hadriel | 014 [Video] /dated to a few hours after Yusuke's anon post

[Lance looks a little over life at the moment, which most of his friends probably recognize as his standard look when not being purposefully professional. He's not bothering with the latter right now, both because he's a bit annoyed and because he thinks it would be pointless, so instead everyone gets normal, slightly bitchy Lance.]

Okay, I wish I could say that I can't believe I have to remind people of this, but vigilante justice is not exactly the best idea here. Not only is it morally wrong to just declare yourself to have the authority to decide who is and isn't deserving of 'justice', but it's logically wrong too; you're just going to cause problems, not solve them.

I'm not saying not to intervene when something's actively happening, but going after someone days or weeks later is just starting the whole process of retaliation all over again. So can everyone just take their egos down a notch and, if they're concerned about someone being an active threat or something, work on coming up with some sort of solution that isn't going to make things worse as soon as it's done?

[This is not the first time he's had to go into this discussion while here--or at home--and so that's why he's being extra short about it. He's also not just talking about the recent incident, it's simply what prompted him to say something this time.]

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In the moment, maybe.

[He doesn't judge people who kill in self-defense, or to get out of a situation they couldn't otherwise escape. But planned vengeance days or weeks after an event doesn't count.]

But every other time I've seen someone give themselves that right, they've ended up just as bad as the people they've decided they need to stop. And not for killing their target, but for the other things they find acceptable and justify to themselves in the process.

Perceptive way of looking at things.

[He doesn't like to think about it that much because that's exactly what he does. It's a slippery slope he's found himself sliding down all these years now.]

That's why something like me was created in my world. It's all about balance.

What do you mean?

[He can make guesses, but it's better to let him explain.]

Monsters in my world get created when humanity sins. I'm what's called a Sunai monster and eat the souls of sinners who have darkened their souls past the point of redemption. Murderers, rapists, people like that. So it's balance. Sinners brought me into the world and I take them back out.

[Ah, well, that makes sense with some of the other things that have been said on the network.]

What happens if you run out of sinners?

[He smiles, but there's something quite brittle to it.]

Then I suppose my purpose will be fulfilled. But I doubt that will ever happen. People can never remain good for that.

Maybe they'll surprise you.

[But Lance doesn't honestly believe that humanity will ever totally be rid of those people who give into the darker parts of themselves. He's optimistic but he's still realistic too.

But steering the topic slightly--]

What do you do here?

[In regards to sinners.]

Hope provides me with the same sort of sustenance, so I refrain from eating the souls of people most of the time.

['Most of the time' being the key phrase there. He hadn't really had a choice when it came to killing Abigail.]

No need to stir up that hornet's nest unless I have to.

That's good. Do you plan to continue that, regarding this issue?

[In other words, is he going to stay out of the Caedra thing, or has the situation changed?]

Well, she's a sinner, and normally that'd be good enough for me to kill. But things aren't quite so simple. But if she comes out of the ice pissed off and ready to kill, my hand might be forced regardless of how I feel about things. One versus many is simple math.

[Yeah, he's a bit of a hypocrite when it comes to dealing with sinners, and will staunchly deny that fact if called out on it.]

I'm not objecting to anyone stopping her if she tries to hurt anyone, so that's good to hear.

[That he's both willing to intervene and not interested in doing so unless he has to. They don't need anyone jumping at the chance to start another fight with her immediately.]

From what I've heard, it doesn't seem like anyone will have a problem with it. Strange, I kill someone who asks me to do it, and all I get is people pissed off. I kill Caedra and I'll likely get kudos for it.

[Everyone here is weird.]

People tend to judge based on what they want.

[And not what's right, or what people affected might want. Not that Lance is approving of the idea of someone asking Leo to kill them, or of Leo doing it, but he's not about to get into that argument in this place. If the person wanted it, then there might've been harm done but it's completely different from murdering someone who didn't want to die.]

You don't seem to. Most people would have read me the riot act the minute I mentioned killing someone.

[He's surprised at that but rather grateful. He could use more non-judgmental people in this place. He can't help what he is. Sometimes, killing someone was the only way he could keep from losing control.]

Well I don't approve, since most suicidal people aren't exactly in the right frame of might to be making major decisions, but in this place I'm not going to tell someone they can't make an agreement that both parties consent to.

[At home he'd probably do some sort of intervention, but that's not an option here. It's also in the past, so it seems pretty pointless to get upset about it; if the 'victim' in this case doesn't want 'justice' then he's not going to interfere. It's their right to decide what they do and don't want to happen to themselves.]

At least you've got more sense than the majority of the people I talk to here. I'd nominate you for mayor or something if we had to put someone in charge.

[Might as well have the most reasonable person be the mediator in charge of everything, right?]

Thanks; I'll just accept the sentiment.

[Even if he's not sure he agrees and also the idea of being mayor of Hadriel is terrifying. Still, it's a nice thought.]

014 [Video] /dated to a few hours after Yusuke's anon post

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