@clarke.griffin & @lance.sweets

[strove]

@clarke.griffin
Hi everyone. This is @clarke.griffin and @lance.sweets. We wanted to give everyone an update, as well as give a rundown on some things moving forward.

First off, I know some of you just made it back from the Aerie, while others have been back for a while. For anyone who hasn't heard yet, the Aerie was a separate world where everyone was brought to it and given a new life, new memories, and new relationships. It wasn't an easy place to live, and some of us have only gotten a headstart in coping with what we went through. Still, not everyone's figured out the particulars, and a lot of us just got our loved ones back.

Perhaps most importantly, while we as a group tend to have weird things happen to us, this is the first time that the entire collective world has had a shared experience like this. Many of us came from situations where we were more prepared for this than most of the population of this world. Even if you're new, I'm willing to bet that this is the case.

Being in the Aerie changed us. I believe Lance can put this better than I can, but it's important to remember that you're far from alone in any of this. I'll let him delve deeper into this now.

@lance.sweets
‘Complicated’ is not even close to a strong enough word for the situation we’ve all found ourselves in, and there’s not really any sort of established framework for how exactly to deal with it. We’re all going to be figuring this out as we go along, but there are some key points to keep in mind.

The first is to remember that, for any similarities or differences there might've been, the people we were in the Aerie are not exactly the same as we were here before, or are now. Some patience and understanding with each other will go a long way in navigating what's happened. Additionally, the way in which each of us--including the native citizens--deals with this will be different, and so it will help if everyone can remember that and have no expectations for what others might do or how they may feel, or in what timeframe those occur. There’s no right or wrong way to come to terms with everything that happened, and that includes reconciling two entirely separate lives; some may treat who they were in the Aerie as another individual entirely, some may try to blend the two, and some may prefer the person they were in the Aerie.

But as Clarke said, none of us are alone in this, and that’s something that shouldn’t just be sentiment. As difficult as it can be, reach out to others if you need help; likewise, check in on each other whenever possible. It's very easy, in the midst of something of this scale, for individuals to get lost in the chaos if there isn’t a concerted effort to make sure that doesn’t happen. On that note, we also have people here who had arrived only days before the Aerie began and so had no time to establish any sort of support network, as well as new arrivals who can’t be forgotten about in all of this.

For those of you who have just arrived, hopefully you've found the network; although you'll be anonymous until your IDs are registered, you can still participate in discussions and read through older conversations, as well as access the new arrivals guide and the information compendium, the latter of which I believe is updated but I may have missed something. It'll give you something to do as a distraction from the current situation, at least. Additionally, if you have questions or need something brought to you, someone may be able to help with that.

[Lance probably more with the former than the latter, since he's not entirely sure if he can even get into the safehouse right now and doesn't care to test it.]

@clarke.griffin
If you're looking at the arrival guide and noticing that we need some updates, they'd be welcome right now. I usually handle it, but I'm not of a mind to be able to do so at this moment. [Which will be apparent soon for a particular reason—but also, she was doing a lot in coming back from the Aerie. Clarke always has her hands full, but she also knows she has to make good on her "I delegate I don't do everything" word. See, Gene—she can commit to her nonsense.]

Finally, our group has a bar named Red Wings. Both @stephen.strange and I run the establishment, though it's going to fall mostly to me for the time being. If you would like a place to help you get started here, or even get familiarized with the world, Red Wings is a good place to get started. We offer jobs to all Displaced, and we're only staffed by Displaced, making it so that it's a place where you can settle in on your terms. [Unsurprisingly, she isn't mentioning any code of conduct or her firing someone rather publicly. No need to draw attention to it.] And if that doesn't appeal, we do give free meals (and sometimes drinks) to our own on a regular basis.

Right now, just as we've done before, Red Wings has been converted into a community center to provide outreach and resources to our community. If you come and help out, you'll still be considered an employee and paid wages for helping out.

As a note, I'll be in charge of operations for the time being. If you helped Stephen with any of his responsibilities, let me know. I could use some help. [The point being to take the onus off of Stephen. This is how they manage things.]

We believe that covers everything. We know this is a lot to digest, so please feel free to ask any questions. Lance and I are here to help.

Comments

@anonymous

[samebito]

I'm sorry to interrupt, but I do have one question. You've mentioned newcomers killing people and being arrested. However, this confinement doesn't eliminate the possibility of murder: it only restricts potential victims.

Are there any safeguards in place to prevent a newcomer from killing those trapped alongside them?

[strove]

I think that's where we're supposed to be around to help, plus the Morningstar agent. But most early injuries have been from sparring or punching the wall.

[samebito]

Really? I'm surprised these circumstances haven't led to bloodshed... If you don't mind, I have one other question: has anyone attempted to take hostages yet?

[ "Yet," because as far as Kisame is concerned, it's a valid tactic. It's only a matter of time before someone uses it. ]

[strove]

I believe threats of that nature have been attempted, but not broadly. As you can guess, it hasn't worked out. You can't seriously harm the person who needs to also open the door for you.

