012 ♍✷ VIDEO

[glowsferatu]

[ The camera opens with Rose setting up a camera in front of a couch, disappearing as soon as she’s satisfied with the position. Kanaya seems pensive, her lips drawn tight, looking at something to her left, where some low chatter can be heard. Some sort of skittering noises, and an occasional squeak. Kanaya takes a deep breath and turns her attention to the camera, as she begins. ]

Around a year ago, some of you may remember I spent time in prison for, well, costumed supervillainy. I came to the Network to confess the crimes I committed as Hobgoblin, in...what one might call an ill-advised endeavor for harsher punishment. Suffice to say, I wasn't at my best at the time, or in any way my most logical. But...I wasn't at my most truthful, either. There was much that went into that situation that I left out, mostly by deliberate obfuscation or exaggeration.

[ There's another chirp from offscreen, and Kanaya breaks her thought for a moment to look to her left and gently tap a finger against her lips. She takes another deep breath, collecting her thoughts more coherently. Stop pausing so much, Kanaya. ]

The most important facet being that the Hobgoblin was primarily the result of mental manipulation, even brainwashing, conducted on me by Norman Osborn. The elder. [ Because that will always be an important distinction.

It's at this point that Rose becomes a solidly visible figure, casting an incomprehensible look towards Kanaya, utterly oblivious to just how in frame it is. Relief is, perhaps, the best way to describe it; it's been a year that she's waited for Kanaya to cast the blame on the correct person. For as long as it lasts, at least, as Kanaya unfortunately isn't done. ]

Not that it makes me entirely innocent. He told me what to do, yes, and I was compelled to follow his directives, but it isn't as though he micromanaged the whole thing. Carrying it out was still me, still my mind determining how to arrive at the destination he dictated. [There’s a frustrated sigh, off screen, quite obviously from Rose. ]

The costume, as an example, was my design. I only created it to the parameters he desired, which isn't very different from most design jobs I take. Only, this one was in preparation to becoming the client's costumed thug. Which is really all I was. More a henchwoman than a supervillain.

And even his part in it doesn't erase the lies I told in my previous confession, of course, that's still a thing that I did. I could try to paint the reasons behind that decision, the guilt and the rationalizations. I would rather have suffered someone thinking me worse than I am than allow anyone else to make themselves a target for all of this. To keep them from experiencing what had already happened to me, or what he did to Rose through me. It was a bad plan, among many bad plans.

[ This time, Rose is very conscious of her visibility. And, a very soft interjection: ] The point is that, ultimately, Norman Osborn was the grand orchestrator in this. [ Kanaya glances at her with some surprise. She was carrying on a bit, wasn't she? ] Right. Yes, that.

What it all comes down to is that Norman Osborn was a very dangerous man. Kanaya experienced violation to a degree which is unfathomable. I allowed my ego to blindside me and I ultimately allowed myself to be manipulated and played like a well tuned instrument. We could stand here all day and count the ways in which we blame ourselves and the ways in which things could have been done differently, but none of that erases what has been done.

This was a year ago, now. In the months that followed, several imPorts aided us in an extensive investigation and in the end, Norman’s recent arrest. Notably, Norman Osborn junior was a significant help. We owe everyone involved a debt of gratitude for seeing this to its end. Unfortunately, the end being that we have also subsequently seen the senior be ported out. [ Sourly said, though it ought to be cause for some relief, later. ] If we're lucky, this world will never see his like again.

Comments

private

[resipiscent]

[He remembers this, vaguely -- he had only just arrived when Kanaya posted the initial confession. But he can see his own story in this one.]

I would have lied too, if I'd had the chance. I can't act like I disapprove considering I found myself in a similar situation a couple of years ago. You just did what you thought was the best option at the time.

private

[glowsferatu]

Well, I know that I disapprove. There are some who first formed their opinions of me based on those lies, no matter the discrepancy with the actions I've displayed afterward. I don't expect those people to trust or forgive me.

But I thought it would be prudent to set the record straight.

perma private

[resipiscent]

Yeah. I mean... that was one of the first things I saw on the network when I got here, but I just kind of... didn't touch it. And you're right. You can't expect the people that you've wronged to forgive you, but sometimes they do anyway.

voice;

[enigmaestro]

This must be something of a relief.

voice;

[glowsferatu]

That, I think, is the definition of understatement. It's as if a deep shadow that has cast over my life for the past year as finally lifted, and the sunlight is finally able to shine through.

voice;

[enigmaestro]

Spoken so prettily. Pity that your lovely rhetoric came at such a high cost. [A beat.] I don't suppose you have any information on his exit?

voice;

[exceptfebruary]

Hobgoblin doesn't suit you. [ It doesn't have anything to do with Virgos.

