002 [Video]

[missiondeterminant]

[Aside from having a new--or maybe not new, but different--hat that may have suffered a little bedazzling, Connor looks pretty much the same as last time he spoke on the network. He has something somewhat less abstract to talk about this time, but it's even more serious.]

Although the Clinic is well-suited to the needs of many here, and that's a great accomplishment in this situation, it's unable to provide assistance to a portion of the population that needs non-standard medical treatment.

[Mostly, as far as he knows, that's a problem for individuals who might be mechanically-based, although he isn't ruling out that there might be other types of beings he doesn't know about who also can't be helped with standard medical treatment. So he's being general right now, trying to account for everyone, which also helps in keeping things vague as far as individual people and what they might need.]

Because worlds vary, finding those with the skills they need to help these people might be difficult, but at the very least we can make sure those who can't go to the Clinic have the basic supplies necessary to take care of themselves. But again, because worlds vary, we won't know what all those supplies are unless we compile a list. I know there's an option on these phones to hold private conversations, if anyone may be concerned about giving specifics information about themselves, so supplies on the list can be added mostly anonymously.

[With any luck that means he can add some things to the list himself and no one will know who they're for. He'd like to avoid ending up in a situation in which he bleeds to death from an otherwise treatable injury just because there's no thirium available here.]

Additionally, since necessary items are likely to require making arrangements with the gods, if anyone is willing to help with that please let me know.

Comments

-> switching to private

[nowherewolf]

[Tucker switches on the private filter, since what he's about to say should probably not be pasted all over Connor's post on the network.]

Yeah, for some of them, it'll probably always be an issue. But there's ways to get people to tell you secrets. Like, you tell them a secret first. Then they got somethin' over you. Makes people feel safer, since they could fuck you over if you fuck them over. The secret doesn't really have to be real, but the closer to facts, the better. Easier to remember, easier to pretend it's something you'd wanna hide.

[Hmm. Actually.]

... Unless you had some other idea for gettin' people out of the woodwork?

private

[missiondeterminant]

[Connor is quiet, listening to all of that in a combination of interest and suspicion. It's not like Tucker's wrong or anything regarding the tactic, but he's a little unsure why he would be telling him this whole thing unless he's trying to use the 'share a secret, get a secret' method on Connor.

But for now he'll just give him the benefit of the doubt, but answers the last question simply--]

People tend to tell me things.

[Like that. But he was made to look and sound appealing and inviting for a reason; he can usually get what he wants out of people just by asking, and that's been working pretty well here so far. Sure, it's not working in this specific instance, but he probably should've expected this; he'll likely be more effective in one-on-one conversations in this case.]

[nowherewolf]

[He would use that method on Connor, but only if either he thought he was stupid or he hadn't just explained it. Unfortunately, neither of those things is true. For now, he just sort of raises an eyebrow at his phone.]

Just like that? What, you got some kinda enchantment magic?

[Harlan can do that sometimes, and that Leo guy tried it over the network, but Connor doesn't seem like the type.]

Maybe that'd work for you back home, but we got a lot of paranoid types here.

[Takes one to know one, he guesses.]

[missiondeterminant]

[He narrows his eyes slightly and tilts his head to the side at the idea of enchantment magic, the reaction automatic and genuine and therefore probably a clear indicator that's definitely not what he's doing. He'd argue that the tactic seems to be working pretty well here so far, this one subject aside, but decides that isn't the best way to go about this.

So instead he's silent a few seconds, seemingly considering that, before responding.]

I'm not sure I want to manipulate people into accepting help. Not in this instance, at least.

[He's not at all above doing it in case of emergency or something, but establishing trust is important for the long term. And sure, revealing a secret--or a lie that seems like a secret--to make someone else feel comfortable confiding in him isn't exactly horrible, especially since he's not planning to use the information for anything bad, but... Still.]

Do you think it's paranoia that's preventing people from coming forward, or a genuine reason to be hesitant?

[nowherewolf]

[Tucker shrugs.]

I mean, that's fair. Suit yourself.

[It actually tells Tucker a fair amount about Connor for him to respond that way. Prefers to do things in a straightforward, more legitimate way, but he's willing to get dirty when there's no other options left. Basically, a good guy, but dangerous if you push him. At least, that's the impression Tucker's building of him.]

And it's probably a little of both. No one here's gonna go around hunting down people who are different. There's too many of 'em, and besides, the general population wouldn't stand for it. It's more like a learned thing, how they were treated back home. People have used it against them too long, and now they don't want to give anyone the chance.