Washington 2017: The U.S. Political RP: IC [CLOSED]

[Prolieum]

Rossi Apartment, Washington D.C.

Rossi slowly closed her hand around the charm and gave a genuine, unsuppressed smile.

"That really, really means so much to hear, Amelia. Thank you. I never knew, I guess, well, I never knew...I never expected to get support like that. Thank you."

[Velahor]

Rossi Apartment, Washington D.C.

"Parchment is more expensive than paper?" Rossi 'guessed' with a smile.

Stephens cracked a smile, “that is some quite valuable parchment isn’t it? Ms. Rossi, if I took a pocket constitution, shredded it, and flushed it down the toilet, videotaped the whole thing, and posted it on Twitter, the reaction would be negative. So it’s not what the paper is made out of.”

“If I had written the Constitution on this paper before I tore it up, it would have been more offensive, at least symbolically offensive.”

Stephens collected himself and turned to Rossi, this time making much more deliberate eye contact.

“The value of anything is not attained through existence alone, it comes from something way deeper. Purpose. This document in front of us wouldn’t mean sh*t without a purpose, excuse my French.”

“The Constitution isn’t simply a document, you can find hundreds of documents in any politician’s office, and not one of them would be as valuable as this one. The reason is purpose.”

A herd of schoolchildren on a field trip came toward the documents, so Stephens led Rossi toward the bench they met at. As they walked, Stephens asked.

“Ms...ehm...Dr. Rossi, what is the purpose of the Constitution?”

[Vaquas]

Rossi Apartment, Washington D.C.

Yang simply smiled in return, and briefly held up the small journal she had brought with her.

"This journal is for you as well. For when you're on the court, or before, for private use. I would encourage you to write in it often, it can help to relieve stress and sort through the haze when the going gets tough. Inside you'll also find the number for somebody I know here in Washington who specializes in helping people through some of the challenges you face, if you should choose to use it, which may be helpful given your upcoming appearances. You can meet with her in my office, for the sake of avoiding the press, or hers, she is very flexible and I trust her implicitly. Alternatively, you can erase the number, it is entirely up to you." she explained.

[Prolieum]

National Archive, Washington D.C.

"Drilling down to it....how do I word this...to carve, sort of. You have, anyone can quote the preamble, but, its not, as a founding document...."imposing order on chaos", like some would say. It's...carving, because there is already something there. There is an understanding of nature as not anarchic in itself, but with, if not a structure...a character, of man, of rights, of ingredients of society. The Constitution doesn't impose an order....it is made to, as purpose, shape what already is present into a structure." Rossi looked like she wanted to add something else, but let it lie there.

[Prolieum]

Rossi Apartment, Washington D.C.

Rossi nodded. "I have, a, uhm, an....assigned therapist to see. From the Chief of Staff, to visit during the hearings." She sighed. "I don't think it's going to do much good....but I don't think I should fight that." She paused for a few moments. "But I'll take the contact information. Maybe it would help sometime after." She winced. "For better or for worse."

[Velahor]

National Archive, Washington D.C.

"Drilling down to it....how do I word this...to carve, sort of. You have, anyone can quote the preamble, but, its not, as a founding document...."imposing order on chaos", like some would say. It's...carving, because there is already something there. There is an understanding of nature as not anarchic in itself, but with, if not a structure...a character, of man, of rights, of ingredients of society. The Constitution doesn't impose an order....it is made to, as purpose, shape what already is present into a structure." Rossi looked like she wanted to add something else, but let it lie there.

“Anna...” said Stephens, reaching into his bag.

He handed her a ten-page stack of paper, stapled together, with red pen all over the typed text and a big “100” at the top.

“Your ideas are right, now, be as succinct as you were here. I only have given three students a perfect grade on an assignment in my lifetime. One went on to work at Cravath for 25 years. One is a district court judge. And one is sitting on this bench the night before her Supreme Court hearing.”

“The woman who wrote this paper is confident in her ideas, knows the law thoroughly, and delivers her message in a way that shows authority over the subject matter without the pretentious tone that most with your training would have.”

“But in the end, the paper is just made up of words. Words aren’t any different on paper than they are when spoken. The paper itself is of no intrinsic value, like I was getting at, it’s the purpose of the paper, to carry words of such importance that matters.”

