[ Game 45 ] Peridot

[dramatispersonae]

[ You find yourselves inside of an empty great hall. Torches and candles light the hall, showing the remains of a feast scattered on the tables that run the length of the room. ]

((OOC: This is entirely at your own pace! Ping me in IRC when your team is ready to move on to the next round.))

Comments

Re: Discuss

[boxupallthebutterflies]

Well, yes, if it is a choice. But there are a number of us that are willing to die for victory, and I would honor that choice if there was no one else to kill.

Re: Discuss

[likeawritingdesk]

... Well I wouldn't! Why is it worth it to put yourself through that kind of awful experience when you can achieve the same victory making a magical pony!

Re: Discuss

[boxupallthebutterflies]

Can you win every game making a magical pony...

Re: Discuss

[machiavellianiue]

Well, that's the question, isn't it? Do we want to try to win every game, despite the actions necessary to win being unpleasant—or would we back down far before that and simply wait for the easy games to take home a prize?

Re: Discuss

[likeawritingdesk]

... As if we haven't won completely unpleasant and difficult games without killing ourselves... I don't think we can't afford to risk injury. I know that we're all-- very strong.

But if a game handed me a dagger and told me to stab it into either of you to win, I -- I apologize, but I could not do it.

Re: Discuss

[boxupallthebutterflies]

Gil... Is that aversion strong enough to become a rule for the entire team? There will be circumstances in which injury cannot be avoided.

Re: Discuss

[likeawritingdesk]

I -- I'm only speaking for myself, but... it's the kind of thing that may hold the entire team back, if I could not manage it...

I understand injury, but too much is... it seems unnecessary...

Re: Discuss

[boxupallthebutterflies]

I'm sure the rest of us could compensate for you if it involved something like that, but... I do understand. What if we said only that all destruction towards Peridot would only be used as a last resort?

Re: Discuss

[likeawritingdesk]

... I suppose... yes. I believe in everyone's strength and skill to overcome pain and struggle. But when it is a simple trade, Peridot is worth more.

Re: Discuss

[machiavellianiue]

I think that makes perfect sense, honestly.

We play games to protect what's most precious to us. If we're harming that in the process, then what's really the point—? It's destructively recursive.

Re: Discuss

[likeawritingdesk]

-- Ah... yes, that's... what I feel.

Re: Discuss

[machiavellianiue]

I know.

Re: Discuss

[likeawritingdesk]

[s-stares at him... then looks down, awkwardembarrassed]

... I really-- hate to argue this. It doesn't feel like it's my place at all, to decide what Peridot's limits are.

Re: Discuss

[silentknight]

[quietly]

Gil... that is... why we are a team. You would not. Someone else might.

Re: Discuss

[machiavellianiue]

But at the same time, some on the team would be quick to volunteer for self-harm, where others would rather not see them harmed at all. So whose desires win out in that situation?

Re: Discuss

[silentknight]

In other games, the people who don't want the hurt, right?

Re: Discuss

[machiavellianiue]

So if Gilbert doesn't want any of us to be hurt, would we still bring harm to ourselves for victory?

Re: Discuss

[likeawritingdesk]

... I'm -- aware of that. And if you all told me that victory in that game that day was absolutely worth it to you, I would absolutely not fight it if one of you had that knife aimed at me.

But if it was up to me... I -- suppose I am saying that that game, that day, just doesn't seem as important.... If there is great risk for great reward, of course I will brave a risk with you! But if it's laid out like that...

Re: Discuss

[silentknight]

Volunteering is not the same as... not fighting. If something... happens in the games, it should be because that... person is okay with it.

I think... it doesn't matter. We choose ourselves first anyway, right? To... hurt ourselves or... hurt other teams, we would... pick the others, right? But I don't like being hurt and losing.

Re: Discuss

[likeawritingdesk]

Volunteering can be too black and white though!

I mean-- the difference between risking death, and agreeing to die. Perhaps it's conceited of me to believe we ought to choose our battles. And I don't mean to devalue our victories. But-- is there only value in winning.

Re: Discuss

[boxupallthebutterflies]

I wouldn't stop far before that... We ought to put effort into winning every game. Even if we decide on a line, at least some action towards victory is better than giving up.

Re: Discuss

[machiavellianiue]

Why?

Re: Discuss

[boxupallthebutterflies]

--That's pride again, isn't it? Someone who stops before even playing the game doesn't have any pride.

Re: Discuss

[likeawritingdesk]

--It isn't that I don't have pride in what you might accomplish, if you were making a choice to die or win! Rather, I-- I feel there are things in Peridot that have worth, more than just the ability to win every game...

Re: Discuss

[boxupallthebutterflies]

If we come back to life then there is no meaning to our death. It does not devalue us.