You got me thinkin' about potential ways to try to get things goin' in a better direction.
Thought the idea of regular audiences ta petition the Duchess might offer a doorway ta conversation.
That made me consider the option of havin' another Touched moot ta discuss ideas of what issues an' proposals we might prioritize, e'en if it ain't that one.
[He's quick to clarify.]
I'm not lookin' ta suggest ya head it or anythin'; I'm just curious if you think it's a good idea. [Sweeney corrects himself.] Or at least, not a stupid one.
It's not a stupid idea. There are a lot of newer people around that weren't part of that. They should have a forum to voice their thoughts.
[Jordana also thought it might even be more contentious than the last one given some of these new people.]
Though trying to have one too close to this current captivity, assuming we ever get to leave, would make it more difficult. I certainly won't want to be around people in large groups for a while.
There is a major problem that didn't exist before that can't be ignored: the Court. I don't expect they will just shut up and listen or actually contribute like supporters did last time. It's different now.
[It's not untrue. And it's something that he hadn't considered. There's a brief pause as he reflects.]
Do ya think it makes it a moot effort? Or... [He struggles for something else.] Maybe I could field the idea with a couple of them or somethin'? Feel them out?
[Sweeney's doing his best not to scrap the idea before he invests too much time into another inevitable failure.]
I think there's always going to be people against collaboration. I also think the non-Court void-touched greatly outnumber those of the Court. I just don't think it'll be comments from the oesnut gallery kind of dissent this time.
So it's not going to take the keys out from underneath but it'll be messy. Maybe we need messy.
There've always been hardline dissenters on both sides. I ain't under any false hope that there will be a consensus on anythin' at all. Even if 'bout if we should have the thing in the first place.
[That said.]
Do ya expect that that shit'll be cracked up ta eleven? Blood on the floor?
[It's always a potential, but it sure would be nice if the rage was contained to shouting.]
Yeah. Highly likely, at least, because of Matthew.
[There was a subtle growl in her voice when she said his name. She was going to kill Matthew when the opportunity presented itself.]
He'll probably threaten to pop heads and flex his abilities, which will cause others to do the same. He'd be the one I'd put money on to light the fuse.
[He mulls a bit longer, before something occurs to him.]
Perhaps, this would be one'a those Secular Authority situations.
[If Jordana wants to use the 'the citizens are the ones that actually rule the town' argument, there's no good reason not to let things play out with those lines in place.]
One would assume such an attack ta be a Crime of the Mind, I would think.
[As a half-moon, Jordana had gone to several Rubean moots to learn how they worked and the learn the laws.]
If, say, Matthew showed up with the intent to disrupt and provoke or use force to silence people, then yes it would be a Crime of the Mind as I understand it.
But if he was there and got into a heated argument with someone and lost his temper, lashing out, it could be a Crime of the Stomach. It just would depend on how the hearing went and the evidence presented.
But either way, it's punishable under Rubean law if someone were to take it to their moot.
[Sure, that'd be fine, too. He still likes to think that it's an effort to support her ideas without actually saying it, because Sweeney needs more practice with that. It's better to ask questions. He can do that. And she has valuable thoughts; he doesn't criticized her there, even when he doesn't agree with them.]
In either case, do ya think it would be a better course? Leavin' the responsibility in a more mundane realm, instead'a tryin' ta force restraint with magic?
[Jordana thought for a long moment. She thought about her last lesson with the cubs before her pack left on their quest. It focused on things she had learned through her time overseeing Ren's Coyote pack as they rose from Cliath to Fostern Rank.]
I think if we want people to act like adults, we need to treat them like adults.
In this case, putting magical handcuffs on everyone may send the message that they can't be trusted. I've known people that get more 'fuck you' when they think others assume they're going to cause trouble.
And it gives people agency, both to express themselves and to bring others before the town for accountability.
[They may come from different places with different backgrounds, but there does seem to be something they share. Both understand the fundamental principle of Talk Shit, Get Hit. It's something that Sweeney's onboard with, even when he's often on the Getting Hit side of things. It's still better than the Getting Hit For No Good Reason, which he's also done plenty of.]
I agree.
[Which honestly, feels really good. No stipulations or half-measures. They can just be on the same page. It lets his shoulders rest, if only for a moment. Sweeney's well-aware that he probably only has a few more sentences before he steps in it again. Maybe it's best to quit while he's ahead. Or, at least, not behind.]
I appreciate yer counsel on this.
I'll make some other inquiries 'bout the potential, an' we can see where it goes from there. [He makes a quick note, just confirming that he remembers.]
Sometime, down the road.
[Not in the immediate, when shit is extra fucked, and moods are foul by default.]
Would ya mind lettin' me know when you might feel up fer it? I'd like ta hold off on it 'til ya can be comfortable 'nough ta put up with folk's bullshit.
I value havin' yer Voice there.
[There's a weight to the word that implies her counsel and ideas.]
I hope you find what ya need out there, no matter how long it takes.
