2020-12-06 - City vs the Citizens: Finale

It wouldn't be complete for Eleanor if she didn't return one last time to this place, the same way she arrived. Naked while trying to take a goddamned bubble bath. "Not again!" the redhead exclaims as she tries to cover up her womanly bits with her long hair and her hands, trying to salvage the remaining bubbles into modesty patches, looking almost cartoonish in her wide-eyed upset-ness.

No turn out gear or military gear this time for Devlin when he comes over. This time, Devlin fades in wearing a black jeans and tee that has on it:

Combat Medic
((Noun: com-bat 'med.Ik)
1. Someone who solves problems you didn't know you had in ways you don't understand.
2. Allergic to stupidity, breaks out in sarcasm.

He happens to have a take out in hand, Taco Bell and in the other hand a large gym bag sporting various logos of Dragons and Tigers in a rather Asian them. A 3-section staff is folded and tied to the top of the gym bag. One end of the gym bag has a pair of Killian's Red Lagers poking out. He sighs realizes the scene change for himself, "At least I wasn't in the shower," there is a resigned degree of accepting the situation these days for him.

After recent events, Byron's been busy getting in touch with a lot of out of town associates and business partners who he may have insulted in some way or other during the hazy period over Gray Harbor. At this moment Byron has on his speaker phone as he's getting dressed for an early dinner out to kick off a much needed date night. Standing in front of a mirror, he's buttoning up a white dress shirt, leaving the top two undone, before tucking his shirt into his dark trousers.

"That's good to hear." He speaks in a casual tone as he straightens his collar, then turns to reach for the navy blazer hanging near the mirror beside him. "Again, things have been incredibly busy here in the past few weeks, I'm just glad that we're able to clear the air now." Slipping into the blazer, he smooths it out before making his way to the dresser to fetch his watch to slip upon his wrist. "Phil, I'd like to chat more but I'm kinda... on my way out. Date night." He's not afraid to let that slip. Looking out into the hallway with a brief glance, he can hear the understanding laugh coming from the man on the other line.

"I'll catch you..." His words are cut off, just like the last time when he was at his office when he was yanked into... whereever this is now.

"Later..." He finishes his sentence just as he secured his watch on, only to find himself in the midst of what is possibly, no, definitely, a Dream again. "...Right." There's this look of annoyance on his face, followed by a heavy sigh. When he realizes just where he'd been brought back to, or sensing the familiarity of it all, he just has to murmur, "Now what?"

Eleanor isn't the only one unprepared for this snare into Otherness. It's date night for Lilith and Byron and she's getting ready. Now, she's not as bad off as poor Ellie, by any stretch. She has on a robe that's open around a slip to wear under a dress she's just about to get into, slippers on her feet over thigh high hosiery, and there's a set of hot rollers (who uses those anymore?) in the woman's dark hair. She'd been in feeding the dog before pulling out all the pieces to finish putting herself together, so when she turns up on site elsewhere, she sighs and hisses out curse under her breath.

Initially, she's relieved to see the handsome, suited figure of Byron ready to go out (and waiting on her to finish getting ready like men do). She starts that way, but then she sees poor Eleanor and immediately changes course to get out of her robe to hand it over, "Oh good god, I hate it when they do this. Here, here, here. I showed to a dream with a gun holster and tits out, once, in panties. Don't ask."

"I won't ask, I promise. Thank you," Eleanor squeaks out to Lilith, as she slides the robe on. It's still a LOT less than she's comfortable being around people who aren't her husband in, but it'll do until she can find someone with her cloak. They always seem to find her with it in this City. Well, it's not really a City anymore is it? The City is currently trundling off into the water like a gargantuan psychic hermit crab.

For all Byron knew, the whole City fiasco was over and done with. They freed the sea creature-like thing after shutting down its defensive grid. Of course, he didn't pay much mind to what would happen to the citizens since then, but here he... no, here they are again. Whatever they now found themselves at, it doesn't look like a war zone, even if there seems to be folks in a cage, surrounded by guards and the masses.

That's got him curious as he makes his way to where Eleanor and Lilith now are, making sure not to look on the former until she has Lil's robe on. "It would be moot to ask anyone here what is going on, right?" Oh look, another familiar face is in the mix. He nods slowly in Devilin's direction before slipping a hand behind Lilith's back and simply watching this presentation. "Is this the aftermath of... what happened?" What they helped do?

