deercountry | i'm not a superhero [September Catch-All]

"Some people don't mind bein monsters if it means they can accomplish their goals." Dabi watches Nara'a with a curious gaze flicking in his blue eyes, mouth hidden behind the lifted rim of his mug.

There's always consequences of going too far. Funny part is, so many people usually only attribute that to the "bad guys" of the world. Seldom do they ever think a "good guy" could go too far and have negative consequences. And yet, Dabi's seen the results of that very thing happen. It wasn't a problem, at first, but now, in his world, everything's been ripped apart because of it.

The results have been amazing.

"That depends. There are people here who'd be willing to step up and help someone like him." Dabi's aware that his words and actions definitely slot himself towards one of those "people" referred to. And it's true; if someone stood up with enough power to challenge the "gods" above them to find a way home, he'd likely support them, if just for the amusement to see if they'd make good on their promise. But he'd need plenty of proof he wasn't wasting his time and effort...

But he doesn't want to give Nara'a the satisfaction of thinking most every Sleeper in this place is some "good guy" hero type.

"I know. It's... just that they start hurting everyone around them. And I can't tolerate that." He shakes his head and takes a drink, pushing the images out of his head. As much as he mourns over some of the people he's seen... he can't let that stop him.

He nods at the statement. He's not unaware that Dabi would probably help someone like Zenos. Whether Zenos would accept his help or even care is another issue. And as much as he dislikes everything the man has done, he can see the line of treatment that started with his great-grandfather and stretched to his father and then himself... even though he isn't sure how much Zenos really knew about Solus, the single-mindedness definitely rubbed off on him.

Even if the tendency for planning and a sliver of a care for others did not.

He's aware not everyone is a hero, though. There's a reason Trench keeps him busy. "I mean, I won't say that I dislike a good fight... but this is a man who destroyed settlements pretty much single-handedly. I'm not sure what 'help' he needs. ... It's a shame. If he used his strength to help people rather than just look for the next fight..." But he didn't. "I suppose I should be glad he just wants to fight, and not actively rule. He was technically in his rights to contend for the throne before he was stripped of his title."

Edited 2022-12-06 18:18 (UTC)

"Oh. Ya mean the monsters here." Dabi tilts his head to the side in a general indication of the world of Trench all around them. H was thinking a more generic term of "monster" that people like to levy against others they don't agree with. "Yeah, they don't seem to have any brains left."

At least Nara'a acknowledges the veiled comment. There's some part of Dabi that remains surprised the miqo'te remains interested in him (or tolerant of him) enough to stick around despite their completely opposite placements on the moral spectrum. But then again, same could be said in reverse. And Dabi merely finds the other man interesting and tolerable enough to hang around as well. Plus he has nothing against Nara'a personally. The guy hasn't impeded him in a goal, hasn't tried to hurt or kill him, and generally proved himself a worthwhile ally.

"I know a guy who wiped out half a city without a problem. He still operated with other people." By choice or necessity is a strange call. A little of both, with some probable "encouraging orders" thrown in there as well. But that's not for him to divulge. The latter notion earns a derisive snort from the villain. "There ya go again. Such a shame someone else ain't actin the way you deem "good"; ever consider he thinks the same thing of you, but in reverse?" Such a shame Nara'a wastes his power helping other people instead of making himself a ruler, for example. Or in this guy's case, making himself the opponent he wants.

"Did he go nuts before or after he lost the crown?"

"No, I mean in my world. It's... unusual, but it's been known to happen. Depending on the depth of your despair and the amount of power you have." He's seen it happen... he doesn't want that to happen to anyone else ever again.

Hm. "Sounds like a difficult sort of person. And yes, I've tried thinking it over from his perspective... I can't understand living only to fight. He was never fully in his right mind, I suspect... but it was before. His father gained the crown after a power struggle. He would have inherited it after his father's death - at his own hand, reportedly, and for unknown reasons - but he fled. His cousin attempted to lay claim to the throne but... well. The civil war tore apart the Imperial capital and then the Final Days started... so I'm not sure who would be the ruler now."

And who would rule over a ruined empire? He's not sure who would even want to. "But no, he had a bloodthirst from the moment we met. I knew he was a man who would let the world burn for what he wanted... and he certainly did try."

"So ya used to this kinda stuff." And again gestures to the world at large around them. People turning into monsters, monsters crashing out of the forests to try and wreck buildings or fill their gullets with food.

The rest of that story sounds like some kind of feudal tale, with kings, rulers, princes, assassinations, usurpation, claims, and eventually a war because of the power struggle. Dabi never had been much for paying attention to those kinds of stories in his life, growing out of them quickly in his younger years in exchange for other more relatable topics. He listens to Nara'a, but doesn't find much reason to respond outside of a bare "huh" of interest. "Guess whoever has the most power now."

Might makes right in those kinds of situations. There's always something to be made out of ruin. Power is power, even if you start from the bottom and claw your way up.

The last part earns a brief smirk. "Some people are that focused. A single person has the power to change the world."

"It's... disturbingly similar to something that happened in my world, yes. So I'd like to find out what happened here to cause people to twist that way." He knows 'blood pollution' is the answer people give, but what caused it to be so polluted? He's not sure, and he isn't satisfied with 'it just is'.

He nods and lets out a sigh. "We're trying to give the people a chance to rebuild... there's not even enough people gathered back in the city to figure out who even wants to be in charge. A lot of the citizenry fled, leaving the military in place. But there were a lot of casualties among the military for... various reasons." He winces, being one of those 'various reasons'.

