third tear ♫ video;

[songburdened]

[ For perhaps the first time over the network, Elizabeth doesn't exactly look chipper. She's fidgeting, pulling at bits of her hair and moving as she talks. ]

Hello. I... I was hoping that I could ask you all your opinions, based on your own experiences. I realize that what I'm asking is situational and... well, really, private, but I really do need advice.

... When you have to kill, or... had to, before, what was it that allowed you to reason through it? Even if the act is for the greater good, it's still the taking of a life. Someone told me once that it was a necessity, though a terrible one, and I know now that he was right. Still, though, if it wasn't for survival-- for your own survival-- [ She pauses, reconsiders. ] If someone else was in danger--an innocent--is it any easier?

[ Clearly, she's never killed anyone before. Elizabeth chews on her lip, very much agitated. ]

Oh! This isn't about anyone on the ship, not at all. I'm only wondering for when I return to Columbia.

Comments

[anonymous text]

[yardbird]

[Because HAHA fuck if he's going to talk about murder on the network for all to know.]

It depends on the person and who they're killing. Back then I was convinced that what I was doing was right, that it would make the world a better place. The truth was - and I'd had A LOT of time to think about it - I did it for me. That it would help me sleep at night knowing that the man who ruined my life was in the ground.

Now it's become another reason why I don't sleep that much.

Can't speak for everybody, but that was just my experience.

video;

[songburdened]

I'm just not sure. It isn't for me, or for revenge, really, but there are innocent lives at stake. I'd much rather try and speak with them, to reason, but... I don't know if there's time. Everything's become so confusing.

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[foundafamily]

Sometimes you don't think about it. If somebody's life is on the line, you gotta act before anything can happen to 'em. I don't think it matters if that person in trouble is you or someone you care about.

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[songburdened]

But I have all this time to think about it! If there's a better way, I'd like to... to at least try and figure something out where no one has to die.

video; private;

[blackmagus]

[At first she considers not responding at all. The question hits ridiculous close to home, and that's not a place she wants to be near. But in the end, it's Elizabeth's agitation that makes Fortescue respond. She knows the look. Before she'd resigned herself to her feelings of guilt and responsibility, she'd downed many glasses of alcohol in a search of reasoning. Fortescue remembers her first mission so clearly, and how she'd gotten through it, but after that reasoning had fallen through...

There's also the fact that someone won't look at her the same way, after they know even a little of what she's done.]

Necessity's pretty good. [Even if the reason for that necessity had turned out to be a lie.] Protecting someone else is even better. Gives you a living reason for your actions. It's those people who tell you that it was right that you've got to look out for.

video; private;

[songburdened]

So many people have died. [ It's quiet, sullen; she'd seen more than enough tragedy in Finkton alone... ] And I want to stop it, if I can. But... it can't be easy, taking a life. Any life. Even if they may deserve it, or... if they're threatening another...

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[toomuchtenacity]

Survival. If I didn't stop them they were going to kill me. Simple.

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[songburdened]

But, it isn't me who's in danger.

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[overdraws]

[ Allison hasn't actually killed a person yet, and the one time she came close she doesn't really like talking about. But she has killed and fought summoned Japanese demons. It's the same thing, right? ] I was trying to protect my friends. I wasn't really thinking about whether or not I was taking a life, I just wanted to make sure they didn't take the lives of the people I care about.

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[songburdened]

But, now that you've had time to think about it... do you regret it?

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[last_ofthe_jedi]

Back home there was a war going on. I was a fighter pilot and during a battle I destroyed an entire space station. There were over one million people on board including some prisoners who were on our side. Sometimes I lay awake thinking about it but I know that there was no alternative. They had destroyed an entire planet and they were about to do it again. Sometimes it's kill or be killed though if you can live a lifetime without ever having to kill anyone I'd recommend that route. It can definitely get to you.

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[songburdened]

I know that I should-- I have to do this, but... when it comes to it, to that exact moment... I hope that I can be strong enough.

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[pushesback]

The lives depending on it meant more to me than the lives I had to take. Plus one had taken someone close to me already sooo...yeah, that helped.

Video

[songburdened]

I want to protect, but I don't want to be the reason that a cycle of violence would continue.

[text]

[songofhappiness]

[ The post has Caroline contemplative. And distracted, which is a good thing since she's been worrying about her friend's absence since the jump.

She's killed before, something she tries not to dwell on too much, though it does get to her sometimes. Caroline doesn't feel completely comfortable talking about it over the network, though, but she can see Elizabeth seems conflicted about it. ]

I guess it really depends on what your definition of the 'greater good' would be. If it's to protect someone, I can't say that it would be a bad thing. But taking a life is a serious deal.

I doubt it's ever really easy.

[ The actual action part if it can be, but the guilt that comes afterward...no. Not easy at all. ]

video;

[songburdened]

I never expected it to be easy. I just want to know that it's the right thing to do. Maybe I never will-- never can know.

[Video]

[sophically]

[These questions hit close to home and she chooses to send a reply via video. Elizabeth deserves a direct answer and Hermione isn't afraid of her beliefs.]

No, it's not. The moment killing becomes easy is the moment you know you've become callous.

[Video]

[songburdened]

I've never killed before, not... [ Not ever. She bites her lip. ] I travel with a man who fought in war and he understands a lot of things that I don't. But I can't let him do these things for me, not anymore.

video;

[peckish4action]

[ Robin's face on the screen isn't pleased, and he's wearing the mask, today, but his voice is. Almost gentle. ]

I was taught, and I've seen it work through some pretty horrible situations, that there's always another way. If you're prepared enough. If you're good enough. It's what we do, Batman and I. Save the innocents, put the guilty ones away. Some of them aren't as bad as they look in the heat of the moment, either.

Some of them can go back to being... people, rather than criminals.

[ He's fourteen, and he knows that only applies to some. But, for the most part, you never know which one it'll be, when things are going down. So, no-kill rule in place. ]

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[songburdened]

Only, I'm not sure if I can capture her, or--... no. The authorities in Columbia would kill her straightaway, or worse. I don't want her dead, but if she's killing innocent people... children...

[ Elizabeth shakes her head. ]

I wish I could talk to her, but I'm afraid.

[Video]

[alldamned]

That's some kinda question, darlin'.

[Heavy stuff, for most people, and he looks thoughtful for a good moment or two before he says anything more.]

I've done a lot of things I ain't proud of, but yeah. It's always easier if you're doin' it to protect someone, or to protect yourself.

[Video]

[songburdened]

I know.

[ Which is why she had to bring it up. ]

It's just that I've never killed anyone.

anon text;

[lostsoldier]

[ Neither the private nor anonymous functions hold a candle to the advantages of simply not answering, but her words knock something loose in his head, words circling around like marbles in a funnel, again and again and eventually out: ]

Don't worry. Killing is the easy part. The hard part is what comes after.

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[songburdened]

I don't think it would be easy to do either. [ One day, unfortunately, she'll learn that for herself. Will turn into as cold a person as she could possibly be... but, in the distant future. ]

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[de_void]

It's a pretty easy decision to make if it comes down to protecting the people you care about. [a beat and then he adds, seemingly joking:] Especially if the other person is an asshole.

[okay maybe not joking so much. he still regrets scott not letting them kill jackson. just a little.]

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[songburdened]

Well, what if you're trying to protect someone who you don't really know at all, but who's innocent?

[ Is it the same? ]

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[trynotodie]

[a small, faintly uncomfortable shrug.]

You don't really get the time to think about it when you're basically in the middle of a war. You just have to act.

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[songburdened]

Oh, absolutely. But while I'm here, I thought that I might ask for advice.