001 [Video]

[withthebrotherhood]

[The video feed shows Toad (in all his scummy green glory) focused and frowning as he messes with the console. It’s not like there wasn’t an explanation, but he’s bad at listening. And refraining from touching things.]

Ah… freakin’… stupid… Heeeey, it’s workin’!

[He immediately brightens. Then scowls again when he remembers what he turned it on for.]

So, uh, I'm new. Hi. Anyway, how cool are people with this deal? Maybe someday do something to fight the weird evil whatever it is, get a house on turtle island?

[The roof over his head aspect is actually quite a selling point for Toad. And there's something unnatural about admitting he exists on some kind of public channel and not just hiding in the shadows, but it seems to be what people do here.]

‘Cus that’s stupid, but how stupid? Is it worth playin’ along? I didn’t see a lot of dumpsters to dive in and stuff, so can you even be, like, no, fight your own monster, I’ll be over here, hiding. Do you actually get in trouble or go to turtle jail?

[He’s a follower. And a coward. Having some idea of how much of a tantrum he can get away with throwing will be helpful.]

...Toad out.

Comments

[naismith]

No, no, that's how you tell, from how they treat their enemies. The only person who's been executed had murdered the previous Emperor. That's hardly fascist.

[Right, Miles. Executing people is an inevitable evil to everyone.]

[withthebrotherhood]

[Execution isn't the ultimate evil to everyone, either, though that's pretty messed up from what he can tell. Toad's never been on a mission where anybody actually died.]

Did he deserve it?

[Cus if it was a cool act of rebellion he can get behind that without really knowing much about the situation.]

[naismith]

[His eyes flash for a second before Miles looks once again calm and thoughtful.]

Putting aside the grand question of whether anyone deserves execution, yes, I would say so. The Emperor was by all accounts a harsh but not a cruel woman. The dubious legalities of kidnapping us are about the worst sin she's committed. No one's been abused, only... detained.

Murdering her in cold blood is-- is dishonorable. Where I'm from, we'd do a lot worse than beheading for a crime like that. [Miles wouldn't necessarily approve of it, and his mother certainly wouldn't, but if he imagines Gregor (his own Emperor) as the victim, the response becomes more understandable.]

[withthebrotherhood]

[Honor's not a concept he's ever had any use for. That's the kind of thing the MRD would claim, maybe the X-men. But he doesn't require an abstract ideal being violated to see murdering some lady as a bad thing, shady kidnapper or not.]

Eh, they don't sound so bad, I guess.

[naismith]

I've experienced considerably worse treatment by kidnappers, let me tell you. I find this whole thing somewhat... curious. Not very good at compelling obedience, are they? Look at you-- you don't intend to cooperate at all.

[withthebrotherhood]

The lack of a cell with a zappy wall is weird, yeah.

[naismith]

I thought so. [He gives a slightly incongruous smile.] Weird though it is, let's try not to change that.

[withthebrotherhood]

Zap walls pretty much suck all around. Stupid buzzing noise keeps me up all night.