opnet [OpNet] What do you do?

[Tarot]

What's the biggest thing you ever did? Lots of the tribe out there in the world. What wonders are you painting with quantum brush?

There's some professionals squatting in my neighborhood. This one named Margalita knocks on my door at 3:00 a.m. looking like somebody beat the shit out of her. Pretty much what happened from what I find out. Frat boys, lots of tequila, girl says no and the hormone math gets pretty straight forward. I know the end before she gets more than four sentences out but then I got this busted up teen in my crib for a clue so its not quantum physics.

Margalita sitting on my couch with her bottom lip split twice. She's got a mondo black eye rising up and pulling a third of her face upward with it so the eye's going to be swollen shut by the time the sun comes up. She's kind of picking at what's left of her blouse and mini to keep the rags covering herself and telling me about her night. Babbling, like her mouth is a pressure valve and she's letting off steam before her skull explodes.

I'm sitting there like this is some opnet movie. I don't know this kid. I hear about the assholes that beat her up, a couple of fetishes I never would have guesed existed including one involving a Great Monster C plush doll and a dildo. Then she smacks me out of no where with a question.

She asks me, "Why the fuck am I alive?"

I don't say anything. What can I say and why the hell is she asking me this? Its not some off the cuff question you ask to fill the pause in the conversation either. She's been a one woman show up until this point but she's looking at me, really looking at me and waiting. She thinks I'm going to give her the answer.

Fuck.

She's sitting there looking at me.

I'm thinking about all the comfortable noises you make when shit goes bad for people. Pep talk stuff. I can't say it though because I hate that shit. I hate it when other people do it so there is no way in hell I'm going to tell this kid sitting on my couch looking like she went five rounds with Terminatrix after getting gangraped that everything is going to look better in the morning. No way. But she's waiting and I don't know what to say.

My mind is blank. I start to feel the juice in my fingers. I never feel it in my head, there's only a feeling of pressure up there when I notice the brain chub at all. The juice always starts with a tingle in my fingertips. I feel the juice and I look at Margalita. I think that's the first time in the whole two hours she's been sitting here talking that I really see her.

I take her to my studio.

She stands there shivering while I let the power come out and play. Chalk, ink, paint and pencils. Fuck, I went through the new paints that were suppose to go to the art institute. I threw it at paper and it was like throwing thunderbolts from the sky. When it finished with those I fed it on canvases. Lightning crackled up and down my arms. When that was gone I threw at it the walls.

I took what I see when I really look at her and turned it into reality so she could see it. Comfort. Pain. Purity. Beauty. Horror. Ecstasy. Anguish. Defilement. Happiness. Ugliness. Paradise. Love. Loneliness. Rape. Family. Margalita looked at it. Then she left. Just kissed me on the cheek and walked out the door.

Not sure if this was a good enough answer to her question but it was the best I have to give.

[Jager]

Random teen/pro picks the wrong party ...

Villians are the standard pack of drunken frat boys ...

Ends up beaten and beating on your door ...

You get asked the ever-present meaning of life question...

You paint the story of her life at that moment ...

Okay ...

Shit happens.

Life lessons:

-Don't be a prostitute. Its dangerous and it burns you out. Houses are tough enough The streets are even more brutal and unforgiving.

-Don't get into a car with a gang of total strangers, or go to a party were you know no one.

-Don't go to other people to give you the meaning of your life. Find it yourself.

Harsh? Yeah, but I figured everyone else's hearts would be overflowing with sympathy.

In some places the cops beat you with phone books, they collect the bodies at sunrise, and going home means someone is getting it for free.

Tarot, props for the moment of insight into your life. Of course, Total Stranger/Margalita now wanders off broke, hurt, but spiritually uplifted thanks to you.

Of course, the pimp is going to be so happy, but I'm sure he/she is a caring soul who will be happy with his property coming back sans money.

Life's like that.

[Tarot]

I hope this doesn't come across in the wrong way since we don't really know each other but I thought you should know all the other assholes in the world just quite trying so hard. There's no point anymore. You always think that if the people you loved got murdered by psychos or if you went off and trained in some hidden Tibetan monastary for a few years you could become the biggest asshole in the world but now the pressure is off. You get the top spot.

Is there some secret book that imparts all the wisdom of the ages cause I didn't get a copy when I erupted. I got three days in a Rashoud and some little blue pills to go with the little white one. All I did was answer the door and she scared the shit out me thinking I was suppose to have answers. I know I didn't do a damn thing for her. She's got the same life she had before and even if I did help somehow there's few thousand more Magalita's in this city alone. What am I suppose to do?

I just told the story because I wanted to know how the rest of you handle being a nova. This is the best I could do and it wasn't much. I figured the rest of you being novas for longer than three weeks must have a better grip on it.

And fuck you too, pinhead. Thanks for nothing.

[Jager]

Quote:

Originally posted by Tarot:
I hope this doesn't come across in the wrong way since we don't really know each other but

And, you should have stopped there. You DON'T know me.

Quote:

Originally posted by Tarot:
I thought you should know all the other assholes in the world just quite (did you mean quit) trying so hard. There's no point anymore. You ...
...is off. You get the top spot.

Its hard not to take that the wrong way. Is there a right way to take it?
I'm a hard son of a bitch. And?

Quote:

Originally posted by Tarot:
Is there some secret book that imparts all the wisdom of the ages cause I didn't get a copy when I erupted.

It's inside you. Keep looking.

Quote:

Originally posted by Tarot:
All I did was answer the door and she scared the shit out me thinking I was suppose to have answers. I know I didn't do a damn thing for her. She's got the same life she had before and even if I did help somehow there's few thousand more Magalita's in this city alone.

One person, one incident.
You layed this on our plate, Tarot. You spilled out this trite, often repeated story of human misery to people you know next to nothing about seeking ... what? Atta-boys? The ANSWER that makes it all okay?
Tarot, the answer is that you were scared because you can't answer that question for yourself. You don't know why you exist, so how can you answer it for anyone else?
Being nova is a step, not the end-destination.

Quote:

Originally posted by Tarot:
What am I suppose to do?

Pretty much what you did. You tried. That's all we can ask of anyone, especially ourselves. You didn't slam the door shut and say "not my problem." You sat her down, listened, and tried something.
Beats being a callous asshole, eh?

Quote:

Originally posted by Tarot:
I just told the story because I wanted to know how the rest of you handle being a nova.

It isn't about being a nova, Tarot. It is about being human (and humane) and feeling a connection to another sentient being.

Quote:

Originally posted by Tarot:
This is the best I could do and it wasn't much. I figured the rest of you being novas for longer than three weeks must have a better grip on it.

Tarot, you did something which seperates you from the vast majority.
Time doesn't necessarily bring wisdom. Trust yourself.

Quote:

Originally posted by Tarot:
And fuck you too, pinhead. Thanks for nothing.

You're welcome.

[Preston]

Tarot, did you report this?

The sooner it is reported, the better chance there is to see the rapists get put away.

I know that it is tough for a working girl to get a rape conviction, but ask her to think about what happens to the next girl who makes that same mistake.

Letting them get away with it isn't the answer.

[Wakinyan]

I know some looney toon that woulda loved to go out and murderate those rapists. He has some weird sword Phallic fetish but I won't get into it now.

But since you are asking what each of us woulda done I honestly don't know for myself. It's easy to say it isn't your problem though she kinda made it your problem showing up on your door. I mean I might have killed her and considered it a favor. I might have went out and got her some justice "Assvenger" style. Most likely I woulda just called the cops and ended my responsibility right there.

