@markus.manfred

[saviorexe]

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.))

Comments

[revlon]

Or else watered down drinks at the bartender's own discretion.

[ Which is a joke but not. And then she reads the next thing and — damn. She hadn't even considered that but once he says it, it's painfully obvious. ]

So the likes of you and me and anyone else in similar circles can't be seen working there or nipping in the back room without arousing suspicion before long. Is that what you're getting at?

[retravel]

Correct. Any of us working in the area already would have to tread carefully. More than that, anyone working on the very investigations related to the creatures and ourselves are not only well-positioned to recognise us but also to notice patterns in our comings and goings, and easily stake out the location.

It's not unusual for people to spend days at their favourite cafes, pottering about.

Now, the bar presents the similar risks of becoming a "usual spot," and the nighttime crowd could be sizable enough to provide cover for individuals to slip through the cracks. Still, patrons would be deemed unusual if they spent extended hours there during quiet stretches. And I'm less worried about the bar's potential crowd than I am the one in the cafe's backyard.

[ pros and cons, as always. ]

[revlon]

Have we done away with barflies in the future? It seems New York was full of them in my day, no matter the hour. Especially if we install a billiards table and some televisions.

[ Carter, your vintage is showing. ]

Being surveilled is a risky all three options carry by virtue of opening them up to the public. We'll have to narrow down the goal(s), is all. Income, sustainability, privacy, and/or accessibility? Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I'd like to see what the others have to say but I suspect we could be at this for hours debating the pros and cons.

[retravel]

Quite right. Balancing those priorities — and personal levels of comfort, too. We want as many of our own as possible to feel welcome there, and I hadn't thought of the age issue, though if this is anything like old Amsterdam, 16 and over would be just fine. Something to investigate, at any rate.

[ a beat. ]

Especially given the fact that we're British, and biased toward any situation involving a cold pint.

[revlon]

Touché. And I come from a time and place not too far removed from the days of Prohibition. Hidden bars with hidden agendas and little regard for the legalities of both were something of a trademark that stuck around.

That said, is a compromise so out of the question?

[ Cafe by day, bar by night. ]

[retravel]

Proper vintage of you, Carter,

[ he's charmed, ]

It seems ambitious financially, but so does this entire endeavour.

[ says leopold "no jemma we can put a price on the perfect home, and this beautiful open-plan kitchen with a breakfast nook is out of it " fitz ]

[revlon]

If I wanted to be properly vintage, Fitz,

[ to borrow his word, ]

I'd have suggested a soda shop to cater to all clientele. But a novelty so anachronistic is sure to draw attention, too.

[saviorexe]

We do need to draw enough attention to actually turn a profit. Novelty isn’t always such a bad thing, as long as it doesn’t draw the wrong kind of interest, or too much of it.

[Just sayin’.]

The point’s already been made that we don’t have to strictly adhere to what these establishments used to be. I think that's important to note.

[revlon]

It is important to note. Hence my curiosity over selecting both options if not something different altogether. At the end of the day, it's the location that matters most, isn't it?

You're in a better position than I am to gauge the appeal of [ god is her present really so ancient ] nostalgia.

[saviorexe]

Location, and if whatever business we choose actually suits it.

Well. I think most of us are walking examples of nostalgia and vintage appeal. [As far as he knows, not a lot here who hail from even this century.] I can tell you one thing, however — it often brings in the business.

[revlon]

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.

[saviorexe]

Right. We’ll see. As long as we aren’t stretching ourselves too thin to accommodate all the opinions here, a middle ground wouldn’t go awry.

[Because stares a little at what this post has become.]

[revlon]

You can't please everyone and someone will have to have the final say, or nothing will get accomplished. A healthy discourse is one thing but we'll have to ask for a certain level of flexibility from all involved at some point.

And as I mentioned to Dr Strange, I'm willing to offer my assistance in the cellar, so to speak, should you require it.

[saviorexe]

I couldn’t agree more. Thus far, everyone’s remained civil enough. I’m going to take that as a sign going forward that this good will might remain, no matter what ends up being chosen for all of us.

I’m sure we will require it. Thanks, Peggy.

@clarke.griffin

[strove]

I'm chiming in to add two things.

First, we've already being surveyed somewhere. I don't know if it's who dropped us off, but I think now is the time to stop pretending we're undercover when it comes to whoever wants to know where we are. It's more that we have to be good at fitting in to society.

Second, we can use that. If we can bring those shrines to wherever we choose.

[saviorexe]

I don't think any of us are having this discussion while under the delusion that we're going to escape being watched by our more mysterious surveyors. But the public eye is still something that we have to be aware of at all times. Appearances are everything, and this is just all of us trying to figure out which disguise to show the rest of New Amsterdam.

[Mention of the shrines, though. That pings an even more personal interest for Markus, given that he's already done some digging into the matter.]

And do you think one location is better suited to unravelling the mystery of the shrines in comparison to the rest?

[strove]

Fair enough.

[Clarke's had enough conversations about how they should be in hiding, even if it hurts them. She has Opinions on that.]

I'm not saying we unravel the mystery. We are the mystery.

Can we use it to our advantage?

[saviorexe]

Depends. Choosing a safehouse is more for us, not to lure answers our way. Priority is safety and stability, first and foremost.

But I would like to see if the shrines follow us, too, out of a more personal curiosity.

[strove]

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.

[retravel]

Then I appreciate your effortless restraint.
Though I think nostalgia has its charms in these trying times.

[ #1 peggy carter stan. ]

And I'm sure there are those like yourself who'd appreciate jukebox fare over new wave radio.

[ yeah, he remembers her face when he put on his station of choice. ]

[revlon]

[ She actually has to stifle a chuckle where she is. His message comes on the heels of the one she sends Markus above. ]

It's not my fault you have such appalling taste.

Although that does further drive home the point that some kind of entertainment would be a good draw, not to mention an excuse for patrons to linger. In either establishment.

[retravel]

[ He sees it a moment later, too. In sync, as ever. ]

It might be partially you're fault. You never know.

[ with the timeline and all. ]

Quick thinking. As an agent, I'll say that keeping the place busy makes eavesdropping difficult, so I'm very much in favour of it.

[ wink wink he knows she doesn't need him to say that, but he'll add it where she can't. ]

[revlon]

[ She is going to ignore that tHANKS he has future knowledge, she can't win there UNFAR. ]

Or it makes eavesdropping easy, depending on who's doing the listening.

[ They'll stay quiet, naturally. But as she'd said earlier: loose lips sink ships — namely, greasing up the locals of New Amsterdam. She's already keeping an ear to the ground in government. Expanding that scope to their own home base might prove beneficial. News may travel faster for having TVs set up, people gathering to watch big events (sports, the news), gauging public reaction off of that. ]

[retravel]

Good point.
And I like to think we're an astute lot, at our best.

[ certainly capable of turning the challenges associated with these various sites into opportunities. ]

[revlon]

[ And obtuse at their worst, she thinks. But that's part of being human. ]

Circumstances have forced many of us to be. Whether or not one is officially signed up with Morningstar, we have no choice but to play some aspects of the game to keep afloat.