Sime~Gen Roleplaying: District Controller's Office Scenario
Episode #180: Voice of Reason (3/23/00)
Nick sits by Arat's desk, filling in for Beni, who has been overworked due to the recent upheavals.
Nick has been staying in one of the Center's rooms for transients, as the streets are too dangerous for him to go home to his apartment.
Nick has arranged with Beni to ensure that Arat is not left unaccompanied to wander into the riots in search of work.
Lutsa has managed to talk her way past the guards, by dint of having a press pass and a face which has been prominently featured over her column in the city's biggest paper for over 15 years.
Lutsa signals at Arat's door.
Arat had zlinned the guards immediately outside his door conferring with someone, and he also somewhat recognizes the nager, although who it is doesn't spring immediately to mind.
Nick looks questioningly at Arat, half rising.
Nick: Are you expecting anyone?
Arat: No.
Nick decides that whoever it is, probably isn't armed and rioting, or the guards wouldn't be so quiet.
Nick goes to answer the door.
Lutsa is smiling her trademark wide-and-friendly smile.
Nick blinks at the semi-familiar face, trying to place it.
Arat recognizes her face (a miracle, as Arat is about as bad with faces as a Sime can get) and actually rises to his feet.
Lutsa: Good afternoon, Sosu. I'm Lutsa Blev, from the Herald. I was wondering if Controller Farris would be willing to spare me a few moments of his time.
Arat: Tuib Blev.
Arat: Please, come in.
Nick blinks at the sight of Arat standing to greet an unscheduled visitor, then recollects himself and steps back to allow Lutsa to enter.
Lutsa: Thank you, Controller Farris. I really do appreciate it.
Lutsa really does ~~ appreciate ~~ it.
Arat: Nick? [indicates the tea area]
Nick: Of course.
Arat: Thank you for coming. [to Lutsa] Please have a seat.
Nick hurries to the tea table, glad that he thought to replenish the stock of Narosian offerings only two days before.
Lutsa sits, nager ~~ friendly and unassuming ~~
Arat sits also.
Arat appears rather stressed out, but is still impeccably groomed. He has, fortunately, had the recent opportunity to shower and replace his 2 day old uniform.
Nick quickly fixes a cup of Orange Sunset, which Riyyh's last letter suggested was selling the best of all the new blends.
Lutsa takes the offered cup with murmured thanks, taking a reverent sip.
Lutsa: Narosian?
Nick nods.
Lutsa smiles at Arat.
Lutsa: I might have known you'd settle for nothing less than the best.
Arat hesitates, and then finally says, "The tea is Nick's choice, actually."
Lutsa is dressed neatly, if casually, but zlins like a Gen who's been spending far too much time on her feet.
Arat: This is Nick Reckage, First Order Donor.
Lutsa: I'm honored.
Nick is not used to people claiming to be honored to meet him, much less having the claim be genuine.
Nick is fortunately too caught up in maintaining the ambient to Arat's satisfaction to squirm.
Arat: You did not experience much difficulty in reaching us, I hope?
Lutsa sighs.
Lutsa: Only what one might expect, under the circumstances
Lutsa: I am fortunate in that the newsroom knew where the worst of the current trouble spots are, so I was able to avoid them.
Arat nods.
Lutsa: I've loved this city all my life, and I hate to see it being torn apart.
Lutsa: I've been hearing far too many off-the-cuff responses to the trouble, from the various agencies, from the protesters, from the people who are being hurt, or just inconvenienced--you name it.
Lutsa pauses to properly appreciate another sip or her tea.
Lutsa: What seems to be missing are the voices of moderation, of compromise.
Lutsa: The willingness to work things out.
Lutsa: I mentioned that to my editor, and he showed me this.
Lutsa pulls a much-folded and somewhat tea-stained paper out of her shirt pocket.
Lutsa unfolds the paper carefully.
Lutsa: Your letter here is the first real call for peace to appear since the riots started.
Nick looks curiously at the paper, but refrains from leaning over the desk to read it.
Arat: When the operations of our medical institutions become compromised, the conflict has gone too far. Something must be done, and it does not matter what.
Arat's own personal gains, as it happens, do not coincide with either side winning.
Arat had been genuinely outraged by the attack upon the 53rd District complex, however, and his letter to all of the city's newspapers' major editors reflected that.
Lutsa: Now, there I'm going to have to take issue with you.
Lutsa: If what's done doesn't satisfy all parties, at least to some extent, the damage will continue.
Lutsa manages to take issue in her famously self-effacing manner, however, so it is impossible to take offense at it.
Lutsa: The problem, as I see it, is that nobody is even trying to find that sort of solution.
Arat has absolutely nothing to say to that, and so says nothing. He is not, after all, a child, and knows full well what the situation is and what the stakes are.
Lutsa: Except, perhaps, for you.
Lutsa holds up the letter.
Lutsa: I was hoping that you would be willing to elaborate a bit on some of the concepts you put forth in this.
Arat looks alert; it will be tricky to respond in a way she will appreciate, without showing anything in the way of Audnes-ness.
Lutsa: You start by mentioning an attack on this Sime Center. What exactly happened?
Arat: At noon yesterday, a large number of people began breaking the window walls at each end of the grand lobby. When guards were able to drive them away, they reconverged on the employee, Dispensary, and Collectorium entrances.
Arat: They were able to break in through the Dispensary and the employee entrances, forcing all outpatient operations to be shut down.
Lutsa: The Dispensary was shut down? For how long?
