#but scattered vigilantes taking matters into their own hands is not a great system either

[waytooinvested]

Kara suddenly deciding to come out to the world bothered me so much, despite the fact that in many ways it IS a logical conclusion for her. She spends her life wrestling with the conflict of trying to balance these two sides of herself, never being allowed to just be honest about who she is, and also with the fear of what the world at large finding out will do to the people she loves. That is a massive weight on her shoulders, so of course it makes sense that laying that down and moving forwards as her full self could be part of her happy ending.

HOWEVER.

We have seen repeatedly that her fears around coming out are NOT unfounded. We get shown timelines in which she reveals herself and the people she loves pay for it. And that never really gets resolved before they leap straight to 'and now she comes out and it's all good and happy, weeeee!' while we (I) get left with the uncomfortable niggle of 'okay... and then what?'

Not to mention the fact that while she isn't the only one anymore, Supergirl is still THE big hero of National City, and coming out will thrust Kara into a spotlight that I really don't think she's prepared for. As soon as she's out she won't be able to just take off the cape and relax at the end of the day. She'll be a celebrity. A MASSIVE one. Constantly watched, observed, critiqued, plastered all over the tabloids at every turn. Everyone will want a piece of her. That's a lot even for people like Lena who have basically been raised to it, but Kara? Kara has been raised to hide. And I know hiding is not serving her anymore, but that is a HELL of cliff to jump over, and once it's done, there's no going back.

But all of that could have had a softer, more comfortable landing if they had kind of… laid the groundwork a bit more first?

There are inklings of it already in place - growing up for Esme and her peers is going to be a very different experience to the one Kara had with no need for power dampeners. The world is becoming a kinder place to aliens. If they had taken a bit more time to weave in more of that in the run up to the finale (yes I know, they were kind of busy with the totems and the imps and the, ah... giant cats), it might have changed the reception to Kara coming out.

What if other superheroes started popping up all over the city (the country, the world) so that powered people using their skills for good became just... part of the fabric of society? If there were Super training schools where you could go to learn to harness your gifts and join fire fighters or paramedics or search and rescue teams, and work with humans and make their shared home a better, safer place instead of being held apart from them? Where there are Superhero accreditations and ethical codes and a clear directive for how it's dealt with for when a Super goes rogue that minimizes harm to them and others (because that IS a consideration, and needs to be) without the answer being to lock them away without trial in a secret DEO prison forever.

If they wait for (and work for, and BUILD) that world, Supergirl is no longer particularly remarkable. She's (almost) the first, but she's no longer the only. She is much less in demand. No longer held in such awe and/or terror. She'd still be famous sure, but watered way the hell down, as the danger would be too, because it wouldn't just be her and her little ragtag bunch of vigilantes anymore. She'd still have people with a personal grudge against her (or her family) to deal with, but for the most part it would hardly be worth targeting her specifically, because there's this whole collective of Supers now, and taking down Supergirl isn't going to help your nefarious plan that much in the long run.

AND it would mean she might actually have time to make a go of being editor in chief, because the pressure would be off. She can still do her superhero thing, but she doesn't have to answer every call. There is a citywide network to fall back on, and chances are pretty good that if she is in an important meeting (or y'know, an important makeout session with a beautiful dark haired witch/scientist, because yes I WILL make every post about Supercorp. Every post IS about supercorp. There is no version of a happy ending that does not involve these two admitting they are hopelessly in love and flying off into the sunset together), then someone else will be there. She can't always be their saviour. She doesn't have to be. She gets to live her own life now.

[ruination-fangs]

Jude Stage 3: A Forest, A Fence, and the Trespasser

*  from Asteria’s fourth chapter, “Recollections of Eden”

[<- stage 2] [stage 4 ->]

fasten your seatbelts because this is a looong ride

Scene 1

On the road to Shongreiss, Jude remarks that the cats have been very well-behaved. They had been sleeping in Ludger's arms, but suddenly they wake up and begin to struggle, mewling. They jump free and run off into the forest.

Following them, Jude and Ludger find a whole colony of cats in the woods, and understand why their cats ran off. There are plenty of kittens among them, and they all seem relaxed. Jude and Ludger wonder if they live there, and then Jude suggests that maybe it would be better to leave the cats there than keep struggling to find them an owner. They might be happier living freely with their companions than on their own stealing food, or with a person. They look at how excited the cats seem to be and how easily they fit in, and Ludger agrees.

He decides to let the cats stay, saying he'll explain to the people who would have taken them. Jude starts to propose they come visit the cats sometime, but then they get distracted by the sight of a fence deeper in the woods.

