Free over-the-top villain line for whoever wants it:
"Some say that children are our future. I prefer to think of them as...leverage."
. @Nezchan
I think that was King Stephen, talking to William Marshal's father while holding baby William over the parapets.
Never heard of 'em.
I honestly can't tell if you're serious or joking with me, because tone on the internet.
If you want me to medieval-splain this particular interaction and these people I will gladly, but I'll spare you for now.
Suffice it to say, medieval children as collateral / leverage was pretty commonplace.
/steps off medieval soapbox
Well, I literally had never heard of the guy or that story. But it was also the fact that I wasn't trying to copy a pre-existing story or event, just something fun I thought of while working on a previous project that I never really used.
I get enough "Oh, you must have go that joke from [show I don't actually watch]" or similar, I figure it's worth clarifying.
I'm probably more sensitive than I should be about it, honestly.
. @Nezchan
Sorry -- wasn't trying to imply you'd stolen the idea somehow, just being like "Wow, that's a funny coincidence, what goes around comes around."