ataraxion | third tear ♫ video;

Entry tags:

third tear ♫ video;

[ 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.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[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.

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.

[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.

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

[ 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.

Edited 2014-12-11 02:41 (UTC)

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.

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.

[ 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. ]

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.

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.

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...

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

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

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.

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

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.

That's great, but sometimes that's the only way to end it. People can be pretty persistent.

I gotta ask, why is it left up to you?

Protecting my friends? Absolutely not. [ Like what kind of question is that? ]

Well, I guess if you got the time to do it...

Just what kinda stuff is this guy up to, then?

[Fortescue smiles, a little, but it's wry.]

No, it isn't.

[So many people think it is. So many people join up with the army — or worse — and think that ending a life is as easy as pointing and pulling the trigger. And guns do make that impression easier, but the faces stay with you. The feelings and smells of where you were stay with you.]

It's a weighing act. Some people can't do it.

[They freeze up, or they try to argue their way out of it. Fortescue can't blame them. Not at all.]

So you have to kill someone to save someone else?

Edited 2014-12-11 20:25 (UTC)

[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.

[ 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. ]

Like I said, I can't speak for everybody. It was different for me. My reasons are probably going to be different from yours or the next person's. Guess it just boils down to the situation. Some people can be reasoned with. Others just deserve to die.

[He still believes this.]

But, what if trying to reason with them leads to their committing murder and you've missed your chance to stop them?

[ FRETS FOREVER ]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 5

third tear ♫ video;

[anonymous text]

video

video; private;

Text

video;

text;

Video

[text]

video;

video

video; private;

video;

video;

video;

Video

video;

Video

video;

video

video; private;

text

[Video]

video;

[anonymous text]

video;