Press Conference (Live+Video+TV)

[whiteas]

[ Did Weiss call a press conference in Nova City? Absolutely. She's made a big enough splash and she's got enough money to afford to make all of the arrangements herself. She's dressed in a combat skirt as usual, with a white bolero over her shoulders and white boots with red soles on her feet. When she steps up to the podium, she waits only a couple of seconds as the crowd silences. Most of them don't know what she's called a press conference for. ]

Greetings, residents of Nova City, Genessia, Everglade, Attleton, and Fayren. As you may know, Schnee Company has helped to foster an environment in both Genessia and Nova City that helps its citizens feel more knowledgeable about the world. We also take pride in being certain that all citizens know that even if the city goes dark and the situation seems hopeless, we'll do everything we can to support the City Guardians in their efforts to restore peace to their homes. In Nova City alone, we've provided relief efforts during the power crisis in April and provided escorted safe passage out of Genessia and Everglade during the barrier fails to our crisis center here in Nova City.

This is why I come to you today with two messages: One, I will be extending Schnee Company's efforts to a third branch within Fayren's walls in the new year.

[ Behind her, large holographic maps appear showing the area where the new branch of Schnee Company is being constructed, doing so around the nature in the area so that it doesn't disrupt the natural environment within Fayren using architecture techniques that build around the trees instead of cutting them down. ]

This new branch will encourage learning about the culture of the area and obtaining appropriate skills that people more technologically advanced worlds may not be familiar with such as horseback riding, agriculture, magic, and much more in addition to our usual services. Having a new branch there will allow our staff to also help that area in case of emergency and, with the Guardians' blessing, to help assist in times of crisis.

[ With a wave of her hand, the hologram swipes to the side, standing by on the Schnee family crest. ]

The second message is why I called this press conference in Nova City instead of Fayren. With all the work that my company has accomplished with me at its head, it's clear that I have the leadership qualities and ability to effectively face danger. Satsuki Kiryuin has done a good job in office and I applaud her efforts, but I believe that without the input of new ideas and innovations, any city will easily come to a standstill- even when it comes to protection. Nova City is a dynamic, ever-changing and ever-growing city much like my homeland of Atlas in Remnant.

In Atlas, I am the heiress of the most successful company in our world and we work together with the Atlesian army to create new technologies and applications for the protection of our people. Recently, I've opened up an archway to part of my world in an effort to assist Genessian City Guardian David Haller's efforts to reduce casualties in case of another barrier breach by providing on-call lockers-

[ Another gesture and the hologram swipes and shows lockers that are locked in the archway she opened. ]

-that will deliver weapons he's had designed that can harness the power of those negative spirits in order to more effectively fight enemies of that caliber. I'm also an active community member who's worked in all archways to help bring people together for good causes, like the founding of the Genessian Scientific Research Foundation or assisting with humanitarian causes like homeless pet adoption.

I've worked to keep both myself and my company serving the growing and changing needs of the people. I'd love to have the chance to help Nova City do the same.

My name is Weiss Schnee and I am running for City Guardian of Nova City.

[ The hologram fades to black, then as Weiss says her final line in her speech, the text says "WEISS SCHNEE FOR NOVA CITY GUARDIAN." After that, she seems to relax just barely enough to show more of herself than focusing on professionalism. ]

I'm willing to take questions provided they're relating to these announcements.

{ OOC: tl;dr: new schnee co. branch coming to fayren, weiss is running for nova city guardian. Weiss will answer questions either live or on her comm after the conference since she had the video posted to it. }

Comments

( video )

[askypirate]

[Balthier may not look it or act it, but before he was a renegade sky pirate, he was a patriot, and actually proud of Archades before corruption started to fester the once-great empire. He knows his way around politics, and he calls Nova City home, which strengthens his interest in this press conference.

He does have a question, as well.]

What sort of services are you hoping to bring to Nova City?

( video )

[whiteas]

For starters, I'll be increasing funds for research at the GSRF on the barriers to help reinforce our protections against outside influences like those harmful spirits that invaded Genessia and Everglade. Learning more about the barriers will help fulfill the purpose of the GSRF while still possibly allowing us improved understanding of how to protect ourselves against outside forces.

Within the borders, I'd like to create a more functional justice system that rewards and utilizes the skills of its citizens to uphold laws and promote lower major crime rates. We have far too many skilled people in this world who are underutilized when it comes to their abilities to protect this place. A City Guardian should be a leader of those people for the prevention and effective response to crime, not just a small office that comes to fight bad people off after the city's already at the panic-and-looting stage of disorder. As it stands, the majority of rewards go to bounty hunters instead of through police departments, which leave a number of crimes under-investigated and many of those crimes claimed and posted without substantiated evidence.

