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thoughtformed2013-01-06 11:31 am
badnewsboy) wrote in thoughtformed2013-01-06 11:31 am
Entry tags:
Three could-be villains and one well-meaning control freak superhero (closed log)
WHO: Tim Drake, Speed, Iron Lad & Loki (closed)
WHAT: Three could-be villains ruining Tim's life. Also words with each other.
WHEN: The evening before this log.
WHERE: Tim's apartment, NORTH 204
A lot had happened in the span of the last few hours. With Nate's help they were able to hack into the cameras and provide a constant loop of a blank feed. It wouldn't take Tim much time to catch on, so they had to work quickly. The pieces had come together neatly, and though some of them were surprising, Loki found himself particularly unsurprised about it. Tim, who had been working to figure out Kate's "secret identity" (though Loki was still unsure why such things were needed. Habit, he supposed), was Red Robin. Red Robin, who was Tim, was monitoring around two-hundred cameras around the island, at minimum. He had been the one who both threatened him, and whom he owed a debt.
Loki could play the same song and dance as he had. Manipulation and blackmail were his M.O., and he was not unwilling to use either. Using cameras to monitor the island did seem like a brave thing to do—especially taking all of that responsibility upon yourself without aid, but it was unneeded and dangerous. There were other superheroes here who offered their help, and the mere idea that Tim didn't take what was offered to him to assure certain balances made him anxious. For him, it was the same as the strict control his Evil-Self had tried to exert over details, and what had caused him to fall into madness. Well, one of the reasons, but there was a time and a place to get into everything. If Tim became Evil-Tim without knowledge that he was Evil-Tim, then this whole thing would turn out a lot messier.
With him were both Nate and Tommy, Iron Lad and Speed, respectively. Loki devised a pretty basic plan, though it was mostly an intimidation tactic. It was also formulated to save his skin—though Loki would have faced Tim alone with sharp words and wit, it was always nice to have have back-up. He also owed it to Nate, who he was sure wanted to see this through. And Tommy—well, as Kate said, they were a team, weren't they? He was trying to take her well-meaning words to heart. He instructed the Nate to go around to the door, and Tommy to another window. Loki took the path straight up, scrambling up the building with the not-grace only a little godling could. When Tim looks over, he's crouching in his window, looking particularly intense. It's his intense face.
And thus, the playing field was about to be leveled.
WHAT: Three could-be villains ruining Tim's life. Also words with each other.
WHEN: The evening before this log.
WHERE: Tim's apartment, NORTH 204
A lot had happened in the span of the last few hours. With Nate's help they were able to hack into the cameras and provide a constant loop of a blank feed. It wouldn't take Tim much time to catch on, so they had to work quickly. The pieces had come together neatly, and though some of them were surprising, Loki found himself particularly unsurprised about it. Tim, who had been working to figure out Kate's "secret identity" (though Loki was still unsure why such things were needed. Habit, he supposed), was Red Robin. Red Robin, who was Tim, was monitoring around two-hundred cameras around the island, at minimum. He had been the one who both threatened him, and whom he owed a debt.
Loki could play the same song and dance as he had. Manipulation and blackmail were his M.O., and he was not unwilling to use either. Using cameras to monitor the island did seem like a brave thing to do—especially taking all of that responsibility upon yourself without aid, but it was unneeded and dangerous. There were other superheroes here who offered their help, and the mere idea that Tim didn't take what was offered to him to assure certain balances made him anxious. For him, it was the same as the strict control his Evil-Self had tried to exert over details, and what had caused him to fall into madness. Well, one of the reasons, but there was a time and a place to get into everything. If Tim became Evil-Tim without knowledge that he was Evil-Tim, then this whole thing would turn out a lot messier.
With him were both Nate and Tommy, Iron Lad and Speed, respectively. Loki devised a pretty basic plan, though it was mostly an intimidation tactic. It was also formulated to save his skin—though Loki would have faced Tim alone with sharp words and wit, it was always nice to have have back-up. He also owed it to Nate, who he was sure wanted to see this through. And Tommy—well, as Kate said, they were a team, weren't they? He was trying to take her well-meaning words to heart. He instructed the Nate to go around to the door, and Tommy to another window. Loki took the path straight up, scrambling up the building with the not-grace only a little godling could. When Tim looks over, he's crouching in his window, looking particularly intense. It's his intense face.
And thus, the playing field was about to be leveled.
no subject
no subject
So what does he do when presented a question like this? Does he lie? Does he lord his own abilities over Tim's head? It's clear that Tim will never function in the same way.
It's best to go the cautionary way.
"You did get sloppy. You got ahead of yourself." He considers. "Caught up in it, for the most part. The more you seek control and those indebted to you, the more you'll feel justified to have that power. People should never function alone. Even if you do have someone you trust—it sounds like you do—it ... I would say you need to trust someone completely. Someones. This isn't something you do alone."
no subject
The response is reflexive, but it's got Tim thinking. Loki grinds on his nerves, but this guy he doesn't know. It's nothing personal. An assessment that sounds thoughtful, impartial -- and very much in line with the kind of advice people have given him before. He can't really deny it. He's working better with Jack. He should be opening up more to Steph and Kate. And if he's opening up to Kate, her friends -- her team -- wouldn't be far behind.
"Let's say I do trust someone. Why should it be you? And if that's not what you're asking, then what do you want?" His eyes flick back to Loki. "Either of you."
no subject
"Loki wants the threats and bartering to stop. I personally believe heroes shouldn't rule with fear. Not the way you're doing it. Fear, control, power ... in my experience, one leads to another." He does turn his gaze toward Loki. Nate considers saying more, but if it's going to come out, it won't be coming out here.
He doesn't need to turn this into a cautionary tale, after all. But those with him know what he means.
"I understand a secret identity. I understand secrets. But New Moore is different. And soon enough, it won't be us threatening your privacy. One wrong 'hallucination' and all you've worked for will be exposed."
no subject
"And if you think I did it without help, you're dead wrong. You've got me wrong. And I'm going to prove it, the only way I can."
He pauses. Swallows. "Give me back my system," he says. "All feelers, all back doors, all Trojans. Get out of it. You won't need it. If anything big comes up this week, I'll tell you. And I hope you're up to writing some new security programs, because if I'm going to extend network access to every vigilante on the island that we can agree is trustworthy, it's going to need the upgrade. You don't get any information on my current collaborators they don't offer freely, but apart from that, everything I have archived and everything I can see, that's yours."
It stings. Also, this guy said no bargaining, and he's already shown he doesn't need Tim's permission, so maybe it's a futile gesture. But it's the best he's got.
"Coding a smartphone app will take me a week. Another week or two to get it tested, synched, and integrated with security. But after that... you'll be able to see I'm not what you're making me out to be."
no subject
His expression doesn't change or flicker. It's easy for him to continue. "We didn't plan on taking it from you," and he holds up his hands and shrugs, with a smile, "we were just showing you what we could do with it."
And then he looks a little smug.
"I want people not to die on your watch," he says, easily, and then points again, "Anything that you can do, Nate can do better. So I do hope that you're up to this task. I would suggest you look at yourself more than the nuances in your coding." His smile gets easier, "But it goes both ways. Information you give allows us to save people. Isn't that what we all want?"
more or less a wrap? I'm good for continuing but we have their deal figured out
This kid is such a creep.