video | un: Mercy

[valcurie]

Hello there! ( the image that appears is of a smiling blonde woman, healthy and bright looking, dressed now in pristine weight to present herself, projecting poise and elegance and friendly invitation to hear her out. her German Swiss accent is quite strong, though, so hopefully no-one is overly attached to their w's. ) I hope everyone is doing well this evening. I am coming onto the network to reach out to anyone I might not have been able to yet. My name is Angela Ziegler, and I am a doctor from Earth. Human, as you can see. ( a light, pleasant laugh and an even more pleasant smile ) You may also know me as Mercy. It's my agent name from when I was in service to a global peacekeeping organisation known as Overwatch.

I'm from the 21st century, so the treatment that I can offer you is science based ( a slight pause here as if she's considering one last time how to phrase this ) rather than magic based, but I have a good deal of practical experience with general medicine so there's almost nothing I haven't seen or dealt with. My expertise is in applied biotics, and I also have experience with gene therapy, prosthetics, and cybernetics, if there is anyone here who may need more specialised care. My qualifications also include emergency and trauma response so, if you ever find yourself wounded and in need of immediate attention, please do not hesitate to contact me. Think of me as personal 999 for refugees!

If you do come to me for any kind of care, I promise to do the best I can help you, while upholding all the oaths I've taken as a doctor to do no harm and to protect my patients. I'm not charging anything at this time.

And, if you'd like to humour me and help me to understand our group a bit better, I have a set of questions: do you believe you have a soul? What makes you think you do or don't have one? And is such a belief common where you're from? ( she doesn't mention religion, because it isn't strictly speaking a religious idea. she's known plenty of atheists and nay-theists who thought there was something beyond intelligence that made people paramount to other species. whether they called this unique internal animating light a soul or not, it didn't really matter. )

Comments

[valcurie]

Ah, well. ( she sighs a bit. not so much out of disappointment, so much as how tired that second statement makes her feel. some of them may be benevolent, but that doesn't mean they don't cause plenty of problems. ) Let's hope it stays that way. I would prefer not to be awash in a sea of villainy.

( she'd pry, too, if he indicated there was something magical about him. the fact that real magic actually exists is still novel to her and something she, as a scientist, is trying to quantify and qualify into a thing she can understand. ) Gets in the way when you're doing what?

[fakers]

Are you sure about that? Without villains, peacekeepers would be out of a job, wouldn't they? [ okay, maybe that's not such a bad thing. ] And when that happens, what do they have to do, other than turn on themselves?

[ he pauses, realizing perhaps he'd said a bit too much... carefully considering how to best backtrack, before deciding it really doesn't matter after all. ]

Keeping the peace.

[valcurie]

( hah, well, thanks to her experiences, not only does she have a good answer for his question, she has a good guess at what exactly he means by keeping the peace. ) As much as it is my life's work to help people, I would be beyond satisfied and content to no longer have any work to do because, by some miracle, there were no longer villains, everyone managed to get along, and the peacekeepers hadn't turned on each other. Outside of that, I imagine they could finally start pursuing some hobbies. I've always wanted to get better at badminton.

( a bit dryly: ) And why do you do that? For your own peace of mind?

[fakers]

A surprisingly straightforward resolution, then. One can only hope to be that fortunate. [ he's never seen things play out quite that nicely, and he's seen this scenario go down more than a few times. ] But unless you truly achieved the vaunted goal of world peace, there's always some new battle... another conflict just waiting down the line.

[ he can't help but let out a chuckle at that, more bitter than mirthful. ] No, it's never offered me any peace. Because it was the right thing to do, I suppose? That's the answer one's supposed to give here, isn't it?

[valcurie]

An ideal one, yes. However. ( she sighs, weary for the very same reason he's right about world peace. ) I will not count on it happening any time soon. I know how the story goes, and I am not going to worry about what I cannot change. I am more concerned about doing what I can to help those whom I can. The fewer villains trying to plunge the world into chaos, the easier my work is. ( she is, for all her idealism and morality, a pragmatic woman. )

Perhaps, but the is that the truth? I'd rather know that, then whatever else you may think I want to hear. Saves your breath and my time.

[fakers]

Do what you can for those in front of you. A pragmatic approach. [ thankfully, that's at least a value he can appreciate. ] And not wrong. That's far better than choosing an impossible goal like "saving everyone." Only a true fool wouldn't understand, or respect, their own limits.

The truth, huh? [ there's a long pause as he seems to consider that, before deciding there's no point in being coy. ] The truth is I have no choice in the matter: I dirty my hands so no one else will have to.

