god, I was gonna do a wholeass sorta formal ramble on this but I just. can’t anymore. now this will be a rant
spoilers for the events of January 6th on the Dream SMP
Phil’s treatment of Ghostbur is wrong, ok. like, jesus he was practically dripping in apathy as he tried to placate Ghostbur when he confronted him about Friend’s death. He treated him like a child, acting as if Ghostbur’s emotions and outburst didn’t matter because he didn’t understand or some shit.
like, don’t get me wrong, I see why he was acting this way, why he considered it necessary but fucking hell mate, his child that he fucking killed is breaking down in front of him because of his actions and he feels not even a shred of remorse for it? what the shit
and it’s even worse, because he’s doing this all because of Wilbur, because of what Wilbur’s exile did to him. Absolute power corrupts absolutely and all that shit. and just.
Yes, absolute power corrupts, and L’manberg’s government was corrupt in many ways(the nepotism being one of the biggest ways) but it was being run by a bunch of fucking traumatized children and young adults!! Tubbo never even wanted to be president, he only got it because Wilbur gave it to him!! Quackity was traumatized by working with Schlatt and the things Techno has done to him!! Tommy has been abused by Dream, manipulated by Dream, and all around just been pushed around constantly ok!!! Ranboo wasn’t even technically on any of their sides, because that’s what he wanted. L’manberg was meant to be a place to escape from the tyranny of their rulers. and guess what, Phil was just proving how necessary that is!!
because absolute power corrupts absolutely. and what does this say about Phil, when he is one of the three most powerful members on the server? what does this say about Phil, who basically has Techno at his beck and call? who’s sided with Dream?
to send a message? to WHO? the traumatized children he is further traumatizing? to the weak, telling them to never try to rise up again, to never attempt to gain any power to protect themselves with because absolute power corrupts and that corruption only applies to governments? does he not see the hypocrisy in his actions?
and the thing is, with Friend? Phil was given an out. Techno offered to not get Phil’s house. he could’ve taken Friend away.
he knew that Friend was in his house.
and yes he still said that it didn’t matter, that he didn’t care if his house was blown sky high along with all the rest of L’manberg.
and then, when faced with his son’s anguish over the ruins of the land he’s built up(for the second time)?
he says “it’s alright, he’s got infinite canon lives” and “I’m sorry, but maybe you’ll understand someday”
the apology means nothing, has no true remorse behind it, and pets do not come back.
(and the thing is, the thing that even Ghostbur points out, is that New L’manberg wasn’t even really Tubbo’s, it wasn’t Quackity’s or Tommy’s or any of theirs
it was Ghostbur’s. Ghostbur who lived there, in it’s sewers, who built it buildings up and who designed the land, who tried to help those around him with their sadness.
in the end, even though Wilbur blew up L’manberg and tossed it away, falling with it, he also rises up once more with it. Ghostbur builds New L’manberg. it was his, even if no one recognized that. all Phil was doing, when he blew up L’manberg, was hurt Ghostbur the most. Ghostbur, who only wanted peace.)
