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[ Okay, this needs his full attention. He wipes off his hands and faces her fully, leaning back against th ]e counter.
What exactly are we speaking of here? In terms of a field? [ He would have been thinking of handcuffs or jail cells, but with how Weiss has been beating about the bushes... If it weren't for that he would be joyous, but now he's driven to caution. Then again, Weiss is no enemy, she's his ally. He forces himself to take a deep breath, and relax his tense shoulders. ] You're right, most of the population is without powers. It's something we are working on in the Guardian's office.
Basically, within the cell's area, anything above non-powered human abilities doesn't activate. So if I go in the holding cell, I can't use my aura or semblance. Obviously the person within still has learned skills and physical muscle development and any weaponry on them or extra limbs, things like that, but they can't cast magic or use special powers, they're not immortal and they're not going to be bringing a building down with their thoughts.
[ She nods, holding her hand out to the side and looking him in the eye. ] The backlash I spoke of is that most people without powers aren't going to want to go along with it. People who are used to having certain abilities tend to feel incredibly vulnerable when they don't have them, even if they do, so that's the drawback. You're likely to get complaints from all of the other cities, even if they've never set foot in Attleton before.
[ She knows how grumpy people can be. She avoided going to Everglade for a long time, though that was more because Ted had characterized necromancy as evil, and that's a part of her soul. But there's a difference between calling a part of you evil and just a temporary turn-off to level the playing field and keep normies safe. ]
But if we can create a safe area for people who don't have powers to thrive and not be treated like what they have to contribute is less because they don't have phenomenal cosmic powers, I think it could greatly benefit you as Guardian and Attleton as a whole. I don't see why it can't come with an off and on switch either, under the City Guardian's office's control, to be turned on in times of crisis or events like the Olympics, things like that. It would be wholly up to you. All I'm asking is if we can do it, would that be something you're interested in?
[ That... is a lot to take in. A lot. He's seen it at the circus, for the final round, has of course contemplated the advantages of such a device and wished they had it at the Guardian's office. But the reality of it is... more complicated.
Cassian's face goes not quite blank, nor to the pleasantly polite facade he has employed for other Guardian business - they're beyond her buying that. But he guards his emotions now, body language closing off. ]
What you are speaking of is employing the most powerful weapon the five cities have. The one super weapon that nullifies every other super weapon.
[ And he appreciates the trust of coming to him with this, but... It's a lot to take in, too. ]
There are people who will be ready to commit violence to destroy such a thing... or to control it. [ He would have killed for such a weapon, back home. ]
Which is one of reasons I don't particularly mention the holding cells to many people and thought it would be better to speak to you first.
[ Basically, she knows she can do it but she really isn't sure if she should try to do it. It's also why she hasn't really told Pidge why she needs to test her trust so much before she asks her onto this project. ]
At the same time, before Blaze was elected I was essentially the "normal human" despite having additional abilities, at least in comparison to a lot of the people who come through here- elected, citizen, and criminal. I'm the only Guardian elect who was ever told that they had to promise to let someone else handle anything else they were doing during a debate, and the only one who people constantly told not to push myself. [ She still doesn't think anyone who said that understands how demeaning it was to be told that she couldn't, how many times she's heard that in her life over and over to the point that she forced herself to work far too hard and split her focus between Schnee Company and Guardianship for so long just to prove she could to herself- to prove that they were wrong, that she could do this. ] I understand how much of a difference this would make if it stays in the hands of trustworthy people.
You assume I'm trustworthy. [To tell her otherwise would be foolish yet he is tempted. He isn't. Not as a good and honest man. He may not know what lengths he would go to to protect Attleton but he knows what he is capable of. He knows what his role models are capable of for the greater good.] You are taking a risk. But you are aware of that.
[Cassian sizes her up again. Deceptively young and frail. Powerful. Proud. Too proud? ] Neither of us has the strength or powers others have. Although you have more powers than I do. But that can't matter. We... I understand I don't matter, as a person. I'm a weapon to be employed where I am best suited. [To do the dirty work so other hands remain clean. To die so others will live. And now best suited to some battlefields by staying out of the way.] I. We can't let vanity guide us in this. It can't be to make myself relevant on the battlefield.
