meadowlark | @hafid.alghul

[ he's been quiet. the past few months have been a lot. a beating to his ego if there ever was one, blows to his heart and soul he's not sure he'll fully recover from. a wakeup call in the worst way, from every direction, leaving him reeling. ]

Hafid al Ghul isn't my real name. Damian Wayne is. I don't feel right saying what I want to say without being upfront about that.

I don't care which you call me. It might mean nothing, but I believe a foundation built upon lies and secrets is doomed to fail. Especially when it isn't upfront on what it wants to do and what it is building towards. What I intend to do is to help rebuild this world and the faith of its people in the way I was taught works best. Using these abilities to make whatever difference I can. Hiding my identity while being visible enough for people to see that someone is out there, night after night, fighting for them and making their city safer.

A world in shambles needs something to believe in. It needs heroes. Heroes to give people something to hope and aspire towards. And I know Morningstar all its agents are an integral part of the survival of this world. I have no intention of cutting ties or diminishing its importance. I can't tell any of you what to do moving forward, only my opinion and even that won't mean much.

But I believe I can do more operating on the outside of the organization while working in tandem with it, maintaining that visible presence and upholding a strict code of conduct - if you'll have me do it. And I'm not arrogant enough to think I can make the change by myself, but I've seen the world in the aftermath of a madman lashing out for attention. People need something to believe in, and if the UNA has its way, then that will be what they lean towards.

The last time I addressed you all like this I acted like I had all the answers and that I knew what was best for all of us moving forward. This isn't that. I didn't, and I don't. This isn't a direction for the Displaced as a whole, but for me and anyone who wants to join me. One that requires more voices and thoughts than just mine, and I can't please everyone, but I can do a hell of a lot more than what I've been doing.

This is what I believe in. But this is what I want.

So tell me.

What do you all want?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I haven't heard from Clarke. And she hasn't contacted me, either.

[Which makes something sink in the pit of Markus' stomach, but he supposes that shouldn't be the point of this conversation. It's easy enough to take the implications and know what that might mean. Just one more hole in his heart as they press forward.]

What will you need, insofar as set-up is concerned?

I see.

Give me a moment.

[ Oh.

He doesn't know what else to say to that. Clarke isn't his favorite person in the world, and he's sure his life would be a lot easier without her around, but.. she'd said something he'd empathized with. This was home to her now. Just as it was to him.

He means to do this all in plain sight, but some information really isn't his to share. So he switches things over to a more private channel, even knowing that El is most likely attuned to everything that goes on. ]

You already know what I'm like. Diana is a warrior. I believe we'll be sorely lacking a gentle touch.

[ Granted, this Diana is gentler than his own by far. ]

[The switch over to private isn't terribly surprising. It heralds that there's personal information to share, and Markus isn't opposed. El is indeed probably privy to all of this, anyhow, and that's fine. This isn't a plan-in-the-making to be shy or covert about.]

A more mediating touch. [He knows what 'gentler' means. Someone who can keep balance, and Markus feels like he's constantly, constantly trying to do that for himself and for others here. His life is becoming defined by such a task.]

And what did you have in mind? More public-facing, or just another opinion to keep the group more well-rounded?

Both.

[ it's not an answer, but he's actually taking the time to gather his thoughts. ]

This whole thing may involve diverting attention from the rest of us. Anyone could be anyone under a cape and cowl, it lets us act more freely and be more to people than we can be as ourselves. But I told you before how I thought the reveal was going to go. We're getting closer to it whether we like it or not and should prepare accordingly for when the day comes.
I also imagine there will need to be some negotiation with El for resources, and possibly local law enforcement as Akechi pointed out. There will be internal concerns brought up the chain, as well as a need for decisions and discussions to be had.
Griffin mentioned a code of conduct for the displaced as a whole before she vanished. I intended to discuss it with her - I might hold off to see if she returns, but I doubt she'd be onboard with any plans I have. We'll need to develop one for ourselves, now that we've at least gotten a direction to shoot for.

[A pause as he weighs this. It doesn't sound too departed from what his role might've been with Damian's previous post, except the shape of the organization is taking root in a different way. Less about authority and organiation, and more about being what the people need, when they need it. A source of hope, as stated.

Even hope needed a chassis of logistics to run on.]

I think us making the choice to out ourselves, even if it is just a handful of the Displaced, is better than something forcing our hand. You're right. This has been a long time coming; in fact, we might be overdue after what's happened.

You're planning on everyone joining this cause being transparent? Our faces out there for all to see?

Not at first. That's too dangerous. If people know who you are then they can target your loved ones. I could have died last month because someone I pissed off knew my identity, and I'm one of the stronger people here. They could eviscerate any of our number with ease.
But I did this for years without anyone knowing who I was under the mask I wore. They grow to trust the costume and the mask, or the symbol you represent. Doing a trial run of this kind of heroics without revealing who we are may show what we're going to be in for when we do this unmasked. Or even if we can.
The moment one of us is unmasked, all of us are. Because outing one means outing all. We're all from very, very different walks of life but are clearly connected - check any one's social media account and you'll find a tie to almost everyone else. Anyone particularly well versed in social media can spot who doesn't belong where and draw connections from there.

[ And months ago, he'd have just said his piece and been done with it. Shouted down anyone who disagreed. It's not perfect. He knows he still sounds however he sounded to piss Jon Snow off, but. ]

But that's a discussion to have with everyone who signs up, as well as those who don't. We can't organize the Displaced collectively as a people, Griffin was right about that much, but we can at least hold a discussion or vote on what should be done. And we can be transparent when our actions can affect all of us.

[ because the last thing he wants to do is blindside anyone with bodies. ]

Yes. Of course it's a decision that will have to be discussed with everyone. I think the route of 'test it out and see the public's response' is the way of caution for now. But it's getting to the point where keeping our identities under the radar isn't going to last much longer.

There are already people who know us as the Displaced. Our faces are already recognizable on the shrines; if the right person passes me on the street, they could know who I am and go from there -- via all the outlets you just described.

I'm not saying that we need to rush into this, but I am saying that we need to be prepared whenever the inevitable does come our way. There's only so many groups we'll be able to maintain without being too overly connected. The Displaced. Morningstar. And now this.

You're right.

[ of course he is. that's why he started to trust markus' judgement to begin with. damian doesn't have any particular problems being public - he'd done that back home, outed himself and his father out of pure spite - but the sentiment isn't shared. ]

In your opinion, when the time comes, what is the best way to approach the reveal?

[Markus is apt to fall back on his experience with this. Though matters of Jericho and its goals were not quite the same as what Damian is now proposing, certain ideas can still apply.]

A public statement. A broadcast, made clear for the world to see. So that we can put our message out there on our own terms, and set the tone that we want to portray accordingly.

We should be honest about our intent. And I think we should also be honest about our origins, but that much isn't just for me to decide.

[ He likes it. Of course he does - Damian likes honesty above all else, even if h e so often isn't. ]

I agree.
Once we've proven ourselves I believe people will also be willing to ignore where we came from so long as we continue to help them.

Exactly.

Which means, even once we get this off the ground, we've got some work to do.

Well then.
I look forward to working with you Markus.

The feeling's mutual, Damian.

[that real name tho]

Contact me if you need anything.

@hafid.alghul

no subject

private

private foreverrrr

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject