saviorexe: (02)
oh my rA9, it's robojesus. ([personal profile] saviorexe) wrote in [community profile] meadowlark2019-02-12 10:48 am

@markus.manfred

As some of you may already know, discussion has been taking place in regards to moving to a new safehouse; I understand that this isn’t a small endeavor, yet it’s something that should be seriously considered in the wake of all that’s happened. And while losing a multitude of Morningstar contacts is a detriment in its own right, it makes sense to view this as a new opportunity for the displaced. To become autonomous, self-sufficient, and able to move in whatever direction we deem as best for ourselves and those who would join us in the future. To finally be able to rely on our chosen initiatives, instead of depending on the generosity of an outside group with their own causes, objectives, and priorities to tend to.

This wouldn’t be a complete severance from Morningstar. Gaby, El, and a few others will still be willing to assist us when they can, and what previous resources left behind in the city will be available for us to use. It would be more akin to a partnership, with the understanding to give aid to the other when reasonably needed. Quid pro quo.

I’m not here to make these decisions for us, only to open the floor to discussion and to provide information so we can decide if and how we want to proceed. El’s given us a shortlist of unoccupied sites that are best suited for setting up a new safehouse. I’ve summarized them very briefly.


[Each location comes coupled with an address to denote where in the city it’s located, for those who may be interested in checking out each site in person.]

  • SPORTS BAR — Long abandoned and located near the sports stadium. The amount of foot traffic in this area means that it’d be easy enough to come and go without issue, and without turning too many heads. But this comes with the expected downsides of somewhere busy — more people means more variables, more eyes, more chances to be compromised if we’re not careful.

  • HOVERBIKE SHOP — A more isolated site in a run-down neighborhood. Here, it would be easier to escape scrutiny as an individual coming and going. A larger group of the same faces might have more difficulty, and would have to fabricate a very convincing reason to do so. There are also the nearby squatters to account for, who would likely be reasonably curious about us no matter how we proceed.

  • COFFEE SHOP — Located in the financial district. Several business have tried to start up here over the years, but none have stuck. Considerations would include: history dictating that this is a difficult location to keep running financially, a higher-profile spot but with vacillating foot traffic reliant on normal workday hours, and if the many neighboring businesses would be a concern.


  • All of these locations have an underground space which would house the core of the safehouse. What exists above is not only a front, but will have to act as a means of financially sustaining ourselves to keep supplies stocked, facilities running, and to afford basic upkeep. Which means that we’d be running a business on top of everything else, and should consider which will be the most viable as venture; which also means that we’ll need capital to get started, several people willing to devote their time and energy to this project, and reliable individuals who can work as actual employees once things are up and running.

    Needless to say, I’m willing to commit the time and effort necessary to see it through to the end. But this is a large project that won’t get off the ground unless we compile resources and ideas together — and the earlier, the better.


    [Please discuss!!]

    ((OOC; This is an open post for everyone to discuss matters about the future safehouse! Markus won’t necessarily be responding to each tag-in.))
    merced: (pic#12784651)

    [personal profile] merced 2019-02-14 06:22 pm (UTC)(link)
    No sweat.

    Send me the locations, I’ll check them out.


    [ And, obviously, anyone else who would like to come with her is welcome to do so. ]
    drivein: (easycompany-riverdale2x8-145)

    [personal profile] drivein 2019-02-14 06:25 pm (UTC)(link)
    Any of these business endeavors have the potential to turn heads, that's just the reality of it. It's all about what the police care about, and in and outs in places with people that have money are always going to get more attention from the cops.
    I think you're going to have to settle on drawing attention and how to deal with it. If you don't have a way to divert it, or disguise it, then it's going to be out there.

    Speaking of grown, with people leaving and coming all the time, what are we looking at? It's not like we can guess if we're going to get 2 or 200 newbies.
    rehandle: (pic#12373531)

    [personal profile] rehandle 2019-02-14 06:30 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ why have we done this ]

    Agreed. Even within each school of thought there are splinter groups.

    [ so anyway he's just going to come right out and say it - ]

    I don't think I've yet seen anyone arguing for the garage take into account cost in a way that suggests to me they understand what we need this to be or how much we're going to have to put into it ourselves to make it viable.

    Even if Morningstar agree to cover the full setup, it's going to have to be free labour and self-funded marketing and upkeep whatever we do. On the cost of marketing and comparative availability of labour alone the bike shop is struggling. There were also great points made about the difficulty of gaining clientele given existing loyalties, and the location itself won't help us there unless we decide to start catering to people who'd rather not be seen, which would only open us up to the attention of the law.

    It would be an asset to have it around, and the location is arguably the least dangerous for us as a group, but neither of those things are worth anything if we dry up before we're off the ground.

    Only other alternative is what you presented here - both, in the future. It's pushing it, but we ask for both the garage and one of the easier to establish businesses in a busier sector. Keep the safehouse in the bike shop where it's out of the way and unlikely to be happened on, open the business and run it until it's in profit, use the profit to start up the bike shop. It's clear there are people who'd work it, just not enough to work it to a profit without an established cash flow. Having that cash flow already in place will eliminate the need for constant staffing and having the front of the occasional legitimate job would allow for people to make use of it as a workshop of sorts without casting suspicion.
    rehandle: (256)

    @stephen.strange

    [personal profile] rehandle 2019-02-14 06:38 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ there's no like button, so: ]

    👍

    [ +1ing and thread tracking for dad men ]
    rehandle: (284)

    @stephen.strange

    [personal profile] rehandle 2019-02-14 06:43 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ following up from markus' point and replying to this kid rather than keith. he's already talked keith's ear off enough today. ]

    It's also considerably more expensive to completely repurpose a location than it would be just to refurbish one.