Being properly clothed in Dreams has proved to be something of a mixed blessing so far, but on the whole Vyv would still rather that than Eleanor's situation. He's in most of a medium-grey Prince of Wales check suit, the jacket left somewhere so it's just vest and trousers, and the sleeves of his white shirt neatly rolled up; there's a white-on-charcoal polkadot tie, but no proper shoes. Black velvet slippers. Clearly not entirely intending to be here, but then, who was?

He looks around with a furrowed brow. Yes, this is Here again. He can't say he'd entirely expected to end up in this world again. For a moment, he stands and takes in what's around them, both the individuals and the numbers. The latter at the least could be better. The former, judgement is temporarily reserved on. The location itself, however -- he turns around, taking it in, and that gets an... if not quite satisfied, at least faintly approving look, even with a touch of a nod. "With more time and overall planning..." he murmurs in what sounds like agreement with Sikorax, and a fraction louder, "but the spot looks right. A beginning, I suppose."

Lilith nods encouragement and general comfort in a rare moment of open sympathy and womanly solidarity, hand patting on Eleanor's shoulder once the other woman is swaddled up in the floral silk dressing robe. At least she looks pretty now after coming in bare as all outside. Feeling Byron's arm slip around her back and slip-clad form, Lilith leans against the suited form to have a more proper look around at where they are and what's around them for setting, starting to pull hot rollers absently from her hair with her hands to leave untended ringlets around her madeup face. They find their way one by one into Byron's suit jacket pockets.

Then there's OUTFITS that Naoith presents to the pair of underdressed females and after one look at the cloak that practically sings to her, Lilith is all over that. She gets a good tousle on her hair when it's free of the rollers and she tells Byron up and aside, "... I am going to look so hot in that outfit, it's about time something fun happened in one of these Dreams. Maybe we get put on stage as heroes or something, and I... have a keen need to not be in a slip when it happens."

Naturally, that's her way of saying she's going to the tent to change with Eleanor for a moment, but she squeezes on Byron's hand to let him know it's probably fine on the way.

Devlin nods to Bryon, "Fair guess.. but sometimes the obvious reason is not why we are here." He pats the tri-pod thing, "Nice to see you are still ok. I can give it a try to fix you up some." He then looks to the others, "Figures.. getting back from a practice session.. and here I am." He looks for a clear spot and typical of a combat vet, he finds a suitable spot to eat. "Kind of starving.. but it is good to see all of you again." He then pulls out his food, looks like a 6 pack of tacos. "Once I eat, if you need help in the medical tent, I'll be there."

"Oh thank, God. Thank you Naoith! You're a life saver!" Eleanor exclaims, exchanging exasperated looks with the girl. "I don't know why the Veil seems to prefer me in the all together but I am so over it," she mutters, taking catsuit and cloak and moving to the pavilion to get dressed. She waves to the other familiar faces as she races off to get clothed.

Grant murmurs to Lilith and Ellie, "Me too. It was the damnedest thing." Is Bax serious? Who knows. He's there in red plaid skinny jeans, and a chain connected to his belt that keeps him from forgetting his wallet anywhere or vice versa. As Byron asks about the aftermath the skater-artist clears the sands wide-eyed, "Woooooah shit." Seeing the kiddo his face warms into a grin, "Naoith! you're okay. This is great. The um, the people in the metal box. That teh council then?" Looking around there's-oh Devlin, neat. He gets a brief wave as he looks, inevitably, for Vyv and the Nudibranch.

When the familiarish face of Naoith approches the underdressed women, Byron eyes the exchange that follows with a curious look, his gaze peering over at the outfit handed Lilith with the knowledge that she's going to just go and put it on. There's an arch of his brow at this point, but he just nods, a faint smile on his face. One that sort of fades when Lilith is replaced by an insect type. Now, Byron's not trying to be rude and he'll nod to the other in some form of acknowledgement, like saying 'Hey'.

There's so many familiar faces coming out of the woodworks now, all taking their places beside the group from Gray Harbor. Waiting as patiently as he can for Lilith's return, he asks, "So now what? What's the occasion?"

Vyv is definitely not even a little bit envious that some people get fancy cloaks around here. Though he can probably do without the leather catsuits, at least personally. There's a faint brightening of the 'good, that's as it should be' sort when he spots Grant, and the nudibranch gets a faint smile and inclination of the head in greeting as it approaches. "It was one of the reasons this spot stood out," he replies to Sikorax with a nod, and he eyes the caged people. "What are their names and former responsibilities? And how many of the council members are missing?"

