Tutoring Request | VIDEO | OPEN

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Type: Video
Sender ID: forgeabettertomorrow | (Darin Altway)
To: Everyone
Subject: Darin needs some added perspective for his studies
Warnings: He's stupid

[Darin pulls back from the camera sitting at a drafting table in his home. However, instead of blueprints and sketches and diagrams, things you'd normally see on his drafting table and workstation, there's...an awful lot of textbooks. Darin reaches up and pulls the small pair of reading glasses from his face and pinches the bridge of his nose. No, he's not wearing them for show, he actually does wear reading glasses when he needs them.]

Okay, this is going to sound really really weird coming from me but...I guess I could use some help.

Does anyone understand how like...government works? Like, at all? Because it seems like a whole bunch of rules and guidelines that should be common sense until they aren't and the more I read, the more I feel like I've either understood this my entire life or I'm going crazy.

Plus? I never went to school so...anyone up for a spirited debate? Something? Anything? If I spend anymore time reading I think I might eat the next book.

Comments

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Maybe Emet was expecting Darin to give a self-assured confirmation. That he will never waiver on his ideals and that his path is guaranteed. But that's not the road that Darin takes. As ever, Darin forges his own path, veering off from the well-trodden avenues of those he seeks to aspire to.]

[He doesn't meet Emet's request with an abundance of confidence. He tilts his head, like a puppy, as if Emet's words hit his ear strangely. In fact, they had.]

...Why do you think your opinion matters little? I really enjoyed this talk.

We might not have agreed but...your perspective helped me solidify my own. I wouldn't have come to those conclusions if not for you.

...Every perspective matters, Emet. If it didn't, then...we'd just wind up with the types of leaders we're fighting so hard to avoid. Leaders who can't see beyond the ends of their own noses. So...even if we disagree, I'd always be happy to hear about the things you've seen that I haven't.

[emet_sulk]

[ He frowns slightly. But it's a perplexed frown, not a disapproving one. This is certainly not the typical response he receives when discussing this sort of topic. Most people assert their view (in opposition to his) and leave it at that. Or, well, attack him in the literal sense.

But thinking about it a little more, he realises that at some point he'd become one of those leaders Darin mentions: the sort who can't see beyond the ends of their own noses. Not out of wilful ignorance but tired adherence to duty. The stubbornness which characterises him had been tempered in days of yore when they had a full council to debate matters amongst. But left on his own, how could he do anything but rely upon his own judgements? ]

...Well, [ he says after a pause, ] if you feel the ramblings of an old man have value then I will advise as needed. Mayhap you can avoid making novice mistakes should you ever find yourself in a position to govern.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin laughs sheepishly.]

I think I'd make a terrible leader. I like to make my own mistakes but when other people's lives are on the line, I can't really afford myself that luxury.

But I'll take you up on your offer. A good debate is the best thing to get the brain gears turning.

[emet_sulk]

My people had a debate hall for precisely such a purpose. But I doubt such a place would be of any use here.

...I understand as well the burden of having people's lives in your hands, knowing the choices you make will decide their fates. Sometimes we do not have the luxury of avoiding such responsibility however.