lowercase_el: (011)
Kon-El | Conner Kent ([personal profile] lowercase_el) wrote in [community profile] metaheroes2022-12-03 02:41 am

Our Powers | Video | Open

[Kon is up on a roof. He props his phone up on a chimney and steps back after hitting record. He's in costume, as Guardian, his domino mask obscuring his features. No S anymore. The detachment from the S means a detachment from his face, something the Alliance has video of that can be used in facial recognition]

[Robin's paranoid about this. The least he can do is maintain that distance from his identity as Superboy, even if people from home will recognize him.]

I've spent the last few months debating talking about this, and thinking about how I'd talk about it if I did, and whether I'd only just mention it in passing sometimes, or actually call attention to it. I don't know for sure if it'll help or hurt. Or if it'll matter at all, but hey, at least if everyone just ignores it, that's better than it being a disaster, right?

[Time to stop waffling.]

I'm Guardian and I'm a clone. For a lot of people back home, and a lot of other Starfallen, that won't even matter. For a lot of people from this world, it might not either. But to some people back home, it did. Sometimes I had to fight for my right to be my own person and fight to not be controlled.

Hell, I'm pretty sure the US government still classifies me as unrecoverable [air quotes] "defective property." Their words.

Anyway, I did some digging and this world's track record with clones? Not great. Even heroes like Atomight have made mistakes - killed clones like they don't matter. I've been told he's one of the last people around the Alliance from that era - and that he realized his mistake and has tried to do right by clones since. And I won't say I don't believe it. I do think people can change.

But I've also dug around and found out there are plenty of people that see no problem with what he and the other heroes of that time did and would have no problem with anyone doing it again now. They see clones as soulless or dangerous or incapable of actually thinking and feeling. As if non-clones have a trademark on being controlled, brainwashed, or manipulated.

[He puts his hands on his hips.]

Whatever the case, I'm stuck dealing with this world as it is. That includes whether or not I want to hide what I am - which I don't - and whether or not I want to go guild - also a big fat no. There are people besides the Starfallen in the Alliance and I can't trust them to not throw me under the bus the first time it's convenient on a mission because they think I'm not alive enough to feel the treads.

[Someone shallow like Fantastic seems the type.]

But instead of just going Unaligned and being quiet about it, I wanted to make it clear I'm actually conscientiously objecting and why. This may not be my world but I'm stuck living in it and the fact some parts of it don't feel safe for me to live in needs to be called out. Because I can't be the only clone that feels that way.

As for any Starfallen who have no issues with clones, I'd really appreciate if you look out for the clones here. I'm gonna try - always have - but I can't be everywhere at once. [He looks skyward, thinking.] I think that's all I wanted to say? Um, I guess if anyone has questions about clone stuff, AMA? Anon's enabled.
mostdangerousbird: (128 i'm at my wit's end)

Off network text from a brand new burner

[personal profile] mostdangerousbird 2022-12-03 01:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Defective property. You didn’t even vet this with anyone.

This is why PR departments exist - there are ways to do things to mitigate the damage

Without putting more bad ideas in their heads

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nerdylilspidey: (holy crap what is THAT)

ANON

[personal profile] nerdylilspidey 2022-12-03 05:45 pm (UTC)(link)
God, the things powerful people think they can get away with. I've known clones from back home, enemies and friends alike, and they're still people at the end of the day. Anybody who says or thinks otherwise is a grade A doofus.

So just saying I'll do my part, too. I know that's probably not much, but I hope it helps.
mostdangerousbird: (020 i know you’re home)

ANON

[personal profile] mostdangerousbird 2022-12-03 06:07 pm (UTC)(link)
What does 'do [your] part' mean, in this context?

ANON

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ANON

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ANON

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ANON - LMAO WHOOPS~

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bombshelled: (◎ hands in pockets)

un: Bombshell

[personal profile] bombshelled 2022-12-03 06:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Lana isn't smart enough to think to do this anonymously like Peter, but she at least knows not to do it from her civilian account. ]

one of my best friends back home was a clone. she was the best. she pretty much led the team we were on together, & she helped me through some really hard times.

I think it's really cool what you're doing, putting all this out there.

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thelittlestbub: (Now listen!)

UN: Sparkplug

[personal profile] thelittlestbub 2022-12-03 06:30 pm (UTC)(link)
So, the thing about clones is that they have their own damage, their own stories. Haven't known many, and that's probably my fault, but people have stories, and the best thing we can do is listen to them.

Frankly, I PREFER "defective government property". So anytime you wanna hang? Hit me up.

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slowmotionbuscrash: (107)

UN: Speed

[personal profile] slowmotionbuscrash 2022-12-03 06:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Governments don't handle a lot of metahumans well. Clones, mutants, magically created babies. If they can't control you, then they contain you. Not saying that to downplay this at all - the way those clones were treated - are treated - is crap.