But Nygma had talked to him about Osborn, and while he didn't care about the man before, he does now. ]

It is good he is gone, then.

voice;

[glowsferatu]

I didn't have much say in it. The ghastly mask and androgynous carriage aren't things I would have chosen under normal circumstances. But then, I think that it didn't suit me was the point. Not even I knew it was me until that mask came off.

Of course, I must wonder what you would think does suit me.

[ Somehow she doubts anything other than a long gown and some kind of wheat-based weapon would pass his muster. He'd probably be mad if he met her as Echidna. ]

[exceptfebruary]

No, I cannot see you willingly wearing such a thing. [ Julian, what would you even know about what Kanaya usually wears.]

Virgo. The Virgin. A maiden. Wheat. [ Kanaya has him pegged. ] In your colour, of course. With your sign clear and recognizable.

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[justimom]

I am sorry to hear of this, especially of the violation you faced, Kanaya. None should have to go through that. I hope you have been brought some relief by his porting out.

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[glowsferatu]

The greatest relief is knowing that it's finally done with. Rose and I can go on with our lives, and Ashiah will be safe to begin hers.

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[justimom]

And we can hope he does not return. Though I do wish you had not taken such a burden onto yourself alone. The fault should have been given to the individual responsible as well.

[video]

[youbastard]

[ There's a small pause before Ellie actually speaks. The pause gives her a moment to decide her tone and ultimately she goes with something neutral that doesn't reveal too much. ] I can understand why you didn't step forward. I don't agree with that choice, but I can understand the fear that admitting all this might have brought. Thank you for telling us now.

[video]

[glowsferatu]

I don't know that the problem is quite that I hadn't stepped forward. Because I had.

It's only that, when I did, I pretended the blame rest only on my own shoulders. Which was...kind of stupid, really.

[video]

[youbastard]

Just a bit stupid. Take it from someone with experience, taking blame for things that weren't really your fault only leads to a lot of unnecessary stress on your end. It's easier said than done though, isn't it? Especially if other people got hurt.

action.

[nitidus]

[She suspects (correctly) that most responses will be pointed towards Kanaya. She has been, after all, a very public face of this entire mess while Rose has slipped quite unseen into the background. Cowardly, perhaps. She thinks so, anyway.

But she stays close by, attending to their chirping and clicking little bundle whenever Kanaya starts to speak. It's the very least she can do. ]

It's going well, [she says, maybe an hour after. ] From what I can see.

action.

[glowsferatu]

[ Kanaya looks up from her communicator, and crosses over by Rose to tickle Ashiah's belly. She lets out a loud chirp and pokes her little legs at Kanaya's hand. ]

I don't know how much good it will really do, in the long run. Anyone who actually believed it has been rather quiet, so far.

It could be no one really takes anything from this, but those who would rather hear it this way to begin with.

video

[bloodpressured]

Uh.

[Probably the polite thing to do when your friend makes a difficult personal confession over the network is to back off and let her deal with it, or maybe express sympathy. Definitely the polite thing to do.]

So, what the shit is all of this? Costumed supervillainry? Brainwashing? Holy fuck, what?

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[nitidus]

It's a rather long story that begins before Kanaya's eventual involvement.

[Just - carefully interjecting, because it is a very long story. ]

Where would you like to start?

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[glowsferatu]

[ Kanaya frowns, but his confusion isn't really that surprising. He's entirely devoid of context, here. ]

I told you it was complicated. It's been a long, terrible year, and that was only the start of it.

[video]

[timeframes]

[oh god this seems deeply emotional and highly personal, how do you even respond to that. Just sort of silently filming a few seconds of his own confusion (and probably sending a light echo of Karkat's very touching sentiment in the background) and then clearing his throat.]

Oh. Uh. Sorry.

That doesn't really cover the whole gamut of that sure sounds like a fucked up thing to have happened and all. "Gee whiz, sorry about all that shit" sounds kind of fuckin' insufficient when I say it out loud.

[video]

[nitidus]

I think I owe you an apology. You were quite spectacularly left in the dark about all of this.

[video]

[glowsferatu]

We've sort of...tiptoed around it, with the two of you. There's no reasonable way to inform someone of all of it in a way that isn't awkward.

But I hope, at least, it explains some things.

private

[notyourfathersosborn]

Thank you.

For finally putting the blame where it should be--on my grandfather.

[There's a long pause.]

...And for sticking up for me. You really didn't have to do that.

private

[glowsferatu]

I think we did, honestly. The two of you share a name, we couldn't just smear his and let people decide what they will about yours. Best to start immediately, to draw distinctions.