“Your newly found purpose, to interpret the law in the interest of our innate human rights, is what matters. Whether those words are spoken or on paper, it’s not the medium that matters, it’s the purpose.”

“What I’m saying is, do not focus on the medium. Whether your words are written or spoken does not effect the value of the words, or the value of yourself as a person. You should be as confident as your words are in this essay, after all, you got this far. Like the Constitution, in a way, your value doesn’t come from the medium you present your words on, but the purpose of the words themselves. Do you understand what I am saying?”

[Vaquas]

Rossi Apartment

"Ah, I understand. And of course feel free to contact me as well if you need anything." Yang added.

"On another note, I wanted to let you know before Emmitt and I go public with the news that him and I are expecting." Amelia said.

[Prolieum]

National Archive, Washington D.C.

Rossi smiled slightly, nostalgia and memory behind the expression as she accepted the sheets. "I never knew that. I mean, I knew how much half the class hated you when they saw their perfect scores look like they might go down, but I never knew it was that tight."

She hefted the weight of the sheets experimentally.

"I do think I understand what you're saying Professor. I follow where you're going, but I'm not sure I would do it in the same car," she commented, surprisingly offering a slight challenge.

"The purpose of what I put out has to wedded to the purpose of what they put out. I understand the notion of acting in the interest of innate rights...but the understanding can't be independently derived or we fall into, well, what we've had. An interest implies, or, presupposes, a bias...by necessity in splitting one causes. Purpose cannot jointly be interpretation and advancement, even if the latter is nobly sought."

"Words, mine, can have power if expressed in seeking an interest...but in value in the sense of responsibility...that cannot be the motivation."

[Prolieum]

Rossi Apartment, Washington D.C.

Rossi blinked in surprise, the sudden shift in topic emphasizing it. "Wow, well, congratulations!" She was not too certain of the context behind the announcement, but the general assumption of it being a joyous one was assumed by her.

[Velahor]

National Archive, Washington D.C.

Rossi smiled slightly, nostalgia and memory behind the expression as she accepted the sheets. "I never knew that. I mean, I knew how much half the class hated you when they saw their perfect scores look like they might go down, but I never knew it was that tight."

She hefted the weight of the sheets experimentally.

"I do think I understand what you're saying Professor. I follow where you're going, but I'm not sure I would do it in the same car," she commented, surprisingly offering a slight challenge.

"The purpose of what I put out has to wedded to the purpose of what they put out. I understand the notion of acting in the interest of innate rights...but the understanding can't be independently derived or we fall into, well, what we've had. An interest implies, or, presupposes, a bias...by necessity in splitting one causes. Purpose cannot jointly be interpretation and advancement, even if the latter is nobly sought."

"Words, mine, can have power if expressed in seeking an interest...but in value in the sense of responsibility...that cannot be the motivation."

Stephens smiles, feeling rather successful in his attempt to get her moving down the right track.

“You’re absolutely right though, that’s what makes you such a valuable talent in the legal field. Your purpose as a justice must be wedded to the purpose of the Framers in writing the Constitution, that’s a key part of what I understand to be your judicial philosophy, and a point that I agree on, at least in most applications of the law.”

“Your words themselves hold power to protect, and to defend. I saw some of the clips of the Winston trial, and of you in the House. When your back is against the wall, when there’s something to fight for, I see glimpses of the confident legal scholar who wrote this paper. Not the person who gets flustered when those funny-lookin’ Johnson boys attack you. But a person with purpose. That person...” he gestures to the paper, “this person, is the person who you will be tomorrow. Understood?”

[Prolieum]

National Archive, Washington D.C.

The mention of her having been flustered was enough to mildly fluster Rossi again, and she sought to re-compose herself before replying in a somewhat self-deprecating tone, with a touch of humour added, but some real melancholy discernable as well.

"The right purpose doesn't always get you the right execution."

[Sanabel]

Reginaldo Alphonsey's House, Fairfax County, Virginia

"Im alright, Ella. I'm very upset about Rossi's nomination, though."

Reginaldo took a sip of the Merlot he was nursing, and flipped the television to "mute."

[Tumblrena]

Washington, D.C.
Enchanted Apartment
2105
Monday
3 April
2017

"What's making you upset?" Ella asks. She hops up on the bed to sit.

