dark is the new black

[imperious]

ooc; okay, so I figured the easiest way for me to do this was to set up the post and then set up two different threads: one for canon-alignment shifted Peony, one for AUDark!Peony, so...yes. :|b

Comments

[imperiator.livejournal.com]

What about increasing our military presence on the border?

[explains]

I wouldn't recommend it.

[That's a surprising suggestion, but he doesn't think much of it.]

[imperiator.livejournal.com]

Why not? It would keep both sides from doing something, right? We can say it's to protect Kimlasca from any of our knights who might act recklessly.

[explains]

And then they increase their border guard. And then we have two sets of bored soldiers staring at each other across a small strip of land when tempers are already thin. Not to mention we admit to being too incompetent to keep our forces in line.

It's not a good idea.

[It is perfectly okay to tell the Emperor that his plan sucks.]

[imperiator.livejournal.com]

Maybe we could find a way around something that obvious. What if they weren't uniformed, and were just stationed as farmers and servants working the nearby land? They could keep an eye on things without alerting anyone.

[explains]

[Now this is getting ridiculous.]

Is there something you know that I don't?

[imperiator.livejournal.com]

I know history, and so do you.

[a sigh]

I worry, because it's my people that are there on the borders. Their lives are the gamble we're taking when we think that peace is really going to happen. I don't know if I can leave them unprotected like that. I'm wondering if my critics are right when they say I'm too optimistic about the chances of real peace.

[explains]

[Guy looks at Peony a little oddly, then picks Saphir up and leans on the edge of Peony's desk, casual, but watchful.]

Something's bothering you. Is that really all? Not that it isn't a concern, but that was something to consider when you sent a messenger of peace to Kimlasca and signed the treaty.

[imperiator.livejournal.com]

I guess it's just the reality of the situation sinking in. Plus, you listen to enough people, and sometimes you start to see reason.

[laughs] Would you believe even an old man like me can still manage to see reason after all these years?

[explains]

Reason? [More like paranoia. Guy settles Saphir in his arms while the rappig tries to squirm away towards Peony.]

I'd say the situation isn't worse than it's been before. Probably better than it's been in years. If you weren't optimistic, we'd never even be in this situation to begin with. If you'll forgive my saying, Your Majesty, your council, Jade, even I, we're professional pessimists when we need to be. That's our job. Seeing everything that might go wrong and then preparing for it to like it's inevitable. But it's not pessimism that won us peace.

[It feels a little like talking to Luke, only Peony isn't a redheaded idiot.]

[imperiator.livejournal.com]

There's been peace before, and it always falls apart. Over and over and over. What if this peace is just a false sense of security? We can't be unprepared.

[explains]

How long do you want it to last? I'd like peace forever, myself, but I don't think humans are that advanced. I think we can make it stick for a while, at least. I don't know how we can do more than that, but I'm up to brainstorming.

[imperiator.livejournal.com]

All right. So what ideas do you have then?

[explains]

Short of asking Jade to fix things permanently? Take it a day at a time. And stay twenty steps ahead of the bastards that would ruin it for their own gain.

[imperiator.livejournal.com]

Or we could just ask Jade to fix things permanently.

[his tone is joking]

[explains]

[Guy laughs.] Haha, that'd be nice.

[But more seriously he glances at Peony.]

Is there anything that put this on your mind?

[imperiator.livejournal.com]

A lot of things. People are getting more worried about the state of things, and I hear those worries. It's made me start thinking that I might've been naive about things.

[explains]

It's a weird situation. People worry more than normal, there Score isn't there to rely on. People don't know how to deal with that, it makes them more accountable, and responsibility is stressful.

Your decisions have always been what you thought were the correct actions, right?

[imperiator.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but look at what other people have done in the name of what they thought was right. Look at the God Generals. Look at Mohs.

[explains]

I can't dispute that. But if you're thinking about it, doesn't that make you already different than they were? It's not inherently bad to stick to your ideals, as long as you can look at things from the other perspective as well.

[imperiator.livejournal.com]

And if you start thinking the other perspectives might not be so bad?

[explains]

I don't know. Do you really think getting ready for war is the best option?