20th Crystal: [Voice]

[cladinthedark]

There is a saying I have heard... "Before you judge a person, first walk a mile in their shoes." It is meant as a message of tolerance and acceptance for those one might dislike, or disagree with, by placing oneself in the position of the object of one's ire.

Well, having spent some time in the proverbial shoes of the being I loathe most of all... I can safely say that I feel neither tolerance, nor acceptance for him. If anything, I despise him more.

What of the rest of you, citizens of Luceti? How has this experiment affected your feelings towards that which you became, if at all?

Comments

[thinkinghere.livejournal.com]

I suppose the best way to put it is that I am even more bitter about his actions, for one.

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

Perhaps there is less to the old saying than I have been lead to believe...

Though, do you perhaps feel more justified in your bitterness?

[thinkinghere.livejournal.com]

I had assumed it more to apply to people who hadn't razed cities or destroyed their own kingdom.

More or less. I'd say it's complicated, but it's only because I refuse to let go of the good memories of him.

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

I was brought to understand that, as much as I loathe aspects of my past, it could have been worse. I suppose that counts for something.

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

One could say that, yes. You could have turned out... [He cuts off, but the last two words of the sentence are fairly obvious.]

[demyxity.livejournal.com]

Well, I still don't like 'em, but at least now I know how much of a pain it is to be them.

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

And does that make you dislike them less, even a slight bit?

[demyxity.livejournal.com]

One of them still killed me. So I don't think so. Nice try, though?

[voice]

[blackteriques]

I think the level of ... tolerance depends on a lot of factors. People hate for different reasons, and that experiment didn't take any of those reasons into consideration.

After seeing how some other people were affected, I think things could have been worse.

[voice]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

Fair enough. And especially true of those of us who were only affected superficially.

Worse for Luceti in general or yourself in particular?

[voice]

[blackteriques]

People were affected beyond that? [Yeah, he didn't even notice...]

Myself in particular. When people are turning into huge monsters ... turning into an Orerines isn't too bad.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

I think you can guess my feelings on that which I became.

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

Somehow I doubt you could loathe Cagnazzo more than you already did before the experiment. But perhaps it brought the thoughts a bit further forward in your mind, hmm?

[vermified]

I didn't think it was possible to hate the Dreadknight more than I did before. This experiment proved me wrong.

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

The human capacity for hatred is truly a remarkable thing, isn't it?

[the-wind-woman.livejournal.com]

I still want to kill the bastard, that will never change. My reason for hating him isn't because of his personality, it is because he wants to kill me and anyone who dares to protect me.

So to answer your question, my feelings towards him did not change. I did learn something about myself during that week however.

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

Well then I would argue your feelings towards him are completely justified.

Truly? And what might that be, if you're willing to share?

[Written]

[kendama-pro.livejournal.com]

[He's continuing your quote there, in neat handwriting.]

"Then you're a mile away and you have their shoes."

[Pause.]

I was unaffected this time, but seeing its effects on people I know... I'm not so sure what they feel right now, but I do know that the Malnosso really don't have a semblance of good in them, honestly.

[Written]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

I was unfamiliar with that part of the quotation, but I think I like it.

I think we all have more or less accepted that by now.

[compos-mentis.livejournal.com]

Something like hatred became something more like disgust.

Still, this is a leading question.

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

One wonders if that's an improvement or not.

Do you think so? People usually ask questions following an experiment, particularly one like this.

[nottanzanite.livejournal.com]

This experiment only reminded me how much I hate them.

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

But it didn't increase your hatred? Or... perhaps it's impossible to, is that it?

[Voice]

[silentfirefly.livejournal.com]

I actually... feel better now. I've realised that even though I will eventually have that body, I'm not going to be her. I'm different to her in many many ways, and become that [Evil, twisted, destructive] woman physically won't change me mentally.

Who was it you became Golbez-san?

[Voice]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

"Eventually have that body"? You... became some sort of older version of yourself? Or... no, your body was altered to become older, and someone else was in control, is that what you mean?

[A brief pause, and when he speaks his voice is carefully, determinedly calm and controlled, even more than usual.] His name is Zemus. He was a madman from my own world with an immense hatred of humans. He manipulated countless people for his own ends, and came close to eradicating all the people on the planet I once lived on. My brother Cecil ended up being the one to stop him.