JOINT POST / VIDEO

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob and Raina are standing together in the video, facing the camera side-by-side. They're out in public, in a park in De Chima. Jacob speaks first.]

Hey, everyone. I just got Ported back in a few days ago. I'm still catching up. I'm not just posting to ask for updates, though. Raina and I- [He nods to her.] - have some things to say.

[ She glances over at Jacob and then smiles brightly, returning her attention to the camera. ]

It's in regards to the Unsettled ImPorts. This has been an underlying issue for quite some time, and I believe a lot of people here don't even understand the full scope of it. It's easy to be unaware when you're Registered. But life isn't as simple for those who have chosen not to swear allegiance to our government. I haven't experienced it first hand, but Jacob lived it up close and personal.

[ Raina looks to him with a fond expression, admiration for his bravery. She falls silent to allow him the chance to relay his experiences as an Unsettled ImPort. ]

I was Unsettled for more than a year before I finally Registered. It wasn't Hell, but it wasn't exactly easy either. You risk losing whatever job the government gave you, and you can say goodbye to health insurance too. That was all before they started searching us at state lines. And if you take on the bad guys without swearing loyalty, they'll call you a Vigilante and chase you down. That's what happened to me.

Which isn't fair in the least. Especially since by not registering, you're not overtly saying you're going to cause trouble. In many cases, the ones with real criminal intent will register with the government to use them as a means of protection. And in the meantime, the ones who wish to do good will be punished for it simply because they chose not to register for reasons entirely their own.

I think the best chance we have at change is educating -- not just the imPorts but the natives alike. And that's why we'd like to hear your opinions and experiences with this matter -- concerns, questions, and ideas you may have. If we speak out in public about this, our voices will be heard.

The government can tattoo us and track us, but they can't stop us from at least talking about things. You heard Raina- let's share some stories. It's not like the issues are just going to go away if we stay quiet.

Comments

video;

[brushoff]

No mention of how the "bad guys" you took down were cops?

[ RIGHT OFF THE BAT it is captain provocative ]

video;

[flowerette]

[ Well. Raina didn't know this, buuuut.... ]

If they really were bad, though, isn't that all the more reason to take them down?

[ Look at me, pretending to be so good and saintly right now. ]

video;

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Ugh.]

I was thinking more about the kidnappers, gangsters and hitmen the cops were in bed with. But if you want to go there, fine. I'd call the corruption problem in Maurtia Falls another reason why we have to be careful about trusting the people in charge here.

video;

[whathawksdo]

Hmm. No mention of the imPorts who offered their services to those same criminal elements, either, it would seem.

[ Sup, 80%. ]

[akito]

[ his expression is one of FINALLY, because he thought he was the only one. ]

I'm fifteen, and I refuse to pledge allegiance to a government that clearly has ulterior motives. So when I was injured during the Heropa attack I spent four days in the hospital and had to pay ten thousand dollars, because I have no health insurance. Because I'm not registered as government property. It was worth it though, because I saved animals from burning to death in their cages.

They should at least waive the necessity of registering for children under what they consider to be the legal age. They shouldn't force kids to have to make that kind of decision. I didn't trust them or their housing, so I ended up living on the streets for a few weeks until I found out about the Xavier school.

[flowerette]

That much money? How can they even expect you to come up with that?

[glowsferatu]

So, you don't trust them, but you want them to trust you without reservation. I don't see how that would solve anything, when you're so suspicious of their housing that you elected, by your own recognizance, to be homeless.

Whether you received the benefits or not, you would still have done that. I don't think it's fair for them to be blamed.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob's own face darkens as Akito tells his story, and he nods along in support.]

See, this is exactly what I'm talking about. You put your ass on the line to help, and get stuck with the bill.

