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[boobwindow]

[ ID reads Karen Starr.

As for Karen, she's seated on her bed in her shared housing complex. Next to her bedside, on the small dresser, is a tall iced cappuccino that's already a quarter finished. Most of her hair is tied up and she's dressed in a camisole and three quarter pants, but interesting there's a light sweater laying near the edge of the bed.

It's much too warm for long sleeves. ]

Probably a bit weird to ask, but how many of you are going to the jobs they set up for us? I can't exactly complain about doing work I know how to do and being able to earn money ASAP, but it still feels a bit like a demotion. I liked the view from my office window.

[ She sighs and scratches above the digital tattoo on her wrist. ]

Ugh... and I don't suppose someone's found a way to get rid of this?

Comments

[boobwindow]

[ She pauses as this is getting heated and souring fast. It's more than tempting to tell Tony what happens when information that should have been privy to select individuals falls into the wrong hands, about the innocent people who still get hurt because of it.

Secret identities, damn it. ]

I'm sorry to hear that happened, but what happened in your world doesn't mean it's bound to happen in every universe where someone can fly or lift a truck over their heads.

I don't think the superhero community is without flaws and sure, if things get out of hand those responsible need to be held accountable, but where does the policing start and where does it end? That's what I'm worried about here: it sounds and looks like a pretty package, but who really knows what they want with any of us?

[liverletdie]

Here, we don't. You're right.

But, I understand their position entirely. I've been in charge of that lead, before. It's not pretty, but sometimes it's the only way to solve a problem. Or at least the safest and most expedient.

[boobwindow]

Well, I can't say I do.

[liverletdie]

I don't expect everyone to.

Especially if they've never been mired in the superhuman situation for years before. I've been living this life for too long, I've seen too many attempts to do exactly this, and none of them worked.

[boobwindow]

And what does your government do exactly with anyone wearing a cape or mask? Are they protected? Are the people in their lives protected? How much free will do they have?

[liverletdie]

We protect as best we can. A registered identity isn't necessarily a public identity. They aren't synonymous. They're free to operate as long as they've registered. If they want to, they can draw a paycheck for doing the work that they're already doing.

It makes balancing a personal and working life easier, it makes things less difficult for the heroes, and it means that when something happens, we can protect them.

I've done the secret identity thing, it created more problems than it solved.

[boobwindow]

[ A paycheck? As much as she and the other heroes have joked about it, they could probably never cash in a check for what they do.

"Created more problems than it solved." She thinks of Sue and Ralph and her heart sinks. ]

It's got to be difficult at times, but public identities gotta have their cons. I remember a couple of years back a [ good friend ] woman married to one of them was murdered. It was highly publicized, especially since his identity was public.

[liverletdie]

It happens.

[ He said it a little tersely. ]

It's happened to a lot of people. It happened to me, maybe not a wife but --

Anyway, it's not about making it public to the general public, not really. It's a good gesture, and one I'm more than willing to give, but it's not for everyone. Not everyone has money and power and nobody relying on me to make it by. We have an organization that holds onto them -- SHIELD. They're in charge of Superhuman affairs anyway, and have been for years. We're not exactly just posting these out on the internet for every person with a grudge to find.

[boobwindow]

[ It shouldn't have happened, but again, how to make that argument without revealing how invested she is in that? The community's never been the exact same after Sue. ]

So, we're talking a subdivision of the government? Or something completely different?

[liverletdie]

No, it's not quite associated with the government. I mean, we have ties, of course, we have a lot of power otherwise, but we're not at the beck and call of the United States, or any other government. Not even the UN. The Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate is more of a loose coalition that operates outside of the government, while still working with it.

Governments have a lot of power over SHEILD, but we have a lot of power to invoke in the case of an emergency, or when it's necessary.

You could say it's a balancing process. Checks and Balances.

[boobwindow]

[ She lifts both arms, clueless, her hand holding onto her plastic cup. ]

Doesn't sound like anything I've ever heard of, but I wouldn't really know what organizations out there deal with the community like that.

[ The JSA's had quite a few dealings with the Department of Extranormal Operations... but she ain't talking about that, of course. ]

[liverletdie]

It's a complicated balance, and there's no perfect solution that we've found. Superhumans as a whole are volatile, in general. Not that it's a bad thing that we exist, but finding a solution is always going to be trial and error.

It's a sad reality, but I'm a pragmatist, and a futurist. If I didn't think it was a viable one, I wouldn't work so hard to promote it.

[boobwindow]

I'm hoping here they'll see there isn't a need for slapping invisible collars on all of us and forcing people to compromise.

[liverletdie]

We'll see, but I know how people are, and just because we have superpowers, doesn't mean we're exempt from needing control.

What was it a friend of mine said? With great power comes great responsibility? Not everyone can exact it, and then people suffer for that.

[boobwindow]

Sounds like something I've heard in a movie before.

[ She sighs. This got heavy so fast and now she's wary of Tony. ]

We still on for tomorrow?

[liverletdie]

What, you think a little minor disagreement is enough to keep me from taking a look around?

Yes, we're still on for tomorrow.

[boobwindow]

I'm used to men flat out ignoring me if I don't bend to their feelings or opinions.

[ And yelling. Lots of yelling. ]

Great. I'll see you.

[liverletdie]

If I did that, I'm pretty sure I'd be lonely.

I'll see you tomorrow, Karen.

[boobwindow]

[ That is just sad, Tony. ]

See you, Stark.