Barok van Zieks (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
winebar) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
crescentview2023-01-17 10:01 pm
winebar) wrote in crescentview2023-01-17 10:01 pm
Town Hall Meeting The Second
WHO: Everyone willing
WHAT: van Zieks trying to catherd, again, in order to Establish Law & Order.
WHEN: Sometime in the Summer between the various events.
WHERE: the forest, outside van Zieks' farm.
WARNINGS: chaos mostly, more will be added if needed.
[A week or so after the chaos of Hot or Not, each farm will recieve another missive from Barry Z himself, chief buzzkill, who clearly learned nothing from how things went last time. It reads as such;]
To All Parties Brought to the Island by the Harvest Goddess,
Tomorrow at 11AM sharp, please arrive at the location indicated on the map shown of the reverse of this document. The topic of discussion on the table is the potential establishment of some form of social contract and body of law. As before, I cannot force attendance, however, I would again hope everyone sees the benefit in being involved in this discussion.
Sincerely,
Lord Barok van Zieks, Esquire
[And again as before, there's a map on the back. This time leading one to van Zieks' residence, an orderly forest farm with a nice stable currently housing the horse van Zieks rode in on to make himself the boss of things, apparently.
At the time of the meeting, there are two tables that were clearly brought out from inside. There are... snacks? Van Zieks is not a chef, you will have these strawberries and fried mushrooms and you'll like it, I guess. There was an attempt. Van Zieks himself is still dressing in his less fancy- but still absurd for this weather- three piece suit.]
Than you all for coming. I understand that the topic I have put on the table may seem... needlessly dire to some, however, in the case that something does happen, it would be far better for us to already have a system in place. I do not think we currently require any sort of active police force, but rather that we should have some sort of agreed set of behavior in place, and then elected individuals to adjudicate any potential disagreements.
As far as a social contract, on Mr. Trahearne's advisement, it would follow thusly; [He pulls out another paper to read from.]
- Do not cause unsolicited physical harm to one other.
- Do not harm or otherwise disrupt another person's farm.
- Do not damage, destroy, or unlawfully take possession of another person's property.
- Do not vandalize or otherwise disrupt communal spaces for us or the townspeople.
- Do not behave in such a manner that would elicit broad reprisal against the group as a whole from the townspeople or the goddess.
If anyone has any other thoughts, feel free to share them. I feel that this is basic enough that even those of you more prone to... rebellion can agree to it.
The second matter is to discuss how to handle if someone does break these rules. While I have made clear before my prior experience with the law, I understand that a system like this can only function if there is trust in those enforcing it. Thus I think that the authority should be given to whoever the group as a whole feels most comfortable entrusting it to. So I open the floor to nominations for that responsibility.
Finally, I'd like to make clear why this is necessary. I have spoken to the goddess, and as long as it does not directly interfere with her and her means, she has no intent of intervening if something were to happen to one of us. We are not her "people," the residents of the town are. Therefore, it is imperative that we work together to protect ourselves.
[And now he will step back and hope that some productive discussion happens.]
WHAT: van Zieks trying to catherd, again, in order to Establish Law & Order.
WHEN: Sometime in the Summer between the various events.
WHERE: the forest, outside van Zieks' farm.
WARNINGS: chaos mostly, more will be added if needed.
[A week or so after the chaos of Hot or Not, each farm will recieve another missive from Barry Z himself, chief buzzkill, who clearly learned nothing from how things went last time. It reads as such;]
To All Parties Brought to the Island by the Harvest Goddess,
Tomorrow at 11AM sharp, please arrive at the location indicated on the map shown of the reverse of this document. The topic of discussion on the table is the potential establishment of some form of social contract and body of law. As before, I cannot force attendance, however, I would again hope everyone sees the benefit in being involved in this discussion.
Sincerely,
Lord Barok van Zieks, Esquire
[And again as before, there's a map on the back. This time leading one to van Zieks' residence, an orderly forest farm with a nice stable currently housing the horse van Zieks rode in on to make himself the boss of things, apparently.
At the time of the meeting, there are two tables that were clearly brought out from inside. There are... snacks? Van Zieks is not a chef, you will have these strawberries and fried mushrooms and you'll like it, I guess. There was an attempt. Van Zieks himself is still dressing in his less fancy- but still absurd for this weather- three piece suit.]
Than you all for coming. I understand that the topic I have put on the table may seem... needlessly dire to some, however, in the case that something does happen, it would be far better for us to already have a system in place. I do not think we currently require any sort of active police force, but rather that we should have some sort of agreed set of behavior in place, and then elected individuals to adjudicate any potential disagreements.
As far as a social contract, on Mr. Trahearne's advisement, it would follow thusly; [He pulls out another paper to read from.]
- Do not cause unsolicited physical harm to one other.
- Do not harm or otherwise disrupt another person's farm.
- Do not damage, destroy, or unlawfully take possession of another person's property.
- Do not vandalize or otherwise disrupt communal spaces for us or the townspeople.
- Do not behave in such a manner that would elicit broad reprisal against the group as a whole from the townspeople or the goddess.
