This Is A Cleansing

Lonnie Machin a.k.a. Anarky. Anti-Hero. Anarchist.

[arkhaminanarky]

First Contact

<The harsh fizzing of static.> <An incoming transmission.> "Congratulations, Batman - once upon a time, I viewed your association with the corrupt leeches of the GCPD with malice. Dare I say, disappointment? But, now, I see that you are capable of redemption - your valiant effort to liberate the people has not gone un-noticed. Meet me at the Pioneer's Bridge - we'll discuss this there." <End of transmission.>

[talghul-blog]

“The ‘people’ are idiots – father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. See, you’re too much of a Mao. Too much faith in the people. Lenin’s the one who had the right idea. His vanguard was the reason everything worked.”

He didn’t need to place the heroes of Gotham on a pedestal – now, that was a new one. At least someone had there head screwed on right here.

Talia gave a curt smile. “Comparing me to Gotham’s dear Batman isn’t particularly enticing, and you’re smart enough to know you don’t want me as an enemy, Lonnie Machin.”

And this was her stop. Narrowing her eyes and opening her wallet, she slipped out an business card and dropped it, letting it flutter down on Lonnie’s lap. “I assume you already know where to find me, but I’ve always been one for formalities, anyway. Feel free to call once you get in over your head, will you?”

[arkhaminanarky]

Hardly appreciative of the woman's tone, Lonnie's jaw could not have clenched any tighter. He knew he should've blown up the rail network when the chance arose. It would have spared him a lot of trouble. "So long as you are not with me, you are against me - and, in my book, that makes you the enemy." This defiant outburst came through grated teeth - mere inches from Talia's face - and, was executed with just enough venom to become a severe threat. Still, the 'offer' of a business card was laughable - it was almost like she was deliberately trying to piss him off. Time and effort she could have spent forging an alliance. Oh, well - her loss. "Call? Oh, believe me, Ms. al Ghul - when I wish to make contact, you will know all about it. You take care, now - it's a dangerous world out there."

[talghul-blog]

While he spoke, Talia sank back in her seat, staring straight ahead, through the front windshield. She couldn’t figure out if the pull in her gut caused by Lonnie Machin was because she wanted to recruit him or strangle him, and she decided it didn’t warrant further investigation. Besides, the kid obviously had it out for her, and, whether she liked it or not, she still had a ways to go before she could disembark in Wonder City.

“You seem to be quite the optimist,” Talia said, once he was finished, with a lopsided smirk. “Quite an admirable trait. I never could get the hang of it, myself. I tend to have a more cynical view of this wonderful city, but I guess we’ve just had different experiences.” She turned to face him, a sickly sweet smile on her face. “If you’d seen the Gotham I’ve seen, you wouldn’t be such a fan – but hey, to each his own, huh?”

She gave him a once over, scanning him from head to toe and back again. “Yes,” she agreed finally. “Look how the mighty have fallen. Such a shame, too – you could have been a big player in our ranks. But it looks like you’ve foregone the real heroes of Gotham for those buffoons in face masks and rubber shorts. You’ll become disenchanted soon – trust me, I was in your place not long ago, and I’ve known the “good guys” quite intimately.”

[arkhaminanarky]

"Ah, yes - optimism: yet another label to guide people along and make them feel better about mentally exerting themselves. But, the truth is that optimism leads to disappointment - false anticipation. It gets nothing done - and, offers no worth to my cause." "But, that doesn't mean that I'm blind to the state this place is in. In actual fact, I couldn't care less if every building was brought to the ground - so long as it liberates the clouded minds of the people, every action is worthwhile. So, spare me the 'cuteness' - I've saw as much of Gotham as you have." Now, this intrigued him greatly. A couple of years ago, Lonnie's plans had been torn apart by an anticipated ally - which only served to sculpt him into the young gentleman that he was today. Funny how things work out. "I don't need to place the 'heroes' of Gotham on a pedestal - I gave them all a chance to view things from my perspective - to side with my cause - but, they all threw it back in my face. Stomped over what I believe in. No. I don't need the Batman to achieve what I seek. Nor you."

[talghul-blog]

Talia responded with a chuckle. “And you think this place hasn’t crashed and burned already? You think there’s still a way to salvage Gotham? How cute. Your naivety is endearing, to say the least.” This place had crashed and burned, all right, of that, Talia was sure, and she could even point one long, brown finger at the arsonist himself.

Though after a moment, Talia lowered her brow, slightly suspicious but highly intrigued. “It’s why I let her live – that is what you said, isn’t it? That sounded awfully suspicious, you know, and here in Gotham it’s best not to let one’s emotion overpower one’s anonymity. Now, would you like to give me some pathetic excuse for that slip up, or are you up for elaboration?”

Lonnie Machin – now, why did that name sound familiar? “Ah, yes, from the chatroom – didn’t know you’d recognize me, to be frank. What are you up to, on the train this morning, Lonnie?”

