[ Having military equipment on hand is a privilege and having people willing to fight and die for her is an even greater one. Neither of these privileges carry over to this place. Here, she's just a girl with a little pink orb. Even the power vested in her through the power of propaganda is null and void now.
That part, however, comes as a relief. ]
Right now, all I want is to talk. However... I can't guarantee that I won't become your enemy in the future. I trust that isn't much of a surprise.
[ Lacus pauses for a moment, staring out over the sea as she chooses her words. ]
It's possible that complete peace will never come. Even though mankind could surely exist without war, people have taken up arms again and again through history. The wounds from those acts of violence have not healed, and it's possible that conflict will arise again and again.
But still, I dream of peace. Even if it may turn out futile, I believe that part of being alive is having the right to that dream. After all, living is striving forward, even against adversity.
Everyone's dreams are different. There will always be a group that's left out, pushed aside, or conveniently locked away for the "peace" of everyone else.
[ There's weight to that where that wasn't before, a noticeable difference in volume and not heaviness, though it's far from a shout. ]
It's all garbage, just polished to make it look real nice.
[ Even if the weightiness is a change for the worse in the tone of their conversation, Lacus can't help but feel glad for it. He's meeting her head-on with his disagreement, and if he's doing as much then there's value in speaking at all.
Her fingers dig into her skirt as she keeps speaking. ]
There are no easy answers. We've agreed on as much, haven't we?
I can't offer absolutes. The idea of peace I hold in my heart is an imperfect paradox - a world in which you are free to strive towards your desired future is a world that allows you to keep seeking destruction. What happens to the world then? Or what must happen to you for such a world to exist?
I don't have the answers. In my efforts towards peace, I have left dead bodies behind. Those who have passed away can no longer enjoy peace, even if we should succeed in establishing it.
But does that mean there is no value in existence? Does that mean that every struggle the world has gone through was meaningless? Does the impossibility of a perfect future negate the efforts of reaching for it and improving bit by bit?
I already know what they think should happen to me, but pass. They had their chance. And I have improved, you know? To the level I'm at now.
[ ....... ]
All of that—these kinda long winded fluffy talks used to annoy me before. I'm not like my Master who's going to lead that way, even if I wanted to. If my allies want to create a new world after I destroy the current one, I'm not gonna stop 'em. It's about destruction not existence.
Because my current world is one that makes me want to crush it until there's nothing left. They created their "perfect" society and they created me. And no matter what they think or what they say, they're not blameless. Or the saints they pretend to be.
I know what I am. And if they're going to keep covering their eyes then they don't need them. They don't need anything at all! So that's what I'm going to give them.
[ Even still, it's not a shout or yell, that same peculiar weight coupled with an energy simmering beneath the surface. ]
[ His "Master", huh...? The word sticks out like a sore thumb in the speeches of one who otherwise seems to prioritize his own fun and enjoyment above all else, not caring what the outside world thinks. Even such a person has a master, then?
Lacus wants to ask about it, but that's going to have to follow later. There's too much else to address right now. ]
A society that claims to be perfect, led by people who style themselves as saints...
[ It makes her think of the PLANTs. Of Patrick Zala, with his claims that Coordinators were an evolved human race and nobody else was needed anymore. (Even though Coordinators can't even sustain their own population.) Of Gilbert Durandal, who was seeking endless peace via genetic pre-determination of one's path in life. (Even though it would mean the death of heart and desire.)
Rapt0r is giving her a very biased view of his world, she knows as much, and still... ]
It sounds like people with ulterior motives are manipulating public perception for their own goals. Offering a clean solution like that, a utopia without remaining questions...
The previous head of state was such a person. That's why I took up arms again and accepted this position, even though I wanted nothing less.
What we want is directly opposed, but there is plenty of common ground in what we would fight against. Maybe that is why mankind is so easily swayed into shedding blood for a cause?
Usually people get stuck on the whole death and destruction thing, if they're not inclined to be on our side. The world I wanna destroy preaches "salvation" even for people like me. Salvation in the form of lifetime imprisonment cuz they can't bear the thought of actually getting their hands dirty.
It'd break their creed, but they're too hypocritical to realize they're doing that already. The system chews out what doesn't fit but cuz it doesn't actually kill them we're supposed to be grateful for it or whatever.
[ There's a soft hmm from Lacus as she thinks this over. Understanding where he's coming from is easy enough. His grievances are understandable, if not relatable at points. But his conclusions... ]
Weird, huh? Well... we're in a bit of a unique situation, aren't we? You desire death, but you're among the least likely to actually kill me right now. You desire to destroy a world we're not in right now, just like I desire to reform a world we're not in either.
If we'd met under different circumstances, we likely wouldn't have had the chance to sit down for a chat like this. It would be too bad, because I am finding the chat to be very worthwhile.
Don't know yet. There's a lot I didn't bother with until recently. It was just games and destruction for years. And most of my allies kept the chatter between themselves if they stuck around after meetings.
Don't talk like that if you want me to stick around.
[ It's a warning, but the fact that it's made in the first place says something on it's own. He has little tolerance for certain shades of social interactions, but it's not like he wants to stay completely in his own box anymore either.
Ah, youth. ]
I'd rather play them but that island you're on has nothing.
[ So even though she'll let him talk gamerspeak, he won't let her talk like a 13yo noble maiden whose Papá has allowed her to enter society for the first time?! Very rude! She won't argue the point because she wants to keep talking, but!! Still!!
However... 'the island you're on', huh? Lacus will remember that. ]
I don't suppose the U-pinion has the processing power to add games to its functionality?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ Except nobody here knows what the PLANTs are, so: ]
I'm acting head of state for my home country.
