hadriel | 007 [Video]

Entry tags:

007 [Video]

[Like the last few posts that have occurred, this is also clearly in regards to the Null's latest announcement; however, Lance is trying a different tactic, because he's doing his best to avoid getting kicked out of seeing their list. So he's wording this very carefully, and that's purposefully obvious in his tone; it's also probably pretty obvious in how intent his stare is, and in how he's casually fiddling with his FBI badge in view of the screen.

He's really hoping the Null aren't too good with subtle body language, and that the people here aren't as generally bad at it as he's concerned they are.]

In light of recent occurrences, I'd like to remind everyone that I'm a psychologist, and I have an office in the clinic should anyone wish to speak confidentially. Additionally, although I prefer to work with individuals, group meetings are also possible.

[Aka the Clinic is available for anyone who wants to have private conversations about all of this going on, and Lance will be lurking there himself both to participate and keep watch on things.]

[[ooc: Feel free to jump right to action threads, to do multi-person threads, threadjack on the network or in person, etc!]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Brennan looks smug as she walks into Sweets's office, not at all concerned over the fact that she is now on the hit list. This is fine. It is not the first time someone has had it out for her. She has a gun, she can fight, it is fine. There was a time when she survived horrible things without Booth in her life, ready to come to her aid at a moment's notice.

It is fine, and she does not regret what she told the Null.]

It would seem that I am now one of the growing number of enemies of the "state" -- or whatever term it is the Null use for people who dare express their opposition to their plans to commit genocide.

[She is not sorry.]

[Lance glances up as she enters, raising his phone slightly in both greeting and indication and giving her a look that's torn between disapproval and amusement.]

I saw, and I can't say I'm surprised.

[While he completely agrees with her sentiment, he does wish she hadn't been made a target.]

[Still very pleased with herself, she crosses to the other chair and takes a seat, her back straight and her head held high.]

I am glad to hear that my stance on the matter was made clear to you before this incident.

[Does she get the part where he disapproves a little? No. She is too busy being proud of remaining on the right side of things. Not that she is with the "gods" per se, but she is certainly not for the Null's plan.]

[He shakes his head, but he's grinning a little now.]

Completely clear.

[Lance lifts his phone slightly to indicate it.]

So far the Null still think I'm working with them, so we're continuing to have both sides covered.

[As per their plan, even if he'd rather Brennan not have ended up in such danger to maintain it.]

That is not why I said what I did, but it is a positive turn of events.

[No, no it is not, but she does not believe she is in any danger. It is hard to be afraid of the people in this cave when she has been through so much in her career and her pro bono work.]

They would have people murder children. I couldn't have remained silent if I had been trying to.

I know.

[It's to all of it, and he sinks down into his chair a little further. He wishes he could say that people wouldn't be stupid enough to go after the kids, and that at the very least if they're going to murder someone they target one of the adults, but he doesn't believe that for a moment.

Of course, what to actually do about it is a problem he hasn't figured out just yet, other than the obvious 'try not to let anyone get murdered.']

Unfortunately, the only people I already know of who might take the Null up on their offer are already aware that I don't approve of murder, so I'm not particularly confident I could discover any plans. I'm pretty sure everyone in this place know how I feel about this subject, actually; even though I can probably continue to fool the Null into thinking I'm on their side, no one else here is going to really believe it, which is both good and bad.

[Bad in that he can't manipulate anyone into revealing their plans, good in that anyone opposing the Null isn't likely to think he's actually on their side and therefore he can do things like make the post he did.]

We do not need to know an entire plan to foil it. [She does not like operating that way, but it is still possible.] And given what I was able to glean from the network, most people are already making plans to protect the children on the list.

[That is, it could be a lot worse.]

I expect I will have very little involvement at all, but that's for the best. I would rather not have to engage in combat with anyone.

I'd prefer if you didn't have to either.

[He's sure that's no surprise. And he hopes that people really do plan to protect the children, not just talk about it.]

Right now, the best strategy is probably to do whatever can be done to protect each individual person, and limit the number of targets available to anyone who wants to take the Null up on their offer.

[That requires the least amount of information to still have a chance of being successful.]

[She would expect nothing less from Sweets, who, in matters like this, has sided with Booth often enough as far as her safety is concerned.]

Before I was blocked from seeing the post, [she says with no pause for a transition] someone was acting as if they intended to do as the Null said. Do you know that person? Would they really take the Null's offer?

If you mean Hux, yes. To both questions.

[Unfortunately.]

He comes from the same world as Maketh, and is very proud of himself for destroying several planets. One person won't matter to him in the slightest.

That explains much of his behavior. The Empire in their world trains children as soldiers.

[The thought still upsets her.]

At least Maketh seems to regret her actions. The... cities she destroyed, the people she killed.

[He's aware of what Brennan's talking about, and the whole idea upsets him for several reasons, but the sympathy he has for either Hux or Maketh has completely worn off regarding it. If everyone was in their world, it would be one thing; here, it's another.]

So she says.

[At one point, he'd felt the same way as Brennan regarding Maketh, but that too has worn off.]

[While she does not trust people on a personal level until they have become very close, Brennan still tends to take people at face value, and always takes their words literally.]

You... do not believe her.

[Her question is unspoken: why?]

I don't.

[He sighs, sinking down in his chair a bit.]

People who regret their actions don't knowingly continue to cause the same harm at every opportunity, and then justify why it was necessary.

[Brennan purses her lips. She can think of one exception, but even Max did not take every opportunity. It took him time, but they were able to help him leave behind the idea that violence and murder were the easiest ways to solve problems.]

Well, she could... it could be a process. I know that is... probably not the case with her, but I just-- I was very harsh with Max at first, and yet he helped me stay free when I was framed for murder.

[Very few people are her father, and she knows that. But perhaps...]

I do not think she is like him, though.

Max is... Really unique.

[He means that in a good way, but Max is definitely not a normal case. And there are distinct differences in the way Max behaves, and the motivations for what he does, that Lance realizes Brennan probably isn't aware of simply due to not speaking with Maketh as much as Lance has.

So he just nods at her last comment, in agreement with it, silent for a few seconds before deciding to elaborate some.]

Max went to extremes out of a desire to protect those he loves. That still doesn't justify murder, but it's a very different reason than believing violence and fear are inherently the best method of dealing with people who disagree with you.

[Lance is sure that Max believes what he does is a necessary last resort, because he can't rely on the justice system; again, it isn't actually a justification, but it's something that makes sense. With Maketh, Lance believes she chooses violence as a first option, rather than a last one, and that marks a big difference between her and Max.]

Yes, it is.

[Max has made plenty of bad decisions in life in order to protect his family. She does not know Maketh very well at all, and what she does know is largely unpleasant, but given what she and Sweets have discussed about Maketh before, Brennan is inclined to agree with his assessment.]

She did not say anything to the Null, did she?

[Brennan did not see her message them before she was blocked from the post, and of course, she knows nothing about what happened after that.]

No. She's been very quiet, which in itself is not particularly noteworthy since most of the Guard has been avoiding angering the Null.

[And he doesn't blame them; it's smart to stay out of the line of fire if possible.]

But she's already told me she works with Hux if it's to achieve a goal, and she's made it no secret that she opposes the gods and thinks they're the biggest concern here, so I have my doubts that she will do anything to prevent murders from occurring.

[He's planning to speak with her directly about the subject, and he hopes that maybe he's wrong, but he doubts he is.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

007 [Video]

action, closed to lance

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject