Building the Guy

[paradisamods]

[In the lobby this morning there are long tables set up, sort of in the style of build-a-teddy-bear. Except what needs to be constructed aren't bears... There are big shapeless man-size dolls, along with stuffing and various decorations to give the 'doll' a personal twist. On the first table there are the empty cloth men, on the next are various

Comments

[modernholmes]

[Conan regards the explanation with a faintly horrified expression.]

They expect us to celebrate the death of a bomber?

[blue_sniper]

[Bucky was wandering through the lobby, looking at everything, and then sees the kid and hears his comment. Huh.]

I don't know, I can think of a few people I would want to burn to death. [And not just hypothetically either.]

[modernholmes]

[The small boy turns and levels an unamused look at Bucky.]

I have heard many reasons to kill someone, but none of them make sense to me at all.

[blue_sniper]

I'm a soldier, it's my job to kill people. Though usually most people don't deserve it.

The ones I'm thinking of, though... [They were total bastards.]

[modernholmes]

There is no justification for killing someone. Only reasons people think are good enough.

[Conan is too caught up in private outrage to realize that these sentiments are a little advanced for a seven-year-old.]

I'm a detective.

[blue_sniper]

[Bucky raises an eyebrow at it, but then again, everything that's come out of the kid's mouth has sounded like someone his age. Good thing he's not one to judge by appearances.]

A detective, huh? [Another thing about this kid that's weird.] But isn't there anybody you just wanted to get revenge on because they did something...horrible to you?

[modernholmes]

[Conan stiffens as his thoughts immediately turn to Gin and Vodka. And the other members of the Black Organization. He answers slowly.]

If something like that ever happened I would want them to face justice for their crimes. Within the judicial system.

But what do I know? I'm just a kid!

[blue_sniper]

[Nice try. You've already said too much for Bucky to think you're just a kid. And he's not going to treat you like one.] I kinda doubt that you're just a kid.

And what if they couldn't actually be brought up to trial for it, and you had a chance to just get rid of them? I would take it. And maybe that makes me a bad person in your book, but it would make me feel a hell of a lot better. They couldn't do it to anybody else.

[modernholmes]

What else would I be?

Then I would find a way to pursue them until I could collect enough evidence to reveal their crimes to the world. Even the worst crime is no justification for committing murder yourself.

[blue_sniper]

Something. I don't know. Not what you look like. [He's seen some crazy things, and this castle isn't the first.]

The thing is, it's war. People do things and then afterwards they get off scot-free because they can say they were under orders. [He'd seen soldiers in his battalion do it.] I mean, I always expected we'd catch them, but... knowing that they were dead would make me feel better.

[modernholmes]

But I am a child. My name is Conan Edogawa.

Killing doesn't solve anything.

[blue_sniper]

You don't act like it. James Buchanan Barnes. My friends call me Bucky.

And you remind me of my friend. [He laughs.] He believes in justice for everybody like you. I'm not sure if I do.

[modernholmes]

That's because I read a lot. And my cousin has been teaching me about being a detective.

It isn't so complicated. People who commit a crime should face punishment.

[blue_sniper]

I still don't believe you. [He is not going to let this drop.]

I believe they should face punishment, too, if they can be caught. Just what type of punishment...

[modernholmes]

Why not?

I told you, I'm a detective. It isn't my job to decide punishment. Only to find the truth.

[blue_sniper]

You don't talk like a kid, and you certainly don't act like one. Saying that you're just a kid only makes me more suspicious. [He is a naturally suspicious person.]

I guess it's not my job to decide punishment either. It's just my job to shoot where they point.