I don't see why not. Saying such things got Dennis the peasant slapped, and Arianna second guessing the people who know Aeneas better than her in a dangerous situation is... slapworthy. It's still violence inherent in the system though.
Poor Ari. She's under the influence of a major PTSD when it comes to robots. Being of the royal family, Acantha has been taught how to deal with rebellious slaves like this since childhood. Time is of the essence and she doesn't have the luxury of coddling Ari right now. She can smooth things over with her later.
When someone is panicking during time of emergency you don't bother explaining them why they should calm down. You slap them and THEN you reason with them.
Hopefully Lynn also realizes that it's the most time-efficient method of getting all of them safe, too.
I'm sure Acantha will give Ariana a bit of a, "I know this is hard for you, but this way is safe for all three of us and the other way is Nox ready to kill you and break our legs. You can go to robot trauma therapy later if you need to."-type talk if the situation arises.
Don't listen to her! It was totally Sheela! And there is no hidden army of ballbots ready to wreak havoc on an unsuspecting population buried in the backyard!
Nothing wrong with using whatever words are available, respectful or otherwise, to not waste the time Dem possibly just died to buy them.
If someone is putting your survival in jeopardy by allowing fear to override reason, you don't respond by offering more reason. You quickly make yourself the more fearsome.
I think the readers and Lynn tend to forget Acantha is NOT from New Troy. She is a princess of Nova Roma and she does love her city. She hates her brother with a unbridled passion but she still is NOT the same as Lynn.
Acantha is used to slaves and servants. She is used to the status quo She understands her place in the world. Or did. Right or Wrong from our perspective. This isnt Disney. To Acantha there is nothing wrong with slavery. In general. But she does understand Human rights. and in general Slaves are treated very well in Roma. And even have rights and ability's within the structure of the culture.
The similarity between Androids and Human slaves in Roma is not that far apart.
I think the most blatant difference between the two, showing here quite clearly, is actually the following:
Lynn is a, no offense, spoiled princess. That hasn't a good grasp of the world outside of her ivory tower and the occasional shopping spree or club visit. She's been getting glimpses of it for a while now. But is still far from an actual understanding.
While Acantha has been directly exposed to some of that world at the very least since her brother took the throne. And has been learning of it at large way longer than that as a member of the ruling family and possible heir. (And other than her brother, she's actually using the knowledge.)
The first priority is THE MISSION
The second priority is UNIT WELFARE.
Ari needs to be brought up short and re-engaged with the mission quickly or thing are going to go south - FAST.
So yes, using her conditioning as a slave in a slave holding society would be a very good psychological handle going directly to deep conditioning. Property is property and will do as commanded - period. RESET
That Ari is much more than a slave to Acantha, is clear in how the princess treats and interacts with her. If she viewed her as 'only' a slave, the relationship would be very different.
Ask yourself, do you have relationships with the automatic infrared door openers at the supermarket? No? That's exactly the relationship an Imperial Roman would have with the two slaves who stood beside the doors to open and close them for patricians passing through. Psychologically to the patricians, they would be invisible, part of the decor or room.
It is no more violent than the societies of the modern world whether they are part of the OCDE/G-20 or under-developed 'third world.'
Or you could ask any college-educated debt-serf who, in 2070, will be having their retirement checks garnished to pay off their student loans. There's more than one way to create a slave class.
Not irrational mjkj. Aeneas DID slaughter everyone in a 5 kilometre zone. Admittedly they attacked him FIRST, but the totality of Aeneas' response scares any sentient being. Going into that kind of nightmare takes guts. Or a complete disregard of one's own survival chances.
That would be guaranteed to cause Arianna to bolt screaming down the hall. Dragging Acantha after her trying to calm her down. :-7 Right back into Nox's clutches (which wouldn't be a problem but they don't know that).
Acantha isn't going to leave anyone ELSE behind if she can help it, catt. She already had to sacrifice Democlus, she isn't going to do that with Arianna who she has known a lot longer!
This is true She has known Arianna pretty much ever sense Maxus bought her. And even helped show her around the Palace. She has played games with her and spent nights chatting. And normally Acantha would not order Arianna like this.
We all know Acantha really doesn't want to yell at her like that...but when someone's fear is endangering lives, you do (or say) what you have to to get them to calm down. I'm sure Acantha will apologize later.
Well we ( me and Rose ) debated weather or not Acantha would slap her or raise her voice and call her out on her collar. We felt it was more in Character for her to use words.
We did have a pretty solid debate about this; Cent originally planned to have her give Arianna a "get hold of yourself" slap across the face. The more I thought about it, though, physical violence seemed out of character for Acantha. She's watched Decimus lash out physically on a depressingly regular basis, and has been on the receiving end of it more than once. Acantha isn't big or strong enough to be physically intimidating, and even if she were a freakin' Amazon, she doesn't want to emulate her brother's behavior; she chooses to use words instead.
She is a Princess of the Realm. She doesn't have time for explanations, so "just shut the hell up and do what I say" is the only way to avoid an unnecessary debate.
The surprise is that Lynn hasn't, and possibly Ari hasn't, seen her exercise her command authority before.
"The surprise is that Lynn hasn't, and possibly Ari hasn't, seen her exercise her command authority before."
And that sentence pretty much sums up one of the best qualities of a Ruler. Acantha does NOT have to exercise her "command authority" because she is, in face, such a good person that the majority of people (both DNA and synth-brain -based) follow her willingly.
I feel that as shocking as it was for us to see Acantha use those words, it must have been twice as hard (at least) for HER to say them...
I tend to agree with you, Sig. This is one of those things she'll probably always remember, and look back on with "Maybe I could have done this differently, and not be so harsh with her" running in the back of her mind.
Problem is, she IS a ruler, and HAS to take actions sometimes that others won't like, even if it is for their own safety and wellbeing.
