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

[farr]

[ 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. )

Comments

[firstroar]

[he smiles.]

My apologies; it...went without saying, didn't it.

[construing]

〈 eyes narrowing… 〉

Are you making fun of me?

[construing]

Try this one. 〈 gwen slides it over. 〉 It's cream-filled.

〈 priorities. 〉

[blackfire]

（ he automatically shifts to accommodate mccoy at his side, transmits a brief text summary of what's been said so far via the earpiece, and then — ）

I do not think he is arguing with any one individual in particular so much as expressing his opinion on what occurred in prior worlds. Loudly.

（ he is also being a flagrant hypocrite, given the change of his own regret, but that is a privately held opinion. he had been growing fond of newt over time, despite himself, and now he is only disdainful of the man's choice to use the orbs as a proxy by which to play god — wary of what other ill-advised choices he may make in the pursuit of his own goals. ）

[blackfire]

I do not see the purpose in such a thing.

（ what a dirtbag. ）

[construing]

〈 gwen turns away, but not without raising her hand at him, middle finger up. 〉

Give a ninja an inch, he takes a fucking mile…

Action

[cruelyethuman]

[Entering with seconds to spare before the meeting starts, the Darkling finds a place to the back of the room, leaning against the white walls of the ... mess hall. A cup of black coffee is cooling on the table next to his elbow as he writes notes in a small, leather book.

This is... something.

A meeting. With no discernible leadership, and with too many people just waiting for a chance to hear their own voice join in on the conversation.

They are all strangers to each other, and his gaze slips to the few faces in this crowd that he knows, faces that might actually make even the Black Heretic feel a sting of something, should a mission go sideways.

Trying to follow the flow of power, to find the voices that stills the chatter. The ones that are listened to, he sips his coffee quietly.]

[blackfire]

Mm.

（ it's a soft, noncommittal noise. it follows his estimation of finn's observational skills that he is aware of itachi's own recalcitrance to discuss such matters. truthfully, there are a variety of reasons he does not wish to do so. when he speaks, it is at a normal conversational tone — low voices and inflection are what draw attention in a crowd. ）

I believe that Rita has admirable intentions. （ that is said steadily, and his eyes are on her across the room, watching her flit between people with that elegant energy of hers. ） However, some individuals have made it clear that they have no intention of complying with what others wish to do or believe is best, and expecting that compliance is dangerous. Minimus Ambus wishes to have everyone sign a document of agreed upon conduct on the worlds we visit, for instance.

（ but they are not a united front. they are not a military complex. there is no such thing as a brig aboard the station to ensure punishment enforces compliance, and asking viveca to construct them one is something he would inherently mislike. ）

[cruelyethuman]

[Sipping a cup of lukewarm coffee, the Darkling moves from his own spot at the back wall to stand next to Finn, the leather notebook tucked away in his pocket for the time being.

No words, because the room is already filled with them. With maybe's and what-if's, uncertainty and fear in some. Stubbornness and sullen sarcastic replies from others. They are all so very different, their own goals kept secret and hidden - but they should all know by now, that they are all gathered here

Not to save the world.

Not to bring salvation to the masses of suffering civilians in faraway worlds.

They are here to, selfishly, change time and undo a regret that haunts them enough to bring them all this low.

But he bites his tongue, shoulder brushing Finn's with every slow sip and every huffed breath, finding a measure of familiarity (and solace) in this shared silence.]

[blackfire]

（ he reaches out, curls his fingers briefly against her arm and then drops his hand away. it is perhaps the first time he has willingly reached out to touch her in the presence of a great many others, playfully meant.

he doesn't try to make her stay, far be it from him to stand between a woman and her coffee, just that little acknowledgement. ）

Your American measurements.

（ what a terrible place. might as well measure distance in washing machines stacked end to end. ）

[choicely]

[ Yennefer, perhaps predictably, arrives significantly later to the meeting — there was a point when she might not have come at all, and considered otherwise right up until she decided to at least venture in for a short duration.

There's a cup of something steaming in her hands that she's made significant no move to drink, but she steps to stand against the wall, joining a familiar figure cloaked in dark colors who seems predetermined to observe rather than engage directly with the various conversations playing out in front of them. ]

What I can garner so far is some people mostly just enjoy hearing themselves talk. [ She says it only as loud enough for his ears to catch; she's distinctly shied away from relying on the network these past few hours, the least of which because certain parties in this meeting are using it to broadcast their little speeches. ]

[construing]

〈 adopting an exaggerated haughtiness, gwen sniffs. 〉 We are ridiculous, and don't you forget it.

〈 —and off she goes to mainline black gold though she's already fully awake and internally crying because itachi was being cute (if a giant dick) 🤧 〉

[coordination]

[ Yzak Jule will always find a way to yell about something.

