exsilium | 06 △ VIDEO

[ Video--coming from Adam's tablet for once, and not his retinal enhancements. it shows him, obviously in his messy apartment, and obviously... different from what one might be used to. he's neither properly dressed nor his usual stoic, composed, monotone self.

but most notably, the lenses of his shades--which are mounted to his head--are retracted. his eyes are visibly artificial. here's the usual gravely voice: ]

...And they keep dragging more and more people here. Or is that the machine malfunctioning again? Can't be sure anymore.

Anyway, hello. My name's Adam Jensen and I'm -- [ insert vague, dismissive gesture here--his hand, too, is artificial and looks like it's made out of black metal. ] ... who the fuck even cares. I'm the local oversized can opener. Hi.

[ if it wasn't obvious before that he's drunk, it's sure as hell now. ]

Given the uh, premise under which you all arrived here as well as the popularity of thought-provoking surveys lately, let's talk about a topic each of you surely can contribute to with a story or two. Since I couldn't help but notice that we're quite a miserable bunch of misfits. Exceptions prove the rule by the way.

[ pause, during which he reaches off screen... for his smoke. ]

So, broken dreams. There's a pretty catchy song on them by Green Day which I can only recommend. But before you scurry off to find it, why don't we share with the class why we're all so damn bitter, and not only since we ended up in this shithole. Though I guess the shithole made it worse, in some cases. I don't know. Getting it off your chest might have a soothing effect, or something.

[ another pause, and he seems pensive for a moment. ~~he might be able to offer alternative treatment methods for your troubles which may involve punching~~ ahem. ]

Here, I'll start. I was planning to get married not too long ago, start a family. I had the perfect girl, a decent job I liked and paid well, and then--then science happened.

[ a dry, humorless chuckle. ]

Gotta love science. Your turn.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I do. Most times, it's true. I'll admit I'm much more interested in listening and solving the troubles of others than I am in sharing my own.

I'm the same way. So if that's anything to go by, even for that kind of person, once in a while, it might be good to simply acknowledge what's bothering them by saying it out loud.

[Her silence, stretched just a little too long, speaks for itself.]

...Perhaps.

... All right, I get it.

[ he sighs, and leans back ]

[She rubs at her forehead.]

...I'm-- A longtime friend of my family betrayed my parents four years ago. His men attacked my home in the dead of night while my father's troops were away and slaughtered every man, woman, and child in my house. My parents stayed behind to ensure I could escape.

[ ... heavy stuff. ]

I'm sorry. That's the kind of stuff that follows you around forever, isn't it.

Unfortunately, yes, even with their killer dead.

[Revenge doesn't bring a person peace, not even years later.]

My brother lost his wife and son that night. I cannot even be home to comfort him through his grief, though I know he's moved on as best he can.

Hm. If it's any consolation, I think they've said that while we're here, time doesn't pass in our worlds. So ideally, your brother won't even know you were gone.

You went after the killer?

Even so, I haven't seen him in years. I can't go home.

I did. He boasted how he personally killed my parents. [And made them beg. All lies.] The sad truth is that he may have lived another year if he had not attempted to betray the crown and cross my path yet again.

Ah...

[ welp. he'd tell her about how important it is to keep what family you have left but he might be putting his foot into his mouth. ]

Revenge, right? I can sympathize. [ though he knows that morally he shouldnt but lol, Adam Jensen, ex-cop and fifty shades of gray himself. ]

I made a promise.

[See that Howe pays for what he's done.]

Can you? Were you able to exact revenge on those who have wronged you?

Where I felt it was needed, anyway. Looking back on it, I'm not sure if it was the right thing to do, but then again... I don't particularly regret it, either.

It does make you feel better, if only for a moment.

[She can sympathize with that greatly.]

Only for that moment, though.

I don't regret killing him, either. But it won't bring my family back, the people I've lost, or the life I had. It won't make my brother happy again. Revenge is pointless unless it serves a higher purpose.

Yeah--all you do is causing more loss. I have no idea if the people I killed had family, and I'm not sure I want to know now.

At the end of the day, we all have live with ourselves.

That's...a very profound way of putting it, though it's no less true.

That's because nothing good ever comes out of killing, even if some people often want to make you believe otherwise. It's just a matter of realizing and accepting that fact.

The needs of the many sometimes outweigh the needs of the few. It is not a kind truth. Should some people need to die for a nation to be safe, then it may be enough, but for the killer, it never goes away.

Yeah, that...

[ Adam's never been a soldier but he HAS undergone similar training and had to pull the trigger every now and again. ]

Lots of people, especially the ones in charge, often tend to forget or ignore that.

06 △ VIDEO

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