027. [Text/Audio - Locked Rocket Frequency]

[explosivecombat]

[TEXT]

[Well, the network is getting a somewhat saner post from Kimblee this time around; he seems to have settled quite a bit since the bout of whatever-that-was involving the rain and the Anoriths and the...crazy, let's not lie to ourselves.

So there's text again tonight, and not a whole lot of prelude or explanation with it.]

In the interest of equivalent exchange...what would be the largest sacrifice you would be willing to make, in order to receive whatever it is that you desire most? For the sake of argument, you would receive exactly what it is you want, without any hideous Monkey's-Paw, literal-genie side effects. Adhering to the spirit of the law as well as the letter. I don't care what it is in particular, and you don’t have to specify. Just whatever it is you want most. What would you be willing to sacrifice for it?

Ah, and assume that offering your own life isn't an option, because that renders the question an entirely moot point; however, I’m not saying lives in general are off-limits - if you'd kill a room full of strangers, then you would, and you won't offend my delicate sensibilities any by saying so. On the other hand, if you don't consider anything to be worth it, then I'll question your powers of imagination but so be it.

Answer anonymously, if you're more comfortable doing it that way; after all, I'm not looking to measure how depraved my acquaintances are - your name is of less concern to me than your answer.



[AUDIO - ROCKET FREQUENCY]

[Oh, look, apparently it's time for another one of these. This'll hit shortly after the text post, anyway.]

Well, it seems as though we've been rejoined by at least one of our fairly prolific former members in recent times, and our ranks are showing signs of increasing in numbers again – hopefully this time it'll stay that way, hm?

At any rate, it's good to see that the most recent round of assignments seems to have gone well, with the exceptions of a few small…setbacks. That was very cute, by the way, all three of you in Goldenrod – I trust you're all still in one piece? I'd like to hear from at least one of you, if you don't mind; it seems we have much to discuss.

Ah, but it's not all bad, if any of it truly is at all; I'd like to hear from all of you, if you don't mind. For those who aren't familiar with me, my name is Solf J Kimblee – I've been promoted several times within this organization, and I like to get to know our members personally.

[Technically true. He never said they were concurrent promotions.]

And for those who are familiar, I'd like to hear about what you've been doing with yourselves. Consider it a matter of curiosity - it's a good night for that.

Comments

[text]

[usedfeatherdance]

The stipulation that offering our own life renders the question moot places a rather undue weight on being able to receive what we desire, don't you think? It disregards those who would wish that something should come to pass, rather than an event occurring specifically for them.

[text]

[explosivecombat]

Not at all, actually; for one thing, I'd think it's something of a given that if you want something to come to pass that badly, you'll die for it, should it come to that. We all have that thing we'll die for; however, most of us can't deny that we would like to see the thing we'd die for come to pass, in some selfish way. No one is purely altruistic, no matter what they may claim to the contrary.

[text]

[usedfeatherdance]

But in that case, the sacrifice is twofold: being forbidden from seeing what is sacrificed for, on top of the sacrifice of a life.

Perhaps the more compelling argument for your condition is that it's not going to be large enough. Sacrificing one's life, in the end, means one doesn't have to deal with the sacrifice itself. It may be a painful decision, but it goes away quickly. On the other hand, living through a sacrifice means one has to accept that they are responsible for what is now gone. In a world with all else equal, one's own life is worth the same as someone else's. But when comparing either deliberately sacrificed, only one of them would introduce the associated guilt into the world with its absence.

[text]

[explosivecombat]

That also assumes all parties will experience guilt; you would be surprised at how many people aren't sorry once they've killed someone. There's often some sort of guilt involved, but many find that the ends justify the means when all is said and done.

But enough arguing semantics; are you going to answer or not?

[text]

[usedfeatherdance]

Maybe I simply have more faith in humanity than you do. Or humanity is at a better point in my world than in yours. It could really go either way.

As for me, it was a city, though in the end such a thing wasn't necessary. Funny, considering now it's that very same city that I would like to have back.

[ What with being in Johto and all. ]

[text]

[explosivecombat]

Let's say that I have plenty of faith in humanity's potential, but not nearly so much faith in humanity itself. There's quite a difference.

...and that's certainly interesting, and something I can't say I don't understand in some ways. Overall, I prefer it here, but there are elements of what I would have sacrificed that I would rather prefer to have back. Unfortunately, we can't have it both ways.

[text]

[usedfeatherdance]

I suppose the difference is that I sacrificed that city to be here, but this was not something I would have asked for even had I thought of it as a possibility. There was certainly no gaping hole in my life that Johto fulfills. I was quite happy with the way things were back home. Here, while things aren't particularly bad, [ usually ] there's plenty that I could do without and even more that I wish I still had.

[text]

[explosivecombat]

Are you willing to elaborate any on the original situation, or are you going to remain cryptic about that as well?

[text]

[usedfeatherdance]

I'm more than capable of doing both. As eager as I might seem to be to talk about it, it was still quite a personal thing, you see.

For instance, the reason the sacrifice wasn't necessary was because I either had more faith in humanity than I'd thought, or humanity was at a better point than I'd realized.

[text]

[explosivecombat]

If only the same could be said for humanity across the board.

[text]

[usedfeatherdance]

That might be where having a bit of faith comes in. I can't ever claim to understand your experiences, but if what I experienced was the former rather than the latter, maybe you're the one who's lacking in the end.