@clarke.griffin

[strove]

I think it's best to get this out here as soon as I can. Last month before I disappeared, four of us held a meeting with a mysterious man named Ball. He was able to serve us coffee and good baked goods, and he told us a little about ourselves. He believes that we've either been touched by gods, or that gods are why we're here. That likely sounds ridiculous. But he said there's a way to test it. To prove it to ourselves.

The way to do that? Gates. I don't entirely know how, but I was given one of four locations to seek out. Mine is in New Oslo, and I'd like to be headed there soon. Markus, Loki, and Ojiro have the other three. I haven't been back long enough to find out what those are.

But here's a few things to think about before you dismiss this out of hand. It may be tempting to do so. If I hadn't been here for a while, I would have done so.

First, when many of us dreamed? We changed things. We changed reality. I covered some of those changes here, and Johnny asked for some more here. I'm willing to go over that later. We can't deny that reality isn't what it was before, and that we're the only ones who remember it. And think about it. I just went home and came back six years older.

Second, as Rey and Loki pointed out here, there are people making art of us. I know that some of those people think of us as proof of god. That may be ridiculous, but look back at the reality bending. Think about it.

So that brings me to my main point. As much as I've personally fought against it, we've been put into a position where we have a unique power and ability to enact change on this world. Right now, we're in a position where we're trying to hide. I think—no matter who you back, no matter what you believe—we're being foolish if we don't use that to our advantage.

This world is dying. Cassius made that obvious to all of us, though I think he also made it worse. But what we've learned is that we can do something about that. I can't even begin to suggest how we tap into that power, but it's possible that someone in this world will know how.

This is my plan, then, in no specific order:

1. We need to seek out those gates. It might tell us more about ourselves.
2. We need to find a way to separate ourselves from Morningstar and protect the people who are making art about us. We need to protect the structure of Morningstar because what it means to this world, and we need to protect these people. Not just because they have answers about us.
3. We find a way to harness our powers to help this world. To keep it from dying. Some people don't want to leave. And I'll add this: I want to bring my people here. I have a feeling that I'm not the only one. I know that's selfish, but I have my reasons for it. You can ask.

I don't know how to execute on every part of this. If you want me to come up with a plan, I will. But I'd prefer if we worked together. I know Damian has a plan on a different level, but perhaps this can dovetail with what he's doing. Maybe we can work in tandem with Morningstar while not endangering them. We'll have to see.

Obviously, we start with New Oslo, unless one of the other three locations is more ideal. I think that's the logical place to begin.

Comments

@takeshi.kovacs

[resleeves]

well, someone's taking charge.

[ he...actually approves. better it be someone that he's actually pretty confident knows what the fuck she's doing. ]

look, it's about time someone suggested taking the fight to them. hiding and undermining from the inside can only go so far. if we're here for a reason and we've been given this shit for some reason, best to finally accept that and go.

someone once told me to face the facts and then act on them. think this is the start of what she was talking about here.

[strove]

That someone was pretty smart.

We've spent a lot of time trying to find the why to everything. And trying to make that why make sense. We can't do that anymore.

I'd even argue that we hid behind that because we didn't like the other terrain.

[resleeves]

she was.

[ is? he doesn't know. he wants to believe that quell's alive but he doesn't want to get his hopes up either. ]

the answer to why might never come either. or it'll change on a daily fuckin' basis. hiding is all well and good for a little while. but it can't be the only fuckin' thing or we're gonna get walked all over. and i don't know about you, but i'm not about that life.

[strove]

[Was. Clarke knows the "was" life all too well.]

Agreed. Before I left, I told a couple people that we might be making it easier on whoever wants us hidden. That we haven't been moved or asked to react. Our circumstances are what came of Morningstar saving us. I don't resent them for it. They did good by us.

But it's obvious from coming back that that relationship can't continue how it was. Not to me. Not if we want them to be able to help the people who need helping.

[resleeves]

i think that relationship pretty much had to change after what happened.

[ that fuckin' bomb sped up the timetable on a lot of things. ]

so, you got a plan for putting this into action? since i can't imagine everyone's going to jump right into things and fall in line.

[strove]

We have to start with New Oslo. I have some ideas in mind for how to make that work for us, but I need to talk to a few of our number.

Once we find the first gate, I think we'll have a clearer path on how to move forward.

That's assuming Ball isn't asking us to do work for him. I don't think he is, but I can say that some of the people in that meeting were less ... forgiving.

[As intense as Clarke is at times, she didn't have the same basis for misgivings.]

[resleeves]

and you trust that this isn't some wild goose chase shit? he's not doing something to watch us run like hamsters in a goddamn maze?

[ wouldn't put it past this fuckin' place. ]

[strove]

If it is, we may have found ourselves an enemy to focus on.

[It's not necessarily the positive, do-better thinking that Clarke is proposing here, but it's still something.

An enemy doesn't need to be killed, even if that's often how it works.]

[resleeves]

you think that's a possibility? that he's jerking your chain.

[ give him your honest opinion. ]

[strove]

Honestly?

No. I don't. But I won't take well to being wrong about this.

[resleeves]

i'll cheer you on if it comes to that.

[ because fuck whoever tried to be some kind if prankster about this. ]

[strove]

I'm trying to avoid revenge quests, but if it comes to that, then we might be able to use his feigned interest in us to our advantage.

[But: again, Clarke doesn't think it will. Has to lean on optimism if nothing else.]

And hope he's not tied to Cassius in some way.

[resleeves]

yeah, i still don't know what to think of all that.

[ fuckin' ai. why couldn't they be more like poe? his poe, not the poe that was here. ]

it'd be nice to avoid another fuckin' computer program trying to blow us up.

[strove]

If it helps, I don't think he has a personal vendetta against us.

[It probably doesn't help.]

[resleeves]

i don't much appreciate being collateral fucking damage to him making a point.

[ so yeah, it doesn't help. ]

[strove]

Assuming damage is done.

[Clarke is keeping an open mind.]

[resleeves]

there's always some kind of damage.

[ #pessimist. ]

[strove]

If this works out, what do you think the damage will be? I'm truly curious.

[Aside from Sniper's narrow-minded panic over association with a god. Aside from Markus insisting that he never wanted this. It wasn't as if any of them had a choice. Going off what Gen says, gods and choice don't tend to go hand in hand with one another.]

[resleeves]

wouldn't be surprised if someone decides to kill us all and start over.

i don't want that to happen but i wouldn't be surprised.

[strove]

Why? Based on what? And how would they replicate us if what we've learned is true? And if it isn't true, why haven't they done it already? It's obvious that someone with power knows about us and seems to be fine with Morningstar scooping us up.

[resleeves]

based on my fucking hunch. people have died for nothing before here. why wouldn't it happen again?

[ again, he'd rather it not happen but he can't help but wonder if it will. ]

i've just been involved in people with power and money using those underneath them like pawns and when they've gotten all they can out of them, they toss them out. maybe we're making progress for them and we're not done yet.

[strove]

You need something more solid than that.

In my experience, it's easy to assume that someone will betray you. The hard part is assuming that they won't.

[Six years ago, Clarke would've been on his side. Funny how "Do better" is so universal to her thinking these days.]

[resleeves]

i assume the worst of everyone.

no one's given me reason not to. not yet.

[strove]

Harsh.

[We're friends, Kovacs!]

[resleeves]

nothing personal.

a few months isn't enough to erase two hundred plus years.

i'm working on it.