[ A lot of things happened in this career. ]
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[ ... ]
Though... he did perish while engaged in battle with the forces I was leading, so I suppose your intuition isn't totally off.
[ Background Mr. Pink input: ] Let's play!
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Cuz I know how things go. No one really gives up power like that unless they bite it. You have any ideas about doing that to us?
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[ Having military equipment on hand is a privilege and having people willing to fight and die for her is an even greater one. Neither of these privileges carry over to this place. Here, she's just a girl with a little pink orb. Even the power vested in her through the power of propaganda is null and void now.
That part, however, comes as a relief. ]
Right now, all I want is to talk. However... I can't guarantee that I won't become your enemy in the future. I trust that isn't much of a surprise.
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But once more... the word isn't that convenient.
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[ Lacus pauses for a moment, staring out over the sea as she chooses her words. ]
It's possible that complete peace will never come. Even though mankind could surely exist without war, people have taken up arms again and again through history. The wounds from those acts of violence have not healed, and it's possible that conflict will arise again and again.
But still, I dream of peace. Even if it may turn out futile, I believe that part of being alive is having the right to that dream. After all, living is striving forward, even against adversity.
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Everyone's dreams are different. There will always be a group that's left out, pushed aside, or conveniently locked away for the "peace" of everyone else.
[ There's weight to that where that wasn't before, a noticeable difference in volume and not heaviness, though it's far from a shout. ]
It's all garbage, just polished to make it look real nice.
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Her fingers dig into her skirt as she keeps speaking. ]
There are no easy answers. We've agreed on as much, haven't we?
I can't offer absolutes. The idea of peace I hold in my heart is an imperfect paradox - a world in which you are free to strive towards your desired future is a world that allows you to keep seeking destruction. What happens to the world then? Or what must happen to you for such a world to exist?
I don't have the answers. In my efforts towards peace, I have left dead bodies behind. Those who have passed away can no longer enjoy peace, even if we should succeed in establishing it.
But does that mean there is no value in existence? Does that mean that every struggle the world has gone through was meaningless? Does the impossibility of a perfect future negate the efforts of reaching for it and improving bit by bit?
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[ ....... ]
All of that—these kinda long winded fluffy talks used to annoy me before. I'm not like my Master who's going to lead that way, even if I wanted to. If my allies want to create a new world after I destroy the current one, I'm not gonna stop 'em. It's about destruction not existence.
Because my current world is one that makes me want to crush it until there's nothing left. They created their "perfect" society and they created me. And no matter what they think or what they say, they're not blameless. Or the saints they pretend to be.
I know what I am. And if they're going to keep covering their eyes then they don't need them. They don't need anything at all! So that's what I'm going to give them.
[ Even still, it's not a shout or yell, that same peculiar weight coupled with an energy simmering beneath the surface. ]
1/2
Lacus wants to ask about it, but that's going to have to follow later. There's too much else to address right now. ]
A society that claims to be perfect, led by people who style themselves as saints...
[ It makes her think of the PLANTs. Of Patrick Zala, with his claims that Coordinators were an evolved human race and nobody else was needed anymore. (Even though Coordinators can't even sustain their own population.) Of Gilbert Durandal, who was seeking endless peace via genetic pre-determination of one's path in life. (Even though it would mean the death of heart and desire.)
Rapt0r is giving her a very biased view of his world, she knows as much, and still... ]
It sounds like people with ulterior motives are manipulating public perception for their own goals. Offering a clean solution like that, a utopia without remaining questions...
The previous head of state was such a person. That's why I took up arms again and accepted this position, even though I wanted nothing less.
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[ A laugh, without any real amusement. ]
What we want is directly opposed, but there is plenty of common ground in what we would fight against. Maybe that is why mankind is so easily swayed into shedding blood for a cause?
[ And Haro, cheerfully: ] Too bad! Too bad!
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Usually people get stuck on the whole death and destruction thing, if they're not inclined to be on our side. The world I wanna destroy preaches "salvation" even for people like me. Salvation in the form of lifetime imprisonment cuz they can't bear the thought of actually getting their hands dirty.
It'd break their creed, but they're too hypocritical to realize they're doing that already. The system chews out what doesn't fit but cuz it doesn't actually kill them we're supposed to be grateful for it or whatever.
Mercy's a joke.
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Weird, huh? Well... we're in a bit of a unique situation, aren't we? You desire death, but you're among the least likely to actually kill me right now. You desire to destroy a world we're not in right now, just like I desire to reform a world we're not in either.
If we'd met under different circumstances, we likely wouldn't have had the chance to sit down for a chat like this. It would be too bad, because I am finding the chat to be very worthwhile.
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[ So acknowledged, in his own way. After a beat. ]
In what way?
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[ Though 'being seriously considered by a politician' is probably not what Rapt0r desires for his thoughts. Ah well. ]
And it's interesting, learning about totally different people and worlds. Don't you think so?
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[ ... ]
Don't know yet. There's a lot I didn't bother with until recently. It was just games and destruction for years. And most of my allies kept the chatter between themselves if they stuck around after meetings.
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Then you've got ample opportunity to figure it out now! How wonderful!
Let's make the most of it! Maybe I should ask you about games next time...?
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[ It's a warning, but the fact that it's made in the first place says something on it's own. He has little tolerance for certain shades of social interactions, but it's not like he wants to stay completely in his own box anymore either.
Ah, youth. ]
I'd rather play them but that island you're on has nothing.
[ Hm... ]
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However... 'the island you're on', huh? Lacus will remember that. ]
I don't suppose the U-pinion has the processing power to add games to its functionality?
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I won't die here - there's someone I've promised to always come home to.
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[ .... ]
But with all that talk you said—it'll be something to watch either way.
(no subject)