003 ✽ voice;

[goingsilent]

[ Kasumi's preferred method of dealing with the network is much like her preferred approach to life in general: lurk in the shadows, occasionally emerge to poke things just to see if they're entertaining. But every now and then, she has something she actually wants to say. This is one of those times.

Everyone's been buzzing about all these puzzles and riddles that have been showing up, and she's been keeping an eye on it more or less, though she can't say she's particularly engaged by it. That shows in her voice when she starts to speak. ]

Since we all seem to be enjoying thought puzzles so much these days, here's one to try out: What would you do if you found out that nothing you did had any real life consequences? Not for you or for anyone else. Not now or in the future.

Would you still follow the "rules" or would you toss them out and have a little fun?

Comments

permavoice

[cutsofftheirlimbs]

...Sometimes there's no way to follow the rules... but if you don't do it right, why do it at all?

permavoice

[goingsilent]

[ Kasumi makes a noise halfway between an agreement and a "buuuuut." ]

But if the things you do don't have bad or good effects, is there even a right way to do things to begin with?

voice;

[besiege]

And if you never lived by any particular rules in the first place?

voice;

[goingsilent]

Then I guess it partly depends on if you ever felt guilty about breaking them.

audio;

[unruly]

[ Kasumi! Dean's second favorite troll. First place goes to the creeper of the Lord, Castiel. Either way he's smirking slightly as he takes a second to respond. ]

Rules are made to be broken. [ Of course, Dean here is part of the SEC team, so maybe he shouldn't be quite as irresponsible as usual with his own personal issues with authority. ]

Least that's what I figure some people are thinkin'.

audio;

[goingsilent]

[ Oh ho, she sees what you did there. And a lawman with a healthy respect for rule violation is Kasumi's favourite kind of lawman. ]

Some people think that no matter what circumstances they're in.

video;

[stimulations]

A quick way to lose any will to do anything at all, I imagine. What would be the point, etc.

voice;

[goingsilent]

That's the tricky part, I bet. But fun, at least, should still be fun. As long as you're not a person who needs concrete results to enjoy yourself. [ Ie. Boring people. ]

text;

[toppling]

[ hit him where it hurts, why don't you. ]

What if you tossed out the rules, and then later had it revealed to you that this claim in fact was a lie -- that you would have to face those consequences?

voice;

[goingsilent]

[ Oh, hello, Passenger 006 » 024. You may not have been formally introduced yet, but you already have her attention. ]

It's a big risk, that's for sure. And one I wouldn't want to make in most circumstances. But if the evidence was strong enough? Well.

voice;

[romanticism]

[ Oxford might have been choosing to stay particularly quiet on the network just to prove a sulky point to his colleagues, but he actually rather likes Kasumi, so he can't resist breaking his petty little silence. ]

I would continue to play by the rules. I don't find much pleasure in doing something with a serious consequence that I would otherwise be unable to face just because I could.

voice;

[goingsilent]

[ Kasumi's voice goes particularly singsong. ]

Obviously, I wouldn't do anything that I wouldn't want to do anyway. Like go swimming in vat of Tuchanka sauce. But, really? Not even something you really want to do?

text

[megamind]

I think my answer is both expected and a given. Any particular reason you're curious?

voice;

[goingsilent]

[ If her answer sounds evasive, that's because it is a little. ]

Can't a girl want people to own up to their theoretical bad behaviour now and then?

voice | encrypts 85%

[constructum]

[ Ariadne can only assume she knows what this is in reference to, and for that, she is sorry. she knows what it is like having to question things such as that, and she honestly thinks it can only end up badly if it is left to simmer in thought too long. ]

With every action there is a reaction. [ a beat, adding quietly: ] And you will cause a reaction.

[ because you're real. you have to be real. ]

voice | encrypts 100%

[goingsilent]

[ In all honesty, Kasumi wouldn't be asking it publicly if it was a thought that had been bothering her too much. The idea that this was all a dream had some weight, but she hadn't yet completely accepted the idea that she wasn't real within it. She hadn't quite dismissed it either, though, and hence the question.

Gently but still with good cheer: ]

I'm not sure that quite fits with your theory about this place, Ari.

voice;

[sweetmotherofgod]

Whose rules?

voice;

[goingsilent]

Society's. Your own. Someone else's. Take your pick.

