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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( There will be no ignoring of any kind, just McCoy bringing over a large cup of joe, and a gentle shoulder squeeze. )

Glad to see you made it.

[ Finn almost looks surprised when McCoy walks up beside him, but he takes the coffee with what's almost close to a tiny smile. ]

Thanks... You, too.

[ There's a lot he can think about right, and he doesn't want to think about any of it, so- ]

What do you think so far?

[Attending in person, but keeping to the quiet side, the Darkling follows the conversations as they flow, from the room and in to the network.]

And what would a handy list have done, on a world as the one we just left behind. Another way to register those who could be persecuted. What lovely information to hand over, already indexed and categorized.

My suggestion would be setting up teams, each team capable of operating independently and handle most of the situations we might find ourselves in.

Finn.

（ the clone does not sound especially surprised to see finn, but there is a very faint crease in his brow as he approaches, pressing an innocuous drink into the man's hands. he does not pose a question, but it is obvious by looking at the man that he is not his usual self, and itachi takes up space beside him, angling himself just slightly between finn and the crowd.

if finn wishes to speak, they will speak. if not, they will simply stand in companionable silence until such time as finn leaves, or the meeting concludes. ）

（ what follows is a very faint twitch of something almost a smile. does it last? no. will she notice? very likely yes. ）

I understand. （ his eyes close briefly, as if in thought. ） Perhaps I should seal one of those machines into a scroll for your use on missions.

（ 'mixed' is a net neutral way to describe it, sure. itachi's expression is inscrutable as he takes in blue's condition, and then he looks away.

blue is perhaps the only person aboard the ximilia, beyond viveca herself, that would understand exactly how little itachi wants to be present here and why. ghosts of the uchiha linger in the corners, in the spirit if not the letter of the argument. it is too familiar, uncomfortably close, and itachi is wary.

it isn't to say he disagrees with organization. it is that someone will, either now or in the future, be at odds with the rest. the words he spoke to james months ago seem prophetic now, and he finds he has lost all taste for the conflict that it will bring. ）

Yes. There is much to be said for collaboration in this manner.

Itachi.

[ Said after a pause, surprised as Finn is about being approached and given a drink. And having the other man between himself and the crowd... There may be a small smile on his lips when he takes a sip. ]

Thank you.

[ He's unaware that he's speaking to one of Itachi's clones, hasn't been reaching out with the Force all that much lately. He's also not sure what all Itachi knows about his situation but... opts to just not say anything.

At least, nothing about that. ]

So... what are your thoughts on all this? You've been quiet so far. [ Finn's mostly checked out on life these days but he still notices things from time to time. ]

Hi. This sounds like a good idea, not only for the missions but for our daily life at the station too.

The forms should be strictly voluntary, though, since not everyone might be comfortable sharing the extent of their abilities, but aside from that it a sound idea.

[ He only wants to voice his agreement with Sabriel's proposal, it's all. ]

[ Peter can't help but notice Minimus's enthusiasm about the whole thing, and it gets him smiling behind his cup of coffee. Mostly he is here to see what others think or suggest, rather than draw attention to himself. He listens to the bot's points and suggestions, watches the back and forth between Minimus and Rita, and waits until things have calmed down a bit again to slip into the seat next to Minimus'. ]

Ey...You seem to be in a good mood. [ Peter speaks in a low voice, a small smile on his face as he addresses Minimus. Considering that the last time he saw Minimus in person things were less than great for the poor Cybertronian, Peter is happy with the change. ]

[ Peter is here for various reasons: The first one is that he owes Rita a solid for saving his sorry life (and Finn's) when they were trapped under the rubble. The least he can do is show up to the meeting after she obviously put that much effort into it. The second is that he agrees with her that the team needs more cohesion. And third...well, there are free donuts.

He's brought Rita a box of homemade chocolates truffles, with a little card that simply said, 'For miss Farr' and signed with a 'P.Q.'. The card is mostly to make sure she gets the chocolates before any of the hungry gremlins of the station try to snatch them for themselves. Peter is also a hungry gremlin, so he understands the temptation.

He spends some time munching on a donut and only very occasionally voicing his agreement with some ideas. Peter is looking a bit sleepy, which is why he's appreciating people's insights but not saying much himself. If anybody wants to chat, or bring him a cup of coffee, he won't say no. ]

[ It takes Peter a little while to realize Finn is in the room too. He is sleepy, the other man has been very quiet, and socializing is not at the forefront of their minds despite being here. It's only when Finn starts to move to leave that Peter catches the movement from the corner of his eyes. As discreetly as he can, he too leaves the room, trying to catch Finn in the corridor before he goes to hide back in his room or somewhere else.

A lot of upsetting things had happened since the last mission, and recently, Peter had noticed Jim's absence alongside Jack and Percy. It's a shitty thing and he worries about how his friend is handling the loss. ]

Ey, Finn. Wait, please.

