IC Contact post for Mask or Menace

[dun_moch]

"You have reached Count Dooku. I regret that I am unavailable to answer your hail. Kindly leave a message, and I shall respond at the earliest opportunity."

Text | E-mail | Voicemail | Phone call | Hologram | Other

Comments

[dirtyredneck]

Yeah, well, bein' someone ready to take heads don't make him good at trainin' no one. Shouldn't be the person you toss someone at to learn things from. Ain't gonna do no good if they're dead 'cause he don't know how ta hold back.

[Daryl avoided eye contact at the question and took a moment to drink his own tea. Shifted a bit in his seat before giving a one-shouldered shrug. And, continuing to avoid that eye contact, gave a dismissive snort.]

Nothin' worth talkin' about.

[ Text ]

[dun_moch]

It is not like any power you have encountered before. To be strong in the Force is to be able to bend matter to your will. Skywalker could throw you into the air with a wave of his hand.

[dun_moch]

Is that so.

[Dooku stares hard at Daryl, his eyes dark and penetrating.]

I will take your... Input under advisement, then. But the training will continue. Not all of Mars' students have fared as poorly as you.

[Aside from that guy who got his hand cut off, but whatever, that's just Adachi.]

[dirtyredneck]

Ain't his student.

[The words come out terse and the anger inside flares a bit before he can get control of it again.]

And he ain't a teacher. Find someone else to fill that position. Gotta be someone.

[ Text ]

[ghoulking]

[ that could be a problem, but kaneki has his own triumph cards ]

I see. Thank you for this information.

Would someone get tired and be unable to use it? Like losing their stamina.

[dun_moch]

[The corner of the Count's mouth twitches.]

Are you perhaps volunteering for the role?

Re: [ Text ]

[dun_moch]

[There's hesitation before the response is sent because guess what Dooku's single biggest weakness as a Force user is? It's the fact that he's a man in his 80s who is getting much too old for this.]

It is possible. Like most other forms of activity, using the Force can be exhausting after too long a time.

Re: [ Text ]

[ghoulking]

[ the amazing thing that ghouls have: they don't get too old for this. Their human-like body may look frail, but christ almighty, their ghoul power grows with years. So this is actually something Kaneki is not familiar with ]

That gives me a bit of a chance, then.

Thank you, Count.

[dirtyredneck]

[Wasn't like he hadn't already been teaching Hermann how to shoot, but... Daryl shifted a little uncomfortably, looking down at his cup and shrugging with one shoulder.]

I guess. Maybe. Ain't got a lot of free time ta just do it on the fly, though.

[dun_moch]

[The Count spreads his hands, as though helpless.]

Surely you do not expect Mars to be cast out of his role without a replacement at hand, do you?

[dirtyredneck]

Hell yeah.

[Daryl's head lifted and he looked at Dooku like the man was crazy to even consider keeping Mars around in that role regardless of the need to have a trainer.]

We can hire the fuck out if we need to. No one questions an imPort wanting to learn to fight. Trainers don't gotta be one of ours long as they get paid. Plenty of people better suited to it than that asshole you got doing it now.

[dun_moch]

[The Count frowns.]

You may hire whoever you wish for your own training. But our organization will not entrust such a function solely to an outsider. That is my final word on this topic, Daryl.

[He's happy to shove Grievous under the bus in the right situation... but this isn't it.

Invitation

[aberranthubris]

[ One day, this shows up in Dooku's mailbox. See you there? ]

[dirtyredneck]

He ain't a good trainer.

[He stood and pushed himself away from the table, pissed off that Dooku was being blind about it.]

Find someone else.

[He walked off before Dooku could respond in a low enough voice to not be heard by anyone around them. He didn't want to hear more. Just wanted his words to be the last ones even if it was nothing more than a Pyrrhic victory.]

video

[lizard]

[ Iwai had to spend a long, long time deliberating over whether or not it was right for him to get in contact with the Count. He wouldn't say he was scared of Dooku, exactly, but he doesn't know how the old man works - if Iwai disappointed him, or made him angry, how would he react? He didn't want to believe the Count would use violence against him, not when he still believes in The Constellation, but five people are dead and he's been roped back into having connections with the mafia, a life he left a long, long time ago. He needs reassurance that this is still... an honorable organization. So. His face is on screen, tired but determined, guarded as ever. ]

I've gotta talk to you. It ain't about anythin' bad. Not really. I've just got some questions, and you're the only one who can answer 'em. Are you free to talk?

video

[dun_moch]

[Dooku smiles to Iwai in the video. His voice is pleasant and welcoming. Behind his face though, his mind is dark and suspicious. Has the new recruit's resolve weakened already?]

Certainly, my friend. What is on your mind?

video

[lizard]

[ Ah... too late to back out now. ]

Five people are dead. That... woman killed 'em. I'm sure you already know what I'm talking about. And I ain't... [ he hesitates, but he barrels through. ]

I ain't saying it's wrong that they died, necessarily. I knew I'd be gettin' my hands bloody when I signed up for this. If you order me to hurt someone, I'll hurt someone. But I've got my honor, and one of the guys who died looked... terrified. I don't wanna get anyone hurt if it ain't strictly necessary, and I don't wanna make people suffer like that guy did, at least not needlessly. We're supposed to be doing good for the world, right? I dunno how torturin' a stranger unconnected to the government was supposed to be good.

video

[dun_moch]

[The Count nods sympathetically, and holds up a hand as though offering it to Rocinante. Inwardly, he huffs mightily. What a soft heart this supposed criminal turned out to have- and so quickly, too.]