[Tarot]

Prestion;

A non-white social zero that I haven't seen in 2 days told me a second hand story claiming some social desirables of unknown skin color hurt her while she was peforming illegal acts. Do you know anything about Los Angeles Law enforcement? The LALE would throw her on a road gang just because she bruised their knuckles with her face.

No, I didn't call the cops. They'd want to know if I was pressing charges for disturbing the peace.

Totem;

Thanks for trying to answer my question. I never wanted to kill her or them and calling the cops just isn't going help but that's not your fault.

Thanks both of you. Going to a chat room with something personal was stupid but I'll get over it.

[Walker]

A tragic yet beautiful tale.

It sounds like one of the purest interactions between Nova and Baseline that I've heard of for a while. By that I mean that you didn't take any of her personal power away by trying to solve her problem but still acted true to your nature.

[Tarot]

I... didn't really see that until you said it.

Thank you Walker.

[Walker]

You're welcome Tarot.

You young 'uns need all the encouragement you can get. Otherwise you might do something stupid like join Utopia

[kestrel404]

Walker: Good point.

Tarot: I don't know what I would have done in your situation, Tarot. I've been thinking about it, and all I can picture is me standing there with my gears spinning in mental neutral. Whatever direction I'd end up going...I'd have to be there to find out.

[Tarot]

Walker:

Not in this life time. Remind me to tell you about the 3 days I spent in their company at the Rashoud.

Funny stuff.

Alchemist:

Yeah. Pretty much what happened to me. Still not feeling really good about it but after talking with Walker... Maybe it wasn't a total melt down.

[Dreamer]

And Walker you may do something smart, like letting other live their own lives. of all the horrors of this new world, I fear the overshadowing of others the most.

Tarot, you are dealing with a problem with no real answer. The world is full of bad,and lonely places. Most of the worst places are locked up in the mind, but the joke is simple. In order to prevent the worst of human nature to ever happen,one must take away the best. The only true peace, is the peace of prison.

[Long]

Tarot ya did the right thing I guess. You helped her in some way. I know I've stated that I don't care about baselines much, but beneath the fur and fangs I still have some humanity left. The other day this kid saw me and asked if I could get her cat out of a tree, she wasn't scared of me at all, I helperd her out and she thanked me. It was nice to see that at least one baseline can get past one's appearance. Help them out one at a time and maybe those of us who aren't "Normal-looking" will be free to walk in our true forms without hearing "Freak, Monster, or Abomination."

"Ryu, are we gonna die?" "Probably."

[Tarot]

All I know is that I did the best I could. Maybe it doesn't matter right here and now but I got to believe that something good can come out of something bad.

Life is art.

[Walker]

Quote:

Originally posted by Dreamer:
And Walker you may do something smart, like letting other live their own lives. of all the horrors of this new world, I fear the overshadowing of others the most.

Hmmm.

OK.

So what makes you think that I'm not happy with letting others live their own lives then? As far as I know this is a public Opnet board and I am free to post replies as I see fit, quite honestly I always try and frame my replies in such a manner that they are open to as much individual interpretation as they possibly can be. My advice is simply that, advice. If no one wants to take my advice, as frequently happens, I don't get upset and I don't go putting the mind shackles on them, therefore I must admit I am a bit puzzled by your statement. Though I imagine this is not an uncommon reaction where you are concerned...

Yes I am pretty harsh towards Utopia, given recent experiences that is hardly surprising. This is not the only reason however, it's more than simply being pissed off at them coz I was a naughty little boy. Take into account that as a Terat I believe that Utopia represents a potentially dangerous distraction and that the paths of Teras present the only real hope for freedom as applied to the Nova.

Then, surely, you will be able to see where I'm coming from whether you agree with me or not.

[Jager]

Tarot, feeling better?

[Tarot]

Feeling not as bad would be more accurate.

[Jager]

It's a start.

Good luck on the job.

Different souls find different ways to heal. I hope you find yours.

[Hugin]

Tarot, curious, did this young lady know to whom she was going to when she arrived on your doorstep?