Lilith looks damn enchanted when she gets into the tent and is invited to change in leisure and privacy out of the crowd's eye. It's a nice space and she can't help but give Eleanor a little shrug and grin with the invitation to rinse the suds away too. Any other time, she might advise that bathwater is totally going to drown you or exist as skin searing acid in a Dream, but this seems... fine, actually. Maybe she's just getting acclimated to the Otherness of the setting after being in a few times. In fact, after changing, she takes some time to preen with her hair, makeup already done in advance, and once she has that fitted cat suit on with the cloak around it as accent, she can't help but do a little twirl to watch it flare out while no one is watching.

She even stops at the refreshment table and... okay, Lilith is still Lilith, she stops herself from eating, she has a thing about consuming stuff in Dreams. But she does take one of the cups of drink to... smell. And she likes the smell enough to think about taking a drink while emerging from the tent and back to Byron's side with a 'thank you' to the tent attendees on the way. When out, she strikes a pose, then lifts it for Byron to smell too, "... do I get possessed and obsessed with sea creatures if I drink this?" Naturally, her attention wanes in favor of some of the conversation around, though, "Who will be judges in this affair? The whole masses?"

Eleanor thanks the ladies inside, and she does a quick rinse before she gets dressed. She heads for the medical tent almost immediately thereafter, braiding her hair over one shoulder as she goes, her brow furrowed, wanting to see if she can help. "Is there anything I can do for any of them? I know some basic first aid, and I have a little of the healing gift," she notes.

Devlin listens as he eats, it's like watching a old man horde of locusts go through a field of tacos. One of the beers is opened as he eats and he takes a pull from the beer. No comments on his part once the ladies return, after all.. he's seen more of the bad than one's fair share in life. "Most likely Eleanor, they'll need all the help they can get." He continues to eat, "Judgement.. lovely, we get to see someone else's Nuremberg." He then hmms, "Wonder what the casualty reports look like and what they have for supplies and medical support?" Perhaps a rhetorical question to himself.. but who knows?

Grant warms a grin to the Nudibranch, "Man you did so excellent. Super proud of you. Started working on new art to commemorate the rebellion. Both of you are in it. It's doing really well. I'm gonna miss you both when you move. You'll have to be sure to summon us for a visit." The offer quite genuine, though he lets Vyv ask the question of what jerks are missing. The decision of decide what to do with gets a nod now having an opinion on their fate. "You still got that map I gave you? That planetoid is still vacant and could use custodians."

"The officials and politicians of this world then? The ones who make people stand in useless lines." Yes, Byron has not forgotten his ordeal trying to obtain a permit for who knows what. It left a sour taste in his mouth. When Eleanor and Lilith both exit the changing tent, his curiosity has him inspecting their attire, especially Lilith's when she shows herself off in front of him. When she offers him something to sniff at, that curious look returns, but he leans slightly forward to do just that. "What is it?"

Posture straightening, he does say, "That outfit looks lovely on you, but then again, you'd make a brown sack look sexy." The edge of his lips quirk faintly, his gaze looking over the scenery before them once more.

"If this is a judgment from the people, the populace who these officials have wronged. Why are we needed?" Important questions! Obviously, some of these people need medical aid, but this Maestro is no doctor.

Devlin finishes up his beer and tacos. He then pulls out the other and makes a roll toss of it to Grant, "Twist off cap. Have a ball. I have work to do." And with that he stands up and heads to the medical tent, "Ok Big Jake.. first lets see if I can fix you some and lets do our best for the sick and injured."

Eleanor moves to do what she can to patch up the wounded, cleaning and bandaging, and using her healing arts on the worst of them, since she can only use it once a day. "I wish I could do more," she murmurs, "But the art has changed in recent months, and my healing is limited."

While standing and listening and speculating on the political matters of justice or punishment required, Lilith watches those in through the open flap of the medical tent. Her attention is especially piqued when Devlin looks to be trying to fix up the bot thing that helped them along last time. He seems to be having some difficulty, and she only really knows that because already assembling and disassembling in the way she can see, being who and what she is. Lilith LOVES fixing things as much as she loves breaking them, especially when they're a new challenge.

