark because he's against you putting yourself in life threatening danger?

Oh boy. This goes deeper than I thought.

[Edge presses his fingers against his temple, taking a deep breath to try to master himself at least for the moment.]

I have a question which, if you want to actually discuss this in good faith, needs a serious answer.

Do your abilities make you better than other people?

No?

[ He's making the weirdest face because where did you get that idea? ]

But because I have them, I have a responsibility to those around me.

Yes. That's good. But you're missing half of what you need to know. Because the other part is that other people have responsibilities and duties as well. Other people have principles they hold fast to, and even things they would gladly die for.

When you say, "I protect others no matter what", then you are saying you will protect people in spite of the responsibilities, duties, and principles they have. If you aren't better than then, you don't have that right. Not any more than someone has to tell you that you can't live according to your responsibility, because they want to keep YOU safe no matter what.

No, I didn't miss anything-With great power must also come great responsibility-that's something I have never forgotten since becoming Spider-Man.

And dude-that's-I don't even know where to start on how wrong you are. The point of having the team, the counsel is that when you go to someone and say 'hey, I'm gonna kill myself because that's what I think I should do in this situation' the counsel can say-no dude bro, you need to chill and we're gonna do this in a way that hopefully doesn't get anyone killed.'

And seriously, all I'm getting out of this is that you need some serious psychiatric help. If I went up to Mr Stark or Aunt May and threw a fit about 'It's my right to die for the cause' they'd probably lock me in a room and force me to talk to a therapist.

So it's okay for you to protect people no matter what because it's your responsibility. It's okay for you to put yourself into life-threatening danger. But as soon as someone else wants to, you believe they have absolutely no right to. The purpose of a team is to stop other people from doing what you feel you're obligated to do.

You are Tony Stark's ward.

No. I'm saying I'm gonna let you be as reckless as you want and protect whoever you want-but I'm not gonna let you kill yourself.

Once you die, you're dead. Done. You don't come back-you don't get to try again, you're dead. And I have seen way too many people die and if I can stop it from happening again, I will.

You seem to think that I'm in a hurry to throw my life away. I'm not. But that doesn't change the fact that there are some things more important than one man's life. I would lay down my life for my people in a heartbeat, if doing so would protect them. I would have laid down my life on the Moon, if doing so meant saving the world. Some things are more important than one man's life.

But by your words, I shouldn't even be allowed to risk my life even slightly. Only you and Tony Stark are permitted that honor. The rest of us need to submit to your judgment. Shall I turn over my shuriken to you? I might cut myself on it. Better to take it away from me so I can't risk myself by having it! On the next mission, are you going to lock us all in our rooms, so none of us can put ourselves in danger?

Oh my god.

It's like you don't get a word I'm saying. Oh my god.

No. That's not what I said, that's not even kind of what I said? And I try not to risk my life as much as possible but hey, that's kinda in the job description.

No. What I'm saying is that if you risk your life it is my responsibility, as a super hero, as someone with great power, to save your dumb ass.

I got your back-you got mine. Except, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't.

Edited 2020-02-06 00:25 (UTC)

Right. I heard what you're saying. And what I am saying is: No. I have my own skills and my own abilities. I am prepared to use them to accomplish what needs to be done, the same as you are. Your duty isn't to prevent me from risking my life any more than my duty is to prevent you from risking yours.

It's the last thing you said that's right. You respect my choice. I respect yours. We work together to accomplish what needs to be done. If we're fighting a monster, that means fighting a monster. Not spending the entire battle trying to protect the other from harm, but accepting that we each choose to fight, and fighting in the best way possible to accomplish it. If we're evacuating a burning building, that means you trust me to get the second floor and I trust you to get the first -- not that we both spend our time trying to kick the other one out of the building so they aren't in danger. That's working together in a way borne out of respect and mutual understanding -- not 'saving my dumb ass'. Maybe one of us does save the other in the course of one of these, but that isn't what we set out to do, it's just part of working together! But it isn't either of our reasons for doing what we're doing in the first place.

[ There's a loud thunk where Peter may or may not have smacked his head against the wall. ]

Look dude, I don't have time to spend telling you about how wrong you are and you'd be like the worst partner in the multiverse.

But no-you're wrong. I wouldn't just assume 'you got this' and you don't need help. I'd keep an eye on you and the fight. I'd make sure you got to the first floor before I left the burning building. Why? Because that's team work. Team work watching your partner's back and looking out for them. It's knowing they can usually handle themselves but not always.

Anyways, Mr Stark has popcorn and he is way more fun to talk to. Later.

[ Click goes the feed. ]

Edited 2020-02-06 00:44 (UTC)

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Domino 18 [Video]

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