(( Original source: plasticdynasty​ ))

Do you think that you’re a good person?

‘I… I ain’ so sure tha’s some’at for me to answer. I tries to be, and I means to be, but I ain’ sure I can judge tha’.’

Do others like you? Do you want others to like you?

‘There seems to be others wha’ likes me, aye. An’ yes, I does. Don’ mos’ folks? I prob’ly worries too much abou’ tha’, if’n it come down to it.’

What do you think others like or admire about you?

The woman shrank in on herself, chewing on her lip nervously. ‘I… I dunno. Tha’s stupid, ‘cause they tries to tell me… but I jus’ don’ get it. I tries to be nice ‘nough to folks, an’ all… but tha’ don’ seem to be it, really. So… I really don’ know.’

How do you know when you’re in love? (romantic or platonic)

She shook her head with a soft, amused huff. ‘Well, there be kinds o’ lovin’, an’ there be times when infatuation be took f’ love. I wouldn’ say I’s always been very good tha’ distinction, neither. If’n the feelin’s be lastin’ even after gettin’ to know their faults, an’ be based on ‘ow we in’eracts an’ not jus’ on … well, feelin’s brung by ‘ow wants to feel, then starts to call it real. An’ I knows tha’s only sor’ of a answer, but… it ain’ some’at I measures, jus’ some’at I knows.’

Would you or have you ever killed? What would drive you to kill?

‘The firs’ official job I ‘ad were killin’ – on be’alf o’ the Seraph. They c’vinced me tha’ we was savin’ more lives ‘n we was takin’. An’ they was right, best as I can tell even knowin’ more now ‘n I used to. An’ tha’ purty well be wha’ drive me to it – self-defence, or defence of innocents.’

Do you think that killing is ever justified?

She started to roll her eyes, but cut it short as she gave the question more thought. ‘If’n I din’ just answer tha’ for y’… then wha’ does y’ mean by “jus’ified”? I don’ ‘old wi’ them wha’ says there be a difference ‘tween knowin’ inaction an’ action. Choosin’ be a action in an’ of itself. So, it be “jus’ified” by bein’ the leas’ evil option f’ me to choose. Don’ mean I’s sayin’ it been good any time I’s done it – jus’ tha’ m’ other options was even worse.’

Have you ever done anything that you feel to be very morally wrong?

‘Mmm, “very”? I’s done thin’s wha’ bothered me, ‘specially later when m’ understandin’ o’ the consequences was better… but other’n the killin’ we’s a’ready talked abou’, I wouldn’ go wi’ “very” wrong. Far more choices o’ lesser evils ‘n I’d like, even so.’

Should all people be treated as equal, and have the same rights?

A bitter laugh escaped her as she shook her head in disbelief. ‘Now, tha’s a wonderful pipe dream, ain’ it? Don’ matter wha’ I reckons “should” be, it ain’ never goin’ ‘appen. An’ then we gets into who means wha’ when they says “people”, anyways. An’ ‘ow does y’ deal wi’ them wha’ refuses to be respectin’ tha’ kinda rule? Does thiefs an’ mass murders go’ the same rights to walk aroun’ town as ever’one else? People ain’ never goin’ be’ave the way I thinks they “should”, an’ tha’ ‘specially true when it come to accordin’ others their “rights”. Don’ matter wha’ I thinks “should” be.’

If you committed a crime, would you accept punishment willingly?

She shook her head with a short, exasperated sigh. ‘Who said it were a crime? An’ why is I bein’ punished, ‘stead o’ whoever set thin’s up for the crime to be done? Keep in mind, I’s spent mos’ o’ my life in a situation o’ steal or starve, an’ the same laws wha’ says my stealin’ were a crime is wha’ lef’ me no other choice. So long as the situation be rigged tha’ way – no, I don’ gotta meekly play by them rules. Now, if’n the situation be fair, an’ I still done some’at wrong? If’n the rest o’ the situation be fair, too – trials an’ judgmen’ an’ punishmen’ all bein’ fairly applied? Then… then yes. Don’ reckon I’s like to see such a fair situation, though.’

Is suicide ever the right choice?

She settled back against the pillar, sucking on her lower lip and absently nibbling on it. The muscles around her eyes twitched as she seemed to be looking at changing vistas in the air, finally focussing her gaze on her questioner again. ‘I reckons there be times when it be, though they’s fewer’n a lot o’ folks seems to think. Mos’ folks wha’ kills ‘emselfs, or tries to, go’ a problem or two wha’ be overwhelmin’ to ‘em, bu’ they coulda ‘ad ‘elp with. They prob’ly din’ know tha’, or even know it were ‘elpable – I’s been there, an’ I knows ‘ow ‘opeless thin’s can look from tha’ side. I jus’ weren’ ver’ good at dyin’.’ She sighed, fidgeting a bit and shaking her head at her memories.

‘Anyways, the times I sees where it migh’ be the righ’ answer be where y’ can be sure tha’ the situation be ‘opeless. Even then, there be fewer ‘n there migh’ seem to be, though there sitations where I wouldn’ blame someone for jus’ not bein’ able to go on. S’posin’ I’s a captive, bein’ ‘eld to be tortured in fron’ o’ someone wha’ care abou’ me, to pressure ‘em into doin’ some’at wi’ worse consequences ‘n my death, though – an’ I knows tha’ the only way aroun’ tha’ be t’ die afore I can be used tha’ way? Tha’s a situation where, unlike when I wen’ off to try an’ die in Orr, I’d be in m’ righ’ mind an’ makin’ a rational evaluation, an’ suicide jus’ migh’ be the “righ’” choice. O’ course, we’s back to “less bad”, an’ no’ “good”.’