Poltergeist's methods can be somewhat... unsettling to those encountering them for the first time. She is one of our strongest and most dedicated members. But like everything else our group does, her actions are not without reason or cause.

Remember that those five lives were not stainless or harmless ones. They were in the business of death... dangerous individuals. We at least have our cause to justify our actions. They had nothing but their own greed. Strong measures must sometimes be taken with such despicable people.

The lives of five arms dealers are a small sacrifice to make in the larger scope of our mission. Once we succeed, we will have freed hundreds of imPorts, and brought justice and truth to millions of natives. Casualties are inevitable... But such exchanges are a rare thing. The Constellation does not carry out acts like this regularly.

[The Count lowers his hand, and frowns softly toward Iwai.]

I must admit, I am surprised at you, being shaken so quickly. You told me you had the resolve to do what was necessary. I thought you were a man of nerve and conviction. Was I wrong?

video

[lizard]

... 'Course you weren't wrong. [ Iwai seems irritated by the question, though given how quickly he's run to Dooku for reassurance and how easily shamed into submission he is by Dooku's tone of voice, it obviously touched a nerve. He clicks his tongue, annoyed, and tries to explain himself in a way that might put himself in a better light. ]

Like I said - I ain't accusing her of doin' anything wrong, exactly. If this is what had to be done, this is what had to be done. I just thought... I guess I figured we'd be keepin' death count at a minimum. Killing when we had to, rather than just because it might be useful, or because we think it might be "just", or... I dunno. [ he hesitates. ] I grew up in the yakuza, man. I've head death in my life at every corner, just like the guys that ended up dead for me. I'm the same as those scumbags she murdered. Hearin' 'em written off as just "despicable people"...

[ He pauses, runs his hand over the back of his neck and looks off into the distance. It sounds, now, like he's talking to himself more than Dooku. ]

But you're right. About all of this. I'm only shaken up because I can see myself in those guys. But that's not who I am anymore, yeah? I left that life behind me a long time ago, and even if I didn't, you've given me purpose. Somethin' to lay my life down for without hesitation. There's honor behind everything we're doing here, and I can't forget that just because I see some dead bodies and some girl tries to fuck with my head. I've gotta remember that I'm doin' all this for my kid.

Sorry. I shouldn't have bugged you about this. It just - surprised me. I didn't expect to get thrown into the deep end so soon. But you're right, and I shouldn't be questionin' you. I won't waver again.

video, apologies for the delay

[dun_moch]

[The Count listens patiently as Iwai talks himself into doing what Dooku wants. This is more like it. He nods with understanding.]

Very well, then. Just remember: that part of your life is over now. You have nothing in common with those people anymore. You are no longer an ordinary criminal. You are a champion of a better world.

I believe your child would be proud of you, to know what you are doing for their sake.

[a well-encrypted text]

[hellrisen02]

Hey there, Dookula!

I've heard some things about your interest in astronomy. I happen to have an interest in it, too. Let's chat sometime, huh? How about you pick a place where they'll look good.

[a well-encrypted text]

[dun_moch]

[Intriguing.]

The De Chima Planetarium is supposed to be quite quiet at this time. I will meet you in the main viewing area in two hours.

[With his bodyguard nearby, just in case this is a trap. And maybe to punish the fool for calling him 'Dookula.']

[ACTION!]

[hellrisen02]

[Oh boy, Duo loves punishments.]

[He's there in one and a half, although no one normal would know it. The Count had been right about this, at least- it was quiet, and peaceful. Not the kind of peace one found floating around alone in open space, but the closest thing one could probably find marooned on Earth.]

[He folds his hands behind his back and stares out at the stars of the night sky, noting the lack of twinkling lights, the clusters of colonies that should be staring back at him. The sky seemed lonelier like this- just the cosmos and that big ol' shining graveyard staring back down at him. He was cloaked, as he always was for safety, but he was silently listening, waiting for Antares to arrive.]

[Earth was a cage, and he thought it was about time to break free of it.]

[dun_moch]

[The Count arrives with the punctuality of a machine and with the stealth of a shadow. He may not be cloaked to the eye, but he moves with silence and subtlety as he enters the darkened planetarium.

He can sense Charon's presence, but knows that the spy likes to play his own sneaky games. He does not give any greeting, but only stands in the middle of the room gazing up at the false constellations above him.]

[hellrisen02]

Not as nice as the real thing, huh? [Duo asks, after watching Dooku enter and come to a stop in the center of the room. Even if he wasn't cloaked, the black of his cassock blended into the dark of the room along the edges where he'd been lazing. He strides forward a few steps, enough to be in conversational nearness, but always with wary spacing.] But you're right, it's a good spot for what it is.

[He gestures up towards the moon, at a point just past it.] It's just not right, you know?

[He bets you do.]