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Post by Robin Hood on Aug 12, 2009 12:46:01 GMT 1
"The whole point of leadership is to look out for your men. I can hardly do that if you are devoting your attention to protecting my life, can I? Please just listen to me on this one thing if nothing else, Will. Do not place value on my life above yours or any others."
He laughed outright at Will's description. "Silly grin?" He turned to the more serious aspect of what he had said. "You have just acknowledged that I am a leader, Will. I am the leader of this gang. And so yes, whilst ever I am, there are certain times when I will make decisions alone. More often than not those decisions are ones the rest of you have been unwilling, or unable to make."
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Post by Will Scarlett on Aug 29, 2009 13:56:16 GMT 1
Will shook his head ever so slightly at the man who had been his every day leader, hoping that he wouldn't incite him any further than necessary. "No your Lordship, the whole point of leadership is to lead, not to look out for your men. The first thing that you have to do is to to figure out what the mission of your gang is. the one that I signed up for was to defend the poor from from people like the Sheriff, Sir Guy, and prince John, at least until King Richrad returns and restores things to the way they were before."
"You are the leader .... there is no Robin Hood or gang without you .... tying everything else together. We are just single outlaws without you. As for the value that I place on individual lives .... that is my own personal choice now isn't it? If you won't listen to us, why should we listen to you. On most things we will follow you, but you can't ask us to follow blindly."
"It's not like we are the Sheriff's guards, doing what we're told, like good little soldiers. From time-to-time it would be be good to listen to us. Besides .... the problem is .... we've always .... at least I've always valued yours more than mine or anybody else, especially since my family's gone."
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Post by Robin Hood on Sept 4, 2009 3:44:54 GMT 1
"And part of leading them is to ensure their safety," Robin said. "Will, how can a man be any kind of leader if he dismisses the people's wellbeing? You know the answer to that, you have seen it yourself through the Sheriff's actions." He ignored Will's constant sarcastic use of the word 'lord' when he addressed him. There was no point addressing it, it would get him no where.
"You might like me to listen to you sometimes, but honestly what good would it be if we sat around and debated every decision until we were all happy? Nothing would get done. You might not like to hear it, but I have done my fair share of leading Will, I happen to know a thing or two about it."
He placed his hand on Will's shoulder. "You did not deserve to lose them both, or so soon. Though is it so hard for you to understand, if you place value on someone's life above your own, that I might do the same?"
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Post by Will Scarlett on Sept 5, 2009 17:14:34 GMT 1
Why was Robin always like this, Will asked himself. Why did it always have to be his way, with no questions asked. "I suppose that is your opinion, Robin, but honestly its an impossibility to ensure our safety. You can take certain steps and certain precautions, but that's all you can do. As soon as you send us on a mission you are giving u any chance at ensuring our safety. Its the mission that becomes the most important thing and not our individual lives. That doesn't mean that you dismiss anyone's well-being .... it just figures into the calculated risk that all of us take. Its a better risk than a hangman's noose."
There he went again, Will thought to himself, always putting it in the most unreasonable terms. "That is not what we ask for or even expect, Robin, and you know that. We are not asking to put things up for a vote. We've always known that we could walk away from dooing a particular mission if we thought it didn't make sense. Robin, you never talk about things. Something pops into your head, you get that look in your eye and we go. There's never any discussion about the pros or cons. That can get mighty old might quick."
".... You might not like to hear it, but I have done my fair share of leading Will, I happen to know a thing or two about it."
Will's eyes narrowed, but he kept his mouth sealed. There Robin went again. On one hand saying how he shouldn't be addressed as a Lord, but on the other hand belittling their lack of experience leading. It was true that there could only be one leader, and it should be him, but he shouldn't be so irritatingly patronizing about it. Will knew, though, that talking to Robin about this was just a lost cause, whcih was why he didn't like to bring it up. It was a good reason, though, in Will's mind not tobe too closely tied to the group.
Just as quickly as Robin placed his hand on his shoulder, Will brushed it off. After collecting himself, an seeing the look in Robin's eyes, Will responded as calmly and levelly as he could. "I appreciate that you have an understanding for my loss. However, if I am incapable of understanding what you have gone through and what you are going through the same applies to you. This is true know matter what 'leadership' skills you may have. You may place whatever value you wish on another's life in relation to yourself, just do not think that you can mandate how another should feel and think, even if it is about a subject as precious to you as your family or even Marian"
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Post by Robin Hood on Sept 6, 2009 3:24:06 GMT 1
The fact that Will had up until now not given any indication that he didn't like the way Robin led made this all the more surprising. "It's quite something for you to suggest I don't tell you enough, when up until now you've not given any indication that any of this bothers you."
Robin held his hand up in surrender when Will shoved it off. "This is pointless, isn't it? This conversation. If you're not going to see my point of view, I can't force you. Just like I can't stop you from leaving if that is what you really want."
