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Post by Mathew Amtrum on Oct 23, 2013 16:22:29 GMT -8
"With dramatic flair."
He couldn't help but grin at his own joke.
"I'm gonna call a meeting, announce the plan, and give minimal time to get ready. No chance to argue, no chance to have doubts. And if need be I have a plan to do it alone. Though I'm sure it won't come to that."
Too many pieces already danced to the tunes. People would show, for whatever reasons they had. If this was the chance to topple Barker's Empire it wouldn't matter that he was pulling strings. People would show.
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Post by David B. on Oct 23, 2013 16:23:40 GMT -8
He stared at Mathew.
"Okay. And what happens after? Say we win. What then?"
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Post by Mathew Amtrum on Oct 23, 2013 16:30:26 GMT -8
"We celebrate, we redouble rebuilding efforts. Boarder patrols delve deeper, but not overly so to try and harry remaining forces. And we keep our ears open for who fills the power vacuum. The end of this war isn't the end of bloodshed. But it will give people a chance to breath."
He paused for a moment.
"And something symbolic to look on as a victory. A real victory. And that's important. Symbols are important. Why do you think things happen whenever I show my face? Why do you think I take a more passive role in day to day affairs."
He wondered if anyone thought about this stuff the way he did.
"People always flock to me, and feel empowered when they are on my side. Not because of who I am, but of what I am. What we are."
The named Dragons.
"We are symbols. And in some ways letting someone else handle day to day affairs so that we remain symbols is important. You can look down at me and Leon for our approach to things. But you can't deny that when we show up people are full of renewed energy. Legends and symbols give people strength. And that's what this battle will do. It will give everyone there a symbol to look back on and say, 'I did that'."
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Post by David B. on Oct 24, 2013 13:48:53 GMT -8
David shook his head.
The first bit, about what happens after? That made sense. Everything else...
"Matt... That's ego talking. That's the desire to be something bigger on your guys' parts. People celebrate and get shit moving when you guys are around because they hope your going to stick around. This isn't high-school anymore. We're not fighting to see who the big bad among us is, or worrying about who can fight more people without losing. We are in control of peoples lives. Thousands of people. They assume you are protecting them in some other capacity, which is why your never around. They assume that because I help them assume it. Because I don't know what your doing, if your doing anything at all and I don't want the Elder Circle to appear weak. Yes, we're symbols. Yes, people look to us as beacons. But that has nothing to do with being gone- it has to do with who we are and what we have done."
He drank the rest of his water.
"Being a symbol comes in second to actually being around. You can plan and work with the gangs from here and still be a symbol. I'm proof of that. Being gone doesn't make you important or a bigger, brighter light for the people- you simply are one, gone or not. The only thing being gone does is make shit harder on those you left behind."
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Post by Mathew Amtrum on Oct 24, 2013 14:07:49 GMT -8
"No shit we are not in high school. No shit lives depend on us. But if you really think it is just ego talking then you are full of shit."
He wasn't thirsty, but he was seeing David in a new light. It wasn't the most positive one.
"Listen, I get it. You think you are better than us because you throw a better punch and you are around. People know you as a person, they share your pain. That's not what people need."
He leaned in.
"You're strong, you're smart, and you are level headed. But you are just a man. They don't need another pair of hands toiling in the dirt. They don't need to see us vulnerable. They need something to inspire them. Something to look to that is larger than life to try and reach. That is how we can effectively help them win this war. Not by fighting with them, which is important. But by giving them something to strive for so they become better than who they are."
He slumped back in his chair.
"Look at Kiyr and Rai. Aryn and Levi. Even Olesya. All of them striving to be better, to be on our level. Kiyr never would have even tried that if I hadn't picked her up. She had no symbol. Me building a house next to her when I found her wouldn't have driven her to become who she is striving to be."
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Post by David B. on Oct 24, 2013 14:22:09 GMT -8
David stared at Mathew.
