Session Start: Wed Aug 18 18:17:15 2010 meep? <@Ked> [The Hunt] <@Ked> [Friday, June 24, 2490 - 1945 Snowflake time] <@Ked> [Bouyer dormitory hall/lounge - strangely crowded tonight] <@Ked> So... it's Friday! Yay! Classes over, study groups done with, not a lot of homework yet after only the first week of the year, but the student body realizes abruptly that they're still stuck on campus! That's just no fun. They haven't quite gotten around to partying yet, but a loud conversation group has begun to attract a lot of attention in Bouyer and more than half the campus is hanging around there now. <@Ked> The conversation turns, for the moment, to politics, and things start getting really loud. <@Ked> [session start] No, no, NO! All the original colonists signed on with certain guarantees, and we, their heirs, are being cheated! * John is only partially paying attention. He's got a couch to himself, and is doing a lot of texting, along with general peoplewatching. That's what I'm saying! We had a republic-like council before the Duchess had to declare martial law, and with things settling down, and the Snowflake Magical Girls starting to show up, we should get back to running things ourselves! * Farah isn't usually the sort to really gravitate to all those silly, twittering girls, but she's on her way to the Fitness Center and the throng is kind of unavoidable. She actually stops to listen for once, duffelbag hanging from her shoulder. No offense to John, but what's so special about having magic? Unless you're Lady Leadership, it's not like it imbues you with intimate knowledge of how to make others' lives better. * John looks up, glances at Sei. Then he shrugs and turns back to his EI-pad. Well, you've got to admit that the Duchess has done a pretty good job of running things the last forty years. None of us are starving, and look at the progress we're making here! And we make the most when we're left to our own devices. We don't need the Hierarchy. We need to be treated like grown-ups. ...well, the grown-ups do. You know what I mean. * Nicholas saunters into the conversation pit from the elevators. Hey, Nick! Come on over, if you dare. Politics! You seen Sadao? * Farah almost immediately looks somewhat annoyed, but hasn't left yet. "... politics. Meh." What I wanna know, though, is what rerepublicization is going to do for me? It's not going to change my taxes, or what the government does, or anything. Rererepoobissizing... rerepublocizo... gah! * Aoi crosses her eyes trying to get the term out. No point in calling it rere. If it happens, it's going to be a new republic, not the old one. Democracy means that we're setting our priorities. Not some think-tank on Earth, or her Majesty, the Queen of the OTHER planet. * Farah has, by now, put her bag down and is fishing around for a protein bar. It's not often that the tomboy says much when people are talking about headache- inducing issues, but she looks to have taken to this one. "And where's that put the Ladies? Can't leave them out." What's it going to do for you? Leave you alone, if you want it to. And let you have a voice in setting those taxes, if you don't. Of course not! Farah, right? Sei Murdon, in case I hadn't shaken hands, yet. *grins boyishly* Ladies are people just like every other colonist, native-born or not. They have the same rights anybody else does, right? Well, what happens if we do get our own government? We're potentially independent, but the tech level will still lack. We'd have to trade crops for nano-fabricators? We've got everything we need! Even without more imports we can fab up to Earth tech now in a few decades. * Farah looks at Sei for a moment, evenly. It takes a few moments (and a downward glance) to really cement that she's female, as she carries herself in a deliberate, self-confident manner. "Farah, yeah." * Aoi finally stops choking on vocabulary. "What about SPIAR ships, though? We won't have those for a long time without the Fleet's help." ...leave me alone? Riiiight. Maybe if I farmstead progressively outwards the rest of my life. Government is a necessary condition. Ladies? Take them or leave them, whatever keeps the magic happy. With our own MG's, we have everything now! Except self determination. So we trade for 'em. If we don't have anything Earth needs, why's it still interested in us? For the SPIAR, I mean. * Farah grumbles something, taking a bite of 'tasty' protein goodness. "Navel gaze about the 'who' all you want. Figure out the 'how' first." * SeiMurdon doesn't seem to notice Farah's gender at all, being more caught up in the debate. The how's already in progress. This school is the beginning of 'how'. Well, Mr. Wind here seems to be on the right side of the issue. Eh. So long as whoever's