Occupy Pilot Ridge (Nick)

When he first spotted Nick, Joshua was heartened; after all, he recognized the other man, they'd talked a few times, had made plans to get together, though between numerous obligations and then his emotional difficulties this hadn't materialized.

The hope turned to dismay, however, when Nick began to jeer at him. There were a lack of protesters here, of course, but they were making a mark all over the country (and even the world; a former law school friend had mentioned possibly attending one in Calgary) and so the fact that Pilot Ridge's solidarity hadn't taken off simply showed that the residents of Pilot Ridge were complacent about the economic struggles of their brethren.

"Do you think that the economy is not worth attention?" He snapped, lowering his cardboard sign to glare at Nick, "Do you think that the lack of available jobs isn't a problem? Or that the wealthy should be allowed to piggyback on the shoulders of the working man, reaping benefits without giving back in turn? CEOs are paid more than they're worth and the government stands idly by, allowing them to screw over the little people."

Josh, of course, was sure that any sensible person would agree with him. After all, he had clearly marked his position as morally righteous. He didn't doubt that Nick would deny the truth in his statement, but he had also decided that Nick would never be a sensible person.

"When people realize they are oppressed by big business they'll join me, and we'll overthrow the Wall Street regime."

"I do indeed have a job." Josh didn't see what that had to do with anything. Nor, for that matter, did he see how protesting in Vermont was a bad thing; with the notable exception of Pilot Ridge Vermont's economy was terrible.

"Just because I am privileged doesn't mean I can't support those who are not." He harrumphed, crossing his arms and looking thoroughly vexed. "And I don't see how you can be upset about this cause, isn't your job to make jobs?"

Even if he wasn't terribly keen on the jobs Nick's organization placed people in they were still jobs. At least, he assumed that they involved wages. "Or do you persuade people to give up their souls for slave labor?"

This was the military they were talking about, after all; he wouldn't be surprised they would want to try that.

"In fact, he not only is well aware, but he approves completely as he also believes in making the world aware of the justice inherent in the system." Josh reassured Nick; he didn't bother clarifying that he didn't have a boss. He had a partner and he had an intern and he had clients. The closest he had to a boss who might approve or disapprove of his decisions was the Vermont Bar Association, but as he was fairly certain a number of them were at Occupy Burlington he doubted very much they would care he was trying to rally a sister movement.

"Narrow minded?" He repeated, folding his arms across his chest defensively. "About what? The military industrial complex's inherent interest in keeping people reliant on it so that the people controlling it can remain in power?" He raised an eyebrow challengingly at Nick, daring him to disagree. "So are you interested in retaining your privilege at the expense of others or would you like to help achieve justice for those in worse circumstances?"

((happy birthday!))

Nick's assessment that Josh would be unable to defend himself should he be attacked was quite correct; his assumption that the attorney wasn't hard working was a little less accurate. Josh had never had to pull himself up by his bootstraps, because he was the child of privilege, and in some ways that had given him a competitive advantage. That did not change the fact that he had studied hard throughout school, with only his time living with Sean as a hiccup in his academic record, and he had worked hard at his job. He and Janice owned a private practice, and there was nothing lazy about that.

In fact, the realization that Nick was calling him lazy caused Josh to drop his sign to the ground. "Pardon me," He began, tone frosty, "but if I heard correctly you are under the impression that I don't do any work because apparently in your mind pacifists do nothing but sit around all day waiting for other people to take care of them."

There were so many things wrong with Nick's remarks that he didn't even know where to begin. "To begin with, not everyone has the luxury of being able to pull themselves up by anything. The very act of survival is the most they can manage. Medical expenses, sick parents, sick children, disabilities of their own. Perhaps they have to work a retail job with odd hours that prevents them from being able to pursue higher education because they can't get on a regular schedule. Maybe they face systematic discrimination that makes the odds slim that they will ever be able to claw their way to the top. You shouldn't presume to know that other people aren't trying."

Deep breath, "And I am a lawyer. I run a private practice with another attorney in town. If you think this happened because I did nothing all day long then you really have no idea how law school works."

Nick might have been having fun, but Josh was most certainly not. In fact, he was extremely distressed that Nick was blatantly ignoring him and then resulting to what amounted to personal attacks. If this were a court they would have to hold up their side with reasoned arguments and examples from the law; insulting one another was not the way to win a debate.

But it wasn't possible to win when the other person was stubbornly closed-minded, either, and the realization that no matter what he said Nick would only laugh at him caused him to grind his teeth in frustration.

"Pardon me, then. You must have somewhere important to be with important work to be doing that the rest of us lazy bums and ignorant masses can't possibly fathom. In which case, don't let me stop you."

By which he meant you may kindly go away if you have nothing to contribute.