video, un: revolution

[idealisme]

What would you die for?


[There's no preamble. Enjolras is not in the mood to set the scene. He's been thinking and gotten nowhere so he wants the input of others. Over his shoulder it's apparent his room a shambles, a young man living alone with his mind on things other than housekeeping.]

For myself there's a cause that I've given all my life to. It's the highest ideal I can imagine. I know that is not a usual thing. Life is precious; until I woke up here I'd have said that death precluded any second chances at it. But that's beside the point.

I ask because I thought I others shared my opinions. It is rational to give your life only for the most important ideal. Sacrificing yourself for just anything- to get any item or even for another person... [His lips pinch together in thought, his eyes look distant for a moment.] I have not been able to reconcile it.

[A quick sigh escapes him, frustrated.]

I would appreciate your sincere answers and insights. Thank you.

Comments

video;

[hedonistic]

I died for my friends, back in Japan.

[His tone is mild, without tension or conflict in it. It's not something he regrets.]

One of them's awake, so I guess him? And the rest of them, if they wake up too. Other than that? [he shrugs, spreading his hands]

Nothing, probably.

[idealisme]

[Et tu, Kagari.

For a moment Enjolras doesn't reply, but it seems he's being given a serious answer. That doesn't help him form a coherent response though:]

Why?

video;

[hellzone]

What sort of weirdo question is this?!

[ like seriously, dude! don't ask heavy shit like this without any build-up! ]

[idealisme]

[Lips pressed together into an even firmer line, Enjolras scowls a moment.]

It is a self-evidence question, madame.

un: nash

[latkje]

I was always prepared to die for my country, so I'm still surprised it returned the favor.

[idealisme]

Can you explain what you mean by 'returned the favor?' Did your country die for you?

Video | un: Null

[cassus]

[ Dazai's answer is one the poster already suggests, so he doesn't bother with the redundancy. ]

And what if the other person's life is the most important thing, above all else?

[ Not everyone would, he supposes. But to judge that kind of sacrifice to be no better than the acquisition of personal gain or possessions? Now that just seems like this man is missing the crux of why people tend to throw their lives away for the sake of another. ]

Personally, it sounds like the perfect way to go.

[ Shoulders roll in a lazy shrug, far too casual about the hypothetical suggestion of his death. ]

Guess that means we'll have to agree to disagree in this circumstance, Mr. Revolution~.

[idealisme]

[In contrast to that relaxed shoulder roll Enjolras is all stiff angles and frowns. He definitely is missing a key component to understanding this argument.]

No one life can be that important.

text | anonymous

[shashka]

[ well, there's no way he's answering this with his name put to it, and it might even be questionable if the anonymous text is actually honest. ]

Can't a man and an ideal one in the same?

[idealisme]

Perhaps if the man is an embodiment of an ideal.

But no man adheres so perfectly to the abstract.

text - un: maxwell

[braidedwonder]

I took up piloting a Gundam for the colony I was from and for the other four colony's freedom.

Didn't die for it then but I was prepared to.

One life for thousands of others to be better and more prosperous isn't hard math I don't think.

[idealisme]

Liberty is always worth dying for. Your math is equally correct, in my opinion [ at last an opinion he can agree with, even if he's not sure what a gundam is. He assumes it's a soldier thing, since the responder mentioned protecting others. ]

Were you at war with anothere nation, that the people needed defending?

Audio; UN: Trafalgar

[kikoku]

It's not something you could come to really understand just from hearing other people's thoughts.

[There's a pause, where he wavers on whether he feels like elaborating or not. In the end he decides there's no point responding if he doesn't. But his tone is measured, careful. It's not something he talks about a lot, after all.]
For me... I was ready to die for the sake of avenging someone. I was only able to live because of him, but helping me cost him his life.

[Another pause, as he thinks.]
But it's easier for me to prepare for death, since I already had to face my own mortality back then. I don't know if most people can say that.

[idealisme]

No, most people could not. Most people hold their lives carefully, unwilling to give it up whether for a good cause or not. [He's trying not to sound disdainful, since this is a conversation he's interested in, but he can't keep it all out of his voice. People should be more aware of what they stand for.]

But for you, monsieur. You'd give your life to... repay a man who saved yours? [There's no sense of judgement here, just a determination to try to understand.]

video, un: beatrix

[fiendennor]

I like to think I'd be willing to do it to save people.