[Sanabel]

Reginaldo Alphonsey's House, Fairfax County, Virginia

"Rossi was superb at prosecuting Winston, and I respect her for that, as I am sure you do as well."

Alphonsey grimaced. He couldn't believe he had to convince a member of the Progressive Caucus to not vote for someone as reprehensible as Rossi.

"But Rossi has some positions that are simply bad. For example, I'm certain she is in favor of Citizens United, which hurts our democracy. She is in favor of guns in the hands of even the most at-risk people."

[Velahor]

National Archive, Washington D.C.

The mention of her having been flustered was enough to mildly fluster Rossi again, and she sought to re-compose herself before replying in a somewhat self-deprecating tone, with a touch of humour added, but some real melancholy discernable as well.

"The right purpose doesn't always get you the right execution."

“Not always, you’re right,” conceded Stephens. “That’s why you must will yourself to power through. But here’s the catch, I know that the woman who wrote this paper is the same one who will be in the hearing tomorrow. Approach the hearing the same way you approached this paper, and you’ll do well.”

[Prolieum]

National Archives, Washington D.C.

Rossi smiled slightly. "Alone in the far corner of the library? I think I probably would do well in that environment. However, something makes me think that the Senators will not be so accommodating."

[Velahor]

National Archives, Washington D.C.

Rossi smiled slightly. "Alone in the far corner of the library? I think I probably would do well in that environment. However, something makes me think that the Senators will not be so accommodating."

"If the prominence of the hearing is what bothers you, then simply take a brief moment to close your eyes and place yourself mentally back into the metaphorical 'library' if you must. If the questions bother you, give some yes or no answers until you feel comfortable again. As an outsider to all of this, I'm curious, what initiates your nervousness surrounding public speaking?"

[Tumblrena]

Washington, D.C.
Enchanted Apartment
2106
Monday
3 April
2017

"Well I don't think we know that for sure. That's why I'm looking forward to the hearing" Ella says cheerily.

[Prolieum]

National Archives, Washington D.C.

"It just...happens," Rossi answered nondescriptively, tone changed, uncomfortable with the shift in topic.

[Vaquas]

Rossi Apartment, Washington D.C.

Rossi blinked in surprise, the sudden shift in topic emphasizing it. "Wow, well, congratulations!" She was not too certain of the context behind the announcement, but the general assumption of it being a joyous one was assumed by her.

"It's all very exciting." she said. "We just thought it would be appropriate to let some of our friends and family know before it was in the press."

Yang stood up.

"Well, I should be going, I have some things to sort out on the hill." she explained.

[Tallahassee News Station]

1495 Williamsport Pike, Martinsburg, West Virginia

Amaras chuckled. "What is this, a law class? Obviously you came here for something, so drop the talk, and tell me what you want."

“I think it’s more about what you want, considering who I have brought to you. Jared and I need clear answers to what all you want in our arrangement regarding Senator Breckinridge. I’ll let him ask first,” she says, then looks at Jared.

Jared struggled to remember the details of the situation. "So what kind of testimony are we talking about?"

[Vaquas]

Frank Johnson

Frank Johnson did the fly on one of his private jet to Norris Vilseck's home address because he knew where it was and then he knocked on the door of Norris Vilseck with great strength many times.

[Prolieum]

Rossi Apartment, Washington D.C.

"Good luck," Rossi wished. "I won't, well, won't miss working with the Johnsons."

[Prolieum]

1495 Williamsport Pike, Martinsburg, West Virginia

"What I am interested in is the truth, Mr. O'Leary," Amaras replied. "We both know the facts of the matter, of the coercion Mr. Breckenridge forced on your female friend here, to carry his water for the deed. All you have to do is make sure the public learns that, and attest to it through whatever follows."

[Velahor]

National Archives, Washington D.C.

"It just...happens," Rossi answered nondescriptively, tone changed, uncomfortable with the shift in topic.

"It's okay, it happens to a lot of people," said Stephens calmly. "There's no problem with that, but I believe you can cast that aside for the hearing."

Stephens pauses and then speaks more, "You have my support, all I ask is that you treat the court as a legal institution, not a means to push a political agenda."