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

[ossifragant]

[And this is the censored version. He doesn't trust Kimblee enough to give the uncensored one.]

That's because there probably hasn't ever been, really. We're talking about a place where a city-state outright vanishing isn't met with horrified panicking but instead falls into "legend" in a matter of centuries.

Of course, there's a significant plothole in my story. Human lifespans do not last for hundreds of years.

I told you before she keeps young women around her and she certainly doesn't do that for their alchemy.

I'm going to hope for the sake of this story that certain things still apply. A soul has a tendency to reject a form that is unlike its body. Of course, in the version of Amestris I know, things like this are rather easy to bypass if you know how.

[Let's see if you follow that train of thought because yeah.]

[explosivecombat]

[...oh my god.

Just. Oh, wow.

Either you are fucking with him in the most gloriously idiotic manner possible or your world really is exactly this much of a shitshow, and given that your world produced Archer and all of his questionable decision-making skills...

...

okay look just give him a moment to stop laughing because this is one of those things that he suspects really should not be funny because you are talking about body-stealing

...

... ... ...

BUT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT BODY-STEALING, though, like that is a thing that happens

this woman just takes teenaged girls and

steals

their bodies

after she just up and buried a country somehow

and no one gave a shit that this woman just kind of buried a country

how the fuck do you even bury a country

and then just build a city over it like THIS MAKES TOTAL SENSE NEVER MIND THE INTEGRITY OF THE GROUND IT'LL BE FINE

and now that this city is built there's just some woman happily shoving her soul into teenagers' bodies

you know

as you do

seriously his suspension of disbelief has just gone flying right the fuck out the window and he isn't sure if he wants to call you out on such obvious bullshit but right now he is like the fucking x-files with the degree to which he wants to believe]

This is simultaneously the greatest and the stupidest thing I've ever heard, you know. Well done.

[ossifragant]

In case you're getting any ideas, I don't lie.

And even if I did I'd try and weave a story that didn't paint an entire country like absolute lunatics.

[explosivecombat]

That's the one thing that's making me believe you, actually - if you were going to lie to me, one would think you'd at least make it a convincing lie.

[ossifragant]

I could go on but given your reaction thus far I'm beginning to believe the similarities of our world are surface only.

I'll tell you more information, if you'd like, but first I have one question for you.

[explosivecombat]

That seems fair enough, though I can't guarantee I'll be able to answer - and even if I can, I doubt it'll be quite as entertaining.

Go on.

[ossifragant]

The one who told you information about the "you" from my world is a pointy military man named Archer, isn't he?

[Good job telling a homunculus that information, Winry. A+

And added very quickly, just so there isn't a misunderstanding:]

You have my word that I won't raise a finger against him.

[explosivecombat]

It's good to know that last part, as I've enjoyed talking to you and I wouldn't want there to be a conflict of interest all of a sudden; that would be terribly unfortunate.

[ossifragant]

Of course not.

That would only prove to make things very ugly and cause unnecessary tension.

[explosivecombat]

Unnecessary tension indeed. Those who touch him answer to me.

[ossifragant]

Fortunate that I don't lie.

But since I'm not going to lay a hand on him and you answered my question, you're free to ask me more of my world. If I know the answer, I'll be happy to explain.

There's only one subject that's off limits but we'll cross that when we get to it.