steering the ship isn't a total fucker, you'll manage. We've always managed, and that won't change. ... this thing tastes horrible. Masamune-sama always had jelly to dip those in, Farah. ...granted it sort of defeats the purpose. Mmmm. Masako's right about that, at least. If Snowflake MG's are willing to be the wedge, then it doesn't have to turn violent. Carbs wouldn't hurt to have, for a workout, but point. * Farah then eyes Aoi. "... -sama. You went to her school before, or just a fan?" I will do everything I can to keep it from being violent. Like it or not, Earth has to be an ally, not an enemy, or a distant stranger. No, I had two years there before my mother bounced me over here. Sounds like an upgrade to me. Well, yeah. Earth's where we came from. OR our ancestors did. But, but, but - look, John, may I call you John? You're still a part of the Earth Magic, right? You're not something new? * Farah wraps the bar up and puts it away. She's listening, for now. * John grins a little. "Here? Sure." But still, we - what else're you gonna call him, "Jo"? - we need to not be dependent on Earth for leadership. And even aside from that, we shouldn't be relying on random chance to pick who guides us. The Magic is not random! Well, that's the fuzzy bit. We feel like Earth magic, but ... * John hmms. "I'm not sure if we're a Snowflake remix of the magic, or if we're similar but different cousins." But? * Farah grunts. "Different flavor, same brand, then." Either way, we're close, but not quite. Sure it is. "Lady Pi"? "Princess Football"? There's nothing there, just subconscious flotsam drifting to manifest when the Magic decides it likes you. How not, Aoi? Let's take John, here. Why's it taken so long for him to Become? And why him? He's a great guy, and I hope he considers me a friend, but I don't think there's something special about him - aside from having magic - that makes him better than me. --or you, or Farah, or Nick, or anybody else. Is there, John? Well, see? It brought the Lords and Ladies here! Where there was an alien thingy! And they were able to fight it! And so many MG's are such good leaders. I'd call that coincidence, but eh. Maybe. There wasn't that much special about my mother, either. It better be random, or the pool I'm running is going to be a disaster. It seems like the magic does what it wants, and we just make the best of it. The ancient stuff, the war, and now. We're just capitalizing on what cards are on the table. <@Ked> There's a clamor from the balcony above, and Nick excuses himself for a minute to take some more bets. Aoi? Aoi. You know why we tend to be better leaders? The same reason you're going to be one. Lots of government training. Wait, what? Pool? * SeiMurdon is suddenly distracted. Prolly on who'll Become next or something, I dunno. Aw, c'mon, have some faith in yourself. Oh. How'll he know? I could say the same to you, Aoi! *winks* * Nicholas gets back, his EI displaying a list of odds. He's actually near the top. Nothing magical about it. Just practicality, making sure those who need it have it. * Farah rolls her eyes. "There are enough people getting all hot and bothered to guess who's next to populate the nearest continent. It's a distraction at best." A distraction from what? Well, it'll be official sooner or later. The bet is that it becomes public knowledge, not whether you actually are or not. Here. Now. Just focus on yourself. The rest'll happen. And you're near the top of the list, Nick? *eyeing the holo-odds* People want to put money on me for some reason. I think I know who to blame... *looks around, shuts up* What's the bet? Who slips up, or who's next to join the list? <@Ked> Sadao is up on a balcony, about five meters back. Who simply is. Payout when it becomes common knowledge, expires on my graduation. Ooooh, that's just crass. * John laughs. "Can't play that one, then." * Farah shakes her head. "Well, whatever keeps people occupied." So. Focus on here and now? I think you're right, Farah. * Farah looks down to the pouch on her belt, pulling out her EI. It's a discontinued (and refitted) model, well-kept and well-loved, with the thick rubber exterior grip and screenguard one tends to see on miner EIs. "Damn right I am." Who actually wants to run for something in the student council? *standing up on a table to get everyone's attention...and not be one of the shortest people in the room* Fuck no. Count me out. * Farah grins a little. "I tend to make people angry." No, no, government is for me to take advantage of, not do. Hey, I'd be proud to represent all of you! I'm going for President. I'm going to need the practice, and I think I'll do a good job. * SeiMurdon nods. "Okay. I will say right now that I'm running for rep and for President! If