[It's for that reason that Maketh has never sought forgiveness for her actions. What's done cannot be undone. Her choices were made long ago and despite what she thinks of them now, they were her choices.]
A person's character is an indicator of how they will behave when they are faced with the worst scenario. This is especially important for people in positions of leadership.
[There is the slightest pause here.]
So, I repeat my question: do you regret what you did then?
[Brennan, meanwhile, remains steady, grounded. Like she is standing in front of a class or supervising an intern in the lab. Her face does not change when Maketh answers. Meeting the bare minimum marker for decent member of society does not absolve a person of their mistakes, but it is something. She has learned that from her friends, and from her father.]
Then you are at least somewhat fit for your position.
[.......tact is not her strong suit.]
I assume that this means you will not kill someone for such a minor offense as trespassing?
Why not? I am one of the people who lives here. I am under the Guard's protection. You do not care whether or not I trust you? I have not been here long enough to witness your actions. Your dream, and our few interactions before then, are all I have.
[There is no transition from one thought to the next, almost as if Brennan is voicing her stream of consciousness. Brennan is not deterred by Maketh's firmness. She has seen too much in life for one woman to shake her.]
[It's said simply. Maketh knows what people think of her. The ones that matter have made their judgements. The rest will either agree or not.]
Trust is personal, Doctor Brennan. I do not ask it of you. Nor can I force anyone here to follow my directions when I give them, but most here see the benefit of them. I am useful. That is all I need to be.
[There is so much to say in response, but in the end, it is the last few things Maketh says that give Brennan pause, make her frown and shake her head.]
No. No, it is not all. Is there no one you matter to for simply existing?
[Once, she may have agreed with Maketh, but life and all her friends have taught Brennan that people matter for many reasons, that usefulness, whether emotional or practical, is not all there is to life. Brennan values people simply for being alive, but being useful is... too impersonal.
She almost missed her chance to be with Booth because of that manner of thinking, so she now disagrees firmly with it.]
You are right. I have no obligation to concen myself with your connections and relationships outside your professional duty. It is empathy that demands that I ask. Because to reduce people to their utilitarian value leaves us as no more than machines, or worse, parts in a larger device.
[If someone allows themself to believe they can simply throw people away for a supposed greated cause, then--
Well, that is how Zack became Gormogon's apprentice. He was lied to, manipulated. And he believed the lie.]
No. What I meant to say was that it is not all a person is. That we are... more complex than we sometimes allow ourselves to be. You are not only head of the Guard. You are also someone's friend, someone's family.
[Brennan will not venture to list any other roles Maketh might take on. Those are general enough to cover most of the possibilities.]
[Despite the memories she is thinking of, Brennan remains composed.]
I almost lost a very good friend to the idea of the whole being greater than the individuals. It is not an end I wish on anyone.
[The Gormogon vault still stands in the Jeffersonian basement, a reminder of what almost was, of what they managed to stop because of human connection.]
Do you know why I took this position, Doctor Brennan? It wasn't for power, or anything grand like that. I do this because I am good at it, and my skill will keep others alive. I am not a sentimental person. There is no forgiving what I did, so I do not seek that. But I can do this small thing while I am here, and that--that is something.
[That is all Brennan says in protest. She listens, and in a way, she understands as best as she can. Booth approaches his job similarly. He once told her he wanted to bring to justice at least as many people as he killed as a sniper. It is not the same as what Maketh did, but Brennan can at least imagine what inspires Maketh to act the way that she does.
She nods, no judgment in her gaze or stance.]
Do not... allow your goal to consume you.
[Maketh is more than her goal, and she should not forget that.]
[How strange to hear that from someone else. Maketh watches Brennan a moment, uncomfortable suddenly. This is her place, where she belongs, and yet she feels challenged. Not in the conventional way, not in a way that she's learned to counter and even enjoy - what is the point of having rank if you cannot hold it? - but something subtler. More insidious because, she fears, it is born of kindness.
Maketh thins her mouth. She has nothing to say to that.]
[Brennan almost sighs. There is nothing she wants except to go home to be with her family, but that is not something Maketh can give her.
But as far as this conversation is concerned--]
You have answered my questions. I have nothing more to ask you. Thank you for answering them. [She gives a quick nod.] I will leave so you may continue working.
[If there is nothing else, she will take her leave here, walking out with the same posture and stride as she arrived with.]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2017-10-30 10:37 pm (UTC)It happened. What do you want, Doctor Brennan?
no subject
Date: 2017-10-31 12:16 am (UTC)Do you regret it?
no subject
Date: 2017-10-31 01:06 am (UTC)[It's for that reason that Maketh has never sought forgiveness for her actions. What's done cannot be undone. Her choices were made long ago and despite what she thinks of them now, they were her choices.]
no subject
Date: 2017-10-31 12:52 pm (UTC)[She has learned that is important too. It separates people from monsters who belong in prison.]
no subject
Date: 2017-10-31 05:13 pm (UTC)Why would you be concerned with my character?
no subject
Date: 2017-10-31 07:58 pm (UTC)[There is the slightest pause here.]
