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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[ Peter just met her last mission, and it was during some really stressful moments - first fighting guards, then being saved by her from the rubble of a fallen tower. But he likes Rita already, and even if the meeting ends up being just a one-time thing, Peter is still here to show support. ]

Not really, no. We were all busy getting into trouble. [ He's self-aware enough to admit that things could have been handled better, but there could also have been more prisoner casualties in the camps. Such is the way of life. You win some, you lose some. Peter is distracted from his more gloomy thoughts when he sees Eleven keeping the doughnut for later. ]

A shame indeed. He left a good impression. [ A fun and bright man, and very handsome to boot. Even Peter isn't blind to that, but he liked Jack for being kind and brave, even for those people he had just met. ]

Yeah, he was very sweet. We both planned to propose, making it all absurd and loud, as a distraction. In the end, it wasn't necessary for the mission. And we talked about our fake wedding. You were going to be invited, of course, all the yous. We were going to have fireworks, all the romantic music, monster trucks...

[ One thing is not like the others. ]

Edited 2022-08-04 11:09 (UTC)

When? [He's still trying to piece together how and why this group formed. A front for a pasta company makes sense.] I understand a group bonding over a favorite meal, but an actual religion is unbelievable.

Yeah, 'when'. I spent the last 30 years traveling the galaxy instead of living on my home planet. I was kidnapped by space pirates when I was 8 years old. By the time, I was old enough to be able to get away and go back, there was nothing for me there.

[ This might explain in part why Peter is so generally weird about everything. Too human for space, too alien for Earth. ]

Unless you were asking when the religion first started? In which case I have no idea. I didn't look that much into it, I just found the idea of a flying spaghetti god hilarious. Perhaps there's another religion out there inspired by a salad bowl and promoting healthier eating habits.

[ Oh, Peter, gosh. That actually gets a laugh out of him. Quiet, short-lived, but still a laugh. ]

No, I'm good. Thanks, though. [ For the offer. And the smile. ] Just... lying down sounds pretty good, actually. And you can eat that in my bed, if you want to.

[ He's thinking that maybe... Yzak is right... which is the problem. That's a whole lot of re-thinking he has to do. ]

I- [ He would do it again. He totally would. The only reason he wouldn't has just gone home.

But he'd do it better. He did learn some things, after all... ]

No. I wouldn't. I learned enough the first time. [ Sure, he did. ]

[ Wow, congratulations. That just got an honest laugh out of him. It's quiet and small, but absolutely there. ]

Nicky? Are they on the station?

[ He hasn't been keeping up with new people like he used to... ]

Mm, yes, he's over there. [ he points across the room where nicky is deep in quiet conversation with andy. he doesn't need to hear the conversation to know they're talking about the donuts and not the actual topic at hand since no one else is speaking at the moment. he can tell by the way nicky gesticulates that the conversation is about food; he may not be italian (there was no real italy when they were young, in fact it's quite a young country) but some things are ingrained into the soil and the salt air. ]

He only arrived before the last mission.

[ and it's clear enough from joe's utterly besotted expression that that man over there, the sentient nose and clear, keen eyes, is joe's entire universe. ]

[ Ah. Finn knows that look well. And from context, it seems as if they're from the same home. That part manages to keep the smile on his face, though it's far more bittersweet. All the same, he looks at this Nicky, a stranger, and wonders what all myriad of amazing things Yusuf must see when he looks at him.

There are so many things he could say... He's not going to say any of them. ]

One hell of an introduction. Did things go okay for you guys?

[ being gawked at like a circus animal never stands to gain any appeal. alina's mouth furls, a defensive bracket on her face. it stays firmly locked in place as she skirts by to eye the still-steaming pot. ]

Sugar and cream is a luxury. I don't want to waste it on dirt water.

[ to have food portions in abundance here is just the same: a luxury. swill and crumbs pass for a balanced daily diet in ravka's border, but she's since learned the majority of the ship has never known the type of hunger that digs pits in your stomach. never had to go to bed hungry, with only a speck of hope for a better day to sustain you.

it's not worth retaining any bitterness. just a factual statement from the mouth of someone who has aged with that truth.

as she's filling a mug, she seems to come to a realization, squinting over in his direction. ]

How good can it really be if you're not having any?