they'll let a Freshman do that, anyway." I also promise not to run on the grounds of outstupiding people. And if Aoi gets on that, I want on too! Someone has to stop her from sucking up. Whatever Rachel's on, I want it. That's got to be some powerful shit. Hey, anybody in the Student council's gotta represent us students. That's why we have a council, rather'n just letting the administration run everything, right? <@Ked> Rachel's door is open. "You might want to say that in a different dorm, children." I'm sure Aoi would do her job. But, I *promise* I will! I'll make sure that we all have our voices heard, and that we're able to organize how we want within the bounds of the Student Council's purview! * Farah snickers. "We love you too." * SeiMurdon is radiating an aura of contagious enthusiasm. * Farah just *looks* at Sei. I'll work to keep this school as independent as possible! We should have more teachers, from all over Snowflake, not just the cities. What do you mean? More rural teachers, or more teachers not associated with the government? * SeiMurdon nods. "Both!" Hey! I promise even more than you! And someone needs to help the Ladies - have you seen what Lady Spoon's schedule is like? She's got a 17-hour work day, I think. Both! I'm not sure how that's the Student Council's job, but if she wants to offload some responsibility to us, that's great! Hm. I'll see if I can talk to Lady Spoon about that. * Nicholas looks down at his EI and frowns. "No, we can't run that bet, it's too short." I bet that there's just not enough teachers to get a, uh, 'fair' distribution, though. And I have friends back in Michiko - I think we could swing getting some more Ladies in for mentoring projects. * Farah turns to Lord Wind. "And there you go. I guess being chosen has its benefits." She fiddles with her EI, and a surprisingly blocky, cel-shaded fellow with floating limbs appears on the top of her hand. What does? Oh, 'cause he can talk to Lady Spoon? Can't we all? We're all her students. You shouldn't all pester her. She can say what she will. Yes we should - she's got the only real authority here! But a Lord has swing. And most of the Ladies are horribly obvious cradle-robbers anyway. If we're going to filter things to her, we should do it through the elected stuco, not through anybody who happens to be a Lord or Lady. ...wait, what? * SeiMurdon looks at Farah, confused. "Why would they steal babies?" There's a difference between a mob and a discussion? You can't get any ... finesse, or real information if you mob her. ...had an encounter with Miz Unicorn, did you? * Nicholas shivers. No, but there are rumors. And when I mean cradle-robber, I mean an older woman with a taste for younger men. ...huh? I met her on the train here...but she just seemed friendly. Not like a kidnapper. ...oh! ...oh... I didn't see any of...that... *looks pensive* HEY! Lady Unicorn? She's cute, but a little ... too eager? Eager. Yeah. Yow. * Farah snerks. "I imagine living a hundred years and still being fully- functional does things to your libido." ... *eyes Nicholas, making a mental note to either ask, or to avoid asking, in the future* See, and even if she did, what could actually be done to her? If the other Ladies - and I'm not saying they would - decided not to do anything, we wouldn't have any recourse! Vote for me! Vote SDS! VOTE FOR THE FUTURE OF SNOWFLAKE! Anyways, the other reason I should be president is precisely *because* I have swing. If you have problems, I can get through and make the solutions happen. * SeiMurdon blinks, and takes a breath to gather his thoughts. "Anybody in the President's position can do that, John!" Oh, you're a sidser. Should've noticed. That's part of their job! Pfft. Barbarians. Yes. Because wanting to take responsibility for oneself is barbaric. *deadpan* Well, just keep me out of math classes for the next three years and you get my vote. We may be kids today, but even Duchess Football said the world would need us tomorrow. Should those of us who don't win the magic lottery just lay back and be kids and leave it all to the Magical Girls? * Farah goes back to her work. "SDS has a lot of inroads back home. Hard-working folk like to be appreciated for their effort, but at the core of things, it's not evil. Just laziness and ignorance. Fix that even a little, and any government could make things better all around." * Nicholas stalks off to a different conversation pit, where some pickup EI boxing is happening. Just a matter of who can make the best pitch and win the most hearts. AIDrick, mail. That's... tricky. The SDS is in the right, but you're going about it wrong. * SeiMurdon doesn't notice as his own EI hops her hologram - in a sexy, loose- fitting fighting gi - off after