maskormenace | ◨ 2

[ The camera does not immediately focus on the face of the man holding it; it shakes a bit, the screen showing a white shirt, black suspenders, a right hand sporting two finger splints. Finally it levels to show Harvey's normally handsome face, except there a couple of things amiss:

One thing of note is the scar that goes down the left side of his face, from eye to jaw, a clean line of a cut through his plastic surgery that is not fresh but has not yet been "fixed." Another is his blackened right eye, and his lip swollen on the right side. He doesn't look particularly in pain -- or at least doesn't show it -- but what he does look is pissed off. ]

Too far. This has gone too far. Look at me -- look at this.

[ Harvey points to his face with his splinted fingers, still looking livid. His breathing is harsh, but even. ]

It's never enough, what I do. Bad enough I have to work with and against the system, "unsettled" and working the arms of law, but the big red weight on my shoulders sees to it I'll never see a moment's peace for the rest of my life. I'm no saint -- I know. Made mistakes. So now I wake up looking like a human punching bag.

Not to point fingers. But where's the justice in that?

[ He gestures, vaguely, with his splinted fingers as much as he can move them. He takes a sharp breath, exhaling slowly, looking like he's trying to calm down though his face is still red around the eyes, the temples, the forehead. His left eye looks particularly dead as it stares forward, his weary-but-professional expression making the fact it's a glass replica suddenly more obvious. It moves in not quite perfect synch with the right eye. ]

Just my two cents.

All that aside, I had something else to say. I was hoping to look my best for this announcement, but next time I'll know better than to put it off. Never mind the state of my face. My name's Harvey Dent, and for those of you that don't know me yet, I'm a Public Defender in Heropa. If you're ever in trouble and can't afford a representative, we might see more of each other. I won't rest until I see justice is served the way it's meant to be.

That's all. Good day to you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It does not appear like there is much justice to be found in this place in general. [ Samara has just the tiny hint of a frown on her face. ] Do you have any clues as to who did this to you?

Not just this place. The imPorts are just as guilty of that as anyone else.

[ He's tempted to answer affirmatively, but the word "clues" sticks out to him. He doesn't have evidence, exactly, so: ]

No. I didn't see them.

That is true, I would not be able to argue there. It is very unfortunate. [ Her tone might indicate that it annoys her more than she's showing. ]

And they left nothing behind?

You can say that again. No easy fixes to society-wide damage like that -- especially when it holds across universes.

[ It bothers him too, but he has his own reasons for being disillusioned (yet self-righteous) about justice. ]

Just what you can see on my face.

There are ways to fix it though. As you said, they are just not easy.

[ She shakes her head. ]

Do you have any suspicions at all?

There are ways to help. Fixing it... everyone has to want to, or nothing's going to stick.

[ He pauses. ]

Yes, but I'm not at liberty to act on them without evidence.

Helping might be enough to get things on a path to fixing.

[ She nods. ]

That is understandable. Though, sometimes, it can be helpful to discuss theories.

That depends. If it's only one person...

[ But that's not important, for now -- rather, Harvey's theories on how to make "even out" justice aren't important, or relevant. ]

Whoever it was, sh-- they... knew what they were doing, that much is pretty clear. I never even knew what was happening until I woke up and saw myself.