I'm the rogue

This one's in English, because I can't say "I'm a rogue" in Hungarian. There's just no word for it. For me, at least.

What's a rogue? It's not tolvaj, it's not rabló, it's not gazember, it's not even a criminal, although he does take the rules lightly. He likes to twist them, he likes to bend them, but he does not like to break them. There is no challenge in breaking the rules for the rogue. Any thug can break the rules, anytime.

The rogue is not evil. Nor is he good. If he does evil things, he does them out of selfishness, not for a greater cause, and when he does good things, he does them out of spite, or to just make up for the evil he rarely commits, not for a greater cause.

I guess he is more good than evil, but that is so difficult to say. It depends on the given culture, and, of course, the circumstances.

Because the rogue is an opportunist.

He changes to fit in his environment, he blends. In the begininng, you can't even see him. Can never notice him. He blends. He listens, and gathers information. And after a while, when he already knows the game, he starts to slowly, subtly change the rules.

Just for the fun of it.

He does not really want anything - he does not have an agenda. He wants to have fun. He does not believe in an ideology. Or a religion. Or any given system. But he gladly plays to be a part of it, just to get the advantage.

He gets the prize, and he gets the girl in the end. You know that, don't you. That's why you anvy him so much. He always wins in the end, no matter how much he suffered along the way. He's not simply surviving - any barbarian can simply survive, and scrap away with his life.

But winning is not simply surviving, it's so much more than that. It's surviving with style. It's getting to the end of it. It's finishing, always, what you have begun. It's not letting others down who count on you. It's being the hero, without having to die, you know. And that's the hell of it.

Because the rogue is a hero. A hero by circumstance. But that's not his goal, and that's exactly why he looks so damn good while doing it. So damn good.

People like the rogue. He makes them like him. That's his gift. And because people like him, he can get away with twisting and bending the rules.

And smiling. The rogue is usually smiling. And it's an honest, true smile, because the rogue likes being alive, and loves life in general, and loves himself in general. That's what gives him the real power to not only survive, but to shine, like a star.

Beacuse life is one great adventure. Not a quest - because there is no final goal to achieve. Just whatever it is that causes you to have fun along the way.

And if in the end he finds himself rescuing princesses and slaying dragons - all the better, babe, all the better.

Not all rogues are created equal, of course. Some prefer the shadows more than others. Some prefer the treasure more than others. Some prefer the dames more than others.

Yes, they always have a weak spot, of course they have. That's how you can get to them, if you want to, beacuse they will not help you if they don't want to, they are too selfish for that. But if you can get them at their weakest, well... you'll have yourself a truly valuable adversary - or the most deadly enemy of all.

Don't be afarid of the rogue, unless you are an asshole with a lot of valuables, or incredibly lovely daughters.

Try to love him, or at least like him a bit. You know you want to. He can be alot of help to you if you like him. He's always nice to have around. And he is always there to save the day, if no other hero shows up.

I like the rogue. Because I am a rogue. But I like other rogues as well, mostly. Some of my best friends, and all of my greatest lovers are rogues. We truly like each other, because we can respect each other's talents.

And only we can understand the solitude that is there in the heart of every single rogue.

We are alone, but we like it. And if not - it's always easy to find company, when you're a rogue.

Even for the night.

So what's a rogue? A charming lover of life, who plays by his own rules, who takes things in his own hands, and dashes out like a hero to amaze the world.

Yes, I truly like the rogue.