[video] unresolved issues

[blue_ice]

[ From the gaming car, it's Kaiba. He's taken to tying his orange hoodie around his waist and popping the collar of his orange polo, in an effort to maintain the dramatic silhouette he loves so much. ]

Does it bother anyone else that the only glue holding this tiny slice of society together is the fact that we're trapped in a claustrophobia-inducing tin can rattling through the interdimensional void?

Think about it. We're from all walks of life. All different social structures. Predators and prey, haves and have-nots, all together and brought down to size. Homogenous societies themselves don't have a great track record of avoiding division and war, so the only thing keeping our tiny tube afloat and relatively at peace is the fact that there's no escape should we cause a big enough disruption.

Can alliances forged under these conditions truly be called genuine? Is it really what you call friendship, if such a thing exists? Or family? Would you accept someone who would be your enemy in any other circumstance? Who's committed unforgivable acts, and is still capable of doing so? Somehow I doubt it.

Comments

[runs_on_batteries]

Yes they can be genuine and it can exist.

[You dumbass.]

But to ensure that we have structure and a way to keep each other in check as 'predators and prey' as you so eloquently put it, we have two levels of government called the team leads and the council. They're here for the very purpose of keeping the peace and ensuring safety.

[blue_ice]

I have a hard time believing that.

[ There's some layer of genuine emotion in there, but buried. His main objective here is to ensure that his new friend will be safe. ]

And what would they do if...for example, we had a passenger who needed to eat human meat to survive?

[runs_on_batteries]

That doesn't change the fact they're real, it just means you haven't been here long enough to experience it and no it to be the truth. Since coming here I've gained a daughter and a partner along with many friends. There are a few I might question if we'd really be getting along if we didn't have to but those aren't the majority. You'll know it when you find it.

[He makes a face at that question, but he does consider it.]

The train has been supplying blood for the vampires on board. I would really question if that person couldn't eat something else. Is this hypothetical or a literal need for human meat?

[Video] Yes I logged back in just to make this comment. >.>

[unfavorableinstigation]

Yes. Most of the friendships I've made over the past few years, I could probably call 'fire-forged friendships'.

Making friends out of enemies, eh, it happened to me less often, but I've met a lot of people I didn't think I would get along with who I wouldn't consider life without, now.

[And then there was how Dairine felt about Roshaun...]

But, yeah, I believe friendship can come from anywhere, and stick around even when it can't be called a matter of survival anymore.

[Nita's even been compassionate towards the inventor of Death, so she kinda has a track record for this sort of thing.]

[blue_ice]

Is it really so easy to forgive your enemies?

[ Yugi had said something like that. He'd taken it to heart at the time...but he's never been one to trust completely. ]

People agreeing long enough to stick together. It seems like it wouldn't work.

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[mimidaeia]

[the voice sounds artificial, if feminine.]

Does it matter?

[blue_ice]

I suppose it doesn't to me. My interactions with others have been for business or competition. Nothing so mushy as what I'm describing. But I gather for most people it matters more.

[hashtagparkerluck]

[ Guess who no longer has web mouth! ]

Whoa dude, Dark much?

Anyways, I mean you could say the only reason some people are friends is because of the internet but that doesn't make the friendship any less valid. It doesn't really matter how the alliance happened, just that it did. I mean, back home there's probably no way I would I would ever be friends with a giant spider-I mean, I don't know that for sure but probably not-but here I am-I read her books and let her watch me play games and stuff on my laptop and it's good fun.

I think rather than look at it the way you are-you should look at more as you have an opportunity to make friends you wouldn't otherwise have back home.

...

Okay, so that didn't actually make a lot of sense but uh.. I mean, Loki tried to destroy New York once-which was hella rude but honestly- but I think if he wants a second chance he should be given one because people change. Like the people you meet and the things you go through change you so someone that might have done bad things back in their world might feel more inclined to take a different path here just because they have the chance to.

...I still feel like that doesn't make any sense. [ Dare he try again? ]

[blue_ice]

[ Tony was right about the chatterbox thing. Whoda thunk it. But he listens patiently anyway, and is surprised to learn a few things. He almost feels bad about participating in the grounding.

