5186/The Taint: Public Council

The Taint: Public Council
Date of Scene:	06 April 2017
Location:	The Quilt
Synopsis:	Inspiration Trust gathers to debate OMNI, the AI overseer of a futuristic city that forbids personal expression. More progress than expected is made!
Cast of Characters:	Tomoyo Daidouji, Staren, Sanary Rondel, Yang Xiao Long, 136, 385, Deelel, Rebecca Chambers

---

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
    The Council Building is absolutely abuzz today. People from all walks of life crowd through the four sets of doors, eager to get a seat for the day's proceedings. A single journalist (for the city has but one journalistic source), yells over the hustle and bustle towards a camera pointed at her.

    Today is the first public meeting since the Taint. These ones are always of interest to the populace, as the Taint marks the one night of genuine controversial activity within the city. Discourse and debate flows thick and fast, every year, but nothing has ever changed. But, based on how different the one this year was, owing to Multiversal involvement on both sides, perhaps this time things might change.

    Well, Inspiration Trust is here to try and make that happen.

    Tomoyo is waiting outside with her four bodyguards, clad in her purple business suit. One of her guards is holding up a sign with 'Inspiration Trust' written on it, a calling card for everyone to convene under. Each person is greeted with a smile and a bow, and once everyone has assembled, it's time to enter. The crowds might have been trouble, but being flanked by four tall, imposing woman helps to get them through.

    "Thank you all for coming!" Tomoyo says, her tone soft but still audible over the chatter. "Time is short, so I'll be brief; I'd like to hear the cases you all plan to make to OMNI. Perhaps I can come up with a way to unify them to create something stronger~"

    As she says this, they arrive in the Main Debate Hall. This is the room in which the governors convene with OMNI most days of the year. But the place has been built with these meetings in mind. The whole room takes up three stories, with the governors sitting at the bottom with their desks and groups based on political allegiance. Inspiration Trust and company are on the second floor, which is arranged like stadium seating on a balcony that encircles the whole chamber. Tomoyo has thankfully booked front-row seats, which everyone is guided to by an usher. The third floor similar to the second, but it is standing room only, for spectators who don't plan to present a case.

    The vast gap above the governors and between the public is occupied by OMNI.

    Projected by several holographic emitters, OMNI takes the form of a tall, 3D oval in shimmering green. Wave forms erupt and dip from its virtual form as data feeds orbit its nonexistent mass. Obviously, the real physical form of OMNI is elsewhere, several miles below ground. But this is the form it chooses to present to people.

Staren has posed:
    "Hey Tomoyo!" Staren waves. "Huh? We're making cases? I just wanted to see what this meeting was about." He scratches his chin. "I suppose, if I had to make a case, I'd say that people should be given a designated area, physical or virtual, for artistic expression. The citizens clearly have a drive for artistic expression... and OMNI and the government would benefit from giving them a more controlled release valve instead of building up pressure. There will always be people who want to stick it to the man, of course, so it won't completely eliminate the taint, but I bet fewer people will show up if they have another outlet. With augmented reality, you could open everywhere up to art, that noone will see if they don't want to and that won't interfere with drone vehicles and such."

Sanary Rondel has posed:
A certain black-haired healer is here, too! She did have a hand in suppressing the artists during the Taint, after all, and it's only natural she'd have some interest in figuring out how to fix the problem at the source rather than just hitting the symptoms. Spotting the Inpsiration Trust sign, she hurries over to the tailor with what looks like several giant shoeboxes.

     She's also wearing a certain yellow t-shirt and shorts combo that Tomoyo might recognize.

     "Hey, Tomoyo. I brought some.. Uh. Stuff that might help." After returning the greeting with a lazy salute, Sanary starts following along while glancing around at the overly-massive debate hall. "Stuff I've made, been thinking about what I did before... I'm ready!" She sounds oddly fired up, too, almost as if she's trying to compensate for the last time. Staren gets a cautious look, and the healer even grumbles a bit.

     "... I don't hate that idea."

Yang Xiao Long has posed:
    "Hey there." remarks Yang as she meets up with Tomoyo and her guards. "From what I've heard about this place, sounds like the bad end of the Great War back home... so I was gonna cite that as a warning... like, this happens every year here, right? What if next time it's not just art, but someone decides to actually take up weapons to fight for their right to self expression?" She's keeping her voice low, she doesn't want to make it sound like a /threat/. "Remnant was engulfed in a bloody war for ten years over the right to self expression, art, music, all of it... I wouldn't want that to happen to any other world."

Rarity (136) has posed:
Fortunately Rarity managed to convince the Crusaders to actually stay home this time.... By getting Twilight to take them for the evening for one of their lesson times with her. Nothing against Pinkie Pie, she's a great foalsitter most of the time, but when she was part of the reason the girls stowed along that day, well.

