Domino 18 [Video]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

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.

Comments

[onehandsomeslickninja]

So the claims that this council was elected are also lies. Good to know.

[Elections are a bizarre choice anyway, but to claim everyone had a choice when no one did? Corruption.]

[sweetnessandfight]

Please, check your facts before you start assuming. The original council was elected. I'm not certain why Tony is simply appointing members now, though I will suspect that it is because Reigen has a good head on his shoulders. However, he also isn't afraid to tell Tony where to stuff it, if that's needed. Most of the council members I serve with aren't pushovers with no spine.

I think we need to speak. Are you still in the gym car?

[onehandsomeslickninja]

'Elected', and ever since that fact has been trotted out like the ultimate answer any time someone has a problem. But how many of us here now actually had a say in the matter? I certainly didn't.

No one's tried to drag me out of here yet.

[sweetnessandfight]

I've not tried to give anyone problems, personally. I haven't tried to act like my position on the council is the end-all and be-all to everything. And I have tried to be accessible if my team--which you are a member of, unless you're attempting a secession--has had a problem. I wonder why you've not availed yourself of that?

I shall be there shortly.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

I'll be here.

[Unless someone else shows up to wrestle him off to train jail. And even then, his intention is still to be there.]

[Action]

[sweetnessandfight]

[Sarai's already decided that she's not drinking enough for this. Normally, she carries Failnaught or her white mage staff with her, but those are noticeably absent--she's not here to spar, or even to fight, if she can help it.

If she could read thoughts, she'd be wondering about this mysterious 'train jail'. Instead, she moves to stand before the taller male, giving him a polite bow.]

I will say this: I am both one of your team leaders and a representative, and I'm not happy that instead of attempting to let me do my job, it came to... [and here, she gestures, unhappily.] This.

Still, I'd rather attempt to talk this out. I don't want to change your mind--not everyone agrees with Tony Stark on his best day, myself included--but I want to hear you out.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[Train jail is a place that doesn't exist because there's no way to enforce the rules save by consent! It's clever satire, or so he thinks.]

[Edge is leaning against the wall, and though he's angry it isn't with an inclination towards conflict. He expects others to bring it to him, but he's not bent on starting anything.]

What do you consider your job? Because I heard, loud and clear, that the only purpose in all of this is to keep us controlled. Safe and rescued, but controlled.

[sweetnessandfight]

[If he'd expected her to be confident and smug at his words, he has another thing coming. Her brows fly up and her eyes widen in clear startlement, and not a little dismay.]

Really. That is news to me! [And at that, Sarai shakes her head.] I was never told to keep control of anyone, and to actively do so would leave a bad taste in my mouth. Though I do wonder about the train inspectors...[That last part is more musing than anything.]

Allow me to preface by saying that I've only learned how to govern in any respect by watching others on Hydaelyn do so. I have no power there, and here, I only have such power as I am allowed by others. I was elected to the council because I expect that those who named me there trusted me, and trusted me to have their best interests in mind. Whatever those might be--but I need to be told these things, as I cannot read minds at will.

[Never mind the Echo, that only acts up when it wants to, not when Sarai wishes it would be helpful...]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[Not at all. Edge has figured out a thing or two, or so he thinks at least, and he nods slightly when she says it's news to her.]

Right, but the person in charge? The leader? He's using you to accomplish his own goals. That's the problem. You're looking out for our best interests because it serves the interest of another. It's like a noble and good chamberlain serving a corrupt king -- all the good they do is still just serving to prop up that corrupt king!

[sweetnessandfight]

[Is this the same Tony she knows, that Edge is speaking about? She isn't sure, but this does reinforce Sarai's reasoning as to why there's an actual council. Her reasoning. Not Edge's.]

Would it be amiss if I ask what, precisely, happened? I do not want you to embellish anything, and I understand you are passionate about this, so please. Tell me as best you can what went on.

[She's been to Ishgard, Sarai damn well knows the face of corruption. She's been manipulated by it before, and so she at least feels like she might have a better grasp of it. Especially since it's a tactic she's used herself when she felt it necessary. She's a bard, Twelve damn it!

Though she's being as straightforward as she possibly can, in this moment.]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[Summarizing. Hmph. Edge shuts his eyes for a moment, fingers pressing into his upper arms.]

We discussed the whole 'black team' concept, which he was shutting down in... less than graceful terms. I said that it would be a lot better to actually let us rebel against the train in that sort of way, so that people would be more comfortable being here and better able to take on the duties that actually matter -- helping people where we go. He declared that mutiny and absolutely impossible, because the train's choices were right and there was no point fighting it.