"Perhaps your right. Perhaps it's not just ego- but fundamentally, I have to disagree with you. Before the bombs fell, people looked to men in power and in the end, they died for it. Now, they only hear about those they fear as some great monster in the distance. They see this monumental symbol of their destruction. You think we should be the same on the opposite side of the spectrum. Reality is, seeing as as human, humanizes the enemy. And that gives them courage. And strength. I know, because I see gratitude every day in the eyes of the men I help."
He would stand, and take the glass into the kitchen, dropping it off in the sink. He took a steady breath, an even breath...then looked up and out the window.
Aw, fuck it.
He moved back out into the living room and lifted a hand. The door bolt locked. He pushed air out around them, sealing them in a sound proof bubble. He sat back in the chair and leaned forward.
"Let me level with you. I don't like you. I don't like how you use people, how you strut around pretending your hot shit. How you think you have some fucking answer for every little question, when the truth is- your no different than I am. I talked with Bastille. She's shed a little light on a side of you that you don't want anyone to see. See, I care about everyone I work with- I take on titles and roles to help them because I care. Too much. And know what? So do you. You care way to much- so you sit at home, pouring over maps, trying to find a way to make sure the world is at peace and everyone is happy as a fucking lamb."
He leaned back.
"What pisses me off most about you Matt, is you settle. You settle to sit at home and spin your petty little webs when you have the potential to be a fucking hit. To come out of the hidey hole and make a difference. Look what you did last time you came out. Now you have a plan to end the war? I mean shit, why can't we have that man year round? Not some egotistical bastard who burns their mark into peoples legs or who tells everyone "You come to me if you need something." Just stop. Stop trying to act like being a symbol is the most important thing. Stop trying to make people look at you like some far off, great power they can never have. Your a God damn man. And me? I don't think I'm better than you. Nor do I think your better. I've grown up from that. Why can't you? I mean holy shit-"
He stood up and walked away shaking his head.
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Post by Mathew Amtrum on Oct 24, 2013 15:15:02 GMT -8
Mathew rolled his eyes as David began his little speech. Could it be that now they were getting somewhere. That now he had scratched the surface? Good, David didn't like him. The feeling was mutual, in more ways than one.
"Of course I care you bloody idiot. And if you need Bastille to tell you what anyone who has spent a little time with me could see then I don't know what to tell you. It's hardly breaking news. If I didn't I would have gone to Barker's side and claimed power there while crushing and oppressing you all."
Jesus, could he see past how Mathew said or did things to what he was actually saying and doing? It really didn't seem like it.
"And you are God damn right I'm a man. Don't think I'm like the other God's and actually believe I am divine. I am well aware of my limitations. But you know what, people depend on me. A LOT of people do and I can't afford to have limits. I certainly can't afford to show them, going around to everyone telling them how hard I work and how much sleep I lose or if I eat or not."
He stood up now, shoving his hands deep into his pockets.
"People don't need or want to hear that shit. Not from me. The problem you have David, the one you have always fucking had since High School is you fucking think your way is the only way. There is no room for adaption for Good Guy Hero Blaze. Man of the people. I might believe my way is the right way as I do my little webs as you call them."
He drew his hands out of his pocket and ran both of them through his hair.
"You have to have everyone act a certain way. I guide them to act, they find how to do it through themselves. Not because I fucking bitch at them because they do it wrong."
Now he was shaking his head.
"You have the way you do shit and I take that in consideration. But you can't do the same. What you need to realize is you are making this up as you go along. Just like I am. So get off your damn high horse and stop being a bitch because my methods are different. I have more of a stake in this then you do. So do NOT make the mistake of thinking I am not doing my fair share."
He had kids. His own biological children. He had Bastille. The stakes got no higher than that.
"Have you ever stopped to think that maybe, just maybe, the world needs a Mathew Amtrum and not two David Blazes?"
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Post by David B. on Oct 24, 2013 15:28:42 GMT -8
David laughed.
