oo2 / console video;

[insertdadjoke]

Hello, my name is Jacob Kane. [ It looks like Cain is in a kedanese shop somewhere. He waves for the camera, makes sure not to jostle the cup he has by his elbow. ] What I'm going to say is specifically meant for the foreigner population of Keeliai, but in the interest of transparency I'm bringing this up on the public network. There's no point in the suggestion at all if we do anything in secret. That said...

We need some sort of system. No, I'm not talking about government or laws or enforcement thereof, but any type of accountability we can agree to. With the current state of things, it's just not feasible for us to keep acting as individuals — whether or not we have anything aside from our status as non-natives in common, we are a group all on our own and I honestly believe we'd all benefit from having something put into place that would keep us from imploding and possibly taking innocents with us in the crossfire.

Now, at this point, all I really ask is that we discuss it. Ideas, suggestions, thoughts and feelings on the matter. Just to collate how we feel as a whole before maybe organizing a meeting in person to go over finer details. Even if you haven't been here long, or don't believe in the idea of a system, I would like to hear why so we can try to address any issues.

If nothing else, we'll all learn something from the exercise, right?

Comments

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[wolfstrike]

So if you're not suggesting some type of government or something, what are you suggesting?

I mean, my guild could be considered something like that, but then not everyone wants to join.

I think we all kinda need to get along before everyone gets on board with something. And if we're not all on board, there's not really any point.

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[insertdadjoke]

There is a point. Agreeing to hold each other responsible for our actions isn't the same as creating laws or starting a government. No one would be forced to be a part of anything, but the more people agree, the easier it will be to answer for any incidents or come together in times of difficulty. Like a guild without a mission statement. Or a registration, as the case may be.

Re: video;

[wolfstrike]

Well that's good and everything. But what do you plan to do if someone decides they don't like something and goes against it?

Like that guy who set fire to central not too long ago?

[Not naming names. Cough.]

His friends were willing to cover the damages, and he got some help, but he wasn't really held accountable.

[Yuri is all about justice at the very least.]

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[solo_patria]

I will say, monsieur, that greater men have tried, and failed at it before. However, if those here now are willing to attempt another try at it? I would be willing to join discussion of that matter.

[Enjolras nods slowly, glancing him over once.]

It seems worth another attempt, though, yes. I know of some I would suggest as representatives.

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[insertdadjoke]

[ That brings a light smile to his face. Perhaps greater men have, but Cain would like to meet them. Not that he's told anyone and not that it even matters in a pocket dimension so far away from his own home and history but he does sometimes wonder if even invoking his original name would do anything here. ]

That would be a good place to start; I wouldn't think anyone wants a single representative when we're all as likely to disappear any second as our neighbor is. By all means, share their names.

Re: video:

[solo_patria]

[The problem there being, of course, that of those Enjolras mentions, many are now gone. He thinks of the days before the war came through, when organizing seemed to be much easier, and well, he does not envy this new man the task before him. It is too bad that it comes again now too, when so many who would have been suited to weigh in on things like this, King Richard, Daahd, Hawke, Temeraire, certainly, at least one of Les Amis, when they were here with him, and, perhaps, even Inspector Javert, given his familiarity with the way that things were in the Empire, and considering he would not be alone. Still, there are people here who Enjolras thinks he'd trust the same, and he has to smile at the thought of that.]

There is Monsuier Shudder, who runs the Midnight Hotel, a place of safety and diplomacy, for one, a newer arrival, Klaus, who seems to understand a good deal of how to govern and work among people. Midii Une, who is young but a good deal older than her years and who has been here through the thick of our war...

I'd like to be a part of this as well, should it come to anything fruitful. I...have the experience working with people.

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[skeletonenigma]

[He's actually talked about this kind of thing with Midii before - a way to keep track of the Foreigners, to know when someone arrived or disappeared without having to rely on public announcements. Not the sort of accountability Cain means, but a step in the right direction.]

It would help if we had a central place we knew every Foreigner would pass through eventually. As it is, I wouldn't be surprised if some of us haven't even met each other. Are you suggesting the group taking responsibility for the individual, or a single individual taking responsibility for the group?

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[insertdadjoke]

The former. The latter would be unfeasible and entirely up to fate considering we never know if one person will be here longer than the next. It would also prevent an overbalance of power as long as majority did their jobs.

As for keeping track of everyone, the Welcome Center isn't terrible for that but I do wonder if there would be a way to set up some kind of... [ there's a hesitation here, thoughtful and not sure, but considering ] ... magical tripwire? To go off when someone arrives or departs within the field of the spell.

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[skeletonenigma]

[Good answer. Not that Skulduggery was expecting anything different; even if it wasn't obvious Cain knows what he's talking about, people don't live forever without picking up a few skills along the way.]

