#1 video; @waltz

[enveloped]

[The video starts with a tall, bearded man wearing a tailored suit sitting on the edge of a very executive looking desk in an equally executive looking office.

He smiles before speaking in a low, steady voice, his arms by his sides. Purposely left uncrossed. No fidgeting. He's comfortable in front of a camera, but not without practice.]

To be forcibly removed from our homes, support networks, and everything we’ve ever known is no small matter. For some, the experience can be traumatic. You may struggle with day to day life, or find yourself feeling unsafe in your new home. Holding down a job or making connections with other people can feel difficult, or even impossible, when you're uncertain of your environment and place within it. Everyone copes differently.

Very few of us asked to be here, and it's necessary the city is prepared to deal with the very real problems experienced by its displaced citizens, and accommodate their needs as efficiently and empathetically as possible in order to create and maintain a happy, healthy society. My name is Cameron Waltz, I'm a negotiator and cultural mediator from Earth, and I've been appointed the role of public representative to present our needs to the city council, and ensure our voices are being heard.

I'm looking for feedback on how your life has changed for the better or the worse since your arrival. I'll start with a few questions, none of which you have to answer, but would be very helpful in solidifying the case I'm building.

Please answer as honestly as you're comfortable. Anonymous commentary is allowed on this post, and you're welcome to be as vague or as specific as you'd like, without fear of discrimination.

I greatly appreciate any and all responses. With your help, we can find the holes in the existing social services system and work together to close them.

Thank you for your time.

--text attachment

-Have you felt adequately supported by the city, and its representatives?

-Do you struggle mentally or emotionally with your expatriation on a day to day basis?

-Are there aspects of life in Riverview you find more difficult than others?

-If you’re a minor, or know a minor, have you found the social services offered adequate?

-Are you satisfied or dissatisfied in the career provided for you? Do you find yourself changing jobs often?

-Do you struggle to make ends meet?

-If there's any one thing the city could do to improve your life, what would it be?

Comments

[bardish]

[ Stop stroking your beard, you handsome angel. ]

Yeaaaahhh, that seems... lacking...

[ Jeff winces, visibly bothered by the thought of overcrowded orphanages and numbers for names. ]

Okay, I'm gonna call that a low bar to clear.

Maybe the city could start recruiting foster parents. I mean, you know, with vetting! A lot of vetting! And training. Best practices, uh... That... that kind of thing... would be...

...cool.

[ Gosh he's so articulate today. ]

[enveloped]

It's a very low bar. So low you could step over it.

[See what he did there Jeff?]

That's a good idea. At the very least we could gauge interest.

In many ways, it could be very therapeutic for both parties. Contrary to popular belief, humans aren't inherently selfish, and often function better when they are put in a position to care for someone more vulnerable than themselves.

It creates a sense of emotional fulfillment and agency.

[He's smiling now, still stroking his chin. You can practically see his brain ticking behind his eyes.]

[bardish]

[ He lets out a laugh-- STARTLED, ACTUALLY, because he hadn't expected Cam to refer back to that particular line of conversation. ]

Did you just say I had a good idea? You might want to repeat that for [ Raising his voice, BECAUSE YOU CAN BET JEFF AND ATHENA ARE IN THE SAME ROOM OR APARTMENT OR WEV RN. ] a certain Athena.

[ But all jokes aside, Jeff's smiling, warm and genuine, because god, he agrees. He agrees so hard with that optimism!

(How had he misjudged this guy so much? Well. He supposes it's kind of hard to see the kindness in a man while he's verbally eviscerating you for doing your job...) ]

Yeah... And it'd really, y'know. Foster even more of a sense of community here. Like we're not all just cosmic debris that wound up here accidentally.

[citharede]

[ Same room, or rather she was in the kitchen raiding the shelves like she do, so she leans back into the living room and yells: ]

FLUUUUKE.

[ Before she goes back to making a peanut butter and banana-ish sandwich. ]

[enveloped]

[She earns herself a snort.

That's his girl.]

Private.

[11calls]

[Okay, Jeff Alex thinks you're adorable. Also she's really hoping that she's not ever been this bad. Because seriously.]

So, this is him, huh?

Private.

[bardish]

[ What're you talking about, JEFF'S SO SUBTLE.

He groans. ]

Yeah...

Am I that obvious?

Private.

[11calls]

Well...

[Yes, Jeff, yes you are. But:]

It's adorable.

Private.

[bardish]

I appreciate you trying to spare my ego!

[ Pause pause pauuuuuuuuuuse-- ]

So can you get a read on him?

Private.

[11calls]

What are friends for?

Still working on it, but he seems sincere to me. Sincere and earnest, like he wants to be helpful.

Private.

[bardish]

Oh yeah! He's... [ Dreamily: ] he's so sincere.

[ Which is how, like, Jeff's found himself nursing a GROWING CRUSH ON THE GUY. ]

Private.

[11calls]

[Alex is just going to smile at that, and it's practically audible.]

So, it sounds like you've already made your decision then, Jeff.

You really need to ask him for coffee.

[enveloped]

Yes, I did say you had a good idea. Because it is. A sense of community is the quickest way to security.

