ten swords held in reserve.

[swordedpast]

[ text; filtered from Jenny Quantum ]

To be honest, I'm not a team player. But this needs to be done, and I've come to the conclusion that it would be folly to do it alone and without preparations. A powerful imPort, surrounded by her followers? She's a threat we'd be idiots to leave unchecked, and idiots to face without plans and cooperation.

Those of you who know this "Jennifer Quantum," tell me what she's capable of.

As for those of you who agree with me that she needs to be removed from her place of power.

Tell me what you are capable of.

Comments

[swordedpast]

Of course she'll fail in this. For a while, she might seem to make things better. But it won't last. There is no utopia without a corresponding hell, and that hell will come when her reign collapses into bloody war.

But you're right that she might not fail to defend her position against me and any allies I bring. That's a natural risk I have to take.

[glowsferatu]

If Its The War That Will Bring Such A Hell
Then I Really Dont See The Wisdom In Yourself Expediting That War Simply To Prove Your Point

[swordedpast]

You see me as expediting it, but this is as close as I can come to preventing it. You think I'm doing this to prove a point? Talk about being the bigger fool. I'm doing this to save as many of the people she's endangered as possible. The more quickly her ambitions are stopped, the sooner the people of this Southwest Phoenicia can reclaim their lives, free of the manipulations of so-called heroes.

[glowsferatu]

Lives That Will Now Be Free Of The Amenities Shes Installed Through Her Reign
I Think Youre Being The Bigger Fool Because Youre Leaping To The Conclusion That What Shes Done Is Harmful While Hiding Behind The Excuse That Others Will Do The Same As Your Evidence
What Makes Your Manipulations Any Kinder Than Hers Now That She Has Been Established

[swordedpast]

How fortunate that I never claimed to be kind.

Of course there will be some suffering as a result of my actions. But it's less than if I don't act. Less than if I let her heroism run its course.

[glowsferatu]

So Because You Have A Suspicion Of The Potential Result
You Resolve Yourself To Be The Villain In Order To Prevent A Catastrophe That May Not Even Happen
And You Actually Believe We Would Assist You

[swordedpast]

A suspicion? It's funny that you think I don't know where grand acts of heroism lead. Of course I do.

Well, but you're right. It's acceptable if I'm hated by most for this, so long as some people lend me their help. That's exactly what I've resolved.

[glowsferatu]

You Say Where They Lead While Implying Its Where They Must Lead
That There Is No Possibility For Exception
That She Must Suffer For Even Daring To Attempt Something For The Mass Improvement Of Many
And It Is Those You Are Ignoring
Because Im Not Talking About You Simply Being Hated For Taking Action
I Think You May Do More Damage Than You Seek To Prevent By So Hastily Usurping Her

[swordedpast]

Usurping her? Are you serious, young lady? She has no right to that position in the first place, so she can't be usurped. What are they teaching kids about politics these days?

[ In other words, he's decided to stop actually arguing with Kanaya and mock her instead. ]

[glowsferatu]

That Single Word Is Enough To Invalidate My Entire Point To You
And You Ask If Im The One Whos Serious
Fine If You Really Want To Make This About Semantics Then Lets Take Overthrow As Substitute
Your Actions Are No Less Unworthy Either Way

[swordedpast]

Your entire point?

It's that "someone acting as a hero to determine the fates of thousands upon thousands of other human beings may bring good instead of ill in the end," isn't it?

I don't need a word to invalidate it. It was invalid from the start.

[glowsferatu]

And Your Point Is "I Know Better Than Everyone Else No Matter What They Say Or Who I Have To Make Suffer To Display My Righteousness"
Between The Two Id Much Prefer My Own
Even If It Could Be A Little Naive

If Youre So Concerned With Her Potential Failure Then Why Dont You Do Something Actually Effective
Something That Actually Helps Maybe
I Mean Who Could Have Fucking Thought Of That
Reinforcing The Systems Shes Put In Place So That The Civilians Wont Be Made To Pay For Her Downfall
Focusing Your Ire On The Enemies Who Would Bring That Fall Rather Than Punishing Her For Becoming Their Target
Are You Literally An Idiot That You Think Her Position Is The Most Precarious Piece On This Board

[swordedpast]

Yes, that sounds like a brilliant idea. If I think a nation has been taken over by a fool who will lead it to ruin, I should drop to one knee and serve that fool in the hopes that she will find wisdom somewhere.

That won't go wrong, surely. I wonder why no one else seems to have thought of it by now?

[glowsferatu]

I Said Nothing Of Fealty
And Not Of Service To Her
But If You Insist Of Making Some Contribution Then Why Not In Service To The People Of That Country
You Havent Said A Word About What Happens To Them Once Shes Overthrown
Right Now That Is The Distinction Between Your Plan And Hers
And Its Enough That I Think Id Risk Her Over Having You Instead

[ she doesn't even know it but kanaya may suddenly understand why democracy is a big deal now. ]

[swordedpast]

I'd be just like her if I tried to "save" them after she's gone. Didn't you know? Trying to save everyone means you save no one.

They should decide their own fate then, as much as they can.

That's the point. It isn't my business what path they pick when they're free to pick it.

[glowsferatu]

And You Honestly Believe They Would Be Able To Settle That Reasonably On Their Own
Which Of Us Is Being Naive Now
If That Werent An Issue I Doubt She Would Have Acted To Begin With

[swordedpast]

No, I don't. People are no good at deciding their own fate, it turns out. They'll probably suffer.

But acting as rashly as she does, she'll lead them to a worse hell than the ones they'd find themselves. That's my only calculation.

Well, and I wouldn't mind taking down someone who thinks she's a hero and is leading people to worse hells.

[glowsferatu]

If Thats Your Only Calculation Then Ill Have To Hold Your Knowledge Of Mathematics In Question
You Dont Really Care About What Happens To Them At All Do You
Youre Just Mad At Her For Actually Taking Some Form Of Action

[swordedpast]

Yeah, you've probably got it right. I don't like heroes, and it bothers me that she's being one...so I want to stop her. But that's fine. I'll just do what I want.

It's my experience that you get better results that way than by trying to be a hero.

[glowsferatu]

I Wont Say Thats The Stupidest Thing Ive Ever Heard
At This Point That Has Become A Rather Prestigious Position
But It Ranks Rather Highly According To My Metric

You Talk With Such Lofty Goals And Smug Righteousness
But You Are Basing Your Entire Argument On Nothing But Your Own Ideals
Or Whatever Its Darker Counterpart Would Be Called
Too Rigid And Militant To Be Pure Cynicism
So What Is This Really Then
She Has Bridled Your Offense For Daring To Think That Good Things Can Possibly Be Done And For That She Must Suffer

I Would Almost Have To Wonder If It Isnt Jealousy

[swordedpast]

I appreciate that, Kanaya. I had a good laugh.

But the man who drowned can't be jealous of the one who just jumped into the ocean with weights around his feet, so you missed that mark.

[glowsferatu]

Is That What It Is
You Failed Spectacularly So Youre Convinced That No One Else Could Possibly Succeed
Did You Ever Stop To Consider That Maybe You Just Werent Any Good At It

[swordedpast]

[ It's a good thing this is nice, safe text and not voice or video, because the way Archer laughs in response to that isn't entirely sane. ]

I might have paused a few times to think on it.

This conversation is pointless. I'm not going to let that kid use someone else's country as a sandbox for her hero games.

[glowsferatu]

[ her shouting wouldn't be particularly indicative of a sound mind, either. ]

Of Course Not
Why Do That When You Can Make An Example Of It For Your Own