[Lemmy Chillmeister]

What would I have done?

Fuck if I know buddy. Sorry.

Maybe gone fratboy hunting. Maybe frozen her down to the molecule so she'd stop hurting. Maybe kicked her ass to the curb. Maybe turned on the charm and fixed her up good.

I don't know. I'm not in your shoes.

What would you have done if you walked in to the Amp Room with Slattern on your arm and sexual havoc on your mind?

Each one of us is a unique and magical being. Bring what you got to the table and be all you can, dig?

[Dreamer]

Walker you must admit it is funny, that those who claim to stand for freedom of choice are often the first people to tell others what to or not to do.

[Neil Preston]

Tarot, you did good. You played it out the best way you knew how, and it sounds like you did it pretty well.

Me, I would have taken away her pain, dulled her misery, and healed her wounds. Then I would have taken my blue-blooded ass to the streets and hunted those fucks down and put a serious, personal beat-down on them. Not for her, but for me.

See, Tarot I heal people by taking their hurts onto myself which pretty much means they would have ended up raping me. I'm not going to let that fear stop me from helping, but damn if it doesn't make it personal.

IF I got busted, so be it. I have money and friends in high and low places. I would be cool with dragging these shitheads through the news for what they did. After all, every college loves having accused rapists attending, rich daddies love for their daughters to date same, and prospective employers definitely consider such when hiring. I could live with destroying their lives. Really, I could.

I'm a nova. I make the system work for me.

[Neil Preston]

Dreamer, don't trash the message just because you don't like the way one person sees it. I'm not a member of the Teragen, but I can see the truth's in the words as much as anyone can.

[Juri 'Salamander' McClendon]

Quote:

Originally posted by Tarot:
What's the biggest thing you ever did? Lots of the tribe out there in the world. What wonders are you painting with quantum brush?

I don't have much to say on your experience, Tarot. It's a fucked up situation all around, one of those things you never really get over unless you become jaded to it.

My quantum brush, as you put it, has me doing the ironic task of putting out fires. Yeah, me, the resident firestarter, putting them out. I have volunteer my time to the Huntsville Fire Department for certain legal reasons, and my artistry with the burning flame lets me erase the canvas, too. You know, stop the fire and save life and property.

Which, I'm happy to report, I've actually done now. Got the burning snuffed before the occupants died of smoke inhalation or before being turned into ash and cinders.

I hate every moment of it. Cause I know there's going to be a fire that I don't get to in time and someone's gonna die, and I'm never going to forgive myself for it.

This responsibility thing sucks ass and wears on the fucking conscience like a two-ton heavy thing. And it sucks to be studying psychology and see all the signs and portents but still be prey to them anyway.

Just thought I'd blow this steam off since it's sharing time.

[Machina]

Can you even rape a prostitute?

Seriously. Isn't that just stiffing them? What're you going to do, throw the fratboys in debtor's prison?

She should be seeking a litigation attorney, not talking to the DA.

It's liberating to be able to joke about anything.

See, here's the thing;

The beating was unwarranted, no matter which way you look at it. Unless the girl understands what she's in for and you kick in the extra cash for it, beatings aren't covered by the implied social contract of hiring a prostitute.

That said, if a pro fucks someone under the impression she's going to get paid and then the guy doesn't pony up, that isn't rape. It's bad form and can get you in trouble with some pretty rough customers (read; pimps), but rape it isn't. Rape is forced sexual assault. Not paying the hooker is just not paying the hooker.

[kestrel404]

If somebody holds a gun to a mechanic's head and forces him to fix a car, is that theft of services? NO. It's ARMED ASSAULT.

The girl said no. It's rape. End of discussion.

I will argue many things intellectually and without allowing emotion to cloud the issues. This is not one of them.

