Oh, heavens no. I quite enjoy my own monarchy, thank you very much.
[ Claude laughs as though he's made a very funny joke. He's not actually opposed to democracy and has in fact been considering how best to implement it, but his population needs a little more work before they can be trusted with that.
Very paternalistic of him. He doesn't care. ]
You wouldn't be so bad at it, though. I certainly trust your common sense. In that you've actually got some. I do think our leadership ought to be voted on... though I have very little trust that they would make a responsible decision for themselves.
[ Ange seems to consider it for a moment, before saying: ]
It'd just turn into a popularity contest in this sort of place. [ Partially because she agrees with them. There are some people here who really like thinking about things, but.. there are also some people who indeed seem to lack any common sense whatsoever.
Would those people really think through what someone who would want to be a leader here has to offer? Probably not. ]
They would only think about whether they like the person they're voting for or not. And I guess that's always part of it [ - Ange Ushiromiya would never vote for someone she dislikes, even if they'd be the most suited for the job, sue her - ] it's not supposed to be the whole story.
[ .. she sighs. ]
Hey, Claude, do you think you're popular enough? You're a pretty popular guy, right? I prefer not having a leader here at all, but if it would become inevitable at some point, I need to make sure it doesn't end up being some idiot.
I'd be shocked if that wasn't the case even in functional democracies, [ Claude points out, a pensive lilt to his voice. Still, the appeal to his popularity makes him smile; she can probably hear it even just over the phone. ]
I think I'm too good at my job to be popular, [ he says bluntly. ] I certainly wouldn't be popular after they heard me open my big mouth about the kinds of things I'd want to change! Not that I don't appreciate your confidence in me. I do! But popularity's never been my strong suit.
Maybe Ethlyn could do something. Nothing like a lady sewing you up to engender a certain level of faith in her.
.. you know, that's actually not a bad suggestion.
[ Which shouldn't be a surprise, since Ange does think Claude is generally smart. Other than when it comes to a few very specific things. But still!! ]
I mean, who could dislike Ethlyn? And she's one of the very few people in this place I would trust with something like that. There's no way she'd be all weird and power hungry about it.
In a just world, she would have been Queen of her land for many, many years. She's been trained to govern through thick and through thin, has led her people through wartime, has run our sole Clinic out of nothing but grit and the goodness of her own heart, and has the sort of grasp on organization that most people could never grasp.
[ It doesn't sound like he's praising a friend, the way he says it. It sounds more like he's assessing a political candidate's objective strengths. ]
She'd make a fine ruler, if it came to that. And I'd think she'd garner plenty of votes, don't you? She's stitched up half of our population, and she's sweet as pie. [ There's a smile in his voice. ] On the surface, anyway. We're all our best selves after a glass of wine.
And with the two of us on her side, how could she possibly lose?
[ Maybe because she hasn't signed up for this!!!!!!!! ]
[ You would think that the first thing Ange would pick up on here is the fact that they are absolutely hypothetically volunteering a friend who may not be up for this idea whatsoever, no matter how hypothetical.
And yet that's not what comes out of her mouth. No, that's instead-- ]
Us two? With that kind of talk, it's clear that you are going to be her campaign coordinator. [ Please, Claude. You're already talking like one. It's always at moments like these that Ange realizes just how seriously Claude takes politics-- a topic Ange had never even really thought of in her life up until this place and these very specific circumstances. ] I don't think there's much left for me to do in that scenario.
[ It sounds like Claude has got everything covered already, honestly!! ]
Come now, Ange, don't underestimate yourself! There would be plenty for you to do. People know and like you too, you know, and you can reach the -- the youth vote in ways I can't!
[ Probably. Claude has no idea. Would what he has to say even appeal to anyone? ]
You're the one who came to me worried in the first place, so clearly you're more civic-minded than you might think.
[ ...sorry, Ange. He cares a lot about politics - too much, really - and he's going to drag you down with him, kicking and screaming if he has to. ]
Correction: I'm more refuse-to-tolerate-annoying-people-in-positions-of-power than you think.
[ It's a crucial difference to her, okay. Ange doesn't care about politics whatsoever until it's going to personally annoy her. And this feels like the sort of thing that could start to personally annoy her in ways real soon!
Though that's not the main point here. No, the correction is important, but not quite as important as asking: ]
Besides, why are you saying youth vote like you're some sort of grandfather? [ You're hardly older than her, Claude!!
Sure, even Ange views him as older than her, rather than on the same level as her, age-wise. But.. you know. Not that old. Not old enough that he should be at this weird how do you do, fellow kids level. ]
Good. We can partake in a little light assassination, should the need take us. Joking, joking!
[ ...kind of. There's nobody here he'd assassinate, but it's not out of the question should things lapse into a dictatorship, which probably won't happen considering the general temperament of the Chosen. They'd rather burn the whole damn city down than to answer to even the most well-meaning and well-founded orders. ]
And I'm saying it because you actually hang out with them, don't you? The only ones who talk to me are the ones who work for me! And I'm pretty sure they all think I'm at least thirty.
Yeah, it's weird that they would think you're thirty when you're actually a fifty-five year old man.