I've been known to take risks as a Guardian, for better or worse.
Don't confuse my intentions.
[ She crosses her arms. It's not exactly easy to admit how frustrated she gets with some of these things, and she doesn't like being misinterpreted. ]
I'm not thinking about this because of vanity. [ She sounds irritated at that. Yes, she keeps up appearances and doesn't let a hair fall out of place in battle. But everyone constantly assumes she's some pretty princess who wants nothing more than to impress daddy. The reality is quite the opposite. She puts her hands out, gesturing as she speaks. ]
I would do anything to protect my team. If there's something I can do to keep them safe in the face of overwhelming odds, that's something to consider. The reason I told you that is because I understand how overwhelming it can be when you don't have a veritable A-Z dictionary of abilities at your fingertips, not because I'm jealous. I've had to deal with.. being told similar things my whole life, I know how to deal with that. [ It's vague again, but that's family issues. Those are harder to talk about when it's not a matter of making sure that people stay safe. ] I may think more of myself than as a weapon, but it's my duty to protect people. Is it frustrating? Of course. But it's hard to deny that at a certain point, other Guardians and bounty hunters shouldn't have to be pulling double-duty because we can't handle our own criminals after we take them down. If you don't think that's the same for you, I'll keep it from you. I have no intention of wide-spread implementation in Nova City.
Of course I'm frustrated! [ Maybe it's a mistake, but Cassian can't bring himself to retreat safely behind one of the spy's many masks, or even the facade of pleasant professionalism. She has trusted him, maybe it's time he trusts her in his own way. Or maybe it's just an excuse because he wants to give voice to his true thoughts and feelings. ] Do you think I don't hate it? I used to be lethal back home. I was capable and dangerous, and I was the best at my job. I had survived unlikely odds. I contributed something of true value to the rebellion. Now I'm reduced to compromising and working around problems instead of facing them head on because my skills are useless against the greatest threats this town faces.
[ He picks up the dish towel, wipes his hands off a second time. This is really no talk to be had while cooking. He enjoys cooking and doesn't want it or the meal to come soured by the memory of their spat. ]
I'm hesitant. I'm questioning your motives as I question the motives of everyone who offers me help, and I expect to be questioned as well.
[ And yes, maybe there's a little bit of stubborn wounded pride at work, at the assumption he can't figure this out without nixing powers altogether. Even if this is exactly what he has wanted for their jail, and would have started to look into once his magical connections were strong enough to broach the subject.]
Ask me whatever you want to. I can't promise I'll answer if it's not your business, but most of my life at this point has ended up in the newspaper or over the network at one point or the other. There's not much you could ask about that you can't find on your own with some effort.
[ She takes a deep breath, trying to keep herself level-headed. She's not an assassin, not a trained killer of anything but monsters. She's a girl with a lot of emotions who happens to be very intelligent and have gotten a lot more experience than she bargained for here that she's had to overcome and find a way to still be the person she wants to be. But even if she's clearly not anywhere near as professional as he is and he's not wrong, that they should be asking questions, she also knows what kind of person she wants to be. He's a Guardian and as far as she can tell, he hasn't been doing badly. He's been making choices with the betterment of the people in mind. Weiss had a period where she actually had a telepath present with her during her Deputy interviews when she was truly convinced she couldn't trust anyone, and before she left home she'd come to the same conclusion that the only person she could trust was herself. It had taken a long time to come to her current decision regarding trust, but this was who she wanted to be. As a person and as a Guardian. ]
I choose to believe that someone who ends up as a Guardian has a right to use the tools at their disposal, but also that someone on the same team should be given the benefit of the doubt. Not trusting anyone doesn't serve to do anything but isolate you and make it easier to make wrong decisions for what you believe to be the right reasons. If you cross the line, I'm sure you aren't the only person who was lethal back home. If you cross the line, I know you aren't the only person who's had to compromise and work around problems in this world to overcome someone who's more than they are in some way. If you cross the line and you give me a reason not to trust you, we'll just find a new way to stop you and bring Attleton back to its people. Does that sound fair?
