(Canon is Fullmetal Alchemist)

[roy_mustang]

Hardly a creative username, but I guess there's no particular need to be; the population here is still rather sparse. Getting a name doesn't do you much good if there's nobody to play with though, does it?

Comments

[roy_mustang]

Admitting that you admired and depended on me?

[saintedsinner]

Admitting that you're the lesser of two evils. I'd rather have some egomaniac at the top who actually gives more of a shit about the people under him than his own narcassistic tendencies.

[roy_mustang]

The Fullmetal Idealist is willing to settle on an evil again? I'm surprised you're not some kind of anarchist. That's popular with hot blooded, angry types your age.

[saintedsinner]

I'm not going to be a proud sonofabitch. I'll lay down when I need to if it serves my purpose.

[roy_mustang]

If you couldn't, you'd have probably never worked under me to begin with. Are you in that dire a strait, again?

[saintedsinner]

...

Well, let's see.

Our city's been bombarded by fireballs. Super villians nearly destroyed us. The whole city is in rubble. The idiot who caused this-who, by the way, assumed that we needed his form of leadership in spite of our protests- is now not bothering to step up to the plate in keeping us from freezing and starving.

Al and I are trying to keep things together, but you know how people are. Every man for himself. They rather try to kill off the idiot or punish him or something instead of trying to find food and fresh water.

[roy_mustang]

You just can't keep from getting in over your head, can you? I'm surprised you're thinking straight instead of rushing in against the "super villains."

At any rate, with your alchemy you may be in the best position to command order. I'd recommend starting by establishing a monetary system. You two are in the best position to create functional goods, services, to provide food, and clean whatever water is available. It may be hard for you to fight the urge to be charitable, but I'm sure you have it in you to be an opportunistic, shamelessly manipulative brat.

[saintedsinner]

I've had a few years to grow into it. As for a monetary system, that's not going to work. Hasn't been since I've been there, at least. And since Al's been there. We go by barter.

--And look, I'm not a leader, a-a king. Like hell I want to be! This is only temporary.

[roy_mustang]

You're having trouble controlling the angry, vengeful masses, aren't you? A monetary system to put a little order into the bartering will go a long way towards organizing the people towards more abstract, varied goals. The barter system works well for small groups for small periods, but it makes it difficult for an enterprise to form, for any goal that would take time and investment to get off of the ground, based only on people remembering their dues and promises. If you want to move beyond struggling to survive and to look into civilization, collectable capital and the ability to promise something beyond your abilities is essential. A leader who can't give his collective group more than he could personally give every individual is useless.

[saintedsinner]

-=Now there's a laugh.=-

So that's where Mandrake went wrong! All he needed to do was to make some money?

[roy_mustang]

They'd need to be able to substantiate it. As I said, you're in a unique position to be capable of offering favors and goods worth trading on the market, enough to implement the system. With that, organizing a team to act on a more abstract campaign becomes possible.

[saintedsinner]

That is, if I had the desire to take over the world. I don't.

[roy_mustang]

But you do want to save it. Leadership isn't all egotism, Fullmetal.

[saintedsinner]

I just want to be able to live in peace without everyone going bonkers around me.

[roy_mustang]

You of all people should know you have to make your desires come true, not believe and wait for fate to pay you for your suffering and perseverance.

[saintedsinner]

That's what I've been working on.

[roy_mustang]

If I were there though, I guess since it means so much to one of my dear subordinated, I'd have to see to fixing that mess of a world. Don't count on getting away with being a spoiled child forever, though.

[saintedsinner]

I'm not asking for a favor. You were complaining about not being anywhere...

[roy_mustang]

Really? Well, if you're not saying you need me there, it certainly doesn't sound like something that could compete with an easy retirement like this...

[saintedsinner]

Retirement? What are you talking about?

[roy_mustang]

Well, technically I am still a corporal, but...

[saintedsinner]

Corporal? You've been demoted?

[roy_mustang]

I'd expect you not to notice certain details, but your brother never mentioned it, either?

[saintedsinner]

No. I doubt he would know, either. So what happened?

[roy_mustang]

I don't think he ever remembered me, but even Miss Rockbell kept in touch to some degree, so I'm sure he knew of me...