Hell, she took apart the espresso machine three times for kicks and they used to have to stop a young Lilith from tearing down gaming consoles just to SEE what the insides were like even before she knew she had powers. Therefore, she gets quite excited about helping and murmurs with touch at Byron, then point toward Jakebot. That's probably all she needs to say about heading that way to have a better look.

"Here. Let me have a go, I'm pretty into how it all works and it'll be good. Or at least better. We'll see!"

Lapsing into power flash, there's some creaking and alignments happening with whip flash as needed on the being, the brunette's eyes intently focused as she works.

Then when it's finished, she squeals a little. Yes, squeals. Then she calls back over her shoulder at Byron, "That was better than getting to take apart the Playstation! No more grudge!"

Eleanor tends to many a minor wound, and she uses her Spirit energy to heal a broken bone on one being. When she's done, she's tired, but smiling compassionately for each one she helps. When there are none left to aid, she rises and adjusts her cloak. "They are going to ask us to speak?" she queries.

Well, Devlin does not succeed with the robodog.. and then as Lilith steps up, he instinctively steps back to let her see what she can do. He is clearly impressed as Lilith starts fixing the robodog and then as the others help out. He is flat out amazed.. "Wow.. I think I better stick to people.. and leave the mechanical items to the ones that know their way around stuff. He then asks Lilith, "How are you on Jeeps? Never mind.. we have some people to help out. Let us know if you need us for Nuremberg."

"Mn," Vyv says, at a timing and pitch that sounds like it's probably a general sharing of the lack of appreciation for the bureaucracy situation Byron mentions. His form issue may have been easier to sort, but those lines still weren't fun. And his putative marquisate was clearly misnamed. The quartet in the cage get a good looking-over as Sikorax answers his question regarding each, some sort of mental notes presumably being made. "...Interesting. So, just under half of them, then." It's clear enough he has other questions there, but they're held for now; perhaps he doesn't want to get too far ahead of any official judginess. Though the hobby variety probably doesn't require all the details to get started.

Byron listens to the officials noted, his gaze falling on each of the jailed beings when they are brought to his attention. Does he sympathize for any of these people? He didn't really sympathize for the citizens here or the City itself, so despite it all, he has no real thoughts on the matter. That is, besides what he was forced to do on behalf of the City or these people, who knows. Though, when he's told that they may have been brought here to weigh in, that does not sit well with the man. "Weigh in? I'm not even a citizen of this place. What rights should any of us have?" This is really just his way of saying that he wants no part in their politics.

Lilith's volunteering to lend a helping hand has the man wary. He doesn't really like her using her powers, especially to heal or fix things, knowing just how much the Dark Men loathe that sort of thing. He won't stop her though, nor will he bring any of this up and he simply nods, though trails off behind her to make sure that nothing goes wrong.

Eleanor nods to Naoith. "Then can you take us where we need to be to witness?" she asks quietly. She looks troubled, as putting beings on trial for things so far beyond her ken is not her idea of a good time.

Grant is perching himself not far, but there's a sketchbook on him and he's drawing this out. Byron and Lilith as she reassembles bots, Devlin tending the many wounded, Eleanor in parlay with questions, and Vyv and the Nudibranch catching up curious. Naoith seems to stand in the middle of this. "Should ask the library. They go over all the time. Maybe we can find you transport. There's ways. Time. All worlds connected. Find...the short path." The smile is simple and he considers the council and just shakes his head. "I think you're right, Naoith. It always comes back to haunt us."

Seeing the Faun, "Hey Captain. How about we get this cluster organized? I know your not a doctor but at a time like this, we need your skills as an officer to organize and delegate. I'll start by lending a hand and going around to see what talent we have here." He then calls out, "All right every one, unless you are dealing with a critical care patient, come over here. We have a lot of work to do and need to get our collective shit together to do right by the injured." Once Devlin gets people together, he starts organizing teams. Hopefully the Faun is doing what he hopes she can to make things work or remove obstacles.

Lilith chuckles at Devlin's question and just shrugs a little, "We generally pay a mechanic for real world car issues, I don't think I want to charge someone Dark Men hazard pay for my work. Byron would gouge the hell out of you because I'm precious." A little awkwardly, she reaches out to pet the bot-dog after making sure Grant's tinkering and final workings of aid to make it better than new aren't going to take off a finger first, "Good work all around."

Her attention shifts though, listening to the talk behind her and taking up Byron's hand, she murmurs, "You would make a rather nice disinterested third party. And a damn handsome judge..."