Anyways, the unicorn is here. Though she uhs softly, rubbing the back of her head with one hoof. "Oh bother. I was not entirely prepared for actual presentations. I was under the impression this would be a discussion of some kind?" But in the end she just shrugs a little and gibes Tomoyo a smile. "But if nothing else I am here for support." This is Trust business now, after all.

Yuna Kagurazaka (385) has posed:
As Yuna hurries to catch up with Tomoyo and the others, she's dressed up in an outfit that Tomoyo in particular would find very familiar; in stark contrast to when Yuna dropped by for the Taint, this time, the Savior of Light is here in her official capacity.

"It's pretty simple for me," Yuna says sotto voce to Tomoyo and the others. "Humans are innately creatures of emotion as well as reason; we *have* to be able to express ourselves, and the various arts give us a controlled outlet for that. At least, it *can* be a 'controlled outlet,'" she adds. "But you can't just bottle up emotions and expect them to stay contained; sooner or later, like Staren said, there has to be a 'release valve' - a way people can give their emotions free rein, at least temporarily."

She winces a little at Yang's recall of Remnant's Great War - one of the major subjects she's had to catch up on as a transfer student at Beacon - but nods in agreement with the other blonde.

Elner is flitting along behind Yuna, too, but the robo-faerie isn't trying to draw notice to itself. As the group enters the Main Debate Hall, in fact, Elner seems to go to even more trouble to find a spot where it won't draw attention, but where it can see and hear everything that transpires. In truth, the little robo-faerie is VERY curious about OMNI - a master computer which governs over humans - and might be even more concerned with the supercomputer's direction than Yuna is.

Deelel has posed:
Deelel was here again they never saw her face and her voice was warped though one might be able to suspect here. However as this unexpected dialog came up? She would be there maybe to lwarn why things like this had happened like it had. There could be information to be had and she had an idea that might ... work for both sides of thei issue but she wants to bring it up. She has to see hy that art has been basically strangled out of existance in this city state.

Deelel would clealry be an digitla lifeform of some sort. She was just moving over to Tomoyo.

"Greetings I had several ideas and I'd also like to ask some questions about why, this society is like this...?"

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
    It's becoming apparent that Tomoyo might be the best prepared of the bunch! That's okay, that's why she's in charge~ "You don't need to speak up if you're just here to learn," she says to Staren. Sanary's comments are vague and nebulous, but that's okay! She was the opposition last time, but now she's here to help. "Thank you for coming. Your voice will probably carry a bit more weight in here~"

    Tomoyo is not familiar Yang, Remnant or the Great War, so hearing about it makes her face fall some. "Thank you... that you're willing to come along and talk about such a painful thing means a lot." But luckily, Rarity is here for moral support! "Thank you for coming~ But... do be careful. You stood out a lot during the Taint, try not to let anyone connect those dots, okay~?" Yuna makes some strong points, ones that Tomoyo nods along. "I agree. Although, be careful, I'm sure that point has been made before..." Deelel gets a nod too. "Please do. The more knowledge we have on the matter, the better we can argue our case."

    But it's time! The Speaker for the House speaks into a microphone. "Please be silent." Once hush reigns, he continues. "This begins the public meeting. Minutes will be taken by OMNI. Our first speakers are from a foreign world. Would Inspiration Trust please rise, and state your case."

    That's everyone's cue!

Rebecca Chambers has posed:
Rebecca's been here all this time, but she's not really said much, save for when she greeted the others as they arrived. Other than that, she's not had much to say. It seems she's just waiting for the right moment to speak up. When the Inspiration Trust is told to rise, Rebecca does just that, sensing her cue to rise.

Staren has posed:
    Staren umms, "Well... if you think you can present it, I'd rather let you. I'm no good at diplomacy... and this doesn't seem like the time to practice."

Yang Xiao Long has posed:
    Yang, actually manages to look a bit intimidated by the number of people, and the OMNI hologram. She's usually very brash and outspoken, but the gravity of the situation here has put a damper on her normal brashness. She somehow knows that if she screws up here, it's not just going to be a smack upside the head by an Ursa Major, she could put an entire WORLD in turmoil!

    She actually lets others who have a more diplomatic bent go first, offering to feed information on her own world to another speaker if they could articulate better.

Rarity (136) has posed:
Rarity is about to make a remark about 'standing out' being a bit hard to avoid in her case, but the meeting is instructed to start before she can actually get to doing so. Which is probably for the better. "I do believe that is our cue." Right. As much as she enjoys being in the limelight, it is probably better to let others like Tomoyo lead this off.