Nick to join the ring. What, protesting? Winning elections where we're allowed to? What're they doing "wrong?" *honestly curious* Headbutting. Dunno... seems like speaking up and speaking out's the only way to be heard. The Queen gave us this system, and it works. It's good that they want to participate, but it's just not our prerogative to change the system. * AIDrick (the blocky fellow), seems to futz around a little. In a sharp, exaggerated Cockney accent, it announces: "Nothin' new, kiss." * Masako looks like she wants to say more, but... Well, if the people decide they wanna shake the earth, it shakes like Malletfall on a Monday. * Farah puts her EI away. "Nothing else to it." And force the Governmental Ladies Ordered hands? Look, even in Tokyo-E, there are democratic checks on the Queen. They've never been used, but they're there. There's nothing here. Nothing at all, and if that doesn't scare you, you need to read more history. * Masako sits down in a huff. Dad had me read Japanese, Chinese, and American history extensively. Pre-MG. I...didn't really follow it very well. It was so long ago. But I think I know what you mean. They're giving you as much leeway as they can! If you force more, they have Orders they have to follow that punish everybody! * Aoi is making some quiet notes with her EI. Nobody said that people wanting it different would be easy... John, right? There's a way to do this, but revolt isn't one of them! ...and that's an even bigger reason NOT to have MGs in charge! And nobody's talking revolt. There's a way, but only mine. Says the Lord. Sooooo tired. Bullshit. I was saying this before I became a Lord. * Farah snickers. "We saw what happens when the folks feel slighted. Execs end up bruised and Valve gets a new window installed in her stomach." I kinda kid, but anger has a way of making you rash and desperate. Oh my god, my father was at that meeting! I was so scared! It's a mess. I mean, look. Keeping it below the table was a bad idea, but I can kind of see why they did. Still, shit gets leaked and people started leaking. And now we won't have the mid-sedan models available until it all gets sorted out. That only supports my point. Ooooh. Precious cars that only the people getting the handouts can afford anyway. I will say that's a bit point-missy to say, Aoi, but... * SeiMurdon grumbles. "If there weren't handouts, more people could afford 'em." New stuff always trickles down. First they'll get it, and then the middle class, and then everybody! * Farah sighs. "It's to the point where you're going to need to spread the wealth a little to at least ease tensions." If it's delayed, it's delayed for everybody! That's not how it works. ...I don't think. Hantsuki! Trickle down. What's wrong with John's interpretation? And then folks get off their bank accounts *and* high horses and start to talk sense instead of cents. Will it happen anytime soon? HellifIknow. * Rachel quietly wanders out of her room, and up to the conversation. * Hantsuki blips into existence. She's apparently sparring an unseen opponent, still in her sexy little gi. "Trickle-down economics is a theory that postulates that letting the rich keep more of what they earn means they will spend it on hiring people and buying goods, enriching those below them in the chain. John's statement about hand-outs to the rich is flawed because those rich did not earn nor produce it." Hey, my grandfather built his first factory with his bare hands! Therefore, the wealth is concentrated artificially and slows optimization of the economy. According to Trickle Down theory. According to Keynsean theory, hand-outs should be given to the lower levels in order to stimulate purchases from the high-end. In that case, the rich people should receive the fab units, and the poor should be given credits to buy the fabricated goods. I'm not going to argue with a computer. You can't discount legacies earned, yeah. Oooog, can't we save the studying for classes? I have stated theory. Legacy and inheritance entitle the recipients to the property of their forebears. Under neither theory does it entitle them to additional property simply because they have it. However, other theories may be posited. * SeiMurdon chuckles. "Sorry, Masako. Hantsuki just knows facts better than me. So I thought I'd get her to clarify." * John makes a face. * Farah grumbles. "But hey. People. Point-missing. Right now the biggest issue is what happens when Football goes on to glory. Up in the air." Sei, dear, shut that thing up! Once again, I agree with Farah. Majorly up, and it's going to be a disaster even *if* there are some contingencies she's got planned, and I bet there are. Yeah. There's a reason I keep my EI on quiet mode. Hey, he called me over. I'm busy