II／Murder Study (Revision) - Backdated to Monday

[puppeteerings]

[Phone ; Public]So the chaos has finally settled down, and this is the type of game this town is in habit of pulling? Rather crudely done, and I've seen some tasteless things back home. At any rate, while I'd also rather let bygones be bygones, this can still be a good time to revise a few things. Namely, I'll review a study in homicide, the

Comments

[1800deadpoo]

...too long; didn't listen!

[puppeteerings]

[LAUGHING]

That's fine. It probably didn't concern you anyway. [She's talked to this guy enough to know that he holds no qualms over this topic.]

[nothing_is_grey]

I disagree! No matter what you call it killing another living being is a sin. It doesn't matter if you felt greatly for them or not at all, the act is still a sin no matter what. It holds the same weight. The only differentiation is how hard and how determined you were to kill that other life.

As for consequences, even without a permanent death the sin will still live on in the soul. It will never go away. In the end they will all be judged for their actions.

I have not forgotten the worth of a human life, and no matter what this town does I will never forget it.

[puppeteerings]

I'm not arguing against that. Ah, a killer shouldn't kill if they aren't prepared to face the consequences, involving the killed and themselves: I did say that killing someone is the same as killing yourself. But if that consequence changes, so does the way of dealing with it. It's just a matter of cause and effect. It's all well if you'd rather choose to hang onto these values, but what I've said is more like a warning. It'll just be rough, if the town keeps grinding this righteous take of morality until it completely fades.

[nothing_is_grey]

No one should kill period, even if they are ready to face their consequences. The only time it would be even somewhat acceptable was for a greater good or an unavoidable situation. Also killing someone else is not at all the same as killing yourself, the punishment for taking another life is sever, taking your own just makes your life shorter.

No matter what the consequences don't change, they're still there as they were before. The end of life is only a small part of the consequences before a person. This is not hanging onto values this is knowing the Truth. No matter what my judgement will not change, it will never fade. Right and Wrong are always consistent and no matter what happens in this town they will always be the same.

[puppeteerings]

If we were in a perfect world. Even then, there are loopholes and exceptions to everything - and you've just named them yourself. Greater good, and unavoidable situation? What if someone killed to protect another in this town? Better yet, with each target killed during the past week, something is returned to the killer. What if a person decided to kill, but because they wanted to gain enough power to defend others? The line is thin and judging is hard. As for killing yourself, I meant it metaphorically. To murder another also affects the murderer: I did mention how serious it normally would be to both parties involved

[chest_forest]

By the sound of these letters, it seemed a little more like "business" to me.

"Kill this person for us, you will be paid with something you want."

But, I didn't get a letter, so my view of the situation is a bit ignorant.

[puppeteerings]

Ah, there was that. The letters came with a promise of reward that the individual would personally desire and a customized threat against what the person holds dear. It's good incentive to the weak-willed, so now you know what they held.

[chest_forest]

Well, we can't forget the ones unable to think. I haven't even been here long and I'm already pretty well aware that they play mind games.

I can understand the bargain for something people would want...but the threat of harm coming to someone important to them sounds kind of empty to me. They're already messing with everyone here, so it's just kind of pointless.

But, I guess if there weren't gullible people I wouldn't be in business.

[puppeteerings]

Yes, because they've taken us here and went through all the trouble to make sure that we don't die. That already speaks for itself: they either don't care, or want to break people's wills.

Depends on the people. Like you've said: some are more easily swayed than others, but either way, the fact is that people have died last week. The town is mostly responsible, however, so it'll do everyone a favor to let it go and move on.

[puppeteerings]

At least I'm giving it a shot. This isn't so much about being a magi as cold harsh common sense, but it also goes along with our first encounter, Toshaka Rin. It's nothing personal; I just came with Shiki to check things out. So what about you? Under these circumstances, do you begrudge us for having come after you with serious killing intent?

[puppeteerings]

Haha, you think that I didn't take that into account? It would have definitely be an interesting match if we were all at our full, but the point was that we were not. Either way, even if I died, I would have learned something, so I wouldn't have minded at all - consider it a learning experience. If you're a magus, you should well understand this. Since I'm stuck here anyway and made immortal, I might as well as make use of what's around.

[puppeteerings]

No, it just sounds that way. I'm already over it, this is more for the others who may feel bitter about what happened.

[Huh that explains it.]

Oh? You just missed out, so I'll summarize for you. A good number of citizens in town received a letter last week, telling them to kill someone else. It contained a target's name and picture, offered a reward of what the recipient desires, and a threat against what they hold dear. Needless to say, there were deaths, but some also killed without the need for that incentive. It is an excuse, but have you considered the alternative? This town doesn't value life, and no matter how much you do, it will keep generating events that will work towards breaking that mindset. I'm just issuing a warning in advance; you can hold onto your values, but be aware that it'll just keep getting harder as time passes. You're new, so of course you're still yourself, but with the passing of time, who can tell whether or not that'll change?

[puppeteerings]

Hm, I wonder. I've been told that this town pulls outrageous stunts once every month or so, and I've only been here since the start of May last month myself. From the reactions that I've been hearing however, this isn't a common occurrence. It's all just conjecture, but if this town has the power to take us all here and strip us of our abilities, then I'm fairly certain that it can kill us all just as easily. Yet it keeps us alive and no one can die, so its goal can't be wanting for our deaths. I can't be sure, but I would presume it to be more interested in breaking our psyche.

Ah, don't fault yourself. This town is sadistic and cruel; it's good that you missed out, but you can still learn from others' accounts. I'm not going to tell anyone how and what to think, but the warning's been thrown out.

... [A faint snort.]We're talking for the first time, isn't it too early to tell? For all you know, I might just be bored. That said, I do agree that things should be hard sometimes - it's not like we're always given a choice. But if