[Jeff Calhoun has a nice smile. Better than nice.

Cam tilts his head, because what Jeff says is what makes him want to see what's behind that smile. Jeff isn't so happy-go-lucky or simple as he appears to be. And he's not an idiot, either.

Well, not all the time.]

Is that what you feel like? Cosmic debris?

[bardish]

[ He draws in a breath, smile fading as he thinks on it, mulls over the question for a moment. ]

In a way, yeah. It's, y'know, like we're all just fragments of our worlds that kind of drifted over here. [ He shrugs, a hint of that smile returning. ] But I figure we can make something good out of debris.

[ Pause. Okay, look, he knows how most people might take him waxing poetic on space debris. ]

I swear I'm not high right now!

[enveloped]

You have a way with words.

[Cam smiles, because Jeff is full of surprises.

He's curious to know what's going on under that smile.]

Human beings, and I suppose other sentient species, are amazing in that they can change the world around them. Animals exist in nature. We shape it. For better or worse.

In this case, I'd like to think it's for the better.

[bardish]

I do?

[ Help, he seems genuinely surprised to hear that. USUALLY PEOPLE JUST WRITE IT OFF AS STONER HIPPIE RAMBLING.

Hell, he didn't even come up with most of the lyrics to his own music. His bandmates were better at that. ]

That's a nice way of putting it. I like that. Too many people go right to cynicism instead. Like it makes you more real to think of everyone else as garbage.

[ That kind of mentality is just... sad, to him. Depressing and mean. The world's got enough of that. ]

[enveloped]

You do. You're one of very few men to surprise me... just don't let it go to your head.

[A little smirk, and he's leaning back on one arm. Relaxing. This is a topic he's both comfortable in and passionate about.]

As someone who's seen a very large portion of our planet through extensive travel, I can honestly tell you most people in most places are good. Or want to be.

Some people end up on dark paths, but very few want to be there. Give them another option and they'll almost always choose the way out.

[bardish]

[ Jeff grins, and there's a note of laughter in his voice. ] Too late.

[ It's all gone to his head!! You've created a monster, Cameron Waltz!

The grin softens again to a more sedate smile, as he listens to Waltz talk about his observations of... people in general. How most are good, or trying. It's so refreshing, to see that open, candid optimism from, like, SOMEBODY OTHER THAN HIMSELF.

God, he wants to see more of Waltz. Get to know him in so many ways. ]

Yeah... I haven't traveled much, but I've, ah. I've seen my share of people on dark paths. [ He was one of those people. ] You're right. Very few of 'em want to be there.

private;

[bardish]

-Have you felt adequately supported by the city, and its representatives?
Mostly? But I'm also an old man so I'm used to adapting to life's shit curveballs.

-Do you struggle mentally or emotionally with your expatriation on a day to day basis?
Yes - emotionally I guess? It got easier with Athena here, but I miss my daughter, and I don't think that's about to go away anytime soon.

-Are there aspects of life in Riverview you find more difficult than others?
Are there support groups? There should be support groups. Maybe online so people can do the anonymous thing. Unless these things already exist! Admittedly I didn't look very hard for them because I keep putting it off for later.

[ STOP RAMBLING. ]

-If you’re a minor, or know a minor, have you found the social services offered adequate?
Adequate, sure, in that it covers the basics. But we can do better! Which I guess we already talked about...

-Are you satisfied or dissatisfied in the career provided for you? Do you find yourself changing jobs often?
Very satisfied, don't see myself changing jobs.

-Do you struggle to make ends meet?
No. But I wouldn't say no to a raise. Can you abuse your power to make that happen? It's for Athena's sake!

(kidding!!)

-If there's any one thing the city could do to improve your life, what would it be?
I'm good, no complaints. I mean besides any complaints I already made in this survey. No ADDITIONAL complaints. How are you?

Wait this isn't the place to ask that.

[enveloped]

Honestly, I don't know if there are support groups. If they exist they aren't well advertised.

Make yourself indispensable until your first review, and go in with the intent to negotiate. If you're good at your job, and the kids like you, they'll pay for the privilege of keeping you on staff.

[Yes, Jeff, he did just imply you may be good at your job.

That's a step up.

The personal question catches him off-guard, and it's the first he doesn't know how to answer.]

I'm alright. I've started looking at rental properties.

[bardish]

Duly noted!

[ HE CAUGHT THAT IMPLIED VOTE OF CONFIDENCE, CAM. ]

Whaaat? Not a fan of the whole communal housing thing? I'm SHOCKED.

[enveloped]

I thought picking up after one kid was bad.

I was very, very wrong.

[bardish]

I know, right?? And it's like, even if you don't WANT to clean up after them, you become the floor dad by default.

I'm way too old to bunk with other people like that! I did my time!

[enveloped]

More like the floor nag. Dad would usually imply some kind of love or respect.

I don't mind communal living in certain places, but it's different to share a hut and responsibilities with like-minded people working towards the same cause than... pick beer cans and underwear off the floor of a frat-house.

[bardish]

It's at frat house levels? Yikes!!

...were you ever in a frat?

[ He's just curious. He knows so little about the guy. ]