PSL / MEME CONTINUATION

[abandonhumanity]

I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine
and rage the likes of which you would not believe.
If I cannot satisfy the one,
I will indulge the other.

Comments

[abandonhumanity]

[Dryly:]

There's a lever.

[invalidvalue]

There’s a lever, and it’s an absurd scenario to begin with. I think the lever would simply pull itself. [Stalling? Noooo.]

I’d kill the thousand, if you simply must know. Now tell me why you would.

[abandonhumanity]

Just a few minutes ago, you said you'd be incapable of killing the thousand.

Which is it, then?

[invalidvalue]

You’re dodging my inquiry, sir. [There is absolutely no respect in that word. No sarcasm, just a tease. This guy looks kinda young for a face that weary.] Slight misunderstanding—but you explain first, hm?

[abandonhumanity]

Because I want the person I love to live.

I thought that might have been obvious. My mistake.

[invalidvalue]

Oh, you say that. But you also didn’t flinch about killing thousands. Even talking to friends, normal people cringe a little bit about the rest, shouldn’t they? [This is a hypothetical question.]

Now, my excuse is that everyone where I exist is a construct. You seem awfully real, though!

[abandonhumanity]

A "construct"?

[invalidvalue]

You know, fake. Not real. [With a little finger wag.] Pieces in a game, quite literally. Hence your misunderstanding!

[And with that:] We skipped your turn again. [Hypothetical, sure, but she did want an answer.]

[abandonhumanity]

I didn't flinch while talking about it, and I wouldn't flinch while doing it either.

What sort of "excuse" are you looking for?

[invalidvalue]

Excuse, reason, what have you.

You agree that’s not a normal response, though.

[abandonhumanity]

Not a typical response, maybe.

Whether or not it's normal would depend on what exactly you're trying to measure.

It's a useless word.

[invalidvalue]

Hmm. Fair play, fair play.

[There’s a moment’s pause, a chin tap. It’s a rather cartoonish gesture, punctuated by a snap and a point.] Entertain me this, then: suppose we’re measuring morality—and that that’s a useful yardstick. [Said like an inside joke. Because it’s totally not.] Is the “good” answer to sacrifice the one for the thousand, or to value your friend above all? And does it matter if it’s a reluctant kill or not?

[abandonhumanity]

Whether or not you consider the morality "yardstick" a useful one, your question's answer is still subjective.

Some people would say that saving the thousand is the moral thing to do. Some would value loyalty over profit.

[However, he will budge just a bit here:]

Most would agree that reluctance suggests a conscience, sure.

But killing without hesitation doesn't make someone evil. There are plenty of scenarios which require just that.

[invalidvalue]

[Profit! That’s an interesting way to frame the utilitarian answer. Juuust gonna stick a mental pin in that. But first:]

Require just what, the zero-hesitation kill or the evil?

[abandonhumanity]

[Huh.]

Both, actually. Depending on where you're standing.

Killing without hesitation is necessary whenever killing at all is. Maybe that is evil.

If that's the case, then your morality yardstick really is bullshit. If good and evil do exist, then it's the good that's the exception - since you want to talk about "normal".

[invalidvalue]

Actually, I’d say prolonging the kill is a special type of evil. Torture, really, depending how you do it.

But of course it’s a nonsense yardstick. [That, too, is concluded with a handwave.] All hypothetical. That said, you brought up “evil.” How are we [and by this she means you] defining that, now?

[abandonhumanity]

[At this, a short exhale through his nose, humorless and cold. It's an expression of displeasure as much as it is an acknowledgement of something "funny".]

If you haven't seen evil, then I don't know how to describe it to you.

Don't get me wrong. It's just as subjective as any other facet of morality.

Still, seeing what I've seen, ["Doing what I've done,"] you can't claim that it doesn't exist.

It's everywhere, in fact.

[His opinion on this topic is one that's prone to change each time he thinks about it, but, today, evil feels real and omnipresent. He breathes it in and exhales it back out, as thick and black as toxic smoke.]

[invalidvalue]

[Ah! A reaction, how quaint.]

I do believe you’re putting words in my mouth, sir. [Not irritated. No more respectful than last round, either.] I’ve simply agreed the yardstick is nonsense. The judgments it attempts to measure are still perfectly… hm, common? Let’s say that.

Anyhow, you sound rather jaded!

[abandonhumanity]

You could say so, yeah.

[What's he gonna do? Deny it?]

[invalidvalue]

And what terrible, horrible, no-good very-traumatizing things have made you so? [See, forget the B-movie. This is the riveting stuff.]

[abandonhumanity]

[There's a very subtle shift in expression, but a shift all the same; does he look irritated or perplexed? Perhaps both?]

Don't be cute.

What reason would I have to share any of that with you? You must think you're funny.

[It's not that he's particularly opposed to sharing the basics, but he doesn't like this girl's attitude.]

[invalidvalue]

Aw, you think I’m cute? [With a wink and a hand under her chin, for good measure. It’s all a joke, of course.] I think I’m hilarious.

It’s true, you have no good reason. No moral one, either. [Get it?] But you’ve indulged my curiosity [nosiness, more like] this far, as I have yours! We can trade tragic backstories too, if you’d like.

[abandonhumanity]

I don't feel like getting into a competition about who has the worse life, thanks.

[He'd win though (or so he thinks).]

[invalidvalue]

Who said it was a competition?

[He would win, though. He’s got quite the life to speak of, clearly!]

[Still. His interest in this conversation may be flagging. Not good!] Of course, if you insist on keeping your life near and dear to your heart, I won’t pry. [Lie of the century!] Or we can rewind to that teeny thing you said about “profit”! Your call.

[abandonhumanity]

What about it?