snowblindrpg | [log] The Council of Norfinbury [day 67, semi-closed]

[log] The Council of Norfinbury [day 67, semi-closed]

Characters: Everyone who attends the town hall meeting on Day 67 at Building 28, as well as people who phone in. This is a lot of people.
Location Building 28
Date: Day 67, all day for mingle, around midday for meeting
Summary: Snowbos meet up to talk snowplans.
Warnings: Snowplans may result in swearing. House and Jack are present, with all that implies.

[This is your general mingle log for the day! Start toplevels at your pleasure. Below there will be a toplevel for the actual Council of Snowhell.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ It's his turn to speak, isn't it? An important moment, one he's kind-of-sort-of-not-really-prepared-for (but thought about!! in his most lucid moments!!!)

His opinion MATTERS. He is IMPORTANT. It is his TIME. ]

zzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZ

[ Yes he fucking fell asleep he's sawing logs absurdly loudly etc etc. Drool everywhere. Snoring screambot, everyone. ]

[Thankfully Rhys isn't the only one taking up that tablet. Clayton clears his throat from somewhere off-screen when it becomes obvious that the group is waiting for some input.]

Angel's right. Jack's concerns 're with her--he only came after me 'cause he thought I was gonna hurt her, an' he only thought that 'cause the whole group was stuck in that house fer a few days an' ain't none a them were thinkin' straight. His...methods ain't the best, but takin' all this distrust 'n beatin's an' imprisonment out a the picture...how many a you would've treated a man this way if he'd told you he wanted t' keep his daughter safe?

[Pause for effect. Made significantly less poignant by Rhys's snoring, but it's the thought that counts.]

So I say we hold to that. Keep Angel safe. Have a group with her all the time, rotated if we gotta. Where they go's up t' her, an' where Jack goes is up t' him--prove that we're capable so he don't feel like he's gotta act out like that again, an' so he can still contribute t' helpin' the rest of us find a way outta here. Ain't nobody's gotta go tyin' up folks in basements fer no reason no more. That's my say.

Wh-- hey! No!

[ Raising her hand again, this time with more than a hint of irritation. ]

No. I'm not a child, and I don't need people fussing over me like I can't take care of myself. Because I can! All this happened because Jack thought I couldn't make it on my own, I won't stand for other people thinking that too. I don't need a dam-- a darn babysitter! Much less an entire team of them.

[ Angel's raised voice gets Dumpy to chirp in with a short, high pitched screech. Of agreement? Maybe? He wants to be included.

This wakes Rhys up with a snort and he jolts, wincing and holding his side. ]

Bwwazzuh? ...are we -- is this the Jack part? ...if it's the Jack part, I -- [ Rhys shrinks in his comforter, very conscious of his broken-ness. And the bruising, especially that hand-shaped one around his throat. ] I agree with Angel.

If - if she's spoken.

[Yeah no Jack has opinions about this.]

If I can't take care of her, what makes you dickheads think you can? She's smarter than every single one of you put together.

That's why she's in charge a things on her end.

[Despite cutting in, Clayton's sounding substantially less authoritative--meek, even. Possibly because now he's trying to appeal to Angel instead of the whole crowd.]

Ain't nobody doubts that you can take care a yerself, Angel--nobody 'cept Jack. Wouldn't you wanna travel with a few folks anyways even if we weren't keepin' track a who they were? It don't gotta feel any different. We jus'...gotta change somethin' if we don't want this happenin' again, don't we?

No. My beacon's on. Adding me to a group is asking for trouble.

I've done just fine so far with Rhys! I've survived three monster attacks, in case anyone's forgotten that. This is - it's off the table. No.

[So this was about protecting. Shepard gives Jack a long look. She'd seen that momentary crack. But she can't focus on it now that the exchange is getting complicated.]

I know I'm the outsider here, but someone's got to be. [She raises both arms to signal everyone involved to simmer down.] We can't ask Angel to bear responsibility for Jack's good behavior. It's not fair, and it won't work. And either way... [Maybe it is time to bring that moment in, after all. She looks at Jack again.] I don't think even he knows what he's going to do next.

[There's a breath, like Clayton's about to argue further, but then he actually thinks about his own motivations for this. He wants to keep this from happening to Angel again. He's only had her best interests in mind. That means keeping an eye on her constantly to make sure nothing finds her and--]

[oh my god he's turning into Jack]

...Yer right. I dunno what I was thinkin'. Up t' you, Angel.

