Town Meeting

[john-adams-1776.livejournal.com]

John awoke at his usual early hour on the morning of the town meeting. He dressed with slightly more than usual care in his suit of clothes from home, broke his fast with a light meal, and headed to the Golden Horseshoe to ensure that things were the way he wanted.

The chairs and small tables were already perfectly arranged, but John dragged a podium he found backstage out to the front of the curtain. Then he bustled about in the kitchen area setting out drinks and whatever small snacks he could find back there.

Before long, interested citizens began filing in and he went up to the podium. There was no microphone because he'd never heard of such a thing, but John Adams never had difficulty making himself heard.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome. If you would please pick up any refreshments you'd care for and take your seats, we'll begin in just a few minutes."

Comments

[kzadbhat.livejournal.com]

"Of course that's the case," replied Carrot simply. "I didn't mean to imply that your compromise was at fault for the Detective's reaction-- it seems fair and reasonable to me, too, and I'm sure it will to Detective Orcott as soon as he has a chance to think about it. I was simply trying to explain that to us, the negative reaction has been surprising."

[john-adams-1776.livejournal.com]

"Thank you, Captain. I hope you're right," sighed John as the meeting began to break up. "And I'm sorry the public reaction wasn't more positive, though I understand their position as well. Should you wish to discuss it with me further, please do not hesitate to send a letter or find me in my office. Good day, sir." He bowed respectfully and moved off to see if he could catch Susan before she had to return to the children.

[sensiblesusan.livejournal.com]

Susan met John with raised eyebrows and a sort of exhausted sigh. "Well. That was interesting."

[john-adams-1776.livejournal.com]

He gave her a wry smile in return. "Far more civil than I'd expected, actually." It hadn't devolved into a cane fight (http://youtube.com/watch?v=9UVxtQbxoww), and no shotguns were involved.

[sensiblesusan.livejournal.com]

"Hm. True. Apart from Orcot storming out and a few unfortunate things being said ... I think it was productive, anyway. At least I hope so." She gave him an amused look. "How does it compare to your Congress back home?"

[john-adams-1776.livejournal.com]

John snorted. "Apart from the fact that I'm usually the one saying the loud, unfortunate things, not far different. I'd always wondered what it was like to be President of the Congress, but now I wish I could leave this moderation business to Hancock. He's much better at it than I."

[sensiblesusan.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I thought you managed it well. Especially that exchange with Captain Ironfoundersson there. If he can communicate what you said to him to Leon, so much the better."

[john-adams-1776.livejournal.com]

"I do feel for Detective Orcot, but trampling the rights of others cannot be the best way to accomplish his goals."

He shook his head. "I suppose only time will tell if this was the correct action to take."

[sensiblesusan.livejournal.com]

"It's better that it was discussed at all," Susan said. "Otherwise who knows; it might've all blown up in our faces somehow." She sighed. "I've got to make sure the children get their dinner. But I'll see you soon, then?"

[john-adams-1776.livejournal.com]

"Please," he murmured, taking her hand discretely and squeezing it lightly.

[hawaii-kid.livejournal.com]

Once Captain Carrot (and he was not going to snicker at the name, he wasn't) was a little ways away from John Adams, he found Superboy standing about a foot from him, head cocked. "Hey. Can we talk a sec?"

[kzadbhat.livejournal.com]

Carrot turned to the young man when he was spoken to-- one of the 'superheroes.' Ankh-Morpork didn't have anything similar, with the exception of the famous 'heroes' of the disk whose dealings with the law almost always seemed to involve drunken tavern brawls. Still, the heroes here seemed like good people, if young.

"Of course," he said pleasantly.

[hawaii-kid.livejournal.com]

Kon grinned back at him for a sec, then looked the way of the doors. "Not to bad-mouth your friend there, or anything, but that is exactly what I want to not see in a cop. But I really like what you and Mr. Adams up there were saying about you guys investigating how to get out of here and why people disappear." He was scared to death of Rose or Tim disappearing, now.

"Also, if there's trouble... which there could be easy, and I don't show up quick, just yell. There's not enough room in this park for me not to hear you. I answer to 'Superboy' and 'Kon' fastest, though 'help' always works."

He shrugged again. "Just wanted to get that out there."

[kzadbhat.livejournal.com]

Carrot wasn't anything if he wasn't loyal, and he liked Leon, but he could definitely see what Kon was talking about. Leon's impulsiveness and temper could cause trouble. "I intend to speak to him," Carrot said simply. "But I also know that Detective Orcot is ordinarily far more professional."

He nodded and smiled. "Thank you. We don't have-- metas, you called them? Where I'm from, there are just humans, trolls, dwarfs, and undead. So I have limited experience in that area, but I'm grateful."

[hawaii-kid.livejournal.com]

"Alright. Well, I get kinda hot under the collar when people try and keep me from doing my job, so I guess I understand it a little," Kon had to admit.

"Trolls and dwarfs and undead? Man, that's got to be wild. What about like, magic users?" He really thought that sounded kind of cool.

"Sure. Anytime."

[kzadbhat.livejournal.com]

"It's certainly interesting," Carrot said cheerfully. "Before I came to Ankh-Morpork, I had barely even met any humans, so it took some getting used to. And yes, we had witches in Lancre where I was born and there's a university of wizards in Ankh-Morpork. But it's somewhat rarer for the Watch to have to get involved with them."