#Moral Code

[girl4music]

GABRIELLE: “I never thought I’d see this.”

XENA: “What?”

GABRIELLE: “You washing blood off my hands.”

XENA: “I never thought I’d see it either.”

The inclination for Xena to lie and fashion fantasies to save Gabrielle in ‘Legacy’ is something I could spend hours on thinking and writing about. Of course she won’t let Gabrielle near her if that’s what she plans to do because Gabrielle would outright refuse to lie. Her actions and choices - she knows she must own up to them. But Xena… Xena would spend eternity and the next serving the greater good in retribution for all her past sins… but not when it’s Gabrielle that has to pay for her own crimes. In that case she’ll go against the grain. She’ll even go against it if Gabrielle didn’t do it.

Because as she said… Gabrielle is more important to her than the greater good. Than her own moral code.

Mostly because she’s HER greater good. But also because she believes she doesn’t deserve to face any consequences to actions - even if they are her own.

And it wouldn’t make much sense for Gabrielle to be the opposite. To put Xena second. Only if it’s herself - which is something I feel like ‘Fallen Angel’ got wrong.

But this is it though. This is what it comes down to. This is why these final Season 6 episodes make sense.

The greater good is only put first if it’s themselves. Each other? Not a chance. Not even if it’s just once. You can’t make them pay for their crimes with each other. That’s something they will not allow to happen.

I’ve wrote about this extensively before but it bears repeating again. Xena and Gabrielle were true heroes. Meaning they weren’t about self-gain at any point. But first and foremost, they were heroes to each other and if for any reason one of them made a mistake or had a misstep somewhere in their actions, the other will do anything possible - regardless of how dangerous or even morally wrong it might be - just to save them.

Now ‘Legacy’ is interesting because obviously the audience is going to be on Gabrielle’s side just as Xena is. Not just out of bias but because they’ve seen the full picture of what happened. They see how much of an accident it was. But nevertheless, it was still going to be murder in the eyes of everyone else - even those that worshipped them and would be biased based on that alone - because they didn’t see the full picture.

They didn’t see that it was an accident and they wouldn’t take Gabrielle’s word for it that it was. So Xena feels she has to lie because how else could she ensure Gabrielle’s survival? And once Gabrielle tells them the truth, she feels she has to betray them all to the Romans. She doesn’t care about what’s morally right because it’s Gabrielle that’s caught in the fire.

Not her.

Then theres ‘AFIN’ where even though we, as the audience, know Gabrielle would do the same - it’s still shocking to actually hear her say it. That she doesn’t care about what’s morally right. Different situations and circumstances aside - it ultimately doesn’t matter about that because it’s Xena that’s caught in the fire.

Not her.

It’s like what I explained in that post talking about WayHaught and the trope of doing crazy things for love or doing the selfish or immoral things for love.

When you’re more important to each other than the greater good - you’re going to go against the greater good to save one another or to keep one another alive.

UNLESS the other requests or pleads for you to not to.

And this is the major striking difference with Xena.

Xena’s only stipulation to the moral code of serving the greater good is Gabrielle. That would be true even if Gabrielle herself requested it the way Xena did in ‘AFIN’. Not even Gabrielle’s choice would deter her from saving her or keeping her alive. From protecting her. Keeping her safe. And it’s up to you whether you consider that to be a good thing or not. I find it quite selfish because it makes Gabrielle seem more like a possession to Xena than regarded as an equal to her.

But that’s Xena. That’s how she operates. You see, she gives up her happiness in ‘AFIN’ in that she lets her go on without her. But only because she’s the dead one.

Were it Gabrielle that had to make that sacrifice.

Nope. It wouldn’t happen. And ‘Legacy’ proved it.

So ‘Legacy’ is interesting because it’s a compelling confliction they face and would own up to the consequences of - of which we know would only be true if it was themselves rather than each other. But even more so on behalf of their own request - of which Gabrielle acquiesced to. Xena did and would not have.

Was the show about the greater good? Mostly…

I’d rather put it as it was about the greater sacrifice because what’s good about sacrificing with your own end? And if there’s someone that goes beyond or above that for you,… how do you deal? Because you’re not sacrificing with YOUR end. You’re sacrificing with THEIRS. What if they specifically ask you to let them?