I'm saying that as a member of the Alliance. Joined because governments don't handle metahumans well. That and I like being a hero.

[ He is not going back to juvie. Or prison, now, as he's over 18. ]

Hi, PR interns tasked with social media! Don't @ me 'cause I'm glad my new friend G had the balls to say it.
Edited 2022-12-03 18:42 (UTC)

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nogodsnoheroes: (guilty's too grand)

un: tompainesbones | text

[personal profile] nogodsnoheroes 2022-12-03 06:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[Well, isn't this horribly familiar? And doesn't this just confirm everything she's been saying all along?]

Sounds like the US government, yeah.

Sorry if this is a shitty way to ask, but were they the ones who made you?
unkindled_madness: (are you sure about this?)

Anonymous

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2022-12-03 06:58 pm (UTC)(link)
I hope you made some allies prior to this announcement.
mostdangerousbird: (083)

Anon

[personal profile] mostdangerousbird 2022-12-06 11:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Is that meant to be a threat?

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a_gaggle_of_ghosties: (Default)

audio | un: nox

[personal profile] a_gaggle_of_ghosties 2022-12-03 09:42 pm (UTC)(link)
How exactly do you intend for anyone to "look out" for any clones? From a practical standpoint. Unless you get a few dozen in one place it's not exactly something people can tell at a glance.

And given everything you've described, I doubt asking them to advertise that particular status would be in their best interest.
greatairplane: (Airplane)

Anon

[personal profile] greatairplane 2022-12-04 12:11 am (UTC)(link)
So not to be rude - like, honestly - is it normal for clones in your world and this one to have, like, minds of their own? The only clones I've ever seen in my world were empty shells that couldn't move until a soul was placed into them. I mean, not that I've seen many clones. It was really only the one and I don't know that any more have ever been made.

[He certainly didn't write any. He only had the unused outline for the one.]

Re: Anon

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determinationtofist: (Summer Bikki)

ANON

[personal profile] determinationtofist 2022-12-04 08:10 am (UTC)(link)
Whoa... so you're a clone...

I think one of my friends is a clone too!

Though I'm not really sure, it's kind of complicated...

Plus I don't think I'd get it even if they explained it to me...

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mirror_soldier: (Things didn't go as planed)

TEXT - ANON

[personal profile] mirror_soldier 2022-12-04 05:53 pm (UTC)(link)
So I was right to be suspicious of the Guilds. Good to know.

[The idea that they wouldn't see clones like him as people hadn't been his biggest concern but it had definitely been on his long list of reasons to not trust them.]

Are there any people or resources clones can trust here?

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smallvillegazette: (eleven)

video; @l.lane

[personal profile] smallvillegazette 2022-12-05 04:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[It took Lois a little while to decide how to respond to this, knowing that some care must be taken, but not wanting to let it just pass her by, so her video comes some time after the initial post.

She's smiling when she records, subdued enough that it could just seem polite, but there's pride there if someone is looking for it.]


Thank you for bringing everyone's attention to this issue, Guardian, I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision. I'm a journalist, in my own world, and if you're ever interested in sharing more of your story, or what you've learned of the treatment of clones here, I would love to work with you. Hopefully I'll be free of any biases that the local news sources may have.

[A not-so-subtle dig, because she can.]
exponentially: (013)

video | un: Superman

[personal profile] exponentially 2022-12-05 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)
You already know how I feel about this, but if there are any doubts about where I stand in anyone else's minds..

Clones are people, and have the same inalienable rights as other people, and those rights should be protected by the government. Clones are not property, no matter how much money an individual or organization or company put into creating them. I say again, clones are people, with their own thoughts and feelings and beliefs, completely separate from the individual or individuals they were cloned from.
eatsnutsandkicksbutts: (SG - frick)

un: UnbeatableSG

[personal profile] eatsnutsandkicksbutts 2022-12-06 04:39 am (UTC)(link)
I'm with you, dude. Nobody should be treated like that.

[ And then, locked down to Private: ]

from one Unaligned person to another, lmk if you ever need any help! It's pretty rough out there these days
effiomsfavorite: (Facepalm)

anon

[personal profile] effiomsfavorite 2022-12-07 08:11 am (UTC)(link)
[It's a good thing that whoever taught Huvrye to use social media also taught him how to be anonymous. He's very recognizable here - if talking about this is dangerous, then it's probably better his words aren't associated with his face right now.]

[Also, how many people are dealing with this? How many worlds have artificial constructs? Because defective property and incapable of actually thinking and feeling hit him like a ton of bricks. He'd thought this world was better about this sort of thing; turns out they might just be treating him like a person because they don't know enough to be able to clock him as a homunculus on sight.]

[Great.]


how can you tell if someone's a clone? doesn't everyone just look like people?

[He has to consciously replace "humans" with "people," because that would be a really good way to give himself away otherwise.]