[andblockbuster]

[If there were no consequences, Topher would still be a consciously naive genius manchild with a curious streak that won't quit and no concerns about ending the world.]

It's funny, 'cause... I kinda know what that feels like.

[goingsilent]

The no consequences part or the tossing out the rules part?

voice;

[galacticheroine]

Kasumi, I was wondering when you'd pop out of the woodwork.

voice;

[goingsilent]

You know me, Shep: just because you haven't seen me, doesn't mean I'm not there.

voice.

[therangerking]

The way of the righteous is not through the fear of consequence, but through personal honour.

voice.

[goingsilent]

Mm, I can buy that. But don't you think honour would look different in a world without any consequences? "Don't cheat" and "protect the innocent" wouldn't be so important if cheating didn't hurt anyone and the innocent were never in danger.

Voice;

[gofortheoptics]

[Oh, she knows this voice...]

I don't know what I'd do with myself if life was that -- purposeless. Does that make sense?

Voice;

[goingsilent]

[ Dear Tali, whether you all turn out to be figments of someone's imagination or not, Kasumi is obviously glad that you're back. ]

Sure it does. For a lot of people, the idea of slipping through life without being able to affect anything would actually be scary. [ Which is why Kasumi's keeping Arthur and Ariadne's pet theory to herself at the moment. ]

video;

[seethemoon]

Yes, I would.

[He's touching the S-shield on his shirt, as if that held the answer.]

voice;

[goingsilent]

Why?

[ Kasumi's clearly not judging. That's genuine curiosity in her voice. ]

voice;

[65]

I'd probably be a little bitter, after all the time I spent abiding by rules out of fear of the consequences. That said, I don't think your theory is possible. Actions always have consequences.

voice;

[goingsilent]

Not in real life. [ Or, at least, not in the real life that most people on this ship have. ] But that doesn't mean it isn't worth thinking about. The world isn't created by a bunch of people sitting in a cave, watching shadows on a wall, either.

voice;

[theguidinghand]

If there are no consequences, no repercussions, no risk - why, that's not an interesting existence in the slightest. A riskless move has no significance in a game of chance, especially not one as complicated as life itself.

[He doesn't make himself known too much on the network, but he'll bite this time.]

voice;

[goingsilent]

I'd like to hope that some things are still fun even without the risk. A 10,000 foot freefall would still give you a rush in your stomach even if you knew you weren't going to get hurt on impact, right?

voice;

[redhotsummers]

I wouldn't enjoy trying to stop the psychopaths who think 'fun' means killing everyone.

voice;

[goingsilent]

Psychopath serial killers are right at the top of my "do not want" list. But for the sake of argument, what's the harm if people don't really die and don't really get hurt? No consequences, remember.

voice;

[northerner]

[ ah, the sort of question that hits robb square in the chest. it's a very, very rare thing, robb thinking of what he wants, and not what he is obligated to do. ]

Everything a man does in this life has consequences.

voice;

[goingsilent]

Well. [ It may be a "well" right before a disagreement, but it's still an affectionate "well." There are things about human nature that Kasumi admires even if she doesn't always believe them. ] Man would like to think everything he does in his life has consequences, at least. A person would start to feel a little inconsequential otherwise.

voice;

[lockwood]

I'd wonder what the catch is. No way is there actually no consequences.

Re: voice;

[goingsilent]

A naturally suspicious nature. I can appreciate that. So what if you had observable proof?

[statsraaden]

I would do as usual, which means I would still follow mine: do what's best for everyone and don't harm them.

Although I would be tempted to give up if there really were no consequences. I mean, if whatever I do people aren't going to do better, why bother?

[goingsilent]

It puts kind of a damper on things, huh? I'd like to imagine there was still some point. Beautiful things would still be beautiful. The world would still be follow of interesting people to meet. No consequences doesn't change that.

voice;

[sainted]

[Stefan takes a long time considering this question, long enough that he almost decides not to respond at all. But despite himself, the woman's voice sticks in his mind. He comes back to it later.]

Somehow I get the feeling this question isn't hypothetical.

voice;

[goingsilent]

[ Kasumi takes a little while to respond as well, needing a few moments to measure her response. ]

When some of us first got here, we played with the idea that this might all be some kind of hysterical mass delusion or hallucination or something like that. We all kind of got distracted after a while, but I guess I've been thinking about it again recently.

voice;

[seem]

[ Without any preamble: ]

What would you do?