fandomhighdorms | More weapons-ban talk (Slowtime of last night's discussion)

Anakin crinkled his forehead in thought. "I'd say that the ban was a result of beings who have no business carrying weapons using them inappropriately. Combined with a healthy dose of paranoia that had certain groups thinking more about using those weapons on each other rather than on squid monsters and zombies."

Beka considers. "That, and more. I think it has to do with unarmed students being terrified of the overall level of violent potential in the school. Nothing can be done about those whose abilities are inherent in some fashion, but weapons-bearers can be disarmed. It's a way to try to manage some of the tension."

"So why should they change the status quo?"

"The Administration?" She frowns, and then: "Because it's not working? It's kept weapons out of the hands of those who have no experience with them. It's made the point to us quick-tempered gunbunnies that people are afraid of us.

"But it's ratcheted up the tension enormously. Take a bunch of people who have spent their entire lives carrying weapons for their own protection... now take those weapons away. Even if there's no threat of zombies or tentacle monsters, that's going to make them angry and afraid. Fear and anger are more dangerous than the weapons themselves."

"How would you go around proving that the emotions of fear and anger are more dangerous than the actual fact of an armed teenager who has used her weapon to threaten other students? Or left their weapon out where another student could find it?" Anakin stretched out his legs. "How would you argue that something has fundamentally changed at the school since the ban took effect? Can you point to anything that would show that the 'gunbunnies' have learned to be more cautious in their weapons use? Not just you, specifically, but everyone?"

Abruptly Beka smiles. "I like you. You make me think. Most people don't." Then she nods. "Good questions."

She taps a finger to her pursed lips. "I think there are a number of separate issues there. So let's break them down. First, there's the question of proof. That's a problem. In the absence of exactly the kind of incidents we're trying to avoid, we're left with intangibles like emotional danger, vanishing productivity, mistrust. Bad things for the school, but nonfatal. The Admin may be willing to live with a hostile environment if no one's dying. Agreed?"

Anakin lips' quirked up. "My old teacher would be so glad to know that I've actually been paying attention when he was going on and on and on and on about negiations tactics."

He looked around the room and watched a gremlin run from one corner to another. "The administration doesn't seem particulary concerned about a hostile environment, no."

The gremlin caught Beka's eye too and, not for the first time, she wished there was some way to get rid of the stupid things. "Uncle Sid would be equally delighted to see me using my brain..." and my body. The thought is bitter.

"All right, so we've got nothing to stand on there. So the next question is whether we've learned anything." Rising, she stretches, rolling her neck on her shoulders. Then she paces. "Sorry, think better on my feet."

"Obviously, I think we have learned something. I have. But that may not be the best proof." She grins. "Or maybe it could be. Think about it, Anakin. If Beka Valentine is out making friends with everyone and their brother (not to mention screwing Angelus), working to bury the hatchet and soothe tensions... wouldn't that be good proof that things have changed?"

The fact that she's already been doing this, because it's who she is and what she wants isn't something she needs to discuss with the soulless sociopath's protege.

"I guess then the question becomes are you working with others just to get your way on the weapons ban, or out of a genuine interest in learning about ways of life that don't necessarily include shooting first and asking questions later? There is no shortage of cynicism in this school," he said with a smile, "so the argument of 'I've changed, so can you' might ring a little hollow, especially with anyone who might have been avoiding you due to earlier experiences and unaware of your new version."

She smiles. "That one I believe is already being fixed. The sweet little angel-boy, Chihaya, and I have become 'friends'."

I do actually like him.

"And I've offered him my protection from other armed or lethal sorts, whether I have my weapons or not. He's out telling his friends now that I'm actually not the person he thought I was. Meanwhile, I've banded together with Kitty Pryde, one of the genetically enhanced girls, and we're looking for a mage, to offer escorts and protection of the 'you'll have to go through me to hurt them' variety, free of charge. Hero-types."

The idea appeals to her more than she's willing to let on.

"In addition, I've been seen hugging and comforting crying women (and men) since the ban started." She grimaces at that. "Anakin, I can't tell you how awkward it is to sit with Vala Maldoran and Cally and watch them table-dance apologies for fighting over my ex."

"I've been asking questions, listening, trying to understand. It's genuine enough that it will take hold with some work. There will always be some holdouts, but I think I can convert some of my worst detractors...with a little help."

"And that's wonderful for you personally, really." Anakin's expression could mean anything. "Does this indicate a larger movement in the rest of the gun-toting, happy-to-hold a weapon population, though? And if not, how would you convince the administration that your remarkable transformation under the ban would not be emulated by the rest of the gunbunnies given enough time without weapons?"

Anakin smiled. "Not trying to be difficult--just trying to come at this from all the angles."

"I'm not taking you to be difficult. As we've established, if we're going to get anywhere with this, we have to think it through from all sides."

She paces back his direction, then sits again, straddling the chair in her 'I'm comfortable in my skin but I wish I had a frelling weapon' sort of way. "It's definitely a step in the right direction, because I'm probably the most visible and among the most 'feared'. So my transformation is symbolic. What if I were able to convince some of the others to go along? For real. Aeryn would do it, I'm pretty sure I can get the Refugees to join me in this.

