Welcome to Gaia! ::

Bifrost listened quietly. The Moon was an odd place. Serene in its ruins, quiet. It reminded her of how she'd found the Surrounding when she'd first arrived there. Cold, barren, and still. But the moon was also different. There was something hidden here, something that made the place feel mystical, and the same time foreboding almost. This place was home to a long dead senshi and court. She almost felt... trespassing, being here. The Squire respected the chance to be here, without threat of Chaos attacking. She'd probably never get a chance to come back, so she counted herself lucky.

She turned her attentions back to Thraen. Bifrost had had the benefit of being awoken in the middle of a battle, with other knights of her own. Others weren't so lucky. She admired what Thraen was trying to do and definately wanted to help. What could she bring to the table though...

Oh! Of course!

"My grandmother has a large mansion on the outskirts of the city. It's quiet, has a lot of pretty gardens, and probably can house a good ten to fifteen people besides me and Grams. I need to talk to her about it, but as long as people don't mind paying a little in rent or helping around the house, I'm sure they're be allowed to stay!" she said, mainly to Thraen but to the group as well. It wasn't a question, but helpful anyway.

((OOC: this is me catching up for missing two weeks of gaia. If I missed someone's quotes I do apologize I'm doing the best I can between walls of texts and catching up. I'm more than open to rp snowball and/or Nif with anyone just grab my attention again via quote))

Niflhel was use to traveling and the scenery changing, while this time it was the moon he was still no more or less surprised than any other time he'd been whisked away. At least this time he had prior warning and felt better for it.

The Saturn Knight had found a place to stand that wasn't in the way. While he didn't have anything to lean on he could certainly still stand in the back and watch while listening. He enjoyed the back of the meetings anyways when he could just to see how well protections and all happened with acoustics. The moon was a surprisingly nice place for that when Threan began to speak.

Niflhel stood and listened as the Senshi talked and soon others spoke, he watched as Faust tried to catch a butterfly and the Knight sighed quietly, making a note to offer the cat some of the treats he'd brought, and he had hopefully brought enough for all the cats here. He'd bounced from Hver to Ash and then finally cleared his throat and spoke up.

"Niflhel, Knight of Saturn." The knight shifted in his position to a small pacing motion thinking while he was speaking.

"I do have a question first off, this watch. While it appears to be a charity what does it think of princesses, princes, and other fourth staggers? Would they be against such joining the ranks?" Niflhel was asking more for personal reasons on that point, mainly because he was here representing himself and his girlfriend. 'Not only that but I heard a mention of possibility keeping tabs on others, and with that in mind I'd like to ask if this is done could we also share information on who we find. As such I'm helping Snowball and Princess Polaris in finding her knights as I feel a certain responsibility to Polaris in helping with her knights - " He gave a pause before adding, " - In fact I feel it to all of our brothern; knight or senshi that I meet, to help them train and find their specialty if I can or point them to someone who can if not me. As I prefer to make sure those awaken can hit the ground running so to speak. . . I spent many years as a civilian attempting to assist our side."

"Also, I've heard from Snowball, for those that don't know him he's the fluffy white cat up there beside Kepler, the redheaded senshi. That there have been running of training sessions too; I believe Ash the one that sent the messages out have been there as well. I think the watch also needs to consider this as part of their project.

With that in mind I'd like to extend an offer, my grandfather had some friends that owned an old factory. It's long since abandoned now but I've made use of it a time or two, it's still in usable condition and not completely run down. This factory is also a good ways outside of the city, closer to where camp Larkspur was. . . " He paused, "While that was burned, I'm fairly certain the negaverse knows not of the factory I make use of. It can be set up as a headquarters for us to meet, though I suggest strongly that we use civilian forms if everyone willing to do most of the meetings there. We can also train, powered or not."

Snowball had continued to stay in Threan's arms until he was let go among some pillows and locating a purple one he began to preen his fur, which was a lot less grooming and more picking over his fur that was out of place when Kepler joined him. "Hello dear, how are things going?" He managed to ask before the meeting really started. Of course, when the meeting started he settled himself to watch the senshi of gardens and listen while still occasionally preening and then grooming.

