.//INBOX

[ornithologist]

Comments

[levelshift]

You really think that much is necessary? I wouldn't care if I got an alert in the middle of the night because some brat saw a spider.

[Well, he would, but he's a big pushover when it comes to kids, so in the end he'd get over it....]

Okay.

Yeah.

But as far as everyone else knows, I'd beat the shit out of you like I would any other adult who ignores the rules. The last thing I'd want to deal with is some annoying jerk using that to bend the rules; we had that last time and it was annoying.

[ornithologist]

Yes, but let's try to have a proportionate response if it is just a spider.

I'll tell everyone you're an intimidating bogeyman who retaliates against the unfortunate local adults, not to worry. Who was bending the rules? Are they still here?

[ Because Harold could set a warning just for them... ]

[levelshift]

Fine, fine. Do what you want.

I don't remember their usernames, so they're probably long gone by now. They just wanted special treatment and to be able to go to the farm, which defeats the entire point. Adults have all of fucking Etraya, you guys can stand to give up one small space, you know?

[ornithologist]

Thank you. As you'll be the one installing everything, I'm sure you'll let me know if you have any objections.

I do agree with the premise, but I hope you don't feel there's compelling safety reason minors here would need a safe space away from adults. Has something happened or is this just precautionary?

[levelshift]

Yeah, I will.

It's more precautionary. The only problem I know that's occurred with an adult was that Lecter bastard, but that doesn't mean much. I don't know a lot of people here, or what's going on in their lives. I'd rather be proactive than reactive when it comes to this kind of thing.

[ornithologist]

Please don't remind me of that.

[ That was the very first thing that happened to Harold after he got here, and he will never, ever be over it. ]

Yes, of course. I wish everyone would be equally precautionary. But you know if something does arise you would not be alone in dealing with it.

[levelshift]

Yeah, sorry.

[Thankfully that's the only instance he can think of.]

If other kids want to help out they're free to, but I'm not about to put any kind of real responsibility on them that they aren't prepared for.

[ornithologist]

Do I not exist in this equation? Or Mr. Reese or Ms. Shaw or Mr. Carver or anyone else?

[levelshift]

You're all adults.

[ornithologist]

And...? That's the end of it?

[levelshift]

Yeah. I can't give you guys special treatment about this. It wouldn't be fair. If I did I'm willing to bet other adults would bitch about it and this whole thing would collapse.

[He puts so little trust in adults, but who can really blame him.]

[ornithologist]

All right. Who is an adult? What is the line -- how many years?

[levelshift]

18 is the legal age back home. But people should have their shit together before then.

[AKA he's had to grow up fast, so there's no reason why other people can't be taking on more responsibility and maturity before they hit adulthood.]

[ornithologist]

So it's not a matter of years. By your own definition you should be counted as an adult. I would agree that you take on the responsibilities of one.

[levelshift]

[He isn't going to argue any of that.]

Yeah. The first time the brat and I did this we agreed to have a rule that anyone 15 or older could hang out at the farm as long as they helped with the upkeep. No leeching when you can contribute.

I'm going to keep the same rule, but I don't expect any of those kids to help with emergencies. They can keep the fridge stocked or feed the damn goat instead.

[ornithologist]

I don't think you're following what I'm saying.

Whether or not we're welcome at the farm, there's no conditions on when I and those I work with will help you, and especially not anyone who might count as a child. In short, if there is an emergency and you don't call on me, I will be quite offended.

[levelshift]

[What. What is this. Whenever an adult is this direct with him it's because they're being insincere or want something or whatever.

Except this is Harold and he wouldn't be lying, which means - what? He seriously just said he's offering unconditional support?

He's going to stare at that message for a few minutes, then type out a message in reply, then erase it. That happens a few more times before he finally figures out what to send.]

Fuck.

What the fuck am I supposed to do with that.

[ornithologist]

Nothing, unless there's an emergency?

[ That's kind of the point of it being unconditional. ]

As much as I can insulate the children here from becoming an adult as early as you did, I will.

[levelshift]

[Oh goddamnit, it is completely unfair of him to be saying that, because that's the whole reason for the space to begin with. It's the whole reason he gives this much of a shit about younger kids in general - so they don't have to lose out on their childhood like he did, like the clones did, like Last Order did.

It really pisses him off. He hates this.]

Fine. I'll keep you in mind in case of any emergencies.

[ornithologist]

[ He's not trying to be pointedly personal, honestly, he just thinks Accelerator can handle his unvarnished opinions by now and sees no reason to withhold them. ]

Thank you.

For the record, you absolutely can and should give some individuals special treatment. I would never tell you to trust anyone and everyone, but it's equally absurd to trust no one. I don't think that's exactly the message we want to impart to children.

[levelshift]

[It's funny hearing that, given how hard he tried to go the 'no special treatment' route as soon as he became Board Chairman.]

I don't know about that. If I did I wouldn't have gone to prison back home.

[ornithologist]

[ Okay, he really can't resist asking this one -- he knows some hints but Accelerator has never said explicitly. And apparently they're asking each other personal questions now. ]

Why did you go to prison? I'm sure you're there because you want to be.

[levelshift]

[He doesn't particularly care about explaining it, since he's gotten good at controlling ]

I handed myself over as the start of a massive coordinated operation with law enforcement to clean up the dark side of the city. The entire damn system is broken and I'm fixing it, but doing that means I can't have any exceptions, especially not for myself. People need to see that even the person at the very top isn't exempt from the consequences of breaking the law.

The charges listed in the file Aurora has on me weren't exaggerated, I was convicted of every single one.

[ornithologist]

There is a grand tradition of governing while imprisoned.

I see what you mean. In that sense, I agree. Laws must be applied equally -- but our personal trust should not be. Those are two different things.

A functioning society is meant to impose limits on our biases, because the reality is that we all have them. Convincing yourself you don't is the first step to being controlled by them entirely.

[levelshift]

The fucking founder planned for failure, so he made sure something like that wouldn't interfere with him running the city.

[And he inherited that. Fun stuff.]

I know I have biases. I want to make sure they don't get in the way of making the right choices when it comes to other people. The kids here. [Specifically, protecting them.] I need to work twice as hard as any adult, because a fucking adult is going to look at me and think I don't know anything. I have to be unbiased, because those shits are going to be biased against me.

[It happened back home and it feels like an inevitability here, so he wants to be prepared.]