If we had a way of doing that, yes. [There's a short hum of thought.] When the Emperor was still alive, she brought Foreigners through personally. She must have been able to control the magic somehow. Maybe Asti would be able to help.

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[purered]

I am in full support of such a system.

However, the sole unifying factor of all present is that we are outsiders. We will need to agree on common goals and general standards.

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[insertdadjoke]

Survival is one goal I think most can agree on, and I'd say we'll be hard-pressed to find another so commonly accepted. If one factor can link to another and one person can agree with someone else in the chain, that should be a good starting point. Not the most elegant or conclusive, but given the circumstances I'll take whatever the strongest combined factor we can manage comes to.

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[purered]

Broad, but certainly not a bad starting point. We should at least be able to reach a consensus on a basic code of conduct.

[gistful]

I believe this may be something the kedan have been expecting of we Foreigners for ... quite a while. Accountability between us as a group, like a family unit.

[There were quite a few who came up to 'talk' to Anton about his 'parenting', after the disaster at Zeshora. And on previous occasions he was met with approval in terms of fixing the damage Foreigners caused--but the sort of approval where his taking responsibility for the damage on behalf of his friends or himself was only to be expected. Appreciated, but expected.]

[insertdadjoke]

That was something I was thinking about, too. If we do end up forming any sort of group, we may as well go about calling it a family if only to make it easier for the kedan to relate. That's another pro to the idea.

[gistful]

Their perception isn't unlike the Irish clans, in many ways. The family units take precedence over most other things. The fact that we ourselves don't treat each other in the same way confuses them and contributes to misunderstandings.

[And resentment.]

Video

[sadisticmoose]

It makes sense.

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[insertdadjoke]

And do you agree with it?

Video

[redlightgreenlight]

I agree that we need to work together as opposed to haphazardly, as a unit instead of individuals, but I'm afraid I don't understand. If by 'system' you don't mean government or laws, then what do you mean?

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[insertdadjoke]

Systems can be a lot of things. I think that in this case we would be better served by a self-regulated institute; not necessarily under threat of punishment or fines, but if someone were to act against the better interest of the "family," then they would no longer benefit from protection or aid of the institute. No one would be meting out justice, just simply watching out for our own and working together based on an agreed upon goal or moral.

Basically: a club. One with higher stakes than a regular one, but an elective nonetheless that has more benefits to anyone who is actually interested in participating.

[seismometrics]

Personally? It doesn't seem like there's a point. The kedan have their own ways of doing things, more or less, and they don't exactly like outside people messing around with that. But if you're talking about the people who got pulled here . . . you're never going to get everyone to agree on everything.

You'd also have to have some of us enforce the rules everyone else thought up, too, which means some people have control over everybody else.

I'm all for working things out together, sure. But giving people power so they can lord it over everybody else? Nuh-uh.

Who cares what the kedan think of us anyway? Not like they're being awesome at helping out between each other either.

[Well, he asked what she thought . . . Apparently we can count one vote for "not a fan." Toph has never liked the idea being under someone else's law, and that's not something that will change now.]

[insertdadjoke]

I'm not suggesting we do anything with the kedan or their ways. Just us. We don't have to agree on everything either, only that we have the same goal in mind and it would be in everyone's interest to cooperate every now and then and listen the viewpoints of others before acting.

This isn't about power. Not exactly the easiest distinction, but accountability just means having people pay attention and helping make sure everyone is on the same page despite whatever differences we all have here. As we all know, there's a lot of those. Recent circumstances made it way more apparent than it needed to be.

[ He appreciates it. Even if she sounds young, that doesn't mean anything, possibly means even more than just hearing from all the jaded adults. ]

Video

[deadclumsy]

[Tonks has opted for a more neutral hair color today: a rich brown, just for a change of pace. It'll be back to its usual violent purple tomorrow, no doubt.]

Can I ask what brought this on? Surely you weren't just looking at curios in a shop and thinking to yourself, "You know what this place needs? More accountability."

Unless you were planning to shoplift.

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[insertdadjoke]

The fact that Keeliai is currently being occupied by a slightly-less-foreign than we are power, and not all of the foreigners are happy about it. Better to seem the united front instead of just assumed as one.

[highprofilerichkid]

So, what, like... A council?

[It's not a bad idea, but Tony looks skeptical.]

The foreigners have been here for a long time, and we've never been very organized. The kind of people the spell seems to pull aren't usually people who... organize well.

[Lots of lone wolves and loose cannons. Getting the foreigners to act as a unit is a quintessential example of "herding cats."]

[insertdadjoke]

Yes, like a council. Or like a family.

While that may be true, I would still like there to be the option for those who do or would like to and don't know how.