[Text] [Anon]

[grapeeater]

[He's been thinking over this for days. Is it his duty or not? It's not like he really needs the opinions of other people... but maybe another perspective might not hurt. Not like any of them here are normal, but some... are closer than he was.]

I've got a question. If you don't care, feel free to skip this over - there's no obligation to answer.

Say you're someone powerful, whatever that means to you. You might have money, you might have skills, or you might have whatever else that gives you an advantage over other people.

Now say there's a threat, something that risks destroying you and the people you have an advantage over. If you do nothing, you might be safe but other people would die. But if you give everything, they might be safe but you would die.

How much are you obligated to give? Be selfish and survive? Or sacrifice yourself for people who might not be thankful? And why?

Comments

anon foreverrrrr;

[grapeeater]

So in your eyes, if it threatens them and you're above them, you have an obligation to keep them safe?

[It sounds like Takatora, really. But the real Takatora, not... what he's been hearing for months. Not judging him for his mistakes - not really. Just stating their values again and again until he gets it.]

The name sounds familiar. Something about a sword?

[loveisanopendoor]

Well, I'm a princess, so when I'm back home I always need to make sure what I do is the best for the people in my kingdom. I don't think that necessarily means you should do so by any means necessary, though! My sister Elsa is the queen, so she's a lot better with this sort of thing than I am; she's a really fair and just ruler, and she goes to really big lengths to make sure that everyone in Arendelle is taken care of.

[She's positive that their parents would be very proud of her.]

But it's not always easy. Being in charge of a kingdom can be really stressful, and all of the responsibility over the people drains her a lot sometimes, even though she has a lot of power. But if the people are happy, and they trust her, it's worth it! And I certainly agree with that, so I try to help her as much as I can. She knows she doesn't have to go through it alone, and that makes it a bit easier on her, too, I think.

The story of Damocles, though...Damocles was a man who wasn't of a very high social status, and he told his king, Dionysius, that he was very fortunate to have such power and all of the luxuries that come with it! And he suggested that the two of them should switch places for a day, so that the King could truly see just how fortunate he is to have such power. And Dionysius was very quick to oblige him, and he very eagerly made the arrangements so that the two of them could switch! So the next day, Damocles sits on the King's throne, happy that he's surrounded by all of the benefits that come with being King for the day...that is, until he looks up, and sees a giant sword right over his head, hanging only by a single hair from a horse's tail! And Damocles begs the King to leave the throne because he realizes now that to have power means that you have to come to terms with the responsibility that comes with it, and also realize how easy losing it can be...

[grapeeater]

A princess? Huh. But... what if someone were invading? Would you fight at the front lines for them? Or would you stay back and try to direct things from there?

... While I see the point of the story... wasn't Dionysius a god? Why did he have something like that around? Why was he being a king rather than a god, anyway?

[loveisanopendoor]

Well, thankfully, Arendelle is a very peaceful kingdom, and there hasn't been a war in a very very long time!! ...But if there was, Heaven forbid? I'd fight alongside them, without a doubt. I can't just stay back while my people need all of the support they can get..

Maybe he's just that kind of guy who was waiting a very long time for someone to ask him that? I think they're just two different Dionysiuses!!

[grapeeater]

That was my feeling. I couldn't let the happiness of the people I cared about get taken away.

... Maybe. It still seems strange.

[loveisanopendoor]

Oh, that's great!! That there are people who are important to you enough that you'd fight to make them happy, I mean...I hope it never comes to that, but I know I'd make any sacrifice I had to if it meant my sister could be happy. I know she would do the same for me.

[grapeeater]

But what if things fell apart anyway?

[loveisanopendoor]

What do you mean??

[grapeeater]

... People died anyway, in my case. No matter what I did.

[loveisanopendoor]

I was afraid you would say that...I'm so sorry. But still...you fought for them, didn't you?

[grapeeater]

I did. But she never wanted protection in the first place.

[loveisanopendoor]

I understand. You don't want to go against her wishes, but still, you want to do everything you can to help...I know that feeling way too well.

[grapeeater]

I think she hated me by the end. I still tried to do what I could, but...

[loveisanopendoor]

I thought that too, for a very long time. But you...might be surprised.

[grapeeater]

Maybe. It's impossible to tell now.

[loveisanopendoor]

Well, no matter what though, you still have to keep fighting, right...?

[grapeeater]

I'm kind of out of the fight now. At least at home.

[loveisanopendoor]

I see...so what are you going to do now, then?

[grapeeater]

Try to live a life here. Because what else can I do?