Conversation · Sunday Friend

"Sounds like you're a moralist indeed, my friend. Welcome."

"I don't think I'm a moralist. Moralism sounds incredibly boring. I want more action."

"Do you think peace is boring? What about prosperity?"

"No, prosperity sounds like a lot of fun."

"I agree. And we as an international community should strive to bring this prosperity to every kid on every isola."

The smile he gives you is straight off a campaign poster, the kind of smile focus group-tested to appeal to the most gullible swathe of the electorate.

"Yeah, that shit sounds like a snooze-fest."

"My friend, that is only because you have never known the alternative. And I pray you never do."

"No, peace sounds pretty good."

"Exactly. I don't find it boring, I find it fulfilling. Peace is what allows me to have my morning coffee, my afternoon golf, my sundown friends."

"Moralism is the ideology of foreign occupiers. Revachol must be governed by Revacholians!"

The lieutenant clears his throat. "Of course, the detective's personal views do not represent the views of the RCM."

"Your full autonomy is important, I agree. But it's an ongoing process. Nothing happens overnight."

"Democracy is a meaningless sham as long as the working class is under the boot-heel of Capital."

The lieutenant clears his throat. "Of course, the detective's personal views do not represent the views of the RCM."

"Ah, my friend, but the lesson of the Revolution is that communism does not work."

"And you're telling me this world here is working out well?"

"It's moving towards the right direction and that's all that matters. Progress is measured in centimetres, my friend."

"We just haven't tried real communism yet."

"Ah, yes, the unattainable ideal. Never settle for less! Good luck with that, my friend."

It's not like you're going to gather any forces soon with all that drinking -- and he knows it.

"It 'didn't work' because the Coalition crushed it violently."

"Oh, yes, the big bad Coalition crushed the Revolution. Tell me, if the revolution was succeeding, would it have been crushed so easily?"

"Are we really so bad for wanting compromise, peace, and prosperity -- on reasonable, achievable terms? Ask yourself that."

(Turn to Kim.) "Lieutenant, are you a moralist?"

"Hmm, me? I... uh..."

You've managed to catch the lieutenant off guard, but only for a moment. He quickly recomposes himself.

"I'm a lieutenant of the RCM, dedicated to maintaining law and order in Revachol."

"A very moralist answer," the man nods.

The lieutenant is practised in the art of putting on a show for one's superiors.

"But what is a normal, stable world?"

"The Occident is part of the normal world. Oranje, Sur-la-Clef..."

"Am I a moralist?"

"Well, do you value freedom? Do you believe in a normal, stable world governed by democratic values?"

(Turn to Kim.) "So when I said I was a lackey of capital, what I should have said is that I'm a Moralintern bitch?"

"Oooh..." (Turn to Kim.) "So we're actually working for the Moralintern? That doesn't seem so bad."

He nods. "There are more nefarious powers to work for than the Moralintern."

(Turn to Kim.) "So when I said I was a thrall to foreign interests, what I should have said is that I'm a Moralintern bitch?"

"Are you a moralist?"

"Tell me about Oranje."

"Oranje is an exemplary nation who, as a core member of EPIS, contributes 28% of our annual budget. Next to Sur-la-Clef, Oranje is probably the most prominent member of the international community."

"Which one of them is more EPIS?"

"As founding members they are both very EPIS. Oranje carries a lot of political weight, while Sur-la-Clef takes care of the business side of things -- Sur-la-Clef hosts the headquarters of the major EPIS institutions."

"Okay, but outside of EPIS, what is Oranje?"

"Oranje's economy is one of the most advanced in the world. It has successfully transitioned from heavy industry to advanced services, and generally acts as an engine for sustainable change in the international community."

But that didn't tell you anything about Oranje.

"Can't you just... talk like a normal person?"

"About what?"

"About Oranje -- just tell me what it's like there."

"Oh, it's very urban and very well-organized. Their streets are clean, their horsecars run on time, the people are polite and efficient. Like I said, they are an example for less-emerged nations to follow."

If he knows so much about Oranje, maybe he also knows about Oranjese mercenaries?

"I once heard from here that they are a reasonably sized superpower." (Tap your head.)

"That's one way to put it, yes. They certainly have the power to exert influence over others, but they only do it in the name of regional stability. After all, Oranje is a Moralintern nation, not some crazed Mesque petro-fascist state."

"What is ze price stabilité?"

"It is ze most important thing."

"Ah, that clears everything up."

"It's the central goal of any sound monetary policy. Maintaining ze price stabilité is essential to maintaining high levels of economic activity, which is essential for maintaining high levels of employment..."

"Which is essential for maintaining ze social stabilité..."

"Basically it makes sure the price of bread doesn't change."

"Précisément! Too much inflation, bread becomes too expensive; too much deflation, it becomes too cheap for bakers to produce..."