[OPEN] DEFENSE MEETING

[uncalled_for]

Date & Time: Five days after the completion of the bombing event. Starting early morning.
Location: Whatever area is decently clear of debris.
Characters: Anyone, whether it was previously arranged with Fiona, someone else did the convincing, or they just happen to be around the cleared area at the right time.
Summary: First “Defense” Group Meeting. Some chatting, some sparring, a little showing off, and everything in between.
Warnings: Violence and swearing, I guarantee it.


[When most have gathered Fiona will find some small piles of debris to climb on so she can at least be eye level with everyone else. It’s not the biggest of groups but it will hardly do if no one can see whoever is speaking. She’ll tap her staff to get some attention.]

Thank you all for coming and taking an interest. I’m Fiona, the one who spoke on the network before. Sorry there was a delay but I appreciate everyone coming nonetheless. [Detecting a little anger here…]

If what’s happened this past week has proved anything, it’s proved we need to work together and defend ourselves and each other. Those bastards aren’t going to help us no matter what lies they feed us. They can’t defend us, they have proven that again and again. They say they’re glad we survived, but how many of us didn’t make it through this last endeavor? We’re dealing with complete fools and we have only ourselves to rely on. So we need to find a way to help each other. You don’t have to agree with all of my opinions, but at least stay long enough to try and see if this will work.

[She’ll take a deep breath] This is only our first meeting, none of us really know each other or what each other is capable of. If we actually intend to defend each other then that is the first thing we need to fix. Use this meeting time to get to know the person next to you and what they’re capable of. And if you can fight then show everyone else what you’ve got. [She’ll hold up her hand and produce a tiny ball of fire, whirl it around a moment and wink it out as quickly as she made it.] Lets not be caught off-guard by those bastards again.

[And then she'll start hopping off the debris. Ah, wait. Almost forgot something.] Thank you.


[OOC: Behold the tiny organization abilities. All right so, here’s how I’m thinking this can roll. We’ve got a little fighting and a little chatting for threads. If conversation leads to battle you are welcome to keep it to the talking thread, just maybe tack it into the subject line “Chat -> Fighting” or hop to the Battle thread! Feel free to jump in as you please, opened, closed, whatever. This is a fantastic chance for CR, spoil it rotten! And thanks for being patient with me despite the OOC delays. :)

Edit: Okay so. People are on hiatus and stuff and that's okay. If your character would happen to be here, but you just can't toss them in, try putting down a placeholder reply or something. I am gonna be doing a headcount from the tags list when this wraps up so leader picking later on is easier to handle. :)]

Comments

[uncalled_for]

[She'll tap her chin with a smile.]

It's a good idea. Give those new a direction before they find too many others. A week after the month begins then, if this pattern of new people coming in holds up. You'll help spread the word, won't you?

[bratworth]

I meant... monetary. Or some other sort of tangible benefit. [ The corner of his mouth twists, as if he himself is displeased with the necessity of his suggestion. ]

[bratworth]

[ Well, then. There's no need for any further discussion of that particularly embarrassing matter. Edgeworth gives a curt nod in acknowledgement of Barnaby's explanation, then changes the topic. ]

Right. So. [ He jerks his head back towards the small group of amassed people. ] What do you think of all this?

[bratworth]

[ Well. Indeed. Edgeworth will just take that as a blessing. ] What are you making of all this thus far?

[bratworth]

Indeed. I think so long as some of continue to work towards these goals or ones similar, the results will be positive.

[bratworth]

At the most basic level, communication between all parties involved, which I believe was on the original goals of this meeting. If we keep each other well-informed of occurrences happening in our own immediate surroundings, it will be easier to deal with problems should they so arise.

[danno_williams]

Well, this should be if not entertaining, at least informative. He'll give this chick credit. At least it's gotten to the meet in person and maybe we'll organize stage. Which is a vast improvement over what others have managed to pull off. It'll probably fail though.

And Jesus, being here has just enforced his native New Jersey sarcasm and cynicism to un-reached levels hasn't it? He wants to go home. Home to his godforsaken tropical island and his daughter.

So he leans back against a wall, watching the people mill and talk and fight. For now, he's just going to get a read on the situation. Maybe he'll be able to fold some of this talk about defense into a law enforcement group.

Well, a guy can dream.

[strategic_guile]

It looks promising, at least. More than what the Initiative is doing, as far as I can tell.

[ofthegrey]

It sounds as though you have skills and knowledge that would be invaluable to a movement like Fiona wants to get off the ground. Do you think you're interested?

[It's strange to him, having gone from trying to build support for an unpopular group in Ferelden to much the same in this place without ever having to think twice. There's enough of the man he used to be left within him to scoff quietly at the irony.]