[ The advantage of always carrying clothes with lots and lots of pockets. Was doing that ridiculous? Yes. Is seeing Finn laugh a little worth it? Also yes. ]

Okay, but if you change your mind, there's more where that one came from. [ Who knew how many pastries and candy Peter carries on his person, he has always been fond of sweets and snacks. ]

Lying down it is then. But no, don't worry, I'm not that hungry, and I don't want to get crumbs all over the bed.

[ After pocketing the bagel, Peter gives Finn's hand a squeeze, and they head toward the bedrooms. ]

[That...certainly was not the direction that Minimus expected this conversation to go. There's something in there that he feels he should delve into, but they are in a room full of people, and this might go into the "emotions and feelings" territory. It's best that Peter does not give a reason for Minimus to excuse himself and sit in a corner.]

...So it's a relatively recent religion, created around the time Earth discovered space travel. [Which is thankfully after he last visited the planet.] I really should visit that planet upon my return and see what happened with that spaghetti god.

（ war may ravaged his country when he was a child, but in the armistice that followed konoha was a land of plenty — even orphans did not, by and large, starve in the streets. yet he is not unaccustomed to long missions with scant food, and he has walked through more than one village with emaciated bodies littering the streets. badrock had troubled him less than most, and she had been there, hadn't she?

so. he understands her sentiment, can guess at its origin. does she even realize what she gives so carelessly away? an open book with pages like knives, is alina. to be thumbed through at one's own peril. ）

Would you like me to prove it isn't poisoned?

（ a curl of dry, wan humour. it isn't as if clones cannot eat. they are full flesh-and-blood duplicates, with all the anatomy that entails. he has always found it jarring to, on the clone's dispersal, have the stomach contents transferred to the original body in an abrupt rush. simply put — it makes him nauseous.

nausea, however, is a survivable thing. he obligingly pours himself a cup — it is the shincha style of green tea, leaves harvested in early spring. a sweet, nuanced brew lacking the astringency of some heavier variants.

(local nerd has but one hobby, and that hobby is visiting tea houses.) ）

I cannot promise that it will be to your taste any more than coffee was, if you have no such prior experience with it. However — （ he lifts the cup, takes a delicate sip. see? no poison to speak of, even if his statement had been half a joke. ） — it is certainly less bitter.

Eh. [ he shrugs, noncommittal. ]

It was fine until we were forced to stay. [ there is no heat in his tone, it was far less of a betrayal in his eyes than recent events in his life but it was dangerous and had daisy or zari or nicky been hurt by an upswing in anti-powered sentiment, he would be much less forgiving. there is some lingering bitter resignation in the way his eyes lose some of the softness looking at nicky.

he understands andy's hurt — it sometimes feels like change is impossible, like no matter what they do the world continues to choose hate and it hurts joe to see it continue to play out. whether it be their religions or the colour of their skin or the love he has for his beloved nicky, or their inability to die. joe is aware of it more than most, having felt it for centuries.

he was hoping to avoid it in space. ]

What's done is done, we can only move forward.

... Hey, I know you're still feeling guilty over what happened. But it was an accident.

We're not as bad as the orbs. [You're most certainly not, buddy.] I know sometimes it feels like it, but we have been doing good works. I think... we just need to be careful thinking we're the saviors of the universe, or whatever. Sometimes we gotta take steps back, or we'll either burn ourselves out or get in trouble for overstepping.

[he looks back up to Newt with a considering look. there's argument to say some have done more good works than others, given the number of gadgets and tech Newt's slaved over mission after mission. he's sure that'd be waved off, however, so it stays in Blue's heart as just unspoken truth.]

Balancing that...with the limited time given... Yes. I understand.

Good.

And if you ever prove to be lying about that, I'll kick your ass! [ It's an empty threat ... mostly. Because he will yell. ] It's not just you here who seems to need to take better care of themself, but moving forward and learning is important. You - you're a good asset to any team. Were you in my world, odds are I'd want you on mine with the needed polishing of self preservation and having more faith in the things you can do.

