What If? What if Joffrey Baratheon was burdened with power rather than given it?

[Gladiator]

In story for both the books, and the TV series? Joffrey Baratheon is a psychopath. There is no question about this. His ideas of earning his father's praise are utterly monstrous, and he has an ego to match due to being pampered all his life.

There is a saying that power corrupts, and that absolute power corrupts absolutely. What if we turned that around? Typically, power can come in a lot of different aspects. Economical, political, and societal-cultural.

There's a fourth one though. A type of power that typically doesn't exist outside of the realm of imagination. True, concrete, inherit, tangible, power.

I am talking about the ubermensch. The superhuman. The mythological. The mysterious.

Gladiator by Philip Wylie explored this idea, and inspired the creation of Superman. Superman, as a series, however didn't have the inclination to dwell on the side-effects of this until much later. How the world would just be "cardboard" for these demi-gods. It became a recent invention.

When Gladiator already met those ideas, and embraced them to begin with.

Hugo Danner, much like Lennie Small from Of Mice and Men, broke things without meaning to. This includes the people around them. Due to being gifted with enormous physical prowess.

What if from the moment Joffrey Baratheon was a child? He was forced to reign himself in, and control himself. What if he had accidents at a point in his youth where he still had a conscious. What if he hurt his family, and yes even his beloved "father" without meaning to.

What if he was forced to experience guilt. What if he learned to fear power.

His own most of all.

What if power instead of corrupting Joffrey Baratheon? Changed him for the better.

Just to get a general look at what I am thinking of.

It was a brilliant display. I had seen no finer swordsmanship in my life. However, I was but a knave. An amateur as far as these two were concerned. So, I suppose there would be a great many things that would dazzle me. In the few years I had lived in the comfort of King's Landing I found myself fattened on every luxury. Almost every vice save the touch of a woman. I had my mother to blame for that one but I suppose she was just looking out for me. I was young after all. There would be many a venomous snake that would seek to wrap me in their coils.

“Well, boy... are you just going to watch?” Sandor Clegane snorted as he wiped the blood from his nose. He made short work of the assassin. I couldn't fathom what reason it could be this time. Perhaps it was a jilted ally. House Lannister had many of those.

“What exactly is it that you expect me to do?” I yawn, and as I crane my neck to look at my guardian? I only pay him a glance for a second.

The burnt man gives me a nasty look. As if to say that I knew perfectly well what he meant.

I did of course.

“It's a sensitive matter.”

“I've seen what you can do. You're no boy.”

I pause at that. No, I suppose I was not. I had no talent when it came to the art of combat. However, that did not change what else I could do.

When the other assassin approaches me from behind? Sandor Clegane does not even bother to move.

The assassin's knife raised ready to implant itself down to the hilt into my cerebellum. The strike came with a swiftness no one could surely match.

I could have but I didn't bother. The moment it impacts against my skull it shatters into pieces. It was a good knife too...

“W-What are you--”

Before the assassin could speak further I jab my finger into his forehead. A look of distaste on my face.

“I apologize.” There is something that sounds almost like genuine remorse in my voice. “I have to make examples every now and then.”

I rip my index finger out of his brain, and wipe the blood off with a piece of cloth. The assassin stumbles backwards before falling to the ground.

Dead as a door nail.

A sword and shield were of little use when you were a monster.

“That wasn't so hard now, was it? You're a tough bastard as is.”

I glower at my guardian. What an uppity one.

“I do not enjoy bloodshed. It brings back unpleasant memories.” I try to explain before turning to face him. “Nor do I relish the idea of the common folk discovering what I can do.”

“You say that like it would be so damning, my prince.” He was as condescending as ever. Perhaps it was jealously that I did not need armor like he did.

He was wholly unnecessary, and it annoyed him to be a trophy. A mantelpiece. Something I could show off to the other nobles. Worst of all the “chivalrous” knights like his brother.

“I've nightmares about it. What would happen if word got out.” What could happen again. “A person can make a lot of enemies by professing godhood.”

“They can also earn themselves more wealth, wenches, and wine than even I would know what to do with.”

“I am sure the gods are taller.”

“As if that makes a difference, your royal arse.”

 

[CarlManvers2019]

@Gladiator
I think there's a bit of a problem that Joffrey almost looks to have been born with a horrible psychopathy, so he may not have much empathy to begin with to even care about accidentally hurting people

Though for an analogy, this reminds of Baki Scarface, centered around Hanayama Kaoru, a guy who was blessed from birth immense physical power and stature

Spoiler: He'd be a NICER, BIGGER & MORE BADASS MAEGOR THE CRUEL!!!

One act of "kindness" would be doing something like punching The Mountain's brain so hard that all the pain stops

 

[Gladiator]

@Gladiator
I think there's a bit of a problem that Joffrey almost looks to have been born with a horrible psychopathy, so he may not have much empathy to begin with to even care about accidentally hurting people

Though for an analogy, this reminds of Baki Scarface, centered around Hanayama Kaoru, a guy who was blessed from birth immense physical power and stature

Spoiler: He'd be a NICER, BIGGER & MORE BADASS MAEGOR THE CRUEL!!!

