maskormenace | 01. voice. angels dancing on the head of a pin

[ Chidi has been contemplating it ever since his arrival—what does the fact that people have powers here mean for the state of ethics in this world? Are people being responsible with what they’ve been given? Is everyone here like him, a person who could never have dreamed of having these types of powers in the worlds he came from?

In the end, he makes a decision that he needs to get more input before deciding. The communicator he’s been given is familiar technology, and he has no problem navigating its interface. He turns on the voice function and begins to broadcast. ]

I have a question for everyone here. Actually, a few questions. I’d like to get everyone’s input, if I can—don’t feel like you’re bothering me with your answer. I want to know everyone’s experience with this and everyone’s opinion.

First, a little background on me. My field of expertise is in the field of ethics and moral philosophy. I have written a lot about this subject, and I’d like to start a new study based on how these fields may be different in this world than in the one I was trained in.

So, here are my questions:

One: Do you personally come from a world where people have the kinds of powers that they have here? Furthermore, did you have powers yourself?

Two: If so, what were the moral and ethical implications of people deciding to use these powers, or choosing not to use them? And if not, do you feel a moral and ethical obligation to use your powers to help people?

And three: Do you consider yourself a good person?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Perhaps neither.

[ He says it in a soft voice. ]

I try to be good. It's just that I also get tied up in knots about it sometimes.

I feel that. [ Boy, does he ever. ] What part do you get tied up about?

The part where once I've made a decision, I can't take it back and go the other way.

[ That's a relatable problem. Although Baal comes from the other end of it. ]

I make decisions like that all the time. A lot of them shit ones. I even used to joke that I wish I was someone like Chronos so I could go back and do things right next time. [ Well, he said it once in an interview, but that's beside the point. ] You can look back, but you can't go back. The important thing is to not get stuck.

[ A beat. ]

Or find a way to invent time travel.

I get stuck all the time. I've probably spent my entire life stuck.

The invention of time travel would probably just complicate things, for me.

01. voice. angels dancing on the head of a pin

VOICE.

VOICE.

VOICE.

VOICE.

VOICE.