raisetheearth | 041 ♦ YouTube, mirrored to network; backdated to immediately after Thunder Corp's announcement

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041 ♦ YouTube, mirrored to network; backdated to immediately after Thunder Corp's announcement

[The Winter that pops onto the screen, and onto the internet at large, is one that's quite a bit angrier than she's been in a while. She clearly didn't like something she heard.]

Thunder Corporation wants to blame the Numbered for this. They're pushing it on us again. They don't know anything. Where were they, when the violence broke out two years ago with the mafia? During the Invasion? There's something fishy about asking for help now, when we've never been given the time of day before. This press release... I'm not sure what to do with this. But I've got a response of my own.

If Locke City will have me, I would be honored and excited to protect my home once more. Like many people, I don't want to be put in danger because of who and what I am; it's why I left Locke in the first place. I've had my eye on things; I know Summer's been around Locke, keeping an eye on the city when I can't. I want to help, as I always have. It's my duty as a Precure; it's my duty as a person. That's never changed. But as my wife keeps reminding me, I can't help anyone if I'm dead.

I've always been an open person. Lily and I have nothing to hide. I've made some mistakes. I've done things I would just as soon take back. But I don't cover those things up. Maybe it's foolish of me, but you don't earn trust by only showing the things you're proud of. If they want to ask questions - if anyone wants to ask questions, within reason - so be it. If they want help keeping Locke safe... they didn't have to do something like this to ask. I still have an e-mail address, a YouTube channel, a Twitter account. I have a mailbox. I refuse to believe that anyone thought public shaming was the best way to ask for our help.

If Thunder Corp. is honest about their intentions, I have no issues lending a hand. We've shaped this world, since everything started, three years ago. I don't deny that, either. It would be irresponsible of me to leave everyone out in the cold now. Assuming I don't get attacked in the process, the light of wisdom will shine over Locke City once more. Count on it.

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[At the conclusion of the video, after Winter has switched things off, she'll rather promptly find a pair of hands on her shoulders.]

Sometimes, it can be good to vent.

[Almost unconsciously, she figures Winter looks like a person who could probably use anything possible to relax right then, as such it doesn't take long for her to begin a soft movement of her hands, beginning a very gentle massage. She stays quiet for a moment, letting that comment hang in the air before she broaches the more significant issue.]

They're not going to let that go unanswered. [It's said as if she's stating the obvious, because it is. Both of them probably realize that, and it's not a criticism. Not even remotely.]

[He doesn't like seeing her so upset, but as far as Toushirou is concerned, she has every right to be.]

The way they're going about this really is suspicious as hell. [Yeah, he doesn't really trust it, either.]

[Jasmine's tone is razor-sharp, and her expression focused and serious.]

This is just the beginning, Winter. They damn well planned this. We ran off and now they want us back where they can keep using us.

[By this point, a combination of being back in a place that's nominally hers and knowing Lily is comfortable with her again has put Winter at ease, enough that Lily's touch from behind doesn't startle her. She manages a soft, brief murmur but aside from that, she just takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, willing the sharp, almost uncharacteristic anger away. Thunder had really pushed a button on this one.]

It can. I certainly need it.

[There's silence for a bit longer, Winter taking comfort in the effort to keep her calm, until Lily's voice drifts up again.] Mm. I know they'll want to pick a bone with me, if not a fight. It would be unlike them not to. But what else can I do? After something like this... we have to send a message. You can't casually pin things on us. Not without a fight.

Extremely. I can count on one hand the people that don't have a problem standing up and blaming someone for their problems in a public forum. None of them were part of Thunder Corporation, last I looked.

Still, if this is what it takes to be able to go home, so be it. If they want to make me a monster, I'll just have to prove them wrong. [Or right, she silently adds. She's not so naive to think nothing will happen.]

And we're stuck either way. If we don't go, it looks like we're abandoning Locke City, and we'll lose all credibility. If we do, we wind up with whatever scheme Thunder's working on.

If I'm honest, though... I miss home. I can deal with our local crazies if it means I can go back.

[No jumping or being startled is certainly a good thing, at least. She also appreciates the deep breath, as it prevents her from suggesting it herself. She just leans over beside her head as her hands continue their business.] With you, and us both, probably. Remember, when one of us slaps our name on something, they're slapping at least half of the other's.

[She smiles a bit, if weakly.] But that's okay. Right now, all they've got for us are words - we've got the high ground if they try anything.

Thunder Corp isn't "local crazies". That's literally their doorstep.

We've both seen the means they're prepared to take.

I know this is a situation where we can't really win. But they're also not saying things they and a bunch of other assholes haven't been for more than a year.

[she sighs] I know what I sound like. I'm behaving more like a soldier than a Precure, I guess. But we can't appear vulnerable to the enemy. If there's a crisis, we can use the teleporter to go back and forth. We don't have to leave Locke undefended.

But that doesn't mean we have to mend fences with the people who caused as many disasters as they did.

Edited 2015-09-19 08:46 (UTC)

I know, Jasmine. I know what I'm signing myself up for, and I know it's dangerous. That they're not likely to turn over a new leaf out of nowhere. But I also know that, if we don't play into it... it'll be bad.