You really ran into the fire to get those animals? That takes guts- whether or not the government recognizes it.

video

[rathercommon]

Honestly -

[ Kitty's voice is a little hesitant. Not because she's afraid of stating her opinion - more because she's deeply ambivalent herself. And also because she likes both Raina and Jacob. ]

My opinion, personally, is that I think that there are bigger problems for us to worry about. The average citizen here isn't given the privileges of those who register. So how can we really consider it an outrage that those who go unsettled don't get treated better than their average citizen. Rather than focusing on our welfare, we ought to focus on the common welfare. Work to eliminate corruption in the government. Advocate for social programs that benefit all people, not just the people in our situation.

video

[mightthinkthat]

While I wouldn't scale the problems as 'big' or 'small' as problems can be mischaracterised as either, giving locals, and possibly as a result, imPort who've chosen not to register, more of our benefits sounds like a fine idea and one that can lessen the divide between ourselves and our hosts.

[ Annoying Raina with supporting the notion crosses his mind as a positive, but only barely. ]

video.

[glowsferatu]

I agree with Kitty, basically. [ Which is still a weird thing to consider, really. ]

I know I've spoken to Jacob on this subject numerous times already, but what it ultimately comes down to is that you can't expect this world to allow you to break whatever laws you like when you're making a point of not cooperating. Yes, not registering isn't a promise that you're going to cause trouble, but registering is meant to be a promise that you won't. Just because liars wil lie when they register doesn't toss the whole thing out.

Frankly, I can't really find it in me to sympathize with the "difficulties" the Unsettled encounter when they rather invite it for themselves. If you don't want to face these difficulties any longer, there's a very simple solution.

video.

[flowerette]

People come from different worlds of all different beliefs, Kanaya. Jacob explained to me why he chose not to register originally, and it's something I can understand. We aren't really advocating the same rights as given to the Registered. But there has to be a better solution, doesn't there? Something that doesn't compromise the belief of the imPort in question, but can still prove that their intentions aren't bad.

Voice

[bindsthedead]

I agree with Kitty and Kanaya.

Look, registration isn't a promise to follow whatever orders the government gives- it's a promise to follow the rules. Obviously, it's not well enforced, but that doesn't make the government sinister, just not entirely competent. [Although Sabriel will freely admit she has other reasons to distrust the government. Registration isn't one of them.]

And one sign of that is not realizing that imPorts may come from entirely different worlds- ones with different cultures and histories, and Registration may remind them of unpleasant parts of their world.

Voice

[flowerette]

We aren't here to say Registration is bad. Just that there are people unaware of what the consequences of the alternative are. In essence, what Jacob and I wish to do is come up with a better system. And by combining the stories and experiences from several imPorts, perhaps that's something we can accomplish.

You raise very good and valid points, Sabriel. And ones that fit along the lines of what we're advocating. Education across the board. Ultimately, what I would love to see happen is several of us imPorts getting the chance to speak out in a conference with a few government officials so that we can better understand one another. The government does not necessarily make itself accessible to us. And we shouldn't have to rely on the ambassadors to have our voices heard.

[ Especially when some of them are pieces of shit. She sees you up there, Francis!! ]

permavoice;

[nostalgiabomb]

If anyone else watching this thing go down in flames needs popcorn, I'm your man.

[ a bit of a pause, then, ]

By the way, welcome back, Taylor.

permavoice;

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Thanks, Peter. Save some of that popcorn for me, would you?

[Jacob's voice is wry, but still upbeat.]

Getting involved in politics never does end well. To be honest, I'd feel more comfortable in a firefight than doing this.

[whathawksdo]

I can't say I'm fond of how empty a gesture Registration is, overall. It really doesn't mean anything, in the end, does it? Though I'm sure the counter to that is going to be "oooh, if you think that, why don't you just do it, ohhh".

[ Complete with over-exaggerated 'ohhhs' and wavy hand gestures to go with it. ]

Nice to see you're back, by the way, Jacob. Don't think the vanishing act gets you out of owing me that dinner.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Exactly. Like Raina said, the worst super-criminals are always the ones pretending to be on the level. Like Crane. The government makes life hard for the Unsettled, but doesn't do much to hold the Registered to their world. It's all control, no protection.

