(Lost) "You know, I think I understand why you inspire loyalty."

[akonken.livejournal.com]

Jack had said that, blood still slowly seeping from the wound they'd both made points with.

It galled her. Galled her. Loyalty indeed. And what was that? What did loyalty mean in the end? Getting people to do what you wanted? Getting them to follow you blindly into hell? Getting them to stay when the novelty wore off?

Loyalty didn't exist, not really. You could manipulate people, you could bargain with them, you could blackmail them, you could ask them to do what you wanted, to be with you, to follow you. In the end, they would or wouldn't depending on their own minds and hearts, such as they were. In the end, you had to watch out for yourself, because no matter what they said, other people weren't going to do it for you - certainly not as well.

Loyalty indeed.