Almost. They're weirdly bound by that ritual, so he feels inclined to speak a little more. ]>

I've never had friends. I was in a unique position---anyone who wanted to get close to me likely only wanted access to my wealth and power, so I kept my distance. Here I have neither wealth nor power nor privacy, so you can see how that puts me in a difficult spot.

[ Oh yeah. Except for one thing. ]

And I'm not a nice person, so there's that. But I'll see about helping Kumoko play games with you if she'll trade that for clothes.

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[sizedoesntmatter]

[Guess who just happened to be replying to such a thing and a person who legit has made friends out of enemies a couple of times. He was currently however elsewhere and surprisingly not in the same carriage.]

Kaiba... Do I need to do a speech or something and go over this?

[He might anyway because he has thoughts.]

It's always possible for those who were once enemies to become friends, believe me I know. At least two people I forgave and were more friendly with have tried to kill me. [Care to take a guess as to who?] Friendship is a thing that exists and I am going to keep telling and explaining that to you as much as possible before you understand that.

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[blue_ice]

Forgiveness wasn't...a thing where I'm from. It's still hard to believe.

[ Uncertainty flickers. He really doesn't want to acknowledge how his feelings have changed. ]

Please tell me you're not talking about me.

[video]

[badassfreakingoverlord]

Pride, you dumbass. The answer you're looking for is called pride.

[video]

[blue_ice]

I'll just graciously ignore insults from a book who thought he could extort the whole train with a toll booth...

Are you saying we're too proud to give in to our darker instincts?

[sensitiveapple]

I'm not sure. My mother put me in the auction when I was four, and then I was in the House. Does that still make her family? But the men and women in the House are kinda like family? I don't like all of them, but that's okay, right? I've only been here a few months, but there are a few people here I would consider close friends.

[blue_ice]

What is with this train and bad parents?

No, I wouldn't consider her family. Adoptive ones aren't the greatest either. But if there's somehow someone looking out for you...then I would day you lucked out.

voice

[pleple]

Is that not how civilization arose in the first place? Social apes forming tighter and more complex troops for mutual benefit?

Under freer circumstances, I'm sure... some of us would drift away, yes. Not all of our bonds would last. And it's human for meaningless differences to lead to outright atrocities, let alone a simple lack of unity.

Despite that... I feel... genuine affection for some people here. For the first time in my life.

voice

[blue_ice]

The social contract. I'm familiar with it, but I've never witnessed the evolution of one before.

You didn't have a social life either?

[chronosexual]

There are worse ways to be forced to cooperate. So far as I can tell, no one's got electro-shock collars that activate when they get too far from their partner, and we're not competing in a battle royale or anything, either.

In a situation like this, I think even tenuous alliances are valuable. After all, we're all we've got, right?

[blue_ice]

Well, yes. It's not the worst possible situation.

...are those things that normally happen to you?

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[radishlobbyist]

[ How... peculiar. She can't say she is terribly impressed by such a way of thinking, though, and she's not terribly motivated to hide it either. ]

Human beings can't be sorted into predator and prey, they are far more complex. And to think that there can be no genuine friendship or kindness formed under desperate circumstances is nothing short of vile. We are not all motivated by self-interest. You give people too little credit, and yourself too much.

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[blue_ice]

Yes, my ego precedes me, I know. But I think I'm more honest than vile. Bonds are fragile...easily broken by greed. I've seen it enough times.

[sell_tickets]

[A laugh] "Who says we all get along or make friends with everyone?" [His blue eyes twinkled with mischief.]

[blue_ice]

Well, the train hasn't gone down in flames yet. That suggests at least a mild degree of cooperation. It's astounding.

[marriedanidiot]

There are some who would say my husband and my sons are unforgivable. But I have always felt that saying such things is precipitous, and takes no account of how a heart might change. They are repentant, all of them, why should I not take them back?

[blue_ice]

Betrayed by your own family, and yet you give them a chance...

I'm surprised your love withstood that. But I'm sure they're grateful, if they've ever managed to forgive themselves.