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Post by Will Scarlett on Sept 22, 2009 17:30:26 GMT 1
All Will could do was shake his head and look at the ground. "Robin, when you rescued me, and the others, I was little more than a boy, a teenager. In my eyes you were still my lord, and you were my protector. What place was it of mine to question you. I am not that same boy today. You may not think that I've grown-up, but I suggest that you look more closely at who and what I am today. I'm afraid that you will look at me as being an ungrateful idiot. Perhaps I am, but I did know that its time for me to make my own decisions about me and my future. It may lie with the gang or it may lie on another path."
Will shook his head once. Why couldn't he understand or at least try to listen to what he was trying to tell him. He wasn't a kid anymore. He was growing up. It was going to be up to Robin whether he was going to be able to be friends with this new version of Will. "Robin, its not that I can't or won't see your point of view. I just want you to see mine. If you think the conversation is pointless just because I don't agree with you, maybe I should go away for awhile, maybe we're not the friends I'd always thought we were, and that its best for us to go our separate ways," he said sadly and reluctantly.
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Post by Robin Hood on Sept 25, 2009 5:33:44 GMT 1
"You know I don't think of you that way any more, Will. And I certainly don't see you as an ungrateful idiot. Of course it is fine for you to want to make your own decisions. I would not stop you from doing that. Though you should consider the affect those decisions will have on the people around you before you make them."
It wasn't right for him to suggest that he should listen to Will's point of view, when Will wasn't listening to his. Sighing, he turned to him. "I have listened to what you have said Will, but in response to everything I say, you are simply repeating the same things. What do you want me to say?"
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Post by Will Scarlett on Sept 27, 2009 15:34:44 GMT 1
Will tried to comprehend what Robin was trying to say, without misrepresenting anything. "If you don't think of me as a child, and I'm not an idiot what do you think of me. A lot ofthe time it does not appear that you want me to make my own decisions. What exactly do you think I am doing when I go off in the Forest to think. I'm always wondering about the effects of what I and others say and do."
Will figured that there was only one way that this relationship would work now. "Robin, just forget everything I've said or anything I've questioned. You are the leader of the outlaws. As such, your point of view is the only one that matters. I was way of line to challenge you. Some might even think of it as being disloyal. I think I understand my role now and what my place in the gang really is. I hope you, Robin, will understand my need to go off by myself from time-to-time, as well."
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Post by Robin Hood on Sept 28, 2009 3:18:50 GMT 1
That Will was saying that he should forget everything he had said, and that his was the only point of view that mattered just further proved that he wasn't willing to change on this. He had made up his mind, had his opinions, and wasn't going to compromise.
"I won't forget this Will. Any of it. If you think you need to leave, I won't stop you. So long as you tell me you understand your presence is always welcome, as well as your point of view. Look, I know it might seem that I don't welcome other peoples input, but I do. Sometimes it is necessary to look at the bigger picture. Sometimes you have to sacrifice what everyone wants."
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Post by Will Scarlett on Sept 28, 2009 22:50:11 GMT 1
Will didn't think that it would ever be enough for Robin, unless he backed down, and suddenly exlaimed 'what was I thinking' and 'of course you are absolutely right, Robin' Will thought to himself. Will knew though, that although that was what Robin wanted to hear he would never get what he craved the most, which was respect. Anything besides total surrender, at this point, wasn't going to be enough,and Will knew that.
Robin just confirmed that those opinion were right in his next. statement. All that Will had done by backtrackin' as far as he had to compromise just told Robin he was right in the first place, and that he was never going to let Will forget it. Will sighed, "What happens will happen, Robin. I will help out when I'm needed and when its requested. However,since you don't ask for help much, I won't be holding my breath. No Robin, the point is that you don't need me, you just need someone who does the things I've done in the past."
"I know a lot of what you do for me is a debt you feel to Dan Scarlett, but by saving my brother's life and mine, that debt was paid long ago. What I did for the gang was out of love for you and for the people. You and the rest of the gang will do what you can for the good of England, as will I will. We're just on different paths, with different goals. Just don't sacrifice your principles Robin, and if I die on my path, make sure I'm buried with my parents, and that there's someone to say a few words, just as I would if the same would befall you." and Will wrapped himself tightly in his cloak as he prepared to leave.
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Post by Robin Hood on Sept 29, 2009 3:41:35 GMT 1
There he went, accusing him again without probably even realising it. He was wrong though. He asked for help when he needed it. Will just didn't seem to realise that it was different for him. Being in his position gave him different responsibilities, different priorities. He wasn't going to apologise for putting the gangs welfare above most everything else. He would not have them put needlessly at risk.
"This is not about debt, Will. Why must everything be because of something else? Sometimes we do things because we want to, not because we feel we have to." Seeing Will prepare to leave, he stopped him before he walked away, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I am sorry it has come to this Will. Promise me you will come and see us soon, let us know you are well." Dropping his hand, he stood back to watch him go.
