98.5 - got more to give than you've got to prove (broadcast)

[hard_talker]

[the usual Leonard Cohen tune plays for a little while ... and then is interrupted by the crackle and buzz of radio static. a moment later, it's replaced by this album, which Mark lets play underneath as he broadcasts]

Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd here it is, Monday night, time for the latest edition of what's goin' down here in questionably beautiful Castle Wonderfuck! I'm sure you all enjoyed the nice little festival we've had the past few days, learned a lot about some pretty badass heroes ... I know I did, even if today ended on a really fucked-up note. Anyone know what the deal with that giant wolf thing was? I saw it outside the window and decided I'd just be a spectator, today ...

And hey, before I get to the meat of this week's food for thought, let's give a nice Monday night welcome to Senri, Edward Elric, Wheatley, Yukiko, Connor, Murphy, and Christina.

Okay, people, we've got some serious business to get down to tonight. It's come to my attention that we ... don't actually have a set system of rules for this place, and people've taken their sweet fucking time deciding on one because of ... I dunno, political bullshit about everyone's worlds being different, and some having magic, and some not, and some being in these really awful wars where some stuff's easier to get away with and ... you know, bla bla bla bullshit city. So yours truly has decided to do you a nice little public service and get the ball rolling. You might not agree with all of 'em, and I might'a missed something, but it's a fuckin' start, which is more than I can say we've had in the year and chump change I've been here. Ladies, gents, and critters, I give you....

The Ten ComMarkments. [told you he'd do it, Maladict. he's got his journal open, too, so that the words are dictated in as he reads them. once they show up, he'll add the proper embellishments]

1. Thou Shalt Not Kill Or Maim Other Residents.
(Your ass will get locked up like Fort Knox. If you don't know what that is, look it up.)
2. Thou Shalt Not Help The First Gens Fuck Shit Up.
(They're assholes. We don't care if you hate the castle as much as they do, just don't fucking take it out on us.)
3. Thou Shalt Not Use Magic To Fuck With People.
(It's right up there with killing and maiming and will also get your ass locked up.)
4. Thou Shalt Not Use The Microwave For Other Than Its Intended Purpose.
(Just because you don't know what you're doing doesn't mean you get to deny people the chance to eat Hot Pockets.)
5. Thou Shalt Not Wreck Shit In Town.
(People who live there work there, you know. How would you like it if someone fucked with your shit?)
6. Thou Shalt Not Harrass The Townspeople.
(Really, what did they ever do to you?)
7. Thou Shalt Not Use Thy Losses As An Excuse To Be A Dickhead.
(If you honestly couldn't help it, we get that, but seriously, people. Don't fake it, either.)
8. Thou Shalt Not Compromise the Safe Zones
(.... But why would you really wanna do it?)
9. Thou Shalt Not Steal.
(Nine times out of ten you can wish it up, anyway, and if you can't? It's probably okay that you don't have it to begin with.)
10. Thou Shalt Not Help Anybody Break The Other ComMarkments.
(It's just not cool. And you could probably get locked up for that, too.)

And there you have it! C'mon, discuss! Let's turn this into somethin' we can all actually use!

Comments

confession: I had to Google who he was

[hard_talker]

[there's a pause as he lights himself a cigarette and gives himself another moment to digest that. it's kind of a heavy thought]

I get what you're saying about balance, I do. But ...

... Did'ja ever think that you couldn't have that "real world" you're talking about without the world that I'm used to, too? That you can't have that sort of lawlessness without some form of rules to be broken?

I guess what I'm saying is ... it goes both ways. And I wish there were some way to make everyone happy, but ... there isn't. I wish there were some way to keep everyone safe, but ... there isn't.

I'm always gonna be pissin' somebody off. And it's a hard fuckin' thing to have to sit here and decide who.

[molotov]

Well, that is not true at all. Making a rule about something does not make the "something" exist. Most people do not break laws simply because the law is there -- it is something they would have done anyway.

Balance is necessary, of course, but you cannot boil it down to such simplicity. Safety and happiness come easier when people do not feel preached at and lectured. The population here is so small, and incidents are so rare, surely it would be wiser to deal with things on a case-by-case basis?

Anyway, someone who plans to kill another will not change their mind because you told them not to. Take it from someone who breaks the law for a living: you are fighting a worthless battle. Fix the rest of the system, and the rules become even more unnecessary than they already are.

[hard_talker]

It doesn't make it exist, but ... maybe it makes people more aware that it does. I mean, case in point: I've had to explain the First Gens, microwaves, Fort Knox, and the word "dickhead" since this went up.

[and he'll just quietly file away the fact that you admitted to being a lawbreaker... shh]

[molotov]

[Okay, well, technically you're a lawbreaker too, Mr. Underage-Smoking-and-Pirate-Radio-Station. Don't get too comfy on your hypocritical high horse, there.]

I fail to see the relevance of Fort Knox and the word "dickhead".

[hard_talker]

[yeah, he knows. everyone's a hypocrite if you dig deep enough]

It's a matter of comprehension. [he chuckles] But still ... it does kinda have a sorta symbiosis if you think about it...

[molotov]

[There's a sigh and a shrug, not that he can see the latter.] If you wish to write rules, perhaps you should use language that people from ancient times, or other worlds, can comprehend.

[hard_talker]

Yeah, I'm ... getting help with that. A couple of the people I've been talkin' to said they'd help me. Trust me, I know I ain't doin' this alone. S'why I put it out there...

[molotov]

I still think it is useless. But as long as you are getting help...

[hard_talker]

Nothin's useless as long as someone thinks it's worth fightin' for. I think I remember readin' that somewhere.

... But thanks.