[ There's an initial instinct to defend himself— but it doesn't serve them to double down and let a miscommunication put an end to what they've been working towards here. He made a mistake. He did.
He has no love for a Reverend turned Shepherd, but he remembers what he said about the threat of paranoia. ]
Anora.
[ No time now for easier names. He needs her to hear him. ]
This started at my suggestion. My intention wasn't clear, and I didn't go on to clarify when he volunteered to speak with her on the basis that it would be a waste not to utilise the skills we each have at our disposal. He was clear on his planned angle - the leverage of his vote - and I didn't sufficiently consider the implications when I encouraged him to speak with her anyway.
I'm no happier than any of you about the result, but this was a miscalculation on more than just his part, and the tide changed so quickly we barely had time to think, let alone to talk, while the vote took place. The progress we made in spite of those circumstances and the position we're in now says everything it needs to about how effective we have the potential to be as a unit, but if we can't keep our heads, we're dead in the water. Some of us more literally than others.
[ So, ultimately, they have to decide what they're going to be. A group of individuals scrambling to survive - or a fucking council. ]
@ merlin If we put this to a vote and the majority rules against, would you let the alliance with Misty go?
( not a capitulation, so much as this: they can't mop up that mess now. there's only time to focus on what they can fix, not the shit they can't unfuck. and, besides, )
but just to make one thing clear: unless we're sharing blood or a bed, i don't answer to anora. it's fucking ani don't put my name in your mouth like that again. ok?
[ It's not a satisfying answer, betrayal still thickening the air, but there's nothing to be done about that. Stephen's known Ani to speak to in any kind of meaningful way for all of five minutes. She and Silco are business partners - the trust broken there is old, lived in, and there are no apologies in sight.
So it is what it is, and being that he's not built to be mediator, he'll take this over nothing. She's willing to get on with it, and he can only hope the others feel the same. ]
Understood. I'm sorry for the overstep.
[ He's spent enough of his life correcting people on the specifics of his own name to respect the clarification. She won't have to tell him twice. ]
Then your joint foolishness and carelessness has endangered Ani and Jake. You disgrace yourself by minimising the harm done not only to them but the ability of any of us to trust you both. Votes traded or gained are meaningless, if they’re turned upon the innocent.
It is Koby who acted swiftly and decisively to protect those we all know to be innocent. He is the only one who made the progress you speak of, when neither you nor I swayed any of our number.
We would do well to recognise all our shortcomings, not simply the ones you’ve been forced to apologise for.
[ literally what did they do besides show up and talk shit yesterday. gale gave them the warning about the yellowjacket vote, and they still fumbled the numbers in favour of hairbrained schemes. ]
[ This is a criticism he's less glad to swallow - less because of content, more because of the Tone. ]
Heard and understood.
But if I'd noticed the mistake in the first place it wouldn't have been made. My attention was oversubscribed, and I appreciate in hindsight I should have kept my attention on the poisoned young woman I was on my way to tend rather than on trying to make plans against her attacker and the wider danger she represented if my judgement was likely to be impaired by the split focus. But I'm apologising for this specific failure now because now is when I've had time to understand and acknowledge the fault, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't deliberately mischaracterise that when tensions are already high.
[ Can you please just shout at him privately if you want to go off, Gale, he's trying to run damage control on a fucked situation and your righteous indignation is not helping. ]
[ Another thumb pushed into the bruise of Gale's feedback, but Ani at least has scolded them both rather than angling the bulk of her ire at him and him alone in response to the only bid to acknowledge a mistake yet seen from the two who made it. Acknowledging responsibility hadn't been intended to act as acceptance speech for an even split, but for now, in the interest of keeping things intact, he'll continue to keep his mouth shut and go to work on establishing ways to protect the lives he's endangered - his own included - by failing to recognise a grown man wouldn't make the same choice he would in the middle of an emergency. ]
Until the moment it does or does not become apparent that one of those girls is a wolf, there is no disadvantage to appearing friendly. I have already paid the requested fee by casting my vote, and the only other favor promised in return was that we do not harm the girls, which I presume none of us had any intention of doing, regardless.
If you worry that association will taint your reputations, you needn't. I've given her none of your names. I'm the only one implicated. If you're unhappy that our line with her is one built upon a pretense when the intent to undermine, then you're being naive. If you don't trust her, neither do I. We already know to not to take anything she says at face value. If you don't like her, I don't care. That isn't the basis of the game, and even less relevant when lives are at stake.
At best, we gain a chance to sway their vote or prevent another pointless sweep from happening again. At worst, you suffer nothing, because I already have.
If this still doesn't make sense to you all, then tell me how you propose we cut the cord without making an enemy.
