[He bursts like a dam. Claire isn't terribly worried about her own safety--she tends not to--and she's too busy listening, as it is. Eyes a touch darker blue than his don't look away, though the downwards curve of her mouth does deepen as he goes on.
None of this is about her, but her thoughts flick to Randall. Bonnet. Men that killed and hurt and felt no remorse for any of it, even up until their deaths. People the world didn't miss.]
I can't.
[She admits easily enough.]
People don't always get what they deserve, good or bad. But is it really your place to play the role of judge, jury, and executioner?
[Her voice is calm, quiet. He'll have to listen if he wants to hear her at all.]
You're angry. It comes from a good place, I believe. But anger is... dangerous. Worse than fear.
( That wasn't supposed to all come out and once he's finished speaking he reels back on his heels with a deep inhale. Hands rise to wash over his face and drop unceremoniously after only a moment. It's all there, Jason figures. The important stuff at least. He doubts he said anything that Claire didn't already read or infer from his file at least. There was... some relief, though. At her initial answer.
Still, Jason needs to walk it off. His body needs to move and he pivots his body to take a tour around the room. He can hear it--her quiet words. It takes him a moment to find the right ones in response. ) Is it the place of authorities whose payroll comes from mobsters that make their money on the ownership and control of others?
( His feet stop, eyes turn back over toward Claire. ) I'd rather have anger fire me into action then be complacent. Gotham's a shithole, but it's my shithole. Someone has to save it.
[A genuine question rather than a harsh reminder of how he came to be here in the first place. But he's been troubled his whole life, it seems, and latching onto this desire to save a city and its people didn't help him.]
But I understand, Jason. I do. When the war came, I was first in line to volunteer. I learned that you may not be able to save the world, but you can save the man before you. So please know that I do understand that your heart is in the right place. You want your home to be better. Safer.
( Even if her question wasn't harsh, he couldn't help the immediate reaction. His entire body jerked forward with it. Gesticulating vigorously as he spoke. Heated, but pointed. Every syllable pronounced. ) That wasn't why I died, Claire. I died because no one was willing to do what was necessary, not even Bru-- ( He'd started moving toward her but that name just about to come out of his lips stops him in his tracks. A pause, a long one. He looks aside. Then, back. ) Not even him. Not even Bruce--Batman, whatever. ( A hand flicks over toward Claire. ) You have my file, no point in hiding that shit now, I guess.
[From what she's read. Claire quietly corrects herself:]
I think a lot of people have let you down. I'm not keen on joining their ranks, so I'm not going to make you any grand promises. I don't want you to remain dead. So, I'm going to try and figure out--with you--how we get you to a place where you're... able to graduate. Help better people, help better your Gotham.
( Jason looked away again for a moment, thoughts milling in his mind. He should have seen it coming. Bruce was rich, and just because he lost his parents didn't mean he really understood what the underbelly of Gotham looked like. He was surprised when he found out who Batman was. Guess it made sense, the shit the guy could do wasn't something some kid from the streets would have access to. For a while, Jason wanted to believe in him. He still wanted to believe in him.
It just wasn't what Jason was, who Jason was, and he's not sure what that is right now he just knows its not Robin anymore. Dick was right, and he kind of hates thinking about that but. Here they were. As Clair continues to speak, though... not going to make grand promises. He... really appreciates that.
Those pale blue eyes move back up to her. Resigned, quiet: ) thank you.
( He thinks for a second. He considered leaving--his body even turns to look back toward the door, but... his feet move forward and toward her, instead. ) I don't wanna disappoint you, Claire. But I've tried--I've really tried to do it his way, to work within the law or whatever, but it never works.
( His gaze finds the floor as feet stop; the wheels turning, seeking what and who he is now. Now that he's decided indefinitely that what he came as and what he was now were different. ) Maybe I do need to be the bad guy.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
None of this is about her, but her thoughts flick to Randall. Bonnet. Men that killed and hurt and felt no remorse for any of it, even up until their deaths. People the world didn't miss.]
I can't.
[She admits easily enough.]
People don't always get what they deserve, good or bad. But is it really your place to play the role of judge, jury, and executioner?
[Her voice is calm, quiet. He'll have to listen if he wants to hear her at all.]
You're angry. It comes from a good place, I believe. But anger is... dangerous. Worse than fear.
no subject
Still, Jason needs to walk it off. His body needs to move and he pivots his body to take a tour around the room. He can hear it--her quiet words. It takes him a moment to find the right ones in response. ) Is it the place of authorities whose payroll comes from mobsters that make their money on the ownership and control of others?
( His feet stop, eyes turn back over toward Claire. ) I'd rather have anger fire me into action then be complacent. Gotham's a shithole, but it's my shithole. Someone has to save it.
no subject
[A genuine question rather than a harsh reminder of how he came to be here in the first place. But he's been troubled his whole life, it seems, and latching onto this desire to save a city and its people didn't help him.]
But I understand, Jason. I do. When the war came, I was first in line to volunteer. I learned that you may not be able to save the world, but you can save the man before you. So please know that I do understand that your heart is in the right place. You want your home to be better. Safer.
no subject
no subject
[From what she's read. Claire quietly corrects herself:]
I think a lot of people have let you down. I'm not keen on joining their ranks, so I'm not going to make you any grand promises. I don't want you to remain dead. So, I'm going to try and figure out--with you--how we get you to a place where you're... able to graduate. Help better people, help better your Gotham.
[Maybe with less violence.]
no subject
It just wasn't what Jason was, who Jason was, and he's not sure what that is right now he just knows its not Robin anymore. Dick was right, and he kind of hates thinking about that but. Here they were. As Clair continues to speak, though... not going to make grand promises. He... really appreciates that.
Those pale blue eyes move back up to her. Resigned, quiet: ) thank you.
no subject
Do you have any questions for me? Concerns?
no subject
( His gaze finds the floor as feet stop; the wheels turning, seeking what and who he is now. Now that he's decided indefinitely that what he came as and what he was now were different. ) Maybe I do need to be the bad guy.
no subject
[The bad guy. Claire knows she's the bad guy in some stories, but Jason doesn't deserve to be that, truly. Or dead.]
Let's give this a try, at least. Some part of you trusts me.