His tail flickered as he listened to everyone's comments and points though he didn't have much to add on to that himself as he tilted his head, towards each of the individuals that spoke up as well. Pausing when Niflhel directly mentioned him and gave a small sigh. "He would have to try and pull my name into this." The cat was of course totally all over helping others connect. He didn't mind at all. He just didn't want to be put on spot. He didn't however, notice Megrez looking at him.




+ everyone else /lazy quotes

It didn't take long for Cybele to spot another familiar face. "Megrez! Hello!" she replied, complete with a little wave and an actual, natural smile that wasn't strained at all. They didn't really have time to catch up, though. The meeting was starting.

Listening to Thraen took all of her attention, as everything she knew about the Blackwatch was from that text she'd gotten, which had mostly just told her to come here, and it was a lot of information. Thraen's language also wasn't the easiest to understand. When he'd finished, before she could even get everything summarized in her head, more people were offering their own ideas. Everyone seemed very enthusiastic about the idea. It was still all smiles and happy chatter and there weren't real questions... and Cybele wasn't sure that was a good thing.

"Um..."

She dropped the blanket and stood. "I'm interested, but..."
Now that it was her turn to talk she hesitated, more to gather her thoughts than out of nervousness, though it was a bit uncomfortable to be the first one to not be as excited about something.

"Is this more like a charity or an organizational system for the White Mo- I mean, Order? Charities don't usually have punishment volunteer time, and I don't think this should either. We have lives outside of being Senshi. Maybe it's the best option for staying organized, but... I don't like the idea of it."

"What about the money? You say it's a tithe, but at a rate? So is it voluntary or more like a membership fee? I think it should be voluntary." She said this pointedly, because being forced to pay for a senshi support system, or whatever this was also seemed like a horrible idea to Cybele. She was mostly done being negative, though.

"Do people really corrupt for financial reasons? I don't think the Negaverse or Dark Mirror Court are richer than us, they have a lot of teenagers, too. It's loneliness, I think, and confusion, that make Chaos tempting, that's what it was for me at least, which is why I think just being there for each other is the best thing we can do. Honestly, I do think this is a great idea, and that's why. Being there for each other. That's what I think we should focus on, meetings like this so we can get to know each other, maybe helping each other out if we can, and making a better support network. Using our phones for that sounds like a good idea, if we make some sort of communication chain here, maybe with the people sitting next to you, it will be a start at least, and we can add people later. I don't know what to do about new senshi, but..."

She sat down, wrapping up in the blanket again, and finished. "This could be very helpful." She smiled then, she was done. Hopefully, no one would get upset at her for her questions.

Eris listened with all the intensity and focus of any task she took. Dark eyes softened now and then once she realized this wasn't an organized watch like she thought. This was doing something more with their power than helping citizens by attacking the enemy. This was doing actual good. For citizens, for Senshi, Knights. Gathering information, bringing in the sensitive hearts and souls that would make the Order proud. This sounded like it would be a long term endeavor, money well spent.
She was one of those that felt a sense of isolation since moving back to the city but that was mainly her own fault. She hadn't opened up to anyone, didn't know how. Trusting others didn't come easily to the Super Senshi of Discord. A black gloved hand tapped her chin as she got comfortable, dragging her legs up and finally hooked her arms around them and the blanket, leaning forward. Thraen was completely right about everything he was saying. She'd bumped into Senshi only to exchange names and help if they both targeted a Negaverse agent. She didn't even know if there were teams anymore.

The expression she wore was one of sad bewilderment.

Hvergelmir brought up a good point with the phone chain.

Bifrost stepped in with her grandmother's large mansion and so she felt like she could offer to start the Black Watch coffins off with a generous donation, but not publicly. And then the concerns about the tithe and the punishment time started up and she sighed.

Raising her hand and standing a bit, she chose her words very carefully. "Sailor Eris of Discord. I understand that not everyone can contribute, that there is not time outside of school and work for those of us no longer in school. I also understand wanting to be out on the weekends with your boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands and wives. But I also know charity work if only through my civilian side. Charity work is hard work. It's not just writing a check and saying 'someone will take care of it'.

"From the way this sounds like we would be the ones taking care of it. Gathering funds, supplies, man power. It eats up time and energy. You will be tired, you will be stressed, but it will be worth it in the end. More people will join, the burden will get easier." She turned her attention from the ones on the floor to Thraen yet again. "My family owns an apartment complex. I can clear the spare rooms for the homeless. I can look into purchasing a building that we can start a clinic in, or a small hospital. Growing as need be, adding additions as need be."