Byron pretends to not hear the conversation between Lilith and Devlin regarding Dark Men hazard pay, especially as the various beings are trying to tell them why their presence here was necessary. However, when he feels Lilith's grip on his hand and the statement made, the casino owner laughs, "The last thing I would want is the fate of random individuals resting in my hands. Sure, that's how it works in the court system, but it's not as if we haven't been affected by everything that happened here. I mean, it wasn't those on trial who summoned us here, right?"

Either way, he seems vaguely interested in what's about to happen, his attention looking towards the others to gauge their own reaction to being put in this position. Grant, the kid, was always overly excitable and probably believes he's a citizen of this place anyway. He focuses on Eleanor, then Devlin, then Vyv, whose expression rarely changes.

Hey, Vyv's expression changes! ...just, y'know, subtly. Possibly the world needs to balance out Grant. At the moment what it subtly looks is thoughtful, and a bit less subtly appraising as he studies the caged councillors some more. "I suppose a third party presence isn't unreasonable, given givens. And we're probably more disinterested than anyone who lives here, even if we may have ended up with some investment." A flicker of a glance toward Bax and his sketchbook, and then he glances to Naioth, who insists on continuing to appear to be a child, but at least doesn't run around and yell and be sticky, which are definite points in her favour. "Do you have reason to think they know where the others are? Is it known they escaped?"

Eleanor follows where Naoith leads. She takes a seat, prepared to bear witness. "This will determine a lot of who they want to be going forward, this first act as a new people," she murmurs to the others.

Prior to the horns sounding, Devlin has been giving the crash course to organize and run a make shift forward hospital. "Glad to meet you, Rhea. I'm Devlin. In my world, I am a medic with the rank of staff sergeant. I'm going to give you some guidance to help make this less over whelming for Cerwin and the others. Remember, work with what you have. And if it looks stupid but it works; it ain't stupid." It takes time for Devlin to get things moving forward in an organized fashion. It starts slow as people get a rough hang of how to do this as a team. The changes may not improve things right this moment, but the far sighted ones may already realize there are some good principles that Devlin is teaching them. Where he can, he uses his ability with healing (Spirit) and of course his medical knowledge to help out where he can. As he finds the local equivalent of doctors and nurses, he gives Rhea a hand at how to be the problem solving administrator. It's a lot for an NCO to pull off, however, it's what Devlin trained to do. Once the horns sound, he walks over to Rhea, "Captain, I have a feeling I am expected to be over at the circus that is about to start. Politicians always start them when there are trials. If you run into something that the medical staff needs help with, just send me word." And with that he leaves is new trainies to handle things. But easy to guess, when he does look away from the central events, he's glancing at the medical tents to see if things appear to be ok.

Once the horns sound, this is where Byron becomes wary. Who knows what a trial in this world was like, but since they have their own politics and bureaucracies, something which these caged men had a hand in before today, that means that they have a justice system in place. He was there for an earlier rally, hearing the voices of citizens and the like coming together to figure out what to do next. So this shouldn't be any difference.

His own hand now squeezes on Lilith's as he leads her forward to join the others in observation of everything happening now. His eyes shift to Naolith, seeing the other offering somewhat reassuring words as well as guidance to Eleanor and everyone.

Horns. Well, that appears to be their cue. Vyv follows Naoith's lead toward the seats as well, and claims one that looks... likely to at least leave his trousers in better shape than the last pair were on his return to his own world. Still not best pleased about that. He settles there with a delicate elegance that at the least suggests an appropriate seriousness for the proceedings, and at best helps add to the solemnity of things as he watches the prisoners being escorted into their places, as well.

Grant is sitting quiet. He starts revolutions and finds places to migrate to and also rides robots like a rodeo bar cowboy. Politics? Eeeeh not so much. He's ardently capturing what he can while he remembers it. If it survives coming back is anyone's guess. The veil tends to protect. Buried in fantastical art, however, perhaps less a breech.

Looking up to Crassi with a grin he says, "Maybe you'll get lunch today." He's not opposed exactly. Being prompted to move he follows Naoith with Eleanor and Vyv to see what this curious state of affairs holds now.

Eleanor rises and her cloak flows about her as she lowers the hood to reveal her face to all. "I have seen the ill done, and the good done by you, the people of the City. I have stood with you, fought with you, and healed your wounded beside you, but this is not my home, not my world, not my consequences. You have made a choice, one of justice and mercy, to free the creature and rebuild anew. I think justice and mercy are a good place to start your new civilization, so please consider that, when you choose how to handle this."