"What the hell are you talking about? You didn't get a damn word I said, did you? I don't want conformity- I want freedom. I've always been about it. In school, I was Captain, and freedom comes with laws. I understood that and made sure those laws were enforced. I didn't judge Katsuri because he wanted to tear down the system. I didn't care if students wanted to form gangs or fight off Campus. You said 'anyone who is around you for five minutes could tell you care'. Well anyone who spent five minutes with me would know that as long as you don't hurt the people I care about, I couldn't give a shit less about who you are as a person."
Hence why he said to stop burning legs and various other things. He started walking back over toward Mathew.
"Problem is, your not just some no name serving under me, or living in the territories. Your an Elder of one of the largest gangs in the free world. I don't want you to come back and act like me. God, what fucking good would that do? Theres a huge difference in how I lead people and how you do it. The overall reality is this- you do better. You. I don't want you to be me. I want you to come out and be you. And not the you that hurts people to teach them a lesson or pretends to have no limitations when you actually do. Just lead, and drop the ego trip. Stop acting like you're a child who needs people to recognize how awesome you are. People already recognize it. Start using it."
David had basically admitted that, in the end, Matt was a better leader than him. Regardless of how the man felt about David, about who he was, David was being honest to a fault.
"What sucks is me and you? We are more alike than you pretend. The only difference is I actually want to lead with you. Thats why I agreed to have you with me. So far, I've regretted it. And seeing you do what you have done once or twice in the last...almost two years, it pisses me off. If you had been around doing that from the beginning, this war would be over."
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Post by Mathew Amtrum on Oct 24, 2013 15:37:46 GMT -8
He laughed this time.
"If you didn't care what people did back then, or now we never would have a problem. And you go on about how I am the better leader but in the same breath you tell me I need to change how I lead."
Fucking unreal.
"I really don't care what people think. Love me. Hate me. Fear me. It doesn't matter because I'm working toward a lasting peace until I die. And I will die, likely sooner than later. So what do I do?"
He invested in people. People like Kiyr, people like Rai, Olesya, and even David. David was an investment, Leon was a friend. But also a tool. Little more.
"I delegate, I am making sure that when I die the people who can carry on are ready. That they can think. That they know actions and inaction have consequences. And yes, that includes Leon hiding in his tower, and me spending the little time I have with my girls."
Well, potentially little time.
"I will make you this promise though. If I hadn't left before we would not be moving to make a kill strike now. We would likely have had war with the Crows instead."
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Post by David B. on Oct 24, 2013 15:43:34 GMT -8
David shook his head.
"You don't get it. Teaching and leading are different. You think to teach Kiyr a lesson by burning her and making her walk naked? Shit like that just makes you look cruel. No better than barker. That's not a way to teach. Leading men...is different. It takes some points of teaching but...not entirely. If you can't grasp what I'm talking about...then just forget it."
He would sit and lean back, then smirk and shake his head.
"I'd veto a war with them unless there was a damn good reason. Though now I'm curious...why do you suspect there might have been war?"
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Post by Mathew Amtrum on Oct 24, 2013 15:57:29 GMT -8
"You see it as cruel, I see it as a kindness. Pain, humiliation can teach. And lessons like that are burned into the mind as well as the flesh. I did not subject her to anything I myself have not experienced."
His hand moved back behind his neck turning to show David the old brand burned into the back of his neck. Similar to a yin yang symbol but with three parts instead of two.
"You don't have to like it but in the end it was her choice to give her life as sacrifice. I asked what they were willing to give, she offered it on her own free will."
And thus he had his right to do it, or kill her. Which he did not do. Because he showed kindness and a desire to teach.
"You have your methods. I have mine."
And it highlighted the different worlds they came from. When he asked why there would have been war with the Crows Mathew shrugged.