Loving the story and honestly the art is top notch. So I just currently discovered some E books I thought anyone who enjoys this comic might like. If anyone is interested check out Post Human Series by David Simpson. Books 1-4 come in a bundle and book 5 is also out. I binge read them over the last couple of days. I'm a voracious reader to say the least. Anyway keep up the good work, I miss Luna Star too.
Cent still checks all the comments over on Luna-Star I believe, so if something isn't making sense, you can always comment over there on the page that isn't clear. If she can she usually answers.
Part of my brain wants to envision the sort of society in which "emergency pony suits" are a thing, the majority of my brain is waving a big stick with a nail in it to deter such flights of imagination, and there's a tiny bit left over that's recalling a webcomic titled "Collar 6".
See this is what happens when you have a few generatiosn of an AIS Beign the proverbial Bboogy man for an entire nation....it's people FREAK when facing it. I mean Sure Aereans *spelling I know* Seems quite nice and reasonable, but...BUT. I also respect that he is capable of well Leavign behind no forensic evidence that I and Nova roma ever existed... So I can understand her fear......Granted I'd Look at the bigger picture IE the MUDER DEATH KILL bot on our tail and figured. Hey maybe She wouldn't dare go near him and Gone with the ONE person Who's gone in there and come out perfectly fine... than stick around and play dodge the droid in the palace
*no offense to any AI or artificially constructed beings with that droid comment....I just needed a D word*
It was bound to happen sooner or later, if it wasn't Ariana, it would probably be someone else.
I'm sure Acantha will give Ariana a bit of a, "I know this is hard for you, but this way is safe for all three of us and the other way is Nox ready to kill you and break our legs. You can go to robot trauma therapy later if you need to."-type talk if the situation arises.
Fortunately we have Sheela to go fetch it and explain it to us!
Wasn't me who buried the ball in the backyard!
Don't listen to her! It was totally Sheela! And there is no hidden army of ballbots ready to wreak havoc on an unsuspecting population buried in the backyard!
What am I going to terrorise now?
Besides, it's more of a challenge when they know you're coming for them. ;)
I like it!
*sets out to terrorise the suspecting population*
If someone is putting your survival in jeopardy by allowing fear to override reason, you don't respond by offering more reason. You quickly make yourself the more fearsome.
If Andi's are fully functioning AIs - What is the difference? Especially if such things as inhibitors and involuntary command-overrides exist?
Acantha is used to slaves and servants. She is used to the status quo She understands her place in the world. Or did. Right or Wrong from our perspective. This isnt Disney. To Acantha there is nothing wrong with slavery. In general. But she does understand Human rights. and in general Slaves are treated very well in Roma. And even have rights and ability's within the structure of the culture.
The similarity between Androids and Human slaves in Roma is not that far apart.
Lynn is a, no offense, spoiled princess. That hasn't a good grasp of the world outside of her ivory tower and the occasional shopping spree or club visit. She's been getting glimpses of it for a while now. But is still far from an actual understanding.
While Acantha has been directly exposed to some of that world at the very least since her brother took the throne. And has been learning of it at large way longer than that as a member of the ruling family and possible heir. (And other than her brother, she's actually using the knowledge.)
The second priority is UNIT WELFARE.
Ari needs to be brought up short and re-engaged with the mission quickly or thing are going to go south - FAST.
So yes, using her conditioning as a slave in a slave holding society would be a very good psychological handle going directly to deep conditioning. Property is property and will do as commanded - period. RESET
That Ari is much more than a slave to Acantha, is clear in how the princess treats and interacts with her. If she viewed her as 'only' a slave, the relationship would be very different.
Ask yourself, do you have relationships with the automatic infrared door openers at the supermarket? No? That's exactly the relationship an Imperial Roman would have with the two slaves who stood beside the doors to open and close them for patricians passing through. Psychologically to the patricians, they would be invisible, part of the decor or room.
It is no more violent than the societies of the modern world whether they are part of the OCDE/G-20 or under-developed 'third world.'
Or you could ask any college-educated debt-serf who, in 2070, will be having their retirement checks garnished to pay off their student loans. There's more than one way to create a slave class.
Poor Ari...
Acantha, you tell her!
Fear of some intangible or sure death.
@alt text: besides Lynn, you mean... ^_^
But only when necessary. And not enjoy it.
Seen in the light of her opposition, she's an angel.
- R. Lee Ermey
[There is something to her paranoia
about refurbishing AIs.]
The surprise is that Lynn hasn't, and possibly Ari hasn't, seen her exercise her command authority before.
And that sentence pretty much sums up one of the best qualities of a Ruler. Acantha does NOT have to exercise her "command authority" because she is, in face, such a good person that the majority of people (both DNA and synth-brain -based) follow her willingly.
I feel that as shocking as it was for us to see Acantha use those words, it must have been twice as hard (at least) for HER to say them...
Problem is, she IS a ruler, and HAS to take actions sometimes that others won't like, even if it is for their own safety and wellbeing.
Arianna: *still freaking*
Acantha: Wouldn't you know it? The moment I don't have a leash or whip to hand... Has anyone got a belt? Oh, right, the panicking slave has. *sigh*
Inspector-bot:
Acantha: Perfect! *enters code* Yes... more complicated than necessary, but it will do the job. Lynn, would you get the clothes off her?
Lynn: Pony suit...? Emergency pony suit...? Clothes...? whatinthehellisthis...?
Acantha: Yes, her clothes have to come off or the suit won't fit on. Quickly- please?
Lynn: o_O
>:=)>
Then again, ponygirls might not be a thing in Nova Roma. For all I know, the emperors might have declared it illegal.
*no offense to any AI or artificially constructed beings with that droid comment....I just needed a D word*