[He missed your hand gestures, Hawke.]

But thanks, Hawke. I wouldn't miss dinner for anything. Just name the time and place and I'm there.

ID: wild tiger; audio

[earnedmystripes]

The main thing I'd wanna see happen is the kids getting waived outta the registration/unsettled system. The rest of us, we're adults--we've been through school, we've had jobs...we can work something out if the jobs we get from the government let us go.

The kids, though--'specially the younger ones, they're not gonna have much experience. Some of 'em might not even be old enough to legally work back home, if their worlds're anything like mine. If the job they're at lets 'em go in favor of someone local, or someone Registered, what're they gonna do?

Aside from that, though...I think it'd do a lot for goodwill if the registration system was only about the crimefighting. Back where I'm from, you gotta get cleared by the Justice Department to go out and do that kinda thing. I'm fine with that. But the rest of it's not great. At the very least, the unsettled oughta be able to get their own health insurance somehow, and not be on probation at their jobs by default. Especially considering how yeah, just about every major criminal we've ever had here--Lucifer, Lunatic, the Manipulator, Crane...they've all been registered, and after they serve their sentences, they go right back to being registered.

audio

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

I'm glad you understand, Wild Tiger.

[Especially since he's from a world where heroic control is the norm, albeit under a much different system than what's present on this Earth.]

A lot of what you're saying makes sense. Especially about the criminals. Maybe it's hypocritical of me to say- I Registered after I finished my sentence. But there's a Hell of a difference between what I did and what Crane did.

video;

[infomodder]

[He's in the bait shop because of course he's in the bait shop on Christmas Eve.]

Seems if anyone who isn't Registered thinks it's unfair not to have the same benefits...the solution is both obvious and simple. [Not that he's pushing Registration but come on now. Airing of grievances was yesterday.] 'Course they can stop us from at least talking about things. But they haven't tried that so far, have they?

video;

[flowerette]

[ Will. Why are you being an ass, too? Raina looks at him, mildly offended. ]

That isn't the point we're trying to make. Anyone can register, yes. But those who chose not to register have very important and very personal reasons for it in some cases. Is that really something you're going to discredit simply to say 'well, they can have an easier time if they just register.'

It's not that simple for some, Will. I thought you of all people would understand that.

[ Being an empath means understanding everyone and everything, right??? ]

video;

[clownshoes]

I don't really know how I feel about it.

[ sora's not usually the one worrying about implications and politics. ]

But they're giving us jobs and places to live instead of deciding we're not their problem...Registering doesn't seem so bad in exchange.

video;

[flowerette]

It isn't bad. We're not saying that registering is bad.

[ Raina holds up her wrist to indicate her REGISTERED tattoo. ]

But as there are some who have chosen not to register, we wish to discuss what their experiences have been and why they decided not to register. As most people point out and something I believed as well before I talked to Jacob, registration is relatively benign and without consequence. It's simply putting forth your good intentions toward the government and this world. But for some, there are very important reasons that hold them back from doing so. Some based on personal beliefs and others based on distrust. And why should they be punished for their decision when it has nothing to do with conspiring against the government?

video;

[textualhealing]

And if any imPort, registered or unregistered, has problems with the law, contact me: Jeff Winger, Lawyer at Large.

[Grin!

Beat...]

I can plug here, right? Too late, already did it.

video;

[flowerette]

Well, I'm glad to see you don't discriminate, Jeff.

[ But soooo not the point. ]

voice;

[bestever]

Ugh, wait. So you have to like, declare that you're not a total shitheap officially, just to stop the actual shitheaps from ruining things?

Great. Fantastic system. Guess it's a good thing I'm just riding shotgun, huh?

voice;

[flowerette]

[ Raina sounds mildly amused, although mostly exhausted. ]

If nothing else, I think everyone can agree that the system is flawed.

video

[youbastard]

What exactly do you want to change by having our voices heard? Do you think the government is really going to listen and reconsider their position? Because they're not going to. They have no reason to at all.

video

[flowerette]

I believe there's a chance that they will. I'm not jaded enough to believe that talking through our problems is destined to fail. In fact, I refuse to think that way.

