dravanicide | IC Inbox (Snowblind)

[He's had some time to stew over the conversations with Luna, talked to Rhys. He'd advised Rhys not to pick fights with men like Estinien, but John isn't Rhys. He can do this better. And it's important that the Elezen know that threatening Luna is not okay or going to be tolerated.]

Mr. Estinien, this is Dr. Watson. Would you have a moment to discuss something?

Aye. What is it?

[He doesn't really recognize the name, mainly because he doesn't care to memorize names that have yet to hold any importance to him.]

I'm sorry for the text. I'm with some other people and I'd rather not disturb them.

[Or have Alfie overhear any of this.]

I wanted to apologize on behalf of Rhys and Angel for the whole debacle they had with you. They can be hard-headed, especially when they're trying to defend people they count as friends. They shouldn't have taken the tack they did with you because it seems like what was a misunderstanding blew up into something that's a problem now, for them, for you, and for other people.

'Tis fine you choose to write.

[He reads the rest and there's a notable pause before he replies. However, his voice is cold as ice, not that it was particularly warm to begin with.]

I know not why you are apologizing for them, and even so, 'tis not your place to apologize. They will account for their actions, and not through someone else's apology.

Edited 2016-08-31 17:28 (UTC)

I'm apologizing because it's something that needs saying and they're both young and foolish. You must know people like that, Mr. Estinien, ones who get an idea into their heads and refuse to change it no matter if they've been given all the best reasons to? I think we both know that sometimes there needs to be a voice of reason put in between people like that and the person they've managed to start a fight with.

[Hint, hint. Nudge, nudge. Wink, wink. Mostly, he's trying to corner Estinien into agreeing to be more reasonable, though.]

Whence you hail must be far more forgiving to the antics of idiots. In Ishgard, we care not to entertain those whom wish to cause such problems out of naught but stubborn idiocy. You learn swift not to push those who can push back harder, and not through cowardly avoiding consequences.

If you wish to convince me to discard my ire for the two, you are saddling yourself with quite the undertaking, Dr. Watson.

They haven't asked me to do anything on their behalf. I'd like to make that clear, sir.

I do hail from a place that's far less brutal than yours outside the field of battle. I'm a soldier, myself, and if this were the front lines, and they were under my command, I wouldn't tolerate that kind of behavior. This isn't, though, and they're not. They're civilians, the same as most of the people here, ones who haven't been living in constant war and vigilance against a greater enemy. They're still trying to figure out how to survive with so many clashing cultures. Same as the rest of us.

Being flexible is the only way we're going to be able to work cohesively as a unit here. It's important to remember that we're ultimately all on the same side, right? We want to get out of Norfinbury. Fighting with each other only benefits our real enemies. I've already spoken with Rhys and asked him to stop antagonizing you. I'll be doing the same for Angel.

But I need to know everyone's going to take a step back and take a breath and not waste energy threatening and enraging each other. I understand you're angry, and you've every right to be. They do, as well, given the topic at hand. You're not from the same world. Misunderstandings are bound to happen, especially when they're wed to continuing to think in the terms and bounds of their universe, not anyone else's.

But then I think we're all a little guilty of that at times.

We are at war. Our enemy takes to guerilla warfare, appearing at random, when we least expect it--using this environment to its advantage. 'Tis not unlike walking in enemy territory, where they know the lay of the land better than us. We might not be under constant fire, but we are fighting to survive, to win.

Perhaps we may do so if others were to take this situation more seriously. Their blatant antagonizing and continued disrespect is not to go unpunished, and as a soldier you should recognize the importance of such. They lack discipline. Whether civilians or not, they are civilians no more.

They wished to risk themselves traversing tumultuous waters when they chose to provoke me, and naught will save them from the churning waters that threaten to beat down such stupidity.

Edited 2016-08-31 18:02 (UTC)

[It's like trying to reason with a brick wall. A Renaissance Era brick wall. Jesus Christ.]

They lack discipline because they've never had to deal with this sort of situation, Mr. Estinien. A good soldier recognizes the strengths and weaknesses of his whole team. But we're still a team. And punishment doesn't have to mean beating them down. Have you ever heard of the carrot and the stick? I know them. Rhys and Angel don't respond to the stick when you want them to do something or not do something. They respond to incentives, not retribution. You're not going to teach them any sort of lesson. They're just going to get more entrenched, draw more people into the conflict.

That's the last thing we need.

They disrespect you because they feel you've disrespected them and something they hold as a fundamental and core principle in their world: That robots are people with feelings and should be treated that way. You might disagree with that, but it's something that's true where they're from. Dismissing it out of hand is what's raise the ire on their side and probably why they antagonized you in the first place.

