cartesianism | Week 8 - May 20th

Week 8 - May 20th - May 24th

Last Week

With the weekend's latest tragedy, a strange mood has descended over Cartesio. What happened was unprecedented, and perhaps that's why the already decreasing hostility from the townsfolk comes to a complete halt. Could it be the strange circumstances? Bolin's desperate plea? Last week's peaceful Wednesday? Some combination? Whatever the reason, it's clear that the Sergeant's iron fist around the town has loosened. While the residents aren't jumping to interact with you, there's no graffiti, no new broken windows.

Cartesio is confused...but open to explanation, for perhaps the first time.

Still, while the town seems amiable, almost accepting again, there's little to chase away the knowledge that the Sergeant's tasks for you are near their end, and that means those without medals are doomed to their fate.

Or does it? After everything that's turned around, is it possible for you to claw your way out of here as well?

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[Welcome to the final week! If you want to contact the Sergeant, please post here!. Also please remember to submit your activity check!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[There's a raised eyebrow. His response is fairly blunt here.]

Not gonna lie, I don't really care if the Sergeant gets either of the things you're trying to help him with. If he's in the way, he's in the way and I'm not feeling real merciful towards him.

[A beat.]

He told me his boss might show up at the end. If they do, I'm gonna try taking them all out.

[ completely and utterly seriously, a hand on her chest, tight: ]

If you plan on killing them... I will try to stop you if I have to.

[ she's so tired of death. so very, very tired. ]

Well, it's not like I want to act rashly or anything, but...

Sakura. If you say something like that, there's a possibility infighting will lose is the chance of bringing anyone back - or of any of us being able to leave, either.

Are you okay with making that choice?

I don't want to fight with anyone--

[ that's her feelings. her real, true, honest feelings. ]

But I don't want anybody to die anymore, either! If we can all go home, I want it to not be because someone did another murder! The possibility, like you said might be there, but it's just a possibility, right? There has to be a way. A way nobody else has to die.

Edited (actually let me add one thing) 2018-11-21 00:03 (UTC)

They're all possibilities, it's true.

But that's also why we have to consider not only a peaceful solution, but a violent one as well. Actions have consequences, and it's possible we will have to make choices between people's lives again.

That's why I'm telling you now. Consider the possibilities very carefully. What will you do in this or that circumstance? It's better to prepare yourself now so you don't freeze with indecision later.

I won't sacrifice anyone.

[ her words are firm. ]

I can't... [...] I've always been standing on the sidelines, unable to stop anything. I want to do something. I want to save everyone, too. But I won't do it if it means I have to hurt people to do it.

[A nod.]

Okay. But refusing to defend with force can lead to sacrifices, too.

Just keep it in mind.

... I'll remember that.

[And equally as seriously.]

If you get in the way, don't think I'm going to hold back just because it's you.

[ she doesn't say anything, instead just... nods quietly. ]

[Sakura may have gone quiet, but he is definitely not done talking here. On a different day, perhaps when he wasn't already stressed out this would all come out differently, but....]

If we end up in a situation where we gotta take them down in order to get home, and you do anything to sabotage us from doing what we have to ... I'm warning you right now.

I have to get back to my world to help the paladins fight to protect our entire universe, alright? If you're gonna put the lives of some assholes who shouldn't have brought us here in the first place over the lives of everyone in my world just because you don't want to see more people die then you can go straight to hell with them.

I'm actually in agreement with Keet here. At the very least, he should be... you know... arrested. I'm sure he is breaking a great deal of laws with this? Why is "arrest" not even part of the initial conversation here, even before we get into the necessity of killing the man...?

[Kino's tone remains level.]

I think it's important to agree that we will try nonlethal measures if possible, but if the risks outweigh it, we might need to resort to force.

Can we at least say that much?

[He turns to Kino with a scowl that isn't really directed at her.]

I'm not the one who you have to talk into agreeing here.

That's fine by me! We'll probably have to resort to force, but eh. I'm willing to at least try not to kill him.

It's Keith.

