031 → Voice

[homomachinis]

In 1914, in the middle of World War I, there was something called the Christmas Armistice. Around Christmas and New Years, there was an unspoken end to fighting just for the Holidays, although it was part of a trend that soldiers were just slowly becoming acclimated to not fighting [ A tap, tap, tap of his pen. ] You know, I was starting to,

Comments

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[enigmaestro]

Goodness. "Our own Edward Nygma", that's so -- well -- sentimental. I anticipate a vicious backlash from my adoring public.

So what is it, that we need to talk about? On my one day off, mind.

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[enigmaestro]

Excommunicated from living. I could use words like murdered, if you'd rather.

Resentment that would be couched by the nature of fear! You've seen this model, you know the only way it fails or backfires is when the fearing party gets a leg up. And they've already feared us, we only have our position to lose. You're giving them that leg up.

Vulcanus is an entirely different issue altogether, if you want to talk security.

[A beat.]

Again, you know this model. You know where I'm deriving this from. Vengeance, vigilantism. Power imbalances. They already resent us, Mitchell, some of them hate us -- despite how politically incorrect it would be to say in public, now. We are past that point. Don't give them the power to leash us.

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[homomachinis]

So your solution would be the exact same thing, but in our hands. I don't want to hire a team of assassins! We shouldn't have back-room councils to decide if someone should stay alive or not! We need to use the legal system, we need to make sure we're working within the boundaries of the system we're working for!

If we don't have faith to use it, then we need to change it for the better. That's why I fucking took the job I did! [ At least in the outset. ]

We need to work this, Edward. We need to make what they want to be a leash into something else, [ a pause, it sounds so drastic ] turn it the other way around.

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[enigmaestro]

No, not at all! I don't have a solution for this incident you've started, because I have yet to go completely insane and concoct one meeting your requirements. I'm staunchly against murdering imports for justice.

We're not going to disagree that the current system needs transformation, Mitch, but I can tell you our methods towards that goal will be different. I'm not going to spin a compromise that undermines something I value.

[Beat. And then, acidly:] I thought you had more liberal leanings, Mitchell.

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[homomachinis]

[ A pause. ] I compromised. That's what politics is about, in the end. We all have to compromise. I convinced fucking Republicans to legalize state healthcare! It's about the give and take.

We need to give something, Edward. Especially if we want to take anything from them. We can. We will, but I need you on this.

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[enigmaestro]

This isn't your goddamn prior world, Mitchell! You have our special interests to look out for, we are universally displaced refugees.

Why give them this?

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[homomachinis]

I know I fucking do! That's why I'm in talks about this!

What else are we going to give them? Our blood? The secret to our powers? Access to the porter, to help them shut it down? Keep us from ever returning home? We don't have many options here!

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[enigmaestro]

You don't think those are next? Down this path, when it's fine to turn death into torture, you don't think our powers are next?

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[homomachinis]

What, give them an inch and they'll take a mile? Why do you think I want to be on top of this?

It's not meant to be torture or death! We won't let it get that far!

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[enigmaestro]

They'll undermine you. We can compromise on other issues.

But not this one.

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[homomachinis]

Like what, Edward? What else can we compromise? I'm not keen to work with this government regarding my powers! We need to give them some confidence in us! I can't do this alone, so please, share your wisdom.

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[enigmaestro]

Give them the benefit of technology we create, give them the glory we can produce. Give them that, give them hope.

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[homomachinis]

Don't you think I'm working on that? [ Aw shit, here you go eddie ] Oscorp agreed to help us keep the power grid up, after all.

Do you really think giving them more things to buy is going to solve this? I'm sure it isn't going to help now.

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[enigmaestro]

What. What?

Oscorp?

What?!

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[homomachinis]

How many companies do we have that specialize in that kind of thing? Two or three, I think? Why not Oscorp?

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[enigmaestro]

Because of two words! Norman! Osborn!