capeandcowl | twenty-five. video. backdated to late last night.

[The feed is filled with the sound of heavy breathing. Then choked laughter. Then the video snaps on.]

I'm so fucking bored today, City. What should I do?

[Something has snapped quite palpably in the man who was playing with shadow puppets only days before. The feed is focused on his face, on his manic eyes and disheveled hair. He's rocking on a chair that isn't meant to rock.]

I know. I know what I'll do. I'll kill someone!

[He stops rocking. Drums his fingers on the bottom of the seat.]

Maybe I'll blow up a hospital, show that off. Maybe I'll kidnap a bunch of other fucking imports, tie them to chairs, torture them, and broadcast their sorry, knife-ridden bodies to the network. Maybe I'll shoot a child in cold blood, you little bastard. [He affects, quite accurately, Ladd's accent.] Torture with spells. Slash throats. Decapitate. Trick people into solving madlibs and then beat them to death with sticks. Kidnap people weaker than me and cut into their heads ahah-ha--

[His breaths dissolve into something like the beginning of tears hitch hitch hitch and then spits into laughter instead. He drags his hands over his face. His voice is a frail whisper:]

Oh my God. You monsters.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I was a prosecutor. I sent more criminals away than you've probably ever heard of. I've risked my life defending my city and my laws and all I got to show for it was ruptured skin and a whole lot of busted promises. I give everyone a chance.

Everyone. The scum. The deranged. The innocent. The meek. The strong. Everyone gets a fair trial. [ His "careers" are blurring together. He gnashes his teeth, getting irrationally frustrated. ] Helped the police. Saved people from that earthquake, I've--

Did you know that? No.

[He wasn't exactly expecting this, and so he hesitates, clearly taken aback. He straightens up.]

What point were you trying to make?

With the mad-libs?

[ He tsks. ]

Inequality. Chance.

[Beat.]

You think they don't know that already?!

Most people don't. They only think they do.

Most people in this place get an idea of it rather quickly!

[But they don't and he knows this, his head spinning.]

[ He chuckles. ]

That was months ago anyway. I wouldn't lie and say I'm still proud of it.