View source for 5365/(What) Do People Think

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2017/07/10
|Location=The Quilt
|Synopsis=Inspiration Trust wrangles some helpers to survey the common folk in the city in which OMNI sees all.
|Cast of Characters=648, 906, 894, 714, 42, 385
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:648|Tomoyo Daidouji (648)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The air in the city is different. Before, it was sterile, cold, static. People lived their days with little to show for it than their mundane jobs. But now the air is uncertain, electric, tense. Some would argue that this is an improvement, others a further deterioration. One thing is clear though. People are afraid to be out in the streets, especially in the Residential District. As it neighbours the Market District, which has been freed from OMNI's gaze and taken over by hooligans and rampant artists.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This makes Inspiration Trust's little survey hard, as people don't want to be outside for too long. But Tomoyo seems to be managing well.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Thank you for your time ma'am~" she says to a parting woman, holding a tablet computer. The same type of computer has been handed out to everyone helping with this. Made by the Daidouji Toy Company, they have built-in microphones and are set up so that it will record the answers to the following questions when asked.<br><br>1.) What do you think of the recent events concerning the Market District?<br><br>2.) What do you think of the Taint?<br><br>3.) What do you think of what is put up in public places during the Taint?<br><br>4.) What do you think of OMNI?<br><br>5.)What do you think of the current government?<br><br>6.) Do you think there is anything that would drive you to do things akin to what those who participate in the Taint, or those involved in the Market District incident do?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes, that's right. Tomoyo has wrangled Elites into doing street surveys with her. It certainly seems... simple, mundane. Is this really the first thing that came to her mind when Yang asked her for help?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yang walks uncertainly through the streets, approaching with a friendly enough smile to anyone she can, asking the questions, but not getting much footing. People have likely seen her image on the police footage of the Market District assault, and the OMNI cameras are keeping a special attention on the colourful blonde. She's not exactly been subtle with her stance before now.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:894|August Kohler (894)}} has posed:'''<br>August Kohler is armed with a glass bracelet on his wrist, easy to access if he needs to. If OMNI recognizes him and is going to take action, he's prepared to defend himself. But he's not here to fight. He's here to assist Tomoyo and Yang with the survey, because he /is/ interested in the common people and what they think. Moving from person to person, he asks the questions, but each time, he adds an additional question.<br><br>7.) If you felt you had the power to change things, what actions would you take for your city and people?<br><br>The question wasn't sanctioned ahead of time, but it's one he wants to see. It's a question that specifically makes you thing, 'what would /you/ do'. What the people would do is important for August's line of work.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br> Just because Sanary might still be on OMNI's nice list and has no objections to getting paid by them doesn't mean she's just going to ignore the legitimate grievances that the people ruled by OMNI may or may not have. Plus, she's got friends in Inspiration Trust and elsewhere, so of course she's going to be here. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dressed in a somewhat more casual t-shirt and shorts combo, the healer has her hands on one end of the weird little computer device while going around trying to extort answers out of people she sees on the street. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She might be a little too aggressive with it, though, shouting at and calling out whenever she sees someone. She's not afraid of being seen, at least!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren isn't on 'OMNI's side' or 'the rebellion's side' -- he's on the people's side, and here are the people. He has a tablet, and he's given one to Dawn if Tomoyo allows -- using her android body, the AI can ask people questions, and for surface-level interaction like this she can seem human enough. He'd actually suggest using drones to gather responses from even more people, but Tomoyo might be opposed to that too... And if she thinks it would make people less likely to respond, he'll defer to her social expertise.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He is, perhaps, a bit dry and curt. 'Excuse me, could you answer some questions', and if they say no move on to the next person. No point in trying to persuade anyone, after all. People may recognize him from the meeting with OMNI -- he was in disguise or in armor the other times he's appeared here.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:648|Tomoyo Daidouji (648)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yang does get a lot of looks! Not just from her display during the attack, but also her speech to OMNI. It's hard to forget that mane of golden locks. As a result of her reputation, a lot of people actually approach her, rather than the other way around! They ask their own questions, or praise her for her bravery, and are very willing to participate in the survey.