[arkhaminanarky]

"If society really had collapsed, then, I wouldn't be out in the city doing what I do." It was vague enough to prompt further questioning - but, the amount of passion and sincerity that went into the simple response seemed to merely touch the true aspirations that the gentleman had for the city. "Gotham has bled itself dry - it perished many years ago - and, yet, these people - these drones - are content to lull over it's carcass like sheep. So, yes, Ms. al Ghul, I do think I can save Gotham." Now, Lonnie was not about to take his words back any time soon - a man with such grand faith in his beliefs did not allow for shadows of doubt to be cast. Everything was done for a reason. Everyone holds a purpose. So, unashamed, the youth leaned forward - voice lowered to a subtle whisper. "I could spend the entire duration of this train journey just trying to explain what I stand for - but, I'm afraid, you're just not the sort of person that I'm interested in associating with." Now, that had the darkened tones of a threat - a very subtle threat from a not-so-subtle masked anarchist. "Perhaps, once upon a time, I would be interested in the hopes of your 'secret service' - but, look at how the mighty have fallen." A brief pause. "I do read, Ms. al Ghul - I can sustain more information than your entire congregation learn in a lifetime - and, that name is not exactly difficult to forget." "So, perhaps, what I'm doing on the train this morning isn't just succumbing to the inconvenience of modern transport - but, scoping out just who the real enemies of Gotham are."

[talghul-blog]

After filling in half a dozen answers, Talia looked up with an unintentional glare. “That’s enough help, smart ass. Just needed to brush up on my Gotham history, is all. Some of us aren’t so enamored with this place as others. It’s not exactly the Emerald City, if you know what I mean.”

But she did, however, raise an eyebrow. “I’m surprised you had any respect for me to begin with. You might not be as smart as you seem.” At his comment, she chuckled. “That’s quite an if-you-can’t-beat-’em-join-em attitude you got there. Not exactly impressive. Fighting capitalism has, historically, never worked from the inside. Doesn’t matter how she feels about the economy, she’s putting money in the coffers of the people who run it. I’d be doing her a f a v o r by stealing her paper. Only more propaganda from the so-called ‘heroes’ to read.”

Talia gave the man one more once-over before decidedly folding up her newspaper and sticking it under her arm, sticking her pen behind her ear with the LexCorp symbol displayed proudly in her hair. “Who are you?”

[arkhaminanarky]

"Oh, trust me," he laughed; a bitter scoff, if anything. "I'm not enamoured with our fine city. If anything, it needs fixing - like the entire world. But, change can't be rushed - it's got to be a gradual shift so this <s>beloved</s> society doesn't crash and burn." As for the comparison to the Emerald City? Well, it wasn't too far off - there was still the naïve, blind populace being led astray by the corrupt leaders; but, that was for another day - a new day. For now, he was enraged with passion - passion for his cause, passion for his beliefs and passion for the liberation of the people. "Do you think I endorse her conformation of society? No - of course I don't. But, at her age, what else can she do? The government's deserted her. The housing agency has shunned her. And, at her age, what can she do to change her ways? Nothing. It's why I let her live - it's why I let her be the exception to the rule - because, she deserves to see change in this city. She deserves to know that not everyone is blinded by society's influence - and, then, only then, will I relieve her of her misery." Figuring that it shouldn't have taken her long to grow suspicious, the youth folded his arms firmly as though it were a gesture of contempt. "Lonnie Machin. We've talked before, Ms. al Ghul."

[talghul-blog]

Talia lowered her brow, tapping the newspaper with her fingernail to count out the letters. It worked. “اللعنة,” she muttered to herself. That meant Shih Tzu’s really had originated in Tibet, and not China. She scratched out the letters she’s written before with a huff.

She stuck the tail end of the pen in her mouth – a gilded souvenir from days past that read LexCorp in large onyx letters. “You’d better be right,” she replied, finally looking up to meet her neighbor’s eye. “I’m doing this in pen, and I’d rather not have to swipe a new copy from the old lady with a lazy eye down by the Docks. Terribly long walk, and I try to limit my time on the train as much as possible.”

The person – boy, really – beside her was familiar, in that vague sort of way that everyone in Gotham was, like she’d been intimately close with them in a past life. She did her best not to let it unnerve her. He looked just as unamused as she felt to be on the train, which was comforting, at the very least.

[arkhaminanarky]

"I know I'm right." It was a retaliation void of anticipated arrogance. It wasn't the act of blowing his own trumpet - oh, no: Lonnie had completed that very book over the course of a dull Saturday evening; figuring that it was the most appealing alternative to television's talent-show leeches. "5-Down is Bartholomew, too - if that's of any interest." And, from there, she'd have 7-Across as Carbonate and 12-Down as Amadeus. Information that the average person would not simply retain over a four-day period. "But, you did just lose a lot of respect from admitting to stealing - that woman was trying to make a living in an economy that abandoned her decades ago."

