(no subject)

[jlf_superman]

Happy Father's Day, everyone!

Lois and I are going to Smallville to see my Ma and pay our respects at Pa's grave. Then we are taking her father out to dinner and afterwards flying to the Fortress to pay our respects to Jor-El.

I hope you all have a wonderful day with your fathers!

(Apparently Clark isn't thinking about how difficult father's day must be for 99% of superheroes)

Comments

[jlf_redhood]

Wondering who I should wish a happy Father's Day to: my deadbeat dad who got himself offed by a crime lord, or my deadbeat dad who let me get killed by a psycho?

Maybe both. Or, hey, maybe neither. I might go with neither.

[jlf_superman]

I think it would be the perfect time to reconnect with the father who raised you to be a hero.

[jlf_redhood]

Wow, thanks! What a helpful reply there. Ever take the time to think all this "celebrate your awesome parents" bullshit might not be great for people who had shitty parents? I mean, good on you for having great parents, but itake a look around the Watchtower next time you're up there and just take a head count of people for whom mentions of happy parents might be a hot button issue. I'm betting you'll run out of fingers pretty quickly.

[jlf_superman]

I can't speak for your real father, but you are being unfair to Bruce. He did not let you die, he tried his best to save you. I understand you being bitter and nobody blames you for feeling that way, but since you've come back you've been heading down a bad path that nobody wants to see you go down.

[jlf_redhood]

Give me another way - one that works - and I'll retire the guns.

If I wanted the judging-you speech, I'd've gone to Bruce.

[jlf_superman]

I'm not judging you, Jason. I'm trying to help. Our way works. It may not be perfect, but it does work. If you keep going on the way you are, you're going to get yourself branded as a criminal. I really don't want to see that happen.

[jlf_redhood]

Your way works? You've got to be kidding me. It works for the run-of-the-mill guys, sure, the random people who commit a crime and then get scared straight by the Big Blue Boy Scout, but for the ones who are the real problem? The ones locked in the deepest, darkest parts of Arkham, where all the cracks back to the outside seem to be? They're not going to get better. They don't want to. And the system in place for them is so flawed I don't know how it hasn't been knocked over by the government by now. Except, oh wait, I do: money makes a lot of problems go away, except when those problems end up back on my streets, turning more bystanders into cannon fodder.

[jlf_superman]

Jason, I don't think you understand that what you're doing is dangerous. Especially to yourself.

[jlf_redhood]

Way to dodge the actual issue here. That's just... really constructive.

I am very, very aware that what I do is dangerous. Even given the general lifestyle of the peope we spend a lot of time with, what I do is risky. I am aware of this, and screw you very much for assuming I'm in it for kicks, or whatever you're thinking. I know when I first came back I was... well, yeah, let's go with "completely bugfuck nuts." Lazarus Pits do that to you. That's my explanation, not my excuse; I know I did some terrible shit when I was getting started, and yeah, I crossed a lot of lines all at once.

I am not the guy I was two years ago. Hell, I'm not even the guy I was six months ago.

I'm going to keep doing what I do until I am presented with a better option - one that I can see is better, not one that you hand me and tell me works just fine, because no, Clark, it doesn't. What I do isn't going around and murdering random people for shits and giggles. It's figuring out who needs to be taken out to make the streets a little safer, weighing the pros and cons, and going for it if I think it's the right choice. It's not a game, and it's not easy for me. The second it becomes either of those things is the second I check myself out of the game, because that's my line. I won't become one of them. And if you think I'm honestly in danger of that, well, you're not paying enough attention.

[jlf_superman]

I am not dodging the issue, Jason. I am not accusing you of being crazy or sadistic or anything like that, either. I am wondering what the hell gave you the idea you have the right to decide who gets to live and who dies. You do not get to play judge, jury, and executioner. None of us do.
Killing criminals is the quickest and easiest way to deal with them, I know. I know because I've done it before myself, and I live with that mistake every day. If you mean it when you say you're open to using a better way, why don't you make the one? If you want a better Arkham and a better penal system, then lose the guns and the mask and become an advocate for it. It will be slow and hard, but it's the right thing to do. As a citizen you have the right to speak out and fight for change. But as a vigilante superhero you don't have the right to impose your will on anyone.
Besides, I think re-entering normal life would be good for you. It's important to know what you're fighting to protect. Lois and I will be willing to help you in any way we can.

[jlf_redhood]

I have a normal life. I live in the area I'm protecting, and most of my neighbors know who I am. You literally can't know what you're fighting better to protect more than I do. I am in Crime Alley more than I'm out of it, and I know the people and what they consider important. I had a little kid thank me the other day, you know that? Because "Batman don't care about Crime Alley, but we know the Hood does."

And if being an advocate was such a great path to take, then why hasn't it worked for Bruce or any of the people he's put on the job? People are going to pay attention to the Wayne-sponsored name more'n a dead nobody from the Alley. I've got no shot at that, and who'd take care of my neighborhood in the meantime?

[jlf_superman]

None of that gives you the right to decide who gets to live and who dies, even if the people you kill are criminals. We stop threats and fight criminals to protect people, but we leave it up to them to decide what to do with the criminals afterward. To do otherwise would be imposing our will on them, and that is not what we're here for.

I know you're not crazy and I know you care deeply for the people in your neighborhood, but this is not the best way to do it. I know it seems that way, like it's the quickest and most efficient way to handle crime, but it's a slippery slope you're on. I'm not being self-righteous on this matter, either. I'm speaking from experience.

And even if you have a normal life, you're still living in Crime Alley, where you work. A change of scenery might bring you better perspective. I know I don't like leaving Metropolis, but we need to accept that we can't protect our homes all the time, and if we tried we'd go insane.

I have to go now, but I hope you'll consider things from my point of view. I already considered yours.

[jlf_powergirl]

Well, you're... the alternate universe younger version of my surrogate father figure. Hallmark didn't have a card for that. But, uh.

I guess I could have gotten you a set of barbecue tongs or something, but it seemed kinda awkward. And a little redundant.
[This is Karen trying to lighten the mood with humor. Awkwardly. So very awkwardly.]

[jlf_superman]

There is no need to get me presents, Karen. But thank you for the thought.

[jlf_oracle]

And if you're not having a wonderful day, at least know that you're not alone.