006 ↔ video

[5055034455]

[The last time Saul was seen on the network, he was about to choke out a member of the Initiative.

He's calmed down since then.

In fact, the look with which he greets the network is positively cheerful, thought not so much that it takes away from the businesslike atmosphere he's trying to cultivate with this post — he's got work to do, damn it, so he's in the most official-looking room he could find, seated in front of the camera with folded hands. Suit: check, tie: check, pocket square: check.]

This isn't how the story goes, but: good morning, Moon.

For those of you who don't know me, the name's Saul Goodman. I work for the Department of Initiative-Transport Relations with the lovely Queen Medusalith Amaquelin-Boltagon — [He pauses to smirk. What a mouthful, right?] — and a whole slew of other equally lovely folks. We're here to help you in matters concerning Initiative-Transport goings on. Now, here I'd usually take the opportunity to ask you all to lay whatever questions you might have on me, but because things are so crazy right now, the best answer I can give to any question will probably be a confident "I don't know."

We'll update you as we're updated.

Anyway, I'm coming to you today with a request. Lots of people are gearing up to go on supply runs, which is great. Go team. If those of you who've gone on runs already or plan to go could check in with me here and let me know what it is you're bringing back, that'd be super helpful. I'll make a list that everyone can refer back to, so no one has to double-up on fetching supplies that might not be necessary.

[So he might be a little bit worried about the lack of resurrection technology. That might be a thing. He just doesn't want anyone taking unnecessary risks for the sake of DVDs or... or whatever.]

Thanks.

Comments

[maddeninghatter]

[ A pause, as if he has more to say on the subject.... ]

Well!

I see you've taken it upon yourself to organize some of these supply missions, recording what people have gathered, that's very nice. But I think things might run more smoothly with a more directed strategy, don't you agree?

[5055034455]

[An equal pause as Saul squints to himself, like he's not quite sure where this is going.

Then:] Well, I'm all ears, but I can't agree or disagree when I don't know what it is you're suggesting. Do tell.

[maddeninghatter]

Ah, I've got a friend back home who could do this sort of thing as easy as sneezing, but...

[ There's absolutely, positively nothing like wistfulness in his voice, because he has been telling himself for ages it's very lucky for Reim, that he's not here. ]

But it seems to me, that the best way to acquire supplies would be to simply buy them and arrange to have them delivered, to a particular place and point in time, and then on a recurring basis. It would mean somebody's got to be in charge of all sorts of tedious things, like demand and inventory and disbursement....

And, you know, acquiring funds. I believe there is, or at least was such a thing as compounding interest in this world?

[5055034455]

So a schedule, then. That's smart, but the money thing is tricky — we might be better off setting up a barter system, if you think it's such a good idea to involve the currently nonexistent economy.

[He sounds like he's not sure that part is so smart.]

[maddeninghatter]

What I mean is: a person could invest a little bit of money - in the past - and pop 'round to collect it years later, also in the past, after it's had the opportunity to collect interest, dividends, or what have you. Then use those funds to buy supplies, and bring them back here, to the present day.

Is that tricky? It seems straightforward to me, a bit fiddly maybe, but perhaps there's something I'm missing?

[5055034455]

[!!!

He gets it now.

And that idea sounds right up his alley.]

Fiddly, yes. Unethical, also yes, depending on who you ask. But tricky? No. That's genius.

[maddeninghatter]

Ah, do you think so? How flattering. Alas, I've no talent for that sort of thing.

[ in the most innocent of voices: ]

Would you happen to know anybody who'd be interested in taking it on?

[5055034455]

Would I.

[That's not even a question. Saul is totally sold on the idea.]

[maddeninghatter]

Splendid~! Then it's all settled.

[ Break's talent is definitely not managing money: it's pawning off tedious, essential tasks on other people. ]

[5055034455]

[Acquiring money by less than legal means? Tedious? Psh. Saul will find a way to make it way more fun than it should be.]

And what have you been doing to help the cause, young man? Aside from doling out great ideas.

[maddeninghatter]

[ It's a win-win ]

That's a good question.

What is "the cause," precisely? Again, with the Initiative existing in concept only at this point, it's worth reconsidering.

[5055034455]

The "we're stuck on the moon so let's just forget about the whole waging-war-for-someone-else thing for two seconds and instead worry about not starving to death or running out of power and turning into space popsicles" cause.

[maddeninghatter]

Oh that. It's obvious, isn't it?

Most people here are not doing very much at all. If they're going to sit about, they might as well do it in a nice Italian villa, somewhere in the past.

The engineers and tinkerers could stay here, and work on securing power and so forth. The demand for food and resources on the moon would fall--and everybody would have a nice holiday~!

[5055034455]

Or we could recruit them to be useful and gather supplies.

[A pause.]

Although — you're right, a villa sounds much more appealing than this.

[maddeninghatter]

Just go and sort out that little money issue, since you seem so keen, and soon we'll all be lounging in the sunshine, eating tiramisu.

[ #priorities ]

Cos it's probably expensive to rent out a whole villa indefinitely, and procure enough food and wine and nice clothes and servants and pastry chefs.

[5055034455]

[Yo kid if you think Saul is gonna do all the grunt work so a bunch of other people (even if he's included) can enjoy the fruits of his labor, you are so wrong.

But Saul will let Break go on thinking that anyway.

He flashes a thumbs up, suddenly grinning.]

I really do like the way you think. Let's chat again sometime.