[Video]

[wearingthestars]

[Billy looks very much like a stern parent or educator, well past their limits and doing their best to remain calm.]

I am requesting a virtual town hall. And requesting in the sense that I have been talked down from magicking every single one of you into a room to talk about this, so I would be grateful if you would all please participate.

I realize we’ve never officially sat down and hashed this shit out, but I thought it went without saying that we follow the basic rules of right and wrong in this place. I didn’t expect to wake up to find we turned into Lord of the Flies over night while I was gone.

So can we have a talk about what is and isn’t appropriate here? Because I punch bad guys for a living, but even I know that ganging up on someone, detaining them, and making threats when they are not currently a danger, ISN’T okay. I didn’t think we needed it written down as law. I don’t care if this guy IS the murderer, he’s still owed the same basic rights as anyone else here. And I’m pretty sure coercion isn’t a tactic anyone should feel proud about using on someone, especially with so little proof. Not to mention I’ve attacked people here more than once. No one’s questioned me. We know for a fact this place can have us acting against our natures, and none of you have stopped to wonder if this might be the same?

If the rest of you disagree then I guess you aren’t the people I thought you were. I’m disappointed in everyone who took part and everyone who watched and didn’t intervene.

[ooc: Feel free to argue, having differing or supporting opinions. You can speak directly to Billy or to each other.

For anyone featured in Stu's video- if Billy doesn't hear from you here, he will be magicking you to him for answers.]

Comments

[voice][private]

[sunglassesincluded]

Funny how some people here apparently can get away with murder while others are treated like comic book villains for trying to keep everyone alive, isn't it.

Good luck talking some sense into the masses.

[private]

[wearingthestars]

Sounds kinda personal. Something you wanna share there?

Any feed back you'd like to share with 'the masses' and not just me, while you're at it?

[private]

[sunglassesincluded]

I see no need to. And if the people require a trustworthy face to introduce them to reason so they stop being idiots, that's fine by me. As long as they stop trying to get themselves or others killed.

[ He is only interested in the results. ]

video;

[faceguy]

[Magicking Leo anywhere against his will qualifies as kidnapping, he's pretty sure!]

Who died and made you king?

video;

[wearingthestars]

[Good thing you answered then :) ]

Is that really all you have to say for yourself?
Ugh, I sound like my mom. Shit, I owe her an apology.

[faceguy]

Mmmmyeeeep I do think that's all I have to say for myself.

[He doesn't think he did anything wrong, thanks.]

[ voice ]

[tempredmental]

Honestly... locking everyone in a room like that probably would have made it worse.

[Just sayin'.]

[ voice ]

[wearingthestars]

So I've been told. Hence the compromise.

[There's a heavy sigh.]

You wanna weigh in?

Re: [ voice ]

[tempredmental]

I don't know if I'm the right person to weigh in. I'm not an investigator or anything like that. I'm just a pilot.

[Which, honestly, yeah. Keith really felt like he was definitely not qualified for this.]

audio

[cactusy]

Oh, please; I didn't threaten him. He pretended to be scared and lied about me threatening him to get everyone's sympathy, and you're playing right into his hands.

audio

[wearingthestars]

I watched the video. And this isn't about him. He might be 1000% guilty, that doesn't make what happened okay. And if we act like it is- then it's a slippery slope of the ends justifying the means.

You cornered some kid, ganged up on him, and wouldn't let him go. You really feel good about that? With what seems to have been almost no evidence on top of that.

audio

[cactusy]

Okay, seriously, how do you think people get evidence? You can't get crap done by playing armchair quarterback, you have to question people. And when a guy's reaction to getting asked some questions is to turn on the waterworks and lie to people about what's happening? That's telling.

action: in person, a few hours after the post;

[sinistral]

Some time after Billy's video, after the Soldier has finished his patrols around their little cabin, he pads into the room where Billy is. Coming up behind him, he snakes an arm around Billy's waist and presses his face briefly against the side of Billy's neck.

"How are you feeling?"

[wearingthestars]

Billy sighs, leaning gratefully into Soldier.

"Old," he groans, before offering a tired smile, as Soldier is the last person he can say that sort of shit to. "I dunno, I feel...worried that I'm wrong or...naive? And I'm scared that this is all heading to an obvious end once we catch whoever attacked those people..."

[sinistral]

"You're not wrong." First and foremost, that reassurance. The Soldier understands the point Billy's trying to make. His own gamble hadn't worked, and whatever investigation was happening didn't seem too conclusive. Then again, the Soldier tries to stay away from it; he believes he's more use as a potential suspect, if it can at all lure the real perpetrator into a false sense of security.

