[network] @Ecks; In the open [open] [video] evening 156

[ecks]

[She's been thinking about this for days and days now. She's thought about it since House said it was stupid to keep everything a secret and that she'd get more sympathy if she was honest about her age. Since Beckett didn't understand why it was a secret at all. Then since Watson told everyone she was a murderer, but then told Clint she was trying to be a good girl.

Since she ran away from Clint and his people this morning even though he didn't try to hurt her once he knew what she had done to Duster.

She waits until after lockdown just in case they are all wrong and someone will try to find her after this. The video opens with her looking into the camera, her scarf bunched around her neck but her patchwork face clearly on display. Her expression is blank, her voice toneless.]

My name is Ecks and I am not human. I have decided that it is not a secret anymore. I am a golem made out of dead people, but I am a person and that is the part that is important. I am two years old and a few months and I have decided that I do not want to hurt or kill people when I do not have to, and that is also important. Doctor House and Beckett say that it does not matter what I am and I think I would be happy if that is true.

[It seems like there should be more than that to say, but she just stares a moment longer before turning off the camera. She will not bring up the murder if she does not have to.]

Comments

[redrooms]

Clint and I tend to agree on most things.

[There's a bit of a long pause, and then Natasha continues a little more quietly.]

If I tell you something, Ecks, I need you to keep it a secret. Can you do that for me?

[ecks]

[There's a moment's pause as Ecks thinks about it before agreeing. She kept Duster's secret, so she thinks she can keep other secrets, too.]

Yes. I can do that for you.

[redrooms]

When I was young—not as young as you—I was forced to hurt people, too. And then I stopped, because I decided I didn't want to anymore.

[Super vague and simplified, but she's not going to go into much detail, as much as Clint has vouched for Ecks.]

[ecks]

[There are more people like her here than she thought - not other flesh golems, but like her in other ways. Ecks has to keep mum about Jay with the metal arm, though. She can tell that it is a secret for him, too.]

Was it hard? Did you hurt more people after you decided to stop?

[It sounds like she maybe did, from what she said earlier.]

[redrooms]

Yes. Not in quite the same way, but yes, I hurt people. It gets easier, though. Just remember that you always have a choice, Ecks.

[ecks]

Always. That is important.

[But not as comforting as it might be. She's still afraid to ask and to make herself sound more dangerous, but maybe a little less afraid now.]

Do you ever make bad choices when you are angry? Choices you would not want to make when you are not angry?

[redrooms]

We all do, but the important thing is trying to be better, relying on people to help you.

[ecks]

I understand.

[But there are not always other people with her...and Doctor Watson was trying and she did not let him stop her.]

I understand and I am going to keep trying.

[redrooms]

Good luck, Ecks.