explosivecombat | 040. [Text/Action for Route 34]

[TEXT]

As a former soldier, I've had to consider and handle the question of when it's considered acceptable to take another life. It's hardly a question here, since in this world life is incredibly well-protected and death is incredibly cheap; however, seeing as this place hasn't just dissolved into an anarchic killing spree, it seems that most of us still have a basic grasp on morality as we understand it and are of the basic consensus that "murder is bad."

I suppose my question then is where the line is, for most of the people here, and where the difference lies between murder and self-defense. There's the obvious understanding that if someone is trying to kill you, you likely won't just stand there and let them do it; you're probably going to defend yourself or even fight back, no matter how much of a pacifist you are.

But surely there are places where the criteria becomes a bit more difficult to discern...? Say that you have two people drowning in the ocean; there's a plank nearby that will support the weight of one of them. Without use of the plank, both people will surely die. Person A gets there first, but Person B shoves them off, saving themselves but causing Person A to drown in the process.

Was what Person B did murder? Probably. But they were also going to die if they didn't do it – isn't that just another form of self-defense?

What if Person A fought back and was able to hold their position? That's self-defense, in all probability – but they're also deliberately ensuring the death of another person. Is Person A a murderer for doing so?

Does it matter? Either way, a person is dead because someone else valued their own life more. A life is over and somehow I doubt whatever words the living use to make themselves feel better matter much to the deceased.

...I suppose now is when I apologize for the morbidity of the subject matter, although honestly it seems I can't let a year pass in which I don't ask some sort of horribly inappropriate question about murder. I suppose I'm just getting it out of the way early this year.

[ACTION]

[...And in contrast to that self-admitted horribly inappropriate question about murder, Kimblee actually is doing rather well today; if anything, he seems pleased that the weather has broken and it was above freezing for a few blessed moments today, since that means he can actually go outside and not spend most of his time shut in the base. It's large enough to keep him from getting too worked up, but it's still windowless and claustrophobic and if he can be outside, then dammit, he will be outside.

He's just outside Goldenrod today; he's up on Acasta.

It's been a while since he's done anything from up on top of the Steelix – travel is one thing, but battle is another entirely, and he's got some of his other high-leveled Pokémon out with him for the sake of satisfying that latter desire; Acasta's up against Carlisle right now, and from the look of it, it's not so much Kimblee's job to command as it is to not fall right the hell off. But his balance is good and his gaze is incredibly focused, and from the sound of it, he's having a grand time – he's laughing quite a bit, and it's cold and there's entirely too much ice around and he's done this before and it was a good time then, too.

He manages to jump down when a well-timed Earthquake finally takes Acasta out, ensuring that he's well clear of the steelsnake when it falls; apparently he's not having fun unless everyone stands a great chance of dying, and today isn't much of an exception. At least he'll be unoccupied with battle for a while as he spends a while seeking out a Revive that he has somewhere on his person; whether he's going back up later or just doesn't want to leave Acasta unconscious is a bit hard to say, but either way he's around for conversation.]

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...In a purely logical sense.

[I MEAN HE DOESN'T SYMPATHIZE, BUT.]

That's what I meant, yes.

[AT LEAST YOU TRIED??]

...You're going to keep doing it, aren't you? The Steelix-riding thing.

[It's not really a question.]

Are you ordering me not to?

No. You know I wouldn't do something like that.

[The response is prompt, though now that he thinks about it, it probably would be a decent thing to actually order...

..................

...No, okay, Kimblee would still be mad, and he does try to avoid that.]

You tend not to, nowadays.

Any particular reason? Not that I'm arguing; I'm curious.

[He tries to come up with something that will at least sound halfway professional and not stupid as hell, but unfortunately, he's got nothing.

After a long pause (a very long pause), he finally speaks, glancing away.]

...I don't want to anger you.

...I'm sorry?

[Whatever he was expecting, it clearly wasn't that, goodness.]

What makes you think it will?

It would be giving you an order to stop doing something you find fun. Why wouldn't it bother you?

...You didn't say that it would bother me, you said that it would make me angry with you. There's a difference.

The point is the same either way: if I give you an order to stop doing that, there will be some level of resentment, correct?

[ARCHER.]

...You do remember that I was in the military, don't you?

This is completely different! This isn't an order I'm giving because it would be more strategically sound - though don't get me wrong, I do consider it to be a better decision to stay on the ground and not risk death - this is an order I'm giving because of a personal preference. There's a huge difference!

[Oh. Well then.]

...I appreciate the consideration, then, I suppose.

[...you seriously didn't think about this being different...?]

Yes, well.

[...................]

Oh come on, what is that look for!?

[Alright, what was the stupid thing he said this time?]

That's not something you would have taken into account a while back, you know.

...Well, no, it isn't. I hadn't really thought about that.

Again, I'm not complaining about it any. It's just interesting, that's all.

It really is. I normally wouldn't do something like that, would I...? Huh.

[No really, this never occurred to him. Wow.]

And now you're going to be thinking about it all evening, aren't you?

Well yes, you can't just point something like that out and expect me to let it go so easily!

Go ahead and think about it, then, but don't let it bother you.

Again, there's a difference.

Yes, there is. It isn't something that's going to bother me, it's just odd to think about.

Things like that tend to be.

[He pauses for a moment, glancing at Acasta.]

You ought to come up with me sometime.

On the Steelix? Are you crazy?

[Are you trying to get him killed, is that it???]

That depends on the person you're asking, but that is what I mean, yes.

[...KIMBLEE.]

(no subject)

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