IC Contact Post [Hadriel]

[mismanagement]

This is Maketh Tua. State your business.

Comments

[synthedick]

My thoughts exactly. The trick is figuring out how to do that without letting the gods know we're sniffing around. They say they have no control over it, but I'm betting the minute someone gets too close, they'll end up 'going home.' Keep the trouble-makers to a minimum.

[mismanagement]

Of course. [It's only logical. Maketh rubs her forehead briefly.] Or one of them will challenge Fear. He how to active it at the very least, perhaps even control it. But they'll keep us weak as long as they can.

[Their war must be quieter, as a result. Maketh exhales.]

I would suggest playing them against each other, but I fear we would only become pawns in that game - one more violent than what we already face.

[synthedick]

Yeah. Whatever war they had before took out both them and the previous tenants of this place. We've got both an advantage and disadvantage in that they aren't familiar with how most of us work, human or not. That girl and her powers showed us that much.

[mismanagement]

[Maketh hums in agreement.] I think we ought to know our neighbors better. That was the Empire's mistake, back home. Assuming that because a group appeared weaker that they could not be clever. And I think we can be clever, Nick.

[synthedick]

I know we can be. The real trick is going to be getting people to work together and not jump the gun. We've got a good start with the Guard.

[mismanagement]

[There's a spark of something there that heartens her, despite the tenor of their conversation. Maketh nods, sipping her coffee.] Yes. I can organize soldiers, but it's become clear to me that this...whatever we make of this place, it will never be an army. Not as I understood it. Do you...know how to organize people?

[It's asked hesitantly. Maketh understands how the Empire would have done things, but her knowledge is incomplete. She's afraid to make worse mistakes.]

[synthedick]

[Nick raises an eyebrow to her question, taking a sip of his own drink. Not bad at all.]

Can't say I do. I've mostly worked on my own. A lot of folks weren't interested in working with a private eye, much less a synthetic one.

[mismanagement]

[Maketh nods, resisting the urge to ask if he likes the coffee.] But you had to interact with others, in order to do your work -- at least, if I understand it correctly. Getting information and what have you from a variety of sources, not all of them cooperative.

[The Empire preferred beating prisoners unconscious or spying on civilians to get their information.]

[synthedick]

Getting information out of folks is all a part of the detective gig.

[If Nick's general temperament is any indication, he prefers a non-violent option if there is one.]

[mismanagement]

[Maketh nods.] And you had to do that even with people not inclined to cooperate.

[Either out of prejudice or personality.]

I think...I think we ought to think along similar lines. If people believe working with us serves their best interest, then they will.

[synthedick]

[Nick nods in turn.]

True, though there are always going to be people who won't work with us no matter what we do, just because they see us as some kind of symbol of authority.

[Even if they really aren't.]

[mismanagement]

[That's true as well. They've seen it already. Maketh exhales slowly.] Then we'll need some way to keep an eye on them. We can't force them to help, but perhaps they can be kept out of the way.

[synthedick]

I'll be canvasing the network, as usual.

[That does bring something to mind, though.]

Any word on the guy who shot Sharon? It seems he's been laying low.

[mismanagement]

As will I.

[It would be better to do something more proactive, but Maketh worries about what would happen if the guard oversteps its bounds. What respect they have now was carefully won and cannot be squandered.]

His name is Mello, I believe. I believe he expects retaliation and is hiding himself. Not that it's difficult in this place.

[synthedick]

Yeah. Lots of nooks and crannies and caves to hide in. [Nick's expression hardens.] I wouldn't doubt there are folks out there who want him taken care of for what he did. As for us, I at least want answers.

[mismanagement]

Mhmm. [Killing him would be tactically inadvisable, not to mention prolonging the issue rather than solving anything.] In the Empire, he would have been shot. But that will do nothing here that we would want.

[synthedick]

I think it'd undermine what we're trying to accomplish, too. We want people to work with us because they trust us, not because they fear us.

[mismanagement]

[Maketh nods. She fears doing exactly that.] And for me that line is...difficult, sometimes. I fear my judgement is not the best on such matters.

[synthedick]

[Nick's eyes flick to her. He had a feeling that was the case.]

That's why you've got the rest of the Guard to help you. Henry, Bigby, Damianos, Rey, me. If we ever think you're getting out of line, you can count on us to let you know.

[mismanagement]

[She meets his eyes, expression somber.] You must. This will not be the Empire.

[synthedick]

[His own expression is reassuring, the yellow glow of his eyes soft, warm.]

It won't be. With a little luck and a lot of elbow grease, it might just be home.

[mismanagement]

[Maketh smiles at that.] That would be something, wouldn't it?

[synthedick]

Yeah. It would.

[He might not be happy about giving Hope any kind of power, but he can't help but feel it.]

But it's not going to happen if we don't work at it. We need to be prepared for whatever the next god who comes back brings to town.

[mismanagement]

[On that they agree. Maketh nods.] Of course. And if you have any ideas about how to proceed, I would listen to them.

[synthedick]

Hm.

[Nick takes another sip from his mug, thinking.]

We should focus on finding and dealing with this 'Mello' character before worrying about any new gods coming in. Hope just brought another one back, so it'll be a while before he's got the power to do it again. That gives us some time to get things under control.