Cyberpunk

[automatmods]

CYBERPUNK

The world may have crumbled into chaos, but at least you have some pretty sweet tech. Hack your way to liberation. Make a robot friend. Lose yourself in a VR world. And do it all with that 80's neon view of a distant future. ⇨ Post a top level with your character and canon. Include any preferences you may have. If you're feeling bold, write a starter! ⇨ Tag around, make your own world. ⇨ Please mark any potentially triggering content

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[vadersotherheir]

Her smile was easy and warm, clasping his hand between her own, "Doing what you can is more important than saying you're helping without any action behind it." She gestured to one of the cafe's few actual booths, "That's where I was doing what I could when I was... well, probably not much younger than you are now, and it's a damn shame that we're gearing up to have to do it all over again."

There was also the fact that she'd meant what she said about being there to make sure nobody did or said anything that would get all of them arrested. Being on the city council gave her that much clout with the city watch should they come looking.

Wanna say the force is a thing in this au?

[antinouswild]

"Yes, of course. We are not words without action. I promise you that, General. What brought you to our group, anyway. We're small enough to be beneath your notice." He lets her take his had. His flesh is cool and firm in her's. She feels very warm to him, and gives him a rush of energy he can't recognize. His gold brows draw in his white brow and he looks down at their hands for a moment.

Sure! Don't see why not

[vadersotherheir]

That wasn't a common reaction, and her brows both lifted a little, though giving his hand a brief pat she released it even as she answered: "You'll soon find that when you've been involved as long as I have there's very little that escapes my notice."

A shrug, merriment sparkling behind her eyes again, "Besides, unlike most of my compatriots on the Watch, I know where to look for the rabble-rousing youth."

Re: Sure! Don't see why not

[antinouswild]

His brows knit hard and his round mouth goes into a hard line. "I'm not a rabble-rouser." He shakes his hand, trying to ignore what he felt.

His tone goes firm. "We're people fighting for a better galaxy. We want a senate, not an empire. The First Order is a danger to us all, and I don't mind saying so in public."

[vadersotherheir]

That had her smile spreading all the more, because that was what she'd been hoping for, and the fact that he had conviction behind it made it all the better.

"And would you say so to a Republic council meeting? Ask why nothing's being done to curtail the growth of the First Order?" The Republic Council had been a good idea at the beginning, and had worked, but like its predecessor had also fallen into complacency and even had what amounted to a gag order on council members questioning their lack of action in regards to what was undoubtedly a growing threat.

[antinouswild]

"The time for asking questions has long passed. I would demand action. The people demand action." He straightens his back and meets her smile with a hard stare.

[vadersotherheir]

"Good. There's a council meeting next week, not technically closed to the public but not many usually show up. I'll make sure you have an opening as long as you can be sure to only bring the ones you know won't fall easily into violence, and those that would manage an overnight in lockup if it comes to that."

She doubted it would, if anything the group would simply be ejected from the meeting hall and sent on their way as long as they weren't making threats.

"They need to see that the people aren't as blind, or unconcerned as they seem to think."

[antinouswild]

"I thought that the council meeting was barred." He takes a step back, his eyes going wide. "We can really do this?"

[vadersotherheir]

"Many are, but not all, and they rarely make it widely known which ones are open to public opinion." She shook her head, looking grim for a moment, and more than that looking deeply disappointed, "This isn't the governing body I founded anymore, and there's only so much I can do from the inside."

Certainly she could tell them, time and time again, that the people were afraid, and angry, and knew that the First Order was a threat and not just to the outlying colonies, but if none of the public arrived to say so themselves? She eventually started to sound like a paranoid old woman.

[antinouswild]

"I should have learned." He drops his eyes. "But you can do more than I can. "

[vadersotherheir]

"Oh?" She asked, gentle as before, honestly curious, "And what is it you think I can do that you can't?"

She had some power, being on the council, but not much, and certainly not much by herself, but she was always curious to see what kind of power people thought council members had.

[antinouswild]

"You can put words in people's ears and have them listen in ways we cannot. It's that simple. We must protest for the attention you get for the asking."

[vadersotherheir]

"To an extent." She agreed, "Though I sometimes still have to fight to make them actually listen, or to act on any information I give them." Her smile went wry, "Though that's a fight I've been having since I was eight years old, so it's a familiar one if nothing else."

[antinouswild]

"So if you can't get them to listen, then what is to become of us? If I have to make a protest of corpses I will." He frowns.

[vadersotherheir]

"It came to that before, I have no intention of letting it come to that again. My point is that neither of us alone will be able to turn as many heads and opinions as we would working together."

Her head tilted a little, debating briefly before she asked: "How many do you have altogether that you can trust not to do something stupid that would get you all expelled from the council room or arrested?"

[antinouswild]

"In this group? About twenty. How many do I trust? All of them"

[vadersotherheir]

"We can make this work." She said, smiling again, the kind of smile that those who opposed her had learned to fear, it was a smile that meant trouble, "The next council meeting with public access is next week, midday." Which was one of the other ways the Council kept the public from making their opinions known, holding public-access meetings at a time when most people were at work, "I will again bring up the point that the populace isn't as unconcerned with the growth of the First Order as the council seems to think."

A nod, "And if you have any who can spare the time for the entirety of the meeting, they'll lend some legitimacy to those who arrive simply for the spectacle and the argument."

[antinouswild]

"I can bring them in line. I cannot speak for everyone, but we will make an appearance. Once we are in there, we can find time to speak and be heard. Once they are made to see that liberty is being threatened, things can start to change."

[vadersotherheir]

"Good." She replied, "And I can tell you right now, the rest of the council will be surprised to see anyone in the gallery, let alone a crowd." A thoughtful little noise followed, "Not all of them, perhaps," There were still a couple who had been at her side in the beginning, though they'd gone complacent like the rest, but it wouldn't really surprise them as much as it would the others, "But certainly most of them. Enough to make an impact."

That was the hope, and she'd always said that as long as they had hope, and something to back it up with, they'd do well for themselves.

[antinouswild]

Light glimmers in his eyes as she speaks. "Make an impact? Yes, that's what I want. How soon can we do it?"

[vadersotherheir]

"Thursday." She replied, bringing up her calendar display, mostly just to make sure for her own peace of mind, "Midday, the meeting starts at 11, but depending on how long discussions of particular issues and points of interest take, there's no specific time as far as discussing the continued growth of the First Order, though I usually make it a final point, though in the past it's been shut down fairly quickly, as I have little enough backup."

[antinouswild]

He goes thoughtful for a moment, then nods as if he's making up his mind. "I can make that happen." He looks up and meets her eyes. "Thank you."

[vadersotherheir]

"If this works, I'll be the one thanking you." She replied, warm and amused once more, reaching over to clasp his shoulder just briefly, "You and yours being there will be proof that I haven't just been crying wolf, and that the council burying their heads in the sand isn't actually a solution."

[antinouswild]

His pale skin actually blushes. "They can't ignore the will of the people forever. We won't allow it. Will will stand by you. I know that we can make a change if we keep at it. But, I'm assuming we will be met with resistance. I assume we will have to come to every meeting for some time. One won't be enough. Do you have anyone that might join us?"

[vadersotherheir]

"Too few in positions of power, unfortunately, but still a handful that haven't forgotten what it was like under the yoke of the Empire and who wouldn't hesitate to follow me in resistance to the rise of the First Order."

She shook her head, "Most who fought at my side before are either gone or simply too tired to do it again, and I don't blame them for that." They'd been twice her age when she'd started and she could certainly understand the desire to simply try and enjoy what time they had left.