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[liontomyself]

[Leo as usual is in his room at his desk, surrounded by books and plants and illuminated by a lamp.]

So...

Could you all explain to me the whole idea of 'voting' for your leadership and representatives? It doesn't make much sense to me, because I grew up in a place where each leader inherited the role after being trained their whole lives to take on such responsibility, but I can see the appeal to the public.

I admit that there are certainly flaws to my system as well, but then there will always be imperfections when it comes to men ruling over other men, because of course none of us are perfect.

[He's actually pretty legitimately curious, despite not really subscribing to the idea of democracy. It has to have it's merits though, for it to be the main way of running things here for as long as it has been.]



Not related to my query, but I'd also like to offer my services in restraining or eliminating any problem doubles. As King of Nohr, I find it is my duty to try to assist in crises as long as I make my residence here and will not ask for payment.

Feel free to come to me if you are in need.

Comments

voice

[fauxmarth]

It's actually pretty interesting, Leo! [rather cheerful over here.] That is, what I've gathered so far from Foggy and the materials he's shown me. It's...very complicated, however, so you'd be right to find it...suspicious. But the spirit of it is actually rather beautiful, I think...and it has some sense of familiarity. After all, people would inherently "vote" for a good king with their hearts and efforts for him, right?

[...]

...But maybe that's a little off. [sheepish:] Sorry. A-anyway, as for the...doubles... [exhale. less cheery, make no mistake:] I've found their time in this realm to be rather variable.

[beat.]

As in, one could easily punch one out of this realm, should they need be. As to the amount of force required, I can't attest to knowing. But even so...

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[liontomyself]

[He's cool with the cheerful explanation.]

I don't know. It's just strange to me. I don't know if I trust the common folk to just decide on who the best ruler would be. Not that they aren't intelligent enough or anything, it's more, hm. Maybe not informed? You can't really know a man before they've got the power they crave, right?

[The idea of punching one out of the realm gets a little pause then as he just..... decides..... what to do with that information.]

Er... Well. A-are you... offering to assist me in my endeavors?

[fauxmarth]

[she gives a thoughtful sound to that.] ...It's a risk with those born to power as well, I suppose. Until one takes upon the task, no one truly knows their capabilities... Even years of grooming can still prove folly, should their intentions not match the needs of the country. To say nothing of those who take power by force and blood.

[but haha what does she know she was a leader during the apocalypse she was doomed to failure anyway!!!

regarding this awkward clarification, there's a beat.]

Oh-- [was she? well, sure!] Well, certainly. I wouldn't idle if there were more of these shadows running amok and causing problems.

[liontomyself]

It's true. That's exactly my point though. There is no way of knowing how a person will be while in charge until they are. And even then... there are... unforeseen circumstances.

[For example, if you were to say..... BE POSSESSED BY SOME EVIL DRAGON???]

The future is uncertain no matter the way things are ruled, I suppose.

Ah. Anyway. I will let you know if anyone approaches me with a problem double then! I think it would be interesting to see how our abilities will work together.

[fauxmarth]

Certainly. And I'd hate to let any troublesome doubles of mine be lurking about unchecked. [there's a bit of a shudder in her voice.] There's already been enough trouble with Odin's...

You've not seen your likeness skulking about as well, have you?

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[devoutish]

What is it about being King of Nohr that makes you qualified to dispose of doppelgängers?

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[liontomyself]

Being in possession of the divine tome Bryhildr, I possess power over Earth, Gravity, and Life. With that power comes the responsibility to use it to enhance the lives of others.

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[devoutish]

I don't suppose you've got a way to explain that to someone who hasn't got a clue what you're on about? The divine tome of--?

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[liontomyself]

Of course! My apologies, I am still unpracticed in speaking to people from other worlds, despite my time spent here...

The divine tome Brynhildr is a grimoire- a magical book- passed down by the Nohrian royal family for generations. It was a weapon used to fell dragons, which are beings of god-like power in my world, and thus it is extraordinarily powerful.

This one allows me to control the force of gravity, to manipulate earth, and to create and control plant life. My siblings have different divine weapons, I was simply the most suited for magic.

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[eloquentness]

I wouldn't say I'm exactly in need, [ given that her doppelganger is a total sloth who sleeps 20/7, it's more a nuisance than anything, ] but... that's an awfully generous offer.

You sure you wouldn't at least take a cup of coffee for the trouble?

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[liontomyself]

Er...

Well, I've yet to do anything, so. You do not need to do anything like that for me.

[He scratches at his cheek sheepishly at that. He'd never just been offered things when he had said that they were not needed. How was he supposed to deal with that???]

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[eloquentness]

After you manage to beat our shadow doubles, then.

[ Iris nods sagely. Coffee is good pretty much any time of day (or so her addicted self thinks).

More importantly, this is a chance to talk to Lucina's Leo, so Iris can't quite help asking: ] So.... you were a king back home?

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[liontomyself]

Ah, if that is what you wish, I will not turn it down.

[He didn't want to seem ungrateful, after all. Even if he was a little bashful about accepting.]

Yes, I was a king. Er. I suppose I am king of Nohr. I haven't been king long, but I spent a lot of time as the army's tactician...

