Email to Haller

[xp_echo]

To: [Haller, David]
From: [Lincoln-Lopez, Maya]

Subject: [Madin]

Haller,

Why are we letting them stay? They've proven they’re willing to try to disrupt this place with their behavior and hate.

And now we learn they were Brotherhood? For long enough that they had an idea we might not like it if we found out.

I know they’re being watched but tell me we’re not just letting them off the hook without someone doing the work to deprogram them. I don’t like that they’re here, I don’t like that we have them near teenagers but I’ll deal with it as long as I know someone is doing something.

-Maya

Comments

[xp_legion]

To: [Lincoln-Lopez, Maya]
From: [Haller, David]

Subject: Re: Madin

We took a few steps before reaching this decision. First of all, Dominion ran a deep background-search; it was supplemented with Snow Valley's resources. We have a pretty complete picture of their activities. Like they said, their big involvement was mercenary work. Nothing on the terroristic side, and Madin is far from the first or last resident to take this sideline. They say they left the Brotherhood of their own accord, and based on the type of interrogation that was performed we have every reason to believe that was the truth. Sometimes people just make bad choices. If we went by past association with the Brotherhood as excluding criteria for living here we would be minus two X-Men.

As for why we're letting them stay when they've proven to be "disruptive," while the overall comfort of the residents is something that has to be considered we need to balance it with the understanding that being angry or mistrustful because of past experiences doesn't make someone less deserving of help. People deal with trauma in a lot of ways, and sometimes those ways are unpleasant. We can either react to the unpleasantness and shove them away, or we can try to address the underlying cause and help them find better ways to cope. Having some idea of what's in Madin's background that may have lead to this behavior, I would prefer to do the latter.

Obviously whether Madin accepts this help will be their choice, but I don't believe it was one they thought they had while they felt they had to keep their past association with the Brotherhood a secret. Now that everything's out in the open we'll see how it goes. Either way, trust me when I say this has been taken seriously.


David

[xp_echo]

To: [Haller, David ]
From: [Lincoln-Lopez, Maya]
Subject: Re: Re: Madin

David, I have scars that remind me who the Brotherhood are every day. They talk a great game but when you come down to it they’re just murderers with good PR. The other ex-members we have on the team have proved they don’t think like that anymore.

We don’t even know Madin, not really.

If they don’t want our help, how long are you going to keep holding out your hand? If they bite it off? What then?

[xp_legion]

To: [Lincoln-Lopez, Maya]
From: [Haller, David]

Subject: Re: Madin


I'm not going to pretend I have the history with the Brotherhood that you do, and that lacking a history doesn't make things easier for me in some respects. But how can someone prove they've changed if they aren't given the chance?

It's okay not to like or trust Madin. For the time being, I'll ask only that you watch. And when you do, try to see what's there -- not what you expect or fear there could be. It's true that I have my own biases, and so maybe you'll see something I don't. But I think that you more than anyone might be able to understand what kind of anger and exhaustion that comes from living in a world that wasn't built for you, and how sometimes after a lifetime of fists it's hard to conceive of an outstretched hand. It's a process. Sometimes a lifelong one. We've tried to give you that chance, and we'd like to extend the same to Madin, if they'll take it.

Do you think it would help to talk about what happened with the Brotherhood? I know that experience was a bad one for the whole team, but reading about it isn't the same as living it. If you'd like a chance to organize your thoughts about it with someone I'd be happy to listen.

[xp_echo]

To: [Haller, David]
From: [Lincoln-Lopez, Maya]
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Madin

I’d be lying if I didn’t mention how much everyone’s peace and light response to their confession didn’t feel like performative bullshit.

Nobody is that nice. Makes me wonder what theyre saying about Madin in private because I’m not buying it. I can’t be the only one not 100% happy.

I’ll watch for now. I’ll even contemplate that you all have more experience at this than I do.

You don’t have to patient me, Haller. Don’t you have enough trauma of your own without taking on mine as well?

-M

[xp_legion]

To: [Lincoln-Lopez, Maya]
From: [Haller, David]

Subject: Re: Madin


Depends on the person. Some people are like me, with little to no complicating history. But I also wouldn't discount the possibility that some people have simply decided to keep their opinions private. Some discussions are not for public consumption, especially those that overlap with security concerns. Don't assume lack of outward evidence is an indication of negligence or uniform assent.

Personally, I'm not happy with how the decision to let Madin stay came about, but that was a conversation between me and the people involved in the decision. It happened, I said my piece, and now it's done. There's no reason to relitigate it in public.

I don't treat people I live and work with, so being your counselor is off the table. It's strictly an offer as one teammate to another. You have understandable concerns based on your experience with the Brotherhood, and if you'd ever like to share them I'm willing to listen.

[xp_echo]

To: [Haller, David]
From: [Lincoln-Lopez, Maya]
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Madin

That just feels like cowardice. If you don’t want to air bad vibes publically at least don’t pretend you’re some kind of Saint. (General you. Not you, you)

Leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I might get in my fair share of poor behavior situations but I’ve always accepted the consequences and I’ve never made a choice just because it seemed like less trouble.

I’d be willing to talk - I’m still not sure you need to be taking on listening to my issues when you’ve got so many people relying on you already. Do you even sleep?

[xp_legion]

To: [Lincoln-Lopez, Maya]
From: [Haller, David]

Subject: Re: Madin

If you'd like more insight into what went into the decision-making process, Garrison, Jean, Kurt, and Jean-Phillipe were all directly involved. I'm sure any one of them would be willing to talk it through with you. It might shed some light on various reactions (or lack thereof).

As for listening to your issues, don't worry about it. You're a teammate, not a patient. It's always worth discussing any concerns with someone who's going to have your back.