Then he dismissed me flat out and said this whole thing, everyone here, was his sole responsibility.

[sweetnessandfight]

[Sarai...sighs deeply. This is why the council is supposed to exist, in her mind. So brash action, like Edge has taken, can be modified. If he'd brought it to her...well, he didn't, and she'd missed the announcement. It might just be her ego talking, but Sarai is almost positive that she might've been able to talk Tony into this 'black team' idea. Well. Perhaps not a black team, per se--the train has its set uniforms, she's read the book of tales about it--but she is certain there are ways around that, too. She isn't sure the idea of something like smaller squadrons doesn't have merit in and of itself...]

Don't you know the type? The one who takes far too much upon themselves, despite their being many hands to help? Against all sense or reason?

[Sarai nods, then.] Tony is that type. That is one reason why the council exists--he listens to those upon it, as much as he listens to anyone, and we can attempt to make him see reason when he's being foolish. One reason, at least.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[Edge nods back, rather grimly.] Yes. I know those type. They do not belong in a position of power, because everything and everyone around them just becomes a tool to satisfy themselves. If he thought locking us in a box was the best way to keep us safe, he'd do it in a heartbeat without so much as asking our opinion, because it's 'all on him'.

[The train issue is a problem -- Edge maintains they have no reason to answer to it, to wear its uniforms, or to do as it says -- but that one pales in comparison to the issue of leadership at hand.]

[internetsexsymbol]

Well, everyone else got voted on, but Eva-san left pretty suddenly, so...if you’re gonna be mad, take it out on me, not the others.

[He doesn’t want Tony or anyone else to get flak because of him.]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

I'm not mad about that. I'm just pointing out that the first defense everyone leaps to is a lie. And again, may I point out I did no 'voting' whatsoever, and many others did not either?

Either way, however, incompetent leadership is intolerable no matter how it got power.

[internetsexsymbol]

Ok, I didn't vote either and we decided this stuff a couple months ago...I'll bring up maybe updating votes or having a rotation, how's that sound?

[Personally Reigen will not be considering Edge for that, but that's whatever.]

Incompetent's a little harsh, though? Mr. Stark knows what he's doing, and Ignis-kun and Sarai are some of the most competent people I know! Ash is smart too! Fëanor always looks constipated, but he cares a lot about his job! I don't know Lightning and Dread super well, but Lightning looks like she knows what she's talking about, and Dread is...very tall? That's important!

[onehandsomeslickninja]

I get the feeling that most of the Council is okay, so far. I might be wrong but I don't know. But our train's 'leader' is not suited to lead.

[internetsexsymbol]

You mean Mr. Stark? He's a stubborn guy who needs people to keep him in check, sure, but I don't think he's bad at it or anything.

[Reigen couldn't help but worry about Tony sometimes, with how much he seemed to take on. That was part of why the council and team leaders were a thing in the first place, he figured: no one could lead the entire train without getting burnt out.]

Did you guys get in a fight or something?

[onehandsomeslickninja]

We had a disagreement which revealed... let's say the depths of our philosophical distances.

[Of course, Edge knows perfectly well that he's just asking the kid to focus on the disagreement part and not the fundamental disagreement Edge has with the philosophy he'd heard Tony express.]

[internetsexsymbol]

Oh, like about leadership and stuff? Having different ideas is healthy, but...Sounds like something I’d sort out with Mr. Stark by talking it out with him one on one? More productive than calling him out on the intercom. Now you’re just getting all his friends pissed off.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

You seriously don't think that's how it started?

[Do people really believe this sort of thing comes out of nowhere/]

[internetsexsymbol]

Hey, I didn't know, that's why I'm talking to you! I wanna hear you out! My point about putting this on the intercom still stands though.

Where are you, ninja boy? We should probably continue this in person.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

I'm in the gym car. Best place for this, I figured.

Video to Action

[internetsexsymbol]

Heading over. Don't move.

[With that, Reigen turns the icp off and heads over to the gym area. It only takes a few minutes.]

Yo, not here to fight, just talk. I'm not interested in breaking any bones again, I just got over the one from last week's mission.

So, what'd Tony say that pissed you off so much?

[Reigen knows that Tony can be a jackass even at his most well-intentioned. Whatever he said this time must have been pretty bad.]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Trust me, I didn't think you were.

[Seriously, there are people on the train Edge would prefer not to fight. This kid is not one of them.]

He said several things, the worst of which is that this situation is 'on him, not me'.