Jun 01 01:37:10 106 PA - Vixen meets with Arcadia
From Chronicles
Occupying the entire nineteenth floor of the City Hall are the senate council chambers. Dominating the space is an utterly massive table, capable of seating a good fifty. Ornate oaken chairs fill each space and a microphone is mounted into the desk ahead of said seat. The table itself is shaped like a three sided square, open on one end where special guests can stand to address the council. Being there is quite a daunting prospect as well, with spotlights shining down and a considerable amount of very important eyes staring at them.
Preparing in the morning is a focused process. Vixen getitng herself into the right frame of mind. The night before, she'd vented for a few hours with Ultima Fighter. A good agression outlet before a good night of sleep. All other things are laid aside the next day. She eats lightly. Her clothing laid out, picked for the occasion. Professional and demure, but not frumpy. Her camera and a few essentials and tallies placed in a soft carrying case before she goes out from her new place. Her mind focused, she heads right down to the city hall and once there, checks in as dictated by the letter.
Five and a quarter feet of dusky skinned delight in a petite package. Vix's features are cute and smooth, framed by a center parted bob cut , hair chin length, a satin black. Her eyes are blue and ever so slightly black lined, though the left is often veiled by a soft curtain of black. Her lips a darker shade of red, setting them apart from her skin. A silver stud pierces her right nostril and a pair of silver studs sparkle on each earlobe.
Her slender package is wrapped in a black skirt suit of modest material and good tailoring. The skirt itself is shorter than the norm, ending just above the knees. Her slim legs are sheathed in semi-opaque black nylon and midcalf leather dress boots with a short 'kitten heel' adorn her feet. The three button jacket is set over a soft lavender blouse and she carries a light attache case in her hand.
She is greeted by a man in a suit, who hands her over to a petite woman in a well cut, expensive suit. Her hair is cut in a short bob, and she gives Vixen a smile that holds no emotion, as she leads the way into a private room. "Please, sit. Would you like some water?" The room has a round table, two chairs set next to it, and a carafe of iced water with glasses on the table. The offer is perfectly polite, cool and as charming as the smile was.
Vixen lets herself dip into this sort of world. not always easy, but she does so for the moment. The hand off accepted without a word and the emotionless people ignored unless they speak. She responds to the offer with a quiet nod of her head, considering the woman that gives it briedly before she moves to one of the chairs. Picking the one that might look a little.. 'less' than the other to settle in. More worn, perhaps. A bit less fancy or new. She settles, the case laid against the side of the chair as she settles in to wait.
Vixen is poured a glass of water, the click as it is placed in front of her the only sound in the room. Then, without a word, the woman departs, closing the door softly behind her. For a good five minutes, Vixen is left alone in the room, the sound proofing complete. Eventually, another door opens, and a woman comes in. Her movements are graceful and her smile utterly welcoming as she offers a hand in greeting to Vixen. "You must be Vixen. I have watched your progress with interest. I am Arcadia."
Arcadia returns the shake, her hand cool and dry, her grip easy. She smiles at the light jest and indicates the seat, taking her own with a graceful movement. Her young face is smooth of lines, but the eyes suggest a level of wisdom that her twenty something features belie. "Yes, I think you would hope that." She replies softly, watching Vixen thoughtfully. "I believe you wished to ask the Council for some help with the refugees."
Vixen steps back to her seat to sit lightly, a leg crossed properly, hands folded on her knee. Once she's settled, considering the woman across from her with careful attention, she takes a moment before speaking. Gathering thoughts, considering words before they are spoken. "Assistance would be nice, but a necessity," she says. "Currently I believe that, in time, we will have the resources to do what I plan. What I'm looking for is permission." There is a pause before she adds, "I didn't think Mercator would be very pleased if I started setting up a settlement in his sphere of control without that much at least." Coming right out with the goal.
Arcadia regards Vixen with interest, her attention completely with the other woman. "Tell me about your plans." She requests, drawing a pad towards her to makes some notes, her handwriting an elegant sloping hand. "I understand you wish them to have their own settlement outside of the citywalls?" The question is in the form of a prompt, a gentle aid to offer Vixen a place to start.