Nova City needs someone who has proven their talents at organization, leadership, and innovation with a strong sense of morals and an adaptive understanding of the City and the world beyond it, so I will also be attempting to work with the City Guardians of other cities to help improve the protection of the people of this world more holistically by attempting to form a counsel. This counsel will allow City Guardians to bring their individual justice systems together in order to improve cooperation and relationships between the cities so that if in trouble, there is a heightened coordination and quicker responses without leaving other archways vulnerable in a crisis.

The last project I have in mind is that I would like to develop an actual system in which we can keep criminals. The current system essentially relies on the "defeat the bad guy with violence" system, but shows little to no punishment for crimes and no ways to hold criminals responsible for their activities beyond a temporary death. I have yet to see the majority of individuals who've caused major crimes see any actual justice before they were simply disappeared from this world. I have every intention of making sure that changes.

I believe that should answer your question, sir.

[ Weiss is well aware she tends to go on and on.. her friends have made fun of her thoroughness before, but she wants to make sure that there's no question about the benefits of electing her. ]

( video )

[askypirate]

Harmful spirits from beyond the barriers, you say? [Balthier must admit, he's yet to hear of this story. Color him intrigued, but it's a like of questioning for another time, perhaps.]

Bounty hunters do, indeed, tend toward shooting first and questioning later, that much is true. However, laws need to exist before an enforcement branch can rightfully enforce them, wouldn't you say? Otherwise, you're simply enforcing a troop of bounty hunters in badges with a salary. It's hardly an improvement. Government sanctioned injustice is no better than bounties posted to a board.

( video )

[whiteas]

Laws do exist already and I think everyone would do well to familiarize themselves with them. Complete files are available for download from City Hall's website. Most of them are common sense to decent people unless you get into a more complex situation.

[ She pauses for a moment. Being a snide know-it-all at blaming people for not reading up on it themselves is a bad idea. ]

However, if elected I would be glad to compose a more concise list of the most commonly instated laws for the those who don't have the time or inclination to read significant amounts of verbose text to decrypt the intricacies of each and every law.

( video )

[askypirate]

Oh good. They're very useful with no force to dot he enforcing. I wonder why they exist in the first place. [He waves a hand as though that topic has been discussed enough.]

That may be wise. Personally, I've spend the first month here sorting out where exactly here is. I didn't have time for a jaunt to City Hall. I can assure you it was scheduled next week.

( video )

[whiteas]

[ Well, there were the robots but if they learned anything about Nova City's crisis in April it was that they couldn't exactly be depended on in all situations. ]

If you do need help getting oriented, it may seem self-serving but I would recommend you check into one of the Schnee Company Welcoming Centers. My people will do their best to answer any questions you may have that we've managed to gather information on.

( video )

[askypirate]

That's very kind of you, but I seem to be making my way alright.

[But there's a more important matter, really.]

But why do you deserve my vote?

Video: Private

[skilledwithwords]

Hello Weiss. [Levy smiles on the screen] That all sounds amazing and I'm afraid I have a question that is a little unrelated.

[They hadn't talked much but Levy knows Weiss decently well thanks to Sun as well Pascal and that cute little hologram at the bay.]

Pascal was working on something before she disappeared, I remembered because I was helping her. I don't know enough to look into her work on my own. [She also can't reach it in the Schnee building.] but I was hoping to find others who can. It's related to the barriers and I didn't want it to go on forgotten. I didn't know if you had others working on it and I didn't want to be presumptuous.

[After all she has almost no free time.]

Also good luck. I think you'd make a wonderful city Guardian.

Video: Private

[whiteas]

[ Weiss gets back to this as soon as she can, though she's been dealing with more Guardian-related questions first. ]

I have her files still and I've been trying to find more people to work on it. Scientific minds aren't the most common type of people dropped here. Believe me, I have zero intention of letting it get forgotten. Particularly given the... nature of some of her findings. The one scientist who's working on things is a medical doctor though, so her focus has been on attempting to find information about what happened before we woke up from what I can tell- but she has a different type of mind than Pascal did.

[ Weiss honestly missed Pascal and not because she was good at science. She thought of her as a friend. ]

If you have any talents with scientific information, I'd be happy to give you access to her records.

Video: Private

[skilledwithwords]

[She's perfectly alright with Weiss taking her time to get back to her. She's sure that the girl is busy and Levy knows that this might not be on the for front of her thoughts.]

I don't know how much time I have but I'd love to take another look. I've learned a little bit more that might bring new insight.

[She pauses.]

There are also others I thought to send your way. Since we only spoke a few times I couldn't tell them to just give you my name but I've met a few that might be interested in that sort of research.

[Levy misses Pascal too. They were friends and she loved Pascal's tendencies.]

Video: Private

[whiteas]

What new information do you have?

[ Weiss has every intention of continuing to look into this, even using Guardianship as a potential tool to gain more information. ]

I'd be glad to have them if you think they're worthwhile.

Video: Private

[skilledwithwords]

[Levy nods and then the screen shakes as she moves.]

