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[rehandle]

@stephen.strange | ■ ▲ ◌ ▼

For Aerie AU event texts.

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[rehandle]

Yep.

[ agreement and no comment on the unspoken. he hears it loud and clear, and he's not giving it the time of day. ]

So. Have you got a battle plan in mind?

[batricide]

No.

[ Sullen. ]

[rehandle]

Alright. [ okay. time to initiate mission: don't let sullenness become a full-blown sulk before it's too late. ]

Describe to me what this is and why we need it.

[batricide]

[ He asked for this, he asked for it and he still hates every single second. ]

We need it because as we currently are, we're barely surviving on our own. We aren't surviving on our own, actually. If Morningstar cuts us lose we're screwed. This is a plan to make us self-sustaining and ensure that we're thriving as best we can, given circumstances.

[rehandle]

[ as Hafid talks, Stephen translates it into something that's both true and positive. the result is entered into a shared document, open for Hafid to view and edit. ]

This is a plan to make us self-sustaining and ensure that we're thriving as best we can, given circumstances.

As things stand we're reliant on Morningstar to survive in the world. This worked while things were new, while there was still a chance we were just passing through, but some of our number have been here for months and as we grow it's important we find a way to handle ourselves, both for our own sake and the sake of the agency we've been depending on.

Carry on.

[batricide]

[ He stops short. ]

And how exactly is this approach going to work when I have to answer questions?

[rehandle]

[ oh. ]

If you're comfortable with this part, I was planning on just being with you on the day to help live. I can coach a little now, but beyond that experience and a guiding hand is the best medicine.

[batricide]

I don't need a ghost writer. I can come up with the speeches and present what I have to anyone. I've sat warring countries down and forced them to sign peace treaties. I've brought tyrants to their knees and forced them to submit to a better world. [ under penalty of just, y'know, killing their self-serving leaders. ]

But I can't deal with morons who fight against what's good for them.

[rehandle]

I know you're more than capable. But the key word being "forced" in both of those contexts is what's going to have this fall on its face if you're not careful with the way you spin it.

It's the same principle when dealing with the "morons". You need to take what you want to say and put it forward in a way that makes it taste better to whoever you're speaking. Deliver the same plate back again with a different flavour applied - shows you've been listening, doesn't ultimately impact on your proposal.

[ not that Hafid's not already aware, but Stephen Strange is no people-pleasing saint. it's just easier to get your way if everyone else thinks they're getting theirs too. ]

[batricide]

[ The annoyance doubles. ]

Sounds like something my old man would say.

[rehandle]

[ that, clearly, isn't meant as a compliment. ]

You have two choices. You can argue with people and watch this slip by, or you can listen to them, adjust, and build a system that works. The second you view your own opinion as absolute, the debate is over. If you show people their views are equally relevant to the point being made, and how, they'll listen to you.

[batricide]

So I pretend I'm listening and manipulate them into my way of thinking.

[ you can tell how thrilled he is about the idea. ]

I have no problem with valid feedback.

[rehandle]

Good. And no. You listen, you understand, and you reassure.

[ there's a disconnect here. he's not talking about steamrolling anyone - though admittedly, his explanation had been offhand enough that it could be implied. ]

"Valid" feedback depends on your assessment of validity, which stems from your perspective. Everyone offering feedback is going to view their feedback as valid, regardless of whether or not you agree with them. You have to actually listen.

[batricide]

[ That sounds like a lot of pretty words for "people are stupid, and they're going to be wrong" but he wisely bites his tongue. ]

I do listen.

[rehandle]

[ Stephen just looks at him. ]

That needs to be made obvious in your responses.

[batricide]

[ he scrubs at his face, this is going to be an ordeal. he feels it. ]

And how do you suggest I do that?

[rehandle]

Take your time. Whatever your instinct is, sit on it. Give yourself at least a minute of distance before you respond, and in that time start searching for a solution that already exists in the proposal. Things they may not have considered that will smooth over a concern. Or, failing that, an acknowledgement of the reasons why their opinion makes sense in the context they’re presenting it, but isn’t necessarily problematic enough to merit waylaying the plan.

They need to believe in this. They won’t unless you tell them why they should, and they won’t understand that fully unless you go at it from their perspective. Not everyone is a conqueror of tyranny.

[batricide]

[ This is stupid.

That's really what he wants to say. He doesn't want to do it, clearly everyone is on the same page, someone else should present this whole stupid idea and leave him out of it if he's such a damn liability.

But that would be admitting defeat. And admitting he can't do something. Which would only be worse. ]

... Fine. [ He lets out a breath. ] Should I continue?

[rehandle]

[ good.

it really is important he learn these skills. for the number of bright ideas Hafid has and the number of people he rubs up the wrong way trying to make them heard, they need him to be better at this. more than that, he deserves to be.

there's an absence of confidence where there shouldn't be and if all it'll take to start him on the way to bridging that gap is some discomfort and some work, it's worth pressing through. and Hafid's stubbornness is doing that job for them. ]

You should.

[batricide]

[ He doesn't succeed in not rolling his eyes. This feels stupid, and he doesn't want to bother. Diplomacy and debate were two skills that went to rot on the vine when things went south, and he was raised to be a conqueror.

Fair debate is never something he was good at. Not when people either did what he wanted or left him to his own devices to get it done for them. ]

We have no shortage of talent among us. Our different backgrounds have given us a diverse skillset that's currently being wasted by our own lack of order. [ This feels so stupid. He rubs his face. ] I propose changing that by introducing voluntary groups that will focus on specific areas we need to improve on and help move us forward as an organization.

Combat. Business and Finance. Research and Development. Medical. Internal human relations. And Public Relations and Outreach.

Each committee will be under the supervision of one or more members of the Displaced, elected by the committee themselves.

What I propose is membership of these committees is strictly voluntary, but strongly
encouraged. Many of us are experienced in different areas, so I'm not ruling out serving on multiple committees - but do what is within your limits.

There will also be two "ambassadors" who will serve as the face and effective heads of the organizations, ensuring that things are running smoothly and the necessary conversations are being had and heard. And if the day comes that we're exposed, they'll serve as the face of our organization to the world itself.

This is only a proposal. I can't force anyone to do this, and this only works through voluntary participation. But I encourage all of you to think about it, and if this is something you want to do, think of who you would want leading you and what you would like to do.

[ "Is that good enough"? goes unsaid. ]

[rehandle]

[ huh. just like that. ]

Perfect.

[ Stephen adds the transcribed version to the document as-is, no filtering necessary. might need a little bit of tweaking to fit the first and second parts together, but otherwise... ]

You were right about that ghost writer.

[batricide]

I told you.

[ He's good with pretty words. Less good in conversation. Too brash and angry and determined to be upfront. ]

[rehandle]

[ a slight squint. going in for the "I told you so" isn't the one, Hafid... but he leaves it as a look. ]

So. When are you thinking you'll put it up?

[batricide]

We'll give the new arrivals time to settle in and get their IDs and get a feel for the world. Once that's happened, I'll bring it to their attention.

[rehandle]

Alright. Let me know when it's time, I'll make sure I've got my calendar cleared.

[ wry, but something tells him he's going to want to avoid multitasking when this thing drops regardless of whether or not his physical presence is to be tolerated. ]