[BBS]

[thatched]

Well since we're breaking away to begin with, why not go all the way and just become pirates? Floating the seven seas, waving our battle flag from the massive white dome. Pillage and plunder and the occasional panty raid. What do you think? Shall we put it to the vote?

Comments

[gunbladegrrl]

NO.

I can't begin to tell you how insulting that even is.

[thatched]

In what regard? If you mean the panty raid, I wasn't exactly serious.

[unless your name happens to be Grell]

[gunbladegrrl]

[Go look up her ID# if you want to know!]

SeeD is a proud mercenary tradition dating back decades. It was founded on the principle of defeating Sorceress Ultimecia, and in the process, saving the entire world -- the entire UNIVERSE -- from being remade by her power. In just a few short years from its founding, SeeD became synonymous with competence and effectiveness, so much so that they were hired to do the job entire armies couldn't! After the Lunar Cry, only Balamb Garden's intervention prevented the fall of Esthar and the slaughter of its citizens at the hands of countless monsters. And when offworlders began appearing on this world, Garden was the only place that would, that could, give them the shelter they needed!

And you'd toss this entire proud history, this legacy, aside to become common seaborn criminals?! You might as well crush a diamond down to make sparkle for kiddie craft glue!

[thatched]

No disrespect meant to the fine traditions of the Garden or the help it's brought to offworlders. Though it seems to me Sol Inctivus is doing much the same thing.

Regardless, a mercenary is only as good or ill as the employer they work under, so I'm not sure your morality can really be so rigid. A pirate can choose to be a seaborn criminal or they can choose to be something more, in essence making their own name and decisions.

[gunbladegrrl]

You can't compare what SI is doing to what Garden is doing at all, for the first and foremost reason that none of SeeDs goals even implicitly center around world domination! Beyond which, it's not a matter of morality; it's a matter of professionalism, ethics, and conduct.

[thatched]

I'll concede to your first point, though to your second it depends on what you define as 'ethics'. If you mean upholding a military standard by obeying to the utmost of ability, then yes, the Garden is quite ethical. If you mean who is worth killing and who is worth saving, perhaps not so much.

[gunbladegrrl]

Yes. The military standard, the code of conduct, and the iron professionalism that make SeeD the elite mercenaries we are.

[thatched]

Well you can keep your 'elite mercenary' status when you're slaughtering an army just on your employer's say so. I'd rather be a low down pirate who fights because sometimes it's just the right thing to do.

[gunbladegrrl]

Considering we're working in an organization that took in offworlders when anyplace else would have probably slaughtered them, I think I'm comfortable with the standards of behavior Garden adheres to.

[thatched]

You have a wonderful sense of loyalty.

[gunbladegrrl]

You say that as if it's undeserved.

[thatched]

Now how do you know in what way I 'say' it? At any rate, it's not my place to say where you should place your loyalties.

[gunbladegrrl]

Going to the effort of distancing yourself from the statement just makes it sound all the more like you disapprove entirely and just aren't willing to say it.

[thatched]

To be frank, I'm not interested in another lecture of how glorious and perfect the Garden is. I've been steeped in enough propaganda, thank you. To that end, you can think whatever you wish.

[gunbladegrrl]

What I think is that it's a shame you have no respect for an institution that took you any so many others in on this world when no one else would have.

1/2

[thatched]

Suit yourself.

[He's not interested in being chastised by someone who is barely old enough to drink]

[thatched]

[but then he's not done after all because a little while later, something occurs to him]

And by the way, they take us in, but don't think we are anything more than tools to them. If you don't follow instructions, don't want to be a mercenary, or work as one, or be touched by killing--as an off worlder, do you have a choice? No. You are kept in so long as you follow their rules. And if you don't? Or if they choose to be arbitrary? Out in the harsh world you go.

It may be fine for someone who can fit in-- but if not you are as trapped and bound to this place as any bond servant would be. You're either with the Garden or Sol Inctivus or you are outside of it and likely dead.

So don't think for one minute, missy, that this 'fine institution' is all about pure compassion. They may have had good intentions, I'm not saying they didn't, but they certainly saw an opportunity.

[gunbladegrrl]

First, you're overlooking the fact that a number of offworlders have taken what amount to civilian jobs with the Garden side of things instead of enrolling in SeeD. Second, what do you expect? Something for nothing? Garden should take everyone in, give them food and shelter and clothing and whatever they want, and ask or need nothing in return? Aside from being selfish, that's unworkable.

No one's pretending that Garden isn't trying to get some benefit out of it. No one's saying there isn't an opportunity here being taken. But in the long run, it would've paid a lot better to shut its doors to offworlders and cash in on "eliminate the person with scary powers!" requests that'd flood in from everywhere. Instead this institution has become a downright political pariah because the Headmaster opened its doors to the offworlders. Because of compassion.

[thatched]

That's what I hate about mercs. Always 'you can't get something for nothing'. It's just a damned excuse is what it is. And civilian jobs or no, they're still attached to the Garden. When it goes to war, they go to war. When it kills, they are just as implicit. No ones hands are clean in this game.

But do you really think it would have paid a lot better? Especially since Garden has a population of people with abilities beyond others in this world almost entirely at their control? We're twice as strong with out worlders than without them. Especially since we're fighting for the only place we're allowed to belong.

I'm not saying they're without compassion. I'm not saying they're not doing good for out worlders giving them some place to stay. All I'm saying is that if I had the choice between being a merc held to some rigid outdated military code and being a pirate free on the seas bound to help and serve my captain out of loyalty and love, I'd be the latter all the way.

[gunbladegrrl]

'You can't get something for nothing' is simple, basic economics. The money to support people doesn't come from nowhere. Would we all be happier if we could make that work, sure. But on this scale and in this cirumstance it can't fly.

And yes, it would've paid just fine. Between the sheer volume of offworlders appearing and the capabilities of SeeD? You probably don't recognize the latter because you don't get to see a trained SeeD fight without using some offworlder power... because sadly there's a lot fewer from here these days thanks to Garden's reputation. It would've worked out pretty nicely for Garden, I think.

And frankly, I've met a number of offworlders who'd die when they got shot. Maybe you're not one, but I'm willing to bet the offworlders who aren't out there now getting shot and dying think a lot different of what good Garden is doing for them.

[thatched]

Sure.

[as much as he could respect her passion he was damned tired of reading it]