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]

I said selfishness isn't evil. The same way things like love aren't good by nature. It's what comes out of those feelings that counts! People can help others for selfish reasons and murder others for love.

Not that I think what's happening is clean and pure. It's just not at the point where cutting out the rot by force is the only answer.

[cepicorpus]

[There's a muffled thump.]

Indulge me if you will. What rot is going on? I admit I have not been here from the start and may well have missed something, but I have not encountered anything I would call a bad result, save that there's someone running around with their head on fire and I'm a little concerned.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

I suppose I ought to first ask a question. Do you feel any responsibility to help and aid your fellow passengers? Or the people on the worlds we visit? Do you want to help get us off this train and back to our proper words?

Okay, that's three questions, but they're all one big question.

[cepicorpus]

[There's now a tap sound, like claws on a tabletop. When he speaks, it's thoughtful.]

That's a bit difficult to answer. Before I do, define 'feel responsibility' for me, so I understand your intention better. Do you mean a compulsion to aid for moral reasons, or merely the obligation to do so because of personal benefit? Or some third option? It might sound nit picky, but I assure you, it is necessary to be certain.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Let's put it this way. You want these things done. Do you wait for someone else to do it, or do you do your part?

[cepicorpus]

That is a very, very different question than the ones you started with, my friend. And very vague at that, since it relies on simply HOPING the other person has the same values you do.

...It seems as if you already have a conclusion, so it might be easier if you simply share it instead of dancing around it.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

I think being stuck on this train is everyone's problem, and everyone should be permitted to do something about it. Simple enough?

[cepicorpus]

[Dio's voice takes an edge of disapproval.]

I think this is the second time I'm asking this question. What is going on that makes you believe this is not already the case?

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Because our glorious leader specifically told me he considers it all on him.

[cepicorpus]

[There's that clicking sound again.]

Did he in any way prevent you from acting as you please? Threaten you? Have you been injured or sanctioned, or punished in some fashion by this person? I was not there for this conversation, as you know.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Completely shut down the idea of us going against the train's 'will' in any way, shape, or form. We're to obey it because it knows best.

[As for punishment, still waiting on that. No one's showed up with that in mind yet.]

[cepicorpus]

What else?

[onehandsomeslickninja]

We're not allowed responsibility for ourselves.

[Does there NEED to be more than that?]

[cepicorpus]

Again, did he in any way prevent you from doing what you want? Or threaten you if you take actions you want to take? I wasn't there, I can't merely assume your actions or his.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Is the argument you're really making 'if a terrible leader can't force you to do what he says, it doesn't matter'?

[cepicorpus]

[There's quiet for a good minute or two, but when he speaks again, Dio's tone changes. It's gentle, suspiciously pleasant to listen to, soothing really.

It would be almost hypnotic if it wasn't for the actual words.]

A leader whom nobody follows is not a leader, Your Majesty. He is not my leader. And it seems he is not yours either. If I understand all I have heard.. you two had an argument, which must have been in private, as nobody has said they were there. And based on his words, not actions, you have declared Mister Stark incompetent. It isn't that Mister Stark is somehow preventing you or anyone else from doing what you wish, nor is he somehow removing your ability to be responsible for yourself, or that he's harmed anyone or his decisions have led to disaster, but he said things you disagreed with, so you got angry and disrupted everyone's day to announce it to the whole train..?

And you're a king, becoming this upset because some peasant said such useless things to you?

[That gentle tone just never wavers.]

My, my, Your Majesty. You are all I have come to expect of true royalty. Allow me to apologize on behalf of that lowborn wretch for all the mean things he said but has absolutely no way of actually enforcing. We commoners simply don't know our place. Rest assured, my liege, if Mister Stark in any way attempts to actually control our fates, I will tend to the matter. Personally.

... Now that all of this has been brought to my attention...

[It's almost a purr now. In spite of that gentle, soothing tone, there's something in this last bit that doesn't seem pleasant at all.]

I, Dio, will be watching very closely.




[What follows is the sound of a sleeper cabin's door closing. He's gone.]