At least she'd be doing something good with her money. "But punishment time does sound a little extreme. Even for a charity. Situations pop up. Family gets sick, dies, you get sick. You need to move, you yourself are struggling with something and you just can't put in the time. Demanding everyone offer a tithe isn't the best way to go about this, in my opinion. It should be donating willingly by those who can afford it. The students, the younger ones, some of them aren't old enough to hold a job. Some of them don't get an allowance by parents. I understand funds are going to be a major focal point for this kind of operation, but it shouldn't be required. That alone would make some of the Senshi not want to join once they hear about it. So I do think it should just be pay what you can when you can. Every little bit will help in the beginning."

Hvergelmir He didn't trust the sane facade of rambling and geniality. There are no bladed objects here, and god willing, no one is going to hand you any. Ever. But now is not the time to interrupt with personal trifle. She’s here. She came to help people.

Her words brought to light a disconnect in what he was trying to communicate with her confusion of the in-network and out-network. She was designating one stringent in application and asking for less of one. The idea for a Order side Fire Call was a good one, though. Then came other ecstatics- Bifrost's housing, Ashur's concurrence with the fire call, then some policy questions from Niflhel. Thraen jotted them alongside the rest in mental notation to address. Niflhel's factory was another good offer of real estate that could be made use of.

"I'd like to bring to attention that the offers many of you are making, " he let gentled eyes look each who had spoken. "Are both appreciated and should be taken into serious consideration by the Watch. It is a mark of some acceptance already that many of you are already thinking about what can be offered and done as though the Watch already exists, without ever having voted on it. Even the questions pose are policy questions that ask not whether it will exist, but what the ruling council would need to decide upon."

“The Watch is meant to be merit-based and not a war-centric endeavor. What it works for in research, development, and accumulation of assets may be utilized someday by someone for war, but that is not the focus. Likewise, the standing of royalty and any other rank of power has no more merit in the watch than a consideration of whether or not the person will be able to take supplies hither or thither faster, a trip to the Moon or a homeworld, or be suitable to mentor a newfound knight or senshi. The royalty are people like everyone else here. If they want to donate time, effort or energy to the watch, they are very welcome and will start as Fellows, just like everyone else, until they prove their dedication to service rather than ego the same. If nothing else, the Watch needs to talk to them to be able to have a grasp on when purifications happen, how often and if someone is in need of help for making a new life.“


He shook Vulcan's offered hand, considering whether his own was going to be broken in the vice, but not ultimately worried about it. He was too tired to be worried of much bodily harm. "That said, let me address these questions and concerns as the one who has proposed this but it is only my proposition and not the law of the Watch to be. The Council would choose the final stances.

There's a misconception coming up that membership in the Watch as a closed exclusive. That is treating it as a team. People don't have to be an active part of it in missions to donate, or to benefit from it. The tenants of dispersion of information and resources are to everyone of Order, not just those affiliated with the Watch.”

“ For example, if the watch decoded the script in some of the texts here on the moon, it would make that language available to all knights, senshi and Mauvians that they could reach. That sort of research would allow other efforts a better chance of discovering or doing the same on their homeworlds. If an independent didn't want to share their specific research with the Watch, but still wanted two hands as help with the camping, it would still behoove the Watch to do what they could for the person. An agreement could be reached for remuneration or no as the Council saw fit. “

“ A fire call is less a policy as a project that the watch could sponsor and pursue. I think its an excellent idea for something to work on next. The phones get their information they download from somewhere- so that will be something to work with the Mauvians on. It could be accessed or added to in other ways, and a metachronal rhythm set up through technology or effort."

"On the subject of Tithing- no, I don't expect that money itself is the reason that people corrupt, but lack of it can be a problem. Homelessness can lead to hopelessness. There is rarely One reason for doing anything, rather a host of contributing factors. No home or no money means less security, less sleep, less food. All of those contribute to diminished capability to reason. Diminished capability to fight off enemies. Many of us already patrol in deplorable condition with these living luxuries intact. Without them, I expect many would drown their trouble in distraction all the more, and be at greater risk.