"Oh, I know they can." He did. So did many others. "But it's been a long road to try to get to where I am, and other people have helped."

"Good luck. Pretty sure only everyone here's asked that question. And if the "gods" can't answer cause they don't know..." Dabi shrugs his shoulders and tilts his head back to down the rest of his drink. It lands back on the table with a thud in his fist and he smirks twistedly at the man across from him. "Find out and you'll be this world's hero."

Rebuilding. What comes after a war. Dabi leans back in his seat, resting his arms behind his head. Citizens fled, military in charge, empty ruined cities... sounds like what's gonna be in store for his nation once the war finally kicks off. So many empty neighborhoods already. Noticing Nara'a's wince, Dabi closes his eyes in thought. "Sounds like a real fucked up place right now."

"I mean... I never wanted to be a hero. I just wanted to help people out. ... And I want to help these people out, too. They've been good to me. I want to be good to them as well." If even the pthumerians don't know... hmn. He'll have to think on how to approach the question. He can't even start to form a hypothesis at this stage.

Garlemald... yeah, that sounds about right. "It is. They were our enemies for so long. And even I just thought of them as 'the enemy' for a long time. But they're people. The ones in charge are to blame - both for the orders of attacking peaceful people but also for the punishments they threatened if their troops disobeyed. I'm not angry at the troops. ... I feel guilty for taking their comrades' lives. Could I have stayed my hand sometimes? Probably. But... I didn't. So here we are."

"Sometimes ya don't get a choice whether people think you're a hero." If Nara'a, or any Sleeper, finds a way out of Trench to go back home, they'll certainly be thought of as a hero. Or a savior. Or someone real fucking helpful. Go figure. Were Dabi in any mood to talk to the "gods" they're under, he'd simply ask straight up if there's a way back home and how to go there and use it.

He catches the bartender's eyes and orders another round. Nara'a's still over there brood musing about his history. Dabi settles back on the seat. "Everyone's enemy is "just another person" if ya wanna look at it that way. People are people, bad actions or good. Ya gonna have to draw a line somewhere and decide to take 'em out if ya don't like what they're doin." Whether that 'take out' action is convincing them to stop verbally or using actions to force them to stop.

"You heroes guilt yourself over so much shit."

"I know. I've kind of noticed." People just started calling him one, and then more people did. This all started with delivering pretzels. He sighs and watches Dabi order another round... he really shouldn't have much more, he's a lightweight. Still, it'd be rude to turn down a drink...

"I know. I've drawn and redrawn that line a lot over the course of my life. I know where it is right now, but it's not something that can't move." Though 'someone who hurts innocent people' is a pretty solid line. It's no longer 'people in the way' like it was when he was fighting the Empire itself. "And yes, we probably do. Some of us think of the moral implications of our actions and care about the consequences."

It's a little bit of a snipe, but not something Dabi likely hasn't heard before, he's guessing.

"Uh-huh." Dabi knows the term "hero" isn't exactly flung around to just anyone in his world. Mostly because "hero" is actually an occupation and people train to get into it. Prepare their whole young life for it. You don't just slap that label on someone who's going around handing out free pretzels.

Luckily for Nara'a, Dabi's only ordering a second drink for himself. He doesn't make that decision for other people unless he's actively trying to ply them with alcohol for something less beneficial... Nara'a's free to grab a water if he wants after he's done with his current drink. Considering the fire Dabi controls, he burns through alcohol much faster than most people (if he chooses to).

"If ya recognize that, you're doing better than a lot of those sanctimonious pricks out there." At least Nara'a's admitting he can and has moved that line. A fallible hero who can change things to suit himself, by choice or force. Dabi leans forward and rests his arms on the table, hands nestled in the crux of his arms.

"And some of ya don't." Nara'a's not wrong; Dabi's heard this argument before. "A lot of villains care about implications and consequences, but "what" we care about is different from heroes."

Oh good. He gets some water and settles back down. He's not really eager to end up getting sick. He runs through a lot of food himself, but not nearly as much as fire would require. He does need to keep his energy up for the use of aether though.

"Heh. I suppose. I've seen what happens when lines don't move. It's never anything good. You need to be flexible and open to new ideas. The views of other people are important too. And I suppose that's very true - the choice of what an 'acceptable loss' is tends to be very different as well. For some it's none or a few people. On the other side it could be billions, if the end goal is lofty enough." He can't exactly say that the sentiment behind it was wrong, though.

Not in the market to make the miqo'te sick right now. This is merely to chat until they're good and ready to part their merry ways. Had enough weird experiences with Nara'a already. A basic drink and talk is kind of a relief when the man's face usually brings with it some "that's... not a party" event to deal with.

"Maybe. Ya find the inflexible ones are those whose ideas are currently the status quo in power. Often askin someone to be "open to new ideas" is askin them to change or weaken their grip. And usually it's self-serving for the requester."

That's how all change starts. Someone comes by and thinks something could be done better, whether it's self improvement or condemning something else as wrong. Human nature is funny like that. Dabi's seen it from the hero side and the villain side. It's ridiculous when people try to coat it as something other than what it is: selfishness. Change driven by people is inherently selfish, regardless of whether the selfishness stems from a "good" or "bad" reason.

"A single person with a single conviction has the power to change the world. But that change could be leavin everyone else dead."

i'm not a superhero [September Catch-All]

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