Sixth Candelbram - Voice

[firstofthefallen]

What is strength to you, or what it is to be strong?

Alternatively, who is it that has right to rulership, or to command? Do you agree with the sentiment that those who are strong are superior and thus have greater rights than those who are weak?

And if that is the case: may the weak become strong?

Comments

[firstofthefallen]

They are. But would you say one is preferable to the other?

Ideally, there would be no ruler. In the end all would know where they stand among others. But it is the way of people, and of all creatures to have one to lead them. And thus we must decide what traits are most desirable to look for.

Why do you believe that?

[scentofmakai]

The latter. The first can be taken away from you too easy.

You'd want people with empathy for other people but who can't easily be pushed around by those who know less than them.

Because I've seen people grow. There's no reason to ask if it's possible if you've seen it.

[firstofthefallen]

Empathy is worthless. What is needed is not concern for others or an understanding of them. No need for that which merely coddles.

People can grow, but it seems to me they must grow alone. Alone chafe grows in droves. The worthwhile grows alone.

[scentofmakai]

...All right, let's say that a ruler is a man with goldfish. That's demeaning enough, right? If the ruler doesn't feed the goldfish at all, they die. Empathy is what makes the man feed the fish something they can actually eat instead of just tossing whatever he feels like into the tank.

[firstofthefallen]

Among any sentient creature this would be seen as servitude. And that brand of servant, that must rely upon the hand outs of another to even eat, is by far among the weakest.

Who should care if they die or not? They will always exist. SOme will become stronger and continue on, the weakest will die as they should.

[Someone is missing the point entirely.]

[scentofmakai]

Wrong. The man who doesn't feed his fish things they can eat soon becomes a man without fish. A ruler who doesn't treat his servants, followers, et cetera with a concern to their quality of life, or at the very least their life, becomes eventually either no longer a ruler, or dead.

It's in his own best interest to have a little concern for the ones under him.

[firstofthefallen]

Which is why that is the way for all rulers. No ruler cares about their people to that degree, and so all are inevitably displaced.

The ideal is to give your people land, and allow them to provide for food on their own without interference. Allow them to work out their problems, their quarrels, while giving them protection under you dominion from the outside.

As my statesmen, you more than any other should know this, Beelzebub.

[scentofmakai]

I thought you were going on the theory that I was his son instead.

[firstofthefallen]

Parts of you sound too much like him to be such.

I'm still not sure if you even are him. But it seems more likely than not.

[scentofmakai]

That's probably as accurate as you could get without knowing exactly what went on back in my world. Want me to tell you or do you want to preserve the mystery?

[firstofthefallen]

I wish to know.

[It is, in his mind, his right to know.]

[scentofmakai]

Ba'al Zebul was sealed away for some time. It's not really important how he was sealed away, just that he needed a power source to get back properly and he didn't really trust anyone else to help him get back. So he used himself.

I'm a piece of him that got split off. He sent me to find him something he could use to bring himself back. I met Setsuna and Mirai when I was wandering looking for something that would work. And we became friends.

Eventually I found him something. He promptly reabsorbed me and came back. And then he tried to kill my friends because they weren't happy about him absorbing me and frankly, Ba'al Zebul is not that nice a person.

Your son's kind of a dumbass. He should have just saved his own skin, since for all anyone knew I was gone forever. But he kept trying to pull me out whatever way he could think of, and he would've gotten killed if I hadn't been able to keep Zebul from finishing him off.

By the way, if you ever wanted to know whether your main personality trying to erase you inside of him hurts, it hurts. Like nothing else.

And he managed it. I got my own body again and we defeated him.

I felt like I should mention the rainbows and sparkles now.

And that is the story of Takajo Zett, currently dominant and only personality of Beelzebub.

[firstofthefallen]

Ba'al Zebul was not a nice a person.

[Oh Zett. Can you imagine how much Lucifer is laughing on his end right now?]

I should think you would have known. Kindness does not do well for those who reside in the demon world.

Tell me. Would you think me a nice person?

[scentofmakai]

Nah. You'd have to understand people to be nice to them.

But I know you're at least a good father.

[firstofthefallen]

I suppose you would.

A me is, I suppose. I'd almost like to meet this one. You seem oddly disconnected from the Amala Network.

[scentofmakai]

I'll send him your way if he shows up here.

[firstofthefallen]

Do the same with my "son", if he should appear as well.

[scentofmakai]

You can have him after I get my share of time with him. I think maybe after a week I could start letting him have some time alone.

[firstofthefallen]

Or if I find him first.

From what you've described of his behavior it wouldn't be hard should he appear.

[scentofmakai]

I've got a few advantages over you. Mostly that I know what he looks like and he knows what I look like.

[firstofthefallen]

I suppose you do.

However, I know what you look like. And your scent. And your sense.

If you were to be alone long enough I would simply deduct what was happening and teleport to you.

[scentofmakai]

You shouldn't do that. What if I've got him half-naked by then?

[This is a joke.

But only a little one.]

[firstofthefallen]

Then I suppose your more carnal urges will have to wait.

[No sense of humor in it. Not even a little one.

He doesn't really seem to care. He's just addressing the statement as if it were any other business he might take care of.]

[scentofmakai]

Teleporting in on people undressed is rude.

[firstofthefallen]

So is disobeying your king.

[That? Is a joke in Lucifer's mind.

He wonders if you'll get it.]