kicking some butt in the tourney over there. See ya!" *blips out* Sorry. *looks abashed* * Aoi looks cross-eyed once more, at getting smacked down by an EI. * Rachel sneaks up behind Murdon. But that's sort of the point: we shouldn't be so reliant on anybody that their singular death throws a wrench in the works. Duchess Football seems like a nice lady, from what I've seen of her, but we should have a government that runs smoothly regardless of personalities. IT shouldn't hinge on any one person! * SeiMurdon totally doesn't notice Rachel. It happens. That's some fantastic range you've got on that EI, Murdon! Lady or no, anytime you get that many tiers of organized society, you have to have a small amount of voices for anything to happen. * SeiMurdon jumps. "It is? Dad gave me the wristband before I went to school." Middle school, I mean. Hantsuki's a big help for organizing and studying and stuff. The situation required her to step up. That she didn't step down's another matter. There were reasons, and she prolly was under Order. Really? I didn't know anyone was making EI's on Snowflake, yet! Well, we've got a large number of voices. It's more a cacophony than a choir. * SeiMurdon shrugs. "Dad might've had it delivered." People smell chum in the water. You just don't want to hear us. Well, odds are one of the MG's will. And by chum I mean the new Ladies and Lords and whatnot. Hantsuki's based on Tsukihime, so he had the software already. * Rachel claps her hand and bounces, stopping conversation cold. Tsukiwha? * Farah shrugs. "It's going to be fucking hell for the---" The clap gets her attention, and inwardly she wonders what Rachel wants. Sorry, ma'am. I'm listening, I really am. But you're not offering any answers, you're just saying you don't like it the way it is! Oooookay. I don't know why you've all chosen MY dorm to gath- John, zip it! * John sighs, and closes the conversation window on his EI. But I do sympathize. Friday night, trapped on campus with your craaaazy RA - that's no fun! * SeiMurdon edges away from Rachel... I was gonna go train, actually. * Farah hefts her duffelbag, as if pleading to be let go. But! But! I have news from Spoon's office. You're stuck here tonight, but we've made arrangements, and you all will get twelve hours of liberty off-campus, noon to midnight, Saturdays. Starting tomorrow! Cool! ...where'll we go? * Farah opens her mouth, about to say something, then thinks against it. Two rules! Don't embarrass the school, and you MUST have your EI with you at all times. Do we have to stay in Q-City? * John fires up his EI again. "Herc, get a ticket for Becky. Or maybe one for me to go to her. Someplace we won't get mobbed." * SeiMurdon looks like he's about to say something, but Hantsuki appears on his shoulder and just grabs his earlobe possessively. "Got 'im." He rolls his eyes. Did I say you had to stay in Q-City? Anywhere we can go and come within twelve, sounds like. Enough time to get in trouble and out again. ...wow. But you do have to be back inside the gates by midnight. Or you turn into a pumpkin! Or get expelled! Or maybe just stuck on campus the rest of the year. All three sound pretty bad... ... Lady Pumpkin. There was a Lady Pumpkin, right? Duchy of Chicago, 2210ish. Your EI's will get details. There will probably be some leave on Sundays as well, but that will be a lot more limited. We're still firming up those plans. * Rachel turns away, then turns back. Oh, yeah, right. Chicago got all the weird Ladies and Lords, should've guessed. Doesn't sound any weirder than "Lady Spoon" to me. I don't really count the Beatstick Ladies as 'weird'. Well, powers-wise. Oh, and EI's will receive your student council ballots in just a few minutes. Voting is mandatory! Results will be sent back as soon as everyone votes! And we'll know who hasn't, and HUNT YOU DOWN. That's all. * Rachel strolls back into her apartment. Vote for me for rep and president! *standing on table, powerposing* Large-object ladies deserve respect. Looooots of respect. And distance. Vote for me - and join the SDS T3M chapter! Yeah. Lady Hammer is pretty scary when she's mad. ^^; * SeiMurdon agrees with Aoi. * "That bird's a bit Swayze, if you ask me, kiss." Farah quickly shuts AIDrick up, rolling her eyes. Support your Ladies! Vote Aoi! ... this voting business is going to be a mess, isn't it? Vote for Snowflake. Vote for Lord Wind. * Monica sidles into the conversation pit, wedging into the conversation. Hey! What're you doing calling yourself the representative of the whole planet, John? So MG. Soooo familiar. The planet chose me. So I've got a responsibility to the planet. Maybe, but that doesn't mean you're any more representative than anybody else who lives here. ...augh, stupid