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

[dun_moch]

[Well this is interesting. The Count had expected people like Daryl to lose interest in him after the lost the election. But perhaps something can still be salvaged here.]

It is one of my highest priorities. Why do you ask?

[dirtyredneck]

[He doesn't really want to lay all his cards on the table right out the gate, but he doesn't see a point in lying about why he'd sent the message in the first place, either. But he also had a few other questions before he answered any of Dooku's.]

Do you consider the assigned housing safe? Do you consider the assigned jobs good enough to provide enough money for making a person safe? If there is a place you think is safe, where is it?

[dun_moch]

My answer is 'No' to all three questions. Our assigned housing is provided and controlled by the government. We are close to our fellow imPorts and their powers, which can deter some aggressors. But we are also close to our fellow imPorts and their instability, and our general location is known to any who would wish to target us. As for employment, the problems with our assignments hardly needs to be elaborated upon. Some jobs are well-fitting and rewarding, others are menial or absurd. But that is beside the point.

The point is that as long as we have the government's nanites in our bodies, we are only as safe as they wish us to be. The Soviets proved that when they invaded us. They showed that imPorts can be harmed and sickened through the nanites. There is no place on this planet we can go where that will not be the case. Besides which, the authorities can track us if we leave the country: again, through the nanites.

The little machines also assist with healing and communications, however. They can even return a dead imPort to life. You may judge for yourself whether the benefits of this arrangement outweigh the costs.

[dirtyredneck]

[[The so called benefits were bullshit. As were the costs of them.]]

Needing money for anything is bullshit. But right now we do. You be willing to throw in on some land ain't no one need know some of us got? Something that could be be closer to that safety you keep saying you're all for?

[dun_moch]

[More and more interesting. It sounds like Daryl is prepared to evade or at least bend the law to keep this land hidden from the authorities. A fine quality for an imPort to have, in Dooku's opinion.]

Perhaps I would be willing. Whether I would be able is another matter. How much funding might you require for this land- and in what location?

[The Count is almost certainly not in a financial position to sustain a big project, but that doesn't mean he can't fish for more information.]

[dirtyredneck]

Cost of the properties we're looking at is between a million two and a million eight. Before fixing them up. Ain't looking for the whole cost, but ain't no way any of us got that kind of money on us, neither.

[yeah, he's not giving the location.]

[dun_moch]

More than a million, you say.

[Nnnope. Nope nope nope. Dooku deeply resents that this place has reduced him, the Heir of Serenno, to such poverty that a paltry million-dollar purchase is beyond his means. Back home, he was considered one of the wealthiest sapient beings in the Galaxy. But things are what they are, and he must simply make do.]

Perhaps I can help you another way. I know of an imPort who may be better positioned than I to... assist you with this purchase. I can arrange a connection between you, if you wish it.

[dirtyredneck]

They got a name?

[If he hadn't heard of it, he could look it up.]

[dun_moch]

Jesse Pinkman. The healer.

[That's not a name Daryl has any reason to stab, is it?]

[dirtyredneck]

[There is a very long wait before Daryl's response came. He had to decide if he wanted the opportunity to stab the asshole or if he wanted to not alienate Dooku by stabbing someone he was obviously okay with. And of the two, Dooku, while not a good person, could prove a decent ally.]

That asshole can keep his money. We'll figure another way if you can't help.

[dun_moch]

[Well that was unexpected.]

I see. And might I know what Pinkman has done to leave such a dire impression with you, Daryl?

[dirtyredneck]

None of your business, but if I ever see him, there's gonna be a bolt between his fucking eyes.

[dun_moch]

[Well, that escalated quickly.]

I would rather prefer that Jesse Pinkman remain unharmed and without any sort of projectile between his eyes. Perhaps I can help resolve whatever issue there is between the two of you?

[Dooku can guess at what the issue is- Daryl has the same kind of presentation and attitude Carl does. Which means he could very well be part of the idiotic feud that has been interfering with the Count's plans since February.]

[dirtyredneck]

Only thing'll resolve it is that asshole getting dead and staying that way.

[i.e. 'no']

[dun_moch]

That will be difficult, as long as the government's machines continue to raise our dead.

Perhaps it is time to turn around the initial question. How dedicated are YOU to safety?

[dirtyredneck]

Asked you for money, didn't I?

[dun_moch]

You did indeed. And then you rejected a source of that money for what I sense are personal reasons.

Tell me this: does your hatred for Jesse Pinkman truly make you and yours safer? Or is it a liability?

[dirtyredneck]

If you know a scorpion's a scorpion and let him close enough to sting you, it's your own fault when he does. Ain't no safety in letting that asshole close.

[dun_moch]

Despite its menacing appearance, a scorpion rarely stings without cause. It strikes defensively, or in search of food. And it can be a powerful weapon, if handled correctly.

[Dooku wishes other people could be as reasonable and sensible as scorpions, really.]

What cause might Jesse Pinkman have to harm you?

[dirtyredneck]

Scorpion wants to get across a stream. It asks the frog for help. The frog says no, cause the scorpion'll sting it. Scorpion says it won't cause then they'd both drown. Frog thinks about it, agrees, and lets the scorpion ride it's back across the stream. Half-way across the scorpion fucking stings it. As they go down, the frog asks why. Scorpion says 'it's in my nature.'

That fucker already caused harm. For no reason then it was 'in his fucking nature'. He don't get another chance so shut up about it.

[dun_moch]

I usually prefer scientific fact to folklore in matters of safety.

You have disappointed me, Daryl. Yet my offer of mediation remains open, should you choose to be more reasonable in the future.

[The Count is just so wonderfully magnanimous like that.]

[dirtyredneck]

I and prefer people who already stabbed me in the back not being able to do it again. So you can take your disappointment and shove it right back up your ass. The only one being unreasonable here is you.

[Well, there went his attempt to keep in good with Dooku. He didn't expect the man would want anything to do with him now. Good job, Daryl. Good job.]