"Assassination attempt I assume. Kiyoshi already threatened my life before he died. And you have to admit the Crows are almost fanatically loyal to their leaders. You could argue that Delilah would publicly punish and disavow anyone who tried, but so would we if we had ever opted to try assassination. But she isn't Unfettered, and he could never be bothered to actually show the courtesy to meet with us."
Imagine that. An old enemy who was also a Nazi not wanting to meet. Probably condoning that kind of shit, while Delilah puts on the friendly compassionate face.
"As for why? I would wager residual fanatical loyalty to the founder of the Crows and his wishes coupled by fear and anger that would have resulted in increased expansion by the Dragons under my active duty. We would have encroached on their boarders and many would doubtlessly wonder what happens after Barker? Do we swallow them next? Best to take out the war monger and leave the peace talker to ensure they stay safe."
He shrugged again.
"But nothing is 100% certain."
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Post by David B. on Oct 24, 2013 16:14:32 GMT -8
David would shake his head.
"I don't care if daddy beat you as a kid so you think thats the best way to teach. The responsibility you have with control of her life doesn't give you the right to treat her as nothing but a piece of meat, to humiliate publicly as you please."
He would not wait for Mathew to respond to that, instead jumping on his earlier statement- he wanted to change the subject back to it.
"Luckily that's not the case though, with the Crows. Now earlier you said you have a plan to end the war. What are you planning?"
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Post by Mathew Amtrum on Oct 24, 2013 16:22:26 GMT -8
"And I don't care if Kiyr is what makes your dick stiffen these days. Fact of the matter is she is my apprentice. And the sacrifice she chose and how I handle it is between me and her. I notice you have no objections to how I treat Rai, or how Leon treats his. And he always kills his."
But Kiyr was special to David. And that was annoying. He could try and take the high ground, but Mathew just saw it as David trying to shelter his side squeeze.
"Fact of the matter is Kiyr is a pretty tough girl. She can handle herself when dealing with big bad Mathew and his super mean lessons."
Totally ignoring Barker and his plans for now. This was important.
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Post by David B. on Oct 24, 2013 16:36:39 GMT -8
He rolled his eyes.
"Oh grow the fuck up. I don't care if she stiffens my dick either. How about I go and put a wonderful little burn on your wife, see how you take it. Oh wait, let me guess- she didn't give me control of her existence so thats different. Or she's my wife, so that's different. Or some other bullshit excuse, so that's different. Kiyr is a member of the Core, and your doing more to make us look less appealing to those still free by making her walk around naked with a burn and a boulder as punishment. She fucks up, beat it out of her. That's the way to make her strong, not burning her and devaluing her in front of our men."
He shook his head.
"You were just explaining to me about an image you need to maintain- those images speak volumes too, Matt. You know as well as I there are easier and better ways to teach. Stop trying to justify your actions as something more than what they are."
He left unsaid what they were...assuming Mathew was smart enough to grasp them.
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Post by Mathew Amtrum on Oct 25, 2013 9:01:17 GMT -8
"And you need to stop turning this little bitch fest personal. The only person you are complaining about me using my normal methods on is Kiyr. Yeah, I branded her, I punished her. And I would have been in my right to kill her. You say she is devalued in front of our men, and yet I give her a task force. Which has done a damn fine job so far. I have faith in the girl, and if she crumbles then she wasn't fit in the end."
Again, no problem for how he treated Rai. How Leon's apprentices are treated, or even the high death toll of Leon's apprentices. Instead he jumps to try and make it personal for him by dragging Bastille into it.
"As for the whole image thing. I never said the image I portrayed wasn't a harsh one."
He needed to make up his mind. He wants Mathew to be a leader, to be him because he did it better. But he didn't want him to do it the Mathew way.
"This is clearly a personal issue for you. And that's your fucking problem. So let me ask you a question right now and lets solve this."
He paused a moment as he moved closer to David. It was stare down time.
"Do you speak for Kiyr? Because if not then you need to drop the issue. I don't go butting into what you do with your apprentices or whatever personal training you give to people."
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