    We'll be operating on Morningstar's generosity and whatever money we can put towards this ourselves. I don't know if that'll stretch this far.
    drivein: (pic#11452579)

    [personal profile] drivein 2019-02-14 06:47 pm (UTC)(link)
    When these were picked up, they were picked up because they already failed. Refurbishing something is gonna cost less than failing and moving again.
    rehandle: (pic#12484572)

    [personal profile] rehandle 2019-02-14 06:53 pm (UTC)(link)
    Sure. But if the money isn't there, it isn't there. A fully refurbished and functional business is going to earn us more than a half-finished repurposed building we couldn't afford to open.
    strove: (I saw a commercial about them)

    [personal profile] strove 2019-02-14 08:51 pm (UTC)(link)
    That's the thing. If we're accepting that whoever made the shrines knows us and why we're here—which I admit is conjecture, but they knew where the current safehouse was to plant shrines there—that means we don't have to hide from them.

    We may be able to use that.

    I just don't know how yet.
    verflair: (124)

    [personal profile] verflair 2019-02-14 09:36 pm (UTC)(link)
    I know, I would be restless as well, but until you are fully recovered, you must simply keep recovering. I'm certain I can find someone else willing to come along.
    warfares: <user name=thisblankpage site=insanejournal.com> (pic#12111391)

    [personal profile] warfares 2019-02-14 11:30 pm (UTC)(link)
    I'm considering it.
    forcevisions: (cuz you're gonna sing the words wrong)

    [personal profile] forcevisions 2019-02-14 11:50 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ she just sighs and disengages because until he's actually made a decision it's not worth engaging. people are gonna keep dying while he's considering if he's got enough humanity left in him to care. but it's also futile to push and pull on it here while he couldn't be dismantling anything anyway. ]
    wiccant: (i can still hear your laughter.)

    [personal profile] wiccant 2019-02-15 12:54 am (UTC)(link)
    I'll have to agree with @prom.argentum.
    It'd be harder to explain all of us being into one thing, and a variety's probably better anyway.
    If we do go the cafe route.
    wiccant: (planning my crash landing.)

    [personal profile] wiccant 2019-02-15 12:56 am (UTC)(link)
    Cafes get a lot of activity, too.
    Maybe a general one with coffee also on the menu but with a focus on other things would work? Tea seems to still be available.
    (Let me know if I'm wrong though?)
    Basic cafe foods and drinks wouldn't be a bad front, I think.
    evite: (Default)

    [personal profile] evite 2019-02-15 03:26 am (UTC)(link)
    i'll see what they say when i go in tomorrow
    it won't matter if they cut me loose


    [ she's never had an office job before. being in quarantine in shield hadn't required her to burn through paid time off, and rising tide just didn't give a shit if she was sick or not — if she could type, she could work. this is new waters for daisy, and she's not totally sure she likes it. ]
    mercurio: ❥famira (291)

    [personal profile] mercurio 2019-02-15 12:23 pm (UTC)(link)
    guess that's what we've gotta keep in mind...

    the votes and opinions seems pretty split so i really dunno if we're gonna get anywhere any time soon
    mercurio: ❥famira (120)

    [personal profile] mercurio 2019-02-15 12:33 pm (UTC)(link)
    something that passes off as tea actually
    but i've seen the kind of drinks that get sold around here
    it shouldn't be that hard to make something like cold tea with fruit flavors or smoothies and fraps on the cheaper end
    not every person who works in the financial district can really afford an expensive cup of coffee i'd think?
    retravel: (095)

    [personal profile] retravel 2019-02-15 02:17 pm (UTC)(link)
    Not the end of you, no. You're made of stronger stuff.
    But a medic would advise two to three short walks a day, not anything as far as some of these sites, following your injuries.


    [ he has the GSW recovery pamphlet memorised ty. ]

    Thank you, Markus.
    revlon: (071)

    [personal profile] revlon 2019-02-15 05:19 pm (UTC)(link)
    My idea of office culture may be largely outdated. But I quite agree on visiting our options — just because I have my preferences doesn't mean I'm opposed to having my mind changed by logic and practicality.
    revlon: (232)

    [personal profile] revlon 2019-02-15 05:25 pm (UTC)(link)
    Well, we've no shortage of options, it seems. But as tempting as recreating my present sounds, we'd likely be better off blending in than standing out. I'm sure we'll strike a balance that suits everyone's needs.
    revlon: (104)

    [personal profile] revlon 2019-02-15 05:29 pm (UTC)(link)
    Idle hands and all that. Is there anything you require in the interim?
    secondnature: (is it a scar?)

    [personal profile] secondnature 2019-02-15 07:03 pm (UTC)(link)
    I think anyone who likes the garage also doesn't like the locations of the other two places. Hiding in plain sight can be okay, but not when it comes to newcomers who don't know the city.

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