communication and stuff

[rosco_coltrane]

Rosco is randomly wandering around. He's talking to anyone who is willing.

"They're just some things about this place that I can't get the hang of. Like all the things people go around talking and typing into. I'm just a good old boy from Georgia. What are those things and should I have one?"

He's also a bit confused about jobs and how Nexus society works, especially as a member of the establishment in his own universe.

"How'm I supposed to get work here and what's the employment rate like? I've been feeding myself by selling stuff I find...stuff I find outside that looks unclaimed. I've even sold bottle caps, like that one fella suggested. Is anyone hiring? I don't know much outside of law enforcement."

Comments

[conjuredskies]

"Oh, no apology needed. And Felix is just fine. I don't stand on the formalities when it comes to my friends." Which Rosco surely is as of now. Right?

Felix nods sympathetically. "I understand, certainly. And I don't want to underestimate how generous people can be here, but they do come and go quite often and many of them have limited means themselves. Hmm... maybe I could talk my boss into putting up a base salary - enough to live on comfortably - and we could save the public fund-raising for extra equipment and so on. He always complains this place is too lawless..."

And if the law's going to be in anyone's pocket, why not someone who genuinely values a measure of justice around the place?

[rosco_coltrane]

Rosco grins, pleased to have made a friend. It's been a long time, since he did that. Of course, it's been a long time, since he met anyone new, too, before coming here.

"That might work. Who's your boss?" Rosco asks, wondering if he missed something.

Whoever it is, they can't be more crooked than Boss Hogg.

[conjuredskies]

"Tribune Stratos Caelus, also from the Legion." Felix pauses before explaining, "And, ah, my elder brother. He's an upstanding sort of guy and... well, he ought to be fair with you. He's just kind of stiff-necked." Sigh. He can't complain about his brother when he's trying to make them a new ally.

[rosco_coltrane]

"Oh," Rosco says, blinking, then grins. "If it's any comfort to ya, older sisters ain't any better. Well, if you think he won't mind, I'll be glad to talk to your brother. If I'm gonna be here, I might as well be useful."

[conjuredskies]

Felix returns the grin. It kind of is a comfort to know here's a fellow who understands How It Is when it comes to family. "He should be on duty now. If you're willing to wait a few minutes I can run and fetch him."

He nods to the heavy oak door standing nearby in a stone frame. It might be unfortunate, if Rosco isn't used to magic, that said door is covered in faintly glowing lines and has a set of dull red runes carved into the lintel. Felix has long stopped taking any notice of them.

[rosco_coltrane]

"Oh," Rosco says, a bit startled by the door. "How'd you get lights in the door, like that? That's pretty. Sure, I can stick around. One thing about unemployment, it leaves plenty of time to spare."

He's not used to magic, to the point it doesn't even occur to him.

switching journals for convenience!

[auspex_caelo]

"Oh, the door? That's just a trick of mine for keeping out intruders." Felix flashes him a grin. As to how it keeps people out, well, when the Imperial pats it there's a soft whoomph and the light fades, only to reappear when he shuts it behind him.

He doesn't leave Rosco waiting too long. Soon there's that sound again and Felix comes back on the heels of a man in segmented steel armor. He's a bit darker and about ten years older and his face is that of a man not given to easy smiles, but there's enough resemblance to make out the kinship between them.

Stratos seems to be studying Rosco as he approaches, and once close enough he inclines his head politely to the man. "Mr Coltrane? I am Tribune Stratos Caelus of the Imperial Legion. I'm told you've volunteered your services to impose some order on this... area."

[rosco_coltrane]

Rosco gives a nod, standing up a bit straighter and removing his hat. He duly impressed, even with the door.

"Well, I don't know about order, but I know a bit about law enforcement and protecting people from the criminal element. Your brother here's been real nice and helpful."

[auspex_caelo]

"I'm pleased to hear that," Stratos says, carefully not looking round at the smug look Felix is giving him. "May I ask what sort of place you worked in previously? What type of criminals you're used to dealing with?"

[rosco_coltrane]

"I was sheriff, the head law officer, in a small place called Hazzard. It's mainly home to farmers and moonshiners. Er. Moonshine is corn whiskey, y'know?"

Rosco realizes he answered a question with a question ad purses his lips in a bit of consternation.

"Oh, I dealt with any crime that came along...smuggling, theft, murder, speeding...more of that last than anything else, to be honest."

[auspex_caelo]

Stratos looks a little puzzled at the mention of moonshine, but swiftly nods in understanding when Rosco explains. This seems like the familiar sort of thing... except for that last part. He blinks.

"Speeding? I'm not sure I understand. It was against the law for people to... move quickly?"

[rosco_coltrane]

"Well, not by themselves, just when they're in cars," Rosco explains. "Uh. Cars are machines that are really heavy and go fast. So if someone goes too fast and don't pay attention, accidents can happen. That gets people killed. So we have laws limiting how fast they can go on the roads."

[auspex_caelo]

Felix leans closer to his brother, murmuring, "You know, those vehicles on the roads here-"

"Yes, thank you, Felix." Stratos nods his approval. If Rosco can hold his nerve dealing with high-speed machines, the tribune's estimation of him has to go up. "That seems an extremely sensible law. And tell me, do you believe you can manage dealing with the types of people you've encountered here? You carry a weapon, I assume..."