[valcurie]

Of course. I have tried in the past to reach the largest amount of people possible and that meant compromise, but I have learnt my lesson. I am content with what I can do now. You may not think I look like it, but I've been down this road before. Though that doesn't mean I will let myself settle, either. You should never stop striving lest you become complacent.

( a quirked brow at that, how matter-of-factly he delivers the statement. he makes it sound so simple, but it's not, is it? she's known soldiers, and there's always a why. ) And do you like this role?

[fakers]

Striving, huh? [ that's a road he's been down before too, and it didn't have a particularly happy conclusion. ] As long as you're living your life by your own ideals, I have no place to say otherwise. It sounds like you have a firm head on your shoulders, and a clear view of your goals. That's more than I can say for most people.

[ like it? he almost laughs at that, but he manages to hold it back this time. ] No, of course not. If anyone liked my role, they'd be a psychopath.

[valcurie]

Better than idling. Inaction can be action at times, but most of the times it's just an excuse for indecision. ( which isn't a way she could ever bear to live. she's never been a passive person, and how could she be, when there's so much suffering in the world? ) Well, thank you, for your compliment. It's always nice to be appreciated.

( he may hold back his laughter, but she doesn't hold back her amusement. ) Then what does that make you?

[fakers]

So is making a wrong choice better than making no choice at all? [ trying to save others, but only causing more suffer in the long run... is that really a better way to live? ] A compliment? Heh. I didn't mean it as such, but I guess you could take it that way.

A cleaner. [ shrug. ] Someone willing to do the jobs no one else will. Not everyone can live glamorously in the light.

[valcurie]

Now, what was it I actually said? ( some amusement seeping into her tone, she's never been the one to stop the beginnings of sass. ) Sometimes there is nothing you can do. Sometimes everything you can do, will do more harm than it can help. But sometimes, you don't know what to do, and so you let the problem sort itself out even if you know for sure that that's not the best you could do. But then, you don't seem like the type to do that. ( and then she does laugh. ) Maybe my standards are just low for this kind of thing. It just goes to show you.

I don't think I've ever met more than a handful of soldiers who actually enjoy killing.

[fakers]

What type am I? That's actually a good question... I'm not even sure I know the answer anymore. I'd like to say I'm the type not to do anything stupid, but I'm not so sure of that. [ as much as he may lecture against rushing into things head first without fully grasping the situation... he probably still is the type to do exactly that. some things never change, even with years of experience. ] But if the choice is between doing nothing, and causing nothing to change, and doing something, and only making matters worse... I'd probably end up doing the latter.

Unfortunately, I cannot say the same. Not that it matters ultimately... whether you enjoy the killing or not means nothing to the one who dies.

[valcurie]

Well, how about human, then? ( she laughs lightly, more at herself and the situation and the great grand gestures of philosophy that reality pretty much casually takes a broom to. ) We all make mistakes. It's hard to always be the same thing. ( weighing the two options he presented seriously, she tilts her head as she contemplates. ) I would probably do the same, though I have vowed not to. But I would like to think I am no longer foolish enough to think I can save the world.

But what about others? Doesn't it hurt your cause if the ones fighting for it are doing so because they enjoy the taking of life?

[fakers]

[ not that either... so he'll just nervously chuckle to match her laughter. awkwardly avoids eye contact (even though he's only on voice anyway). ] The first step to truly saving the world is accepting that you can't. Ironic, isn't it? Though... that sounds like a rather odd vow to make on your part.

No, people like that are probably better suited to this task. [ even if he finds them distasteful. ] That said, if we ever met one another, I doubt we'd both survive the encounter.

[valcurie]

( she notes the awkward laugh but doesn't really know enough about him to connect it to some kind of avoidance. maybe he's an elf or a dwarf? at this point it would just be a quick apology and a switch to 'person'. ) If it is even possible to save the world, I suppose. But, ah--I, as a doctor, have sworn to do no harm. In the past I compromised my ideals so that I could help more people than I would have otherwise, but it did not exactly work out the way I thought it would. I try not to make that mistake again, but, who knows? Humans are pretty good rationalising things to suit them.

What makes you say that?

[fakers]

Compromised your ideals? It's funny that you would put it that way... if I'd been more willing to compromise my own, I probably wouldn't have run into as many problems. [ granted, she probably means it in a rather different way. ] Though ultimately, you chose a noble profession. That speaks volumes; it's more than I can say for myself.

