video.

[selfequipped]

[Kate actually knows she shouldn't do this. She knows she shouldn't, but she goes ahead and does it anyway.]

A year ago, I made a post on here. I talked about a different world, and I talked about a different registration act. In my world, good people who refused to register were assaulted, brought down, and meant to be delivered to a dangerous and terrible prison until they submitted. My friends and I were among the first to refuse to register, and we were lucky enough to be rescued. I never registered, and it turned out that everything associated with the act was ... bad.

For that reason, among others, I've refused to register here. We don't belong in this world, and our hands are being forced on the matter. The government has used us without divulging information openly, and they've even put us into psychological games. Just last April, everyone was asked to play a game. Did you feel like a rat in a cage? And last June, people were asked to play a war game without being told of the very real consequences: that with every shot, we'd feel what it was like to have a real bullet tearing into us. And at the end of the game, you either won or you experienced true death before you woke up.

[Her voice here intensifies in its anger.]

And now ... now, a year later, we're in another game. We're in the reality of that paintball game. See, it was imPort versus imPort, and here we are again. We're having our hands forced because even if we've been helping one another, and helping the citizens of the world, we should be brought in. None of the vigilantes I know kill. We all help, doing what we can, and it's the government who defines our behavior, and who decides that we should adhere to their laws. And why? Is there any reason that we should? We didn't consent to these tattoos. We've been going along with what they've wanted for ages.

So, this is what I'm asking the government to do. You have the list of vigilantes. Why don't you bring us in yourself? Why use other imPorts? You can capture us, right?

Because honestly, that's what I'd like to know. Obviously, you want something for this, so everyone, let's guess! Because it looks like they want a Civil War among us. I guess they really didn't think it through, even with cautionary tales already ready in their midst.

[When she cuts the feed, it switches to text, providing a link to her previous words on the matter. Cautionary tales are even sourced!]

Comments

text

[kinesia]

[ She is right. Grey reads the post she'd made before, too, and she's right there as well.

He understands what the Government is doing. Turning Registered imports against Unregistered, it makes plenty of sense. Of course it does. It creates a class system. Of course they want that. ]

because their own people dont have powers

if they go against imports they could lose . other imports might lose too

but it wont matter . theyd like us to fight each other

its less for them to worry about .

text

[selfequipped]

And if we fight, it just goes to show that we should've been brought in in the first place.

[ video ]

[hostage]

Are any of us really gonna do that? Roll on another imPort? I mean, I think we all got our priorities straight around here. Even us who registered aren't stupid enough to think the government's actually on our side. All we really got is each other.

[ video ]

[selfequipped]

Do you really think it's possible that someone won't, especially if they can prove that they're "loyal" to the government? Do you think that there is no one here capable of that?

Because I can think of a few people.

Of course, one name in particular stands out. It starts with a T ...

[notasaviour]

Yeah, this is feeling pretty ominously familiar. And I kind of like not being kidnapped and experimented on because I have no "legal standing" or human rights.

[Because that's where he ended up last time. No human rights if you're not human, after all.]

And setting people against each other- super-powered people, at that, with few ties to anyone or anything here- that always works out well for everyone, right?

[selfequipped]

Yeah, lots of eerie bits of familiarity. But it's not like we use this network and talk about it or anything. I guess we're supposed to pretend they don't read what we say. [Kate is still going, still passionate. It's dripping from her words.]

Then again, they can feign ignorance. It's not like they're forcing anyone to act, only encouraging it! It's not like anyone would ever do such a thing to their fellow imPort. ImPorts have never hurt someone before.

[Oh. Wait.]

voice

[glitchinthesystem]

[ Now this has offered something of an interesting perspective on registering.

Glitch has only ever seen it since he got here as a means to an end. Apply and get taken care of essentially and have all the freedom in the world. He didn't particularly think highly of the government, he hardly thinks highly of anyone.

But, he never imagined 'fake' war games that simulated death. It's rather creepy when he thinks on it.

Still, the imPort on imPort thing? Maybe, maybe he can see that happening. Only if people actually care enough about the viglantes in the cit. and there's maybe three people he could name who might.

Cue the sounds of darts hitting wood when this voice comes in.

Hm, Jamaica. Could be fun... ]

Isn't it pretty obvious why they want someone else to do it? Why get your own people killed when you can send in someone else to die for you. Plus, governments naturally are shitty at keeping the peace.

voice

[selfequipped]

Oh, that's the obvious answer. One of them, anyway.

[There's a pause.]

But if we're not killing, if we've only done good, where's the justification behind that fear? The ability to kill? Because then we should all be locked up from day one until Lachesis gets tired of us being here.

text

[runningstart]

i am freaking out do you have another phone i can call you on

text

[selfequipped]

I do. I'll send you the info privately.

[And after a moment, she does exactly that.]

video;

[grimreaping]

[ wry humour: ]

I take it you're not looking for congratulations on your prophetic talents.

[selfequipped]

No, but I'll take it.

In the form of a cup of coffee. Something tells me I'll need it.

voice;

[notdaredevil]

It really doesn't present much comfort that malignant stupidity is the same kind of stupid everywhere. Now would be a great time for Captain America to make an entrance, wouldn't it?

voice;

[selfequipped]

It would be great, but he's not here.

[This is going to be a bold statement, but she's an Avenger, damnit. She's Hawkeye. She even defied Steve once ... no, several times, all to do what she believed in.

And since he's not here, she'll act in his vision.]