[ She likes Claude. It's just also very easy to make fun of him in this regard, especially when he's only confirming the stereotype as he's speaking! He practically put the ball right in front of the goal for her, and she just had to shoot it in there! ]
No wonder you act like the other people my age around here are an alien species. Are you sure you do like talking to a youthful girl like me, or am I just a convenient person to discuss politics with? [ This is not a genuine concern, okay, Claude, she's just being dumb and deadpan!!! ]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2025-02-21 03:57 am (UTC)[ Claude laughs as though he's made a very funny joke. He's not actually opposed to democracy and has in fact been considering how best to implement it, but his population needs a little more work before they can be trusted with that.
Very paternalistic of him. He doesn't care. ]
You wouldn't be so bad at it, though. I certainly trust your common sense. In that you've actually got some. I do think our leadership ought to be voted on... though I have very little trust that they would make a responsible decision for themselves.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-01 05:06 pm (UTC)It'd just turn into a popularity contest in this sort of place. [ Partially because she agrees with them. There are some people here who really like thinking about things, but.. there are also some people who indeed seem to lack any common sense whatsoever.
Would those people really think through what someone who would want to be a leader here has to offer? Probably not. ]
They would only think about whether they like the person they're voting for or not. And I guess that's always part of it [ - Ange Ushiromiya would never vote for someone she dislikes, even if they'd be the most suited for the job, sue her - ] it's not supposed to be the whole story.
[ .. she sighs. ]
Hey, Claude, do you think you're popular enough? You're a pretty popular guy, right? I prefer not having a leader here at all, but if it would become inevitable at some point, I need to make sure it doesn't end up being some idiot.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-11 02:36 am (UTC)I think I'm too good at my job to be popular, [ he says bluntly. ] I certainly wouldn't be popular after they heard me open my big mouth about the kinds of things I'd want to change! Not that I don't appreciate your confidence in me. I do! But popularity's never been my strong suit.
Maybe Ethlyn could do something. Nothing like a lady sewing you up to engender a certain level of faith in her.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-13 02:46 pm (UTC)[ Which shouldn't be a surprise, since Ange does think Claude is generally smart. Other than when it comes to a few very specific things. But still!! ]
I mean, who could dislike Ethlyn? And she's one of the very few people in this place I would trust with something like that. There's no way she'd be all weird and power hungry about it.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-17 09:00 am (UTC)[ It doesn't sound like he's praising a friend, the way he says it. It sounds more like he's assessing a political candidate's objective strengths. ]
She'd make a fine ruler, if it came to that. And I'd think she'd garner plenty of votes, don't you? She's stitched up half of our population, and she's sweet as pie. [ There's a smile in his voice. ] On the surface, anyway. We're all our best selves after a glass of wine.
And with the two of us on her side, how could she possibly lose?
[ Maybe because she hasn't signed up for this!!!!!!!! ]
no subject
Date: 2025-03-24 06:12 pm (UTC)And yet that's not what comes out of her mouth. No, that's instead-- ]
Us two? With that kind of talk, it's clear that you are going to be her campaign coordinator. [ Please, Claude. You're already talking like one. It's always at moments like these that Ange realizes just how seriously Claude takes politics-- a topic Ange had never even really thought of in her life up until this place and these very specific circumstances. ] I don't think there's much left for me to do in that scenario.
[ It sounds like Claude has got everything covered already, honestly!! ]
no subject
Date: 2025-03-26 02:15 am (UTC)[ Probably. Claude has no idea. Would what he has to say even appeal to anyone? ]
You're the one who came to me worried in the first place, so clearly you're more civic-minded than you might think.
[ ...sorry, Ange. He cares a lot about politics - too much, really - and he's going to drag you down with him, kicking and screaming if he has to. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-03-30 07:45 pm (UTC)[ It's a crucial difference to her, okay. Ange doesn't care about politics whatsoever until it's going to personally annoy her. And this feels like the sort of thing that could start to personally annoy her in ways real soon!
Though that's not the main point here. No, the correction is important, but not quite as important as asking: ]
Besides, why are you saying youth vote like you're some sort of grandfather? [ You're hardly older than her, Claude!!
Sure, even Ange views him as older than her, rather than on the same level as her, age-wise. But.. you know. Not that old. Not old enough that he should be at this weird how do you do, fellow kids level. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-04-10 01:04 am (UTC)[ ...kind of. There's nobody here he'd assassinate, but it's not out of the question should things lapse into a dictatorship, which probably won't happen considering the general temperament of the Chosen. They'd rather burn the whole damn city down than to answer to even the most well-meaning and well-founded orders. ]
And I'm saying it because you actually hang out with them, don't you? The only ones who talk to me are the ones who work for me! And I'm pretty sure they all think I'm at least thirty.
[ He sniffs. ]
It's my dignified composure, I'm telling you.
no subject
Date: 2025-04-11 06:27 pm (UTC)Yeah, it's weird that they would think you're thirty when you're actually a fifty-five year old man.
[ She likes Claude. It's just also very easy to make fun of him in this regard, especially when he's only confirming the stereotype as he's speaking! He practically put the ball right in front of the goal for her, and she just had to shoot it in there! ]
No wonder you act like the other people my age around here are an alien species. Are you sure you do like talking to a youthful girl like me, or am I just a convenient person to discuss politics with? [ This is not a genuine concern, okay, Claude, she's just being dumb and deadpan!!! ]