[Sit in the corner and think about what you've done, Doctor Greathair.]

[ She's said her piece, but Clayton-via-Dumpy gets a huge smile. ALL IS FORGIVEN, DOC ]

[ House has been listening to all of this and people seem to be missing something here. ]

She's the child in an abusive parent-child relationship who's defending the guy who stuck ports in her head and terrifies her enough to warn any guy who makes a pass that he's going to strangle them. He kidnapped her and shoved her in a basement here and from what I'm getting, probably did it before. She's not qualified to be making her own decisions.

[ He'll just go ahead and kick the hornet's nest. See what happens. ]

And what qualifies you to make decisions for me? Or say my dad is abusive when you don't even know him?

[ Angel shoots him a look of utmost disgust before continuing, aiming her words at the entire group again. ]

He didn't shove ports in my head. Cybernetic enhancements are expensive, in-demand and very hard to come by. They were a gift that I accepted willingly. Rhys can back me up, I assume he paid through the nose for his.

Plus, um. I'm twenty-one. Not a child. For the record.

Angel, please.

[ Steph is quiet and sad, but she manages to make herself heard. ]

He's right.

I'm not making decisions for you, kid. I'm just saying you shouldn't be making them.

[ And he's just not going to touch the 'what makes you qualified to judge him' question. ]

[ Steph gets that exact same look of distaste. ]

No, you're both wrong. And even if we're going to do the exact same thing my dad does and discount what I say because I'm some pathetic helpless child, I believe Rhys and Doctor Epps' testimonies still stand.

Jack's an asshole, sure, and I'm not going to be leaving with him if you do let him go. But I don't appreciate people who don't know anything trying to spread lies.

Edited 2015-12-18 17:31 (UTC)

[ Well Steph feels a little like she was just punched in the gut, but she was kind of expecting that. ]

Being an abuse victim doesn't mean you're pathetic or helpless.

I never said it did.

[ And, in a hiss: ]

Stop projecting.

[ Steph just gapes for a moment, totally speechless.

Then she turns around and shoves her way through the crowd and out the front door. ]

Well, good job there, Angelcakes.

[ House doesn't look anything but tired. Everything Angel's doing and saying is only cementing the Stockholm Syndrom diagnosis in his mind. ]

Epps is a bleeding heart who's got one of the worst guardian complexes I've ever seen. He'll defend anyone. I don't know what the hell Dickcheese's deal is, but pretty sure he'd go along with anything you say. So.

[ A shrug. ]

Jack's right, doctor. I'm way, way smarter than you are. But I'm pretty sure it doesn't take a genius to work out that three accounts from the victims, who actually know the accused are likely to be more accurate than claims made by a douchelord who likes causing trouble.

[ She folds her arms and resists the urge to run after Steph. Or cry. Or both. ]

You all know what I think. Let Jack go, everybody should get a second chance.

Yeah, pretty sure most people can tell by now he's had a second chance here. The coming back from the dead thing and all. Not making much use of it.

[ Another shrug. ]

And you and your pal still have Stockholm Syndrome. Like textbook Stockholm Syndrome. Epps is just a moron.

All right, that's enough.

[Shepard is going to just. Stand up here. Hands on hips. Commander Voice full on. She does not want to do this, why are you making her. House gets the first glare.]

I don't know what you think you're doing, but it isn't helping. You've let us all know what you think. Now back off.

[She can damn well tell he's doing this for kicks, at least in parts. Then she turns a look on Angel. A slightly different look. Spacemom isn't mad. But she may be slightly disappointed.]

Angel, do me a favour and go talk to Steph. We won't make any decision without you, I promise. But go fix it now. Give yourself a moment, too.

[She really just wants all the Very Emotionally Invested people to take a breather.]

Yes, ma'am. I've said what I have to say anyway, I guess.

[ And she pootles off. After quietly convincing Dumpy to stay put, of course. ]

[ Rhys is probably one if those emotionally involved parties, given how blindingly angry he is. At House, and at himself for not being able to get a word in edgewise. ]

I don't have -

[ It is too little too late, and not a particularly good argument, so he shuts up. Dumpy spins around to face the tablet away from the meeting. Wall staring is a go. ]

[Jack's remained quiet through this whole thing - mostly because expressing the anger he's currently feeling would not be helpful. He's just resorted to coming up with elaborate fantasies of murdering everyone involved.]

Soooooooooo. You've made it clear you don't give a crap about what the people this whole thing actually affects think.

[He'd be doing a sarcastic golfclap if he could.]

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