It seems be one of the White Lions' "restricted zones." They were so absorbed in the cats that they didn't notice how close they'd gotten. Jude thinks that they should be fine, since they haven't gone inside, but Ludger warns that it's better not to approach no-entry areas at all. The White Lions might not be very forgiving. Jude sees his point, and heads back the way they came in, hoping to get out before anyone notices them.

They don't get far before a noise catches their attention, and a guard gives the order not to let "the intruder" get away. Afraid that they mean them, Jude and Ludger take off.

Scene 2

The guards continue to search for the intruder, splitting up and moving faster. Jude watches them go with some relief, though he and Ludger know they still need to be careful.

Jude suggests they just come forward and explain, since they haven't done anything wrong, but Ludger is worried the White Lions won't believe them if they already think them to be trespassers. Suddenly a voice next to them agrees.

???: Too true. They're a real hard-headed bunch.

Jude and Ludger cry out, and the stranger tells them to keep it down. She came there to hide until the hubbub dies down and doesn't want their shouting to alert the guards.

Ludger: Wh.. Who are you? ???: I'm so glad you asked! I'm thrilled to introduce you to the wise sorceress who travels the eleven seas, the great magician, the illustrious... 

???: Mazhigigika Miludin do Din Nolurun Dou! Or for short- Jude: Oh, Magilou... Ludger: You know her? Jude: I wouldn't say that... We met once, at the festival- Magilou: Oho! You're that one guy, from that one time...! What a stroke of luck to meet you here. I have no idea who you are, but wow! Jude: ...My name is Jude. I was with Colette and her friends... Does that ring a bell? Magilou: Ohh, the handsome fellow with the beautiful flower on each arm! I remember you. Actually, I never forgot! Ludger: Funny that you can't seem to commit to anything you say... You don't seem to be a knight, so who exactly are you? Magilou: Oh, you want to hear it again? Well, if the audience insists, who am I to turn them down? Once more... The wise sorceress who travels the eleven- Ludger: I got that part! Your name is Magilou. You call yourself a witch...* Magilou: Heh heh... Not just any witch, a great witch! Ludger: So what's a witch doing out here? Magilou: That... is a maiden's secret! Jude: It's something you can't speak of? Don't tell me... Magilou: But you're trespassers yourselves, are you not? Jude: N-No, we're not. We just accidentally got a little close. Magilou: Meeee too! And then I got caught up in all this trespassing business. Can you believe? Ludger: ...Shh! The guards are back! Hold your breath!

The guards return, afraid they’ve lost the trail, but they figure it shouldn’t be that difficult to find such a “flashy, strange-looking woman” - especially because you can recognize that “pointed hat” from a mile away. They continue their search.

Jude: A flashy, strange-looking woman... Ludger: ...In a pointed hat... Magilou: Wow. What an amazing coincidence! Jude: Don't play dumb with us. You're the intruder! Ludger: So they weren't looking for us at all. Magilou: Ah, well. We can debate that another time. Now that we're here, why don't we work together? A bunch of people with guilty consciences... Not a bad idea, right? Jude: Guilty con- We didn't do anything wrong! Ludger: Yeah. It might be better for us to hand Magilou over and tell them what happened. Magilou: And you think they'll just take your word for it? Jude: I'm sure it'll be fine if we're honest about it. Magilou: Will it, though? Even when I testify that you're my bestest buds? Jude: You wouldn't... Magilou: And anyway, even if you can prove your innocence, they'll probably put you through a loooong interrogation first. Days... Maybe even years... By the time you're released,  you could have lost your job, your home, your whole life. Jude: But that's...

Ludger reluctantly admits he thinks they should cooperate with her. She's probably right that the White Lions won't believe them, when they're already in such a suspect spot. Right now their best option is to leave; if they want to turn Magilou in, they can still do it once they're safely away.

Jude asks Magilou if she has a plan, and in fact she does... not. She's banking on the idea that three heads are better than one, and if they put theirs together they'll think of something. Ludger tells her to quit joking around, because it's only a matter of time before the guards find their hiding spot. They need to find a gap in the line of defense and run for it.

But Jude says that won't work, either. He's been watching the guards, and determined that their movements have been precisely calculated to cover a wide area with a small number of people. Even when a gap appears for a moment, it's always blocked farther ahead. The White Lions know exactly what they're doing.

