video (grasshopper 2): a new council election appears!

[blue_ice]

[We have two people making a post together today: Nita Callahan and Seto Kaiba. Both look fairly serious.]

Hey, everyone, this is Nita again.

And I'm Seto Kaiba. We come to you today as council representatives. We want to apologize for the delay in dealing with the recent unpleasantness, and we’re working to ensure it doesn’t happen again. But to do that, we’re going to need help.

We’ve lost a lot of people this last week - unfortunately, that includes council members. We do know there was a decision ready before then, but moving forward we’re looking for interest from either runners-up from last time or people new here who are interested now in joining the council.

We have two open slots, and there are no age limits to apply. All we ask is that you make a case for why you want to be part of our civilian leadership. Your duties will be to attend monthly meetings, with the occasional emergency meeting, to listen to your fellow passengers’ needs and advocate for them, to resolve train conflicts, some more...serious than others, and to take criticism for unpopular decisions.

[Nita shoots Kaiba a wry look at the phrasing in the last bit there, but lets it pass and shakes it off, turning back to face the screen.]

If you’re interested in running for council, it’d be most useful to make a post talking about why you see yourself as doing best as a council member; if you want to nominate someone else, just come tell either one of us. Leave me a message in Cabin 4-B-

I’m available in cabin 3-D if that’s more convenient for you. And if you’re nominated by someone else, we’ll ask you whether you want to be on the ballot first. No one’s being drafted against their will here. With that said...good luck to all, and we’ll update you within a few days.

[Click]

((ooc: for reference, current council is Tony Stark (lead), Sarai, Bucky, Curufin, Feanor, Nerdanel, The Doctor, Eva, Nita, and Kaiba))

Comments

video

[serrata]

Excuse me – I know I've not really been here long enough to be nominating anyone, but I do have a few questions. I'm Yuuri Tenmyouji, by the way – one of the new arrivals.

[ She's got a smile as she says it and she's polite enough, but the whole thing feels kind of... weirdly professional? ]

What exactly is it the Council does for the train? What are your duties and how does it help the rest of us? That sort of thing. I've only just started to settle in, you see, so I'm trying to get the lay of the land so to speak.

Re: video

[unfavorableinstigation]

[Nita is familiar with professional, and returns the smile with one of her own.]

A pleasure to meet you, Yuuri Tenmyouji - and I'd say the best way to describe the council is emergent social management?

Since we can't contact whatever agent runs the train, people set up the council so we could at least discuss and settle any issues that emerge among passengers. Rooming situations, making best use of the space we have, coordinating for non-mission projects, that sort of thing.

On the serious end, we're trying to figure out the mysteries on the train - but on the less serious, though no less important end, we organize social events to help decrease everyone's stress where we can.

[serrata]

Ah, I see. I suppose in a place like this, with so many people, you need some sort of oversight if you're going to get much of anything done. It seems like you've all been going a good job so far, too.

[ This is partially the truth, partially flattery. Everyone seems in relatively good spirits that she can tell, so obviously this council must be doing something right. ]

If you don't mind me asking... what sorts of problems have the Council been asked to resolve before?

[unfavorableinstigation]

When we're limited like this, being able to turn to or just vent to someone helps.

[Something is probably the best way to describe this whole affair of counciling - but then, doubtless there'll be another meeting soon.

Even outside of the chaos that characterized Fiddlesticks.]

And I may not have been here long, but before this whole matter of a trial we were focusing on developing a way to communicate on missions that didn't rely on the train's resources.

[As an example.]

[serrata]

Has that been a problem in the past? Someone did mention to me something about translations going down a little while ago?

[ she literally never thought she'd say this but: thank god for nanites ]

[unfavorableinstigation]

[Nita nods.]

Yes, though that was while we were all on the train.

The void ministry had broadcasted a report sourced from when their Inspectors had boarded this train, investigating an 'anomaly' - then the report went on to say that it was likely we were either being trafficked, or being used as a cover for some other smuggling.

The report said that we were either dangerous or just in danger, and likely all suffering 'void sickness'-

[Nita glances to Kaiba, in case he wants to share that description, before turning back to the screen and Yuuri.]

The message wasn't up all that long, before the ICPs shut down and people could only speak languages they already knew.

I was able to help bridge some gaps, but...

