[ Action, Written ] .052

[markofthebrave]

[Filtered 100 percent AWAY from: Sokka, Toph, Zuko, Yue, Suki, Shikamaru, Chouji, Ino, Shino, Naruto, Sasuke, Itachi, Trafalgar, Nami, Sanji, Luffy, Chopper, and anyone else she thinks might recognize her handwriting, despite the pains she's going to in order to disguise it, or show the journal to people she really doesn't want to see this - Raine and Temari and Iroh.

All replies will be written unless stated otherwise. The camera is obscured by a wrapped around piece of brown cloth.]

Do you think that there's such a thing as a power that is wrong, not because of how it's used, but just because of what it does?

[After staying holed up in her room with the door shut - quite an unusual break of habit for her - Katara decides to head into town. She wants to check out that night club that she'd heard about - she heard there would be music!

From there it's the usual errands, like the grocery store and the Item Shop. Dinner tonight will be Something Spicy, but she hasn't figured out what yet. Maybe it'll help get Sokka out of his funk.]

Comments

[Written/Filtered]

[mistlegacy]

It's hard to say, without knowing the specific power that you mean. Though anything that overrides free will is something I would avoid.

[Written/Filtered]

[markofthebrave]

[Yeah. That's what she thought.]

I'm not talking about a specific power. I was just wondering if people felt that there were some powers which were wrong. So you think that something which overrides free will is wrong?

written;filtered

[kakeravoyager.livejournal.com]

Any power can be a wrong power, but yes there are many powers that have less than favorable reasons for existing.

written;filtered

[markofthebrave]

[Any kind? She wonders what harm healing could do.

...then again. Healing to just be hurt over and over...]

What kinds of powers?

[action--at the nightclub]

[all7seas]

[This is simply a place Jack can go where Buffy isn't. He glances up when Sister of Thunderaxe enters and gives her a rather weak, drunken wave.]

Funny seeing you in this place, Sister of Thunderaxe, what with its lack of waterish whipping things.

[action--at the nightclub] 1/2

[markofthebrave]

[THAT NAME.

...oh great, he's drunk.]

[Written]

[whydidisaverick.livejournal.com]

[Well looks like this was filtered away from all my muses...

EXCEPT ONE.]

I've actually asked myself a similar question many times. And the answer that I eventually came to is no. I don't believe there is a power that exists that couldn't be used at one point to help or benefit someone or something. Even if it's only once in a life time.

[Written]

[markofthebrave]

So you think that because a power is being used to benefit somebody, that makes it all right?

[Written]

[skinnotmyown.livejournal.com]

[Oh, this thing allows for writing, too! That's nice. He still hates it, but that's nice.

Sorry, kiddo, he doesn't know how this filtering function works yet, though. Give him another day.]

Power is nothing more than power. Whether it is good or evil is a quality ascribed to it by those who experience it. It cannot of itself be right or wrong.

[Written]

[markofthebrave]

[Well, fortunately, his writing will be covered under her filter, so he's only out of luck if he wanted this to be a private discussion.]

That doesn't make any sense. For some power to be used, it has to be used on other people. Otherwise, it can't exist.

[written]

[frost_jewel]

I can think of many misuses of power, but...none that seem inherently wrong. From what I understand, power is there, to use or misuse as you will.

[written]

[markofthebrave]

What about power that overrides free will?

[She likes Rydia's turn of phrase, because it says exactly what she means to ask about in a way that she wouldn't say it.]

[Voice]

[no-use-running.livejournal.com]

No. The same power that can destroy, can save and heal and rebuild.

[ written ]

[markofthebrave]

Do you think that's always the case for all powers? And is that enough to make something right?

[markofthegod.livejournal.com]

[It's been a while now - she's not used to or even fond of this current situation, but she knows she hasn't been performing well and she knows that Katara is the on who was probably the most effected by it. With no idea what a brother is supposed to do, she's actually been sort of pulling at straws for it

Is it that she's not being sympathetic enough? Not being rude enough? She decides, eventually... it's probably both? Which is why when she takes note of Katara getting home from her errands and such, she goes to intercept in the kitchen. She decides what a "brother" would ask is-]

What's for dinner?

