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.

[hellzone]

But it's also a weirdo one. You don't ask strangers what they'd die for.

un: nash

[latkje]

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

[idealisme]

And why is that? I will not compell those who do not want to respond.

[idealisme]

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

[latkje]

If it weren't destroyed, I wouldn't be here, right?

[idealisme]

Oh, I see.


It can't be said that our nations died for us. It was the storm which destroyed them. [ that's NOT THE POINT, ENJOLRAS ]

But to the point- what about your country made you prepared to die for it?

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~.

[latkje]

I was born there, of course.

[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.

[idealisme]

[That he can understand, at least partially.

He nods, pushing for more information.] But was it a good country? Did it have rulers who made wise decisions?

[latkje]

Some did, some didn't.

But I think countries are bigger than their rulers, yes?

[hedonistic]

Look, buddy, some of us don't have much time for ideals. A guy starving in the street is gonna be more worried about seeing tomorrow than what they'd be willing to die for.

[He pillows his head against his arms, leaning back against a chair.]

Me, I knew I probably wasn't gonna live past thirty anyway. I was gonna die for the same government that ruined my life, just to get a bigger cage to spend those years in.

[There's a short, bitter laugh.]

I didn't die in a better way, or anything. It wasn't some heroic sacrifice nonsense. But I could've gotten outta there when things went to hell, could've said fuck it and stayed alive a little longer. But it would've screwed over the only people who ever gave a shit about me, so I didn't.

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]

Of course. Yet a ruler is an easy measure of the quality of a country. Everyone within it is subject to them. If they're a poor ruler, the country and it's people will not develop into all it can be.

[idealisme]

Perhaps if the man is an embodiment of an ideal.

But no man adheres so perfectly to the abstract.

[latkje]

I'm from a theocracy. The head of our church is immortal and inerrant.

[ That's the party line, anyway. ]

[shashka]

Maybe not. But he might have those that are willing to die for him, whether he wants him to or not.

[idealisme]

[There's something in the way he says he wouldn't have lived past thirty that Enjolras finds himself relating to. Enjolras wouldn't have either, he thinks. Even if they'd succeeded, he expects he'd have died all the same.

It makes him slowly to reply to Kagari, thoughtful where he wants to be angry.]

Did your death enable your friends to live on?

[idealisme]

But why? There are more important things to stay alive for, surely. Men die, women die, children die. Saving one person will not stop that. Only working to change society might bring about the change needed.

[cassus]

Ah, but it can. [ Quietly, thoughtfully. ] But since you've never had someone worth dying for...

[ Dazai takes some pity on the man, even if the sheer contained distress in Enjolras' response catches his interest. It's entertaining to see the emotions playing out across his face. Fascinating how someone can feel so passionately about a stranger's hypothetical demise. ]

I'm not sure if I should feel relieved or sorry for you!

[ He might be committed to the idea of laying down his life for that much, but Dazai wouldn't prescribe the philosophy to just anyone. ]

I'll admit it's a dangerous thing, wanting to do anything for someone's sake.

[ To live for them. Become a better man for them. Or even throw it all away again in an instant. ]

[idealisme]

[ oh gross religion ]

Surely this place is enough to disprove any relgious ideas you had back in your home?