Lutsa sits up ~ alertly ~
Arat: The dispensary was closed down for approximately 45 minutes. Outpatient medical care was reopened at midnight, and the Collectorium two hours ago.
Arat: We were able to clear the building by nightfall yesterday, but the areas immediately surrounding the complex were considered unsafe until now.
Arat: The situation is being monitored for any further change.
Arat: During the attack, twenty-five security personnel and fifteen selyn movement staff were injured.
Lutsa pulls out a notebook and starts making notes.
Arat: It was while I was treating the injuries of one of our channels, who'd been stationed in the medical supplies storage, that I was inspired to write my letter.
Arat said some of this last, in the letter itself.
Lutsa: Would you care to comment on how the riots have been handled?
Arat thinks they've been handled brilliantly - by the persons who were in charge of inciting them.
Arat: So far, there has been no attempt at concession. [notes]
Arat: This is not a case of terrorism or an act of war. The people are protesting a genuine civil rights violation and should be treated accordingly.
Lutsa: So you feel that the situation calls for negotiation?
Arat: The government exists to serve the people. It is clear that it has failed to do so in this case.
Lutsa: So you believe that the rioters are justified?
Arat: Their actions are not justified, but their indignation and fear are.
Lutsa nods, accepting the distinction as Morca, for instance, never would.
Arat: How can they be expected to be obedient when they know they have been lied to, and their safety compromised?
Lutsa: How then would you persuade them to refrain from further attacks on random targets?
Arat: It is important that the government concede the mistake in suppressing the information about the dam's status.
Arat: It is also important that the truth be known in its entirety, and that changes be made to bring the start date of the restoration forward.
Arat: The people must have some reassurance that as much is being done as is possible, and that they are being told the whole truth.
Arat: Good government is about integrity. Not secrecy.
Arat means, not secrecy that isn't quite secret, so that people find out.
Lutsa: I see. That would mean a real shake-up at the Water Usage Commission.
Lutsa: Do you think that's realistic?
Arat happens to know that the secrecy regarding the Dam's imminent collapse did not begin at the water usage commission at all, but in the offices of the government's PR department.
Arat however isn't supposed to know this, as the details haven't been made very public yet.
Arat: I am of the opinion that such a shakeup would not be constructive, nor would it be necessary.
Lutsa: Really?
Lutsa: ~~ rising interest ~~
Lutsa is thinking this interview is shaping up to be more interesting than she expected.
Arat: However, a full investigation would certainly be required, in order to prove to the people that the government is genuinely interested in righting the wrong.
Lutsa: I see.
Lutsa settles back in her chair and looks at Arat closely.
Lutsa: If you were given a free hand, what immediate steps would you take to end this crisis?
Arat manages to look surprised, although it's her blunt way of asking, rather than the concept, that surprises him.
Arat: Theoretically speaking, you mean?
Lutsa: Of course.
Lutsa is not unaware that sometimes problems she writes about get solved, frequently along the lines her column suggests, but is modest enough to attribute that to the basic good sense of her substantial readership.
Arat considers.
Arat: I would recommend that the government make a public concession of wrongdoing in not making the danger known, and announce that an investigation will be made into the source of the coverup.
Arat: It would ideally be a real and genuine investigation, by a third party.
Arat: Then, I would recommend that the true information be disseminated, in a controlled fashion if necessary - enough information that the average person would feel they understood fully.
Arat knows as well as the next leader that this doesn't necessarily mean telling all.
Arat: At the same time, I would recommend that officials meet with community leaders to make sure that all of the people's concerns are being met.
Lutsa: Do you think that would be enough to stop the riots?
Lutsa: Or has the distrust gone too far?
Arat: The people trust their own chosen leaders. It is they who must be persuaded, and they are often more able to see the large picture than most.
Arat actually has very little respect for popular leaders whose popularity is their only credential, but then he has very little respect for anybody.
Lutsa has a high respect for popular leaders, having been a publicly acclaimed personality for years.
Lutsa: And if those leaders turn out to be skeptical?
Lutsa: Once public trust in an institution is shaken, it can be hard to regain.
Arat simply looks at her. Of course the leaders are skeptical. They wouldn't be leaders of a popular revolt if they weren't.
Nick has been enjoying watching Arat at work, and is not indifferent to the similarities with Snake's handling of those she wants to manipulate.
Lutsa skims her notes.
Lutsa: One more question, and I'll let you get back to your work.
Lutsa: Do you have any message for the bulk of our readers, who are not involved in either side of this controversy over the Dam project, and yet have been watching their city being torn apart by it?
Arat: It is easy to forget how fragile human civilization is. But days like these bring home how quickly the gains we've made in the last 30 years could be destroyed. I would hope that those who are watching, as you describe, will have faith in the essential power of Unity and of cooperative government, and trust that this conflict will be resolved in good time.
Lutsa scribbles rapidly, making sure that she has the quote accurately.
Lutsa: I could wish that more of the parties in this upheaval shared your sentiments.
Lutsa drains her tea and sets the cup aside, not without some reluctance.
Lutsa: You have been very good to spare me so much of your valuable time.
Arat nods in acknowledgment.
Lutsa: I hope your ideas will give our readers selyn for thought.
Arat: Thank you for listening.
Arat could not have asked for a better vessel for his message to the people - on both sides of the conflict, not just those on the sidelines.
Lutsa: You're very welcome.
Lutsa stands.
Lutsa: Thank you for the tea, Sosu Reckage.
Nick nods.
Lutsa leaves the office, muttering as she composes her next column.