[ Trust because someone is on the same team... That's something he's always yearned for with his fellow Guardians and his own Deputies, for sure, but it's never been the same as it is at home. They may all be willing to make sacrifices, but the dreams and hopes for which they would sacrifice vary. Even at home, true trust is rare and precious. In the end, it's the promise Weiss makes there right at the end of her speech that has him smile, and relax somewhat. ]
If I cross the line, I would want you to stop me. I would want to stop myself. [ He shakes his head. ] I've never understood how you can give so much power to the Guardians anyway, but I know we had that discussion before, during the election. [ And it had been that talk which made him trust her more than any other Guardian.
Yet here he is, bristling. He sighs.] I should have... I'm sorry. I didn't respond well to the secret you shared with me. That was unprofessional. I'm... just not very used to assuming the best of people outside a very small circle.
It's a difficult situation, Cassian. I can't exactly blame you for being tense about it.
[ She pauses for a moment, then adds ] But I've found that if you're doing things the right way and working for the people, you have to be able to understand people. You can't do that if you're cutting yourself off just because it's hard to trust. The fewer people you get to know and trust, the narrower your worldview is. It might be hard, but it's important.
[ Weiss is honestly glad that he doesn't seem to mind her age. She's made plenty of mistakes from just general naivity and being younger, but she's also had a lot of unique experiences both home and here that have made her into a better person. (Or so she'd like to think.) ]
I know, it's... [ He rubs a hand over his stubble and sighs. ] I'm not used to confiding in others, my old job more involved withholding information and I wasn't the best at teamwork. At least not with people who weren't like me. It's hard, but I'm working on it.
[ Learning to trust in his fellow guardians and deputies, trusting them to know better in some fields and following their lead. ]
I think working with you on this could be another step.
Before I arrived at Beacon, I had no one I trusted. I was bitter and cold and an excellent student and all I wanted was to be perfect at what I did. I didn't want to let anyone else in, because all I had known up to that point was people trying to use me.
[ It's not something she keeps secret. She's admitted to it in music, but for the most part, a lot of people seem to think they're just pretty lyrics. That's why it's such a good outlet, because no one questions what songs say about the people who write them. ]
It took a while for me to get over that, and it was worth it. You'll get there. If I can manage to let people in even back when I was a much more difficult person, I have faith in someone who doesn't refer to teammates as a walking health hazard.
[ He gives a bark of laughter. ] I think there were moments when my teammates would have disagreed... But. Yes. I try. I can work with people, if I must, I'm just... Not very used to it. Intelligence operatives work mostly alone or in small teams.
[ He looks down at his hands, and then, remembering the fish, goes back to finishing his cooking. ]
I've only known you as the leader you are now, it's strange to think you were once different.
[ He gives a bark of laughter. ] I think there were moments when my teammates would have disagreed... But. Yes. I try. I can work with people, if I must, I'm just... Not very used to it. Intelligence operatives work mostly alone or in small teams.
[ He looks down at his hands, and then, remembering the fish, goes back to finishing his cooking. ]
I've only known you as the leader you are now, it's strange to think you were once different.
The second conversation I ever had with my partner back home started with me yelling and her crying "Oh god it's happening again." Years can make a.. subtle difference.
[ Not so subtle. Weiss used to be much more terrifying. And rude. And entitled. And a brat. At least she acknowledges it. ] Learning takes time.
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[ Okay, this needs his full attention. He wipes off his hands and faces her fully, leaning back against th ]e counter.
What exactly are we speaking of here? In terms of a field? [ He would have been thinking of handcuffs or jail cells, but with how Weiss has been beating about the bushes... If it weren't for that he would be joyous, but now he's driven to caution. Then again, Weiss is no enemy, she's his ally. He forces himself to take a deep breath, and relax his tense shoulders. ] You're right, most of the population is without powers. It's something we are working on in the Guardian's office.
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[ She nods, holding her hand out to the side and looking him in the eye. ] The backlash I spoke of is that most people without powers aren't going to want to go along with it. People who are used to having certain abilities tend to feel incredibly vulnerable when they don't have them, even if they do, so that's the drawback. You're likely to get complaints from all of the other cities, even if they've never set foot in Attleton before.