Byron was one of those who was here since the beginning. Well, the time when discord was felt in one particularly annoying permits line and he's been back many times since. He's always been of the mind that the problem of these people were not his own, but it was over now, something which he had a hand in. When eyes turn towards these third party sorts, the man considers whether he wants to say anything or not. Many in Gray Harbor knows that he's one of those individuals in town that has the money and holds some sort of influence in town, mainly due to his sizable donations, but he's also done much to keep his own town afloat in any way that he can.

"This whole ordeal with the creature was both unpleasant and unfortunate. I can't say that I know any of these Councillors to speak up for them, but I would like to think that they tried to do what was best for the people even if they may have lost their way during that journey. I can't say. The way in which things were handled in the end was not ideal, though I'd like to think that even the revolution could have, possibly, been handled differently." He's sure that will rub some the wrong way. "Still, this is a time for reflection as they you start your lives anew. If there's some insight that these four can offer to help everyone rebuild the right way, then I'm all for giving the chance. Otherwise," His dark eyes flicker towards Eleanor, "It is as Eleanor said, justice and mercy are a good place to start. Don't turn into the monsters you felt you were being oppressed by." Then again, he is just a third party and as far as he knows, none of this affects him. "Maybe they'll come around and want to be part of this new community."

Devlin listens and does not say anything as the ministers speak. His eyes roll at hearing Pradisha speak. He nods with the words of the Minister of Defense. Lastly, he shakes his head hearing the bean counter's speak. Once it is indicated that he should speak he does. "As my fellow Maestro's before me have said, this is about a new start. What you do effects your futures and more." He looks at the minister of Defence, "You get it, I think. Those in charge can only be truly in charge with the consent and trust of those below them." He then turns his attention back to the crowd, "I am a soldier, healer, and leader of healers where I come from. So I speak to you all from my experiences. A good leader knows how to follow as well as lead. Another good thing is that a good leader will learn from their mistakes and not hide them. I apologize for digressing, this is a time for judgment and not a lesson in leadership."

Devlin pauses for a moment before he continues, "I ask that you take the time to give them a fair trial. I do not know how your system works, or what your customs are. Ask good questions, seek out the truth and judge from that. Remember, you will be teaching them, and your children about justice over the next few days. Please do not rush this and then years later discover that the seeds of regret and injustice have grown into something terrible."

Grant listens and really Ellie is pretty succinct at this. Byron comes out swinging with a convincing argument. It's not often the pro slacker is really asked his opinion. Taking a deep breath he says "Change... sucks. If they're willing, like that person there, to go ya know we messed this up but are on board? Cool. Maybe not in a decision making capacity but if you're going to start over? Start over." He points to the one asshole pissing up a storm and says "You, guy, wanna so badly deny your problems and bring complaints rather than solutions to the table? You're welcome to go do your own thing. Don't have it be at the expense of these people tho or the city. That's... super rude. You all wanna part ways? That's on you. Right now there's a place waiting to be rebuilt. I'd focus on that. Anyone not on board with that ca stay here and do their own thing."

Vyv listens quietly, head slightly tilted as the councillors talk. Pradisha's 'piece' gets an arched brow. The chef does a pretty good line in 'unimpressed'. The defence minister does better as far as that goes; there's sharp attention as she speaks, perhaps an assessment of her sincerity, but if nothing else she clearly has a sense for the politics of the thing. It stands out even more against the background of what follows, and the way it affects the watching crowd.

Like Byron, he's ended up here many times since that first dose of local bureaucracy, but as others have said, it doesn't make him truly part of this place. Even if that title the form claimed for him were actually valid. "I can't disagree with the others on the matter of fresh starts or justice and mercy, or the idea that the things you decide now may have ripples through your new situation for a long time to come. In practical terms," he looks at the quartet of ministers, "I'd like to know what you see as a good outcome here. The Creature is free. What you think ought to have been done is irrelevant at this time. What do you think ought to be done now, and how will you be an asset to it? How can the other citizens be sure they can rely on you when everyone needs to work together? As Bax says: the options at present are to remain and be useful or go elsewhere. You are speaking to the people who will decide whether to allow you both options or not." A gesture toward the surrounding crowd, with that. "If you want to remain, explain to them why you're worth the risk of trusting. If not, I believe the door is... in most directions, currently."