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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I’m sorry. I’m lost. What’s going on?

...uh, I'm declaring that the so-called leader of this train is unworthy and incompetent and refusing to follow him? And since most people here seem to approve of him and accept that leadership, I'm getting the inevitable conflict out of the way now instead of sometime when it's important like the middle of a rescue mission?

And your basis for this would be what? Give me an example as to why Mr Stark is incompetent, because as a princess I have met a lot of leaders and so-called leaders. And from what I can see and what I've experienced, Mr Stark is exactly who this train needs.

[Oh. Nice try.]

As a King I hold fast to the principle that a leader cares about the people he leads.

If you've mistaken "a desire to protect" and "a desire to solve the problem" as caring, that's understandable. The truth is, if those desires come from selfishness, they are poor leadership.

Honey, I grew up around murderers and thieves and would-be usurpers. I can guarantee that none of Tony's actions are selfish or uncaring. Trust me when I say I can smell that nonsense for miles and wouldn't support him if I did.

The first thing he asks when people announce a new project is "What do you need?" or "How can I help?" Someone very dear to me left the train and he made sure I was okay. He's still checking on me and it's been weeks. When missions come, he knows enough about peoples strengths and weaknesses to be able to shuffle them where they're needed.

Tony Stark doesn't command complete obedience or else. From what I can see, he hopes for respect and trust. I'm very sorry if whatever happened upset you, but for the sake of the train Oh Wise King [ That was probably the most sarcastic she's ever sounded without being silly about it. Oh, boy. ] you should probably step back and step off of whatever high horse you think you're entitled to.

So you brandish your title as demanding and deserving respect and acknowledgment, but can't treat others' with respect. Noted.

Ask yourself this, then: does he help others because he cares about them? Because he wants them to succeed? Or because 'it's all on him'? Because he takes it all on himself, and needs that control?

I've spoken to him and I had that question answered in so many words. And a number of your other statements are flat-out wrong, again in his own words. I expect you'll neither listen to me or believe me, though.

I'm not brandishing it as a way to command respect. I don't care if people respect me for my title. As far as I'm concerned, it's just another word people use to describe me to others, much like saying my hair is blue.

What I'm using for is to hopefully give you the knowledge that I've met leaders and I've met tyrants.

Mr Stark is the furthest thing from the latter. And him taking on the responsibility of keeping people safe is a sign of a good leader. I'm sorry we disagree, but welcome to life on a train with over eighty people.

Not everyone's going to think your opinion is worth much, much like you don't seem to think people's opinions are worth much if they don't align with yours.

A protector protects. A leader leads.

Sometimes that means you let the people you lead get hurt. Sometimes that even goes so far as to order people to their deaths, to preserve their hearts and souls. Because you accept that it isn't all on you. Because you know your people, and care for them, and respect and value them over their safety. Because you know what they value and what they believe in, more than life itself.

If you're content being protected, being coddled, kept safe while someone else makes all the meaningful decisions of your life for you, I dread to see the kingdom you inherit. And of the people on this train -- I think I speak for a lot of us when I say it is our right and responsibility to do what we feel we must, to help others who need it and to help everyone here get home. No true leader would take that away.

A good leader protects. A good leader considers his people getting hurt or worse a tragedy and does what he can to prevent it. The fact that you're okay with people getting hurt or dying makes me very sad for whatever kingdom you're coming into.

I've run my own business since I was fourteen, made all the decisions for that and my life since then and I've been the happiest I could be. I own my own castle and my own property because of the hard work put into earning what I have. Nothing's ever been handed to me. Ever. And I'd refuse it if it was.

How has he taken anything away from us? He's not keeping us here. He wants off this train just as much as anyone else.

What have you done to help get us all home? You personally. I'd love to hear it, as I'm sure many others would, too.

You don't have to be okay with something to understand its necessity. If you want to treat this like I casually sacrifice people every day, then that's bad faith on your part. Some things are more important than living, however. If one of my people needs to die so than ten others can live, do not for a moment think I won't grieve their loss. But don't think for a moment that I won't order them to, because I know my people and what they value, and I know that is a sacrifice they will make gladly for Eblan and its people.

That's far better leadership than putting everyone in a locked box where no harm can come to them and they need never fear anything, and never mind what they might want! That's the folly of valuing your own desire to protect your people over their desires to live as they see fit. The people you lead have responsibility of their own. They can make their own choices. They are allowed to care, and to act on what they care about.

That is what Tony Stark wishes to deprive us of. In his own words. Any duty, any desire, and responsibility you may feel to help others, to risk yourself for what you hold dear, to care? Worthless. It is, in his own words, "all on him".

Is that what you want?

Okay, so instead of being the hindrance you're being, be a help. You may not be part of the council on this train, but you're still part of it's people.

Find ways to help him make things better for all of us, instead of trying to cause problems like you're doing.

That's what people like Tony Stark needs and that's not blind faith in him. It's hope. Something this entire train needs if we're going to get home.

What he also needs is people looking out for his best interest, as much as he looks out for us.

Because people like Tony need that, despite what they might say. What they don't need, is people screaming about things and doing nothing to make things better.

You're making this all about you. I'm sorry if you don't see it that way, but what you're saying holds no weight for me because I've yet to see you do anything useful and of value to make things better for people on board.

What we need is a leader who will lead. Not a leader who takes it all on himself. That's not leading, that's going it alone. If the choice is between silence and causing trouble... As much as you may think this is selfish of me to do all this, I'm doing it because I want you to have a choice in your life. If we have to fight for our freedom, I want you and everyone here to have the chance to decide if you are going to fight or not. Whatever happens, we are in this together. We all are a part of this.

That means no one person can make it 'all on me'. It's on all of us. If you want a contribution, then let that be one: it's on all of us.

But that also means I can't just give someone who wants to take that from us what they want to do that.

What?? Really?

[He sounds so utterly blindsided.]

Really really. Born and raised in a castle. I even have my own.

[This extended silence is pure dumbfoundedness, but Dio Brando does not become dumbfounded so clearly it is NOT.]

... Huh. I certainly had not guessed. And here we'd been in close quarters all this time, what a secret to keep, Your Highness!

Evie's just fine, Dio. I'm happiest not being a princess and just being Evie.

[Now he sounds a little bemused.]

I suppose escaping the likely considerable responsibilities of rulership would be a pleasant vacation. Carry on.

Wait, Evie, did I hear the princess thing right? I thought you just had rich parents or something, not...royalty. That’s still a thing?

[The only place he knows that has a royal family is England but they barely count.]

You heard right. It's still a thing.

[ Should she mention she's the princes of a prison island?

...

She will not be doing that much right now. ]

So, like...do you own horses?

[He has never seen a horse in person. He's pretty sure only royalty and cowboys have horses.]

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Domino 18 [Video]

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