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;August's surprise 7th question draws looks from Tomoyo once the data starts rolling in, but she doesn't seem to be against it. He actually gets a shockingly slim range of answers. The most common one boils down to 'ignore OMNI about the self-expression laws, but keep listening to it otherwise.' Other than that, he often gets, 'I don't know,' as an answer. Common people around here don't put much thought into a better future, it seems.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sanary and Staren are two sides of a coin. While she is overly eager to chase people down for their participation, causing more than a few to upgrade their pace to 'fast walk' to get away from her. Staren's brusque manner is appreciated by some, but his intensity probably spooks a couple of willing participants away. Ironically, Dawn actually gets more participants. Because she's an autonomous machine, people assume she's some extension of OMNI, adding a layer of legitimacy to this whole affair that draws people in.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But eventually, the tailor calls for a lunch break, all purchased from a street vendor who was chased out of the Market District (he too participates, and has some /strong feelings/ on the matter). While Tomoyo treats everyone to hot dogs and a local fizzy drink (like limeade, but with a tangy aftertaste like oranges), she downloads everybody's answers and starts listening to them while making notes.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Okay~ Here's where we stand thus far," she says. "For question one, the responses have been overwhelmingly negative. Some understand why it happened, but a majority condemn it. For question two, a lot of people still condemn it, but not as much as question 1. Answers to question three are mostly positive. Pretty much everyone had at least one display in recent years they really liked. Question four is... well, a lot of people disagree with OMNI, but only a few want her gone really. A majority cite the safety and security they provide as their reasons. Question five is a little more negative. People seem to want more free-thinkers on the council. Question six is... a lot of 'I don't know's. People just don't think about that here, it seems."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Those paying more attention to their surroundings might notice that security presences are stepping up a bit nearby. Forces on patrol, covering a couple of the exits...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:894|August Kohler (894)}} has posed:'''<br>The answers make August a bit visibly unnerved, as he bites into his hot dog. "I asked a question 7. 'If you felt you had the power to change things, what actions would you take for your city and people?' Most people just...didn't have an answer. Those who did wanted to keep listening to OMNI but ignore the self-expression laws. It's like people refuse to actually think for themselves, and that's goddamn creepy."<br><br>As he's talking, August notices the security step up, and brings his bracelet closer to his face, taking another bite out of his hot dog. "Be careful. I'm probably on a wanted list after I helped torch OMNI's installations." He's not subtle about this, though he does lower his voice if the street vendor is in earshot. "Don't want to rope you guys into that. I'll lead them out a back way if that's the case."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Legitimately, Yang thought she'd be avoided at all costs, so people actively approaching her comes as a bit of a shock, but being the extrovert she is, takes it easily in stride. Smiles and thank yous are given to those who approach her, but as Tomoyo reads out the results, Yang's expression darkens slightly. "If we can't get a solid answer out of this, what are you going to bring to the Council?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Just as August notices the security moving in, something triggers Yang's 'Aura Sense'. "Eyes up, CitySec moving in... I have a bad feeling they're not after us." she looks around at the others. "Just call it a Hunters Intuition."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She does look over at the vendor, and leans in to ask him the question set, just for completeness sake, including August's surprise addition.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br> Sanary's looking a smidge dejected by the time lunch is called, not only because she had to chase people down, but because she's tuckered herself out with having to chase them down! "Friggin'... I thought these people wanted stuff changed." <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She's going to be a little grumbly for a while. There's some small comfort in Tomoyo not calling anyone out for the quantity of their answers, at least, and she reads a list of the questions just to make sure she knows what the tailor is referring to reach time. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She also devours hot dogs. "So... Huh. They don't like what's been goin' on, but they like the stuff coming out of it? I don't get it." She murmurs, cramming down another vaguely meat tube down her gullet before pausing to stare at one. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "... Oh. Maybe they like the hot dogs-er. Displays, but they don't want to see it made? Like how people don't like seeing hot dogs made, but wanna eat 'em?" <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That's her mental contribution for the day. Spotting the guards when Yang calls out their presence, Sanary finishes her fourth long sandwich before approaching them head on with a quick salute. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hey there. You guys got more work lined up for me, or just the usual patrols today?" Her tone is friendly enough and her stance is fairly unguarded. Why would she be on guard? She's worked alongside them before, so surely nothing could go wrong!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Huh, maybe they /should've/ used drones, Staren notes. He has this sudden mental image of the Tachikomas giving the surveys, and can't help but smile.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"So it sounds to me... while we don't know what the youth think, at least, not in this formal sense, the adults may be willing to comprimise in expression laws and a change in government policy, but they don't actually want OMNI gone. It does something useful, after all."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To August he comments, "That's what most people do, not think for themselves. That's their choice to make. As long as they're not being exploited and harmed, anyway. Are the majority of people on your world any different, the ones whose greatest cares are 'can I make enough money to pay rent this month' or 'I wonder if that cute boy likes me' or 'I hope I get good enough grades to stay in school', rather than 'what monstrosity will my friends and I fight from the mirror forest this time'? Not everyone can be a philosopher."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To Sanary he adds, "Making societies is a hard problem. Just because people know what they like and what they don't like, if they even really HAVE thought about that much, doesn't mean they know what to do about it. You don't know what to do. We don't know what to do. I bet the rebels don't have a plan either, for what to do after they're in charge if they win."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As security gathers around, he looks at Yang and August. "I understand. Leave if you must -- I don't believe I have anything to fear. OMNI and the government have no reason to make an enemy out of me."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:'''<br>Being an idol singer, Yuna is used to dealing with the normally-faceless public, not just en masse in a concert stadium, but face-to-face as well at signings and other events. Granted, she's less used to giving surveys and more used to being a subject of them - but she can still smile and be friendly to the people whom she approaches with the questionaire. A friendly face who treats the people she's talking to like important individuals may be more successful at collecting those answers than somebody who's standoffish or too-professional about it; Yuna tries to engage people individually, even if she does have to do so one after the other.<br><br>Still, the break for lunch is a welcome interruption, and Yuna chews over the reported answers just as much as she's chewing on bites of her hot dog. Maybe more.<br><br>"How long has OMNI been 'advising,' again?" Yuna wonders, when there's a lull in the discussion coinciding with her mouth being empty. "People collectively get used to things being the way they are ... it might be that if we'd asked these questions sooner after OMNI was set up, the answers would be a lot different. And beyond that - if OMNI gets taken out of the equation, or its influence is decreased, that's going to alter the situation in its own right, and some people may be so used to an omniscient supercomputer guiding their society that they're scared of what'll happen without it. Maybe."<br><br>She takes another bite of her hot dog, casually glancing around. Elner's flitting around somewhere, the robo-faerie keeping tabs on things in case Yuna or her friends turn out to be in danger. And with the security personnel closing in and at least two members of the group likely on some kind of 'Wanted' list, that's not a question to be easily dismissed ...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:894|August Kohler (894)}} has posed:'''<br>"I'm not leaving. I don't have anything to /fear/. If they come at me, I'll defend myself. I just won't let you in the crossfire." August responds, continuing to eat his hot dog.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:648|Tomoyo Daidouji (648)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"People often hope for better things, but have no idea how to make them happen," Tomoyo says softly to August as she sips the strange drink. Although, as he says he is going to try and slip off, her hand comes up to grab him by the shirt. For a delicate-looking thing, her grip strength is pretty strong! "How about we wait and see if they're even here for us first?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Looking to Yang, she shakes her head. "I don't know yet. I'll be honest... all the data in the world can mean nothing if there's no face to it. Do you ever wonder why petitions never seem to work? Because they're just names. People need an image to put to it, a symbol. That's what gives opinions power." She smiles at the Huntress. "I'll think of something though. Inspiration Trust always delivers results!