[rosco_coltrane]

"I think I can and there's only one way to find out," Rosco claims cheerfully. "I got a gun, though not as fancy as some that might be here. Though, I mainly use it as a warning. I won't kill, unless it's absolutely necessary. I gotta ask, if I arrest someone, I expect them to get a fair trial, with an impartial jury."

Fortunately for Rosco's peace of mind, Boss almost never presides over criminal cases, since those require a jury.

[auspex_caelo]

Stratos has a genuine smile at that. "But of course. I'm certain Felix can see to the details of ensuring you have a supply of jury members, and collect recommendations for a judge."

"Me?" Felix gives him a plaintive look because that sounds like a lot of extra work on top of... on top of... well, it sounds like work. But after a minute the younger Imperial's expression starts to turn into a thoughtful frown. Maybe he's got just the idea...

Stratos is ignoring his little brother right now, so he fails to notice. He's still talking to Rosco. "The other question, of course, is what to do with them if found guilty. I suppose there must be some sort of useful dungeon around here..."

[rosco_coltrane]

Rosco frowns at the word dungeon.

"I'd prefer a proper jail," Rosco tells him. "Now, I'm from a small town, but in our part of the world, the sheriff and his deputies run the jail. I don't want some thugs running the place. I've met those types and most of them belong in jail themselves."

He muses on the idea of judges and jury.

"Well, technically, anyone in the Nexus should be able to appointed a juror. I mean, we're each others peers and all. And we got make sure the judges are honest."

[auspex_caelo]

"As you see fit." Stratos has no idea why he frowns at that word: to him it's a fairly normal word for a jail. Still, he's a soldier, not especially used to handling crimes unless needs must. "Naturally I'll need to review your selections, and I have a few suggestions on the matter, but I'll leave choosing deputies and locations up to you."

He nods at Rosco's comment on the judges, too. "People of good character, respected enough by other locals for their judgments to hold weight. As you say, jurors should be simpler to, ah, round up. They simply need to be willing, impartial.. and preferably easy to compensate for a few hours' work." He shrugs, his smile wry.

"Oh, I'm sure I can find people who fit the bill," Felix pipes up, all helpfulness again.

[rosco_coltrane]

Rosco smiles brightly.

"That sounds real good. I'm sure I'll find something good in the places you know. Uh. How do I go about finding deputies? I don't know many people. Is there a way to advertise?"

Rosco nods thoughtfully along, as Stratos speaks. He considers the issue of jurors and sighs.

"Impartial is always a problem. Where I'm from, people only serve on juries every once in a while. And the lawyers question them first, to make sure they ain't biased."

[auspex_caelo]

Stratos steps over to the desk and finds a paper tucked under the leather-bound book on top. It's slim and a little bit tattered already, but the print is crisp and fresh as he hands it to Rosco. The headline today is Pictsies Stole My Husband! (although there are a number of neat hand-inked annotations expressing doubts on this subject).

"This news pamphlet typically carries advertisements," he suggests. "Otherwise I fear most posts here are filled through word of mouth, or littering the area with posters. It would be wise to learn which candidates the locals trust and respect most, especially until you've had time to build that for yourself."

Felix... appears to be taking notes on a scrap of parchment, with a slim stick of charcoal. "Oh, impartial will be... quite achievable, I'm sure. We'll rotate them, as you say. Just let me know when you need them."

[rosco_coltrane]

Rosco looks at the paper, his mouthing opening for a moment, before quickly shutting. Well, it is the Nexus, after all. Maybe the Picties really are being naughty.

"Oh. Okay. I'll give this a shot. I don't mind asking around, either, but I don't want to turn my search into a popularity contest," Rosco cautions. "Sometimes, people are respected for the wrong reasons, y'know?"

He looks at Felix in some confusion.

"Uh. I'll do that, but how do you know they'll be impartial?"

[auspex_caelo]

Stratos gives him a smile, restrained though it is. "Of course. I'm reassured to know you'll be taking such things into account."

He does frown a bit when he hears Felix answer cheerfully from beside him, "Oh, your lawyers can question them of course. But the simplest thing to do is find people who aren't terribly invested in what goes on around here. Uninvolved parties. You know."

[rosco_coltrane]

"Well, of course. I've been doing this a long time. I know what happens, when popular fellas are respected more than actual law."

He just doesn't mention that the Dukes are popular, because they're kind and helpful. Rosco used to be those things and it never seemed to earn him any points with people. He listens to Felix's explanation and nods.

"That makes sense to me. But, if they live here, are they really uninvolved?"

[conjuredskies]

"I can try to find people who don't actually live here all the time," Felix assures him.

Now that Stratos is satisfied, he's free to give the younger Imperial a brief frown. "And aren't beholden to anyone else."

"Oh, absolutely." Felix nods emphatically. "Is that everything?"

[rosco_coltrane]

"Yea...uh, NO!" Rosco says, a bit mortified. "I mean, we can't just go arresting people higgledy piggledy. We gotta establish what the actual laws are. It'd probably only be fair to tell people ahead of time what's expected, too."

[auspex_caelo]

"Quite," Stratos agrees. "I think it better not to hold too closely to the customs of a single realm - perhaps we should focus first on the clearest offenses. Here in the plaza people are typically safe from violence, but we can attempt to prevent assaults in nearby areas. No thieving or vandalism - and no more abductions. Which includes forcing people through portals unwillingly, of course. Once outside the Nexus, we're all vulnerable to attack."