dramatispersonae | [ Game 45 ] Peridot

Sometimes, the victory conditions are hurting other people. And often, in those games, you have no choice but to hurt someone.

And you're okay with that.

I'm okay with that. It's the rules of the game. They're designed to make people hesitate.

And you like hurting people, so you want to make us all go along with it?

There are several things wrong with that statement.

Then go ahead and tell me what they are.

For all that we may have overbearing attitudes, nobody on this team forces another or makes another go along with anything—let alone something that would run contrary to their will or desire. We're all different—and we certainly don't always agree. But neither do we turn on each other like that.

...really?

[...raises her eyebrows]

Oh my, if I were going to kill some people for pleasure, don't worry, I would do it outside of the games without getting you involved.

I'm your teammate. I'm involved whether we like it or not.

Peridot is Peridot. So, what are you saying our limits ought to be?

Does what I say actually matter?

You just said you are part of Peridot.

Re: Discuss

unionoftheheart - 2011-06-29 02:31 (UTC) - Expand

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boxupallthebutterflies - 2011-06-29 02:33 (UTC) - Expand

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unionoftheheart - 2011-06-29 02:40 (UTC) - Expand

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boxupallthebutterflies - 2011-06-29 02:42 (UTC) - Expand

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unionoftheheart - 2011-06-29 03:02 (UTC) - Expand

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unionoftheheart - 2011-06-29 03:19 (UTC) - Expand

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boxupallthebutterflies - 2011-06-29 03:20 (UTC) - Expand

It often comes to that, in games—putting your team above all others. Which means potentially killing or seriously harming other teams.

So the question comes down to protecting these people you live with and call a team, or giving them up for lost because you're not willing to harm others to protect them.

There's a difference between protecting Peridot from somebody attacking us and choosing to hurt innocent people in cold blood! Lelouch, there are kids on some of the teams! Our friends, our family! What about your brother? Could you just kill him out of hand for a game?

We're family.

[points to her tattoo, specifically to the circle on the outside]

Peridot and those outside Peridot.

Just don't forget. We have to live together, after games. We still have to... be there for each other. No one wants to hurt people. No other teams want to hurt us. You don't know the games we play.

I...

I think I'm on the wrong team

[s-s-s-shot through the heart!!]

Why?

Re: Discuss

unionoftheheart - 2011-06-29 02:34 (UTC) - Expand

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silentknight - 2011-06-29 02:40 (UTC) - Expand

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unionoftheheart - 2011-06-29 02:43 (UTC) - Expand

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silentknight - 2011-06-29 02:46 (UTC) - Expand

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unionoftheheart - 2011-06-29 02:50 (UTC) - Expand

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silentknight - 2011-06-29 02:52 (UTC) - Expand

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unionoftheheart - 2011-06-29 02:54 (UTC) - Expand

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silentknight - 2011-06-29 03:24 (UTC) - Expand

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machiavellianiue - 2011-06-29 02:50 (UTC) - Expand

Do not presume to lecture me on things that you do not understand.

I would appreciate it if you altered your tone so as to not be judging us out of hand for refusing to adhere to your apparent policy of utter naive pacifism. You do not and have not experienced the things that we have; you do not know what we would do, other than what little we have said or what you have decided to assume for yourself. Should you actually be interested in having a mature conversation with us, you will be so permitted, as part of Peridot. But if you cannot adopt the necessary attitude and instead choose to lash out with your demands, then perhaps we no longer need to continue this conversation with you.

Now, would you like to ask me a question, or would you prefer to continue aggressively insinuating that Beatrice and I want nothing more than to act destructively and vindictively with no grasp of a moral compass and should therefore be summarily judged and found not worthy?

[pale and very stiff]

I apologize, your majesty, that I am unable to say things as well as you. But I am not going to apologize for who I am. F-for what little I know of who I am. For the fact that the idea of hurting people in cold blood makes me want to throw up. I suppose you think I'm weak and stupid for that. For all I know, maybe we'll finally win some memories back again and I'll become somebody you can respect. But clearly that's not the case right now.

Given that I haven't actually made a demand, I'm going to assume that you already aren't listening to what I'm saying, so there's no point in asking you a question. I don't know what kind of person you are. I do know that Beatrice likes hurting people, and I'm not exactly happy with that, but I've tried to be her friend regardless. For what that's worth.

When did I ever say that I was accepting or encouraging of killing in cold blood? Children on other teams—family on other teams, I know. I don't like it. I would avoid it if at all possible. Could I even agree to harm Rolo? I would dearly hope not to, but what would you do, what would any of us do, forced to choose between the lives of two people we care about? That is the sort of conundrum designed to ruin a man. That aside, it would do you well to cast aside the impression that anyone on any team is innocent—we all sign up to play these games, and as such are implicated. It may not be a war, and it may not be fully voluntary, but neither would I say that anything is "in cold blood."

Neither do I think you are weak for your convictions. I value that sort of feeling very highly—and were it possible, I imagine all of us would like to protect you from having to experience the sort of extremes it takes to push one to the willingness to kill.

You didn't. You just yelled at me instead of saying that it bothered you. Like you didn't care. I had no way of knowing.

I just...can't...nothing I say means anything anyway.

Day, you...!

You don't understand. None of us -- e-except Beatrice, have ever said anything about enjoying any of this! You keep saying that we're fine with hurting others, but what kind of choices do you think we're making? Do you think they're easy?