Capital City, Osiris: Town Hall

[gabriel_tam]

The timing of the press conference and his announcement had been carefully planned.

Later that day, waving to the cameras and media captures filming for the evening's newsfeeds, Gabriel and Regan Tam had left Londinium on the first stage of their trip, prior to beginning the outward-arcing tour towards the Border and Rim. The first stop, of course, is Osiris -- the planet that Gabriel Tam represents in Parliament, and the location of the Tam family estate.

Home, in other words.

Still, even a brief vacation at home has its obligations and opportunities, and Gabriel is Osiris's member Senator on the Council of Seven, after all. The first town hall open meeting had been scheduled to take place in Capital City, the evening after their arrival.

He'd seen to it that his security personnel had been informed prior to the announcement as a courtesy. It should have given them plenty of time to arrange matters, and in fact it had.

However, that was before anyone had realized that the Senator would see fit to make a point of declaring his clear confidence regarding his personal safety and security. As a consequence, unbeknownst to Gabriel, hidden cameras trained on all entrances and exits from the venue have been hastily activated in order to keep track of all attendees, each of whom is undergoing an automated ident-scan.

One can't be too careful, after all.

Comments

[gabriel_tam]

"They do say that politics is one of the forbidden subjects if one wants to ensure an amiable conversation," he observes, with dry humor evident.

[dr_j]

Jordie, in contrast, is serious.

"Which tells me that you really have no idea."

[gabriel_tam]

Gabriel studies his expression, and all signs of humor fade.

"All right." A pause. "Say that I don't. Would you care to explain?"

[dr_j]

Jordie opens his mouth, and closes it.

"I'm going out on a limb," he says, after a long moment, "and trusting that you're asking because you really want to know. Here's the thing -- sometimes people don't like to explain these things to people like you. Because it shouldn't have to be our job to educate you. I don't expect you to understand this because you haven't been there, and you won't be there. You know how people like me and my family are regarded in the rest of the 'verse. And in my community, we can't and don't separate our politics from our faith. Regardless of how often or how well I practice -- "

He shakes his head. "The politics are the important part. Well. Imagine this. You're fifteen years old, you've lost a lot of sleep and your handful of friends, but you've managed to land that coveted full scholarship to Regent's that's dependent on both financial need and relative level of brilliance. In the name of diversity."

(He's talking with his hands.)

"So you go off to Regent's and it's filled with kids who have the stuff you've only seen in feeds. Shiny new datapads, skimmers on campus, multiple winter coats for different social occasions. You stick out. Before you were too good; now you're not good enough. So you clam up and you shut up and you try not to get noticed while you get your feet under you and you go home as often as you think is dignified and you don't, you never, tell your aunt that you're lonely. Instead you tell her that you are rutting well going to work hard enough to take care of her after everything she's done for you and you will never, ever complain to her."

"So when the kid you have to share a bathroom with, who's only objectionable because he folds his towel before he puts it on the bar, wet, and you have no idea how it doesn't rot from mildew -- but that's beside the point. When he takes an interest in you? And you're pretty sure, but not positive, it's not because he wants a charity project?"

"You try not to tell him too often that the lifestyles that he and his parents and all his little friends lead are only possible because of a system that takes advantage of people like you and your aunt and everyone in your community. And all over the 'verse. Because he might look at you as a charity project, but he's better than nothing. Even if that makes you hate yourself a little, because you're supposed to be above needing somebody to talk to at dinner."

He folds his arms again. "You know how many times my aunt had to tell me to sit down and keep my mouth shut until I had the diploma and the connections to do something instead of complaining and doing nothing?"

[gabriel_tam]

The skills learned in a life of business negotiations have carried over into his political career. Gabriel listens quietly, with attentiveness, and doesn't interrupt.

Nor does he allow any of his inward thoughts to show, even when certain remarks strike sharp chords within him.

(people like you)

(faith)

(do something)

Jordan doesn't expect him to understand, but that's all right. For that matter, Gabriel is pretty well certain that there are many things about himself and his way of thinking that Jordan doesn't understand. Both of them may have different perspectives on the system in which they life, but that's only as it should be.

After all, a man is the sum of his experience, and no two people's experiences are the same. What makes it all work, in the end, is finding the common ground upon which to stand.

"No, I don't," he says, in response to the younger man's question. "But from the way you mention it, I'm presuming it must have been quite a few."

[dr_j]

"And always with a side order of don't forget that this is what you knowingly let yourself in for." A very small, very tight smile. "But it worked in the end. If you squint."

[gabriel_tam]

He raises his eyebrows.

"If you squint?"

[dr_j]

"There's a free clinic in Fremont that gets an orthopedist from the neighborhood once a week. It's not nothing."

He's speaking a little flatly.

[gabriel_tam]

"No, it's not," Gabriel agrees. "But I'm getting the impression you want it to be more."

[dr_j]

"The point is -- "

Because that's not why he's here. He's not here to lobby, or educate, or -- whatever.

And if he feels a little overexposed... that's ridiculous.

" -- he doesn't know, and he's not going to find out from me."

[gabriel_tam]

"All right," he says again. "I'm certainly willing to respect your wishes, Dr. Jordan. I won't mention it."

[dr_j]

The longer this conversation goes on, the younger he feels. He doesn't like thinking of himself that way -- he's paid his dues when it comes to being gangly, awkward, and abrasive enough to totally fail to cover up the first two.

He shifts from foot to foot. "Don't go to any trouble on my account." Dry.

[gabriel_tam]

"It's no trouble," Gabriel assures him. "Not that I wouldn't still be willing."

[dr_j]

Jordie stares at him.

And shakes his head a little. "What do you think you have to gain by being accomodating?"

[gabriel_tam]

He raises his eyebrows.

"What makes you think I'm doing this for reasons of personal gain?"

[dr_j]

"Because everything is politics. Senator."

[gabriel_tam]

"Everything that's business is politics," he counters. "Not everything's business. Not even these days."

[dr_j]

"Then if this isn't business, what is it?" Jordie demands. "Because you're my elected representative. This was a formal event. You're at work. This is your business. And I want to know what you think you have to gain."

[gabriel_tam]

He's too well-experienced by now to let his sigh be either audible or visible to an observer.

"I have nothing to gain by refraining from mentioning your presence here tonight, Dr. Jordan. I doubt that I have anything lose by it, either. Therefore, there's no reason that I shouldn't accede to your request, is there?"

[dr_j]

"I don't think I actually made a request." He tilts his head. "Did I."

[gabriel_tam]

"Implied, perhaps."

A pause.

"Was I wrong?"

[dr_j]

"Only in the respect that it's information I chose to share." A loose shrug. "Not like anything bad happens if it comes up."

[gabriel_tam]

"Or if it doesn't," he observes, pleasantly.

[dr_j]

"Right." With equal pleasantness. "I think I just want to make sure there's nothing remotely like nepotism going on. Concerning why you're being accomodating."

[gabriel_tam]

Gabriel's expression remains neutral, but there's no missing how his slight professional smile thins.

"No, Dr. Jordan, I can assure you that's not the case."