[Walker]

Dreamer Yeah, I know, life kinda forces us to be hypocritical. Sometimes I will be halfway through a post on this very board and think, OMG I'm being too bitchy and just putting people down and then I change what I'm going to post or don't bother posting. I'd much rather just be all-happy-go-lucky, let-us-go-hug-a-tree sort of thingy. I'm perceptive of my influence on others that way, though in truth everything you do has some sort of influence and it's almost impossible to make it totally benign.

Therefore it follows that you can't break an unspecified number eggs without making an omlette, or some such.

Neil et al If it was me I would have probably flipped, undertook some editing of the gene pool and sent them on a one way trip to somewhere exotic where they would have had a few painful and brief moments to contemplate exactly what they were dying for. I would have made sure they knew first why I was doing it. Poetic justice and all that...

My defence would have been a shocked "Murder!!!" Followed by a slightly interested, "Surely you need bodies for a charge like that to stick? The prosecution's evidence is purely anecdotal and circumstantial M'Lud." Smiles discretely at middle-aged, middle-minded and middle-class judge.

Machina With all due respect to your point about laughing consider this. They call prostituion a victimless crime. Maybe prostitutes are ALWAYS the victims. Even though I acknowledge that I am in no way Baseline, my abilities and powers as Nova make me able to empathise, read body language, spot acting, etc etc . I liked hanging out in Amsterdam (until recent troubles) but even in Amsterdam, where it is totally legit and government controlled, at least 98% of the girls that are on display, Do Not Want To Be There. They have some other problem driving them into their choice of profession. The social contract has already fucked them over well and truly.

[Walker]

Tarot So where is this Baseline, Margalita, at now then? Have you seen her since? And what Prodigy said, did she know you were Nova when she came to you?

[Preston]

Just to make a few things clear:

-Yes, in the United States you can rape a prostitute.

1)It is illegal in most areas, so there isn't even a binding contract for the "client" to fall back on. Its a criminal enterprise.

2)No means NO. Its an easy word. If a working girl or guy says they will not perform a service and then the client forces the service anyway then its sexual assualt/rape.

3)In my opinion, any police officer who doesn't investigate such a complaint with due diligence is damn near guilt of Conspiracy After The Fact. I say damn near for legal reasons.

Police Officers are public servants, not judges of moral behavior. We don't get to pick and chose which victims are worthy of our attention.

On occassion, I feel the need to remind a handful of my fellow law enforcement agents that we work for ALL the PEOPLE, not just a select few.

-Walker, you are mistaken. We don't need a body to prove a case. That's a myth. Intent. Capability. Motive.

If you were the last one seen with the screaming victim, you are going down.

Catching you is another matter.

It is a near-endless story of Police Offices and Prostitues. We try to get them to do something else and they end up back on the streets for a variety of reasons. Economic hardship, drug dependancy, emotional dependancy, ect.

As one pro told me when I was much, much younger and filled with the horror and outrage of what she was going through ...

Well, she explained the nuts and bolts of economics to me. Guys with money want sex. The working girl wants the money and has no other reasonable expectation of getting it. A deal is struck.

There is always (in her experienced opinion) going to be a Demand for sexual gratification. There will always be people willing to Supply that Demand. If it wasn't her, then it would be some other girl.

She had forced sexual intercourse.

She got AIDS and died.

As I said, it was a long time ago.

[Tarot]

Walker and Prodigy;

Its just Margelita. Not Baseline Margelita or human Margelita or Prostitute Margelita. None of those labels describes what I saw when I looked at her. Yeah, she had to know. Everybody knows. I just don't understand why she came to me. It doesn't make any sense.

I haven't seen her. I didn't really look for her either but the neighborhood got strange after that. Even the crazy old bastard living by the dumpster shut up when he saw me. He never shuts up. I don't know what they were seeing but it was tense and weird. I took the job in Ibiza the next day and flew out the day after. I wanted to put a little space between me and the whole thing.

I still think about it everyday. I don't why but I do.

[Preston]

Tarot,

Thank you.