[talghul-blog]

If there was one thing Talia al Ghul hated most about Gotham City – more than the vigilante heroes – the ludicrous personalities – the unattainable subtlety – the self-proclaimed heroes – yes, if there was anything Talia al Ghul hated most about Gotham City, it was the c o m m u t e .

For all intents and purposes, Talia was your average Gothamite this morning, on the train home from dropping her son off at elementary school. The bay below the bridge she crossed was rough today, waves crashing everywhere, and the sight brought a smile to her face. The trek back to Wonder Tower was a pleasant one, especially in the weather, but there’s never time to spare when Talia al Ghul has w o r k t o d o .

After all, Gotham wasn’t going to p u l l its own strings.

Of course, she noticed who was in the seat beside her, but didn’t care to glance their way. If they were here to speak to her, they would, and if not – well, Talia wasn’t looking to start anything.

That is, until she bit off her pen cap trying to figure out 38-Across.

“Hey,” she began – like they’d been in the middle of a silent conversation all along, “Where’d Arkham Asylum get its name from, anyway? Starts with a L, second to last letter’s an F – any i d e a s ? ”

[talghul-blog]

[arkhaminanarky]

As abhorable as the main network was, even Anarky could not escape the impracticalities of simply walking across town - and, had succumbed to the filth-breeding system that was the local train line. Oh, he may have been an avid revolutionary - a force to be reckoned with - but, underneath all that grandeur - that solemn mask - lay a young man - as much of a nobody as everyone else in that damned carriage. Except, upon further inspection, Lonnie was graced with the presence of a somebody - the sort of person who would be easily overlooked by the populace, but, could not be shunned so casually from someone as observant as he. After all, Lonnie had read up on all of Gotham's history - it's horrendous dabbling in economic and political affairs; it's eventual descent into madness. And, this woman was most certainly familiar. "Lovecraft," he hummed; attempting to make the answer as nonchalant as conceivably possible. In all honesty, he would have that book complete in the one journey; anything to distract him from the blatant consumerism.

[arkhaminanarky]

This Is A Cleansing!

It had all started out as anticipated: the legion was gathered, the screens were hacked and the speech was underway. The speech of social liberation - mortal independence - global peace. But, then, there came the revolt - the petty interference of the GCPD - and, all of Anarky's precious followers disbanded; taking on the blind pawns with various weapons of malicious proportion. He, on the other hand, was taking note of the police's actions - remarking how they still believed to hold the upper hand when, in actual fact, they belonged to the pockets of the criminal underworld. Even they were a slave to their bosses in an endless line of crude manipulation and economical shame. With this epiphany in mind, he began making his way down from the make-shift podium - allowing for his men to be apprehended - for, at the end of the day, their sacrifice was for the bigger picture: the ultimate reward. What he had not reckoned on, however, was being pursued by a figure in the shadows; one he did not grow aware of 'til a considerable time later.

[plaguedcherry]

arkhaminanarky:

“People of Gotham - the time has come for your suffering to end. The frauds who reap the benefits of your hard-earned labour shall know a suffering quite similar to your own. They shall be brought down to size - made to answer - and, in their place, we shall rid ourselves of the reigns of society. The corporate manipulation. The weak representation. The stereotypes. The prejudice. You need not care for this - for, Gotham has a new saviour watching over it - a new addition to my expanding cause: and, we shall come to know him as the Batman.”

“Psssst!” Hissing loudly at Lonnie, Mercy warily eyed the light of the camera he was speaking into. Still green. She’d been silent and still through and in between the numerous takes for this big announcement video. Honestly, Mercy was shocked he hadn’t made her stand behind the camera and hold cue cards. Glancing around her place on the floor, she spotted her empty carton of coconut water and hurled it at Lonnie’s head. “Okay, first of all, can I talk now? I ran out of stuff to drink and I think my vocal chords are gonna shrivel up and die.” Not waiting for his approval to speak, she continued. “And two, you sound like a really big tool. Take it down about twelve notches.”

[arkhaminanarky]

To be interrupted in such a way had irked Lonnie greatly - if the audible break had not already damaged the current take, then, his strained expression certainly would have. He was not a believer in free speech - for, in order to be granted 'free speech', one had to be granted permission. In his eyes, there was no need for such permission - and, that people should never have to worry about what or when they speak. Still, on a natural level, the interruption did annoy him. "Oh, we're all tools," he hummed; almost as though he was about to go down another philosophical rant. But, that was cut short by the carton to the head. "Pick that up, Mercy." It wasn't even a mere request - it was a downright order."Do you realise what you are doing in just in throwing your stuff away? It is a criminal offence!"

[arkhaminanarky]

"People of Gotham - the time has come for your suffering to end. The frauds who reap the benefits of your hard-earned labour shall know a suffering quite similar to your own. They shall be brought down to size - made to answer - and, in their place, we shall rid ourselves of the reigns of society. The corporate manipulation. The weak representation. The stereotypes. The prejudice. You need not care for this - for, Gotham has a new saviour watching over it - a new addition to my expanding cause: and, we shall come to know him as the Batman."