A lovely day or a Picnic (Closed)

[Vivian Astor (DELETED 6402)]

Vivian eyes the newest person to their picnic. It seemed this particular young lady had come out missing some of her clothes. Namely her blouse. She took another hefty taste of wine, ‘Do not be judgemental Vivian. New life. New ways. New friends. Relax.’ She drew a deep breath, and waved the scantily dressed girl forward, “Come Dear, have a seat.. Red or white?”

Vivian could not help but smile, at the sight they must make. Three rather different females gathered together to have a picnic on the docks. The smell of fish could be a bit overpowering when the wind caught it just right, but even that would not be allowed to dampen Vivian’s spirits. Mentally Vivian was wondering at the other women’s strengths. Youth was obviously on both their sides. That would actually being important. Youth tended not to see how things could not be done.. but rather, how, if they tried hard enough, it would be done. Yes. Youth was a definite plus.

“Well I think we should start outlining our game plan. If others show up all the better, but at least let us make sure we are all on the same field of play, as it were. This is where we are..” She pointed to the spot on the table. “This is disparity and lack of answers.” She then pointed to a spot on the far end of the table. “This is where we want to be. Answers and actions from the Mayor, about these large number of shootings.”

She clasped her hands, “Have either of you, actually witnessed a shooting by the police?”

[Rory Gagnon]

Between the pills and riding he was calm enough to at least scope out the docks, having secreted his wheels behind a parked trailer. Opening the front cargo compartment, he was a little relieved to find that his hands, as they collected up the small day pack, were steady. With the pack slung and cinched he fluffed out his shirt and jacket just a bit and lifted out the cooler.

With a dextrous flick of his leg, the compartment thumped shut.

As expected, memories came trickling back. Suggesting this place hadn't been random; Rory had history here. Good and bad to a degree that roughly balanced out and that would make it a good place to start this... thing. Of course he was not going to get much done unless he got to the meeting so he started to meander his way to the spot. And suddenly hoped like hell there was nobody around that might recognize him.

Now would be a good time to have his helmet on! Yes. Well, no. His sunglasses would do.

But would they? Oh ****.... nevermind. Claudia had said he needed to face his anxiety by whatever "thought constructs" it took. Visualization mostly so as he walked, he saw in his head one of those whack-a-mole games. That worked and he became aware that he almost walked right up to the women. Fortunately he didn't.

Since he looked like most of the people on the dock (except for the ladies) he was able to blend in and eavesdrop a little bit longer. There was that too–– might as well get an idea of this sewing circle's mood and seriousness. If they were full of sweeping words and scant details, he was outta there. Yup.

[Dhara]

"I have witnessed one or two. Which is two too many in my opinion." She liked Vivian and the way she just dove right in to the situation at hand. No mincing words, no trying to make things pretty. She studied the table, though it didn't actually have objects on it, analyzing the distance between where they were and where they wanted, no needed to be. She nibbled on the inside of her cheek for a moment, letting out a slow breath as she worked through the problem.

"I think we need to skip the local media and trying to get answers from the Mayor and Police because that obviously doesn't help. I think we should go straight to the media in the United States. Send pictures, video if any one has it. The New York Times, The Washington Post... big name media to get the word out."

She knew local media wasn't helping. Sure they were talking about the manhunt for a "serial" killer and how the city was recovering after the storm but were they really doing any thing about the rampant shootings? Not that she could see. All she could see what that things were dangerous and risky no matter what time of day or night you went out in to the city.

[Jana (DELETED 5000)]

"I've been shot at, a couple of times," Jana admitted. "And I'm just doing their damn job for them. They don't touch the gangsters. All they do is sit around and act high and mighty because they have the uniform." She settled in carefully, folding her right leg under her left and pulling the little bottle of her own free of its pocket. Yes, she allowed the elder woman a glimpse at the slightly dismantled weapon in her bag, as she tugged the jacket tighter around her. "Meth dealers, gun runners, all that jazz. I hate 'em. Thought I was leaving it behind in San Jose."

She took a sip of the thick red liquid she kept hidden from the others. Don't let them see the dark side, she thought, screwing the cap back into place. "The United States leaves Canadian business alone, usually. You'd have to grab the attention of Katie Couric, Matt Lauer, Lara Spencer, just to get noticed by the newspapers. And they don't like to ruin people's ideas that Canada's actually a pretty nice place, if cold as hell."

[Vivian Astor (DELETED 6402)]

With her hands still clasped, Vivian smiled briefly, “Yes. We need publicity. And we should not worry about picking ‘either’ ‘or’ the Canadian Press versus the United States press, we should pick them both. If we can make them realize there is indeed, a story here, they will try to out scoop one another.”

She paused, “However, we will not get their interest unless we have hard evidence to show them. As much as I hate to admit it, eyewitness accounts, hold less and less interest to people. The public want to see and witness the events with their own eyes.” Vivian looked at first Dhara and then the other girl, “The reason the events in the states got so much press, was because they had proof. Videoed proof. What we need, is video of a Harper Rock Police officer shooting an unarmed Harper Rock citizen. Nothing fuzzy, out of focus or blocky. We need the officers to be clearly recognizable in their Harper Rock uniforms.

“There are CCTV camera’s all over this city. Chances are good that a business owner out there somewhere already has this proof. We just need to find it. And while we hunt for it, I suggest we stake out some of the more.. criminal areas of the city and see if we can’t get our own proof. The more instances of this type of shooting happening, the higher the chance our story will be picked up by the press.” She then looked at the girl in the corset. "Tell us dear, what do we call you?"

