"You're an idiot," the villain hissed, breaking the previous silence as they taped down the last gauze bandage on the hero's shoulder, "You're such an idiot,"
"I know"
"No you don't. You're too stupid to even comprehend your own stupidity- that's how stupid you are," the villain leaned forward, thunking their head against the other, being careful of their injuries. Their hands twisted desperately into the fabric of the hero's shirt.
The hero gave a strained laugh, chuckling quietly.
"You think this is funny? You think I'm joking?" The villain snapped, but the desperation in their voice was clear as their head shot up to meet the hero's gaze, "I'm dead serious!"
"I kn-" the hero tried to interrupt, but the villain kept rambling.
"You've got the IQ of a pile of dirt! Honestly-"
"I love you," the hero stated.
That one shut them up.
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@identifying-uk-trains-in-posts Any help, found at Crewe and I think I'm in love.
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flickr
NW0108 by Stanley Short
Via Flickr:
An eastbound Norfolk & Western coal train pulls out of the yard at Crewe, VA with its double on Feb 28, 1977 with GP9 No. 653 and GP18's No's. 2700 and 926. Geeps on coal trains were becoming more rare every day, replaced by high horsepower six-axle units.
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Tied to the Tracks
"Tell me, hero, have you ever heard of the 'minecart moral dilemma'?" The villain asked with a slightly smug tone.
The tone was infuriating to the hero standing in front of them, considering the criminal was tied to a chair, hands tied behind their back, yet still so calm.
"Oh please, spare me from listening to you go down one of your philosophical rabbit holes-" the hero groaned.
"I'll take that as a no," the villain interrupted, "I'll keep it short then, hm? It's quite interesting,"
The hero sighed, crossing their arms. They knew the villain was just trying to distract them away from more *informative* conversations. But they also knew there was no point saying no, they were going to be told anyway. Suddenly something caught up to their brain.
"Wait, 'moral dilemma'?" The hero asked in confusion. Morals were the last thing they'd expected the criminal to talk about.
"Mmm," the villain hummed in agreement, "To put it simply: there's a minecart cascading down the tracks on the side of a hill. At the bottom, five people are tied down to rails. Obviously, if the cart runs over them, they'll be killed,"
The hero furrowed their brows in confusion, wondering where this was going.
"You are standing far away, next to a lever. If you pull the lever, it will divert the cart to a different track, where a different, single person is tied down,"
The villain paused for a split second, before continuing, "the question is: would you pull the lever?"
"Of course," the hero replied almost instantly, confusion and suspicion clear in their voice, "are you saying you wouldn't?"
The villain chuckled under their breath, giving a slight smile that the hero struggled to interpret. They looked both smug and... sad somehow?
"Such certainty..." the criminal stated, almost admiring the hero's conviction, "though it seems obvious, doesn't it? If you can't save everyone, a net plus of four lives is better,"
"Exactly," the hero agreed, "I don't see how this is a moral dilemma,"
"It's not," the villain replied with a slight shrug of their shoulders, or at least the best they could manage while tied up, "at least not until you remember humans are selfish creatures. Emotional creatures,"
The villain looked up, locking eyes with the hero, "So tell me, hero: would you still say yes so certainly if that singular person happened to be someone you cared deeply about? A parent? Lover? Best friend?"
The hero faulted.
Before they could react further, however, they heard the snap of ropes, and a single blur later, they were against the wall with a knife to their throat.
"Do not get in my way again," the criminal warned, eyes hard and fiery "because right now, someone I love is strapped to the tracks, and I'd just hate for that five casualties to turn into six,"
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