✨ 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

[shadysided]

People probably make leaps because you always sound like you're on the verge of reprimanding anyone who doesn't respond to situations like a particular fancy-smancy space doctor does.

[Ziggy calls out unhelpfully from the back, eating a donut. As you do.

She holds up her hands in immediate surrender.]

Just saying! Maybe you've both got some 'individual needs' to address like the rest of us.

[... She hobbles over, takes Kovacs' cigarette from his fingers while he's got his guard down, and proceeds to put it out on the side of her leg splint.]

[kovach]

[ he's actually getting ready to bring that cigarette back to his lips when ziggy suddenly swipes it away, prompting a deep squint of his brows and a slightly held out hand in a "what the hell" gesture, though he doesn't vocalize any actual argument.

instead, he licks his lips, now empty of their bad habit as he leans back in his seat, foot over his knee, turning back to mccoy. ]

Like the kid said — you're claiming you don't want to call anyone out, but you were pretty damn quick to make sure any mistakes were the fault of the "impatient" and "inexperienced". You want people to take individual responsibility, but doesn't really help when you go out of your way to suggest the ol' experienced, understanding doctor isn't just as capable of fucking up like the rest of us.

[ some, not "we". ]

[hatejakku]

[ A tired, sighing voice from the back: ]

As one of those who keeps screwing up on missions, that's not what he's saying and we're getting off-topic. We need to support each other, not offer more resentment.

[ Like what's... happening right now... ]

[homeostatic]

We should have been there for you all in Taeum.

( He finally sounds a bit heated, glancing back at Finn. )

[hatejakku]

[ Ugh. Taeum. Finn shrugs one shoulder. ]

You were. As much as anyone could be.

[ People called him every day, Itachi especially. That's "being there" Finn thinks. What he's not going to mention is how he and the others weren't there for the rest of the group because of what they did... ]

[kovach]

Really? [ man, he really needs that cigarette back. ] Cause as far as I can tell, disagreeing on something isn't off-topic. Personally, I don't think he's sounding too supportive either, but if pointing that out makes me out to be that one asshole of the group who's ruining everyone's breakfast while we're all smiling and pretending we weren't ripping at each other's throats a few weeks ago, then — sure, why not? Wouldn't be the first time.

[hatejakku]

[ Blurgh, and Finn just wants to go back to bed. He slumps a little on the wall. ]

Disagreeing's good. Talking's good. That's why all this- [ He waves his hand around. You know. All this. ] But arguing and accusing and-... [ Sorry, waving his hand again.

But he's put himself in this conversation now so- ] He says we shouldn't place blame on the group as a whole when things go wrong. You feel like that means he wants to place blame on those who did make things go wrong. He says we should try to help those that go rogue, then you say he's unwilling to blame himself for anything...

And I feel like both of you are right and wrong. We're a collective that's supposed to work together, so failing that is a failure on all of our parts. At the same time, no one made me out myself in Braccia, go blind, and all but stop helping the group. That was all on me, and I'm neither impatient nor inexperienced. Just because we're supposed to work together doesn't mean that we will or that all of us even want to. And we're all adults, no one's the leader here - unless you count Degar or Viveca, maybe - so even if the illusion of blame were placed on someone in the form of offering support, all it's going to do is make for a stronger divide than what's already between everyone.

So... I guess what I'm saying is-... [ Shit, he's just realized this is the most he's talked in like a week. The hand waving's back for a hot second. ] We're here because we were ripping at each other's throats a few weeks ago and we need to be better than that if we're all going to keep living in this tin can together. If you think he's being unfair and self-centered, putting himself on a pedestal or something, then just say it instead of... y'know... ripping another throat out.

[ If he were feeling like himself, he'd be pulling Newton aside to ask where those "Get Along" shirts ran off to. Instead, he's just going to make himself a little smaller and take super long sips of his coffee, not making any eye-contact. ]

[eschewings]

[ as mccoy's attention switches to ziggy, huaisang — somehow managing to blend into the crowd of people, not least because he's hiding behind his fan the entire time — scoots forward until he's right next to kovacs.

then, he whispers, in a voice ostensibly only for kovacs but just loud enough it might be picked up by anyone listening through the network, ]

Ah, I must say I'm a little confused... isn't he one of those who argued for staying behind and all that, just a few weeks ago? The thing that actually led to more harm than good? So I guess my confusion is... if he's saying only some are to blame, isn't he blaming himself?

[ huaisang scratches his cheek. ] This is why I hate cultivation conferences... no one ever says what they actually mean.

[homeostatic]

( As he's been pretty even-keeled and calm the whole time, versus his bristling in the field, he shoots her a mild, questioning look. )

I'd prefer to remain on-topic, versus derailing the discussion to police my tone, Ziggy. ( Though he adds, pleasantly, ) I'd be happy to talk more with you about it after the meeting.

[shadysided]

[On-topic he says!!! She snorts.]

Aaaand there's my point, with big flashing neon lights.

[She hobbles off to get more snacks.]

I'd rather you just ignore my opinions, so I can avoid being lectured in private.