[ She knows how grumpy people can be. She avoided going to Everglade for a long time, though that was more because Ted had characterized necromancy as evil, and that's a part of her soul. But there's a difference between calling a part of you evil and just a temporary turn-off to level the playing field and keep normies safe. ]
But if we can create a safe area for people who don't have powers to thrive and not be treated like what they have to contribute is less because they don't have phenomenal cosmic powers, I think it could greatly benefit you as Guardian and Attleton as a whole. I don't see why it can't come with an off and on switch either, under the City Guardian's office's control, to be turned on in times of crisis or events like the Olympics, things like that. It would be wholly up to you. All I'm asking is if we can do it, would that be something you're interested in?
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Cassian's face goes not quite blank, nor to the pleasantly polite facade he has employed for other Guardian business - they're beyond her buying that. But he guards his emotions now, body language closing off. ]
What you are speaking of is employing the most powerful weapon the five cities have. The one super weapon that nullifies every other super weapon.
[ And he appreciates the trust of coming to him with this, but... It's a lot to take in, too. ]
There are people who will be ready to commit violence to destroy such a thing... or to control it. [ He would have killed for such a weapon, back home. ]
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[ Basically, she knows she can do it but she really isn't sure if she should try to do it. It's also why she hasn't really told Pidge why she needs to test her trust so much before she asks her onto this project. ]
At the same time, before Blaze was elected I was essentially the "normal human" despite having additional abilities, at least in comparison to a lot of the people who come through here- elected, citizen, and criminal. I'm the only Guardian elect who was ever told that they had to promise to let someone else handle anything else they were doing during a debate, and the only one who people constantly told not to push myself. [ She still doesn't think anyone who said that understands how demeaning it was to be told that she couldn't, how many times she's heard that in her life over and over to the point that she forced herself to work far too hard and split her focus between Schnee Company and Guardianship for so long just to prove she could to herself- to prove that they were wrong, that she could do this. ] I understand how much of a difference this would make if it stays in the hands of trustworthy people.
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[Cassian sizes her up again. Deceptively young and frail. Powerful. Proud. Too proud? ] Neither of us has the strength or powers others have. Although you have more powers than I do. But that can't matter. We... I understand I don't matter, as a person. I'm a weapon to be employed where I am best suited. [To do the dirty work so other hands remain clean. To die so others will live. And now best suited to some battlefields by staying out of the way.] I. We can't let vanity guide us in this. It can't be to make myself relevant on the battlefield.
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Don't confuse my intentions.
[ She crosses her arms. It's not exactly easy to admit how frustrated she gets with some of these things, and she doesn't like being misinterpreted. ]
I'm not thinking about this because of vanity. [ She sounds irritated at that. Yes, she keeps up appearances and doesn't let a hair fall out of place in battle. But everyone constantly assumes she's some pretty princess who wants nothing more than to impress daddy. The reality is quite the opposite. She puts her hands out, gesturing as she speaks. ]
I would do anything to protect my team. If there's something I can do to keep them safe in the face of overwhelming odds, that's something to consider. The reason I told you that is because I understand how overwhelming it can be when you don't have a veritable A-Z dictionary of abilities at your fingertips, not because I'm jealous. I've had to deal with.. being told similar things my whole life, I know how to deal with that. [ It's vague again, but that's family issues. Those are harder to talk about when it's not a matter of making sure that people stay safe. ] I may think more of myself than as a weapon, but it's my duty to protect people. Is it frustrating? Of course. But it's hard to deny that at a certain point, other Guardians and bounty hunters shouldn't have to be pulling double-duty because we can't handle our own criminals after we take them down. If you don't think that's the same for you, I'll keep it from you. I have no intention of wide-spread implementation in Nova City.
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[ He picks up the dish towel, wipes his hands off a second time. This is really no talk to be had while cooking. He enjoys cooking and doesn't want it or the meal to come soured by the memory of their spat. ]
I'm hesitant. I'm questioning your motives as I question the motives of everyone who offers me help, and I expect to be questioned as well.
