@all (from @r.asuka)

[luciformis]

[ On the morning of the 15th, there is a network-wide ping issued approximately twenty-three minutes after the roster is released to the public. ]

Hello.

As I'm certain you all are aware, a roster has been sent to each of our devices. Given that this is yet another item on a growing list to be examined by us all, I believe it's important for each of us to come together to discuss any possible concerns or ideas that may require teamwork.

@PALPATINE and I earlier discussed the possibility of a non-compulsory meeting to sort through these issues. We agreed it would be in our best interests.

If you're inclined, please come to the Mess Hall at 19:00 in three day's time.

[ ooc: so! this will be broken down into sub-headings as discussed on the ooc plot post and utilized as a kind of "catch-all." if you think anything needs to be added at any time, please feel free to contact me through pm, at rasasvada, or on disco at morning star#3715. or, you know, add it yourself! i don't mind.

noticeably, this is self-directed! if you character wants to speak or make a point to everyone, feel free to do so. no one is policing how this goes or making introductory comments or whatever else. open floor, y'all. ]

Comments

[wingstosee]

Yeah, exactly. [ she's not fully in agreement with hinata, but- he's making sense enough. ] I think the moment we put one person at the top... I don't know. It's kind of asking for people to mutiny, you know?

[ venus, not everyone has a kneejerk reaction to authority on account of turning into satan three weeks ago ]

[iustitia]

Not necessarily? There are good leaders! Strange and very rare, I know! But it does happen.

[excuse you??? karkat was a pretty fine leader all things considered??? he had his issues but he did genuinely care about all of them.]

Anyway, for someone who doesn't trust the people we'd be putting into these hypothetical positions of authority that I in no way support, you certainly are putting a lot of faith into your fellow crew to just do the right thing themselves without direction. If we can't trust one person to lead us, who's to say that as a group we aren't so collectively shitty that we won't run ourselves straight into the ground?

[She shrugs, heading off the point that's sure to get brought up.] Yes, yes, with a diverse body of opinions, that's less likely to happen than with one dominant voice, but you see what I'm getting at, right?

And sure, we'd have experts to advise us, but those experts, with their knowledge, experience, and expertise, persuading people towards their positions -- who's to say that they won't be leaders in everything but name and official authority? Is that something that's also disagreeable?

[hopefragment]

...?

[No, he doesn't agree with the mutiny angle at all. Not quite as much of an anarchist as some of the other teens on this boat. Station. Thing.

But he's quiet, thinking over what Terezi says and bringing a hand to his lips in careful contemplation.]

I don't think so? If someone's the top in their field, it makes sense that they'd be leaders. I just think it's a bad idea to pick whoever wants to be in charge the most at this point.

[wingstosee]

What? I mean, isn't that also kind of awful?

[ wow, that came across - really bluntly. venus flushes, trying to explain herself. ]

I mean, think about it. What if the smartest person on the station is... I mean, kind of an asshole? [ DEFINITELY NOT THINKING OF SOMEONE IN PARTICULAR HERE. ] Is it best to just listen to whatever they say, even if they want to hurt us?

[hopefragment]

What? No, that's not it.

[He holds up both hands defensively.]

I'm not talking about intelligence, I'm talking about talent and skill. Obviously I'm not going to go along with somebody who wants to hurt us.

(shh)

[bu773rfly]

[boi what]

[iustitia]

Okay, I think that's beyond my scope for the moment. I can't really comment on the importance of intelligence versus talent versus skill right now!

But just because someone is an asshole doesn't mean that they don't have something valuable to say. It sucks, but it's unfortunately true! A lot of us here don't know much about the station or have the kind of skills that would be useful here. Shouldn't we listen to those who know more than us so we can make an informed decision? There's a big difference between being an unsufferable douche and actively wanting to harm people.

[sorry venus, she doesn't have The Context your concern. >:[ ]

[wingstosee]

Talented people can be assholes too! Like, at least half of the time!

[ but she lets terezi fill in her piece instead, and... as much as she hates to admit it, she's kind of got a point. so venus frowns, and begrudgingly nods. ]

Yeah. Yeah, I guess... you've sort of got a point? [ a wan smile comes back. ] But listening to someone doesn't mean putting them in command. It just means, you know. Listening.

[hopefragment]

[Talented people definitely can be assholes, Hajime definitely has firsthand knowledge of that. His hand goes to the neck of his jumpsuit, as if clutching an imaginary tie before realizing that hey, this is stupid. Jumpsuits don't have ties.]

Y-Yeah... I agree with that, [he says finally.] I think for now we all have to reach a consensus together. No matter what. Otherwise it'll just lead to more conflict.

[iustitia]

I concur, too! More than anything, I think it's really important that we listen to each other.

Anyway! I'm done. That's really all I have to say right now. I could go on longer, but neither you nor I want me to get stuck being contrary for the sake of being contrary for the next fifteen minutes. I just wanted to play -- what's the human term? Devil's advocate? Because while working together and reaching a consensus is the ideal situation here, it's something that takes a lot of effort!

I want this to work out. I don't want to have to deal with one stupid person's nonsense because they've got this idea in their head that they know best! But getting people to agree on even one thing can be a dumb and complicated thing, and that's something we need to be aware of.

[exit stage left, pursued by bear]

[wingstosee]

Oh. Um. Okay? [ and then, because she's venus and a big dumb dork at heart, she gives a dorky sort of laugh. ] Haha. Devil's advocate against the devil.

[ she watches terezi and the bear retreat back into the crowd, turning back to hinata. ]

Huh. Did we have anything else we were arguing about? I sort of don't remember.

[hopefragment]

Ah--

[And she's off. Hm. At least they were all in agreement, kind of? In their own way.

He just laughs a little helplessly, because wow, Terezi sure is great at debates. Even ending them, immediately, she's really good. Maybe he could learn something from her?]

No... I don't think so. We should probably listen to what everyone else has to say, too.

[wingstosee]

Sounds good to me.

[ and then she goes back to watching, because she's already pestering hinata about her wings in another thread and we REALLY DON'T NEED TWO SIMULTANEOUS AWKWARD THREADS ABOUT THAT??? WHOOPS ]