[Our agency and our strengths... Magic? That's the only thing ADI would lock Aelwyn up for continuing. Caitlyn has no magical abilities, but if it were possible for ADI to restrict her proficiency with a gun, if they told her to do battle without one... she would feel as helpless as she imagines Aelwyn does. But when she needed to, she gave up the gun, and she's got to convince Aelwyn to make a similar sacrifice.]
We're surrounded by fear every day, you're right. And if they told me I couldn't use the skills I have to fight and threatened to lock me up for doing so anyway, I would resent them too. But avoiding touching fire isn't the same as this.
[She gestures at the empty nightmare version of her home they're sitting in.]
And your strength doesn't come from magic. Hurting people, even ones you've decided are monsters, won't make you stronger or safer. We can work together, with-- [She almost says 'with ADI,' but cuts herself off.] --the others, to fight the Entities without needing to feed them like this.
[She pauses, glances up at the painting again.]
Is that what they made you think of yourself? That you're a monster? [It's a bit of a leap to assume Aelwyn's parents are the ones who instilled that idea in her head, but the eyes in the painting, the merciless reproach in their gazes... For all her disapproval, Caitlyn's mother has never looked at her like those strangers staring down at her now from the remains of their burned faces.
It's not easy to look objectively at Aelwyn. Too much about the other girl reminds Caitlyn uncomfortably of her own upbringing. But she's sure Aelwyn isn't the monster she claims. Cynical, unscrupulous, incorrect. But not a monster.]
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We're surrounded by fear every day, you're right. And if they told me I couldn't use the skills I have to fight and threatened to lock me up for doing so anyway, I would resent them too. But avoiding touching fire isn't the same as this.
[She gestures at the empty nightmare version of her home they're sitting in.]
And your strength doesn't come from magic. Hurting people, even ones you've decided are monsters, won't make you stronger or safer. We can work together, with-- [She almost says 'with ADI,' but cuts herself off.] --the others, to fight the Entities without needing to feed them like this.
[She pauses, glances up at the painting again.]
Is that what they made you think of yourself? That you're a monster? [It's a bit of a leap to assume Aelwyn's parents are the ones who instilled that idea in her head, but the eyes in the painting, the merciless reproach in their gazes... For all her disapproval, Caitlyn's mother has never looked at her like those strangers staring down at her now from the remains of their burned faces.
It's not easy to look objectively at Aelwyn. Too much about the other girl reminds Caitlyn uncomfortably of her own upbringing. But she's sure Aelwyn isn't the monster she claims. Cynical, unscrupulous, incorrect. But not a monster.]