[It's not that hard, gdit!!]

Things that are hard to kill are usually even harder to keep contained. How do you plan on keeping him arrested?

Oh, I don't have any issue with lethal force, even if I do think that it might be helpful if we take him alive given that he represents a larger organization. I was taking more issue with the "I want to help him find his friends and his face" thing.

Well, I'm not a part of the police, so I don't know if it would be right for me to arrest them...

[ so there's Sakura's reasons, besides. you know. the fact that she's thirteen? her voice seems to be obviously quiet as she tugs at her arm, distinctly uncomfortable about this.

she really, really doesn't like talking about this at all because she's so steadfast about the idea of being able to save everyone without having to hurt others, to end the murders and everything. ]

I think if it would be possible to do that, it would be better than any worse alternative.

Hey, you're not a cop, but I'm a cop. Just leave the arresting to me, eh, Cherry?

[ once all's said and done, Sakura's gaze fixes seriously onto his; it's unwavering, unflinching, but there's no anger in it.

her voice is firm as she speaks, even if it's slightly quieter now. ]

I know everyone has a home to go to. [ she's the same way, after all. she has people to go back to, and while she'd rather not die because of it, she-- ] I'm aware of that. And maybe I'm wrong in thinking this, in doing it... but if you're telling me to make a choice between the lives of the few and the many like that, I want to choose to save the lives of both.

If that doesn't work, then. . .

[ she doesn't know what will happen. guess she'll have to deal with whatever consequences come with this choice. ]

[And likewise, Keith's tone is unwavering in its harshness. Sakura may be just a little kid, but so was Pidge and that never stopped him from flipping a shit at her when she first threatened to leave Voltron because the lives of three people meant more to her than the lives of everyone else in the galaxy. Pidge didn't cry then, and neither is Sakura so contrary to the beliefs of everyone demanding that he tone police here, he's going to assume Sakura can actually handle herself. In a weird way, he's treating her like an adult, rather than some little kid who needs to be shielded at every turn. Respect, in other words, isn't always respectful.]

You seriously think any of us here wouldn't want to save as many lives as possible in an ideal world?

[He's exasperated through and through by her point here.]

You really think mercy for guys like this doesn't come with a price tag? You know they're going to keep pulling this shit again and again -- you really think they're gonna stop just because you asked them nicely? Give me a break, Sakura. You might be okay with the idea of leaving them all alive and risking them dragging your friends into this mess in the future, but I'm not risking that with any of the paladins. They need to be home to pilot the lions and form Voltron.

[A beat.]

Idealism is great and all, but you need to understand that it's a luxury that you can't afford. If we can't get them to agree to our terms, I'm doing whatever it takes to make it happen. So think real hard about what you're gonna do cuz I'd rather not have to hurt you in the process.

...

[ she's listening pretty carefully here, hand on her chest as hand closes around her key that she wears around her neck. ]

I don't know if they'll stop or not. I don't think that the things they've done here, to us, to the people I care about is good. And maybe you're right, Keith; that they won't stop just because I ask for it. But I want to at least try. That's all I can do.

[ a beat, and then firmly: ]

But I will.

(no subject)

marmoron - 2018-11-23 06:19 (UTC) - Expand

[he doesn't know what to say at first. he's been watching this whole meeting with huge eyes, people arguing about saving the Sergeant, or saving the rest of the people...

but when Keith tells Sakura she can go to hell, he winces]

C'mon, Keith. She's a kid. [be careful with how you speak. she doesn't deserve that]

[Keith pauses, but it's clear enough from his expression alone that he's not backing down. Pidge was 15 when he first met her. He doesn't see a whole lot of difference between chewing out a 13 year old and a 15 year old here.]

Look. She needs to know how it is in clear terms. Just cuz she's a kid doesn't mean I'm gonna tell her that there won't be consequences if that's what she chooses to do.

[he knows Keith is right. but... HNNNG. the way he said it... Osomatsu's been so careful with the way he talks around Sakura]

You're not being fair to her. She wants to do what she thinks is right, just like you.