"And maybe Parker." She bares her teeth at that one. "As long as no one mentions the JA or Angelus."

Anakin tried to stop his eyes from rolling. He wasn't entirely sure he succeeded. "I don't understand the problem beings have with the JA, honestly. It's not like they're running around with t-shirts that say 'I want to blow up a planet when I grow up--ask me how.'" He looked at where Beka was sitting. "I think more beings can only help your cause, really. Show that you're all ready to take responsibility, that you've learned and grown and blah, blah, blah."

Beka shrugs. "Truth? I don't have any particular problems with the JA, not yet, anyhow. I don't really have problems with Angelus, except if tries to hurt someone. I'm fine with him acting according to his nature. I'm not fine with him eating my friends. If I thought JA represented my best interests, I'd have offered to run with them. It doesn't. It suits me to have people believe I'm basically a do-gooder with a bad temper. It's close enough to true."

She waves her hand in the air. "So, yes, more people being responsible, helping protect people, making friends with those different from them. Other angles?

"Oh yes. Weapons lying about. This is a real concern to me personally. Cally nearly blew her hands off with a flamethrower during the zombie battle. Child can barely hold a pistol through the recoil, but Cameron--" She rolls her eyes at speaking the name of her beknighted ex. "--decided it'd be a great idea to give her a frelling flamethrower.

"Responsible weapon use. How do we get there from here?"

Anakin scowled. "Oh. Politics."

"Weapons lying around cannot be allowed to continue. I think Coash Ash's panel to have students prove they can handle their weapons is a great one. Assuming we get weapons back, of course."

Beka looks amused. "Yes. Politics. Or rather image-management. Everyone's got an angle, Anakin. Everyone. Even the sheep. They just don't always know what it is. I know what I want. I want to get out of here with my strength intact, my brain sharper, and the know-how to bring the Magog and the Nietzscheans to heel. That means learning how to lead people and to play by the damned rules."

She runs a hand through her bangs. "Ash's panel is fine. Jackson's idea, while somewhat beknighted, is also a good one. I have a...personal...relationship with him. He'll listen to me. If we figure out what the qualifications for keeping weapons should be, I'll suggest them to him in a setting that won't be suspicious." But I won't manipulate him. Or hurt him.

Angelus sat back, listening to the conversation as it flowed. Finally he commented, as though more to any invisible people who might be eavesdropping than as an interruption of Anakin and Beka, "Or the problem isn't actually about weapons at all."

"Politics, posturing, saying one thing and meaning something else. It's all so pointless." He looked up and lifted an eyebrow. "Sorry. Home stuff."

"I think it might be better if we concentrate on the argument about the lifting the weapons ban. I'm not certain the teachers would appreciate lobbying from the students in terms of how they would implement rules." He spread his hands. "They have the control in this situation. Asking them for special favors before the status quo has even changed seems a bit premature."

Anakin quirked up an eyebrow. "How do you see it, then?"

"You can't solve this one through M.A.D.," Angelus said. "Mutually assured destruction is part of what started the damn thing. Present a solution of solving the weapons problem by adding more weapons - and I don't care how you phrase it but training, bodyguards, hoops to jump through, whatever all translate to more weapons - and I'll have a good time watching all of you try to push that rock up that never ending hill. It's not the weapons that are the damn problem. Take a step back. Think about it." To Anakin specifically he added, "You were close."

"Don't apologize. The more we understand each other, the better team we make. Isn't that the point?" She flashes him a quick grin. As annoying as negotiations over this weapons ban are, he's intelligent and interesting and she's enjoying this.

"I should make clear that Jackson is, if not my lover, then at very least a very warm friend. I wouldn't be asking him for a favor so much as discussing with him the best rule. He's bound to ask my opinion. So we should have one."

Anakin tried not to show how pleased he was that Angelus thought he was on to something. He crinkled his forehead. "It's not the weapons. The distrust, then? I'm just not thinking clearly any more."

"The whole damn thing gives me a headache," Angelus gave him a friendly pat on the back. "I can't blame you. And yeah, the problem is the fear and distrust. All the solutions so far only escalate things. You have a gun, so I want a bigger gun. You have a bigger gun, so now I want an uzi. You have an uzi so now I want a flaming sword with the power to pull lightening and unicorns out of my ass. The only thing focusing on the weapons does is heighten the molehill that made that mountain in the first place. If you want your weapons back, you need to squash the moles."

"Long story, very boring. Short version: politics and posturing is leading to widespread secession from the Republic."

He blinked at the news about Jackson and wondered for a moment why everyone was getting lucky with teachers but him. "Good to know," he finally managed.

Anakin blinked for a moment at the sudden image of unicorns being pulled out of someone's ass. Yeah, he really needed to stop thinking about this. "Okay. Other than powerful narcotics in the water supply, which I'm not assuming aren't already there, how do we convince a group of people who've seen shootings, zombies, gremlins, and beings they've never even imagined going to classes with them that there's nothing to be afraid of?"

More weapons-ban talk (Slowtime of last night's discussion)

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