There is misunderstanding of how far the tithe would go, and what punishments could even be. Yes, younger members of Order would need special considerations on time and resources. There is still much you could do. Asking your parent or guardian if you could buy a school lunch once a month- pocketing the $2.75, or whatever it is now, and that would be enough for a tithe. One lunch a month skipped is unpleasant, but $2.75 can buy a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter for three or more days of meals for someone in need. I spoke a dollar as the first suggestion. A dollar in a month. Even unpowered fourteen year olds can find that scrounging vending machines for dropped change if nothing else in maybe an hour of search at the library’s vending area. If people are willing to put for the effort, to be creative, or to ask for help to do so, everyone can give something to help everyone else. Not just money or a patrol. And it wouldn't have to be every month. “

“Modern conception of the tithe to churches is lax. The traditional 'one tenth' is a guideline, few do so and the churches still manage. The idea of compulsory tithe is rough, I agree. It is less compulsory as expecting delivery once something is promised. You give when and what you can, as Eris mentions. Things do come up, but there also comes a time when too many things are promised and then missed. Having guidelines as clearly demarcated as possible, and drawing clear lines between bad luck and repeated delinquency will be the difference. The danger we face requires some planning and forethought, and it shouldn't be lightly disregarded. Resources are tight for some, and not for others, but they must be handled with care. Budgeting is most effective done a few months in advance, to maximize sales use and dispersion of receipts to avoid detection by pattern. If someone weekly is offering time, effort or energy and then four weeks in a row hasn't shown up? The management of resources and the allotment of time to arrange those efforts is wasted. 'Punishing' the guilty party by saying they can only go on shopping trips instead of the other overtures they'd made and failed is not unreasonable or unjust. “


"Authority….” He looked to Ganymede, who’s questions had been more geared towards the place of that concept in the Watch. “There is no sense of responsibility outside of the individual to self or the team to itself. There is no accountability to community. It would be nice if an honor system on expectations would work, but we have the evidence of it failing all around us. How little we work together, how little we give to each other, and how attempt at coalition has failed in the past.

'Punishment' appears a major buzzword that turns stomachs. There is no accountability without some form of reinforcement- behavioral science and a quick read over the works of B.F. Skinner some decades ago and the research. If a report card system with A's and F's is all that works, saying a repeat false-promiser gets an F and is no longer welcome to take up slots on any but the most basic missions to make room for the A student, then it is a something better than the nothing we all operate under now. Its something that the Council, who is managing the donations of tens if not a hundred people, should have the power and right to determine on behalf of the contract they are executing. Yes, the Council would give 'commands' in that once someone volunteered a night of patrol duty for a month, the council would tell them where and who they were meeting on what night. The council's commands are based in the organization, to help others and streamline the process. “

“There are, ultimately, no guarantees against ambition in human history. A meritocracy safeguards against 'influence' and power mongering by a system of established ranks and access to more ‘exciting’ or responsibility laden missions. Fellows are anyone and everyone who has given to the Watch. Watchers are those who give on a regular basis, make extra effort to be involved in missions and tithes. The Blackguard would be those who do more than the ten percent and would have then demonstrated a commitment to service to others. It would only be from the Blackguard that future Executrices could be elected. If any of the membership is suspect of wrongdoing, proof and suit would be brought to the council of it. A member of the council can be voted out by the others. If the whole council has been compromised, the Watch as a whole can vote no-confidence. "


“I know the idea of accountability is strange, but please be patient...everyone….with small inconveniences. New patterns. It will get easier, and it will make sense if we come at it with reason and logic in hand. And it will bring personal and community change. Satisfaction is based in three ideas - Autonomy, the choice of what mission and what efforts to want to spend yourself on day to day and week to week from a clear offering of things deemed directly helpful rather than just wandering wondering what to do. Complexity, in a war where the situations are as volatile as the weather, I think it will be well provided for. A clear Connection Between Effort and Reward, and we will see the results of all the hard work. “

“Now...this is policy, and only my ideas. I move that we take the vote to see if the Watch is founded. Then we vote on our Executors and Executrices- with as much as the watch requires from the first of these….I don’t think it can be anything but a volunteer basis. So those who would volunteer will be the choices to work from. “


Thraen motioned with open hand to the persons seated directly at his right, “Please start here, and go around clockwise. Say forth only Yea or Nay to the founding of the Black Watch. “

In her mind, Auriga knew that she should pay more attention, be more involved, give more input, but it was incredibly difficult to think about anything other than the fact that she was in space. She was the youngest astronaut ever! (Maybe.) Was this something that she could do all the time? If Auriga had known she could escape to the moon as fast as she could send a text message, she would have started doing it a whole lot sooner.

