[VOICE] UN: [username not set]

[demonicbeauty]

[Ariadne hasn't been able to show her face on the network--or in person, really--since her meltdown in July. But she's starting to come back, as it were. Only on voice because she can't quite bring herself to share all of her feelings.

Feelings that are very strong right now.]

I don't believe in revenge. It's a messy business that doesn't ultimately fix anything. You can't always undo a wrong.

You can, however, be better.

I say this for two reasons now. The first is that I urge all of you not to take revenge against the user who goes by the name "NoMercy" on the Omni network. I don't know who they are and I don't know how they've suffered. But hurting them isn't going to un-murder Ezra or Oscar or any of the others.

The second reason why I'm talking about revenge is that...I need to know what happened to Dean Winchester. I need to know who burned down his house, who killed him. And...I want to reassure you--anyone who's listening--that if you know something or if you were, in some way, responsible...I'm not going to hurt you.

I...I don't believe in revenge.

And that's...that's all, I guess.

Comments

text (un: falcogrice)

[grice]

Hate breeds hate.

[VOICE] UN: [username not set]

[demonicbeauty]

[Ariadne normally likes to match format on the Omni network. The problem is, she's a terrible texter, especially when she's a little worked up. So she spares the stranger and replies by voice.]

Yes! Yes, exactly!

[grice]

[ it might be easier to talk this one out, he thinks— after a moment, falco switches from text to voice. on the other end is someone fairly young, male, but by the occasional crack of his voice, he's probably a teen. ]

I know it's hard for a lot of people to do, but . . . It makes a difference. Maybe the difference someone needs. I'm glad there're more people who think so.

Voice | un: gaia

[hammerbearer]

[ The teen's voice is wary. Not closed-minded sounding at all. Just... wary. ]

I know a lot of people were influenced by the last moon and not acting as they should. But even they need to own up to their actions. Whether or not they didn't mean it and the whole 'we can't die permanently' doesn't mean they should get a pass.

I imagine you just mentioned Sleepers as well. What if they harmed or killed the local population?

[ This point Gaia wraps up with the actual question she wants to put out. ]

I'm not one for revenge either. And this goes for everyone, not just the person you're trying to defend.

What about justice? Or compensation for the damages? You say Dean had his entire home burned down and he was killed by someone else?

Wouldn't it be reasonable to expect some atonement in actual physical compensation from whomever did that? The same may well be said for your NoMercy by the people they harmed. And you don't even know who they are or if they would do this normally.

[ She adds one thing before finishing. ]

Sorry for getting caught up a bit. And yes, anyone is welcome to respond to this question too. Not just the person I'm talking to.

But, when you say 'no revenge' do you mean no consequences at all? And if so how do you think that's going to help?

[demonicbeauty]

Oh! No!

[Ariadne's very quick to respond.]

I do think there should be consequences. Absolutely. Please don't misunderstand. When someone does something wrong, they need to make amends, atone.

...even if they don't think they've done anything wrong.

sm0ll gaia eruption, sorry

[hammerbearer]

cw: mention/implied of the torture/torment/mass murder/etc ala Chara's Network Post

[ There seems to be a long pause before another response comes. Gaia went to read the related entries she missed while dealing with her own problems in July. And some of the attached threads. She finally responds to Ariadne. Her voice sounds more than a little shaken now. Thankfully this had not been a video communication. ]

I still don't believe in revenge. But are you out of your mind for trying to plead for that, for her?

[ Did she change her tune? Not exactly. She truly feels consequences and compensation are more important than the short term satisfaction of revenge. ]

You may think me going back on what I said. But people don't need to hear someone treating that like it was even worth the same level of consideration of some moon-fueled arsonist and burglary gone wrong!

[ The words burst forth from the shaken teen. It's clear what she saw was terrible for her. ]

If you want to save her from corruption, go save her. If she's like that to begin with, stop her. Don't just put up a post about pleading for people not to take revenge and let people pat you on the back for your efforts at stating what they don't like to see either!

Even a lot of the people who actually responded to her, what is wrong with you. If you know her, and you're capable, go deal with it. Stop chatting on the omni like it has nothing to do with you! Or flinging threats for her to laugh at, for that matter!

[ Gaia sucks in a deep breath that sounds a bit like she's trying not to go to tears. She's not the sort that cries! ]

And if you're just going to all sit back and settle it out on the Omni like this, then don't be surprised if someone goes for revenge before you can 'be better'. [ Yeah that was unsurprisingly mocking. ] I might not like it, but I'd hardly blame them.

Also don't be surprised when some of the justice looks and sounds a lot like revenge. Because how can anyone compensate for that level of horror?