election crap. A vote for me is a vote for personal responsibility and freedom! For the pioneering spirit! I have a headache already... Monica, right? Can't we all just engage in some pointless consumerism? Don't see why not! * Monica is carrying an armful of fliers - they look like menus. "Anyway, this is almost a letdown after hearing we can go off campus, but... I pulled some strings and got a Snowcone franchise for the campus!" Hey, cool! --no pun intended. * Monica hands out the fliers. * SeiMurdon takes one! Oooh. What strings did you pull? * Farah takes one. "Your family's in the restaurant business?" * John has a looksee. Premium ice cream parlor... and it's just downstairs in the old atrium! That's so MG. Ice cream? Well... sounds alright, I guess. Pops is going to never let me hear the end of this... 've eaten more junk food since I got here than in, like, the last five years prior. Isn't that a sitcom? *to John's line* Oh, no, my family is in the hospital biz. But we know people. Who know people. And who doesn't want to help out some poor students? * Masako spittakes. ...um... riiiiight. * Aoi nods sagely. "It's good that they want to help." * SeiMurdon is just quick enough not to blurt out what is probably obvious to everyone else. * John laughs. "We're all poster children for charity cases." Am not! Poor, my ass. I may not be rich, but Dad's always worked hard and had me work hard, too! And we do pretty well with the farm and his star explorer's pension. *nods firmly* * Farah grumps. "Ugh. I keep forgetting I only got in here probably because Composo liked Pops." * Monica eyes Murdon. "A Navy pension? An EXPLORER'S pension? And you don't think you're rich?" Well, it's probably all tied up in eYen. * SeiMurdon wilts. "...is that a lot? Dad never spends a ton..." Prolly. A couple of centuries of compound returns will make anyone filthy rich. Oh. I never tried to do the math. But why's he here, then? Can't buy shit on Snowflake. * SeiMurdon shrugs. "Dunno. He retired here. We have land out in the mountains. I guess he wanted privacy, and self-determination." * Aoi starts to say something, then stops. Well, we all want to feel like we mean something, y'know? Glad he did, or I wouldn't've met 'im. --yeah! *agreeing with Farah* And here, on the frontier, we all *do*. Magical girl or not! Yeah, I remember reading about the first years. Shoulder-to-shoulder hand-to-mouth madness, but people survived. 's what got us here in this place, really. If it weren't for the exchange limitations, he could probably buy Q- City. Sheesh, I though our family was doing well, but I can't hardly compete on this campus. You're better off that me, easy, but that doesn't mean much in the end. ...oh. *pushes index fingers together* I never knew... * John grins. "Good enough to get here." * SeiMurdon pulls out his fan and fiddles with it. "I thought that was just 'cause Dad's old friends with Lady Hammer." You have the best EI any of us have ever seen, Murdon. That doesn't come cheap. Of course, it's RUDE, too. Maybe it knows it's worth more than the sum of our organs? * Farah deadpans. Hard to tell if she's joking. * Monica finishes handing out fliers in time to wince at Farah's comment. Given that at least one of you is a Lord, I am only worth almost as much as the sum of your organs. That's refreshing to know. That's the best argument for democracy, I think - if there was a real government, there would be politicians' kids here, not just rich kids. At least you defer to one living thing. Is powdered Lord scrotum worth more on the black market? ... I think there are a few charity cases like me, but not a lot of them. * John just eyes Masako. * Farah looks at Masako. "... probably." Sorry, sorry. Fresh is probably more, though. Malletfall's, Escalator's, Tokyo Earth's, or elsewhere? * Aoi runs away. * SeiMurdon turns bright red and punches the mute button on his wristband. Hantsuki just smiles enigmatically. Does it have numbers for Epsilon Eridani? You didn't tell me your EI was part of the Mafia. I am SO sorry. * SeiMurdon glares at the little hologram, who just makes a V for victory sign and blips off again. And to be fair, there's bound to be some crazy who'd make a talisman or something out of some Lord's leathered ballflesh. <@Ked> In the background, you notice Sadao go running off somewhere, too. But I digress. Please do. ...I vote we all stop thinking about this, and go buy some ice cream! * Farah grins, slightly. * SeiMurdon makes the universal male sign of discomfort at this topic of discussion, and shivers. "...yes! Ice cream!" * SeiMurdon marches off that way, taking the lead if needs be! <@Ked> Everyone's' EI beeps - election time! <@Ked> [end session] Session Close: Wed Aug 18 20:43:30 2010