And though I recognize that my standing in this group is now that of pariah, I'll make two requests: first, if there's any more information any of you are withholding, I'd advise you share it, if not with the group then at least with a member of it you trust; and second, if any of you plan to nominate yourselves again next turn, I'd know it now, too, the better to make up the wasted vote.
[ Ah, to be the one who made a mistake where the other made a choice.
Silco's answer is no, and he's right as far as their purposes, though the question remains whether they'll have the ability to see them through now. The disadvantage to appearing friendly is the rot granted permission to set into their foundations, left untreated, free to spread.
The damage is done. Stephen's burned himself enough today to wash his hands of further comment. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
He has no love for a Reverend turned Shepherd, but he remembers what he said about the threat of paranoia. ]
Anora.
[ No time now for easier names. He needs her to hear him. ]
This started at my suggestion. My intention wasn't clear, and I didn't go on to clarify when he volunteered to speak with her on the basis that it would be a waste not to utilise the skills we each have at our disposal. He was clear on his planned angle - the leverage of his vote - and I didn't sufficiently consider the implications when I encouraged him to speak with her anyway.
I'm no happier than any of you about the result, but this was a miscalculation on more than just his part, and the tide changed so quickly we barely had time to think, let alone to talk, while the vote took place. The progress we made in spite of those circumstances and the position we're in now says everything it needs to about how effective we have the potential to be as a unit, but if we can't keep our heads, we're dead in the water. Some of us more literally than others.
[ So, ultimately, they have to decide what they're going to be. A group of individuals scrambling to survive - or a fucking council. ]
@ merlin If we put this to a vote and the majority rules against, would you let the alliance with Misty go?
no subject
( not a capitulation, so much as this: they can't mop up that mess now. there's only time to focus on what they can fix, not the shit they can't unfuck. and, besides, )
but just to make one thing clear:
unless we're sharing blood or a bed, i don't answer to anora. it's fucking ani
don't put my name in your mouth like that again. ok?
no subject
So it is what it is, and being that he's not built to be mediator, he'll take this over nothing. She's willing to get on with it, and he can only hope the others feel the same. ]
Understood. I'm sorry for the overstep.
[ He's spent enough of his life correcting people on the specifics of his own name to respect the clarification. She won't have to tell him twice. ]
no subject
It is Koby who acted swiftly and decisively to protect those we all know to be innocent. He is the only one who made the progress you speak of, when neither you nor I swayed any of our number.
We would do well to recognise all our shortcomings, not simply the ones you’ve been forced to apologise for.
[ literally what did they do besides show up and talk shit yesterday. gale gave them the warning about the yellowjacket vote, and they still fumbled the numbers in favour of hairbrained schemes. ]
no subject
Heard and understood.
But if I'd noticed the mistake in the first place it wouldn't have been made. My attention was oversubscribed, and I appreciate in hindsight I should have kept my attention on the poisoned young woman I was on my way to tend rather than on trying to make plans against her attacker and the wider danger she represented if my judgement was likely to be impaired by the split focus. But I'm apologising for this specific failure now because now is when I've had time to understand and acknowledge the fault, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't deliberately mischaracterise that when tensions are already high.
[ Can you please just shout at him privately if you want to go off, Gale, he's trying to run damage control on a fucked situation and your righteous indignation is not helping. ]
no subject
I stand by my assessment in the clarity of the morning, Stephen.
But I thank you for the acknowledgment — and I am glad you focused more of your attention on dear Ren.
no subject
not really here, but
@guinevere
⬆️⬆️⬆️
reread this till it sticks
not here
no subject
If you worry that association will taint your reputations, you needn't. I've given her none of your names. I'm the only one implicated.
If you're unhappy that our line with her is one built upon a pretense when the intent to undermine, then you're being naive.
If you don't trust her, neither do I. We already know to not to take anything she says at face value.
If you don't like her, I don't care. That isn't the basis of the game, and even less relevant when lives are at stake.
At best, we gain a chance to sway their vote or prevent another pointless sweep from happening again. At worst, you suffer nothing, because I already have.
If this still doesn't make sense to you all, then tell me how you propose we cut the cord without making an enemy.
And though I recognize that my standing in this group is now that of pariah, I'll make two requests: first, if there's any more information any of you are withholding, I'd advise you share it, if not with the group then at least with a member of it you trust; and second, if any of you plan to nominate yourselves again next turn, I'd know it now, too, the better to make up the wasted vote.
not here
Silco's answer is no, and he's right as far as their purposes, though the question remains whether they'll have the ability to see them through now. The disadvantage to appearing friendly is the rot granted permission to set into their foundations, left untreated, free to spread.
The damage is done. Stephen's burned himself enough today to wash his hands of further comment. ]
no subject
[ he may be righteous, but he isn’t an utter fool. most days, anyway. ]
We march onward.
[ and upward, he hopes. ]
super not here
super not here x2
super not here III