[She shakes her head.]

It was a good thing it lasted a day, but it was still really worrisome, both the report itself and what happened after.

[blue_ice]

Voidsickness can cause memory loss, fatigue, irritability, and lead to death in rare cases. It can happen in people who enter the void.

The documents we received indicate that most people who join a voidcraft like this receive training beforehand and undergo a special procedure to 'tether' themselves, but we don't know that that involves. Presumably the safety control apparatus would be part of it, but none of us remember.

[ He holds up his copy of the message. ]

We're puppets who can't see up our strings to the ones pulling them.

[serrata]

[ Though she does a good job of keeping her expression relatively level, Yuuri can feel muted panic in a hot flush, making her face tingle and bringing the slightest tint of colour to her cheeks. A mysterious, invisible illness that any of them could be infected with, with no way to tell until symptoms show. Fatigue. Memory loss. Death.

It's almost like a cruel joke. ]

H–has anyone– [ Her voice cracks. She pauses, clears her throat and then tries again, her voice audibly steadier and a little more under control on the second try. ] Excuse me. Have there been any confirmed cases of this voidsickness so far?

[unfavorableinstigation]

[Nita, at least, is swift to shake her head.]

Cases where we could make a real, reasonable diagnosis, no.

Cases where we likely all had those symptoms? Yes. There was one incident where the train's walls were breached and we all shared dreams, but that was well before this latest round of people being picked up, and the breach has long since been sealed.

[She's being factual, where she can't otherwise be reassuring. It's all Nita's got, at least; she won't deny the truth. It's not becoming of a wizard.]

[serrata]

And is that the only way we can be infected? Direct exposure to the void itself? Just being on the train like we are won't do us any harm?

[ She's aware that her voice is starting to show her concern a little more than she'd like it to, but she can't help it. ]

[blue_ice]

If tethering was done properly, we shouldn't be in danger...but we don't know. The best thing you can do is wear the SCA at all times and stay as healthy as you can.

[ Says the man who gets little sleep and forgets to eat at times...]

[Action]+[Video]

[unfavorableinstigation]

[Nita discreetly elbows him - and not so discreetly gives him another Look!]

Keep to a regular routine and keep active, basically.

And when we do get a chance to get off the train, whatever it's for, take it.

[serrata]

Yes. I'll keep that in mind.

[ She gives them a slightly queasy but mostly apologetic smile. ]

Sorry for all the questions. I know we have the pamphlet and the ICPs, but in a situation like this, I think it's best to talk to the people in charge... or the closest you can get, anyway.

[unfavorableinstigation]

[Nita tries to smile, but it doesn't quite catch.]

When we don't have all the answers, the least we can do is communicate with each other.

That comes first, no matter what we're up against.

[blue_ice]

Right.

You can always ask us more questions, if there's anything else we can help you with. The more everyone knows, the more prepared we are as a unit.

[serrata]

Mm... I guess it'd be silly not to take the opportunity while I have it.

Have you had any problems with people pushing back against the council? Or just refusing to go along with the rules you've tried to set? It doesn't sound as if there has been so far, but I imagine you must have something in place for if we have someone arrive who doesn't feel particularly cooperative?

[blue_ice]

Ha.

Usually it takes the form of them trying to troll us...such as nominating their pets and minions for the open positions.

But there's occasionally an open battle challenge. We've been able to handle it so far.

[serrata]

... Do I even want to know what that entails?

[ 'Open battle challenge' just sounds like a whole ass mess. ]

[unfavorableinstigation]

[Nita shakes her head, only to reply:]

I'd say the best explanation is that Tony's rather... abrasive?

And some people think that he's not fit to be a leader.

[Which the attitude doesn't help.]

[serrata]

Oh– so it's not the council in particular they're taking issue with? Just the person leading it?

[ That's... interesting. ]

Would I be prying too much if I asked why?

[blue_ice]

Stark is a skilled inventor, confident, and blunt. People like us tend to make waves with those who'd rather not tempt the waters.

...but if I seriously had to guess he is forceful with his opinions at times, and most of us who came later didn't have a say in him being chosen leader.

[serrata]

Ah. Now I get it.

[ Could be worse, she supposes. ]

I guess that sort of butting heads is a bit inevitable when you have people coming and going all the time like this...