If someone were to come here and tell you that your treating a particular race from your own world as people, rather than as mindless objects was wrong, how would that make you feel? Keep in mind that from their perspective, whatever race it is in question is treated like mindless objects in their world and believed to be nothing more than that.

[Seeing as Eorzeans, and Ishgardians in particular are racist as shit... perhaps not the best comparison.]

I am not having this "robots are people" debate with yet another. I grow tired of it, and whether that is their perspective or not means little to me. I merely had stated my distrust for machines, they took it upon themselves to provoke me there after when they could have left it well enough alone. Whatever you believe will curb their attitude I care not for, I have my designs.

To answer your comparison, had someone blatantly stated such I would have ignored it. I am not of that race, and even if they said as such about mine own race, worse has been stated. There is no love lost between the races of Eorzea, and as such, I am not likely to be pricked by someone's opinion like a soft child incapable of managing his emotions.

Edited 2016-08-31 18:22 (UTC)

[John can't help facepalming when that message comes through. He's trying to keep it down and stop himself from being too expressive, but Alfie and Fiona might have cause to notice if they're in the room.]

It's not the race issue that's salient here, sir. There must be fundamental values and truths you hold for yourself that someone attacking would set you off. That's what I'm saying this is for them. Try to think of something, anything, that would upset you to the point of immediate antagonism. Some people might consider whatever it is to be childish and soft, even if it's something vitally important to you. It doesn't have to be about race, but all of us have those things, even when we can regulate our emotions and hold back on acting on impulses surrounding them, they're still there, and it still hurts when people stab at them.

What I'm trying to explain is that your designs are not going to be effective. A soldier goes into battle to win, doesn't he? You wouldn't use a sword where a bow was called for. Why would you knowingly charge into a fight only to have your tactics fail you when you have foresight to avoid that?

Edited (I can HTML) 2016-08-31 18:31 (UTC)

[He's quiet for a moment, mainly because his mind goes straight to Dravanians. How he provoked and antagonized Lady Iceheart whenever she spoke of man and dragon working together, that there was ever peace between them. He purposefully spoke down to her, was aggressive with the peaceful Dravanians, threatening to gouge out the eye of one in particular...

He supposes he can see a similarity, maybe. But he doubts their aversion comes from something as deeply traumatic as his, and thus theirs is built from childishness, and naught else.]

Whilst I will not deny that there is one such topic that could indeed nudge me int defensiveness, I scant believe they've the same reasoning.

However, you are proposing they go unpunished for their ill actions, and I cannot stand by that. There is a debt owed for their poor choices, and if you wish to give them carrots for their good behavior thereafter, I will not stand in your way, but I will not spare the rod and spoil them for their misbehaving.

Edited 2016-08-31 18:48 (UTC)

No, they probably don't have the same reasoning, but you don't know what their reasoning is. That's sort of the point, Mr. Estinien. None of us knows very much about each other. Making snap judgements based on our own worlds and their truths leads to conflicts that aren't necessary. Especially when we don't really know the people we're talking to or what they've been through. I know someone here who's seen what people in my world would consider unimaginable horrors. They've lived through being treated as nothing more than a science experiment, forced into doing something they didn't want to because they weren't allowed to have a voice. They've come out of all of that they're still trying to find their feet to be the best person that they can, in spite of it all. They don't talk about what's happened to them very much, they hide what's happened, so a lot of people wouldn't ever be able to guess at that.

I'm not suggesting they go without punishment, but I'm already providing that reprimand to them. They'll take it better coming from me, someone they trust, than you. Do you have a commander that you respect and admire? Would disappointing them feel like a punishment to you? Maybe even worse than if they'd just picked up a sword and cut you?

I know not why you speak as such to me, when I was not the aggressor in this situation. I realize I know naught of their experience, but little does it matter in the long run. I would gladly take what consequences spring forth of mine own actions should I react in haste upon mine own sensitive topic. I know well my experience, and that those who are not privy of such may not give me quarter for how I act because of it.

'Tis just the way things are. How the world works. You fight for what you believe in, and you make what sacrifices there needs be made in that effort. If they believe so strongly in their convictions, enough to provoke one such as I, then they should face me as the combatants they have postured themselves to be. Though they act as children, they are not. Treating them as such I ill see the benefit.

[He doesn't answer the question, however.]

Edited (phone tags are suffering) 2016-08-31 19:09 (UTC)

Because you're the one who's been talking of actual violence. Angel and Rhys aren't fighters. They a very small woman who's probably never picked up a weapon in her life and a very thin man who used to work an office job, not fight.

[He might be exaggerating their helplessness a little here for effect, but so it goes.]

I doubt you'd even find any satisfaction in fighting them. You'd hit them once and they'd go down. I know you can have more patience than other people who have treated you with less, Mr. Estinien. You're a soldier. You know what it is to bide your time and set things aside for the greater good of a mission.

