ximilia | ✨ XIMILIA TOWN HALL MEETING ✨ ( video/audio/action )

✨ XIMILIA TOWN HALL MEETING ✨ ( video/audio/action )

[ some morning in the middle of the week, during their return to the station, an invitation will be taped on the door of every orber. though the calligraphy would suggest this must have been typed on a computer and printer, each invitation is actually very carefully hand-written and reads as follows: ]

[ the idea is for everyone to meet in the mess hall at the intended time, but if some choose not to attend, the meeting can still be accessed by the earpieces, allowing all orbers to watch or listen in and contribute however they wish, no matter where they are.

however, for those who do decide to attend, the mess hall features a full display of bagels and donuts, along with plenty of fresh coffee, all to help everyone wake up and feel refreshed for the meeting that's about to take place.

a makeshift little stage, arranged by stacking together a few metal boxes is at the center of the room, atop of it being the one and only rita farr herself, with a bright optimistic smile. when she sees enough people present and settled, she speaks up, loud and clear: ]

Hello, everyone! Welcome to our first Annual — or monthly, or however we decide to do it — Town Hall meeting! Thank you all for coming and please enjoy the food to your heart's content. For those who don't know me, I'm Rita Farr. Now— though my name does appear on the invitation, this is hardly about me. This is about all of us.

After our ... last mission, it became quite clear that our group could use a bit of improvement with how we approach our next missions moving forward. And I thought the best way to plan for that is to allow all of us an opportunity to discuss how we all feel about what we've done well and what we could do better. After all, everyone deserves a say in this, right?

[ she points behind her where a giant board is on display on an easel, once again, hand-written with careful and precise calligraphy in giant letters: ]

Here, I've written some sample questions we can all try to offer answers to, but the floor will also be open for any other questions and suggestions that anyone might have. Remember, there are no wrong answers! We're all here for an open forum discussion. But before that!

[ she reaches over to the board, pulling it off to reveal another one behind it. this one reads as follows: ]

Please consider the "Keys to Success", not only on our missions, but as we talk together in this room right now. We'll go ahead and take turns either stepping up here on the stage or speaking out from wherever you are. There are no microphones but the earpieces should get your voices out to everyone. Now, who would like to start?

( this post is open to all! the idea is that everyone is taking turns in each thread to speak out to the entire group (whether from within the room or from elsewhere), but thread-jacking and hopping around for discussion is the key here! feel free to run wild with ic suggestions or questions regarding mission layouts or planning or whatever floats your boat (ic complaining/protest is always an option too). though rita is organizing it, it's open to whatever people are inclined to discuss. )

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[he smiles small, putting a hand over the one still on his arm.]

Thank you. You may be...a bit biased, but...that doesn't change the value.

Hey— I'm not biased! If I ever thought you were approaching something like an idiot, you wouldn't be exempt from me calling you one!

[hmhmn...]

Something tells me...it wouldn't be in the same way I've seen you do so to others.

[ Opens his mouth. ]

[ Closes his mouth. ]

[ Opens it again. ]

[ Shuts it again. ]

[ Puffs up with one of those low, grumbly hhhrrrmmmphs that reluctantly admits defeat. ]

[he chuckles, squeezing the hand and tilting his head to bump lightly at Yzak's arm.]

It's alright. I understand...what you're meaning to say. Thank you.

[ He makes a noise in his throat, unsure if he agrees with that opinion. Is it for the better to go back? Potentially not remember a moment of this? It was something he spoke to Viveca about - got a little bullheaded about because if there's a loophole that exists, he sure as shit knows he doesn't want to forget any of this and find one. ]

Odds are they probably feel the same way. So that in itself serves as somewhat of a stand-in goodbye.

[ Peter doubts that's the case. You don't miss what you can't remember ever having. But they need to focus on the positive. ]

Perhaps you're right. I'd like to remember you, if I went back to my world. [ Peter says with sincerity. And then, he can't help but add.] You were my first sugar daddy and all that.

[ Peter watches Minimus shuffle the papers with interest, and try to keep his smile in control. Oh, did he fluster him? Either way, it's cute. ]

Picture sound for the best if we're going to have meetings at this hour. Easier for my sleepy brain to understand. I'm a night owl, waking up before 10am it's almost against my religion.

[ Ugh he's so fucking cute how is he this endearing this is exactly why he's correct because he does have a little bias there. Get it TOGETHER Yzak this is an IMPORTANT TEAM MEETING.

Though really what he said to Blue counts as part of it, he thinks. Because he does value his approach, his willingness to understand and learn. It's not only that good synergy they have in that regard that caused him to eventually fall for him, but from a purely commandering standpoint? He'd want someone like Blue on his team back home. ]

Ah. Do you want to be alone? [ Peter also seems to be in no rush to move. He's always found that kind gestures help, so he's hoping it brings Finn some solace. ]

No, no, there's no need to apologize. I understand, Finn. [ He is not just saying that. There are moments when talking or even thinking about Gamora makes Peter feel like he's about to choke. The loss is too fresh to put in words, and he knows Finn might be feeling that same awful way. ]

Did you manage to get any sleep? One of the reasons why Peter was almost asleep at the meeting, aside from his allergy to waking up early in the morning, is that he barely got any sleep yesterday.