I'd much rather stay alive if possible, so I can help more. But I suppose death comes for us all one day.

[idealisme]

Any people? Even strangers? [He's more thoughtful now than in the initial post, having spoken to many people. But he's still curious about other's views. He knows himself, it is strange to know that others are so different.]

video; un: R

[winecasks]

I don't believe you would truly like me to repeat it.

[ Was this question for him? No, but it wasn't not for him. ]

[idealisme]

[In Granatire in the room? If so Enjolras will glare up at him.

Otherwise he'll glare at the screen. This is all your fault.] Your contribution is not required.

Video | UN: MrFancyHat

[thetaintedsorrow]

Once upon a time I would’ve died for the organization I belonged to. I devoted my life to it, as well as to protecting the city I lived in.

[Chuuya swirls a bit of wine in the long stemmed glass he’s holding.]

But now it’s less “what” I would die for than “who”.

[idealisme]

[It's almost exasperating, the way most of the respondents keep answering Enjolras' question like this. He doesn't understand it and it doesn't make sense.]

What changed? Why would you shift your ideals like that? [He sounds a little accusing. Ideals > People, after all.]

video; un: noneofurbusiness

[smithandwesson]

I will continue to live for myself and I will only die while fulfilling my own means.

[It was said without hesitation and absolute certainty. His expression as serious as it could get.]

Although, truthfully the thought of dying for a cause is stupidly ridiculous. I would much rather fight through every situation I'm in thinking I'll be the one who wins and keeps living.

[idealisme]

[Enjolras may not like this man's argument anymore than that of "I'd die for my beloved" but he understands it better.

He smiles wryly.] If I could have, I would have chosen to fight on and live for my cause. The National Guard disagreed, however.

video.

[dirthena]

To save my world. ( The answer is immediate, no hesitation on her part. ) Not that it matters much, here. But I suppose that depends on the circumstances. I would gladly give my life for any of my friends, and I know they'd do the same for me.

( A pause, and when she asks the return question there's no judgement in her tone -- just honest curiosity. )

Would you not give yours for a dear friend, to keep them alive?

[idealisme]

[Enjolras frowns at the question.] All men die. Dying just to prolong theirs isn't something I would do, not unless I knew there was something which only they could do, and which they must do.

[He's not so idealistic that he doesn't see how cold that sounds, but... it's logical.] There are bigger things in the world than the lives of men, even those whom I care for.

[baldesion]

So you believe it is rational to sacrifice your life?

[He said it, not her. Physical Krile has her eyebrows raised and a thinking posture on, not that he can really see that.]

[idealisme]

Not always. Often it is better to use the life you have to seek your goals. But there are times when the need is great, and a man's life is really nothing at all next to that.

text » id: killjoy

[motivation]

who says i'd die for anything?

[idealisme]

No one. Many men do not have the desire or drive to pursue a goal to that extent.

video;

[icingonthecake]

What did I die for? [He gives a soft, sort of bitter laugh, but there's a determined sincerity in his eyes. And yes, the tense change was very deliberate.] I could introduce you sometime, if you want.

[idealisme]

[ ... ] The thing you died for is here?

text | un: yusei

[planetary_bonds]

my friends. my city.

[The words come out bluntly and without hesitation, not even caring for appearance or grammar.]

[then, he stops. it takes a few more minutes before he types the next sentence.]

i've laid my life down for them many times. i wouldn't hesitate to do so again.

[idealisme]

You mean to say that you've died more than once? How's that possible?

video | un: janeway.

[directives]

Sometimes it's a matter of a cultural differences. It may seem foolish to us to sacrifice ourselves for another person, something as seemingly frivolous as an item or even an ideal, but to them it may be the most important thing in the world. To some, making that sort of sacrifice can be one of the greatest honors they have in life.

[ which isn't her answering his question for herself, but she'll get to that. eventually. ]

[idealisme]

[It's an answer with a clear logic laid out, which Enjolras appreciates.]

Perhaps that is correct. To people raised in a culture where that was valued... [Clearly that is not his culture, which values rationalism and logic.]

video, un: orientalism

[pluspetitpoete]

Apparently you know my answer, since you told me -- [He looks down and away, chewing at his lip]

For our common goal. And for my friends. Every one of us there that day, I would have gladly laid down my life to protect you. All of you.

[idealisme]

[Oh, jehan. Enjolras' expression eases a fraction.]

Have you spoken with Grantaire about that day?