Path of the Vampire forum

She listened to Vivian, and she couldn't help the soft snort when the elder woman referred to her as beautiful. Child-like, adorable, cute... Dhara had been called a great many things but beautiful was not one of them. Never the less, she didn't contradict the woman. After all that was the height of rude manners. She listened as Rory introduced himself, and then helped herself to the jerky he had offered. Chewing on a piece while she thought, she looked the group over, pursing her lips for a moment, then taking a swallow of water to wash down the jerky. "That is really good, Rory. I much prefer fresh game over store bought stuff." She added, then took another drink.

"We need more though. More than camera's and media attention. We need more than the ability to be swept under the rug. How do we get more people involved, while at the same time remaining on the correct side of the laws in this country? Have you watched the news footage of the United States? It is horrific to say the least. It seems that those protesting aren't doing so to make a point, but to cause chaos and destruction. But we are such a small group that we are easy to ignore." Another swallow of water and she looked at the other two women before her eyes landed on Rory again. "We have a starting place, but what comes next?"

Mona McGee wasn't the most likable or civil person but she knew things ... She sat on her bike at the pier and watched as the little party formed she took a sip out of her flask. They had advertised this little party and unceremoniously uninvited her when they thought what she posted was argumentative or a little out there. Well wait until they got a look at her face to face .

She pushed off her bike and adjusted her leather jacket so that it covered the fact that she was armed. Her faded out jeans and riding boots and dark glasses pretty much said she wasn't common tea party material. She approached the group . "You ladies mind if I join better late than never ..." she peered over her dark shades

Vivian wasn't a fan of jerky, but the man had brought to the picnic, it would be churlish to decline. So she took and ate it. It still wasn't her favorite treat, but it was tastier than other jerky she had tasted.

As Dhara spoke, Vivian had to agree. They did need more people. "There is power in having numbers. A small group can be seen as nothing more than rebel rousers." She paused, nodding, "We do not want to be seen as trouble makers. And we aren't. We want to be able to use the momentum of the issues in the states to our advantage as well..." She paused as another girl sauntered up. Yes she sauntered. It was an easy relaxed stride.

Vivian smiled up at her, from her seated position, "Yes please have a seat, dear." Silently Vivian observed the female. This girl, it was clear, could hold her own in a tough situation. Vivian smiled as a her plan took on a fuller shape. This young lady probably had contacts that could be quite useful. "Let me bring you up to speed dear, we were just discussing how need firm documented proof, preferably clear video proof, as well as more support from the citizens. We have a tentative plan to place cameras in 'hot spots'."

Mona nodded and found a old bait bucket and made a make shift seat out of it. "Getting footage of police shooting at people is a start but There is police shooting and misconduct videos surfacing every single day there have been 3 alone this week One of a pool party in Texas and teenagers getting thrown to the ground another of a 13 year old boy getting tazed but in over half of these cases The Police were justified in their actions .... and the more these cases get proven ... The more it takes away from the real cases where there was gross negligence and where sever injury or Death occurred .... Just getting some cops shooting at someone isn't gong to do it ... You need to look for people That have been really hurt or killed Those are the cases where your going to get action and something accomplished on " Mona stared pointedly around the small group. Wondering if she was going to get the same argumentative responses she normally got online .

"Oh absolutely .. however, to find those people, we need evidence. Video footage will help with that.

"What I am reluctant to do, is to promise some poor individual or family that we will get justice for them, when its going to be an uphill battle to begin with." Vivian paused and looked serious for a moment.

"This is not a game. There are peoples lives and livelihoods that are being impacted. We cannot hang our hat on one incident. Or one victim. We need as broad a scope as we can get. Quite simply each time an officer fires upon the citizenry and there is no investigation, we slide a little closet to the cesspool.

"Families that can afford to will leave this city. Businesses that cater to walk in traffic will leave. Why should they stay if their customer base is fleeing like rats from a burning building? What we will be left with is a run down city run by corruption. None of us want that.. and that is what we need to make sure everyone understands."

She listened to the back and forth, watching as the tough looking woman sat down. She was beginning to feel the odd man out. It seemed every one sitting around this table could defend themselves in some way shape or form. And what would she do? Flail and run away most likely. She shrugged her thoughts off, taking another swallow of water as she listened, nodding now and again.

"But how would we get people to come forward? If they have stayed quiet this long, perhaps it is for a reason? Maybe they have been threatened or intimidated some how? Why else would they stay quiet?" It was a valid question. How would they find these people if there was no records? No paperwork, no video, no trail what so ever. She tapped her long fingers on the table, then looked at the newest arrival. "Maybe an assumption, but are you the one who suggested protesting?" She had seen the post just before coming out to the meeting, but she didn't want to bring it up with out the ideas originator being here. As far as she could tell, the newest arrival was most likely the one who posted it since no one else had mentioned it.

In the brief lull in conversation after Dhara's comment, Rory was woolgathering; absently chugging at his beer and chewing on jerky. Just the right level of tenderness. This had been an excellent batch! When another woman joined in, he listened quietly with his beer. Sipping occasionally, he was trying to rationalize in his head a couple of things. Important things he supposed, maybe.

Firstly, was being here progress to address his "social anxiety" Claudia had harped on? He felt perfectly at ease around criminals and gangsters. A group of ladies planning social changer? Not so much. Experience had taught him that fists, blades and bullets were more... definitive. And what if they found out he was basically the sort of person the police perhaps should shoot at? Oh yes. Social change, police accountability and a member of the group had a rather long rap sheet. That would go over well...

Awkwardness was why he avoided these kinds of things and had for years, which of course made him loads of fun at the parties he never went to. Truth be told, so far he had very little to add. Rory suspected that the best idea he could come up with thus far, starting riot, wouldn't go over well and without more camera people to increase the chances of catching misbehavior would not serve the goal.

Vivian was looking to see if they were all serious, as she obviously was. He was not entirely convinced yet, or sure besides so he kept on listening, chewing on jerky and sipping beer. He shifted in his seat to get at his cigarettes and lit one. Cracking another cold one, Rory pantomimed the role of an attentive member of the audience.

Mona looked at the girl as she spoke ... then slowly looked around at the rest of the guests that had gathered around . None of them had said much of anything . Mona shrugged he shoulders then spoke " The only thing about assumptions is that there is always a *** in front of them ... But that is a idea why don't we have fliers made up and work the Canada day celebrations hand them out have a community meeting . Im sure that someone that has had problems will show up Its one way to get the message out to the community and find people that may know something or have the things you want to find." She smiled and paused a moment "I know a good printer that works for cheap If anyone has ideas as to where and when we can have a community wide meeting?"