[ So far, so good. No one's insulting anyone or throwing knives at each other. An outstanding success by the Guardian's standards. It's time that people had some time to assimilate what went wrong with the mission and how things could improve from now on. In the heat of the moment, things are seen differently. Peter has made enough mistakes in those moments to know this. ]

Feel free. Rita was nice enough to provide plenty of them for us. She's really working hard to make us all feel like a team again.

[ If the Doctor wants to snatch the whole place of donuts, Peter won't stop him. He never minds sharing his food. ]

The different faces thing is still curious to me. No offense. [ It's mostly that sometimes the Doctors are so different, that it feels like they are totally different people. But Peer knows about alternative timelines and weird shenanigans like that, so he just accepts things as they are. ]

And talking about people who are older than they look...[ Peter's voice is a tad more serious now, on the sad side. ] I met your friend Jack during our last mission. We were..heh, playing boyfriends, actually.

An important thing to remember that perhaps we could all take to heart is that self-flaggelation doesn't yield anything and isn't the same as accountability and improvement. And that goes for the barbs you direct at yourself as much as it goes for what you project onto everyone else.

[ Sam's seen and heard enough to know that much is true. Wandered out on some especially unnecessary vitriol, grabbed jello shots from Yelena, came back in. He couldn't not be here. Even if it drives him mad, this sort of cyclical discussion that rarely ever yields true results and in which emotions rile up. In which people would rather shout their cynicism than pull together. It makes him think back to Secretary Ross pushing on people's guilt in order to push through poorly though out, kneejerk regulations that ultimately served nobody but himself. A poor grab for power and control. And the Avengers had torn themselves apart over it. The discussions in here don't feel all that different to the point he starts wondering when, down the line, they'll come to blows with each other. Put 60 people in a room and you'll have too many different valid viewpoints to come together sensibly. But he's not here to argue that. ]

There's a line between accountability and letting hypotheticals dictate what we're all here to do. Uninvoled observation is a non-starter, else we wouldn't be here. You can disagree with me all you want, and I'm certainly not advocating that we're tryna fix every systemic issue we encounter on foreign worlds. I dare say few of us have an in-depth understanding of the political realities of the worlds we're from. But you don't gotta be a politician to realize inaction when you're already involved in any capacity, when you do not have the know how, intel and infrastructure to remain a truly neutral observer, is as much a choice as action is.

[ Dry as bone, that part. ]

It's fundamentally incorrect to argue that we leave a mess behind wherever we go. Frankly, you can miss me with that take. Don't let anyone say you ain't done any good just because things got messy. That's how you spook people into becoming bystanders. And I don't know about you, but I ain't gonna stand idly by every single situation I encounter on the thought that I might overstep or might make a mistake.

Consider that even in the face of people hating or scapegoating us for what went wrong, and it's without a doubt important to take that to heart and consider what we could and should do better, we ultimately helped do a lot of good - in our last mission as well as the ones before, and you absolutely cannot lose sight of that. If we lose ourselves in too many hypotheticals when the variables will shift on every damn mission, we're just gonna freeze.

Besides, if we go down that path, we might as well start picking apart hypotheticals about what coulda gone wrong had we stepped up less. It ain't helping anyone to do that. And it goes without saying that we can absolutely do better. We all, individually and and as a group, can always try to do better. My advice is... don't do what's easy - do what's right, to the best of your knowledge, to the best of your ability.

Accept that for everyone you help along the way, there's gonna be someone you fail on some level. Accept that people will hate you for trying and succeeding as much as they'll hate you for trying and failing. It sucks. It don't mean you fold, or have a go at others who were tryna help people. Cynicism's the easy part. Get comfortable with the hard part, too. It's as simple and as complicated as that.

[ He rubs a hand over his face. Crosses his arms, then gestures to the room at large. Frankly, he knows the bad takes his words might get. And he gets it - he's seen enough people think they know better and make choices on behalf of others, and where that can lead. Team Iron Man was never wrong about that part of it, after all. But you can't strawman and hypothetical your way through life and wash your hands clean of doing the right thing just because you don't wanna step on toes or are scared of failing, either. ]

And look. Perhaps it's time we step up and acknowledge that we all suck at seeking help when we need it and are much too used at ignoring warning signs in ourselves and others that indicate help is necessary. Because it seems to me that much of what went wrong recently was either good intentions we have absolutely no business clipping, or people needing help none of us were equipped to see becoming necessary. Perhaps it's time that instead of trying to run at every situation alone as fast as we can, we try and look to our team. That might not always be possible, of course, and you might not always like it. But end of the day, this ain't a one man show.