[ And yes, maybe there's a little bit of stubborn wounded pride at work, at the assumption he can't figure this out without nixing powers altogether. Even if this is exactly what he has wanted for their jail, and would have started to look into once his magical connections were strong enough to broach the subject.]
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[ She takes a deep breath, trying to keep herself level-headed. She's not an assassin, not a trained killer of anything but monsters. She's a girl with a lot of emotions who happens to be very intelligent and have gotten a lot more experience than she bargained for here that she's had to overcome and find a way to still be the person she wants to be. But even if she's clearly not anywhere near as professional as he is and he's not wrong, that they should be asking questions, she also knows what kind of person she wants to be. He's a Guardian and as far as she can tell, he hasn't been doing badly. He's been making choices with the betterment of the people in mind. Weiss had a period where she actually had a telepath present with her during her Deputy interviews when she was truly convinced she couldn't trust anyone, and before she left home she'd come to the same conclusion that the only person she could trust was herself. It had taken a long time to come to her current decision regarding trust, but this was who she wanted to be. As a person and as a Guardian. ]
I choose to believe that someone who ends up as a Guardian has a right to use the tools at their disposal, but also that someone on the same team should be given the benefit of the doubt. Not trusting anyone doesn't serve to do anything but isolate you and make it easier to make wrong decisions for what you believe to be the right reasons. If you cross the line, I'm sure you aren't the only person who was lethal back home. If you cross the line, I know you aren't the only person who's had to compromise and work around problems in this world to overcome someone who's more than they are in some way. If you cross the line and you give me a reason not to trust you, we'll just find a new way to stop you and bring Attleton back to its people. Does that sound fair?
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If I cross the line, I would want you to stop me. I would want to stop myself. [ He shakes his head. ] I've never understood how you can give so much power to the Guardians anyway, but I know we had that discussion before, during the election. [ And it had been that talk which made him trust her more than any other Guardian.
Yet here he is, bristling. He sighs.] I should have... I'm sorry. I didn't respond well to the secret you shared with me. That was unprofessional. I'm... just not very used to assuming the best of people outside a very small circle.
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[ She pauses for a moment, then adds ] But I've found that if you're doing things the right way and working for the people, you have to be able to understand people. You can't do that if you're cutting yourself off just because it's hard to trust. The fewer people you get to know and trust, the narrower your worldview is. It might be hard, but it's important.
[ Weiss is honestly glad that he doesn't seem to mind her age. She's made plenty of mistakes from just general naivity and being younger, but she's also had a lot of unique experiences both home and here that have made her into a better person. (Or so she'd like to think.) ]
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[ Learning to trust in his fellow guardians and deputies, trusting them to know better in some fields and following their lead. ]
I think working with you on this could be another step.
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[ It's not something she keeps secret. She's admitted to it in music, but for the most part, a lot of people seem to think they're just pretty lyrics. That's why it's such a good outlet, because no one questions what songs say about the people who write them. ]
It took a while for me to get over that, and it was worth it. You'll get there. If I can manage to let people in even back when I was a much more difficult person, I have faith in someone who doesn't refer to teammates as a walking health hazard.
[ She believes in you Cassian. ]
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[ He looks down at his hands, and then, remembering the fish, goes back to finishing his cooking. ]
I've only known you as the leader you are now, it's strange to think you were once different.
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[ He looks down at his hands, and then, remembering the fish, goes back to finishing his cooking. ]
I've only known you as the leader you are now, it's strange to think you were once different.
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[ Not so subtle. Weiss used to be much more terrifying. And rude. And entitled. And a brat. At least she acknowledges it. ] Learning takes time.
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[ He keeps busy with cooking for a moment while he mulls about a diplomatic response. There isn't really one. ]
You might be worse than me then. Congratulations. The last team I worked with at home, one of them accused me of being just like a Stormtrooper.
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A Stormtrooper? [ She doesn't know your lingo, bro. ]
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The foot soldiers of our enemies. Known for their uniformity in their white uniforms, their unquestioning obedience and terrible shooting skills.