[VIDEO]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Man, when I heard that people could vote on their leadership and government here, I almost jumped for joy. What I wouldn't have given to have that opportunity back home.

I would have made it my personal mission to vote the monarchy out of their stupid castles.

[VIDEO]

[liontomyself]

That is understandable too. Hence the reason for revolutions.

The common person and the ruling class always have a divide though, regardless of whether they were born into it or they were chosen. [Leo leans onto a hand. He certainly sees the appeal of course, but as a king himself you know. He has a biased opinion perhaps. Not that he was a tyrant of course, nor that he had not experienced one first-hand, but he had different stakes in it than perhaps others did.]

You cannot be sure the new person you chose will be better than the old one, anyway. Even if they have noble goals, they could be too weak and ineffective to influence things. Or too inexperienced, and cause more problems than are fixed by their changes.

I just wonder how it is they came up with the idea.

Re: [VIDEO]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

But here's my big question: Why? Why does there need to be a divide between the ruling class and commoners? Anyone with sense can lead. Anyone with a modicum of integrity and an eye for opportunity can lead. There doesn't need to be a divide. A king is just a man with a crown and a title.

On my world, the ruling classes are all wealthy and insanely powerful mages. Even though almost everyone is born with mana, they use the magic guilds to sort out the most talented and offer them positions in their government. At worst, they're comfortable for the rest of their lives, and at best, they marry into the royal families, breeding more magically powerful heirs.

Those who are unfortunate to be born without mana don't even have a future outside of a labor trade or military fodder. Honestly? I'd rather risk my vote on someone who had no idea what they were doing than sit back and idly watch as the same broken system allowed a gap in social classes to widen into a full on schism.

[VIDEO]

[liontomyself]

Hm. The divide is inherent. You cannot look to the rulers and see the same kind of person as you are. Even here where leaders are chosen, they are given power over others, they are given that comfortable life, being paid for their power, given office, given people to work beneath them...

Even if they had previously been living on the streets, things would be turned upside down. That kind of power can corrupt, and there's no way to know it ahead of time.

Your world sounds in need of a revolution. Will you lead it, or simply lament it's need?

[VIDEO]

[patchricide]

You know, I was wondering about this system myself? And I'm relieved to know it isn't just me. It sounds as though we're arriving here from similar backgrounds, too — before coming here, I was the Princess of Altea.

[... not the Fire Emblem Altea, a different one.]

But I can already imagine some of the benefits. Keeping ultimate authority in one set of hands is... well, it relies solely on those being the right hands, doesn't it? What if it isn't? For all the good it does provide [which she's just, like, saying as a matter of fact? having royals to take care of everyone else is great] it also comes with an incredible risk.

[VIDEO]

[liontomyself]

[Due mostly to Dimension Shenanigans, Leo doesn't actually know the Fire Emblem Altea otherwise he might be much more interested in that! Who's Marth????]

It does, which I think is not really a large leap from this situation either. From what I've seen, the terms of elected officials is not their entire lifetime, which means that the leader is changed very often.

I imagine it's somewhat tumultuous that way.

That said, if a king is corrupt, you are stuck with him until his death or abdication of the throne, and with this system if someone is corrupt it is a much shorter time period.

There is the trouble though that if someone is voted in who is terrible, don't you think that makes it easy for the corrupt to pin the blame on the people for choosing them...? I would hope such a thing would not come to pass, but you can never be certain.

[VIDEO]

[patchricide]

[Who is Marth, indeed.]

There's a certain balance that can be gained by dividing the parts and keeping them in motion, and I think that's the goal. To move so far away from the idea of a monarchy that it becomes closer to a council. Or perhaps a team.

[She's thinking about it like Voltron? Yeah, she's thinking about it like Voltron.]

That does sound likely. I mean, in any situation they would want to hold someone else accountable, and who better than a faceless mob? But... well, maybe it will still have a voice? Whether or not there's a crown, there will always those who carry the heart of great kings. Ones who would give everything for the benefit of their people.

Who knows? Perhaps with this sort of system, more of them can step forward and rise to greatness.

[VIDEO]

[liontomyself]

It does seem to be working for them, in any case. As much as any government can be considered to be working, right? I feel like maybe a council at least gives the chance for balance, and would hopefully be the most likely to actually work for the best. In a council, if there is one corrupt official, they could at least be overruled.

[Leo could see the appeal of that for a king, even. To not have every decision solely on his own hands... it'd take longer to delegate things then though, wouldn't it? Snap decisions were not about to happen.]

I can only hope so. The world could use more great kings, whether they wear a crown or one of those silly business ties this world seems so fond of.

Video

[drivesadesk]

From stuff I've heard, I'm pretty sure I've got a double running around. I could use some help capturing him.

Video

[liontomyself]

Alright. Any idea on where we might find him?

Re: Video

[drivesadesk]

I don't know for sure, but apparently he's running around without his skin suit, so the green scales should make him stand out.

Video

[liontomyself]

... Oh.

Yes I imagine that would stand out quite a bit. A shame Niles is not here, he'd have already located such a unique visage.

Anything you can tell me about him before we encounter him?