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Post by Will Scarlett on Oct 1, 2009 13:48:07 GMT 1
Will realized that Robin would never see kis point of view until Robin wanted to. And right now Robin had no desire to. Will understood that Robin was not talking to him asa friend,but as leader of the outlaws, at least how Robin saw leadership. As such, Robin wasn't even accepting his apology, since he wasn't really believing anything he had to say. Will realized, without Robin even saying it, that Will's very act of separating himself from the group, even though he still shared its goals, was an act of betrayal, against them all but especially Robin.
There was nothing that he would ever be able to do to remedy that except to be prostate before the group and beg for his and their forgiveness. Will's pride would never permit that. He understood the price for that would be high .... the loss of fthe friendship of Robin, and by extension, every member of the gang. He just didn't know if Robin or any of them realized that. Will, just hoped, that it would not mean that they would be enemies, at least in the little time he believed he had left in this life.
"Its because we play a zero-sum game here, Robin. You steal from the Sheriff, or the other nobles it goes to the poor. For every addition coin the nobles have in their pockets, the poor and the common folk have one less. You do what you do, Robin, because you feel you have to, and yes, because you want to. If you can't act towards others honorably it rips you up on the inside. Its easy to see ....you can be no other way," he said as he sighed deeply.
Will did not know else there was to say, and a great silence developed between the two men. After a friendship of years that united them, as well as feelings for Marian, that divided them, all of the talk was spent, and it was time for Will to go and walk his lonely path. One last time, as Will turned to leave without even saying a good-bye, since it was unspoken, a part of Robin seemed to reach out.
"I am sorry it has come to this Will. Promise me you will come and see us soon, let us know you are well."
Will looked down at the ground and stopped. He knew now that he would have to say some of the hardest things that he had evr said to Robin's face. "A part of you may be sorry, Robin, but a part of you is not. The part of you that is Robin Hood, leader of the outlaws, will never accept be back until I give an apology, that as a man, I am unable to give. That Robin believes that I am no longer really one of you, and as such, simply can't be trusted, and will be unwelcome. So, I really doubt that you will see me again, at least among the living. Remember, by casting me aside, I am no longer bound by oaths of loyalty, and the only way to stop me will be to kill me," and he took his tags and slowly removed them from his neck and tossed them at Robin's feet.
"I do hope, Robin, that you are plaesed and satisfied that you are able to make the tough decisions, for the benefit of the gang and the cause you serve. Long life and happiness to you, my friend from the past. I just pray that one day you willdiscover Robin of Locksley, once more, and then I think you'll truly happy."
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Post by Robin Hood on Oct 1, 2009 15:46:08 GMT 1
Robin immediately bent down, picking up Will's tag. Stepping forward, he reached out and took hold of his wrist. "No, Will." He pushed it in to his hand. The action of Will throwing that away was more hurtful than any words he had uttered. "You might want to think that is the case, but I will not see you do this. Leave if you must, but do not tell me what I am thinking. You will always be one of us, do you understand me? Always." His words were soft, but spoken with conviction.
There was a lot that Will had said that Robin needed to think over, to fully come to terms with. But he knew, with total certainty and sincerity, that he was wrong to say that any part of Robin wanted him gone.
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Post by Will Scarlett on Oct 5, 2009 17:53:01 GMT 1
Will knew how important the tags were as a symbol to Robin, even though it was Will who had come with the idea, designed them, and made them. Anyone who possessed one of these tags was part of Robin's extended family. Given Will's intimate history with the tags, he knew that the effect of the symbolic act of removing them and throwing them on the ground would be huge on Robin, which was what Will had intended. It was as if Will was officially divorcing himself of everything. Will was not sure exactly how Robin would react, but he was not surprised when Robin shoved the tag back in his hand, refusing to accept what Will was doing.
"Whatever you want to believe Robin, you'll believe. How can you stand here and tell me that I'll always be one of you, when obviously act as if I don't. The proof is in the pudding, is it not. I need to go away, so I won't contaminate the rest of the gang. So it will be best if I go away and operate by myself for awhile. Just leave a message in the hidey-hole at the Tripp if you need me to come back for some repair work or to make some more tags. I don't wish you ill, Robin. I wish you and Marian the very best."
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Post by Robin Hood on Oct 5, 2009 23:26:09 GMT 1
"Pudding? You aren't talking to Much you know." This whole conversation had led them in circles back to the same point. No matter what he said, no matter what he knew was the case, Will was going to leave.
"Contaminate? What, you think somehow they will all decide to leave if you stay? Give them some credit. They all think for themselves." He sighed when Will wished he and Marian well. This was it then, he was going. "Until next time, then. You stay out of trouble." He turned to leave, but after he had gone only a few steps turned back to face him. "Whatever gave you that 'obvious' impression that I don't act as if you are one of us, you are wrong about. You've been right about a lot that you've said today, but not about that." He turned back again and walked away, knowing Will would only want to talk back, to disagree with him. But there was little point in continuing this.
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