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She looks to Sanary next, and nods. "That's... quite apt, honestly. A lot of people just go through life dealing with the problems before them. Once solving the problem is out of their means, they just put it aside and keep going. It's a bit admirable, honestly~" Staren sums up most of the things she's saying in more words, so she nods along with the catboy.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To Yuna, she quickly rattles off, "Around 65 years. Enough for a generation to come and sire the next. So yes, plenty have grown up not knowing anything else..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But, the security! As Sanary walks up, she is recognized. "Not right now," the man says. "We got a lead on the punk who lead that attack on Market District. Take your buddies and clear out." Indeed, more forces are coming up to one of the many apartment skyscrapers that make up the Residential District, lining up along the walls next to the door. They're dressed for war, all body armour and visors. One of them begins counting down with his fingers, preparing to breach.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On two, the doors explode out, the air filling with the angry revving of a petrol engine. D-BASE erupts from the building astride an old motorcycle, all clad in biking leathers. He's speeding past the security forces and wobbling through the square at high speeds. It's clear that he's never driven the thing before. Security starts coming from the woodworks, trying to corral him!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And there is it. Yang knew the security wasn't coming after them. She remains seated, pointedly not looking at D-BASE and his motorcycle trying to escape the cops. She continues to eat her food, and drink her drink, even as everyone around her starts gearing up for combat.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It'll take something direct to get her involved. She's got no horse in this race as it stands.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:894|August Kohler (894)}} has posed:'''<br>Tomoyo grabs August's shirt as he moves to get up, and after blushing for a second, he pulls back and returns to sitting. "Fine, jeez." The hot dog is finished, and August moves to get up again, this time to buy himself a second one because he's actually pretty famished. But then, the doors of the skyscraper explode open, revealing that the thing putting the security on edge is D-Base, the local Watch contact. Pulling the mirror bracelet up, August decides what he's going to do /immediately/. Running up towards the security, he stares straight into the bracelet before skidding to a stop. "PERSONA!"<br><br>The Tin Soldier appears in a spark of blue, and proceeds to shoulder rush several of the officers, using its raw strength to swing them back and try and get them away from the motorcycle, before it pulls back to shield August directly after aggro. "Name's August Kohler, this is the Tin Soldier. I suggest you let my friend here leave, or I'll have to conclude this day of interviews with a very burning question." Inner voice approves. The Tin Soldier's gun leg moves up, igniting and shooting a gout in the air as it points at the cops. He's not expecting them to all entirely back off...but he'll definitely look like the bigger threat now.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:'''<br>And that's the trouble that Yuna was hoping, if not praying, *wouldn't* manifest while the group was here. She's relieved to see that the security forces aren't here for the Multiversal group - but the sight of D-BASE emerging from that building on a noisy, smelly motorcycle makes Yuna wince, almost cringing even, as she focuses on what's left of her hot dog.<br><br>She no longer wants to be here.<br><br>The attitude in which D-BASE cloaked himself during Yuna's first meeting with him, when she escorted Yang to explain her prior actions, left an impression that hasn't faded - and even more than that, his embracing violence the way he claimed makes him the sort of person Yuna is obligated to stand against. If Yuna's sense of the punk is true, he doesn't care who gets caught in the crossfire; he's a rebel for rebellion's sake, and even if Yuna finds it hard to disagree with the system he's fighting *against* ... she can't agree with the way he does it.<br><br>'Violence IS the message!' he said at that meeting - and that statement sums up the basis of her disagreement with D-BASE and his principles. Yuna doesn't want to see what's going to happen, and even if she considers August an ally under most circumstances, backing D-BASE up is the one thing that can put them on opposite sides. But unless innocents are put in harm's way, Yuna isn't going to fight her friend.<br><br>If it *does* ...<br><br>She doesn't want to think about it.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br> Sanary looks somewhat proud when Tomoyo says that she got that one right. Or.. Very proud. Smug, even, considering how rarely these sorts of things make sense to her, so she'll take an intellectual victory where she can get it! <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When the security guards answer her, she raises an eye. "Eh? You did? Huh... Y-yeah, I'll give 'em the heads up. We're just about done here, anyway." Sanary gives the one answering her a knowing nod, then turns back to her colleagues and... <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sighs. Loudly. Of course they're not just going to clear out. Well, not all of them. Yang gets a grateful (if somewhat cautious) smile in thanks for not doing what August is doing, but the healer doesn't actually move to stop August. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She's not getting paid to, after all! Instead, she just moves over to stand by Yang, possibly even Tomoyo and Yuna and Staren, to watch if things get too violent. She does, however, let her hand start glowing with that green healing magic as if preparing for the inevitable injuries that'll need fixing sooner rather than later. "Say... People back home were kinda bad about trying to fix things that didn't concern 'em, too. What's... What's different about here, anyway?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>What punk? August is right here... Oh. THAT guy. Staren is taken aback as D-BASE bursts out on his motorcycle. There's hesitation as he glances at D-BASE, the cops... and finally, August. That clinches it. He stands up and is about to leave... when August attacks the cops. Morg DAMN it. He reaches for his pistol...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But sees the Tin Soldier is just shoving them aside and threatening them. August is showing some restraint today, at least. His hand drops away from his coat, and he and Dawn teleport away in beams of red light, shooting into the sky. As long as this is resolved quickly, one way or the other, he won't have time to don his armor and interfere.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:648|Tomoyo Daidouji (648)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Lunch AND a show! August dives a the security forces and smacks them with Tin Soldier, sending them flying! D-BASE taps the brakes to come to a stop and flash August a cocky grin. "Bless you, mate! Try not to get yourself caught, okay? I'm heading into the subway to lay low, but I'll be in touch soon. Got another server farm to trash." He guns the throttle again and speeds off through a gap in the defences. Based on the frantic shouting into a radio from one of the security forces August knocked down, they weren't prepared for this. He should be fine from here.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Tomoyo, meanwhile, does sit with the others who would rather keep their hands clean. She looks to Sanary to answer her question. "OMNI is here. OMNI is professed to be the perfect problem-solver. Why even try when a machine does it perfectly?" She looks to the other two girls. Yang very much does not care, but she can tell that Yuna is having an internal dialogue, so she keeps talking.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"He's a good example of what said," she says, gesturing towards the fading sound of D-BASE's motorcycle. "A face to an idea. A symbol. He gives the movement more power just by being himself. If we want to combat them on an ideological level, we need a symbol too..." As she says this, she swipes at her tablet to look at some kind of character model sheet... but she pauses, and looks to Yang and Yuna. A slow smile creeps across her face. "A thought just hit me. Yuna, how do you feel about charity concerts? Yang, how do you feel about putting on performances?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As Staren beams off, he would find the square clear once he came back with his armour. D-BASE got away, so August doesn't need to fight anymore. "We should get going," Tomoyo says. "We uh... we were with Mister Kohler, we might all get arrested if we linger. I would rather not have to deal with that." With that, she stands and shakes the hand of everyone that helped out. "Thank you for coming to assist me with this~ Hopefully something good will come of it. I already have a few ideas for how we could mobilize the people."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yang blinks at Tomoyo. "Performances? Just as long as I don't have to sing, we'll be good... I don't have a good singing voice." she replies. As the tailor goes to shake her hand, the big blonde instead goes in for a hug, scooping the slender tailor up, giving her a squeeze, then setting her back down again. It's like being hugged by a big, soft bear.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:'''<br>"I think the singing part may be my job, Yang," Yuna smiles wryly. "And I'd love to do a charity concert here or something - is that what you had in mind?"<br><br>Looks like that prospect cheered her up pretty quickly.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staren looks around, eventually relaxing when he sees that D-Base is gone. He nods to Tomoyo. "I think we also need to make 'our' idea more clear. We're not the rebels or OMNI, we want to help the people... but how do we show that, communicate that in a quick and snappy way, that it isn't us vs them? Sounds like if anyone can figure that out, it's the Trust." He'll leave quietly after that.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:894|August Kohler (894)}} has posed:'''<br>August grins as D-BASE is able to get away safely due to his interference, and flashes the guy a thumbsup, not responding vocally because he's keeping an eye on the cops. Once D-BASE is coast-clear, a small screen of flame is put directly in front of August as a shield, before he barrels for an alleyway to escape. He doesn't stick around long enough to hear Tomoyo's words. He's just running.<br> <br>
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