[markofthebrave]

[That is indeed a good brother-like question!]

I'm going to try a new recipe. Have you ever heard of fajitas?

[Written/Filtered]

[whatdeheckisdat]

A very good question. There are powers that, by mere virtue of existing, rip through time, destroy reality, and bend the truth, but that does not necessarily mean that they are wrong by principle.

I suppose my best answer would be that any power that alters the way one thinks is 'wrong'. Whether by bending someone to your will, or by manipulating their flaws or thoughts.

[Written/Filtered]

[markofthebrave]

[Oh, now this is interesting. She quite likes that he includes the manipulation in there. But she is not quite sure how to respond without giving more of the nature of her struggle away, so there will be a pause here.]

So then you think that a power which overrides free will is, by its nature, wrong?

[ever-deceptive.livejournal.com]

_{[Hm, that's an interesting question. So he'll jot down a reply in thin, neat script.]}

From what I have seen, any form of power is a tool. A tool has no inherent morality. It is the way you use it--how strongly, how often, in what context and to what end--that can be judged as right or wrong.

[markofthebrave]

[That's an image which it's easy to wrap her mind around, but it still doesn't quite - feel right.]

I think that would be easy to say for a lot of types of power, but I'm not sure that holds true for every kind.

[deathsdoctor]

[In the item shop there is a chest. One plain oak chest lying open. In it are the following items:

a marine sandglass
a chip log
a sounding line curled up neatly
a sextant
a bearing compass and a magnetic one.
a chronometer
paper, pencils, drafting supplies (straight edge, parallel rules, dividers)

There's the sound of someone going through items in the back. Never know what you can find in here, you know.]

[markofthebrave]

[Oh look, an open chest! I wonder what is inside of it?

Oooooooooooooh, marine equipment! Shiny.

As Katara is poking at it, she hears the sound of someone else in the store. Oh dear, maybe this chest belonged to someone?]

Hello?

[eyesofstrength]

[Someone else here is covering the camera in the journal, though not because he would hide from you, Katara. But because he wants to be sure someone else doesn't have the ability to recognize his handwriting at this time.]

As others have stated, power itself is a tool that can be used to hurt or to protect. And it is also very possible for someone to have good reasons, but use methods that hurt many to accomplish their goals.

In the end, right or wrong is determined by others after we act.

[markofthebrave]

[Oh, someone responded anonymously? That's interesting. But she isn't exactly in a position to judge.

...determined by others. That's very interesting, and certainly not something she's thought of before.]

"Determined by others?" What do you mean by that?

[Written // filtered]

[shadedsunlight]

What's wrong and right is subjective, but I believe powers cannot be wrong for simply what they do. Powers, abilities, weapons, they're all tools to be used for a purpose determined by the user.

[Written // filtered]

[markofthebrave]

What's right and wrong is not subjective. Murder is wrong. Slavery is wrong. Rape is wrong. Sometimes what's right and wrong can be hard to see, and sometimes I'm not sure if there is a clear right choice, but that doesn't mean that right and wrong don't exist.

And I'm not sure that you can say every kind of power is like a tool.

[Written|Filtered]

[derek-bliss.livejournal.com]

'Wrong' in what way? How they're used or by what they do?

[Written|Filtered]

[markofthebrave]

By what they do - by the nature of the power itself.

[Written]

[magnetbender.livejournal.com]

Powers are granted to those with superior genes. Those would would divide them into right and wrong are shortsighted.

[Written]

[markofthebrave]

[...all right, whoever you are, you have just reminded her of the Fire Nation with that word 'superior.' Negative 10 points.

And disregarding right and wrong altogether? Katara could never countence that. But just to make sure she understands what he's saying...]

What do you mean by that?

[written]

[halftheduet.livejournal.com]

[It's a curious question, but one he can answer after some thought.]

