exsilium | [Video]

[Looking annoyed and more than a little irritated, Claire’s pacing in her room with her communicator, the video focused on her face from a lower angle.] Usually when you’re drafted to fight a war, it’s at least in the right century.

Look. I need to get back home. I know that everyone's probably saying the same thing. But the entire world was about to change, and I'm needed there. You can't just take people against their will like this. I don't care about your war, I need to be fighting my own.

[A sigh. She lifts the camera for a clearer view of her face.] In the meantime, I guess I should say.. My name is Claire Bennet. And I guess while I'm here I could use a little training.

[Action, Open!]

[Claire's standing near a bench in the courtyard, fearlessly twirling her Kamas in her hands. It's a good thing she did all of that baton twirling in Cheerleading camp that one summer, otherwise it would have taken her a lot longer to figure it out. She still can't quite figure out what sort of technique she's supposed to use with these things. The sharp and pointy part she gets, but the fighting discipline is is way over her head.

Wearing new clothes and being much cleaner and well put-together than she was when she first arrived, the expression on her face suggests that she's either bored or deep in thought.

She wonders if there's a way to send a message back through time to Hiro, or to her dad, or Peter. Then she'd be able to get out of here, get back where she belongs. Though.. A part of her is a little relieved she doesn't have to see that heartbroken look on her dad's face right now. She's not really looking forward to having to explain her actions to everyone.

Maybe the temporary kidnapped state will be a good thing.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Have a lineface, Sherlock. :|]

...Thanks for that clarification. [Dude it was an expression. What.] What I meant, was. I'm not sure putting innocent people at risk is a good part of that plan.

[You can have one in return, Claire. :|]

You're welcome. [Do you hear that wooshing sound? That's the sound of Sherlock totally missing the sarcasm. There it goes. Over his head. Bye bye~!]

No one is innocent, Miss Bennet. Here we are all soldiers, regardless of our own choices, and the people across the way are unfortunate collateral. Any ideas I come up will be set with the idea that there are to be as few civilian casualties as possible, preferably no fatalities.

Do you think that they're just going to spare the women and children here because it's the nice thing to do?

[Her voice raises a little. Clearly a little angry now.]

No, that's exactly why we should. We're not like them. Or, I'm not, at least. I don't look at people as collateral or casualties. They're people. With families, loved ones, whole lives.

Is it really that easy for you to look at them as numbers? Completely dismiss their lives and say the ends justify the means?

[A play of emotions across Sherlock's face, but they're quick, fleeting, and what replaces it is a cold, intensely empty gaze. His voice remains soft, but gains a clipped edge to it.] Does caring about them change the fact that they're an inevitable cost of war, Miss Bennet? No matter what anyone does, when there is war, the people who will be hurt first are the ones who deserve it the least, and trust me I am not unaware of that fact.

Yes, yes it is. Sentiment, Miss Bennet, is a deficit of the losing side. The individual instructions though, that will be left to people like you. People with moral hangups, if you will pardon the term. I am not here to fight the war, I am here to win it, and win it decisively, and then I am going to go home, because like many, many other people here, the world needs them, and my world, my home needs me.

[Her eyes narrow.]

I get it. I do.

But right now? Your attitude that morality and sentiment are deficits isn't making me very eager to join in your war. I get that you're smart, you know what you're talking about, but you really need someone to keep you in check or you're going to become worse than the people we're fighting against. ..Sometimes the cost is too much.

[There's some experience and passion behind these words. Especially with the whole becoming a monster idea there.]

[Sherlock is fairly placid, but his gaze is every bit as intense as Claire's. He's silent, gazing into the video screen on his tablet. The wind is likely extremely cold around him, but he doesn't seem to notice, all of his focus and his attention bent on the girl in front of him, all of his considerable intelligence trained in on her face, analyzing it, her clothing, every bit of detail that the camera can offer him.]

Morality is different thing than ethics. Sentiment is different than compassion. [Sherlock's voice is testy, but patient.]

I am prepared to do anything within my power to be sure that everyone here who's not supposed to be here gets home. To achieve that, there will need to be a fair share of intellect - and that is where I come in - and a fair share of compassion. Not sentiment. Kindness. Consideration. That seems to be your greatest ability, no insult to your mind.

People will die. Even one person is too many, but ignoring that and pretending it doesn't exists blinds you to the reality of the situation.

[Sherlock huffs faintly.] I'm a detective. World's only consulting detective. I solve murders and stop serial killers. If you think that's not a good enough morality for you, then perhaps you ought to find someone else with my genius, and I guarantee that will prove a difficult matter indeed, Miss Bennet.

So shall we help each other, instead of quibbling over world views?

[There's a stubborn look on her face, and she crosses her arms, glancing away. For a moment there, she looks like she's fighting a battle inside of her head and she isn't in a rush to respond right away. When she does respond, she's still got that fire in her eyes, a stiff line on her lips, but her voice is more serious than angry.]

Fine.

[She nods faintly.] What's first?

You get to do legwork. I get to do brainwork. [Sherlock smiles at the thought of this. It's not an expression that's at home on his face, awkward and sort of lopsidedly uncomfortable.]

I need to assemble a few teams. One for covert work, one for pyrotechnics, and one for distractions.

See what you can find and get back to me.

I'm counting on you, Miss Bennet. Go forth and do majestic things. Or just be useful, it's all the same to me.

[The video clicks off.]

[She was about to reply but.. ...

God he is weird. Genius, probably crazy, and weird. But she's not going to sit around and do nothing. Besides, someone finally trusting her to get things done? That's something she can't help but dive into.

So instead she just sends this text to him.]

thanks. but why me?

Why not? -SH.

just curious. Am I really the first person you've tried to recruit to your cause?

No. -SH

Check your e-mail. -SH.

okay?

You should have this by now.. I'm sure you'll object to some of the contents. It's a rough outline. Be gentle, my ego is fragile and sensitive(!) -SH.

right. Like your ego's anything but giant.

[Later:]

roman candles and rubber ducks, huh?

yeah, I object to some of it. But I'm pretty sure you already know which parts

Edited 2012-11-08 05:21 (UTC)

I am told it is positively moon like. -SH

[again, later]

Of course. That's why I'm crowd sourcing. I know what I'd do, but I've been here for a week.

... You've only been here for a WEEK and you did all that

ok then

Ill keep thinking on it and look for people for the teams

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