One act of "kindness" would be doing something like punching The Mountain's brain so hard that all the pain stops

True, but he did genuinely crave his Robert's affection and approval however marred by his psychopathy. If he actually ended up hurting his father during an outburst circa his childhood. He might have actually experienced remorse for the first time. Say for example almost killing his father. Anyone else he wouldn't have cared but Robert was the one person he sought to impress. He just didn't understand how. So, he did so in horrible ways or took what Robert said literally.

If that for once backfired, and almost brought about his demise? It would force Joffrey to be retrospective about himself.

Kinda of like Superman in Gods and Monsters. When he crippled his sister, and it caused him to be terrified of himself. Despite being the son of Zod in that continuity, and having a natural disposition towards tyrannical behavior. Which turned him into a murderous but righteous vigilante, and eventually he decided to reframe from taking life entirely.

 

[CarlManvers2019]

True, but he did genuinely crave his Robert's affection and approval however marred by his psychopathy. If he actually ended up hurting his father during an outburst circa his childhood. He might have actually experienced remorse for the first time. Say for example almost killing his father. Anyone else he wouldn't have cared but Robert was the one person he sought to impress. He just didn't understand how. So, he did so in horrible ways or took what Robert said literally.

If that for once backfired, and almost brought about his demise? It would force Joffrey to be retrospective about himself.

Kinda of like Superman in Gods and Monsters. When he crippled his sister, and it caused him to be terrified of himself. Despite being the son of Zod in that continuity, and having a natural disposition towards tyrannical behavior. Which turned him into a murderous but righteous vigilante, and eventually he decided to reframe from taking life entirely.

Suggestion, if you ever do this as a fic again

How about a scene wherein Joffrey just “takes it”, where even the bleeding is surface damage he can shrug off

He tired out an enemy, so he can he hit em hard



“Do you want some more?”

 

[Gladiator]

Suggestion, if you ever do this as a fic again

How about a scene wherein Joffrey just “takes it”, where even the bleeding is surface damage he can shrug off

He tired out an enemy, so he can he hit em hard



“Do you want some more?”

In terms of power-set? I am thinking identical to Hugo Danner.

Which means stuff like being able to outrun locomotives, bend five feet of steel in half, jump three-hundred yards into the air, immunity to small arms (a howitzer managed to cut through his skin in World War I but it only did superficial damage besides that and failed to pierce his muscles), and a certain weakness to electricity. He died due to a lightning bolt despite all of his powers.

 

[CarlManvers2019]

In terms of power-set? I am thinking identical to Hugo Danner.

Which means stuff like being able to outrun locomotives, bend five feet of steel in half, jump three-hundred yards into the air, immunity to small arms (a howitzer managed to cut through his skin in World War I but it only did superficial damage besides that and failed to pierce his muscles), and a certain weakness to electricity. He died due to a lightning bolt despite all of his powers.

Looking him up now

 

[CarlManvers2019]

Sounds pretty impressive, though no offense, I kinda liked the Baki-esque thing better

Because there’s something about being able to bleed all over and yet shrug it off midfight

Joffrey “The Man Standing Up” Baratheon

Once worried his family and the kingdoms when he went alone to the base of the largest and most powerful raiders/pirates on his own

When they arrived, they found no resistance

 

[Gladiator]

Looking him up now

Got you covered. I have the book.

Hugo Danner noting how he can outrun trains, and uproot trees. As well as leaping so high into the air that he can't be seen. Until he falls back down.

LINK

A spray of bullets failing to penetrate his skin.

LINK

Hugo Danner musing on the fact that people have seen him lift tons, leap a hundred yards into the air, and escape bullets.

LINK

Hugo easily catching and lifting a piece of stone weighing four metric tons.

LINK

Breaking through mortar and bricks. After yet more bullets fail to do anything to him.

LINK

Forcing a bank vault door open, and bending it. Which was seven feet in length and width, and five feet in thickness.

LINK
LINK

 

[CarlManvers2019]

Got you covered. I have the book.

Hugo Danner noting how he can outrun trains, and uproot trees. As well as leaping so high into the air that he can't be seen. Until he falls back down.

LINK

A spray of bullets failing to penetrate his skin.

LINK

Hugo Danner musing on the fact that people have seen him lift tons, leap a hundred yards into the air, and escape bullets.

LINK

Hugo easily catching and lifting a piece of stone weighing four metric tons.

LINK

Breaking through mortar and bricks. After yet more bullets fail to do anything to him.

LINK

Forcing a bank vault door open, and bending it. Which was seven feet in length and width, and five feet in thickness.

LINK
LINK

I’ll look it up on Amazon, surprising lack of Complete PULP collections there, though