... Yeah.

[ Finn looks away, down to the floor, thinking about those last couple of weeks there and how much he hated it at the time. Then coming home only to lose James, realizing belated those were his last days with him.

There are a lot of twisted feelings, but he absolutely regrets it. For the people of E-23b, for the resentment that they all had to face, for not appreciating everything he still had... and maybe James would still be here if they left when they should have. ]

I was one of those who thought it best to stay at the time. For what it's worth, I'm sorry.

[ What's done is done, Finn. ]

Oh, obviously.

[ press x to possibly, maybe, doubt. there's no telling truth from exaggeration, or truth from lie, with the number of unexpected abilities among the orbers. her head tips, trying to determine whether she's being (likely) sassed by a sarcastic teenager or (less likely, but still likely) a sarcastic teenage witch.

whatever the truth, the lift of alina's eyebrows speaks to repressed amusement. ]

If they start yelling, you play on their sympathies. I've got you strategically covered.

[ pointedly, her gaze skims to ziggy's cast. not that being a sick child had ever gotten alina pity, but — the orbers are decidedly kinder-hearted than the orphanage. sparing one last overt look over her shoulder, she slaps another donut — blessedly into a napkin this time, but rip to her pants' pockets regardless — and shuffles conspiratorially over to ziggy. ]

[ Peter's life is far from normal or common, which is why he has so few stories to share that don't sound insane from an outsider's perspective. There are things from his past he wouldn't mind sharing with Minimus to give him more context, but it's true that they need more privacy for that. ]

I suppose, yes. Earth's technology always seems pretty backward when compared to the one you can find in certain sectors of the galaxy. Hah...yeah, it is worth checking out of curiosity. Do you still have friends there?

[ Peter knows that Minimus's avatar is inspired by his friend Verity, but he doesn't know if she's living on Earth, or traveling the galaxy again. ]

Oh yeah?

Well. Far be it for me to interrupt that.

[She stands there. Watches him. Waits for this 'eating of the food' thing to happen. Eats food while waiting for this proof that Kakashi is actually gonna, like, reveal a face.]

... You gonna absorb the food through your mask, or...?

[There it is again, that split-second of being seen, of his words being heard - loud and clear - evident in Yennefer's quiet voice and the sharp intelligence in her purple eyes.

The smile that twitches on the edge of his mouth is all for her.]

All generals are like it. It takes a certain type of person to lead an army through victory and through defeat.

[The tone of his voice leaving no doubt that he finds these self-perceived generals lacking.]

Yes.

[He doesn't explain any further, about the notes that are not about the meeting, but about the people in it. The need to keep his observations in writing for the days and months and perhaps years to come, to remember who argued for peace and who were willing to do what needed to be done.]

Have you tried the donuts? They are delicious.

I agree.

[Because he does. Not because of some grander ideal about morals and personal choices, but because it suits his goals at the moment.

But he nods along with Natasha, hands folded in his lap.]

As I did on the mission, even if I did ask for help. [And quieter, for Natasha alone and not the wider network or the room] I hope that didn't make things too difficult for you. I was keeping a promise made long before we found the hidden room and the treasure kept locked up inside of it.

Not only Earth. Thousands of planets are isolated from the rest of the universe. Earth seems...over-represented on this station, and I don't know why. [Yes, it was significant in his universe, but that's because it had large deposits of Ore-13.] Perhaps it is what is most similar to Viveca's homeworld.

[At Peter's question, Minimus sits down and pulls his arms close to his torso.]

I am in contact with a few humans, but the ones I met during the war are no longer of this world.

[That's just one of Newt's problems, huh? There's no such thing as enough work; just more and more, and anything less is failure. Maybe the almost-end of his world messed up his work ethic even more than before the Kaiju attacks in 2013. But it's helped out just fine aboard the Ximilia, right? Right!

He gives Blue the weakest little punch in the arm. Like, pathetic. Might as well have been a piece of tissue paper slapping Blue.]

Exactly!

We'll just keep doing our best, bud. That's all anyone can be asked for.

And falling short of that... [he pulls a faint smile up at him.] You can shriek. A bit.

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

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