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

[gtfoourgalaxy]

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.]

Comments

[dr_unconscious]

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?

[phaseshifter]

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.

[gtfoourgalaxy]

[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.

[dr_unconscious]

[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.]

[phaseshifter]

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

[rubikscomplex]

[ 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. ]

[phaseshifter]

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.

[spoileralert]

Angel, please.

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

He's right.

[rubikscomplex]

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. ]

[phaseshifter]

[ 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.

[spoileralert]

[ 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.

[phaseshifter]

I never said it did.

[ And, in a hiss: ]

Stop projecting.

[spoileralert]

[ Steph just gapes for a moment, totally speechless.

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

[rubikscomplex]

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. ]

[phaseshifter]

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.

[rubikscomplex]

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.

[gtfoourgalaxy]

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.]

[phaseshifter]

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. ]

[headjacked]

[ 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. ]

[youarethebandits]

[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.]

What's next.

[gtfoourgalaxy]

[Clearly, it is time to turn the Commander Voice on Jack. Shepard is unimpressed, but she is also unfazed.]

I'm not making any decisions here, Jack. I'm just making sure you're not causing any more damage to people by making them attack each other over you.

[And she actually turns and calls out after Dumpy:]

Rhys? You were going to say something.

[headjacked]

[ He actually looks surprised when Dumpy whirls back around (three times, because he is a dunce). And momentarily at a loss for words, because Dr. Fucknutterbutter had a point. It's weird to take the floor with Angel gone.

But he clears his throat and starts the ramble. ]

Well... stockholm syndrome, doesn't that imply bonding? Not what was happening down there, I can guarantee that.

I just -- I know he's an asshole. Everyone knows he's an asshole. But seriously, what other sustainable options do we have? Drag him around with his hands tied? Monsters are, like, weirdly attracted to him. He'll die. Not a whole lot different from just killing him outright.

[ This is all peppered with coughs and wheezes, and by the end he's broken down into a wheezing fit. Boy, that was a lot of words. ]

[giant_killer]

With respect- [ Raoul stands, all 6"4' of him, his voice carrying with the ease of practice. ] -we seem to have lost track of the actual goal here. Despite Angel's... outburst, no one has denied that he committed kidnapping, assault, wrongful imprisonment and criminal negligence. The question is not "how bad a person is Jack," it's "how are we going to punish these crimes?"

In Tortall he'd have ten years in the quarries, or fifteen years sworn service to the army. Since we have no army or quarries, perhaps the ice tunnels?

[youarethebandits]

[And now Jack's just going to burst out laughing. Just when he thought this farce couldn't get any more ridiculous...]

Seriously? We're gonna listen to a guy from the frickin' dark ages here?

[giant_killer]

In my experience, prisoners aren't permitted to weigh in on their sentencing. Unless you intend to deny your crimes?