maskormenace

Recent events have me thinking.

[ Stark says, taking a sip from his cup, before he focuses back on a camera. It's a lot more HD than your usual import camera -- then again, nothing but the best for Tony Stark. ]

In recent months, we've had people showing up, different times, completely different people, and now there's word of people sticking around. That's different, it's never happened before. [ A pause, a sip. ] But who knows, it could be a fluke, right? Or maybe I don't have complete data. Anyone else heard of anything like that happening?

I mean, that's as an aside. I've... I've seen a lot of people hold themselves responsible -- myself included -- for things that someone who isn't them did. Either a person they become, a person they were and aren't anymore -- or a completely different person.

Would you hold them responsible? After my...unfortunate incident I found people were holding me responsible for things that this -- different version of me had done. Is that a constant? Should people be held accountable for things that they weren't necessarily guilty of? If I'm ported out tomorrow, would the Tony Stark that replaces me be held accountable for anything I did over my time here?

[ Another pause then. His finger drums against the glass. ] Anyone have any thoughts?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I don't know if I'd pat the guy on the back for it...

But let's just ask this: was he himself? When it happened? The way you described it, he wasn't.

Oh, he was himself. He was totally himself. If it was just one of those flukes that changed people for a week or so, I might have forgiven him. But it wasn't. It was all him.

[ But it doesn't matter. Five months, a year - Carl can talk about it until he's blue in the face. He realizes his anger, his bitterness, his hurt that a man he thought he could trust could kill his own father and complete absolution of his crime.

He should've killed him faster, after he stabbed Jesse in the halls of Xavier's. Maybe Jesse's death would give the peace he needs, even if it is only temporary. A temporary peace is better than none, after all. ]

But that's okay. At least I know what he really is like, now. He ain't anyone's friend, but I doubt people will believe me. But they will.

[ Men like Jesse always betray others. It's who they are, they can't help themselves. ]

Huh.

[ There's a pause, then. ]

So he wasn't changed, or possessed, or anything?

And people just let that go? No repercussions? [ A pause, and a small sigh. ]

We wonder why people get frustrated with the justice system sometimes, and all we ahve to do is look at moments like that.

They let that go because they are in power to allow that to happen and no one can touch them. They stood aside and let it happen, and they go on telling my Dad it's his fault he died on a network post where he announced he forgave them for it.

[ Because that is how Carl viewed this whole shitshow. Just politicians and so-called heroes deciding who gets to die and who doesn't, and Jesse gets their blessing.

However, in the passage of time in untreated anger and lack any ability of forgive twisted his recollection, and one ported out RISE member who told Rick Grimes as such soon becomes every member of RISE in his memory. Hatred is a drug, and it warps the mind. ]

But doesn't matter. Because it will not happen again.

And why not? What are you going to do to stop it?

[ A pause, and he narrowed his eyes. This kid was angry, sure, and rightfully so, but... ]

You're not going to kill him in response, are you?

[ Well, Carl certainly tried. He would have succeeded too if it hadn't been for Joel for interfering. ]

No. I want to, but no.

[ There's not enough blood to heal the wound in his heart, stabbed by Jesse's betrayal and bruised by everyone who have ever blamed Carl and Rick for the LACKEY event. Carl knows that now. ]

But I am not going to stand by when someone hurts my family again.

Edited 2016-07-03 02:08 (UTC)

You shouldn't have to.

[ A pause. ]

I don't advocate murder, but I also don't think killing should be off the table where lives are concerned. And I don't think that someone who has killed twice won't kill again, particularly if it's been through sheer malice before.

But I also wonder if killing as young as you are wouldn't create problems for you later, too.

I can't see how it would.

[ Carl is having a hard time trying to understand why people get so upset with him when he does kill someone. That time with the guard during the mass kidnapping of the imPorts, for instance. They keep confusing his age for innocence, as if killing someone can be shielded from him.

Stupid. That kind of logic is what got people he loved killed in the first place. The idea of valuing all life only means to make the lives of family to matter less. ]

Honestly? Because killing changes you.

[ It's mild, with a shrug. ]

Mind, I'm not your dad, and certainly not going to try to be, so if that's your choice, it's your choice. I'm not advocating murder, but if that's what you need to do, I'm not going to tell you to remove an option from your arsenal.

You're the only one who gets to make the choice, you know?

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