THIRD ORDER ♛ ANONYMOUS TEXT

[decrees]

[Logan has been the King of Albion for twelve years. His reign is at an end, however - his sister staged a coup and will take the throne as soon as he returns to Albion. Logan isn't upset with her - if anything, he's relieved that he no longer has to deal with everything. He's relieved that he doesn't have to face down the threat of incoming darkness - a threat he's known about for four years and hasn't been able to stop. He's confident that his sister can handle the throne, but it isn't a position he ever would have wanted to put her in. He does care about her in his own stunted way, after all.

It's been nearly eleven years since Logan's mother, the previous Queen, died. She was the one who united Albion under a monarchy and ruled for fifty years of peace and prosperity. Yes, there were issues - any country with 6.5 million people is bound to have them - but she handled them all as best she could and will most likely go down in history as a benevolent, wonderful monarch. She would be disappointed in him; Logan's positive of that much. He started his rule as a monarch dedicated to his people, but circumstances drove him to become a tyrant.

He's spent the day being far more subdued than usual, keeping to himself and occasionally examining the 'Gear, but it takes hours for Logan to finally get up the courage to actually post to the network, even anonymously. He's adapted to this world far better than he ever thought he would, and now that he has adapted, he's finding that he rather likes Johto. He doesn't have the same responsibilities and expectations placed on him. He's free. It's not something he ever would have thought he wanted back home, but it's something he's finding that he's desperately needed this entire time.]

How do you deal with failure? How do you deal with not living up to the expectations set for you?

I believe there are some monarchs or rulers here. How do you deal with the people of your nation despising you for what you've done, even if what you've done was for their own good?

[...He's kind of the most obvious anon. Just let him pretend, alright.]

Comments

[text]

[neurotoxined]

[...she is never going to understand how humans work.]

I'm going to guess this is only relevant because you've already messed up really, really badly. At which point you're already dealing with it. Just probably not very well. And if you're going to ask someone else to tell you how to deal with your own failures because you can't figure it out yourself, you're making me wonder how good a ruler you are. But I'll humor you. For now.

Can't you just tell them it was for their own good?

[anonymous text]

[decrees]

[Ouch, that was harsh... He'll just ignore that first part, alright?]

Unfortunately not. They wouldn't believe me. It sounds completely impossible, but it is what's happening.

[text forever]

[neurotoxined]

[What. Wow. Are you dumb?]

It doesn't sound completely impossible. It sounds stupid. Tell them that it was for their own good and move on. What difference does it make if they believe you?

[anonymous text forever!]

[decrees]

They would have me removed from my position and would be ill-prepared to face what's coming. I cannot leave them in that situation.

[kingbowser]

my minions just deal with it! they're far too loyal to complain to ME.

as for those mushroom kingdom morons who defy my reign, they whimper and cry while their heroic nuisance of a plumber rushes in to ruin our fun

and if i fail, i just come up with better plans like becoming invincible and stealing all the world's wishes. it's stupid to sulk over your screw-ups, anyway!

[decrees]

[...what did he just read...

First of all, you're calling your subjects "minions" which is just disrespectful and sort of screams HEY I'M A VILLAIN. Then there's something about a plumber being a hero? And your "better plans" involve stealing all the world's wishes.

...Good sir, he has no idea how to respond to any of this, hang on.]

You certainly sound determined. I do understand that there is no point in dwelling on mistakes, but there's little else I can do in this world.

[kingbowser]

[If there's one thing Bowser lacks, it's subtlety. He's probably one of the most open-book villains in the Pokémon world, barring perhaps Cobra.

And man, this guy sure sounds melodramatic.]

of course i'm determined! you won't accomplish anything without raw determination

and can't you do something constructive if the past's bugging you? take lemons those and make lemonade!

[decrees]

[He's kind of the reigning king of being a melodramatic little shit, nbd...]

I'm not sure what to do that would be considered constructive. From what I've heard, I won't remember anything that happens here when I return home, so even making plans won't be of any use.

[text]

[newberktown]

It's not so hard, when you get enough practice in that area. I actually became an expert at failing or disappointing others. Eventually when they get so used to you failing, it really makes your successes stand out and they'll be much more impressed.

[Clearly that was the best advice.

...Or maybe not.]

What you should really do is focus on what you're good at, especially if you really are doing it for the good of others. They should realize it eventually.

[anonymous text]

[decrees]

[...good lord, that is just depressing...]

I suppose that's good advice. I don't have much else I can do here, unfortunately. Thank you. Has it worked for you?

[newberktown]

[...Uh. Well.]

People can come up with positive things to say about me, now. [Mostly.] But with my track record, it did take fifteen years.

[And, you know, him almost dying.]

[decrees]

That's unfortunate. I'm certain they managed to overlook your better qualities.

[...Somehow. No really, fifteen years? That's just depressing.]

[video]

[paladinlost]

[See, normally he doesn't advertise the whole 'king' thing, but for a question like that...]

Would that be the people as a whole, or only a group that despises you for a decision that more overtly benefitted others?

[anonymous text]

[decrees]

The people as a whole. There are very few who do not hate me for the decisions I've made. Everything I have done was to protect them, but it wasn't something I could tell them; they wouldn't have believed me about the threat that we face.

[video]

[paladinlost]

Why are you so certain they would not? If you knew of that threat, surely there must be physical proof or testimony that would have convinced others, even if not everyone. Every single person who believes becomes an advantage.

[pretentions]

I'm neither a monarch nor a ruler; however, I understand situations where failure isn't an option, as well as being faced with expectations that seem difficult, if not impossible to meet.

Is this an immediate life-or-death situation for those you lead?

[decrees]

We have one year until the attack. If we aren't prepared for it then my nation will be destroyed.

[pretentions]

Is it a pure either/or? That is to say, are you expected to save everyone or no one - are those the only two options?

[text]

[atrueheroine]

[[................................

You're not quite as obvious as you think, Logan, but Page is perceptive enough to sniff you out. At least, she's 80% sure it's you. What are you even doing?

She won't bother with the anonymous feature.]]

Depends on how badly you failed to meet expectations, and the level you sunk to.

How far did you sink?

[anonymous text]

[decrees]

[ALKMEKRNK THERE'S A REASON WHY HE WENT ANONYMOUS HERE

HE WAS HOPING YOU AND REAVER WOULD LEAVE HIM ALONE

Ugh, fine, whatever, hopefully Page doesn't realize it's him.]

The expectations place on me should have been easily enough to reach. Unfortunately, circumstances forced me to take drastic measures to ensure the survival of my country. I have sunk much lower than I ever would have wanted. There is a reason that the people hate me, and I fully understand why.

[text]

[atrueheroine]

[[WOW BRO DON'T YOU DARE LUMP HER INTO THE SAME CATEGORY AS REAVER SHE IS FAR MORE PLEA...SANT....

....

she's better than Reaver]]

What sort of circumstances could force you to make decisions like that? That is, presuming, that you were a decent king in the past. Or at least not hated.

[[Hey, if it is you, maybe she can get some deets.]]

[text]

[usedsuperpower]

I do not fail.

[anonymous text]

[decrees]

You have never failed before?

[anonymous text]

[usedsuperpower]

Never.

[text]

[failures]

I can't answer the expectations part cause I'm trying to figure that out myself, but uh. If I fail at one thing, I try something else. I figure there's something out there I don't suck at, you know?

Though I don't think you can just stop being a ruler, huh? Did you tell them it's for their own good?