"The only rules that really matter are these: what a man can do, and what a man can't do."—Jack Sparrow
Cat was right, drinking did make life happier. They were sitting on a rooftop with two glasses, a little blanket, and a pitcher of milk that Cat kept mixing with the liqueur. Mixed in the right amounts, it tasted like coffee, or maybe licorice.
"So that's the point. End up cynical and a crook, huh?" Peter remarked, finishing another glass. He had his mask half-turned up, as he drank. He was up to half irish cream and half milk. Not bad for someone who didn't drink, ever.
"Is it crooked?" Black Cat asked idly, staring out at the city, tilting the glass in her hand. "Or is it just making a living, being free. If you disagree, you could always go do some free internships… maybe you'll get a good job and get to pay a third of your cash in taxes before the deposit gets to you… someone's gotta fund multi-million dollar studies on the drinking habits of Chinese prostitutes, right? Power corrupts. Government, organizations, church… people lie and cheat and steal and screw over some group to keep their grip."
"So, everyone's crooked, so why not join them." Peter summarized. "And now you're saying church is crooked, too?"
"Oh, completely." The girl said, taking another sip. "Women are majority attendance and are more inclined to tithe, because it makes them feel good. So male pastors completely pander to them. Look at Mark Driscoll, for instance. He was a mega church pastor… preached that women become single moms because they can't find decent men, and so men must man up, of course, and marry single moms."
"And your point is…" Peter trailed off.
"Churches claim to teach the Bible, but they completely twist it, to bring people in and make money. They don't respect their own book, because they want to pander. Like politicians, lying through their teeth." Cat said. "So tell me, Spider, why follow the law when the law is the tool of the powerful? Or our society. We have virtual juries ruining peoples careers on twitter and facebook for daring to use a word, or vote for a legitimate political party, or support this bill or that. Democracy is mob rule. That's why this country was never supposed to be one."
"Kinda harsh." Peter said. Cat shrugged.
"Not really." The girl said. "The cruel fact is, most people are not smart enough to make real decisions on laws. How many of them have even read Democracy in America? Plato's Republic? The Odyssey? They know nothing about society, about their decisions. About the impact down the road. All they can see is the here and now, and all they know is what they feel about it. Their emotions, their want for 'fairness' can devastate things down the road."
"Why shouldn't laws be more fair?" He said, a little roughly.
"Because the United States was the greatest power the world has ever seen, and it wasn't built on fair. It was built on what is wise. What is just. What is necessary." Black Cat said. "Look at any 'oppressed' group, here, and it's about guaranteed that group doesn't have it better anywhere else."
"So that's how you justify being a thief?" He said. "Because you're getting robbed anyway, so might as well steal some back, from the corrupt and the mobs?"
"Society follows one real rule." She said. "You either can do it and get away with it, or you can't. There's no honor here, anymore. Maybe in small groups, in pieces of society. But not overall."
"Because what happens if everyone had your philosophy? Quit paying taxes, obeying laws, all that?" Peter asked, starting to feel the effects of the drink. Half the bottle was gone, though, so it was about time…
"The people with power would have to shape up." Black Cat said, grinning. "It would be painful. But stopping a bad habit always is. It's like getting a fatso to work out. Sure, they would have hunger pangs and hurting muscles, for now. Down the road, they could end up hot and healthy."
"It's depressing." Peter said dully, staring out at the city. He had another cup full of the mix, feeling slightly woozy. It was an interesting feeling. "All of it. That things got this way."
"Indeed it is." Cat said, nodding. "But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly evildoers prosper, and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it."
"Shakespeare?" Peter guessed. She smiled, shook her head.
"The point is, learn, and adapt. Pretty much everyone steals, legally or illegally. Look at old people, out there voting to keep high government benefits for senior citizens. Who do you think the money comes from? Working, younger people." She said. "Unless massive immigration covers that, it will be one worker to one social security recipient soon… young, working Peter will be robbed to pay old Paul." He visibly started, and Cat raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Irony." He said, shaking his head. Cat shrugged, looked out over the city. "Thanks for ruining all my naïve hope about life. Well, at least I'm not broke anymore… I have you to thank for that."
"Don't go overboard with it." Cat laughed.
"What's the worst that could happen?" Parker grinned. Cat turned serious.
"You know, there's a parasite that infects mice, takes hold in their brains?" Cat said quietly, her eyes on the city, on the lights of traffic and people going about business. Taxi drivers, party goers, guards on nightshift, thieves… "It rewires neural pathways. The mice become sexually aroused by the smell of cats, because the parasite wants to be eaten and infect cats."
"That's mildly horrific." He commented.
"So, don't bite the bait." Cat said. She stood up, stretched. "There's always horror waiting to be discovered, even in a 'safe' city, Spider. Some groups that have polished, nice images in public… you start digging below the surface, and it's amazing they are allowed to live."
"Every life has value." He countered. He saw a flicker on her face, a tiny flash of anger, before the cool amusement came back.
"Depends on who you ask, doesn't it?" She said. "Go to one group, and people will be campaigning for abortion, while saying the death penalty for murderers is barbaric. Go to the government, and it's all a game of politics. Another group will say differently. Look into the filth close enough, Spider, and you'll thank God for men like the Punisher, and the graveyards they fill. Every life might have a value, but it's a heavy negative in many cases."
"How can you say that?" Peter said, askance.
"Because it's truth." The girl said simply.
