032. [Text]

[explosivecombat]

[...and it seems it's time for another round of Horribly Inappropriate Questions, with your host: This Asshole.]

You know, a while ago I posited to the network that this world is based around battle culture – admittedly a softer, watered-down version of it, but battle culture nonetheless. One's power is assumed based on the strength of their personal army; one's social status is determined by how many gym leaders they've managed to defeat, or how easily they can crush those who stand in the way of what they want. It's interesting to me that such a society should likewise be based around a message of love, peace and tolerance; one would think that for the sheer amount of destruction that everyone's carrying around within arm's distance, this place would have dissolved into anarchy long ago.

Equally interesting is the stance on war that most seem to have taken here; even the locals seem opposed to it, overall. I have to wonder why – what it is about this place in particular that makes the idea of war and conflict so abhorrent to all within it.

Ah, but it's entirely likely that it's a matter of points of view, isn't it? I'm from a militaristic society, personally, so war and conflict seem to be the natural state of things – are most nations generally pacifistic like this? Or is this abnormal even by your standards as one of the..."foreigners", I believe they like to call us?

I'm interested in answers, though I can take or leave identities; answer anonymously if you wish, but even if you don't, you know what they say about glass houses.

[...You know, there are some things that never change. Yes, Kimblee, everyone here probably does get mad about genocide; either way, happy birthday, you crazy son of a bitch. If this is how you're going to spend this evening, you are more than welcome to do so.]

Comments

[doitrockapella]

I'm envisioning cymbals and a magnificent countermelody led by the low brass. ...And Queen, actually, but that's a little outside your scope of reference — I hope.

[...Look if Amestris has Bohemian Rhapsody she's actually not sure if she wants to know about it or not.]

Did you open your present?

[explosivecombat]

Rest assured - I've no idea what you're talking about.

The present, however...yes, I did. I wasn't quite expecting that, but it's lovely just the same.

[doitrockapella]

"Thunderbolts and lightning" — there's a fairly famous song that uses that as a lyric.

Were you expecting anything? Or just not that?

[explosivecombat]

I wouldn't say I expected anything, but I wasn't surprised that you gave me something simply because you seem the sort to give people things on days like this. But I wasn't expecting this in particular.

[doitrockapella]

You're hard to shop for. I thought about getting you a war, but I couldn't seem to find one in the right color.

[explosivecombat]

Oh, come now. You wouldn't simply because it would be predictable.

[KIMBLEE.]

[doitrockapella]

And uncharacteristic, and by extension, disappointing.

Besides, after this past weekend, haven't you had enough of taffeta and opera gloves?

[explosivecombat]

This place could do with a bit more of that, really. Perhaps not all the time, but I'd settle for "once in a while."

[doitrockapella]

But of course putting on something like that yourself is out of the question.

[explosivecombat]

There's a difference between planning and attending.

[doitrockapella]

The difference being, it wouldn't be the same without the surprise of seeing all there was to offer firsthand?

[explosivecombat]

Well, there's that, of course - and if I'm attending I don't have to deal with keeping an eye on and disciplining the guests.

[STRANGE...JAPANESE...CHILDREN...]

[doitrockapella]

I'm going to presume that means you've met one of my valuables.

[explosivecombat]

...If you tell me you're close to the small girl that got thrown in the pool, then I'm going to start questioning your choices.

[doitrockapella]

I'd like to think I'm a little more predictable than that.

Mine is the one who threw her in. Assuming the rumors I heard were accurate, anyway; I didn't see it firsthand.

[explosivecombat]

[...THE SENSE OF "OH SHIT" IS PROBABLY TANGIBLE IN THIS GODDAMN PAUSE HERE, CARMEN]

The very loud one with the cropped hair and disturbingly large red eyes, often in some sort of white uniform - that's one of yours?

[doitrockapella]

[...whyyyyyyy did that just

...

ohhhhhhhhhhhh here it goes]

And has been for a while now. Is there a conflict of interest?

[explosivecombat]

No, he's safe. I know that much.

[doitrockapella]

You have a prior acquaintance with him, then?

[explosivecombat]

Something like that.

[doitrockapella]

If he gets into trouble of his own volition, that's not something I can do anything about.

He's just important to me. As are some of his friends.

[explosivecombat]

He's not in trouble. As I said, I know he's safe; I won't be ordered to act against him.

[doitrockapella]

[... :|a

And then she types another whole three sentences or so before thinking about it, deleting it all, and going with something else instead.]

All right. That's good to hear.

...Thank you.

[explosivecombat]

Don't mention it; it's fine.

There's potential for a conflict of interest, but to my knowledge none currently exists.

[doitrockapella]

Do you remember last year when we were in Mahogany together, and there was that one night I ended up waking you up, utterly beside myself?

That's a figurative "do you remember", but you know what I mean.