[It's spoken with a sense of support, but also a conclusion, like he doesn't have anything else he's looking to waste her time with, but he's also content to continue conversation, should she wish to.]
Let's just hope we're out of here soon. [Grumbled words lacking bite.]
I'm glad we talked. [It was nice to know they could still talk.] Have a not-terrible day. I'm going to try the other side of the library to find a not-terrible book.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Looking for advice
Hey. Is now a good time?
[Sweeney had tried to balance between giving her the morning with Vex and her potential hunt at night.]
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Yeah. I gave up on trying to find a book in a language I could read that wasn't smut about twenty minutes ago.
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Thought the idea of regular audiences ta petition the Duchess might offer a doorway ta conversation.
That made me consider the option of havin' another Touched moot ta discuss ideas of what issues an' proposals we might prioritize, e'en if it ain't that one.
[He's quick to clarify.]
I'm not lookin' ta suggest ya head it or anythin'; I'm just curious if you think it's a good idea. [Sweeney corrects himself.] Or at least, not a stupid one.
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[Jordana also thought it might even be more contentious than the last one given some of these new people.]
Though trying to have one too close to this current captivity, assuming we ever get to leave, would make it more difficult. I certainly won't want to be around people in large groups for a while.
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I'm just...tryin' ta look ahead. Find a way ta try ta make things better fer people.
[He knows the goal he'd been working towards is DOA, so he's trying to pivot to something else. Anything else, at this point.]
I know it might not do that, but I'm hopin' it'd at least be a way fer people ta feel like they're bein' heard, e'en if it's just by the rest'a us.
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Do ya think it makes it a moot effort? Or... [He struggles for something else.] Maybe I could field the idea with a couple of them or somethin'? Feel them out?
[Sweeney's doing his best not to scrap the idea before he invests too much time into another inevitable failure.]
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So it's not going to take the keys out from underneath but it'll be messy. Maybe we need messy.
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[That said.]
Do ya expect that that shit'll be cracked up ta eleven? Blood on the floor?
[It's always a potential, but it sure would be nice if the rage was contained to shouting.]
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[There was a subtle growl in her voice when she said his name. She was going to kill Matthew when the opportunity presented itself.]
He'll probably threaten to pop heads and flex his abilities, which will cause others to do the same. He'd be the one I'd put money on to light the fuse.
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Maybe the hall could be warded against violence or somethin'?
[It's clear that he's just spitballing, throwing around half-formed things to see if any of them are palatable enough to consider in more depth.]
Or do ya think it would be better, lettin' folk get that shit out an' addressed with the violent parts?
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[Jordana wasn't sure how to ward anyplace against violence without spirits involved.]
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Perhaps, this would be one'a those Secular Authority situations.
[If Jordana wants to use the 'the citizens are the ones that actually rule the town' argument, there's no good reason not to let things play out with those lines in place.]
One would assume such an attack ta be a Crime of the Mind, I would think.
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[As a half-moon, Jordana had gone to several Rubean moots to learn how they worked and the learn the laws.]
If, say, Matthew showed up with the intent to disrupt and provoke or use force to silence people, then yes it would be a Crime of the Mind as I understand it.
But if he was there and got into a heated argument with someone and lost his temper, lashing out, it could be a Crime of the Stomach. It just would depend on how the hearing went and the evidence presented.
But either way, it's punishable under Rubean law if someone were to take it to their moot.
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In either case, do ya think it would be a better course? Leavin' the responsibility in a more mundane realm, instead'a tryin' ta force restraint with magic?
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I think if we want people to act like adults, we need to treat them like adults.
In this case, putting magical handcuffs on everyone may send the message that they can't be trusted. I've known people that get more 'fuck you' when they think others assume they're going to cause trouble.
And it gives people agency, both to express themselves and to bring others before the town for accountability.
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I agree.
[Which honestly, feels really good. No stipulations or half-measures. They can just be on the same page. It lets his shoulders rest, if only for a moment. Sweeney's well-aware that he probably only has a few more sentences before he steps in it again. Maybe it's best to quit while he's ahead. Or, at least, not behind.]
I appreciate yer counsel on this.
I'll make some other inquiries 'bout the potential, an' we can see where it goes from there. [He makes a quick note, just confirming that he remembers.]
Sometime, down the road.
[Not in the immediate, when shit is extra fucked, and moods are foul by default.]
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I value havin' yer Voice there.
[There's a weight to the word that implies her counsel and ideas.]
If yer interested in sharin' it, at the time.
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If I know I'll be okay, I'll let you know. I'm just not sure I'll be able to tell unless I'm presented with a crowd.
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I hope you find what ya need out there, no matter how long it takes.
[It's spoken with a sense of support, but also a conclusion, like he doesn't have anything else he's looking to waste her time with, but he's also content to continue conversation, should she wish to.]
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I'm glad we talked. [It was nice to know they could still talk.] Have a not-terrible day. I'm going to try the other side of the library to find a not-terrible book.
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Good luck.
[With that, he fucks off to find something else to keep busy with. Not even something sexual. Just...a good distraction.]