The part about donating lunch money seemed doable. Pocket change was not a problem. The other stuff seemed a little iffy, but Auriga figured this wasn't, like, the mob or anything. An adorable fluffy kitty chimed in suddenly, its tiny voice filling the air. Auriga's head swiveled in the direction, stars in her eyes. Could this be her future guardian cat, the one she had dreamed of ever since she knew senshi could have one of their own?

Hoping to prove how awesome she was to Horatio, Auriga raised her hand and said, "Yea, why not!" Probably not the kind of serious commitment that was desired, but she was on board with the mission. She shot Horatio a thumbs up and a wink. So cute, yesh yoo are~

Midas had come into the meeting in silence once the Senshi of War had brought her safely to the moon. On any other occasion, she would have loved to walk the gardens and take in the breath taking, if somewhat chilling, sight of the Moon Kingdom.

But this was a meeting, and there were things to be done.

Instead, the veiled senshi found her place among the pillows next to no one she recognized and nothing in particular. Her silence was useful for observation and her eyes shifted from one prominent figure to the next, making notes and taking names. She could feel, and see, who was strongest. Social currents moved around those with the most influence. This was the heart of the order and there were more people gathered here than she'd ever seen in one place before.

Her eyes fell to Thraen as he spoke, listening fervently to the senshi that had managed all of this. They shifted in turn between the speakers as they rose and offered themselves or their advice - a cosmos knight, a chatty young senshi, another with an oddly unique signature. She never spoke until Thraen asked for a vote. When it came to her in the loose circle, she chimed in without hesitation.

"Yea." That was all, nothing more, but her eyes caught Thraen's but for a moment. The wheels of her mind turned quickly as she considered what the Black Watch might mean and what it could accomplish. It was necessary. She would have to catch him alone to speak, at some point.

She settled back into her pillow and let the voting pass her by, content to listen to votes and debates without input. For now.

Penthesilea was remarkably quiet, upon arriving on the Moon for the first time. For someone who normally only rarely shut up, and who might be seen by most as totally irreverent, with little concern for things greater than herself and her little pocket of the war, it might have been strange to see how she stared at the Moon ruins, to see the look of pure awe on her face. There were few things that could make Penthesilea look like that, but anything in space was at the top of the list.

It was truly incredible, even if just like her planet, it was crumbling, falling apart. This was the place where the war had started - the fabled Moon Kingdom that the Negaverse thought they were all bound to, even if that was completely untrue. She wanted, badly, to explore - wondered if maybe she could recover memories here, too.

Then again, she had very little idea of her planet's relationship with the Kingdom of the Moon. Maybe she had never been here, even in the past. for all she knew, she hadn't even survived to see the Silver Millenium fall. From what little she did know, she knew that Penthesilea was a planet of warriors and soldiers and mercenaries.

Not much to offer a graceful, elegant place like this.

When Thraen made his call, she shifted, taking a seat on one of the cushions and crossing her legs. She certainly wasn't at all worried about being ladylike - now was certainly not the time for that sort of thing.

She leaned forward, and listened, and considered. The knowledge that this whole war began, properly, because the Moon Princess and the Earth Prince couldn't keep it in their damn pants was filed away with the other tidbits she had picked up (as well as a consideration that the Moon Princess was probably really hot, if she could start a war. Like, Helen of Troy-level. Clearly important, critical knowledge.)

The mention of a tithe made her wrinkle her nose, but it didn't sound over-burdensome - and maybe, just maybe, she could sell one of her knives, and grant the proceeds to the Watch. It would hurt, a little, but some things were more important than having a shiny collection of blades for herself.

If this was to succeed, sacrifices would have to be made. And if that meant things that were personal to her, then that was that.

When it came her turn to vote, her declaration was firm. "Yea!" she said, as the entirety of her contribution so far to the discussion.

Penthesilea was not a philosopher, and not particularly an organizer - but she knew she wanted to be a part of this. Perhaps she would volunteer as Executrix, though she wasn't sure anyone would vote for a tiny, vulgar, angry redhead as a leader of any kind.