Is euthanasia ever the right choice?

‘After ‘ow limited I thinks suicide be for tha’….’ She huffed in what might have been amusement. ‘Takin’ tha’ to makin’ tha’ choice for another person, ‘stead o’ leavin’ it up to them? If’n tha’s wha’ y’ means, I gotta say no. I can think o’ situations where ‘elpin’ someone die be … less wrong, again. But makin’ tha’ decision for someone else? No.’

She heaved a sigh as she shifted her stance against the pillar again. ‘Now, if’n y’ means to include animals in tha’ question, too… tha’s a li’l ‘arder. People can understan’ tha’ ‘ealers migh’ figger out ‘ow to fix thin’s in the future, an’ make their own informed decisions. M’ cat, or worse a dog, jus’ be lookin’ at y’ wi’ tha’ “make it better” pleadin’ in their eyes, an’ don’ understan’ such thin’s. Then… I don’ reckon I could call it righ’ for me, but I ain’ goin’ judge other folks if’n they comes to a differen’ answer.’

Is it right to have an intimate relationship with somebody you don’t love?

She blinked, tilting her head to peer at the questioner. ‘I ain’ sure I understands tha’ question. ‘Ow do it be a relationship, an’ be intimate, an’ no’ ‘ave some kinda love involved?’ She sighed, running her fingers through her hair with her left hand. ‘Now, if’n y’s really askin’ abou’ differen’ expectations, an’ ‘specially when there be sex involved – tha’s different. My love life be too comp’cated a’ready, withou’ leadin’ anyone on an’ not makin’ my feelin’s clear, an’ the likely limits on ‘em. Messin’ wi’ someone else’s love – tha’s plain wrong.’

What could make you break your own moral code?

‘I’s only ‘uman – I ain’ no god. Time pressure, bein’ too shocked or angered… lots o’ thin’s ‘as got me screwin’ up over time. I jus’ tries to make it up as best I can, learn from it, an’ move on.’

Have you ever doubted your own beliefs? (Spiritual, philosophical)

‘All the time.’ She shook her head with a soft snort. ‘Well, the gods is a matter o’ ‘istory – but y’ gotta be careful o’ who wrote it down. ‘Sides tha’, though – the philosophical parts – I’s always re-evaluatin’ them in light o’ new thin’s I’s learnt.’

Would you always be loyal to your loved ones even if they wronged you?

‘Mm. Dependin’ on jus’ ‘ow they wronged me… migh’ prove I were lovin’ someone wha’ din’ exist – weren’ who the person really were.’ She shrugged. ‘Jus’ tryin’ to think through it. Even if’n it look tha’ bad, though, I’d be wantin’ to ask ‘em, or otherwise be sure, afore I give up on ‘em.’ Her head tilted a bit as she looked off into the distance. ‘In some scarred-up corner of my ‘eart, I even still loves Adilah – an’ I las’ seen ‘er threatenin’ to kill me. I reckons it take a lot o’ wrongin’ me t’ make me give up on someone.’

What would you consider a fate worse than death?

She tilted her head as she pondered that question. ‘Mos’ thin’s I can think of… there prob’ly be a way to fix, or migh’ be afore I’d die. So the kinds o’ injuries an’ such I thinks of… don’ really qualify. Mebbe bein’ trapped as a Inques’ ‘sperimen’ somewheres, wi’ evidence lef’ tha’ I’s dead to keep anyone from lookin’ for me. It’s funny, kinda… for all tha’ mos’ o’ m’ life I don’ really ‘ope f’ nothin’… but it come to some’at like tha’, an’ wha’ li’l bit o’ ‘ope there be in me won’ give up.’

Why do you love the person or people you love? (romantic or platonic)

‘Eh? ‘Cause they loves me, an’ the way they does fills needs I ‘as tha’ I din’ really know needed fillin’ afore their lovin’. When I ain’ so far in the dumps it don’ reach me after all, they makes me ‘appy. An’ even when I is tha’ far gone, they makes goin’ on livin’ easier.’ She shrugged. ‘Not a real sa’isfactory answer, mebbe, but it be a li’l better’n jus’ “’cause I loves ’em,” which be wha’ I almos’ said.’

Do you agree with capital punishment?

‘F’ all m’ talk o’ lesser evils an’ such regardin’ the times I’s killed… when it come to judicial sentencin’ an’ the like… who decides? I don’ trust ‘nough o’ the power structure t’ be applyin’ such principles fairly. So, no, I don’ agree wi’ capi’al punishment.’

Could you ever forgive your worst enemy?

‘Why is they m’ enemy, an’ is they still doin’ it? F’givin’ be foolish then – an’ worryin’ about a former enemy ain’ worth the skull-sweat. So, dependin’ on wha’ y’ means, tha’ migh’ be a yes in tha’ case.’

What would you like to achieve before you die?

She huffed. It was almost a chuckle, but it lacked the sound of amusement. ‘Dyin’ be easy. Livin’ be ‘ard. I used t’ figger tha’ beatin’ Zhaitan would be ‘nough. O’ course, the other dragons is still too active… an’ packin’ it in young an’ goin’ out in blaze o’ glory fightin’ the dragons be the easy way out. Oh, I’d still like t’ be part o’ beatin’ the dragons – but there also be cleanin’ up the mess after. An’ even tha’… a lot o’ others mebbe could do. But there be some friends an’ lovers I wants to make ‘appy – an’ I wants to manage t’ live for ’em, an’ no’ jus’ die for ’em. An’ I wants t’ leave Tyria a better place ‘n it were.’