He peers down at his own cup of coffee, raising an eyebrow. ]

Tastes just fine to me. You put too much milk and sugar in it and it's hardly coffee anymore. [ He shrugs a shoulder. ] But I guess it's the more common practice to do that nowadays, even where I'm from.

[ He looks over the offered donuts, and for a moment he doesn't look like he's going to take one, but he eventually opts for one with a white chocolate glaze, specifically. ]

Why are you so quiet, anyway?

[malta]

You can't, by the way.

[ joe's voice is soft, expression warm, he looks like he gives good hugs and that is his entire personality, a comforting presence all around. which is to say, his words don't come with recrimination or a lack of consideration, he sounds careful and sympathetic. ]

You asked, how we know when intervening is the right thing to do and when it isn't? You can't know. Sometimes what seems like the right choice, in retrospect, wasn't. But you can't know in the moment, you can only do what you think is right with the knowledge that you have.

[ unfortunate, really, because right isn't as objective has one might think and peoples moralities are based on their own lived experience that other people have not lived. joe knows that first hand, not even because of the crusades and watching nicky grow from misguided invader to the man he is now, but a whole host of times in their lives when what seemed like the best course of action did irreparable harm. ]

[kovach]

[ from somewhere in the room, kovacs scoffs a short laugh, blowing out a small wisp of smoke before lowering his cigarette. ]

No collective blame, huh? Then, hey, don't be shy, Doc. [ his tone is casual, almost amused. ] Since you're so insistent that we should act on a system of pointing fingers, why don't you go on telling the class who you think our problem starters are?

[coordination]

When did you decide to become a comedian!?

[ Or gee Yzak maybe it's more that it's so easy to clown on you even withery sad psychics can do it.

(truly he wins a little, too, in the end, because he gets to see blue smile) ]

[firstroar]

It's not bad to try new things now and then, I suppose. [though 'gently busting Yzak's balls' isn't that new, is it. maybe it's newer in a public forum where he should be paying more attention to the topic at-hand...

he clears his throat and tries to do that.]

[legalcy]

[Minimus resumes sitting and types away furiously, copying McCoy's every word. It's best that he quotes the order directly rather than paraphrase it; they mustn't overlook a loophole created with approximate wording.]

We have something similar regarding the sharing of technologies. By "strength", do you mean armed forces? What is the different between lending strength to repel hostile alien forces and lending our aid for their personal matters? Would that have meant refusing to ally ourselves with the Fables?

[legalcy]

I seem to be? [After that spat with Rita? Well, he apparently can recover his composure quickly if Peter can say that.] It's been months since I could use my skills. If I am no charismatic leader, then I can support the group by laying down the groundwork for our plans.

[deaddrop]

[He wouldn't be; it's part of why Red Room selects who they do as spies in the first place, for better or worse.

Natasha gives a slight, reflexive smile, shuffling her bagel to her right hand.]

I didn't mean to pry. Especially before everyone's had a chance to have their first cup.

[Which might be half apology for drawing attention or half accepting the thanks. Either way, a sign she won't push for more elaboration if he doesn't care to give it.]

There seems to be a possibly excessive amount of carbs available, if you haven't had breakfast yet.

[coordination]

[ Don't quit your DAY JOB (that you don't even have) BLUE.

He lets out a harmless little hmph, and following Blue, he too returns his attention to the others. ]

I guess if even the smallest bit of consideration is put into things by some of the team moving forward, this will have been considered a success. But beyond that...

[homeostatic]

( McCoy turns to Kovacs, mildly surprised to see him there. )

Y'see, there's a difference between disliking collective blame and advocating for public excoriation. I'm not sure how you made that leap from one to the other, but I'd prefer you not put words in my mouth, please.

( Turning back to the larger group, he continues, )

If folks want to call for team-building, then learning why some go rogue in the field is worthwhile. If it's a matter of inexperience, a crisis of some kind, they can be supported. If it's a lack of trust in others', then that can be helped as well. The point is in addressing and meeting individual needs to make for better group cohesion out there on missions, so no one has to feel alone.

[hatejakku]

[ Finn's still not sure how he's supposed to be handling comfort. All of this is new ground for him. But he does know that he's not about to shrug McCoy off. If anything, Finn leans in just a little. ]

That sounds like us. It's the details that usually catch people, I think.

[firstroar]

That...this gathering is happening at all...is consideration in of itself, isn't it? [but likely not enough for Yzak.

he tilts his head again to look for him.] What is it...you would want to change? That...we can even control.

[spacedisaster]

No need to apologize, I'm pretty sure this is going to take us a bit.

[ Peter says with a smile, as a greeting, although he definitely looks sleepy. It is not as if coming here was mandatory, either. He looks at Drift, then at the caligraphy, tilting his head to the side in thought. He tries to figure out what's difficult about it and then has a 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2P5qbcRAXVk' moment. ]

Oh! Is the inclination of the letters? Cursive can be hard to read even for humans sometimes. Rita has a lovely way of writing but it's very stylized.