They could be less disposed if they catch on to why we're trying to help them, too. Knowledge of the orbs has varied in the places we've been. Entr'i, for example, caught on that we didn't belong there from the very start and had suspicions. But we were lucky that she wasn't a bastard in the end; someone who is, though, would be a lot harder to deal with.

Unfortunately we didn't know about the orb's location until well into the mission. [ Yzak frowns a little. ] We were originally told it was in the First Circle, so I put my focus there - tch, it sort of feels like a waste now, since it was nowhere close. Not that my position didn't come in handy in a couple of pinches, but at least the Fables were a good place to gather information. Some of the team were already well involved with them by the time we got the correct information, it might not have been easy or safe to disengage by that point. And ultimately, our connections with the Fables did prove useful toward the end.

But you are right, we shouldn't always put in that extra effort. There will be exceptions for sure, and it's a shame that this wasn't one because moving forward when we actually come across that exception, others have been soured by this. But I want to believe, too, that our staying, ultimately uncomfortable for all parties involved, was worth it.

Commendable. Not entirely useless as this is being gone about in a much less stupid way than a lot of the network communications during the last mission. [ He huffs, scowling. ] But a team of this make and size and the nature of these missions we're sent on only allow for so much 'improvement', as she put it.

Already leaving?

[ Nobody can escape Coordinator vision. ]

[ Your coffee savior is here, Peter. ]

Are you even listening? [ A remark made because of how sleepy Peter looks right now. ] Here.

[ The coffee is near black, which is how Yzak prefers it, so hope you like it that way. ]

[ Bless you and all your descendants, Yzak. ]

Ssssssort of. [ Peter admits, looking up at his friend with a sheepish smile. He is very much a night owl and not a morning person. ] Oh, thank you!

[ His eyes light up at the coffee, and he picks it up with the same glee as a kid finding a Christmas present.

There's just one thing, though.

Peter usually puts more sugar in his coffee than actual coffee. Sometimes also milk and marshmallows. He is also very much a not-a-black coffee kinda guy. But unaware of Yzak's tastes, he takes a long sip of coffee and his face immediately blanches, then he coughs, eyes wide and expression utterly betrayed. ]

Did you give me tar!? [ Peter's awake for sure now. Good job, Yzak! ] God, this takes awful.

[ He takes another sip too, because it's still free coffee. ]

( Taking a place beside Finn, his hand slides neatly across his back to his opposite shoulder, an offer of continued support. It's difficult to be out among others, much more so with the unspoken emphasis on socializing, on the potential for debate that, no matter how important in the grand scheme of things, feels as though it would pale in comparison to the loss they're sharing.

McCoy keeps his voice down, out of respect for those speaking, a brief tinge of humor in his voice, )

Well, no one's screaming yet. Mostly everyone is all on the same page, just quibbling over specifics.

Well listen up better! Not that I think anything drastic is going to come of it, but team meetings like this are important! [ Can we tell he's a commanding officer with this tone of his, can it be any more obvious.

He does look like he's about to say you're welcome, until the face Peter makes. ]

Awful? What do you mean awful? It's coffee!

How is it that even when I am not saying anything, I still get yelled at?

[ There's a reason why he came here to listen, as it was to avoid that and learn what people think. Plz do not yell, Yzak. People are trying to have important discussions. Not Peter right now, but...other people. ]

Sugar exists, man. It makes the taste of coffee bearable. This is so bitter that I feel like it's about to criticize my way of life. [ But he is still keeping the cup. Peter reaches for the nearby plate of donuts to offer them to Yzak. ] Try this.

...

[...]

...Blue.

[Blue watches the clone silently for a beat, letting the chatter in the room fill in the gaps.

eventually:] Just as much conflict could arise in this way, too... Since not everyone here...has the same level of conviction. [he looks away.]

But at the very least... I'm grateful to be able to listen. [instead of sleeping through it all.]

[he lifts his head to peer a bit of Yzak through his bangs.]

Difficult to coordinate...even for a Coodrinator.

Some– ( not 'we', the distinction is important to him, even as calmly polite as he is in pointing it out, ) –have a tendency to cause problems because they've allowed their impatience, their eagerness, inexperience, lack of trust... ego- whatever -to get the better of them.

( he's trying to be reasonable here, drawing on his own experiences as a leader back home, )

I don't believe in treating the actions of a few as a failing of the entire group. Collective blame doesn't make anyone feel better, it risks fostering resentment over the long term. If someone, or someones, wants to cowboy it up to the detriment of the whole team or the world we visit, they can stand to be counseled individually as well.

[ AWFUL. TERRIBLE. BOO THIS MAN.

He is making such a face (even though that was a good one tbh). ]

I can't believe you just said that.

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

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Action; Just a sleepy guardian

;w; Finn bb

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