She does give a light nudge to the other tailor's side to help encourage her, lowering her voice to a comforting whisper. "Stand tall dahling, you can do this. And we're all here to make sure of it, so you're not alone."

Staren has posed:
    Staren whispers to Yang as they sit, "Remnant supressed people's expression? Why? I thought they were too busy fighting monsters?"

Yang Xiao Long has posed:
    Yang looks at Staren. "Some idiots at the top decided it was a good idea 'for the good of the people'. Mantle and Mistral joined forces and tried to force Vale and Vacuo to bend knee. Kinda went south for them, but yeah." she shrugs. "Ten years of war, each battle pausing to deal with the Grimm that turned up because of all the anger and hate boiling over between the sides."

Deelel has posed:
Deelel is going to speak after the otehrs do she'll let those from Tomoyo's group go first whilke she herself will follow up on things. IT was also good to see Rarity here too. she was falling in for a moment she looks to Yang for a moment getting a better understanding and nods.

"Even Clu doesn't crush ... 'all' art." So long as it's not subversive or supporting him he's fine with Art.

Sanary Rondel has posed:
"R.. Really? Huh. I won't let you down, then." Sanary seems confused at first, but she does have some fire in that eye! She's also being weirdly careful with those shoeboxes, and the healer's even glancing at Yang every now and then. That talk of what's happened in Remnant does actually help her relax some, though, and she even frowns a bit about something.

     It's definitely not related to anyt5hing she's done in Remnant. Not at all.

     Listening to Yang, Yuna, and Staren talk about the importance of this does give her ideas, though, and when the floor is opened to the visitors? Sanary's actually looking rather confident when she steps up to the plate with her fancy t-shirt and shorts and big shoeboxes.

     "Evening, everyone. Speakers, citizens of OMNI. Former Confederate Captain Sanary Rondel here." That should get some people sitting up! Or scared. Or confused? Or at least paying attention, she hopes. "The last time I was here, I helped your security out to suppress the artists involved in the Taint. NOw I'm here because suppressing art..."

     Think of something eloquent! "... Sucks." Smooth. "Back before I joined Inspiration Trust and got into artsy stuff, the only things I knew how to do was fight, heal, and wrestle pigs. I got hired to do lots of fighting and healing, but that just... Well, got a lot of people hurt and sent people back into more fights to get hurt again. Now..."

     Sanary opens up the shoeboxes and starts taking out several models of what looks like giant robots from random (but legally distinct) super robot series. The build quality is rather awful, and they'd probably cause physical pain to anyone who knows anything about model kits. Still, they're standing!

     "... I've been working on stuff like this. It takes some of the edge off, so I'm not fighting people as much. It's a good way to relax, and..." She sounds tenser than before, almost as if she's nervous about even putting out her horrid builds out there. "... Yeah. I saw a lot of kids out there that day, so letting them do stuff like this without having to go to breaking shit in the streets and messing with traffic lights' probably a lot better for everyone, you know?"

     And then she up and backs away from the podium RAPIDLY.

Yuna Kagurazaka (385) has posed:
At the invitation to rise and speak, Yuna takes a deep breath - and Sanary gets to the podium first. Well, no problems there; she waits her turn, listening to Sanary's address, and then steps forward when it's her turn, standing up straight.

For some people who know Yuna, it's almost like she's a different person. Gone is the carefree young woman whose greatest pleasures are hanging out with friends or catching up on sleep; even the idol singer who shines so radiantly on-stage is hard to recognize, and of course, the warrior (however reluctant) who's fought such a broad range of monsters is barely to be seen. Rather, Yuna carries herself right now like nothing less than a lady - proper, formal, polite, and elegant to the best of her ability.

She just hopes that's enough.

"Ladies and gentlemen, and OMNI, it is my pleasure and my honor to greet you today. My name is Yuna Kagurazaka," she introduces herself, "and among other things, I am a member of the Inspiration Trust. Our attention has been drawn to your nation due to the heavy restrictions on freedom of self-expression - a freedom which is taken for granted in many societies, legally protected in a large number, and considered a basic right in the worlds which we respectively came from. The recent 'Taint' which this meeting is to discuss is, in essence, one of the few opportunities your citizens have to express the thoughts and emotions which your government finds objectionable."

Her gaze sweeps the hall briefly, lingering on the massive hologram projected as OMNI's presence.

"Human beings are creatures of both reason and emotion," Yuna continues, with a faint smile and a gentle tone, both meant to take some of the edge off her words. "When something happens, whether good or bad, our first reaction is almost always an emotional one: joy, sorrow, frustration, anger, excitement, surprise. The rational reaction follows behind that, and is flavored by emotions. You may train your citizens to stifle their emotional reactions, but emotion in all its variety is a more powerful force than any government has ever managed to control for long ... precisely because people react, emotionally, to *everything*, even a government that suppresses emotion."