"I think the concern is valid. There isn't a good precedent for this. And you'll never overcome some people's feelings in regard to others." He pauses for a moment, considering if his words came out the way he wanted them to. "But I think it's important to call out the potential danger in this pattern of behavior."

Video

[3wingedangel]

[Sephiroth comes on looking calm and thoughtful, but also smirking a bit.]

I find it interesting that in spite of your strong words in scolding us for what happened, judging from what you say was your original intention you apparently have no qualms with magicking people to you against their will. You do see the hypocrisy in that? Or is that part of your actual point, making us experience how unpleasant it is to be forced into something?

[In his experience, even the most upright of people will do questionable things if they believe the end justifies the means. He will feel this way all the more if he becomes aware Billy is actually going through with the magicking for anyone who doesn't check in.

Truthfully, he isn't happy with how things went down either, in retrospect, but he has Thoughts before getting into any of that.]

Also, those of us who just arrived may not actually know about this place causing people to act against their natures.

[He certainly hasn't been told any such thing, as he assumes Billy is not simply referring to the pull at the fountain.]

What do you mean by this?

Video

[wearingthestars]

It was my first instinct, but yes, I realize it would have been hypocritical. Someone talked some sense into me. Hence the whole...video lecture.

[Billy's cheeks are a little pink, but he's not going to deny it.[

There's...a few things. Some of the local food or drinks can make us behave differently, not violent so far, but only telling the truth, or making someone uh...lustful, I guess. And there's the rage bugs. They're like tics almost. I've been bitten twice. They infect you with pure, burning rage. I nearly killed someone...

[Which is still a horrifying thing to have to say.]

And uh...the Agrii or...the ones controlling them, whoever, they move us around sometimes, makes us go places...or do things. They made me go to Callibrations alone. Made me watch things until my magic trapped us all in another world to escape it.

Re: Video

[3wingedangel]

[Sephiroth nods, looking pleased by that.]

I see. That's good then.

[And he frowns as he listens to these tales.]

How do we know which food and drink to avoid?

[Or is there a way?

He smirks darkly.]

Sometimes it seems as though Cloud has been bitten by rage bugs.

[But he sobers just as quickly.]

Nevermind. That is highly disturbing. Are these bugs part of the usual wildlife here?

I am not familiar with Calibrations. What is that, and what did you have to watch?

[So much to learn....]

[Voice]

[plate_builder]

I think that, should you have listened closely to what happened to the victims, you might not suggest so easily that this was 'out of nature'. These were clearly deliberately planned and staged events. This was... This was the most overdone of trash horror movie plots.

While I cannot condone methods here, do not make apologies for people that actively stalked others to attack them.

[And this coming from the guy nursing one of the victims.]

I expect this is as in nature for the attackers as it was for the vampires when they were here.

[Voice]

[wearingthestars]

In or out of their nature, I still think any person suspected or guilty of a crime deserves to be treated right.

I've seen people hunted down like this for actions that weren't their own, so I'm sorry, but I'm not going to back down from the idea that it's possible this is the same thing.

[plate_builder]

I fear you are being too gentle and understanding to those people who are actively attempting to torment this community. Are the methods inappropriate, yes. But is some level of investigation required, is forward questioning required when we don't have the technology to push for more, yes.

Flaws, yes. But still needed.

[private voice]

[doubled_speed]

In my defense for not stepping in with that live streamed BS, I was in Sh'ka doing the fall harvest. I regret that choice. But I wish I had been here to step in. Fuck how long it takes the train and shuttles to get back. By the time I was in town, the whole thing had blown up.

And please don't feel like what you did was your fault, Billy. The rage bug made you irrational. Made me irrational that one time. Doesn't seem like it here. There was too much planning. God I wish I'd listened to more of David explaining investigations.

[private voice]

[wearingthestars]

You could've said something.
Someone could of said something.
I don't understand. I feel like I'm crazy here.
Like defending Wanda all over over again. Only I'm not even defending a person just...an idea.

It's about whether it was irrational or planned, or...you were put away in that place, you should- it matters how we treat people. Even the people who've hurt us.

video so she can give him this face

[madginger]

Who exactly do you think I am? I don't even know you.

[wearingthestars]

Well, you're a kid, so I'm not judging you the same as the adults, but you were one of the people posting about how we all need to be safe and look out for each other, weren't you? And you kept quiet.