theweakhavepurpose | Hadriel Inbox

[at the description, she can't help but giggle]

Oh no. Really? So not only is he an arrogant jerk, he has no sense of style. That's awful!

[it really sounds that way]

Yeah, I really hope so. It would only be fair.

He definitely looks like he should be preaching the virtues of quinoa rather than leading a religious cult into the apocalypse.

[How much better would life have been if Joseph Seed aggressively pushed wheat grass shakes instead of doctrine?]

[she can't help it. she busts out laughing. quinoa has a reputation even in the 30th century.

a mock-pompous voice]

Please allow me to tell you the joys of adding flax seed to your everyday diet.

[she's gesturing expansively as she speaks]

You have no idea how much that sounds just like him.

"And God spoke and said unto me, let us consume acai berries by the pound."

Really? [she says and busts out into a fresh bout of giggles.

still pompously] They're rich in antioxidants and will help you lose weight! Probably because you're so busy pooping all the time!

Man, I wish he just ranted about health food instead of killing people he considers Sinners.

We could have a good laugh about it down at the station and worry about other shit.

[Like people fishing without licenses. Not a whole lot of crime happens in Hope County.]

I wish he had, too. [a pause] Is it something you wanna talk about?

[she smiles a little sadly] A lot of people would've been way better off, too.

[and that's as it should be]

I dunno. That's supposed to help right?

[Since they're here telling each other their secrets anyway.]

There's so many dead people in Hope County, and no one is going to come out of this unscathed. Even if they defeat the cult and kill him or lock him up, everyone is still so goddamn fucked up now. And the people in the Project will cling to it forever, and the Resistance will never trust them again so the fighting will keep on going.

Until one side completely wipes out the other.

That's what they say. But no pressure.

[she listens to what he has to say and sighs sadly]

I would. . . really like to think that it wouldn't have to come to that. That somebody could reach the people in the Project and make them see reality. But sometimes . . . the wrong thoughts and beliefs and attitudes get so ingrained in people that they can't let themselves let them go. They'd have to get used to the idea that they're not special. They're not chosen. They're not better. And some people can't let that go. They really will die first. [a pause] It's awful. But it's true.

[and she knows something about people with such beliefs, thanks to the White Triangle pushing racial superiority and purity at every turn]

Is it the wrong belief though? How do you disprove someone's faith?

[ He shakes his head, both because he's unsure how to do that and also because diving into this means confronting what he believes and he's far more of a cultist than he wants to admit. If pushed to it he'd probably defend them. He definitely wouldn't be able to kill Jacob or Joseph himself.

Their followers... probably. Pratt wasn't well liked as a cop, he's definitely not well liked as Jacob's pet Deputy. ]

Everyone wants to think they're special, or part of something bigger.

I don't know what they're going to do about it. How everyone is going to go on living. With what they've done to each other.

...I guess you'd start with logic and reason?

[if she knew, she'd hope that time and space away from them would break their hold on Pratt. that their poisonous influence could be supplanted with something newer, better, healthier.

but he is liked and cared for here. for who he is as a person, not for the use people have for him.

and she smiles sadly] Sure, everyone wants to believe that. Maybe . . . maybe maturity comes with letting that go. With accepting that we're all just people, trying the best we can to be the best we can everyday.

I guess they'll have to take it day by day. [a pause] Or move, but not everyone can do that.

I think it's far past logic and reason at this point.

Because there's also drugging and torture and murder and conditioning. Sure a few people joined willingly but the vast majority didn't. And now they're too far gone to remember who they are or what they believe.

[He looks away because he's definitely talking about himself now.]

A lot of people did move. But not everyone has the resources too. And most have been in this place for generations.

...then I guess you'd have to go with time. And patience and understanding. And a whole lot of talking. Even if it's just the person trying to break the conditioning talking at first.

I don't know. Even in my time, it's not like there's a pill for that kind of treatment. Titanese psychiatrists can help--they're telepathic--but they have their limits, too.

I guess. . . I guess the best thing is time. Time and understanding and a listening ear for when they are ready to talk about it. And knowing that you don't have all the answers.

Then I guess I can see how it would be hard to leave. If the land's been such a part of their lives.

[He looks away for a long time, thinking about what she said. She's probably right. Just time and understanding and probably kindness and comfort as well.

Weak.

All of it is weak and if he's supposedly strong now then he shouldn't need any of that. He can tough it out. Walk it off.]

I don't really want to talk about this.

[she waits for him to speak. it's some heavy stuff, what they're getting into and she's not sure if she's saying the right thing or not. she hopes she is?

but apparently she isn't]

Okay. [a pause] So what do you wanna talk about instead?

I don't know.

[He takes a deep shuddery breath, very much not okay.]

But not this. This is too..

[too much. too close to home. too traumatizing. Take your pick. And the more he thinks about it the more worried he is that his "Normal and Sane Deputy Pratt" routine that he's trying to keep up, is going to shatter and everyone will know he's a basket case who could snap at any time and murder them all.

Or try to murder them all he'd probably get stopped by someone who could breathe fire three steps outside his door. Small comforts.]

I'll be fine. Eventually.

[Time and understanding.]

[she waits for him to determine what he wants to talk about, if anything.

but she worries about him. given what she saw in his memories, she knows that he's witnessed a lot of awful stuff, even participated in some of it.

but then it comes down to what he was and was not culpable for doing and what was the product of fear and brainwashing.

she honestly can't say. and she doesn't feel comfortable judging his actions in those memories because she doesn't know how much was the brainwashing.

but she assumes that a lot of it was. the man he's spoken of being before the cult, he doesn't seem like the kind of guy who'd willingly let people be attacked and killed by apparently sentient wolves. he just doesn't.

but if she knew he was worried about snapping and killing people, she'd have to respond as a part of the Guard.

however, her response would likely not be Guard-approved. she'd tell him flat-out that if he wanted to kill anybody, he should kill her. she wouldn't phase, wouldn't try to fight back. she'd stand there and let him do it. or not. whichever way it went, she'd accept the consequences]

I know you will be.

[she has the latter in spades and it doesn't seem like she's going anywhere]

[ At least someone believes in him since he sure doesn't. ]

Time right? Lots of time. I've only been here.. half a year. Maybe a few more and this'll all feel like a distant memory.

[ The way a lot of his life feels like now. ]

[she won't stop, either. she cares way too much about him for that]

Maybe? Even in the 30th century we say that time heals all wounds.

[she knows it's not as easy as that, but she's willing to stand beside him as he slowly heals]

Still haven't discovered some easy shortcut to making it all okay huh?

The future is disappointing.

[At least it's an attempt at a joke. That's something.]

[she giggles. it's a little sad sounding]

Nope. Unfortunately. It would be nice if they had, though, right?

It is. It really is.

[she knows. and she appreciates every effort he makes]

Are there at least flying cars?

[she hiccups a little laugh]

Yeah, there are flying cars.

Well at least something worked out the way I expected.

[He'll have those Back to the Future shoes someday dammit.]

Yeah. When all of this is settled, you'll have to visit. I'll take you for a ride in one.

[those Back to the what shoes?]

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