Imprints in Stone [AU]

[GamesMaster]

"Do you think that would work? We don't want to make it so those who only earn a little feel like they can't advance. Anyone could be Keeper, if they were the best for it."

[Bethany]

But that means instead it feels like those who can earn a lot can only get rewarded for that hard work outside the Tribe," Beth points out. "Even if it was just...  I dunno, an extra bit of dessert or... maybe awards or titles. Just something to show that their work earned them something. Oh! Maybe do it by percentages? Like... if you have a good week and make... using round numbers here, ten gold, then you give half to the Tribe. But if you make a hundred gold, you still give half, not ninety-five. So working hard still gets you more than not."

[GamesMaster]

"We don't actually mandate how much people give. Or what kind of desserts they get," he adds, with a sly grin. "We just ask people to contribute what they can spare."

[Bethany]

Bethany flushes a little. Ugh, why did I say desserts? What am I, ten? Gods. "Yes, well. Maybe not... officially, but if someone did make a hundred gold, how much would they have to chip in before they wouldn't get social backlash?"

[GamesMaster]

"I mean. That's an astounding sum," he points out. "Probably most of it. But, if everyone was putting in that much we wouldn't need nearly so much."

[Bethany]

"Well, okay, say... twenty gold then. A single gold is enough to feed an adult for what, two weeks easy? So if, for instance, Miki somehow lifted twenty gold in a single go, how much of that could he keep for himself without being shamed?" Bethany asks. "Even half of that would feed... five families of four for a solid week, probably with some change left over. That's a sizable contribution but still lets Miki save up a bunch himself." Bethany shakes her head. "Sorry, I... evidently care a lot about this sort of thing, I guess? I dunno. Have you ever heard of something could communism?"

[GamesMaster]

"Uh. Is that what that weirdo healer is always on about?" asks Don, cautiously.

[Bethany]

"Hey, Anders is nice," Bethany protests with a laugh. "...but yes, he can be rather intense. And yes, that's what he likes to... talk about. The key phrase is 'the means of production should be owned by those that operate them' which basically means that rich people shouldn't have a strangle-hold over what everyone else needs to survive. There's a lot of working together and pooling resources for the common good stuff too."

[GamesMaster]

"Yeah, he mentioned," says Don, carefully. "Do you... trust this guy?"

[Bethany]

Enough to let him stick a finger in my twat without paying? "Yeah, he's... like I said, he's intense, sure, but that's just because his ideals are important to him. Not saying I trust him as much as Carver or Dad, or even you or Bri, but... yeah."

[GamesMaster]

"Okay," says Don, and falls silent.

[Bethany]

"...Don?" Bethany prods him, gently, with her elbow. "Don't do that."

[GamesMaster]

"Do what?"

[Bethany]

"Intensely ask a question, then give a cryptic one-word non-answer after I answer it," Bethany says shortly.

[GamesMaster]

He winces. "I don't trust him," he says bluntly. "I don't think he wants anything good for us cats. But I trust you. You know what you're doing. So I hope I'm wrong."