Oh, I suppose I wasn't clear enough. If I met another who enjoyed doing what I do, I would kill them. Without hesitation. [ while his tone sounds rather lighthearted as he says it, something about his voice still makes it clear he's rather serious. ]

[valcurie]

If it's not for convenience, what is your criteria for compromise? ( it's not necessarily about creating problems for herself, but she still considers it: would she have fewer problems if she could always compromise with herself? if she were able to ignore her own moral guidance? no, probably not: because, ultimately, she would end up doing more things she regretted, and only cause more problems for herself in the long run. ) There isn't anything noble about it--it's just a profession. There are plenty of doctors who aren't 'noble'.

...What is your actual job description? Beyond garbage disposal?

[fakers]

Not being too stubborn to recognize when your ideals are flawed, and adapting accordingly. Or perhaps just being able to accept that living a life blindly pursuing an ideal, rather than facility reality, is foolish. [ granted, the ideal he speaks of is fairly simple: saving others no matter what, even at the expense of yourself. ] I suppose that's true enough. Even an idea like healing others can become perverted if the motives behind it are wrong.

[ hm, well, he's already said more than he intended to do. if there's any harm in saying more, he'll deal with the consequences then. ] A Guardian... one who safeguards humanity from itself. But that explanation doesn't make much sense on its own, does it? [ a pause. ] I don't know if it applies to the world you come from, but a Guardian is one chosen by the world to ensure the preservation of mankind. It may seem "noble" on the surface, but in truth it merely means killing the few to save the many. No matter what that might entail.

[valcurie]

Well, it sounds like this person needed better ideals to start with. But I guess that's part of growing up. ( She may laugh at this, and her own ideals have not changed at all, but she is totally serious; some people do make this adjustment when they are wiser. What she's changed over the years is her approach, more than anything. She's found that simplicity, and a lack of a willingness to abridge her own morality, has given her better results personally. ) All it takes is a little bit of imagination to know what you can do with a doctor's tools. In any age.

( then comes his explanation and...while it's not the weirdest thing she's come across here, it's something new. she'll listen, consider, and try to understand. ) People have chosen you to be their hero but, in reality, you're just a sacrifice for their collective conscious? So they don't have to get their hands dirty.

[fakers]

It's funny that you would put it like that... you couldn't be more right. Failing to outgrow such a childish way of thinking is just the pinnacle of stupidity. [ still talking about himself, yep. ] I would say someone like that has ceased to be a doctor, but that's merely semantics.

Something like that. It's a role I accepted, so I have no right to complain. [ a sigh. ] In truth, I don't mind dirtying my hands for the sake of others. [ the people he's saved aren't the problem; it's those he needs to sacrifice in order to do so. ] While I'm no longer a Guardian here, I imagine I was brought here for much the same reason.

[valcurie]

Well, hopefully everyone sees it that way, because who likes to be stupid? Much less the pinnacle of it? ( She laughs, maaaaybe starting to suspect he's talking about himself, even if he's so serious, or maybe because of it. He seems to take himself pretty seriously. Whatever his past, that can cause problems for anyone. ) And this is why we just based on action, no? Instead of words.

You said you accepted the role. ( a slight pause. ) Have you already done that here, even if you have not been asked to? However much we may discuss murder the network.

[fakers]

It's good to know there's at least one trustworthy physician here, then. [ he doesn't trust lysa or whatever as far as he can throw her... granted, medical care wouldn't do him much good, but it's still useful information to file away for a later date. ]

The need has yet to arise. But given that we're up against a supernatural storm capable of wiping out entire worlds, I find it unlikely things will stay that way. [ he's generally stayed away from all the murder talk since... any of those conversations can't end well for him..... ]

[valcurie]

( well, she wasn't having this conversation with him to show or prove that she is one, but she'll take it. trustworthy seems like a compliment coming from him. ) If you ever need me, I'll be there. I can also recommend my colleague, Doctor John Watson. If you ever have any troubles, please come to one of us before going to see one of the locals. We actually practise medicine. ( she doesn't think much of Lysa and her potions either. )

...Is there really anything you can do against a galaxy-eating storm? I want to help too, but I am not sure there's much we can do beyond the work before us on this planet.

[fakers]

I'll remember that. [ or at least refer other people. ]

Perhaps not, but even something like the Storm must have a cause. And from the attack on Thesa, there are at least other forces guiding it. Eliminate that, and perhaps our weather problem goes away as well. [ it's the least they can do. ] And if it doesn't, it'll at least make me feel a little better when we all meet our untimely demise.

[valcurie]

Thank you. Truly. ( someone has an agenda, haha. )

...You've never happened to see a natural disaster movie, have you?