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."

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[dun_moch]

I always have time for you, Ambassador Urquhart. How may I help you?

[mightthinkthat]

I'll get right down to it. I've been concerned for some time that our initial successes overseas may not be enough to hold for long. I'm sure you don't need me to tell you how political concerns needed to be tended to to keep interest alive.

[dun_moch]

I am well aware, yes. And I share your concern. People are often easily distracted, especially in political matters.

Have you devised some remedy to this?

[mightthinkthat]

I've negotiated with the government to allow us to form a council, of sorts, to address these issues. Would that be something that would interest you at all?

[dun_moch]

A council? That is a fine accomplishment for our community, Ambassador. I would be most interested in serving.

However, I must ask: how much authority is the government willing to grant representatives of this council? It will be difficult to properly speak for us if we must request Washington's approval for every word in our mouths.

[mightthinkthat]

It wouldn't be quite that bad, though I would wait to sow seeds of discontent against the American government until they're not quite so antsy about you.

We're certainly empowered to speak, but we are there to gain the world's good will. I'm sure a well travelled and cultured man such as yourself does realise what note to strike to gain it. [ The people of the world aren't going to trust you if you're the kind to bite the hand that feeds you. ]

[dun_moch]

Certainly, Ambassador. I assure you, I know how and when to be diplomatic... and when to be provocative.

If I might make a request, I believe my talents would best serve this council if they were directed towards our relations with Mexico. I have had positive contact with them before.

[And his band's album has been selling fairly well down there, too.]

[mightthinkthat]

I certainly won't forget the work already done. Relationships need to be built and that's only really possible through individual ones. Having you flitting about from country to country wouldn't make sense.

[dun_moch]

Indeed. It is best to focus our efforts where our expertise can accomplish the most.

On that note, may I know who else you have approached to staff this council?

[mightthinkthat]

The others who have been on the diplomatic trip with us.

[dun_moch]

A wide selection, then. Ambassador Hundred, Manolo Sanchez, Lord Greg... and Raina, to name a few.

You will be inviting her as well, I hope. I know the two of you have been rivals in the past, but she could be a most persuasive ally.

[mightthinkthat]

[ Hold please. There's a brief period of almost silence, broken only by what could be difficulty breathing, if only on the scale of a cold, and a snort.

Francis is snickering. And his voice is still high from the laughter when he finally manages to find enough air to speak. ]

My dear Count! [ A sigh. ] Come now. Men such as ourselves know better than to take gossip at face value. We both went up for the same job, certainly, but we ran a short, clean campaign and when I was elected, the rivalry was ended.

Certainly on my part, and I dare say, not that I wish to speak for her, that Raina doesn't give me a lot of thought, when she has her own ready made rival from her own world, Daisy.

[ Just giving that tidbit to you, Dooku, for giving him the laugh. ] Nothing like a good old fashioned cat fight, dear fellow.

[ He's now a little wistful. ] It's a pity, really, if she could get over the fact that we're not all obsessed with having dramatic relationships and some of us want to get on with our business, she would make for a... decent rival. She has the potential mind for it.

[ C'est la vie. ] Sufficed to say, if she's not on the council, it's not because of my 'ire'.

[dun_moch]

[Dooku chuckles along a bit, more out of politeness than genuine mirth. He is far more accustomed to inspiring dread than amusement. Not for the first time, he is struck by the impression of Urquhart as a kind of political imp: always with a wry, perceptive smile, more often than not at someone else's expense.]

Yes, I have heard of Daisy. But it is good to hear that you bear no ill-will toward Raina. Her mind is indeed first-rate. And people in our line of work can hardly afford to waste their energies in petty feuding.

[Raina had implied most strongly that she was not so magnanimous toward Urquhart, in a previous conversation. Dooku wonders if that can be rectified. Perhaps working together in the Foreign Council will offer an opportunity...]

[mightthinkthat]

Our line of work usually weeds people like that out. It's not something anyone with a thin skin can do as a career. Nor would I wish it on them.

[dun_moch]

Quite so. At any rate, I thank you once more for your kind invitation, Ambassador. And I look forward to commencing work with the Foreign Council once it is ready.

[mightthinkthat]

Speak soon.