Do you ignore it? Or do you respect it? COMPELLING.

[take-a-dip-in-the-deadpool]

Villain: You wont kill me.

Hero: I wont?

Villain: No. You have a 'moral code' it keeps you weak. You cant do whats... necessary.

Hero *shoots villain in the gut*: You're right. I have a moral code.

Villain *in pain but smug*: I knew it.

Hero *puts gun in villains mouth*: But having a code doesnt mean I wont kill you. *pulls trigger* it just means I'll feel really bad about it later.

[chaptertwo-thepacnw]

[belladonna-ismyfavoritecriminal]

Ooc: A list of Belladonna's current morals and the reasonings she would give for them (but she may not be a reliable narrator in all cases)

Would

• Murder

• Sell drugs

• Extort people

• Create biological weapons

• Sell to the highest bidder

• Threaten

• Run a gang

• Steal from anyone who had what she wanted even charity

• Go to great lengths to get revenge

• Torture

Would rather not

• Reveal Obsession's identity - Doesn't want Obsession to reveal hers.

• Hurt kids -Do I look like I want Red Hood after me?

• Betray anyone in her gang

• Underpay or treat her workers poorly -honey catches more flies than vinegar

• Eat zucchini

Would never

• Help the Joker -but would help kill him.

• Sexually harm someone

[howifeltabouthim]

And could one tell such a story about a girl, especially if she asked you not to?

Iris Murdoch, from A Fairly Honourable Defeat

[neptunetiger33366]

Replaying Skyrim...

For whatever reason, I decided to start a new profile in Skyrim. I'm playing a Khajiit named Akuma (yes I know what that means, it'll make sense in a sec) that's designed to look like a black tiger. Akuma is Chaotic Lawful. Meaning he has a very strict moral code he never breaks (lawful), but it's so wild and generally strange that, from an outside perspective, he appears amoral and random (chaotic). To make roleplaying easier, I've decided to actually write down his moral code (I would like to emphasis that this is HIS code, not mine). Here it is:

Anyone that has saved your life, especially outside of necessity, is a "blood sibling."

Never betray a blood sibling for any reason.

Just become someone is a friend or has protected you doesn't make them a blood sibling.

Children and (non hostile) animals aren't targets (hunting for food is an exception).

Animals show the purest form of love/loyalty. Do not prove them wrong to trust you. Protect your animals at all costs.

When possible, be kind to the vulnerable (animals, children, the elderly, the ill, etc).

Don't put yourself out to help others unless it will benefit you somehow (emotional gratification counts).

You come first and foremost. Do whatever it takes to keep yourself alive, well, and happy. (See rules 2 and 5 for possible exceptions.)

If you want something done right, do it yourself.

Never expect someone to do something you wouldn't do yourself (there's a difference between can't and won't).

Power and knowledge are both useless unless balanced by the other. Study both blade and book.

Healing, even in battle, is not cowardly. Restoration magic is the tool of a survivor.

Be willing to admit you don't know everything. There are people more knowledgeable than you. Learn from them.

You don't owe anyone anything just because of who or what they are. This includes kings and gods.

You owe no one your life.

Liars keep lying and thieves keep stealing. Second chances are often wasted and come at a cost.

Don't take sides in conflicts that don't include you (see rule 6 for possible exceptions).

Mercy is the tool of backstabbers. Show none.

Power comes at a cost, but so does weakness.

Don't be afraid of the dark and its temptations. Good and evil are constructs.

Things are often not what they appear. Trust your instincts and don't be afraid to ask questions.

There's probably more to it and nuances I didn't think of while writing, but I think that gives the concept of Akuma. He's very loyal to those he deems worthy, but that's a rarity. He isn't afraid to betray bothered by betraying anyone (aside from blood siblings). He's a more selfish character that puts himself above others. If something "evil" benefits him more than "good," why should he do the "good" thing?

This will be a fun run for me because I usually end up with characters on the good or at worse morally grey scale. It's rare for me to get into a true darker character and this code is gonna be so fun to work with.

