@gaby

[vns]

[ this was supposed to be one of Gaby's days off. in fact, she's not in the safehouse when the message comes in. ]

Turns out that we're missing two new faces around the safehouse.

I'd play a guessing game as to why I wasn't told, but I don't care. These two faces apparently murdered two people that night.

I don't know who they are, but I do know that they're locked up. Any guesses as to what's going to happen to them?

Genuine question. Because I don't know.

Oh, and because some of you think you can do whatever the hell you want around here: don't think the way out for them is a jail break. Don't even fucking try it. And no, Morningstar isn't in the business of breaking people out of jail, because that would be stupid.

[ she's a little angry. no. a lot. but mostly she doesn't know how to handle this one. ]

Look. You know something? Tell me. You won't be "in trouble."

Comments

[cyberlife]

This will set people against one another and set them against Morningstar. The moment you make someone feel different or inferior in any way, you are promising yourself disaster.

It's not projection, it's an experience that I'm sharing to help you understand.

We should be together on this, not making groups within groups.

[batricide]

Are you dense?

You want to extend blind trust to every single person who gets dumped here, with absolutely no question as to whether or not they're safe to have? Just wait and hope they don't kill anyone, and then what from there? Give them a free pass because they're one of us?

Is that what we do, Connor? Because our lives matter more than the lives of the people born and raised here? Is the line crossed when they kill one of us? Is that when we're allowed to be concerned about who we're trusting with our friends and family?

[cyberlife]

But you didn't seem to have a problem with it before now. You didn't raise this huge concern of yours to Gaby or El or any other Morningstar agent.

You felt so strongly about this, even before the two murders, but we've heard nothing about it until now.

Civilian lives are important - all of them and all of us, who fall into that same category. I'm not deferring to a man who believes murder is a good solution for murder, because I'm worried about you and choice others enacting your vigilante justice now. If people get hurt it's directly related to your extreme emotional responses on this network post, Hafid.

Innocent until proven guilty is the way I operate as a detective with the Detroit Police Department. Treating human beings like cattle until you've sent your final word on them down from on high is not something that I am going to tolerate.

[batricide]

I spoke about it. Just not to you. I wasn't aware I had to voice my every doubt.

Asking for basic security protocols in the wake of two murders is not unreasonable. It's insane that I'm having this conversation and debate. The world isn't black and white, you don't get to moralize and live by your ideals when actual lives hang in the balance.

But fine. Keep twisting my words.

[cyberlife]

Yes, theirs apparently.

This is why you're unfit. You've already condemned them in your mind, without following due process of law.

[batricide]

What the hell are you talking about?

[cyberlife]

They're cold-blooded murderers to you, aren't they? I've read the comments you're making.

They don't get the same rights and chances everyone else does? These general "civilians" you keep referring to, who are absolutely without guilt or wrongdoing? Anyone can make a mistake; it's not in the interest of fairness for us to decide what happens to them.

[batricide]

[ Now that gets his blood boiling. He bolts to his feet - it's worthless to do it, hands balling sharply to fists. ]

You want to present me with evidence that it was done in self defense or it was an accident? I'll change my mind. Go on. Bring me the proof that this wasn't done with malicious intent. I'll rescind everything I said.

And no, Resnik, they don't. You commit a crime you live with the consequences. You take a life and you carry that with you until the day you die and you get everything that comes with that.

[cyberlife]

Then shouldn't we die, for killing others? I've killed human beings, so am I now an enemy to you? You're all over this post telling our friends that killing bad people doesn't make you yourself bad, but you know that it does - I think you're well aware of that fact.

You are chomping at the bit for someone to go in there and off them. Without the evidence you're asking me for. That's hypocritical.

tw SOME SELF INJURY

[batricide]

[ It stings. It hurts in a way that makes his skin heat and catch. It hurts in a way that has him whirling and hitting the wall, hard, again, and again, and again. Because he has nothing else to do and no other way to vent it.

He's tired of this argument.

He's been having it since he was twelve years old. Since he was old enough to be told there was a different way, a better way, which conflicted with everything he was brought up. Since he grew accustomed to watching the monsters they put behind bars get out and terrorize, and maim, and kill. Since the first time he glimpsed the replica of one of his brother's uniforms behind glass, free of the blood and viscera that had stained the original. Since he watched a madman laugh in the aftermath of eight million dead.

It's about then that he notices Stephen Strange's message. The note of caution. A reminder that there is, in fact, a game to be played and he's doing the al Ghuls a disservice by refusing to take part.

And instead of Jason's ruined uniform or the irradiated pit that Metropolis had become, the city they'd worked so damn hard to rebuild from the ground up, he thinks of Clark's hand on his shoulders and the steadying presence of his calm. Of the want to make him proud. To be better than Bruce.

You're just going to GIVE UP, are you?! You can't let HIM win!
This is a setback. Nothing more.
This feels like a defeat.
Not even close. This is far from over. You can bet on that.

He takes a breath. Pulls bloody knuckles off concrete, and shuts his eyes. ]

You're right.

[cyberlife]

(he doesn't know how damian's lived, he doesn't know what drives him, but he knows that — inherently — he is a person trying to do his best.

given his own bad circumstances, connor, too, is trying to do his best. to become a better person that isn't governed by the mission, the end justifying the means, results. one markus would invite to be his right-hand in their push for freedom and in their current relationship. a partner hank would be proud to work with after everything's all been said and done. after making so many mistakes. he hopes that he's progressing. now projecting, he hopes that damian is too.

"hafid" easing up gives him a full spectrum of things to say, and yet none.

it leaves connor grasping, hands empty of purpose now that his accedence has been so abruptly cast into their conversation.)

I've been needlessly harsh and it's not- I'm sorry I took it so far.

[batricide]

I get that my stance isn't a popular one. Most people aren't going to agree with me on it. I base it on what I know of my experiences with dangerous people and seeking the damage that they can cause when left unchecked.

Ignore my outburst, consider what I've said.

We're on the same side here. We don't want people to suffer needlessly.

[cyberlife]

I've considered it. I still think it's the wrong way to move forward, in the wrong direction, but I told Mr. Strange that if it came to a vote or some other democratic way of deciding as a team - I would concede and I would help. I want to help, Hafid.

(it's all he's ever wanted to do.

connor, the rk800 prototype manufactured by cyberlife. honest to a fault and doggedly loyal. desperate to help.)

Anger may not be a constructive way to react, but it is an exceedingly honest one. So even if this conversation caused you grief, thank you for being honest with me.

[batricide]

Then we're in agreement.

[ Not really. But he can at least agree to that - for as loud, annoying, and vitriolic as he can be, he can agree not to attempt to implement anything. ]

[cyberlife]

Yes, we are. I hope we can meet at a later date to... discuss all of this in person.

Messages aren't good enough. I prefer speaking face-to-face.