I found out something of the origin of Genessia but it doesn't make much sense to me. I've placed a book in my book shop for people to write what they know about this place, like maybe more input or account might help but it really hasn't.

[She pauses and flips through a journal.]

It's... right... here! Okay, Genessia is a city was created as a way to save sentient life, human and beyond, and foster souls that truly capture what it means to be alive. Though it is not the only city of its type, it is by far the most successful. By being here and continuing to develop, you're helping to save and repopulate the world.

Since Pascal said that the shield was alive I thought that maybe it was feeding off of our energy somehow to do this. [She has no idea.]

Video: Private

[whiteas]

That.. sounds like they're expecting us to all start having children.

[ Weiss raises her eyebrow. She's sure she has to be misinterpreting that somehow. ]

Pascal said it was alive, but if I remember correctly, it was that she found a number of microscopic particles similar to living creatures. Those spirits outside, as far as I can tell, are kept out by the shield so I doubt it's feeding off of us just to keep something else from feeding off of us. Otherwise, why bring us here at all?

[beautifulmidboss]

Hmhm, so you're planning on running for Guardian, then?

[Weiss' influence was certainly spreading, so he knew was only a matter of time before she made a grab for Guardianship like this.]

[whiteas]

I am running for Guardian, yes. I hope I can count on your support, Guardian Vyers.

[beautifulmidboss]

Mais bien sûr! It should be quite the interesting election, this time around.

At this rate, you will have gathered influence in all five cities. I don't believe I've seen another attempt such a feat since I arrived here.

[whiteas]

Well, I could stand to improve relations with Attleton in the future.

[ While she's got the City Guardian here anyway. Everglade is another matter, of course. ]

I think we should all be glad that I'm the one actually succeeding and not another lunatic seeking world domination or mass murder. [ There are far too many of those in Genessia's cities for Weiss's tastes. ]

[beautifulmidboss]

I believe it is of upmost importance for all the Guardians to get along, yes. Either way, I am open to negotiations if you wish to collaborate with moi.

[He didn't just plan to let anyone and everyone run around and do what he wants in his city. After all, in the end, he didn't want anyone overshadowing his influence.]

That is true. The last thing we need is someone like Lucifer ruling the cities with an iron fist...but what exactly do you hope to achieve here, ultimately?

[whiteas]

Regardless of whether we both win, I'd still like to improve relations with Attleton. I trust you enjoyed the Harvest Pet Adoption Festival?

[ She nods in agreement. She.. definitely remembers Lucifer. She's almost envious of the people who haven't been here long enough to know him. ]

There's plenty I hope to achieve. When it comes to Nova City, I think it's in need of a justice system and a leader who will work to prevent crime and still be able to focus on other aspects of this world, rather than someone who simply reacts when it happens. I'd also like to be able to change Nova City to have a more effective system than fighting criminals and hoping they don't come back after they've been dealt with the first time.

[Video]

[goddessinthefog]

Good luck, boss.

So, what do you think you'll be able to do as a Guardian that you aren't doing already?

[Video]

[whiteas]

Being a Guardian could potentially give me access to more information and opportunity in regards to learning about this place, but it can also give me the opportunity to make a real difference in protecting this world. Schnee Company is a great way to gather information and help settle in newcomers as well as help with rescue efforts, but I do want to be able to make a more significant difference in this world. I want to be able to protect the people here, and I can't do that just from my current office. I'll have access to more resources and be able to actually create a system that holds criminals responsible in a way beyond simply beating them until they're dead as seems to be the case in most of Genessia's cities.

[ Not to mention the fact that it would bring a lot of respect to her name if she did well. Schnee would become synonymous here with something positive, rather than a name that leaves unease or loathing to anyone who isn't human. She didn't have her father's stigma to clear here, but she wouldn't stop until she achieved her goals nonetheless. Schnee could be a name that people thought of for welcoming, information, and protection. And that was worth doing it for on top of her many other reasons. ]

[Video]

[goddessinthefog]

I've got to say, beating the bad guys until they're dead and revived seems a waste of time to me.

But how do you decide who's a criminal and who's not? How do you decide what punishment they might deserve?

Re: [Video]

[whiteas]

There are laws already, so a criminal would be someone who breaks them. As for the punishment, I think it would have to be a level of punishment that fits the crime. At the very least keeping criminals off of the streets until they're either rehabilitated or made functionally non-dangerous would be a priority, though for any crime I would want to have a system that actually requires evidence to prove that the suspect being punished is actually the person who committed the crime beyond reasonable doubt.

Re: [Video]

[goddessinthefog]

I wonder how easy that evidence will be to find... When you're not dealing with people who have enough of an ego to announce it to everyone, any criminal with the slightest sense will try to cover their tracks, don't you think?

The truth is so easily shrouded in fog.

[Video]

[whiteas]

If Nova City is anywhere close to as advanced as it proclaims to be, crime scene investigation and forensics labs shouldn't be out of the question. Most criminals aren't as intelligent as they'd like to believe they are.