[flicker-of-lamp-light]

*ominous chanting* RETURN THE CART. RETURN THE CART. RETURN THE CART. RETURN THE CART. RETURN THE CART. RETURN THE CART.

[alexwesterman]

What I Learned From a Quaker Education (And Why It Matters After My Divorce)

What I Learned From a Quaker Education (And Why It Matters Now More Than Ever) I want to tell you what I learned from a Quaker education, but first, you should know I’m not a Quaker. I’m a Jewish man, now in my 50s, who spent his teenage years at George School, a Quaker boarding school in Pennsylvania. And as I navigate the raw aftermath of my husband handing me divorce papers, ending our…

[box-corner]

"B- but killing them makes you just as baaaad"

"Uhm.. forget me if I'm wrong, but where does it say that taking their life equals the same negative karma they have ever acquired throughout their entire existance? Or is this some sort of highlander system?"

"Y-you'll fall down a path of daaaarkness"

"Again, citation needed, are we just going to assume that all lives taken for ANY reason immediately taint a soul forever? Cause sure, this might change me, but what enforces that this change is permanent and also damning?"

"I-if you do it, I won't be able to recognize you aaanymore!"

"What? do you have some sort of amnesiac trigger when in the presence of death? Sure I might not be identical after I kill them, but at the same time, when is anyone exactly the same from the last time you met them?"

"B-but they didn't-"

"Not done, people change. Sometimes for better or worse depending on what your principles are, but they are never the same. life happens, things happen, the me you met on the start of this journey is certainly not who I am today, and neither are you."

"..."

"Anything else?"

"Killing is wrooooong"

"Alright, first off, we killed TONS of their minions just to get here, so having qualms about that NOW OF ALL TIMES is extremely hypocritical. Second: killing in self-defense is certainly seen as ok if you don't have better options, and so is putting down a legacy to ensure that their life doesn't draw further support from followers."

"but it's gonna raise the age rating"

"Fuck that, just put a disclaimer at the beginning of the episode"

[nfumbewalk]

Yerp, my thoughts exactly...

[glitter-gurl]

Moral Code

7-30-2022

[lucifermurdock]

2 Epic Code For a Genuine Unique Person

Daily writing promptWhich aspects do you think makes a person unique?View all responses So What Makes a Person Unique? Spoiler: Not Their Abs. Six-pack abs?Nope. That’s not unique. That’s a gym subscription, protein powder, and a “No cheat day” attitude wrapped in tight compression wear. If having a six-pack made you unique, every Marvel superhero would be a philosopher.But guess what?They’re…

[beif0ngs]

in another life, in another time, in another universe...

[mymusic-is-too-loud]

[ogeneraloito]

interesting how fords been surrounded by triangles his entire life. looks like ford and bill were always doomed to meet each other

ford did seem to think that he is destined to be in gravity falls, destined to be part of greater things, and bill also thought he was "destined for so much more"

to quote on alex, "that's ford's great flaw, is arrogance. is he believes that there's special people, and everyone else. that human attachments are actually weaknesses. and the song and dance that he’s giving dipper right now, is the song and dance that he gave mcgucket, back when they were younger… ‘you and me are different, we’re better than everyone else. we have a path that no one else can understand, and only us can do this.’"

i think at some point bill really thought ford was the one that UNDERSTOOD him (well, ford did think "why did rudolph not simply kill the other reindeer? he shouldve burned his workshop to the ground"). some of his henchmaniacs didnt seem to actually like bill at all

quick edit for something ive found:

this is from "dreamscaperers", and apparently ford had been dreaming about the cipher wheel for weeks before he even found the cave. enough times that he was even able to perfectly draw the wheel on the journal. bill didnt even know about ford yet.

[gentlemenstandard]

Living Your Best Life - Self-acceptance

Years ago, an individual thought it was proper to mock my lifestyle because I don’t drink alcohol, I don’t smoke, and I don’t really attend large social gatherings often. I am somewhat of an introvert, and I would rather enjoy my own company along with a select few friends and family. My assumption is my lifestyle would be classified as “square”. I was being harshly judged and roundly ridiculed.…