[Rory Gagnon]

Rory would have a hard time admitting that he felt something stirring inside at hearing the talk. What that could have been he knew not. Righteous anger at police shootings? That did not make total sense, since not only had he too been shot at, he had shot back. Maybe it was more the things he had seen and experiences since returning home after his incarceration. Harper Rock had changes and he wanted to know why, just what the hell had happened to change his hometown into the sublime and surreal nightmare it now appeared to be.

That was something he suspected the three ladies could not truly appreciate, not like he could.

But he was not going to start making headway with that until he actually joined the meeting. So, satisfied that they might not be full of hot air, he finally moved to join them. His heart stepped up tempo a notch as he walked over. Felt a little better when he placed the cooler at the foot of the table. Nearly ran when he stood up and faced them. Dipped down really quickly to get a beer out.

And when he straightened back and cracked the cold one, he was decidedly not making eye contact. "I can help with the local business owners and their camera footage," he said shakily after a long swallow, "they're more likely to trust a hometown boy." Some at any rate, those he had not messed with over the years.

That was a whole other can of snakes to be dealt with. Something told him that this endeavor would put a challenge on his invisibility. Save that worry for later too. "With all the crazy **** going on, they won't be too eager to talk to non-Canadians I think."

[Jana (DELETED 5000)]

"Jana Walker." As per usual, the redhead gave only her stage name, trying to build recognition for the person she would be one day. Jana Walker was a free spirit, didn't let anyone tell her what to do. Deborah Vaughn, on the other hand, was the type to sit by and let everyone walk over her, to let the world exist as it was and not do anything about it. Being someone new was always a different experience, but really, Jana was a better version of the person she had always been. A doer. and this was a prime example.

The slim redhead's eyes found the newcomer easily, studying him with exceptional curiosity as she bit her lip, sliding her bottle back into her bag and setting the bag on her lap, holding it closed against her corseted torso. The feel of the gun so close was somewhat of a comfort, like she was ready for whatever this chitty could throw at her.

"Yes, having a local boy might be a great advantage, that's for sure," she commented. "Local businesspeople and their ilk are usually more comfortable with locals than what they might think are tourists."

[Dhara]

"I don't think shooting gangsters and such, then having cops shoot at you in response qualifies as unjust shooting. It would seem to me that you are armed, and they are armed and they see you shooting at some one so they are going to shoot you." She sipped her water, watching as the man approached. He seemed uneasy and the group waited in silence as he settled in. She watched him grab a beer and then began speaking. She found herself nodding in agreement with what he said. "I think that is a good idea as well. And I could ask my boss at the bookstore where I work. I am sure he might have some video and he trusts me."

Standing, she opened the picnic basket and began laying out the selection of breads, meats, fruit and desserts that she had brought. "Please, every one, help yourself." She said, sitting back down with a smile and a wave of her hand. She retrieved her water and nibbled on a few grapes.

[Vivian Astor (DELETED 6402)]

“Very good observation.” Vivian nodded at the male, “How fortuitous for you to arrive when you did. I must confess, that did not cross my mind. But you are quite right. Locals prefer locals.” She gave him an approving smile. “Since you weren’t here at the onset, allow me to offer introductions,” She gestures to Dhara, “This is Dhara, Young Jana, as you heard, and I am Vivian.”

Vivian tilted her head somewhat as plan developed, “I am thinking sir.. you are going to come in quite handy, if my sudden epiphany meets with everyone’s approval.”Two such lovely young ladies.. and a strapping male.. in addition the current camera feeds that local businesses may give us, why don’t we install our own cameras? I will confess, I know nothing about installing them.. but I would be willing to front some money to have it done. We, could say we are the ‘neighborhood watch’ and if businesses that are in proximity to the areas where the most shootings occur would agree or volunteer to host our cameras, we would have our own 24 hour feeds. All they would have to do is supply power for the camera. They should jump at the offer. The cameras will offer their businesses a bit more security, getting them more patrols, more patrons equal more sells, more sells more profit, and we get the feeds.”

She slides at look from the girls to the male, “Who could say no to those lovely girls? And They would be quite safe, with a strong male accompanying them.. don’t you think?” Vivian patted the table top across from her, “Do have a seat Sir and tell us your preferred moniker.”

[Rory Gagnon]

"Uhh..."

That was the only sound he could manage. With a swig of beer to wet a suddenly extremely dry mouth Rory considered the woman, Vivian's words and the plan they formed. It made sense, even if it was to be a slow process and largely a... passive one. If it were anything besides the police well then he would just start cracking some skulls.

"Umm..."

And in one of those moments of out of body clarity, Rory realized he was looking like a fool. Promptly, he undid and began rummaging around in his day pack while he went over the idea again, desperately wanting to say something but knowing from experience that he would have to force words out. It was a little too awkward to rummage with one hand; the beer bottle was placed on the table. A few moments later, a tightly sealed bag of jerky was added to the buffet.

"Gag–– Rory Gagnon." Had he really been about to recite his inmate ID number? Quite possibly. Such was the price for not following Claudia's advice that he should interact with people fairly soon after his release. Nope! Instead he had been in the wilderness, alone and content. Why exactly was he getting involved in this again? "It is a good plan Vivian, I can install the cameras..." And? More on the tip of his tongue.

His eyes looked over the women and he smiled awkwardly and gestured at the his offering. "I make it myself, from hunt to... well that," he finished with a chuckle that was a smide strained. He helped himself to a strip and pointed to the cooler. "Those too, if you want. "