Stacia swallows some coffee to wash down a reflexive "you don't know I was talking about murder", because he does and she was. Besides, she also knows that Dan's not judging her. It's stupid to be defensive about it when she asked the question because she wants the answer, not to hear herself talk.
"I mean, I'd like to think that people euphemistically refer to murder as 'what needs to be done' because in general people are reluctant to do murder," she says. "It's psychologically damaging. But I also know that it's possible to build up a callus, as part of the damage." Because she's seen it happen. Because she's experienced it herself, sadly. Oh, that girl she'd been; she misses her and she hopes she always does. "But you're right. Mercy is hard work, and it's also invisible from the outside, which makes it harder."
Their walk has a gorgeous view, and everything smells amazing (even aside from the coffee). Maybe having discussions inside a boring classroom with boring blank walls is a mistake of the educational system. Something something, everything is interconnected, something something. It's not the topic at hand right now.
"One could argue that everyone always has the opportunity to choose to be different than they are," she says. "Though I suppose if someone did, I'd laugh in their face and be sarcastic about it for at least an hour." She huffs a laugh, more breath than noise. "That shit's hard at the best of times, and we're not talking about people in their best times. But I agree that those are good questions to ask before committing acts of violence that can't be taken back." Which is all of them, technically.
"So, you -- the general 'you', not you, Dan, or me, Stacia, specifically -- have the opportunity to remove someone from a situation where they're doing harm and give them the opportunity to do better. But they have to recognize what that opportunity is, don't they? Being yanked out of a familiar situation and dumped in a new one is pretty traumatic. They might just double-down on the harm-doing."
It's a weak-ass argument. But it's where her head's at right now, so she's going to leave it for Dan to do instead.
no subject
"I mean, I'd like to think that people euphemistically refer to murder as 'what needs to be done' because in general people are reluctant to do murder," she says. "It's psychologically damaging. But I also know that it's possible to build up a callus, as part of the damage." Because she's seen it happen. Because she's experienced it herself, sadly. Oh, that girl she'd been; she misses her and she hopes she always does. "But you're right. Mercy is hard work, and it's also invisible from the outside, which makes it harder."
Their walk has a gorgeous view, and everything smells amazing (even aside from the coffee). Maybe having discussions inside a boring classroom with boring blank walls is a mistake of the educational system. Something something, everything is interconnected, something something. It's not the topic at hand right now.
"One could argue that everyone always has the opportunity to choose to be different than they are," she says. "Though I suppose if someone did, I'd laugh in their face and be sarcastic about it for at least an hour." She huffs a laugh, more breath than noise. "That shit's hard at the best of times, and we're not talking about people in their best times. But I agree that those are good questions to ask before committing acts of violence that can't be taken back." Which is all of them, technically.
"So, you -- the general 'you', not you, Dan, or me, Stacia, specifically -- have the opportunity to remove someone from a situation where they're doing harm and give them the opportunity to do better. But they have to recognize what that opportunity is, don't they? Being yanked out of a familiar situation and dumped in a new one is pretty traumatic. They might just double-down on the harm-doing."
It's a weak-ass argument. But it's where her head's at right now, so she's going to leave it for Dan to do instead.