[ if roy looks offended or insulted by the disagreement, he certainly doesn't show it. instead, roy listens attentively; perhaps selfishly, because he's never met someone (aside from berthold hawkeye) that could wield the power he does. and it's an odd kinship that he hadn't expected to find in a world like this. but as mako talks, roy sees that he has been through a lot. and he also sees that he's a kid -- granted, a very grown up kid, but a kid all the same.
people that are inherently good or inherently evil simply don't exist. everyone is a mixture of both. roy doesn't consider himself a bad person, but he has done horrific things, and he will never gain penance for those actions no matter what good he does in the world. he is a war hero to some, and a monster to others. he's not sure which is the correct version, but both are valid, and both are part of who he is.
still, he weighs out what mako says, mulling it over in his mind. figuring out how he wants to respond to it. he doesn't want to entirely refute mako's world view, but he also doesn't want to go misspoken.
eventually: ]
All men, good or evil, can be corrupted by power. Even the best among us. Even me. You can be as responsible as you like, or as good as you can be, but human nature is human nature, and humans are gravitated toward power and influence. . . with a few rare exceptions.
[ maes comes to mind, first. riza next. but roy continues. ]
Still, I'm an optimist. I believe in the power of people, and their need to do what's right. I believe the best in everyone I meet, and I'm often disappointed. I don't think I'm a horrible person. But I am human, with a terrifying amount of power, and human beings make mistakes, and act without thinking. The war taught me what I am without restraint; I know now to surround myself with people to ensure that will never happen again.
[ he inclines his head slightly, toward mako, the corner of his mouth tugging upward in a faint smile. ]
no subject
people that are inherently good or inherently evil simply don't exist. everyone is a mixture of both. roy doesn't consider himself a bad person, but he has done horrific things, and he will never gain penance for those actions no matter what good he does in the world. he is a war hero to some, and a monster to others. he's not sure which is the correct version, but both are valid, and both are part of who he is.
still, he weighs out what mako says, mulling it over in his mind. figuring out how he wants to respond to it. he doesn't want to entirely refute mako's world view, but he also doesn't want to go misspoken.
eventually: ]
All men, good or evil, can be corrupted by power. Even the best among us. Even me. You can be as responsible as you like, or as good as you can be, but human nature is human nature, and humans are gravitated toward power and influence. . . with a few rare exceptions.
[ maes comes to mind, first. riza next. but roy continues. ]
Still, I'm an optimist. I believe in the power of people, and their need to do what's right. I believe the best in everyone I meet, and I'm often disappointed. I don't think I'm a horrible person. But I am human, with a terrifying amount of power, and human beings make mistakes, and act without thinking. The war taught me what I am without restraint; I know now to surround myself with people to ensure that will never happen again.
[ he inclines his head slightly, toward mako, the corner of his mouth tugging upward in a faint smile. ]
Colonel Hawkeye is my right hand for a reason.
[ she ensures he doesn't fall off of his path. ]