#hlfcorpse

it's not exact but the closest is karl popper's negative utilitarianism. at least, as gortash would understand it.

negative utilitarianism focuses on minimizing suffering. increasing happiness is secondary, but a possible, coincidental by-product of reducing suffering. it comes after.

"he's a tyrant, he doesn't want to reduce suffering" wrong he wants to improve the city. he wants to improve baldur's gate. he wants it to be a beacon of pride and power. he says that specifically, that he wants to lead baldur's gate to glory and not scorched earth.

gortash genuinely wants to see baldur's gate prosper, he just believes it must be done through his rule and his alone. it's not even necessarily with an iron fist — he wouldn't get the same support he wants if he was outright tyrannical. it's subtle. it's manipulated. it's won through dubious means. i think it's possible that his rule would become more brutal but to start, he can't operate that way. he wants control, he cannot maintain control if he forces people to suffer his rule.

"human suffering makes a direct moral appeal for help, while there is no similar call to increase the happiness of a man who is doing well anyway" is from a quote from popper about negative utilitarianism. again, i think it's very self-serving and warped for gortash. the actual morality of it for himself is questionable, and not something he's overly compelled to do, but he can see how it benefits himself.

to benefit himself he has to operate in a way that benefits the city and its people, or else it will not prosper the way he believes he deserves. his steel watch are the perfect way. the steel watchers are to reduce crime and uproar. they are meant to maintain order and protect gortash. and in a sense, everything with duke ravengard can also be seen through negative utilitarianism — he had to die/be removed, so that suffering could be reduced. because gortash is, ultimately, what's best for the city.

Frankly, some of the man’s words went gliding over his head. Xahillid liked to think that his Commons had gotten substantially better over the past year—and it had, to be fair—but there were still some words, phrases, and other tonal concoctions that sent his thoughts into a tizzy. Confusion abound.

But.

One word drilled into him, instinctually pulled his lips into a grimace. Masochist. He knew it only from his time working in Baldur’s Gate, amidst the brothel. It wasn’t something he was particularly fond of, when a client came careening in, exclaiming such. Xahillid wasn’t sure about the needle-fine dictionary description of such, but as far as he knew, it meant something something enjoyment of pain.

“Man, aren’t priest’s supposed to be like, compassionate or something? Jeez.”

Arms cross over the smaller’s chest as his tail flicks about in annoyance. All Trust was doing was speaking his thoughts, albeit, by accident. It’s hard to feel like you’re good at anything when your father wants you dead, or that you were unable to save someone that you love. A deep sigh leaves his nose before he shakes his head; Snow White hair swaying as he does so. This is why he never took religion seriously…

“Forget it, man. I’m good at plenty. Just spewing out random thoughts or whatever.”

(hey babygirl )

↪     𝑲𝑰𝑺𝑺  ﹠ ᵀᴱᴸᴸ .    (  a  collection  of  50+ kiss prompts . ) ( accepting !! )

Was he complaining? Hells, no. It almost swept him off his feet. A burning want where the fumes fogged his brain with need. Their mouth move in tandem; hot breath mingled. The kiss itself made Alkas almost forget where he was or who he happened to be with. Yet there was something hidden underneath. It was hard to tell. The Bhaalspawn never felt such strength, such a feeling that possessed Banu to commit to this. Again, there's no complaining and Alkas cannot help but feel something.

OF COURSE, THE WARNING WAS TRULY ANYTHING BUT. Tongue-in-cheek, at best — the gods know he is ever so eager to explore the unknown, the fascinating, the so-dubbed INTERESTING. Perhaps he was more eager in the past, but life has more recently had a way of making the wisdom of actively seeking adventure and excitement rather questionable.

But here they are, and he can't deny that despite the circumstance, he feels a stirring that he hasn't felt in years.

" Oh, yes. Many of them. Some, mind you, that would only serve to lend some credence to my warning, but that's neither here nor there. " He chuckles, memory briefly flickering towards the past, but it doesn't linger there long. " Wealth and prestige are fleeting things, but unfortunately I have yet to meet anyone who is completely — immune to the allure, self included. Curiosity and knowledge, though. Oh, those are forever. "

The city makes him uncomfortable, like an ill fighting sweater. He doesn't like being here and yet he has no choice, so he must suck it up as much as he can. In search of a moment of solace, he escapes from the rooms of the Elfsong to venture out into the night on his own. In an attempt to keep his head down, his shoulder bumps against someone else.

Continued from [x] with @hlfcorpse

She was puzzled by his reaction, by how straightforward he was towards her. That wasn’t what she was used to. Perhaps because of that she simply followed his gesture and sat next to him. Surprisingly close. She looked at him with some curiosity in her blue eyes. 

“Should I ask myself? Or should I confess to you?” – a slight shrug of her shoulders – “Let’s call it experience.” – she added after a few moments of silence – “I’ve trusted too many times, but I have finally learnt not to.” – she smoothed her dress to cover her nervousness; he was giving her odd vibes. Nunnally didn’t expect to find anyone here. She looked for some shelter and solitude from the superficial conversation and fake smiles. This place seemed to serve that purpose well. But instead of getting some peace of mind, she found herself having this conversation. With this man.