Yuna pauses briefly, looking over her audience once more. "The 'Taint' which you see as a symptom that must be eliminated is, in truth, an inescapable fact: emotions may be suppressed, stifled, bottled up, but they *cannot* be eliminated from human beings. They gather, they build up, and in time, they must be given expression in some form. But I submit to you all that the power of emotions should not be feared; it should be embraced and nurtured, turned towards a productive form. Encourage your citizens to be emotional, and where necessary, teach them how to direct those emotions to fruitful ends. I myself am a singer and a performer," she continues, her right hand lightly touching her chest as she speaks. "My career depends on my ability to share the emotions that are in my heart when I'm on stage, and my fans share in those emotions whether they're in the arena audience, or listening to my music across any greater distance in space and time. But it is because humans are inherently emotional beings that a singer like myself can perform for others, whether reassuring those who are unhappy, calming those who are angry, or amplifying the joy of those who are happy."

Yuna pauses, bowing politely to those assembled. "I deeply appreciate your time and attention, and I hope that my words will find a place in your heart as you consider your further actions in this and other matters."

Then she returns to her seat, still maintaining her decorum as well as she can.

Rarity (136) has posed:
Rarity smiles as her friends and allies take the forefront of the conversation. She's much more a shower than a speaker (unless it's being melodramatic) but it's an inspirational effort on their part all the same. Though that begs the question of just how to address this situation, as they're talking to some sort of communications display? Some things, despite her time in the multiverse, she will just never get use to.

The unicorn stands up fully to make herself more of note (Other than being the non-humanoid present that is). "I am Rarity, one of the inhabitants of Equestria, and one of its guardians." she remarks as she puts a forehoof to her chest. "But that is not why I am here. I am also a seamstress and fashion designer. One that -makes a professional living- of art and design. An example of how creativity can be both constructive and profitable if one has the proper means to do so. Creativity should be utilized and emphasized to help make a society instead of trying to restrain and smother it. Not to mention there would be less, shall we call it, lashing out if it was given the proper outlets to express itself in ways that are beneficial rather than disruptive."

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
    Silence echoes in the chamber after Sanary,Yuna, and Rarity's heartfelt speeches. Inspiration Trust feels that phantom feeling you get when someone is staring at you, but it's coming from several directions as OMNI regards them all.

    "FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR COMING, OTHERWORLDLY GUESTS," it eventually says through speakers throughout the room. What a polite AI. "WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING INTEREST IN OUR AFFAIRS. MORE MINDS TOGETHER MAKE FOR GREATER PRODUCTIVITY."

    It considers the arguments of the two and eventually begins to respond. "I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A LESSON ON OUR HISTORY TO OUR GUESTS," it says. Displays begin to pop up before the area in which Inspiration Trust sits. At first, it seems like typical media tabloid nonsense from the days before OMNI and the laws against expression. But those shift to murders, fighting in the streets, even governmental conspiracies that got uncovered. All stemming from some controversial art piece or concert ticket sales.

    "WE ONCE HAD THINGS SUCH AS YOUR ROBOT MODELS, AS WELL AS POPULAR SINGERS AND LUXURY FASHION BRANDS," OMNI says. "THEY WOULD BE UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF OUR MEDIA AND ART GUILDS. IN THE TIME LEADING UP TO MY EXISTANCE AND THESE LAWS, THESE GUILDS HELD UNPRESCEDENTED CULTURAL POWER. WE WERE BECOMING A POST-SCARCITY SOCIETY. EVERY RUNG OF THE HIERARCHY OF NEEDS WAS PERFECTLY FUFILLED."

    Another display, this time showing the hierarchy OMNI speaks of;

    "AS PEOPLE WERE FREE TO FOLLOW THEIR PASSIONS IN OUR SOCIETY, THEY DID SO WITH A FURY NEVER BEFORE SEEN. I AM SURE THAT IN YOUR WORLDS, PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENCES IN OPINION ON CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS THEY CONSUME OR DO NOT CONSUME. I IMAGINE THEY GET INTO ARGUMENTS OVER IT. IMAGINE THAT, MULTIPLED BY A FACTOR OF ONE HUDRED. FIGHTS AND MURDERS OVER THESE DIFFERENCES IN OPINION BROKE OUT. AND THE GUILDS WOULD EXPLOIT THIS."

