open; Tuesday evening; cafeteria

[tevinteriscoming]

[So you decided to come to this spontaneous gathering. Not Dorian's gathering, mind. He's not leading this, it was just a suggestion some people made and one of those people who made it was Dorian.

But nonetheless, you are here, in the cafeteria, at the time suggested by Dorian.]

Comments

[antietam]

No, we can't stop people from killing. But we can make it easier to catch them at it. Do you remember how we could barely figure out the murder weapon with certainty? Probably because people are keeping a weird amount of blades around.

[chiseler]

It's not weird to have a blade where I'm from and it's probably not weird for some of these other weirdos. [Sorry, other weirdos.] You get rid of weapons, what're we using for self-defense?

[antietam]

That's something we could work out together. Nightwatches have been brought up.

We need to get together and agree on something. It's in the indecision that's leaving us defenseless here.

[chiseler]

[Oh. That's actually a good point.]

And what happens if we end up together in a decision that stops working for all of us? You think people would stick with it?

[antietam]

... I don't know. [ He looks awfully defeated by all of this. ] I get the mindset here—every man for himself—and I'd do it too.

But that's what's expected. And I really don't want to play into their hand.

[chiseler]

Only thing I'm worried about with "banding together" is that the AI probably has the ability to change the rules on us to make sure we can't avoid the killing rule in the first place. Anything we do has to be stealthy since she can see everything we're doing.

[antietam]

That's true. [ Presumably, they can see everything. But notes are probably the safest bet. ] Hopefully everyone here is literate.

[chiseler]

[Notes would be good, but he lifts his eyebrows anyway.] Can we keep it short anyway? [Easier to read that way.]

[antietam]

Short is best. [ If they're going to actually consider this, he has some ideas. ] We could develop a certain writing system.

[chiseler]

You mean like a code. [It's a pretty legit idea, all things considered.] We've got enough people here that could probably come up with something we can all deal with. What do you have in mind?

[antietam]

[ He glances up, like there are cameras around. ] I have some ideas. Create a cipher or use a book... We'd need to come to a consensus. Maybe the next meeting? If there is one.

[chiseler]

If you want one, make it so. [He's a person who believes in taking charge himself...but not in this case. Please don't put him in charge of anything here.] You've got enough people here who'd probably listen if you suggested another meeting.