[samebito]

Perhaps not. But the harm doesn't have to be inflicted on the person who can open the door. Keeping a knife at the throat of a fellow newcomer could be just as effective. A desperate person might even kill one of their new comrades to prove that they're serious.

Something to consider when it comes to safety, eh?

[insect]

Kisame-san.

surprise action lmfao

[samebito]

[ Kisame looks over at Shinobu with an angry smile still in place.

… It falters slightly. ]

Yes, Shinobu-san?

[ As though he doesn't know why he's on the receiving end of That Tone. ]

[insect]

[ it's very "down boy" vibes as shinobu slides him a cup of tea. ]

If I didn't know better, I'd say it would seem as though you were insinuating murdering our fellow newcomers.

[ hm! ]

[samebito]

( continued! )

[strove]

It doesn't change the circumstances. You'd still be isolating a potential problem. Or do you think unleashing that problem on the entire world's population is a good idea?

[samebito]

Well, it's easier to kill someone when they're trapped. A person who can run or hide has a better chance of survival. On the other hand, a person in this safehouse would have nowhere to hide and no means of escape. It would be easier to kill everyone in here than to kill the same number of people outside.

[ And, thanks to Shinobu's intervention: ]

Anyway, I'm not planning to murder anyone. But I do know plenty of people who would take hostages or kill everyone out of frustration. Lucky one of them hasn't shown up, hm?

[strove]

Your point isn't being made as clearly as you're hoping. Just as someone is easier to kill while trapped, you can also force an unsuspecting, unprepared population that isn't prepared to defense ourselves (this is an extremely pacifistic world) to deal with someone like that.

Either way, I'm not the person who set these guidelines alone. The risk goes all ways.

[samebito]

Perhaps we're discussing different things? You seem to be considering the safety of those outside the safehouse. I'm considering the safety of those trapped within.

In any case, I do appreciate you answering my questions. It's been informative.

[strove]

I'm telling you that you're introducing a new problem to the arrangement, one that we've faced in the past. What happens to people outside of the safehouse reflects on us, too. That's another thing we need to consider when making a decision.

But I'm certain it's been informative. Really.

[samebito]

Where I'm from, the possibility of this safehouse turning into a slaughterhouse would be very real. It seems like a possibility that should be discussed rather than dismissed... But maybe that brand of violence is unique to my world.

[strove]

It's not. I will say that it's not uncommon in mine, but there's typically cause for it.

That's part of why I'm concerned about unleashing someone like that on the public, or forcing Displaced to volunteer to house someone who hasn't been vetted.

[samebito]

Do you think that a few days underground would change the mind of someone determined to kill? They could bide their time and then do it anyway. In my experience, close quarters and feeling trapped tend to exacerbate such things.

I had a comrade who used to kill his partners. No one ever lasted very long. His partner would annoy him, and so he would kill them. However, he never tried to kill those of us who weren't stuck with him day and night. When tempers flared, we were able to establish distance. His partners weren't, so they died. Forcing anyone into a confined space with him would likely be a death sentence.

I'm new here, of course. I don't know what resources are available or what individual Displaced are willing to do. From what I've read, the Displaced as a whole are eager to help. Is confining new arrivals who may be desperate enough to start killing or taking each other hostage really the wisest tactic?

[strove]

No, it won't. I've had people like that in my world, too. There's an understanding blood must have blood among a large group of people. Being brought here could be a way of ripping them away from their duties and life, and anyone not allowing them freedom could be worthy of that kind of response.

But this world is also a difficult one in which to commit murder. In a few days, someone like that can learn the degree of surveillance in this world, as well as the danger of doing it. They can learn that death is less permanent, and thus the act of doing it might not be worth it. It's one thing to want to harm someone, it's another thing to get away with it. Violence isn't as welcomed in this world, despite all that we've been through. It's possible that might change, but this is a world without wars, and the only dividing lines are between Morningstar and the government/corporations and, more recently, us and the government.

It's possible that the knowledge wouldn't help them. Wouldn't make them exercise caution. It's possible that they'd kill everyone around them in the safehouse and need to be put down. But you can't argue that you could control a situation like that more by letting someone loose than keeping them shut down in a smaller space. You limit the variant factors.

Mind you, this is an extreme situation. It hasn't happened yet. But if we're looking to minimize risk, we probably don't want to add more variables rather than less.

[samebito]

I see.

[ And he does, although he doubts it's what he's intended to see. He sees that putting new Displaced at risk is preferable to risking civilians. He sees that secrecy is valued more highly than freedom. He sees that peace is prized, even if it comes with the deaths of a few comrades.

He considers asking what this "Clarke Griffin" would do if torture were added to the equation. However, he doubts it would make any difference. The lines are clear — and they are familiar. ]

Thank you again for answering my questions.

[ It was indeed informative. ]