Meeting of the Minds

[cityship]

After the initial confusion of the pod release, the podlings have been allowed to wander at their discretion around the living area.

However, even though no one really pointed it out, people might find themselves drawn to a large oblong room at the one end. All of the hallways just seemed to lead there, for some strange reason.

The ceiling was massively tall, and shaped like a semi-circular dome. This sight would greet anyone who entered. There were fleshy couches and chairs for those that wished to sit down.

It looked, quite accurately, like a place people were meant to gather.

And gather they would.

Comments

[fluffinasuit.livejournal.com]

"Yes," on that he agreed with her completely. It was part of what he did, after all, a large part of what kept him going. "But violence doesn't solve anything."

[nothawkingbird.livejournal.com]

Both heroes in some fashion. They can smell their own.

"No, can't cure hunger with it, or give a homeless person shelter. But you can save someone's life with it. Defend those who can't defend themselves."

[fluffinasuit.livejournal.com]

"There's always another option." He would not bend on that point. Not anymore.

[nothawkingbird.livejournal.com]

"Must be nice to have that luxury," she simply replied.

[fluffinasuit.livejournal.com]

That got him angry. His expression turned even harder, and a little wild. "It's not a luxury. You treat lives as a luxury every time you use a weapon, every time you hurt someone. But there is always a way besides violence, if you only bother to look."

[nothawkingbird.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, you try telling somebody who's attacking and trying to kill your friend to stop. It doesn't work. They don't listen unless you do something to make them listen." Her eyes with bright and narrowed as she stepped forward to get in his face.

Her eyes were getting damp as she spat out, "You try tell somebody to stop. Repeatedly, and no, only they don't care, they'll never hear you because they just want to take what they want. So you have to make sure they don't get that chance the first time. It's not being blind, it's about them being deaf."

[fluffinasuit.livejournal.com]

"That's why you make them listen!" His voice was intense, a quiet roar. So far he was refraining from shaking the girl, but he loomed angry and dangerous in her face.

"Even if they use violence, you don't have to! You escape, you get up, you distract them, but you do not hurt them! Once you do, you can't stop, and people get hurt and they die!" And you end up alone; an old, bitter, angry warrior who doesn't have a peace left to fight for and whose warnings no one will listen to.

[nothawkingbird.livejournal.com]

"People get hurt and die anyway, especially if you don't act."

She countered, glaring up at him challengingly, "Police are allowed to use deadly force when somebody's armed with a gun, we don't even do that. We just stop them so no one else gets hurt or killed. Just because people have died on your watch doesn't give you the right to argue with what we have to do. And if you really knew my world like you said you do, you'd know that we're doing the best that we can with what we can do!"

[fluffinasuit.livejournal.com]

"The police are doing it wrong! You can take action without harming people! It doesn't matter if you're doing the best you can; if you don't stop the violence, who will?!" He skipped arguing his right to argue; it was easier, and better to let her assume he was human.

[nothawkingbird.livejournal.com]

"You think we don't try? We're heroes not diplomats. Sometimes you can get through to a person without it, but other times, it's the only thing they understand."

[fluffinasuit.livejournal.com]

"You... it's... Arrrgh!" The Doctor pulled his hair, causing it to stand up at awkward angles. Think, Doctor, think and calm down. She's young, you used to think like that too. Calm down. Throttling her would not prove your point.

He produced the bag again and thrust it at her. "Jelly baby."

[nothawkingbird.livejournal.com]

Kate considered it this time, and then accepted one.

"This your signal for truce?" Wry smirk. "Or agree to disagree?

[fluffinasuit.livejournal.com]

The Doctor grinned. "Nope. Jelly babies are just good." He put the bag away again.

[nothawkingbird.livejournal.com]

It was sweet and pretty good.

"I'll go with that, thank you."