So, I repeat my question: do you regret what you did then?
no subject
Date: 2017-10-31 08:35 pm (UTC)Yes. I regret many things that I did for the Empire.
no subject
Date: 2017-10-31 10:01 pm (UTC)Then you are at least somewhat fit for your position.
[.......tact is not her strong suit.]
I assume that this means you will not kill someone for such a minor offense as trespassing?
no subject
Date: 2017-10-31 10:53 pm (UTC)[Other, more qualified voices have already spoken.
Maketh watches Brennan a moment.]
My actions at Hadriel have already proven I would not.
no subject
Date: 2017-11-01 12:29 am (UTC)[There is no transition from one thought to the next, almost as if Brennan is voicing her stream of consciousness. Brennan is not deterred by Maketh's firmness. She has seen too much in life for one woman to shake her.]
no subject
Date: 2017-11-01 09:57 pm (UTC)[It's said simply. Maketh knows what people think of her. The ones that matter have made their judgements. The rest will either agree or not.]
Trust is personal, Doctor Brennan. I do not ask it of you. Nor can I force anyone here to follow my directions when I give them, but most here see the benefit of them. I am useful. That is all I need to be.
no subject
Date: 2017-11-01 11:41 pm (UTC)No. No, it is not all. Is there no one you matter to for simply existing?
[Once, she may have agreed with Maketh, but life and all her friends have taught Brennan that people matter for many reasons, that usefulness, whether emotional or practical, is not all there is to life. Brennan values people simply for being alive, but being useful is... too impersonal.
She almost missed her chance to be with Booth because of that manner of thinking, so she now disagrees firmly with it.]
no subject
Date: 2017-11-01 11:51 pm (UTC)[There is--someone. Perhaps. It's quiet thing that she has with Rey. Maketh lifts her chin.]
I will serve so long as I am able. That is all you need.
no subject
Date: 2017-11-02 03:53 pm (UTC)[If someone allows themself to believe they can simply throw people away for a supposed greated cause, then--
Well, that is how Zack became Gormogon's apprentice. He was lied to, manipulated. And he believed the lie.]
no subject
Date: 2017-11-03 03:33 pm (UTC)Is that so wrong, Doctor Brennan? To be a piece of something greater?
no subject
Date: 2017-11-03 10:46 pm (UTC)No. What I meant to say was that it is not all a person is. That we are... more complex than we sometimes allow ourselves to be. You are not only head of the Guard. You are also someone's friend, someone's family.
[Brennan will not venture to list any other roles Maketh might take on. Those are general enough to cover most of the possibilities.]
no subject
Date: 2017-11-04 04:56 pm (UTC)I don't understand you at all.
[Maketh watches Brennan for a moment.]
Why are you saying these things to me?
no subject
Date: 2017-11-04 09:11 pm (UTC)I almost lost a very good friend to the idea of the whole being greater than the individuals. It is not an end I wish on anyone.
[The Gormogon vault still stands in the Jeffersonian basement, a reminder of what almost was, of what they managed to stop because of human connection.]
no subject
Date: 2017-11-05 03:21 am (UTC)[Perhaps, given time. Or different circumstances.
Maketh thins her mouth.]
Do you know why I took this position, Doctor Brennan? It wasn't for power, or anything grand like that. I do this because I am good at it, and my skill will keep others alive. I am not a sentimental person. There is no forgiving what I did, so I do not seek that. But I can do this small thing while I am here, and that--that is something.
no subject
Date: 2017-11-05 09:54 pm (UTC)[That is all Brennan says in protest. She listens, and in a way, she understands as best as she can. Booth approaches his job similarly. He once told her he wanted to bring to justice at least as many people as he killed as a sniper. It is not the same as what Maketh did, but Brennan can at least imagine what inspires Maketh to act the way that she does.
She nods, no judgment in her gaze or stance.]
Do not... allow your goal to consume you.
[Maketh is more than her goal, and she should not forget that.]
no subject
Date: 2017-11-06 04:37 pm (UTC)Maketh thins her mouth. She has nothing to say to that.]
What do you want, Doctor Brennan?
no subject
Date: 2017-11-06 10:50 pm (UTC)But as far as this conversation is concerned--]
You have answered my questions. I have nothing more to ask you. Thank you for answering them. [She gives a quick nod.] I will leave so you may continue working.
[If there is nothing else, she will take her leave here, walking out with the same posture and stride as she arrived with.]