This Is A Cleansing

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."

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.”

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

“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 ? ”