If anyone has any other thoughts, feel free to share them. I feel that this is basic enough that even those of you more prone to... rebellion can agree to it.
The second matter is to discuss how to handle if someone does break these rules. While I have made clear before my prior experience with the law, I understand that a system like this can only function if there is trust in those enforcing it. Thus I think that the authority should be given to whoever the group as a whole feels most comfortable entrusting it to. So I open the floor to nominations for that responsibility.
Finally, I'd like to make clear why this is necessary. I have spoken to the goddess, and as long as it does not directly interfere with her and her means, she has no intent of intervening if something were to happen to one of us. We are not her "people," the residents of the town are. Therefore, it is imperative that we work together to protect ourselves.
[And now he will step back and hope that some productive discussion happens.]
no subject
no subject
[ No need for such a big sip. Everyone here has been dishonest at least once in their life, Diluc included. ]
no subject
... I have no regrets.
[ Drinks or lies? It is a mystery. ]
no subject
I'll drink to that. [ It's very admirable. Another shot goes down the hatch. ] Is it alright outright admitting it in public?
[ If the lie is so heavy as to warrant such a huge gulp, it must pose quite a burden on the heart. ]
no subject
[ He points out blithely, without intending to be mysterious. Not that he wouldn't say more about the number of lies he's told if asked right now.
Thanks in part to that rather large gulp from before. ]
no subject
What sort of reason compelled you? To protect someone, or to safeguard others from harm? [ There are plenty of reasons why someone might fib outright. A long sip like that is horribly telling. ] We've only just met, but I can't imagine you'd lie for "unjustifiable" reasons.
[ Dishonesty or evasiveness with the truth? The distinction is important. ]
no subject
But, eventually, the alcohol loosened words follow. ]
Did not wish to fight any longer.
no subject
Putting it that way, it sounds like you never wanted to fight. Were you a soldier?
no subject
He sounds too calm about it. There is no changing things now. ]
I'm afraid, I never had a choice.
no subject
[ Did futility premeditate whatever lie was told? ]
I guess I don't understand. I've never thought about my own life that way. Even when I was carrying out someone else's will, I've always made my own choices.
no subject
He sounds serene, posture relaxed with wine. And hindsight. He rarely lingers here. ]
... My parents asked it of me. I believed them.
[ A shift, subtle as his following words firm with confidence only to drift off airily by the end. ]
I do not regret it. I am alive now, to make my own choices.
no subject
[ Naïveté on his part, thinking of his own family in Snezhnaya, and the glistening, unshed tears in his mother's eyes the day he crawled out of the Abyss and returned home. Childe mulls over the response he's been given. ]
Well, what are you planning to do with the life you have now?
no subject
Parents can be, misguided.
[ But he is patient through to the next question, another sip to ease the words. His voice lowers, but he leans in slightly to make up for it. ]
I suppose... to live here, bring in the harvests, enjoy time to myself. And, to attend meetings such as these.
[ That last one he sounds especially serene about. Meetings are always eventful, in one way or another. ]
no subject
[ So much is parceled in that sentence that Childe can't help but empathize, in the end. ]
It's Childe, by the way. Or Tartaglia. [ He ought to at least share his name. ] Everyone has their reasons for doing what they do. I think those who love you always want the best for you. But you're right. Parents can be misguided. Anyone can be.
[ Honestly, the likelihood that he's led himself astray has never left his mind once. ]
What about you? Do you feel misguided?
no subject
Kaspar.
[ An easy response. But the rest lags as he gives the question consideration with a soft hum. A stray bird pulls his gaze away briefly as it soars over the gaps in the upper branches and leaves. ]
... Not now.
[ He looks back to Childe or Tartaglia, most of his next words not originating with him. Translated from Groscian, they become his in a way regardless. A saying, for those who've braved the depths. Though Kaspar eventually drew a far different understanding than his peers by the end. ]
You can't unsee the dark, once your eyes have adjusted.
[ It felt right to say, as right as the question that he is already forming. ]
no subject
Must have been quite the plunge for you.
[ Plummeting from blind obedience into everlasting darkness until Kaspar gathered the strength to claw back up, was it? Perhaps those words should rankle at Tartaglia, but he braves this sight nonetheless, leaning in to utter something only those from Teyvat would be able to fully parse. Here, it comes off as some approximation in Latin. Ducam regina mea gloria haud pluribus impar. ("Let me lead my queen to near unmatched glory.") It's a phrase all Fatui agents bestowed a Delusion know by heart, gifted with the knowledge of what leeches away at them. ]
You aren't the only one who's gazed into the depths. [ On that parting note, he'll rise to his feet. ] ... Don't be a stranger, Kaspar.
[ Come find him again sometime, as Tartaglia chooses now to take his leave. ]
no subject
Groscian, Kaspar's own parting words are a farewell wrapped in the imagery of seeing one another in light again. It drifts off melodically, capped with a small smile that cares little if the other man actually heard it or not. Kaspar remains where he is regardless, without looking after him. ]