It's okay that you're looking out for things, that you're asking questions. But whether we can appear at will or not is beside the point. If we start to come back, it means we're ready to move on. If someone starts something, that's another story. But I want to move past everything and rebuild my life.

We don't have to be friends with them. We just need to prove we're willing to play ball in their court, whether we're following the rules or not.

I... I don't want you in harm's way, Winter. If you do this I'm going to worry about you and Lily every step of the way.

They want us in Locke for something. How is this different from popping over to Gateway when dinosaurs show up? Or any other fire the Numbered have to put out?

Why do we need to be in Locke?

Edited 2015-09-19 08:53 (UTC)

Because this isn't about a fire for us to put out. This is about us being us. This is about us leaving our city because things got rough. If we don't go back, how can we ever show our faces there again?

I know they want us there for something. It's a big, huge red flag. But if we don't call their bluff, we risk them having something we won't be prepared for later. We need to be in Locke because it's too big of a risk for us not to be.

There's also a big PR benefit for us - if they challenge us to return, and then something happens to us on their watch, they're going to look exceptionally suspicious. They'll have an obligation to keep their noses clean, at least for a little while.

Winter, they brought back the Wise Snake Jr.'s! That monster was one of the worst things that ever happened to us! Hundreds of people died! And they did it as a test... who knows what else they can do!

... I don't... I don't know what to think. I can see all the ways this can go wrong for us.

Edited 2015-09-19 09:12 (UTC)

We can't link that to them provably. It's one thing if they're shooting them and capturing them for research, but it'd be another entirely if they made the things. If we could prove it, I'd be right with you. But right now we just have circumstantial evidence, and even that isn't very strong.

I admit that something is probably going to happen. But it has a strong chance of being a better something than the alternative. I wouldn't be even entertaining this if I thought it was going to be a lose-lose deal outright.

I know, right! I wasn't there for all that, but those guys still pissed me off!

Hmph. Locke's people have already made it very clear that we're not welcome there. I was shunned by everyone, even after the invasion, for instance.

[It goes without saying that Emilia is less than happy and 100% done with this.]

And Thunder Corp... I don't trust them one bit.

I don't get why they bothered trying to play nice with us if they were going to throw us under the bus like that! Maybe it's just for PR, but- grrr! They should have given us some warning!

[He sighs, but it's more at the situation than at Winter.]

It's not that I don't want to help home, but doing it in relation to Thundercorp trying to make itself look good isn't sitting right. It's not like we can trust them. [He's honestly kind of torn. That was home, and he even wanted to check out the snakes before, but as a Numbered, as himself, not as some Thundercorp puppet.]

... I don't know if I can handle this correctly right now.

I'm sorry Winter. I love you a lot but I think I'm losing my head in how angry I am at these bastards.

[She wasn't there... but they still... um. New and angry might be a problem. Winter takes a deep breath before she keys the network up again.]

There's been a lot of trouble, only some of which we can provably link to Thunder, but... something about this bugs me. Not enough that I'm not seriously considering going, but it's definitely on my radar.

I know it's kind of hypocritical for me to say, but please, give it a little more time before you make a decision. It's entirely possible they turned over a new leaf... [A grimace.] Yeah, never mind. I can't even finish that sentence with a straight face.

Ordinarily, I'd be more than happy to agree. But... I grew up in this city. My home is in this city. I have so many memories... I want to go home, Emi. I need to. If nothing's changed, I can try to find a real estate broker, and cut ties. But... I have to try.

Thunder, I have significantly less goodwill toward. Still, even if it's a trap, I can't not go. We're playing right into their hands if we don't.

You don't warn your enemies, even if you're trying to play at making friends. Especially then.

Maybe it's just a genuine miscommunication, but somehow, I don't buy it.

You have a right to be angry. We all do. I should be more than I am.

At the first sign of trouble, I'm getting out of the city. But until then... I'm sorry, too, Jasmine. On this one, I think we're going to have to agree to disagree. And if you're right, I'll take my lumps.

Uh, from you. Not from them. If they try, I'll let Summer do what she threatened to do before. I may help.

And if it's an excuse to turn public opinion further against us? Or worse, to pin something on us that we didn't do? I like them about as much as you do, but I have no desire to be walked on. This time... the best defense might be a good offense.

If you're not comfortable with it, stay where it's safe. Don't get involved with this for anyone's sake but your own.

[She pauses a moment, before she smiles slightly.] It's just like when we started out, right? There are some things you can't protect in the shadows, and some things you're too exposed to protect in the light.

[She shakes her head slightly and doesn't keep the grimace from coming to her face, recognizing the problem there.] Sorry. I kind of reacted without thinking... again. Still, you're right - if they try something, we'll come down with the force of a thousand suns. Nobody pulls a fast one on me.

[She grows silent for a long moment, before she softly adds:] I want to go home, Lily.

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041 ♦ YouTube, mirrored to network; backdated to immediately after Thunder Corp's announcement

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