    The natives of this world squirm in their seats. The air reeks of shame over the past. "SO PLEASE UNDERSTAND. THESE LAWS WERE NOT PUT INTO PLACE LIGHTLY. HUMANITY HAS PROVEN THEMSELVES UNTRUSTWORTHY IN DEALING WITH SELF-EXPRESSION IN A WORLD WHERE THAT IS THE ONLY WORRY THEY HAVE."

Staren has posed:
    Staren can't help standing and speaking. "'In the time leading up to your existence...' but now, you exist. The guilds have been disbanded. If people ever try to kill eachother over freaking /memes/, you and the police are there to deal with it before it can get that bad." He crosses his arms for a moment, then uncrosses them and leans on the railing. "If you have the power to control people's means to create art so effectively, you can do the same for the weapons that made them such a threat before. If you truly believe self-expression is purely detrimental, when why not use your advanced technology to /change/ people: remove those drives with drugs or implants or whatever, or put everyone into a simulation where they literally /can't/ physically hurt anyone? If you really believe they're worthless, why do you value them enough to keep them around?"

Rebecca Chambers has posed:
At first, Rebecca is about to speak, but then Staren speaks up, and she can only scowl in disbelief. She glares at him and says, "Calm down, will you? You're taking this too far out of proportion!" The annoyance in Rebecca's voice also comes from the fact that she was about to speak but Staren beat her to the punch, and now she's got to deal with what Staren had to say. She scowls even more at this.

Yang Xiao Long has posed:
    Yang listens to the others, then to OMNI as it explains... she then stands up and takes the dias. "My name is Yang Xiao Long... It means 'Little Sun Dragon' in the native Mistralian language of my home planet of Remnant... I would like to thank you for accepting us so willingly, and allowing us to speak." She's awkward, tripping over her words and trying not to second guess herself. It's obvious she's not a public speaker on this kind of level and it's affecting her eloquence.

    But she'll be damned if she's not stubborn enough to push through it.

    "Eighty years ago, my home was engulfed in a Great War. Not one borne from territorial ownership, or trade rights... but borne upon the very idea of Individuality and Expressionism itself." She thinks back to Ozpin's lecture. "My world descended into a war that lasted for ten years. Thousands died, the Grimm..." she pauses, then decides to explain them. "Monsters of Shadow and Negative Emotion. They're drawn to conflict, strife, sadness... anything you'd think of as a negative emotion. They're attracted to it." explanation on that done, she continues. "The Grimm destroyed countless settlements, many of them still unreclaimed even today... but we kept our freedom to expression. We, as a society of four nations, made it our one goal to ensure we were united in a single purpose. My name, the names of everyone born since the very beginning of that War, have all been based upon a single creed. The very basis of Art itself. Colour."

    She straightens and takes a breath, heart racing. "Emotions are, as my friend said," she spares a glance to Yuna at that. "The very core of the Human condition... use your advanced technology, give the people their outlets. Filter it, help to shape it. Everyone should be entitled to their own opinion, but I do agree that bloodshed over a differing opinion on an artpiece is wrong."

    She seems to be running out of words and eloquence. "Just, don't do what Mantle and Mistral did eighty years ago... because, if something spills over, and someone gets it into their head to rise up against this? You could end up with a terrible amount of bloodshed on your hands... and I wouldn't wish that on any world."

Sanary Rondel has posed:
@emit      Sanary looks considerably more relieved when she's not in the spotlight, and she flashes both Yuna and Rarity a big thumbs-up as they move in to talk. Yang's a surprising speaker as well, and the healer actually furrows her brow occasionally to considering that brief look into Remnant's history. She still looks like her nerves are shoteven by the time they finish and OMNI starts speaking, though. There's a small hitch in her breath when OMNI actually recognizes what she's made and /doesn't/ crap on the quality!

     A personal victory.

     What's not so much of a victory, though, is how the counterpoints OMNI makes all make sense. The healer can't even come up with a good rebuttal, and she strokes her chin lightly while considering it all. "I getcha... Hmm. People /can/ be pretty bad about..."

     She mutters. "... Everything...?" Is she getting won over by OMNI already?!

     Well, until Staren speaks. "... But don't do that, OMNI. I mean, at that point, the people won't really even be people any more. They'd be all... Robots or something." A pause, and then she clears her throat. "N... Not that there's anything wrong with robots or anything. I mean, some of my best friends are robots! Er. Androids...? Or cyborg?"

Rarity (136) has posed:
The way Rarity sighs slightly one would wonder if this was the sort of response she might of been expecting. It's followed by a bit of a brow raise at the 'their only worry' part. "And that, my good... is why you are not -entirely- wrong. Ideas left to run free and rampant to conflict with others can be just as bad as trying to enforce complete control upon them. Which is why I emphasize, creativity requires an outlet to be directed through to be a contributing aspect. Give it a direction and a purpose, and both expression and regulation can occur harmoneously."