However, the system is fragile enough that if any part is altered, the whole thing breaks down. For example, if the nearest guard alone wasn't there, they'd have a window to sneak through. Ludger asks Magilou if she can handle it; she said she's a magician, so she ought to have something up her sleeve. Magilou says that's a pretty tall order for a magician who peddles flashy gimmicks... but no problem for a great witch.

Guard 3: Is that...paper? No, it has a face... What in the world...?

Guard 3: Eek! There's more!? They're coming at me...!

The guard flees, leaving a gap for them to pass through. Jude is disconcerted, though Magilou claims it was only some ordinary, magically-animated paper. It's no trick, just mysterious and uncanny.

They take the opportunity to slip away from the patrol, and don't see anyone following them.

Magilou: Just as Jude said. Gotta love a man who makes himself useful. Jude: All I did was observe their movements. It's thanks to you that it worked so well. Magilou: Oh, and humble, too... One can't tell whether he's brimming with confidence, or not!

As the edge of the forest comes in sight, Jude cries a warning. Something shoots from the trees and stabs Magilou's hat - a shuriken. A voice nearby remarks that to have avoided that, they must not be just anybody.

A girl reveals herself, telling them not to take a step further. Ludger is afraid they've run into the White Lions, but then another woman appears.

???: Suzu, it's dangerous to throw shuriken around like that. You could really hurt someone. Magilou: Yeah, like me! That nailed me right in the head!! ???: Oh no! Are you okay?! Let me heal you! Suzu: Don't listen to her, Estelle. I only hit her hat. Estelle: ...Really?

Magilou asks if they were just waiting for them to come out there all defenseless so they could capture them, which Suzu takes as confirmation that they are criminals on the run. Still, Estelle thinks she shouldn't be so reckless; she might hurt someone innocent. To the others, she explains that they're with the Rolando Family, vigilantes from a nearby village. They got word from the White Lions about the trespassing situation and came to help. Magilou wants to know if refusing that kind of request would be considered treasonous, but Suzu sees no point in talking to them.

Jude: Wait! Don't we get to defend ourselves? They're chasing us over a misunderstanding. It was all Magilou's... Magilou: Waaah, Jude?! I thought we were stalwart companions, brought closer by the many hardships we've faced together! Ludger: Why do you keep trying to drag us into this? Magilou: The more the merrier, right? Moreover, look. There, right behind them... monsters!

While Suzu and Estelle are distracted, Magilou slips away again. Ludger encourages Jude to follow, but before they get anywhere Suzu points out that she's scattered caltrop across the ground. They can no longer run. Magilou comes back to try to move them along, and Suzu insists on not playing nice anymore, though Estelle still objects to how rough she's being.

Magilou: Sheesh, out of the frying pan and into the fire, huh? Jude: Hold on! Okay, maybe we shouldn't have just run, but we don't want to fight! Suzu: You can't talk your way out of this. I'm not letting my guard down around you.

Jude dodges another projectile, and Suzu is further convinced that they're no average citizens, to avoid her shuriken so easily. Ignoring Jude's pleas for her to wait, she attacks.

Scene 3

Though injured, Suzu still refuses to give up on her mission. Estelle, Jude, Ludger, and Magilou all ask her to calm down and listen, because no one else wants anyone to get hurt over this, but Suzu won't budge. She throws another shuriken at Jude, and he nearly trips trying to dodge.

Suzu: There's no point in asking for mercy from your enemies. We're on a mission! Ludger: I don't know what this mission of yours is, but we didn't set foot in the restricted zone. Magilou: That's right, it wasn't me! All three of us are innocent! Jude: Magilou...

Suzu still isn't interested in talking. Estelle wants to hear them out, but Suzu thinks they'll run again as soon as they get the chance, or else lie. Jude insists they'll stay and explain everything if Suzu will just listen before judging them.

To compromise, Estelle suggests escorting them to the Rolando Family's base, so they can explain the circumstances to their leader. Suzu reluctantly agrees. Estelle promises they won't report anything to the White Lions until after hearing their leader's decision, and Suzu promises that if they try to escape on the way there she won't be talked into going easy on them again.

Jude, Ludger, and Magilou agree to those terms, thinking it's probably their best shot at avoiding any more trouble. As they leave, Suzu asks Estelle to take the lead, so she can bring up the rear and watch her prisoners.

Ludger: This kid is determined not to trust us... Let's hope their leader is more understanding. Jude: Yeah...

They head toward the village.

* if you're thinking "but she never called herself a witch" - you're right, the word for "witch" was originally translated as “sorceress”. i kept both here because berseria actually does the same thing.