meadowlark | @markus.manfred

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@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.))

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I would try to remember that this endeavor has to be both sustainable and marketable if we want to turn a profit. The latter might be more difficult in that particular neighborhood.

Bars in bad areas are generally lucrative.
It comes with the territory. Obviously the bike shop didn't work out.

That’s true. But more lucrative than a site in the financial district? Or a busy area located next to the stadium, after a big event lets out? If we don’t have rent to consider, the other options might still be more viable from a monetary standpoint.

The police ask questions when people with money are involved. They look less in bad parts of town, it's kind of expected.
It doesn't need to be big, it just needs to make enough.
Besides, if we want to run something else out of it, it makes it a good hub.

The police will ask questions when we begin to turn more heads without visible reason. Prompto’s already mentioned it, but each new wave of arrivals usually constitutes a small group, which means that growing foot traffic in a more isolated part of the city will draw attention no matter what.

Re: finances, you’re right. We don’t have to be immensely successful. But larger, less specialized endeavors will net more customers, and therefore keep the credit flow more consistent, able to account for our constantly growing numbers.

Not that I’m saying your argument is unreasonable, of course. Only that I want to make certain all angles are considered before anyone makes a decision.

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.

It's usually between 5 to 10 people.

I think.

Usually. We still don't know if those are personal restrictions, or if they're set by something else.

There were around 30 of us in the accident.

So it could be bigger.

Maybe.

Should that be what we're looking for? Or asking why it hasn't been 30 again?

Edited 2019-02-21 23:45 (UTC)

It's not our biggest priority, but we probably want to keep ourselves prepared for another 30, yeah.
It makes me wonder if they've got a bunch of us and they're just dropping us off based on some unknown factor.

It doesn't mean we can't figure it out. I still don't know if our first "arrival" had to be an accident, or if the size of the load is what drew attention.

If there are people like us here, waiting to be let go, that means we can save them. If they aren't and the rift is open to this world, then it may be a different kind of trouble.

This may sound a bit weird, but we do come in with different lengths of hair. I have a hunch we're not being held somewhere en masse, I think we're all coming in at different times.

Do you think they hold us for observation?

Who knows why they hold us, but they definitely hold us for something, or they wouldn't be drugging us.

Most of us could fight our way out.

[ Jughead would like to think he'd be among those. ]

You think they would know that?

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secondnature - 2019-03-19 22:11 (UTC) - Expand

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drivein - 2019-03-27 13:12 (UTC) - Expand

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secondnature - 2019-03-31 02:23 (UTC) - Expand

Then it goes back to my original point, and the point a few others have made: a bar has far more reason to draw in large crowds, and a coffee shop just as well, though peak hours would be different. In that way, we are disguising it, simply by being an establishment that reasonably should pull foot traffic its way.

[But, ah. He’s not really wanting to argue one side over the other, not after he stressed that this is a decision that the community should make. He’s just here to inspire discussion.]

We can guess based on what the trend has been in the past. Capping out at ten, maybe, at the most. A handful of three at the least. That being said, too much space is better than not enough, if that’s what you’re asking.

[ ADULTS!!!! ]

Look- you're not going to be able to guess how popular you're gonna be, whether it's in a run down neighborhood or a snotty one. With New Amsterdam's time shift, peak hours could be different depending on the season, who knows. We haven't been in this world long, guessing may even be out of our league. You can find a point for everything.

What we need is to make sure we have a contingency plan and a decent business outline. Some part of this is going to be reckless, and you're just going to have to deal.

[He’s ten years old. Ten years old and tired.]

Any kind of business venture is going to involve taking risks. I hope you don’t think any of us believe otherwise.

But the point is often to minimize them if necessary. You can agree to that much, right?

What, you think that I'm saying that we should all jump into the fray? There's a scale and a good in between, along with some contingency.
We're not going to get out without some risk, but it's just which risk we want to take.

That's all I'm asking for. A little sensible balance between the two, and the willingness to compromise.

That being said, I'm going to assume your vote remains with the garage?

Yeah, I'd stick where the police can't find us, or don't care to look.
Out of the high population areas.

Then consider your opinion taken into account, with all the rest.

Thanks for your two cents.

[And that's a sincere thanks, too.]

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