And I'll be the first to admit that I could do better leading with example on that. I'd stick my neck out for every single one of you because that's what you do when you exist in a community, but I also know damn well I get caught up in acting and taking risks on my own. If you take anything away from what I'm saying, maybe let it be this. You ain't alone. Involve others in what you're planning and doing if you can, on and off mission. And reach out when you're drowning - on and off mission.

Edited 2022-08-01 23:29 (UTC)

( McCoy sits up from where he's huddled beside Minimus, watching and listening to Sam with an expression of hopeful relief.

If their gaze happens to meet, he just nods, and gives him a covert thumbs up. )

No matter what we do on any mission, we'll second-guess some aspects of it. And I know not all of us share opinions - our variety of viewpoints is, I'm sure, part of what makes us effective.

Just surprised me how quickly so many of our own were ready to jump to helping to stage a revolution for reasons that didn't seem like they had much to do with the orb, that's all, considering what we're here for. I'm glad it ended up working out.

[After Sam has made his case and had a chance to fade back into the group, Natasha joins him, giving his elbow a little nudge with hers.

She looks up at him, her expression a little mock coy.]

Personally I'm not sure who you're thinking of. We don't know anyone who wouldn't reach out if they need help.

[She doesn't even try to keep that deadpan.]

[ That nets her a snort and a lopsided grin. ]

Think I shoulda tacked on a 'do as I say, not as me and mine?' 'cause that's absolutely how I'm helping raise my nephews.

[ Getting that all out has made him feel lighter at least. If those words reach at least one person the right way, he figures he's done his job. ]

Not quite as satisfying as dressing down a buncha politicians, but hey. Turns out it ain't the shield providing 'big speech superpowers'.

[ Their gazes do meet, and there might be a small nod from Sam as a result. Doesn't show much of a reaction beyond that until he's done, at which point he's going to join McCoy. ]

I used to think Steve had to pre-write his speeches and practice them in the mirror. Seems like Captain America just instills in you the ability to give big damn speeches on the spot.

Makes sense. You probably have a higher opinion of the people here than most politicians.

[No one here can be said to be cloistered away from the action, insulated from the realities faced by those on the front line.

No one here is in charge.]

You okay?

[ Now that's absolutely true. Sam can concede that. Her question gives him pause for a moment, but his shoulders slump a little. Not defeated. Just... tired. ]

This remind you of our incredibly productive accords discussion?

[ And where it led. Sam doesn't regret standing up for what he believed to be the right thing, and his opinion at least on that version of the Accords has not changed a bit so far, but... he very much regrets where it all led, especially when the disagreements over the Accords got tangled up in what happened with Bucky. Hindsight, and all that. If he could do it all again he might not change his overall stance, but he might change how he approached that complete shitshow.

Wouldn't take back firing Redwing right into Tony's face, though. Genuinely no offense to the guy, but as far as shenanigans in combat goes, Sam can honestly say that was the funniest maneuver he ever pulled, the overall seriousness of the situation notwithstanding. ]

( Be still his beating heart. )

The few orbers who've done so were successful. If we can continue to meet locals where they are, and be honest about our intentions, and the dangers of the orbs, I believe we'll keep seeing positive responses.

Though we should also prepare for the worst. All it takes is one local to decide we're stealin' something of theirs, and things will get messy.

( And then they get mired in more worst case scenario business he keeps to himself. Disagreements aside, he's reasonably sure most of the team wants to do good wherever they land. )

How I remember it, we were on opposite sides of that conversation.

[Not exactly for ideological reasons. At least, not from Natasha's side. But then, Natasha isn't the kind to be lead by ideology in theory.

Natasha's reasons had been pragmatic, and they continue to be.]

But you're not wrong. I've been having flashbacks.

Must come with the fancy shield.

( Gotta give Sam a gentle ribbing for that. )

I think most of us are on the same page.

[ in an impeccable demonstration of table manners, she swipes the back of her knuckles through the brown speckles on her chin first. accepting the napkin is a belated afterthought; much like a caveman seeing fire for the first time, alina turns it over her hand and stares, before using it to scrub at the excess dribble on her mouth.

she doesn't have the elegant bearing to look contrite. the closest she comes to shame is the self-conscious divot forming between her eyebrows. her eyes awkwardly dart from his to the soiled napkin, only to shove that in her (now equally glazed) pockets next. ]

I don't know. The taste of dirt might grow on me.

[ to sass or not to sass, that's the question. she seems to realize her desire for something mildly drinkable is a greater priority, a second too late; after that halting pause: ]

Where's the tea?

My strengths lie outside the domain of socialization and interpersonal connections. It's why in our previous mission, I went straight to the library instead of finding the key players in the history of the planet.

[When you don't have the charm to get people to talk, you have to find other ways to help.]

A cultural debrief from the first arrivals would be beneficial.

[He looks up at Peter.]

What religion is that? [Oh, no, he's genuinely curious.]

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✨ XIMILIA TOWN HALL MEETING ✨ ( video/audio/action )

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