Catch-All for Julius

[specialdog]

Comments

[autocatalysis]

Depends on how intelligent the corruption is outside of a host- but yes. Which, of course, makes things incredibly convenient and not messy at all. Do you lie low from friend and foe both and contribute little in order to do so, despite possibly being able to help get this mess solved quicker if you did otherwise-- or do you put yourself out there and wind up in the line of fire?

[specialdog]

It makes it seem like the safest thing to do is to be friendly and well-loved, but stupid and useless. Don't you think?

[autocatalysis]

Ugh. Even if the logic's sound, it says a lot about the kind of person who'd just mooch off of other peoples' good faith like that.

[specialdog]

It says they're smart.

[autocatalysis]

It says they're a leech, and possibly short sighted, depending. How smart can it really be if multiple people have the same idea and we all end up dying because of a lack of collective effort? Safe in the short term doesn't necessarily translate to the best long term results.

[specialdog]

Mm, I guess so... Individual leeching leads to group failure, with such a small group, after all.

[autocatalysis]

Maybe it would have been a more valid tactic if there weren't so few of us to begin with.

[ even though he's not here to carry sandbags... gross ]

[specialdog]

So then what do you think about someone who's sincerely useless? They can't help it. They didn't choose to be here.

But they aren't helping us at all.

[autocatalysis]

I have to wonder what you'd think of such a person, honestly.

[ his smile is both a little sharp and a little wry. sure are asking him a lot of things, huh? ]

[specialdog]

Mmm, as long as they're not annoying, it's fine?

[autocatalysis]

[ honestly it sounds like they're talking about a pet or a mascot or something. the useless cute thing no one can bring themselves to kill. but he shrugs, and agrees: ]

Uselessness doesn't mean they deserve death.

[specialdog]

And it's like--what's the phrase? A broken clock is right twice a day? Even an idiot could be helpful.

[autocatalysis]

Maybe if we point them at a murderer, they'll feel bad and be compelled to confess.

[specialdog]

I doubt a murderer would feel that much guilt at all.

[autocatalysis]

You'd be surprised. But then again, maybe by a certain point it all ceases to actually matter.

[ if it doesn't actually affect behavior, what's the point. ]