The unicorn turns aside for a moment, tapping a hoof as she thinks. Then a small 'aha' as something occurs to her, and she turns her attention back to OMNI's representation. "Let me give you a better example from my homeland. In Equestria one of the other races, Pegasus Ponies, manage the weather. They make clouds, manage the rainfall, and keep weather patterns from becoming too destructive. But they also create beautiful displays of vibrant rainbows and brilliant lightning shows during rainstorms. It is both an artistic expression, and a constructive application as without the management of rain and sunlight we would not be able to grow important crops or perform other outdoor endeavors. And because they are contributing while expressing their creativity, the Pegasi have not a need to 'act out' in other ways."

Yuna Kagurazaka (385) has posed:
If Yuna were not consciously on her best possible behavior, she would likely give in to the urge to facepalm at Staren. She simply rubs her forehead instead ... which has the side benefit of covering the short-lived glare she directs at Staren behind her hand.

Then she lowers her hand to her lap again, and the glare has been replaced by a restrained look of disapproval, a look which fades further as Yang speaks her piece.

When Yuna gets a turn to speak again, she returns to the podium and inclines her head once more to the audience, OMNI included. "You'll have to pardon my companion Staren's desire to look first to technology for solutions to the wrong aspects of a given problem," she says mildly. "I will admit, the story you tell is a deeply disturbing one; I can't imagine how differences of opinion over artists or media or model kits became *that* uncontrollable; my own world is relatively well-off as far as the hierarchy of needs is concerned, and yet we've managed not to have open warfare or riots in the streets over disagreements about which idol singer is cutest or most talented. There must have been a middle ground that you rejected for some reason - a middle ground which would have been healthier."

Rebecca Chambers has posed:
After Yuna speaks, Rebecca speaks again. "I have to agree with what Yuna is saying. It sounds like there's a bit of misplaced priorities here. Now I'm not saying this is the truth or not. It's just what I'm going by based on what I've seen and heard." She maintains a calm and positive attitude in contrast to how she was a few moments ago.

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
    OMNI regards Staren. "I AM NOT A TYRANT. I HAVE ALWAYS AND FOREVER BEEN A SERVANT OF MAN. I WOULD NOT DO SUCH A THING UNLESS THEY WANTED IT." Well, that's interesting. So OMNI did not make these laws...

    Yang's story draws a bit of chatter from the audience. A world in which creativity stifling lead to all-out war? "THAT IS A TRAGIC STORY. I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT IT HAPPENED," OMNI says. It doesn't really carry due to the synthesized nature of its voice. "AND YET, YOU SPEAK OF WAR. CONFLICT BETWEEN IDEALS OF DIFFERENT NATION-STATES. WAR DRAGS IN EVERYONE INVOLVED, WHETHER THEY WANT TO OR NOT. IF PEOPLE ARE UNHAPPY HERE, THEY CAN LEAVE. IF THEY WISH TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES, THEY MAY. BUT NOT HERE."

    Sanary is swinging, oh no! Tomoyo puts a hand on her shoulder and offers a reassuring smile. Luckily, no one seems offended, not even OMNI. "TO TAKE AWAY EMOTIONALITY IS TO REMOVE THE HUMAN ESSENCE, I AGREE. I HAVE NO AIM TO DO THAT." Rarity's comment draws a long pause from the machine, before it says, "YOU SPEAK OF A WORLD IN WHICH THE RACES THAT LIVE IN IT HAVE ADAPTED IN A WAY WHEREIN THEY CAN SPECIALIZE IN THINGS THE OTHERS CANNOT. THIS ENCOURAGES HARMONY AND COOPERATION. HUMANS DO NOT HAVE THIS ADVANTAGE. EVEN IF THE OPTION TO CONDUCT THEIR DUTIES IN A WAY THAT ALLOWED BOTH FUNCTION AND AESTHETIC EXISTED IN THE SAME MANNER AS IT DOES IN YOUR WORLD, THERE WOULD STILL BE ARGUMENTS OVER WHAT WAY IS 'BETTER.' HUMANS WILL ALWAYS DISAGREE WHEN AESTHETIC IS BROUGHT INTO IT."