Re: open

[ofthegrey]

[The guitar catches his attention a beat ahead of the man it's strapped to. It looks enough like a lute that he can tell it's a musical instrument. Where he comes from, musicians can be both interesting and dangerous sorts. He decides it might be worth finding out which this one could be, if not both.]

That's the first instrument I've seen since my arrival, although I've never seen one quite like it. Have you played long?

[ofthegrey]

Indeed. I just worry that a desire to get results could prompt premature action. Bad action or striking the wrong targets would be worse than inaction.

You've come in contact with one of the United Earth representatives. I observed that transmission. I'm not sure I fully understood the significance of the finding. Could you elaborate on it? What is it about a supposed "artificial intelligence" that has others in such a state? [It's an extremely alien concept to him.]

[ofthegrey]

Aren't they just? Believe it or not there was a time in my life I avoided it as much as I could.

[He tugs her up and releases her.]

I haven't had a good fight in a long time, either.

[It was hard to enjoy it to the same degree when something was literally trying to take one's head off.]

We should remedy that. Whip those recruits of yours into shape.

[He's joking mostly. He has no idea what sort of training the others have. For all he knows they could teach him a thing or three, something he's not opposed to.]

[ofthegrey]

[It doesn't take Duncan long to work out who he is. Elissa has told him some of how he was recruited and why. There's just enough of his father in his face to catch the resemblance.

He approaches with a relaxed gait and swivels to take a seat beside him within polite conversing distance.]

I've heard of you. I figured if I waited for a formal introduction, I might be waiting a long time. The Lady Cousland stays busy. I'm Duncan. Elissa was my recruit.

[He holds off mentioning that he knew his father to a degree. It has the potential to be a sore topic on several levels. Better to let the younger Howe dictate how that will go.]

[ofthegrey]

It's relevant. We need as accurate a picture of this situation as we can have. [He wonders how this fits with what was revealed on the network a few days prior.]

I just realized I never asked your name.

[ofthegrey]

Indeed, although I must say I'd feel better if we found a way to do it that doesn't involve these devices. The potential for our captors to monitor us is too great a risk to use them for anything of real import.

[ladyspitfire]

I am quite sorry to hear that. I find them fascinating when I needn't be involved.

[ladyspitfire]

[She looks out at the group.]

I believe it is a start. We are nowhere near well equipped to face the enemy as it stands, nor are we prepared to face two. The people here are untempered.

We will need to work quickly to attain any semblance of order.

[ladyspitfire]

And yet you do so well being the diplomat.

[Her father had welcomed him warmly and Duncan had been more than a gentleman. He understood the games the nobility played, probably because he needed to.]

I wouldn't call them my recruits any longer. Nate and Anders are five years older than I in experience and though the others defer to me because of rank, I know I am far behind them in practice. But I won't be for long.

[The VR program taught her not to be complacent.]

[onemoredeath]

I know. [ He shrugs. It wasn't like Takegami hadn't been keeping any of his knowledge secret. unfortunately, most people just do not buy it. ] I had gotten bored of mentioning it and being told that it is irrelevant considering that we were kidnapped.

You did not. [ a thin smile and a slight bow. ] Teijirou Takegami as they say in the West. Call me Takegami.

[ofthegrey]

Not bad for a street rat from Orlais.

[If any of his former associations could see him now, they'd hardly believe it. Since running into Fiona, he has thought of it from time to time. If people could be brought from their past, anyone could appear. Genevieve. Guy. There was a less than pleasant thought. He twisted away from it with the same dexterity as he wielded his blades.]

I'll be glad to help with that. I need something to keep me in practice.

[ofthegrey]

Always glad to alleviate boredom where I can. [A little wry.]

[He does much the same, the gesture a little stiff from the breastplate.]

In the West? Takegami it is, then.

[ladyspitfire]

Not bad at all, actually.

[That night in Highever, though years ago, is still a fresh thought in her mind. Despite how he'd been afraid of being unable to get her out alive, he certainly was strong and fast enough to put her skills to shame with ease. Whatever he claimed to see in her, it had paled in comparison to what he could do.]

So long as we avoid that wretched 'VR' contraption, I'd be glad to work with you.

[ofthegrey]

I'm happy to avoid anything that has earned the moniker of "wretched contraption". So far I believe I've missed out on whatever that is.

[He gestures for them to walk over to the side in case anyone else is feeling the need to work out a little tension or test themselves.]

[uncalled_for]

And so you would suggest?

[ladyspitfire]

[She follows him off to the side, rolling one of her wrists to stretch them.]

It was a machine that trapped us in illusions of our pasts. Everyone in them, friends and enemies alike, attacked us and we were forced to fight them. No one person had the same illusion.