There has always been a saying that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Silence won't benefit us in any way.

text

[kinesia]

[ Grey is already a vigilante. He'd rather be that than be registered. At least that feels like a natural state. ]

i wont " swear loyalty " unless i am loyal . i wont be loyal unless i trust them

but it doesnt matter
nothing we say will change anything

we have no voice at all .

text

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Sure we've got a voice

If we didn't, me and Raina wouldn't able to make this post without getting arrested

and she wouldn't have been able to run for office

Things could be worse. We've got a chance to change things.

video

[kanadian]

You know, I don't...disagree with you -- [ But he doesn't agree, either. ]

But don't you think...I mean, it doesn't seem like that many people have been losing their jobs for not registering. Nobody I know has...

video

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Of course.]

Well, you've met one now, Major. After I Unsettled, I lost the job the government gave me. The authorities couldn't vouch for me for 'National Security' reasons. They let me go when I wouldn't change my mind.

I was able to find another way to pay the rent. But I'm lucky. I'm human, and I've got skills. A lot of other imPorts would have more problems if they refused to sign up.

audio;

[matadorable]

The registration didn't sit well with me for...several reasons, really. Luckily, imPorts and natives have both been very kind. My roommates are happy to let me stay in the house, and much of my hospital bills were covered by generous donations. The other benefits would be nice, of course, but I wouldn't feel right accepting those right now.

Unfortunately, I'll be losing my job soon, but I really don't blame them for letting me go. I mean, I was teaching at a college. [He's laughing a little to himself at that.] Even though I didn't have much formal schooling growing up. That's why it was decided my job would be better suited for one of the graduate students.

It will likely be difficult from now on, yes, but...this is the choice I made, you know?

audio;

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Sounds like things have worked out pretty well for you. I'm glad. You're right- we'd all be in a lot more trouble if there wasn't so much generosity going around. I've heard that fundraiser helped a lot of people.

They give people strange jobs a lot. What did they have you teaching?

video;

[superposition]

Technically, vigilantism was illegal most places back home as well. Being Unsettled here is a step up from outright hiding, at least. [Albeit a couple steps down from having the US President personally vouching for them. He still misses that.]

video;

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob shrugs.]

Sure, it could be a lot worse. Doesn't change the fact that there's problems we need to deal with. Especially since there's always the chance this world could end up looking a lot more like yours. You've got to wonder when the government might just take away the choice completely.

voice;

[biteouttagrimes]

I managed to get the job back they gave me at the beginnin' -- even after remainin' Unsettled. When I first got here, I wasn't exactly cooperative. Wasn't gonna do anythin' the government asked me to do. But after a while, I realized I was just bein' stubborn. My son's here. I gotta support him. So where I got lucky was that it was the holidays an' they needed the help.

Not bein' able to use the porter's been the worst of everythin', 'cause it ain't easy when you got people in trouble in say North Carolina and you can't just hop the porter to get on over to 'em. Not without goin' through all these special steps.

voice;

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

You're here with your son? I'm glad for you. Being separated from family is the hardest thing for a lot of imPorts.

Can I ask what job you were able to get back?

video

[justimom]

[ There's a slight tilt of Samara's head as she considers what to say and how to say it .]

I never took the job they gave me. It is likely obvious to you, Jacob, why registration was not an option to me. The job given to me was one I was not comfortable providing service to. The consequences of not registering have been...they have made things rather difficult. [ More so than she's accustomed to. ]

video

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob nods along to Samara's words. She's one of the people he had in mind when he agreed with Raina to make this post.]

I know it's been tough for you, Samara. This isn't your planet or your century. Or your way of life. What was it they wanted you to do- some kind of solar research?

[He shakes his head.]

Even if you had registered, that probably wouldn't have worked out for you.