So, at least there's us.

video;

[brushoff]

[ Dorian's smoking a cigarette as he talks, obviously posting this from his apartment's balcony. ]

Well I can think of one reason why the government would use us over their own soldiers: we come back.

video;

[selfequipped]

Some better than others. [By which she obviously means Dorian comes back better than others.]

But that's also assuming I'd kill you if you came after me.

[inmyothertights]

[All that this is made up of is Billy groaning in an very annoyed way.]

[selfequipped]

Everyone should buy me breakfast for not making a post that just said, "I told you so."

I should be admired for my restraint.

[askedtobe]

[ So. That's what the paintball game was all about. No wonder nobody would actually fill him in on the specific details, that's just great. My god is he so pissed. ]

We're always going to be a threat unless we're actually of some kind of use. And then we go and outlive it.

[selfequipped]

It really brings up questions about what brought this about, doesn't it? If we're requiring having people come after us, why? Does that mean that registered people don't have to be brought in for the same reasons, and should we be worried about that?

It's like they didn't consider the complications of this ... request.

video.

[nitidus]

I have always loved feeling like a pawn.

[salty af. ]

I'm sorry Kate, would you mind forwarding me your secure number?

video.

[selfequipped]

As have I. Surprisingly, they were less obvious about it back home.

[There's a pause, and after a moment, she sends along the information ... elsewhere.]

You should have what you need to contact me elsewhere.

text;

[whathawksdo]

I feel like the lesson I'm taking away here is to decline any game outside of cards at the bar.

text;

[selfequipped]

Well, it's not the lesson I'm actually gunning for, but if you want to be that paranoid, sure. Go for it!

[wonk]

somebody pls explain y were all flipping the fuck out over the governments tacit admission that they cant actually do shit about us

by somebody i mean u

pls explain this 2 me kate

[selfequipped]

The problem is that they absolutely can do something about us.

They're just choosing not to.

VIDEO.

[selfimage]

Oh, please. Raise your hand if you didn't see this coming from miles away.

VIDEO.

[selfequipped]

Hey, they held off for a year.

Bravo to them.

[bindsthedead]

I think they're overestimating how much imPorts care about whether or not people are registered.

[selfequipped]

See, they didn't say unsettled. They said vigilante. It's that extra step that's very important to justify their legislation.

video;

[daimeinashi]

Actually, if you look at it from their perspective, they have likely thought it through entirely.

Inciting discord among us is a rather sound military strategy; if we do not trust each other, then the threat of a potential imPort uprising against them is eliminated. Not only that, but such a move will single out those whose loyalty cannot be bought either by bribery or fear. That will allow them to ascertain which individuals pose a threat to them, and which they could potentially approach to do their bidding.

video;

[selfequipped]

It's not a very sound military strategy if it is one. It's encouraging an additional aspect of conflict between registered imPorts and vigilantes, or anyone they just want to say they suspect to be vigilantes. This might be what they're going for; they want to get all the McCarthyism out of their system via us, though that would be strange.

Either way, causing additional turmoil amongst us when they could just hand out incentives to the registered imPorts would make more sense. I'm still not sure I buy this being a strategy at all.

[video]

[walkingballpit]

[Well then, that's two of them that know they shouldn't be doing this, but he can't really let it slide.]

They use other imPorts because, when something goes wrong, all the news reports will show is imPorts.

[Rob's hand stops on the way to end the feed.]

It wouldn't change anything if they didn't use other imPorts, you know.

[video]

[selfequipped]

[Ah, Robbie. She's sorry that he has to see this again.]

It wouldn't, but they should know better.

text

[maime]

The only ones stirring up a civil war are people like you
Just don't cause trouble and I'm sure most of the registered imPorts will leave you be

Might be too late after this hissyfit of yours though
[Says the guy who is clearly trying to start a fight, come on Maine.]

text

[selfequipped]

No.

[That's it. That's the reply. She can see the baiting, and the moment she gets to "hissy fit" she doesn't even bother to type him something worthwhile in reply.]

video;

[schrader]

[ It's hard for him to admit that he agrees a little (LITTLE) with some of Pinkman's sentiments. So he won't. Plenty else to comment on! ]

No pulling punches, huh? [ WOW MISS BISHOP PLS DON'T GO BRINGING UP CIVIL UNREST OH GOD PLS HE IS A COP WHY YOU DO THIS ??? Life is hard enough. ] What, uh...happened last April?

video;

[selfequipped]

From what I've heard, nothing big. I was being a little melodramatic. But still, asking imPorts to impersonate one another for a contest ... that has to be a test, right?

Video

[tactile_telekinesis]

Aw c'mon, what are you talking about? This clearly the best idea they've had. [There's comfort in that he's confident she can see that clear sarcasm.]

Video

[selfequipped]

You're right. Maybe I should be sending them fruit baskets for their continued show of Doing What's Best for Everyone.

( perma-audio )

[desequilibre]

I confess I am confused. These vigilantes you speak of, they are people from other worlds? [ Because Athos had thought they were brought here to protect the cities for the government. He hadn't realised that some of the attacks might come from imPorts themselves.

It's not only protecting strangers then, but turning on people just like him. Who have been brought here against their will. She asks a lot of good questions if that's the case. ]

[selfequipped]

Not actually. Vigilantes back home are more strictly used to define those who take up arms and finish that action by killing people. It can be used for heroes, but it's not typically applied that way. It's a little unfair. There's an intensity behind it in my world, and only a few known people engage in it. [Namely: Frank Castle.]

Here, a vigilante is someone who puts on a costume without the government's permission and engages in heroics. Even if we're asked to do those things, we're not allowed to do it without their jurisdiction. Of course, "heroics" is a rather broad term. I got branded just because I said I was one over this network.