If you need someone to punish for them acting out, I'll offer myself. I can take it, and I'm Rhys' attending physician. He is and has been my responsibility, even if I'm not his commanding officer.

You seem to be missing some of the details of our feud, for 'twas not I who first threatened violence. If they are so weak, then they should not make threats to a man who does not take lightly of such.

I will not punish you, you are not involved, and had you truly cared to be his attendant, then you would have been involved sooner. Where were you when they were both provoking and aiming threats at me? Had you truly worried of what consequences would befall them, or that you cared to keep Rhys in line, I imagine you would have interjected sooner.

Or perhaps you did not see me a threat then, so you allowed them to blather on with reckless abandon, but now you realize I am not one to take lightly. Which is it, Dr. Watson.

I'm not with them and can't keep constant tabs on them, Mr. Estinien. I try to do what I can, but I didn't see your initial confrontation until well after it was over. I didn't feel it was appropriate to interject publicly at that time. I decided to let it lie and see if they'd resolve it on their own once they cooled off a bit. They haven't.

And now there are other people getting dragged into this who shouldn't be. That's why I'm coming to you now. They can't resolve it, you're not backing down from your position, either. Third-party mediation is necessary at this point before you go threatening other innocent people. And I'm not talking about Rhys and Angel. They're not innocent in this, even if I think you're going overboard on punishment for their foolishness.

You are speaking of that robot that pretends to be a modest maiden, do you not?

[His voice is calm, and what agitation there once was has died. It's an aloofness that doesn't fit the otherwise rough cadence his voice carries.]

'Twould seems it has bewitched you enough to garner your sympathy. Ill fortune, that.

Her name is Luna, Mr. Estinien, and whatever you might think about her status as a person, she's done nothing but try to help the people here since she arrived. If you ever threaten her again, I'll be speaking with your superior about the proper discipline for a soldier who proactively threatens a civilian when they've done absolutely nothing to warrant it.

[He's assuming Aymeric is Estinien's superior.]

If it is truly as harmless as you believe it to be, then you will find my threat similar. 'Twas in the event it ever proves to be naught like it postures itself to be: if it becomes a danger, or hurts any I find valuable. 'Tis rather suspect you find need in threatening me if you are so convinced of the machine's charity and good nature.

You can speak to the Lord Commander if you see fit, but your words may not have the effect you seek.

[Technically Aymeric is higher standing than Estinien, but Estinien cares little for the chain of command. He does what he wants, when he wants to do it. His is a position chosen of skill and divine right, and so he often gets away with things other men would not.]

Mr. Estinien, consider if someone you think of as a good person, a kind and helpful person, were to be threatened by someone else for seemingly no reason or for anything that they have any control over. Would you simply say nothing, or would you warn that person that that kind of behavior is unacceptable and there will be consequences if they do it again?

Luna hasn't hurt anyone, she's not planning to. The fact that you feel the need to threaten someone like that says far more about your character than it does about mine when I'm just telling you not to do it again to her or any other robots here who are just trying to get on with their lives and escape along with the rest of us. Luna might not be the only robot here. If you try what you did on her with anyone else, I'll also see to contacting your superior. I already know beating it into your head isn't going to be effective, so that's the viable alternative I have.

Edited 2016-08-31 20:59 (UTC)

Had I done this towards a good person, I might see your point. However, as it stands, I did no such thing.

[With slight amusement:]

If you wish to speak to Aymeric, I suggest you do so. If you think such idle threats will waver any such future threats I may make to the robot of your questionable fancy, you are overestimating how much I concern myself with the conversation such will inspire.

I love her, and she's my friend. If you want to tell me a woman who dreams, who emotes, who feels pain, who eats like all of us, who has a life and a history, a name, hopes, ambitions, and goals, isn't a person, then I'm not sure what you would consider a person, sir. Is it because she's made of metal, not bone? Is every living thing in your world made of the exact same thing?

I will confess that it puts on a convincing display, and that you have fallen for it like a fool. That you would have such intimate feelings for the machine bespeaks well of its maker and his talents, or mayhap your depravity.

A person is born, not created, and whilst living creatures in Eorzea vary greatly, they all share something at their core: a soul. A machine has no such thing, though I have heard some are powered by aether, 'tis not the same.

How do you know in her universe that machines aren't instilled with a soul? That there isn't a god who looks down, sees what's been made, and places one there. This is what I mean about getting trapped into your own universe's rules, Mr. Estinien. There is no one like Luna in my world.

Where I come from, robots are all just objects, machines. She is so much more than that, though. What are the qualities that define a soul? I can almost guarantee you she'll have them or I'll be able to find someone here who was born who doesn't if you can actually name them.

@jwatson; text; Night 150

@estibien; voice

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