"Considering that refugees keep coming and I doubt this war with Tolkeen will end soon, inside seems a bad idea," Vixen replies. "The best option seems to be picking a good spot in the patrolled wilderness to start building and go with simple from the start." She leans to the side a little and pulls out some hardcopy she'd printed out. Her little handheld is far too small to be used for this. "The overriding goal is simple. Make the refugees self sufficient at worst, productive at best. Either way, they aren't a drain on Kingsdale. In the best case, they add." She hands over the papers, which hold the current numbers on the refugees, tallies of food, basic outlines of needs, the total amount of wood, tools and sundries currently being cached and so forth. "If nothing is done, they won't leave and with hunger will come.. unruliness. Which is bad for everyone. I can go into more detail, if you want."
Arcadia considers the comments and leans back in her chair. "Can I first ask that you do not tape our conversation? I'm afraid I would be unable to meet you again if you did so." The gentle request has an inner of steel to it, and she moves on swiftly, speaking slowly, each word carefully considered and selected. "If they are outside our gates and the Coalition choose to attack them, do you believe that we would go to their aid, lowering our own resources here? We have limited military support, compared to the might that is the Coalition, Vixen." She takes the papers, however, and scans them, reading them in a long moment of silence.
Vixen grins faintly at the request, casually slipping a small tie tack mic from within her collar, discreetly hidden. "One has to try," Vixen murmurs as she makes a show of turning it off and slipping it into her bag. It really is off, she'll play this one straight. And she answers the question thoughtfully. "To be honest, I doubt the Coalition will care about the refugees. At least, not enough to mount a considerable amount of resources to attacking them. Spies and saboteurs is more likely, but not so hard to combat with a few trained personnel. Right now they have more than enough on their plate with Tolkeen and probably the Federation to contend with. And I doubt that the Tolkeenites would demand too much. They're pretty independent, which is one reason I doubt I'll have to look for for labor when the building starts."
Arcadia gives Vixen a look that might be considered gentle, and a slow nod at the removal of the mic. "Is that the last?" A type of humour, gentle and probing. "I think they will care if they can weaken us, Vixen. Your Tolkeenites have a simple choice, I believe." She pauses, drawing her own sheet of paper and offering it to Vixen. "They could set up their own village outside the city, however, I must warn you that the Council would feel it risked the safety of our own city and would be obliged to remove it." It is gently spoken, with all due sympathy, but all the same, the message is clear. "However, in the Dregs, there are some spaces where people could, should they have the will and the equipment, build some homes. For around three hundred people." She pauses, pressing her lips together for a moment as she awaits Vixen's response.
Arcadia regards Vixen in silence, hearing her out. "I have seen it. I have been there." Her softly spoken comment is calm, her eyes holding sympathy for the other's point of view. "I feel for them, and this much I can do. There may be more space there, but only if they make it happen. Vixen, this is the best I can offer, and the warnings are best for them to know now, surely? Let them move into the Dregs, make of it as they will. A space for homes and perhaps some supplies can be arranged for food, until they settle." She pauses then, giving Vixen a serious look. "You are young yet, Vixen. Empassioned. This is not a bad thing but sometimes, sometimes it makes it harder to see the longer term."
"I am looking long term," Vixen notes, keeping her voice steady. "When the number of refugees multiplies by ten or more? What will be told to the ones who there is no room for?" She shakes her head slightly. "Not to mention the Dregs themselves.. these people won't know how to survive there. Not to mention the gangs and their influences. That I know, because I grew up there. That could well make things even worse, given that that 'empty' land is not empty. Gangs claim it and won't be happy to have some outsiders moving in on their turf. Are you going to provide security while we build? Against Clash?" Her brows rise slightly. "These people want to work and make a new life, I've already gotten some of them working out in the farms. But dumping them into the middle of that place won't work well. It'll be going form the middle of one war right into the middle of another."
Vixen is heard out, without interruption, Arcadia's expression remaining gentle and sympathetic. "These people have survived worse than the Dregs, and fought well enough to be here. That is the choice I can offer." Clearly, that is that, with no other options or suggestions on the table, merely the Dregs and a warning. She smiles then, a gentle smile that gives the lie to the steel inside the woman, her face serene. "Please, give my regards and best wishes to Emily and her people." She rises then, offering her hand to Vixen.
Vixen is less than pleased. It's obvious, despite how she schools her expression. "Yeah, I'll be sure to do that," she replies, keeping herself calm. There will be time for laments later. She shakes the woman's hand and picks up her bag. She doesn't bother waiting for any sort of overt dismissal, turning to take her leave of the room. Fingers tight on the bag.
Arcadia lets her go, the assistant appearing immediately to show Vixen out with the professional smile, the door closing silently behind her.