    OMNI regards Yuna next. Another long pause as it considers things. "NO OFFENCE HAS BEEN TAKEN. AND YOU ARE CORRECT IN THAT MANNER, I REALIZE. BY PUTTING ALL MANNER OF CAREERS UNDER THE DOMAIN OF GUILDS WITH POLITICAL POWER, SEVERAL LOST STANDING AS WE APPROACHED A POST-SCARCITY SOCIETY. THE DEPOLITICIZATION OF IT ALL MAY MAKE A DIFFERENCE." There is excited babbling in the audience. Could this be a breakthrough. "AND YET, THERE IS NO PROMISE OF THAT. IF WE TRIED THAT, AND VIOLENCE OCCURED? IF EVEN ONE PERSON WERE TO DIE IN THEIR HOME, AWAY FROM POLICE INTERVENTION AS A RESULT OF ALLOWING SELF-EXPRESSION, WOULD THAT BE WORTH IT TO YOU ALL?"

    The natives are silent once more.

Staren has posed:
    Staren keeps it short: "If people are so free to leave, then why were there so many at the Taint? Something is holding them here -- the option to leave is not so simple as you insinuate."

    He takes a deep breath. "The same risk is true of any advance. Surely more than one person has died in car or plane crashes -- should those be banned as well?"

Yuna Kagurazaka (385) has posed:
Yuna bows her head briefly, "I believe that every life is a precious and irreplaceable treasure, and I do not wish to say that anyone should die for the sake of the ideals I espouse. But yet, you can't protect every single citizen at every moment; there must come a point when you trust them to take care of themselves *and* each other ... and the method by which you might accomplish this is not law or cold logic."

"It is emotion that enables people to interact at a level deeper and stronger than logic. Feelings of love and friendship draw us together, lead us to support and succour each other in time of need. There *are* emotions which can cause us to seek to injure one another, and I won't deny that .... but this is why, instead of stifling all emotion, I believe that your people must learn to work with their emotions. To learn which emotions will work for the benefit of themselves and those around them, and to channel in a safe, appropriate manner those emotions which could lead to doing harm. I do not say that 'some emotions should be permitted, others should be banned' because you *can't* ban specific emotions - only provide for the necessary outlets."

Deelel has posed:
Deelel says "Greetings I am Deelel I am a ... basic a program from the data-core of the Multiverse. I am a multi media program. My function why I was given life was to make music and arts. My very existence is illegal under your world's laws but I have come to speak. Given you have answered one of the questions I came to ask. Why, now knowing the why I have a better idea of it." She looks to Staren for a moment. She keeps her control and she looks up at OMNI for a very long moment.

"Yet a culture without expression which represses everything will explode with a terrible harvest one day. It is not healthy to suppress the violence and other problems during the Taint are merely a symptom look at other advanced human civilizations across the multiverse which have found ways to keep from falling prey to it. I do not have a full solution in that but what I do bring to the table is look from other worlds, other cultures how they have handled similar issues."

It seemed internet culture got full control and went cancerous as far as she can tell. "Have you considered the operation of certain outlets? Such as locations that artist are free to work under the Crevant they remain civil to each other. The urge to create the urge to self express is why my world even exists because of the human drive to do so, they forged my world. My species are creatures of order yet even we express ourselves, we feel just as humans do. But we also know that a measure of self control is needed, when self control is lost? As for the fear of death and undertandbale one. Yet if you are afraid to live and you can not? Everyone is responsible for their own actions. Regardless of anture."

The MCP or clu this mega AI is not and Deelel is thankful for that. It's doesn't seem to be power mad for it's own sake.

A quote comes to mind Deelel does not voice it but the thought of a culture without art or Music is not worth remebering. She does not want to see this place become the poster child for that saying...

Rarity (136) has posed:
Rarity has a rather simply yet pointant reply to all of that. "Uncertainty should never be a reason to not try. No solution will be perfect, but that should not be a reason to not make an effort. If choices are not made and risks taken, there will be no reward to accomplish."

Rebecca Chambers has posed:
As soon as Yuna finishes speaking, Rebecca speaks again. "She speaks the truth," Rebecca states, referring to Yuna. "Whatever your intent is, the fact still remains that you can't do just that. You can't protect everyone and everything. Sacrifices are a part of life. And banning emotions does no good either." She pauses for a moment, trying to think of a good idea. "Trying to outlaw certain emotions so you can only think in a certain mindset, for example, will only make you naive to the reality around you."

Sanary Rondel has posed:
Sanary blinks a few times when Tomoyo gives her that smile, then takes a deep breath to regain her composure. She nods in understanding(?) once before stepping back, seeming more content to listen rather than risk blowing the whole thing with awkwardly worded unintentional racism.

     Still, she's finding it harder to disagree with OMNI, especially with how reasonable the AI's arguments are. Even that theoretical scenario has Sanary humming and hawing without any real arguments coming to mind!

     However, it does seem like several of their numbers are approaching the same conclusion from different angles, and the healer... Actually refrains from speaking this time! No, she'll just internalize it for the time being.