All power leads to abuse, inevitably.

[written]

[markofthebrave]

[OK. That's a very different answer. And... again, someone putting all power on the same level and making it all... bad?]

Why do you say that?

[written]

[inabook]

[A power that is wrong, just because of what it does...

"Insipid poison." It's been so long since she's heard Phaeroh's words, so long since she had to worry about them, but even now... she can understand. Weighing the drawbacks against the help she can bring... and the fear that it might not even be possible.]

I think... the important thing is what you do with the gifts you have. A sword can be used to kill or to protect. But, even as protection, the sword's nature is a tool to bring harm. It's up to the user to remember that... and to wield it in the most responsible manner.

[written]

[markofthebrave]

I understand what you're saying but... do you really think it's right to put all kinds of power on the same level? The things that they do are so different.

written; because we need more cr obviously.

[dragoneer]

[You know, he'd like a break from thinking about...things. Just for awhile. So he'll think about this instead.]

It depends on how you use it. Someone with a power that has potential to be harmful can find a way to make it useful for good.

[...Or sometimes they just use it harmfully. Like taking dragons that don't belong to them. B|]

written; obviously, I agree!

[markofthebrave]

So you think that it doesn't matter what the power is, as long as it's being used for a good reason?

[...a lot of people seem to think that.]

[Written/Filtered]

[fabrecation]

[Van being here just... makes Luke question this all the more. His own power is...

He hesitates for a long moment before he writes, and he almost wants to stop right there. But now that he's written it, he can't exactly get out of it.]

What kind of power are you talking about?

[Written/Filtered]

[markofthebrave]

[She will just make sure that this additional filter is completely private, then, since an honest answer to this question is one which might be more telling than she'd like.]

That's what I'm trying to figure out. I know what kind of powers make me uncomfortable, make me feel like they're... wrong, but there are people here who I think are good people who don't feel the same way.

[Written]

[de_bel_survivor]

As in what that power itself does?

[Written]

[markofthebrave]

Yes. Not in why it was being used or in what happened after someone used it, but just because it exists.

[Written/Filtered]

[beardpuddle.livejournal.com]

[He's only recently arrived, but seeing this entry in the journal caught his attention.]

There are very few powers that are truly evil, and even then, it is usually that those who wield them use that power for an evil purpose.

[Written/Filtered]

[markofthebrave]

[OK, that's interesting. At least someone is acknowledging that there can be bad powers.]

What kind of powers do you think are truly evil?

[Written]

[antlioncyclone.livejournal.com]

No.

[Written]

[markofthebrave]

[Well, that's pretty definitive.]

Why not?

[written/voice eventually?]

[pulls-it-back.livejournal.com]

I've been asking myself that for years.

[written/voice eventually - probably not for Katara, but if you want to switch, feel free!]

[markofthebrave]

Did you come to any kind of answer?

[Written/Filtered]

[wisebent.livejournal.com]

[He's been listening in on these, mostly out of curiosity and boring. He's got a sort of gist of what this mysterious person is trying to get at. He responds, using a pretty bland kind of handwriting, mostly because it's not easy to imitate Haruhi's. Like Katara, he keeps himself off screen.]

You seem to be pretty big on this free will thing. But I think you're kind of missing a big thing when it comes to powers. I mean, you can put someone in chains or give them some drugs that take away their free will. And that's bad. You can also kill someone with a sword or some special flashy power. In the end, does it even matter?

You don't have free will when you're dead. Just putting that out there.

[Written/Filtered]

[markofthebrave]

But people have a chance to fight back with those kinds of powers. There are powers that leave you alive but... make you completely helpless or change the nature of who you are. Everyone has the ability to kill someone else. Isn't this different?

( written; )

[magnifien.livejournal.com]

Yes.

[ that's exactly how caroline feels about some of her vampire-specific talents, especially the ability to turn someone into what she is. ]

( written; )

[markofthebrave]

What kinds of powers?