[Audio][UN:A_Wesker013]

[subject_013]

As odd as it sounds since I've described myself as not a kind person, I don't believe in revenge, either. It's too driven by emotion and too easy to turn into a knee-jerk reaction.

Retribution, on the other hand, is another matter.

[demonicbeauty]

Retribution feels like revenge, dressed up in silks, Albert.

[She sighs softly.]

I think maybe the word we ought to look for is "justice."

[subject_013]

[He chuckles, sinister but even just a tiny bit nervous.]

A fitting image, like an iron fist in a silk glove.

The problem is, there are times when justice itself can corrupt into revenge with the backing of the law or the government.

[survivalthroughhate]

Be better. That's what I keep hearing, over and over again. [Maul laughs but there is no humor in the brief sound.] Sometimes, taking mere revenge upon people is doing better instead of a full-blown massacre. Not that most "good people" ever see it as such. All they see is a monster or a rabid animal that needs to be put down for the sake of everyone else.

[demonicbeauty]

I don't believe for one minute that anyone should be "put down."

[A pause.]

And you should know that by now, Maul. I would like to think that you know me, at this point.

[survivalthroughhate]

You I do know. Others here? Not so well.

[He pauses.]

I took revenge only upon one person this time. The one responsible for everything. Anything else that happened was purely the result of their own choices.

un: GoldenFlowers | video

[the_obedient_servant]

...To clarify, I didn't kill Dean Winchester.

[Like, just in case that was unclear.]

I also don't know who did.

[demonicbeauty]

[Ariadne doesn't switch to video. Her expressions are a little too pained for it. But after a moment, she replies.]

I believe you.

video: UN: 1stStrike

[strikefirster]

This shit isn't just about revenge.

They're taking the lessons I taught and are warping the shit out of them.

Or maybe they were always a little fucking twisted. Either way I'm taking responsibility for the shit they're pulling.

If that means I have to knock some fucking sense into a little prick than that's just how it's going to be.

[demonicbeauty]

[She considers this for a moment.]

Can you explain what you mean, sir?

What lessons?

[strikefirster]

My dojo runs off a specific creed.

Strike First.
Strike Hard.
No Mercy.

The little shit is taking that tenet and driving it well beyond what I think it should.

And if they got that shit in their head because of me, then it's my job to set them fucking straight.

voice; un: lookingforshinsengumi

[tealeafs]

[ Honestly, the less Chizuru thinks about that other post on the network, the better. Maybe it's why she's opting to ignore the first part of what Ariadne is saying here, instead focusing on the second half. ]

Um..

[ Her voice is soft. Gentle. ]

Please, forgive me if this is an intrusive question. [ Chizuru is always polite, after all. Even with how tense things have seemed here lately. ] But if you aren't going to hurt them, then.. why do you want to know who killed your friend..?

[ She assumes this Dean Winchester is Ariadne's friend, after all. Why else would she be asking about it? ]

[demonicbeauty]

[It's a valid question.

Ariadne inhales slowly before she replies, the words coming out haltingly.]

I guess because...I need to know why. That's the important part. I want to know why he died.

[tealeafs]

.. yes. I guess that makes sense.. [ Her voice is still soft, but Chizuru seems to agree. She nods a little bit to herself as she's saying it.

After all, who wouldn't want to know why if something that upsetting happened? Even when you don't want to take revenge, sometimes it's a little bit much to live without answers, or details. ]

It seems though that.. sometimes the reason behind death in this place might be a little bit cruel. [ Especially if that recent network post was anything to go by. ] Don't you think it might hurt you more then..?

[ Chizuru sounds a touch concerned as she says that.

It's not even like she knows this woman, but she'd hate to see anyone unnecessarily hurt. ]

Voice; un: ...

[opress]

The want for revenge wasn't entirely the fault of the Sleepers last month. The Reckoning is an entity built on revenge.

I care very little for personal revenge, but I have no issue anyone taking it for themselves. [He sort of had to given who his brother was.] But last month even I wanted to hurt and kill those who had done something against me or my brother.

Some of us are already at the best we can achieve.

[demonicbeauty]

What happens when you get revenge, then they get revenge, then you get revenge again?

Eventually, everyone ends up dead.

[opress]

That is the way of the warrior. We all die, and I would rather a blade to the back than weak and frail in a bed.

Revenge simply speeds up the knives emerging.

Text - UN: Onerthes

[onerthes]

[She sighed. No, she knew exactly who they were talking about, and ...]

thank you for saying this about them.
I legitimately appreciate hearing someone, anyone saying this about that person.

I am only sorry that I cannot help you further.

[demonicbeauty]

[There's a vague smile in her voice as she replies on audio.]

Honestly, just hearing someone else say that helps more than you can imagine, right now.