Tomoyo Daidouji has posed:
    Staren's point gets an immediate answer. Arrest records of those busted during Taints (with personal information censored of course) are shown, with the ages highlighted. A vast majority of them are teenagers. "MOST TAINT PARTICIPANTS ARE YOUNG ADULTS. NOT YET CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING THEMSELVES. THUS, THEY ARE UNABLE TO SET UP A LIFE ELSEWHERE. BEING YOUNG MEANS HAVING SOME FREEDOMS LIMITED UNTIL YOU MATURE, THIS IS TRUE FOR MOST SOCIETIES."

    Yuna's words gets another long pause. "HERE IS WHERE MY LIMITATIONS AS A MACHINE PRESENT ITSELF. HUMAN EMOTION IS BAFFLING TO ME. MORE RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO OFFER A PROPER ANSWER. I APOLOGIZE." However, he does have an immediate response to Rebecca. "EMOTIONS ARE NOT OUTLAWED. PLEASE DO NOT GET THIS PART CONFUSED. IT IS SELF-EXPRESSION THAT IS OUTLAWED. I WISH TO MAKE THIS PART CLEAR."

    Deelel draws some mutterings. A lifeform similar to OMNI? The AI considers the other AI's words. "I REALIZE THAT AN OUTBURST OF GENUINE VIOLENCE IS A POSSIBILITY. WEAPONS ARE RESTRICTED TO THE POPULACE FOR THIS VERY REASON. AS FOR THE MATTER OF OPEN SPACES FOR EXPRESSION? PEOPLE WILL TAKE THE EMOTIONS THEY GLEN FROM THOSE SPACES HOME, WHICH MAY PERVADE THEIR ACTIONS. NOT TO MENTION, IN SUCH A LIMITED SPACE, ANY ART WILL BE TRANSIENT, WHICH MAY INSPIRE VIOLENCE ON ITS OWN. FURTHERMORE, PEOPLE WILL FLOCK TO THESE SPACES, FILLING THEM BEYOND CAPACITY." Clearly, this has been considered.

    OMNI is quiet for a long while. "OUTWORLDERS. YOU HAVE GIVEN ME MUCH TO THINK ABOUT. PLEASE, ALLOW ME TIME TO CONSIDER ALL THIS. TO THIS END, MAY I PLEASE ASK YOU TO STAND DOWN AND ALLOW OTHER TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED?"

Rarity (136) has posed:
OMNI is willing to actually consider things. That is about as much as they can ask for without overstepping their own bounds and being too forceful. Rarity nods her head lightly. "But of course. Certainly you have many other matters of maintaining your world to consider." True to her usual form the unicorn makes a sweeping motion with a foreleg to bring it up and lower herself into a grandoise bow. "We thank you for inviting us and taking the time to listen to what we have had to say."

Yuna Kagurazaka (385) has posed:
Yuna bows politely, "Of course. We're all most grateful for the chance to address you today; please let us know when you have further questions that we might be able to assist in answering. I'm sure this won't be an easy matter to come to a decision on."

Particularly, as she mentioned on the Trust's radio, given that computers are *not* very good at processing matters of full-fledged emotion. You need an AI that's up to a human level of complexity, really ... although Yuna knows at least two such 'AIs' from her own universe who basically ARE human when it comes to their behavior and interaction.

Rebecca Chambers has posed:
Rebecca stands up and salutes. "Thank you for your time. We appreciate you taking the time to listen to us." She doesn't seem to mention what happened with Staren or anything else for that matter. A gentle smile forms as she says, "I bid you all well."

Sanary Rondel has posed:
"Thanks for listening, yeah. If you need to pick our brains to figure out more about human emotions and stuff, just ask." Sanary taps two fingers to her head in a vague salute, glancing around a moment later to try and figure out where OMNI's 'eyes' would even be. A moment later, and then she speaks up again.

     "... Not actually picking our brains. Just... Asking, talking, that kind of thing."

     It's an important distinction!

Deelel has posed:
Deelel is going to take this as a victory of a sort the AI is willng to hear them out and consider this. This is far more than she would be able to get out of CLU, that much is clear. she nods in reply to the AI and does her best to not will understand what's going on here. It's willing to attempt to change and she's going to certainly give it a chance as she keep tabs on thing but maybe this time? She's going to keep it on the level fromt his point out.

"Negative but I may wish to ... confer on things later, I was mistaken about you and your intents."

Deelel seems to be an ai prone to human level emotional failings curious...

Staren has posed:
    staren nods. OMNI needs time to consider...

    It can have time. If it continues to opress people... there is always the option of heroes deposing the tyrant.

    It'd be nice if it didn't come to that, though...