[Locked to Luceti Residents]

[malnosso]

My dear people of Luceti --

An invasion, all under the guise of a fantasy. What’s been done will not be forgotten. Certainly not by you, and not by the denizens of a dozen other enclosures who suffered similar attacks at the same time. As we speak, programmers and engineers hard at work combing through the barrier’s nuts and bolts. If the Cultists and his Lordship exploited some natural weakness in the dome, they will find it. Patch it up. Curious, isn’t it, that the Count chose yours to invade with his own two feet?

But there are other matters to discuss. I spoke with some of you only a few months ago. Let me announce more completely what I, back then, only intimated. I’m Carol, and I intend to spend some time in our little town. If you like, you can consider my resolve to continue my work here a sign of good faith. I remain unarmed and -- I assure you -- wholly peaceable. In this way, I hope I may have faith in you as well. After all, we are kin in a strange kind of way.

It is my duty -- as well as my pleasure -- to be Luceti’s liaison with the Organization. You must have many questions, concerns, and many many curses. Bring them to me, and we’ll see what can be done. We can talk here. But if any of you find the journals distasteful, you can also come have a seat with me at the sweet little tea shop. I’ll be there for the afternoon.

[As usual, this voiced post has a neatly typed 'written' section as well.

A thread with CJ can be found here.]

Comments

voice:

[liaising]

What is your field, sir?

voice:

[ablankpage]

Quantum physics. I've built several of my own machines, as nothing existed to do the tasks I've needed them for.

voice:

[liaising]

Brokering such an exchange of skills and intelligence is, indeed, exactly why I'm here. But I'm afraid it's still rather early days for so ambitious a project. Rest assured, the individuals already working on the problem are...excellent eggheads. And also from enclosures, to boot. Enclosures at a different stage than this one.

voice:

[ablankpage]

[Eggheads? Well. He imagines it's some sort of Malnosso term. Or something.]

More trustworthy. I understand. [And he does. Especially with his offer. He's been here far too short of a time to be trusted, and he knows it.] The offer stands, if it's needed in the future.

[It's also a chance to learn about this place.]

voice:

[liaising]

...We make take baby-steps together, yes? I can assess what you have to offer, and we can match you with worthy tasks. If you would like.

voice:

[ablankpage]

I would be happy to, ma'am.

Though. That brings me to a bit of an odd question. I've read what residents here have said about the matter, but I'd like to ask someone actually involved with the Malnosso. Simply for the sake of having the fullest span of information I can get.

voice:

[liaising]

Ask away, sir. I'm cleared to speak on a number of topics.

voice:

[ablankpage]

The manner in which we're brought here-- is there any controlling it?

[Whether there is or not, he might receive the same answer. But that's not his main point.]

My best work was done with a partner, you see, and I'd very much like to have her here.

[Which he has a feeling is a bit of an unusual statement. Most people here seem to want those they know to be kept out of it if possible.]

I ask only out of curiosity.

voice:

[liaising]

I'm afraid not. The Organization's successes have been few and so sparse as to hardly be called successes at all.

voice:

[ablankpage]

A shame.

I understand how sensitive that information must be, but perhaps someday I'll be able to discuss those attempts with someone. My own field was rather focused on trans-dimensional travel.

[He can wait. He has the time, after all.]

voice:

[liaising]

[Some of that sweetness is replaced by sharp interest:] And how were your successes?

voice:

[ablankpage]

[And Robert replies in kind. His patience is replaced with a bit of enthusiasm. Reigned in but ever there.]

On my own? Modest, at best. An atom, first. Then a field. Then a window into another world. The partner of mine I mentioned, though, managed a door. One that could be stepped through and was. A successful crossing.

[With nearly disastrous results, but it had been the first attempt. They'd fixed it. Mostly.]

voice:

[liaising]

I see now why you want your partner to join you, here. Those skills sound marvellous.

voice:

[ablankpage]

My own are at your disposal, ma'am, and I am sure that should Rosalind come, she would agree.

voice:

[liaising]

Have you had the chance to venture outside on one of the missions, yet? Or are you so new that there's been no opportunity?

voice:

[ablankpage]

I arrived on the seventh of July. I'm afraid I haven't been able to see much else except this village. And the... events of the recent past.

[Which he is perfectly happy not talking about. Even if there is a curiosity about it... But if he decides to press that point, he'll go to the tea shop. Speak to her personally. There can be some privacy then, at least.]

voice:

[liaising]

...An unexpected disaster, to be certain.

action: (and insta-prose. so you can't do it to me first. HA!)

[ablankpage]

Robert considers his course of action for a moment then decides. It's the first time he's left the apartment, actually, since he returned after that disaster. Which was an appropriate word for it, certainly. Dressing takes him a little time. The injuries to his arms are still a little sensitive, especially to buttoned cuffs, but he looks every bit the gentleman when he leaves the house. Even his hair has been carefully tended -- brushed precisely so as to keep the slowly healing marks on the sides of his head from being visible.

He's a bit winded when he reaches the tea shop. His brisk pace and recent inactivity have done nothing for his constitution, but it's not too bad. He sees the woman quickly enough and waits for the chair across from her to be open. He approaches and gives a little bow.

"Forgive me, ma'am, for the sudden departure. I felt it might be better to speak in person."

LOVELY.

[liaising]

"...Mister Lutece, I take it?"

She did not rise, but did smile.

[ablankpage]

"Yes, ma'am." He expected the voice to sound near enough the same, but he had been prepared to introduce himself again if it hadn't.

He motioned to the chair across from her. "May I?"

[liaising]

"Please do. I'm not one for sitting alone for too long."

[ablankpage]

"I had one more question for you. One I felt would be better to ask in person." He hadn't wanted the conversation on that public. He sat down, gathered his thoughts for a moment, then said, "About... what happened. With this invasion."

[liaising]

"...I was -- I was absent. But I'm familiar enough with the situation. What did you want to know?"

[ablankpage]

"You were lucky." Or informed. He hasn't taken that off the possibilities. "The majority of residents here received false memories. An entirely new set of circumstances for their life." That won't be anything she doesn't know. "Why were there some who didn't?"

[liaising]

"...Some would say the Count's strength is not as all-encompassing as he would have us believe. Me? I take it fro the same reason why even natural Shifts don't affect everyone. Or a flu skips a person or two while infecting the many."