maskormenace | 007; Video

It sure has been a few harrowing months in Maurtia Falls, has it not?

[ Baelish flashes an exhausted smile. ]

And riding on the coattails of destruction and clean up was an election. Congratulations to Ambassador Delos and the first ever Deputy Ambassador Maximoff. As this city's mayor, I do hope to work with you both and help bring Maurtia Falls a stronger sense of security and growth.

And to everyone else who ran -- thank you. I am grateful for those who would stand up to represent this city. It's no secret Maurtia Falls is the toughest of porter cities -- to visit, to live in, to be an imPort in. And I believe now, more than ever imPorts need to demonstrate their leadership qualities and the good we can do. If any candidates have ideas or projects they wish to see happen within Maurtia Falls, please do feel free to speak with me.

[ Squaring his shoulders back, he sits up a bit taller to address the business part of this post. ]

A few months ago I addressed the network regarding the construction of an underground shelter. The plans and designs have already been drawn up and this project was slated to be completed within a year's time. But I think it's imperative to get this done much sooner. I am asking for engineers, builders, scientists -- anyone who has something to aid this project to volunteer their time and efforts. If all the citizens ever see is the destruction imPorts can bring, then we owe it to them to show the opposite, do we not?

[ There's a long pause. Baelish has in his fingers an engagement ring -- colorful with double DNA helix shapes of diamonds. ]

One final thing. To those who knew her: my fiancee Haen Hithiel has ported out for a month's time. I would like to be optimistic about her chances of returning, but given the nature of the porter... [ He trails off, offering only a helpless shrug. There is little anyone can do about port outs and port ins. ] That said, she ran the Maurtia Falls Endeavor Center. While my team and I have been overseeing things in her absence, this center was always meant to be an imPort vision -- to give children of this city a place to flourish while at the same time educating them about us. If this is something any of you would be interested in taking over, I would love to be able to reinstate an imPort director.

I believe it would be Haen's wish as well.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You know, if you need anything that I can offer, even if it's a few greased wheels, I'm happy to provide.

[ A beat. ]

Erm -- I'm sorry, for your loss. I didn't even know you had a significant other. Is there, ah, anything I can do? We've all been there -- losing someone important to us -- but sometimes solidarity helps.

[ Baelish laughs a little. Trying to laugh off the pain, ok!!! ]

Well, I didn't often bring her up because I hardly wished to make you jealous. But also, we did value our privacy.

[ Beyond a very public engagement....staged for political gain. ]

It is the nature of things, however. And I know she would not wish for me to wallow. Truth be told, there's been no time to wallow with how chaotic it has been most recently here. Although I suppose you did not have it easy in De Chima after that....Shimmer, was it called?

Oh yes, that's what would do it! [ A soft laugh. He isn't often looking into the personal lives of his colleagues, and it shows. Mitchell expects the same from others, even though he rarely gets it. ]

But, ah, yes. No, it wasn't pleasant. I... I've seen...maybe not worse, but awful things before. I think...I was more equipped than most to handle it.

[ Being overtaken by the machine inside was no worse than the ever-present reminders that he would be taken over by the mechanics inside of him. He'd seen versions of himself that crawled on spindly mechanical legs, some with tentacles for arms, and missing jaws. His brain was helpful in giving him any number of disastrous hallucinations, and all he had to do to see it manifest was give in.

Horrifying, but something he could handle, somehow. It's unnatural, for a politician to be so used to such things. ]

I think... I've seen others who took it worse. I don't envy Ambassador Baal one bit, for dealing with it.

Were you caught up inside? Or had you been away in DC at the time?

[ How up close and personal did Mitch get with that thing is the question? And perhaps Chilton's exposure to it is what's wrong with him now. Perhaps there are lingering effects from that thing as far as everyone who went is concerned. ]

I...unfortunately was, yeah.

[ A note of disapproval. ] It was...deeply unpleasant.

[ Oh wow! ]

I can imagine -- from what I've seen on the network and stories I've read. You've made a full recovery by this point, yes?

Well, I don't look like I've through the machine in the Fly but with machines, so...

Yeah, I've recovered pretty well. Lucky me, I know not everyone has.

Your physical appearance wasn't quite what I meant...

Oh, you mean my -- my mind?

I'm...fine. [ A long pause. ] I've... I've seen weirder stuff.

I could not venture to guess. But I do know your character. And I know you are not easily broken. You cannot be as a politician.

[ Though after that, Baelish switches things to private. ]

I do have my concerns about lingering effects, however. Dr. Chilton, for example, is exhibiting some erratic behavior. And he went inside that thing, did he not?

Is he?

[ A pause, longer than usual. ]

I -- Shit, I hope...

I directed someone toward him, in an effort to get her help. I hope... that didn't set him off. I wanted to help, not make someone else just as bad, or worse.

I would like to hope with his training and expertise, he would be able to be professional on the job and not take what is talked about home with him. However...judging by the conversation he is having with me here, I do have to wonder.

I will be meeting with him shortly. Perhaps I can determine more -- but I was not in there. I don't really know the sorts of things you all had seen....or experienced.

Yes, I expect he can. These are...unique circumstances.

But it was... Petyr... it was a lot of shit. Parts of us were falling off, peeling away. I found that there were...electronics deeper under my skin, and I -- I don't know that most people are ready to see that. I at least... I had half of my head blown off once, I can at least deal, but not everyone is ready for that.

There is a drastic difference in what people have seen in their lives or in this world compared to what they can handle when it is happening to them, personally. These things that go beyond logic, these scientific anomalies -- they sound quite frankly horrifying. And more horrifying, perhaps, is the complete loss of control you and the others experienced. You could do nothing to stop what was happening to you.

How long did it take you to return to normal afterward?

Heh. Yeah. You couldn't. [ Said with no lack of irony. Clearly, Mitchell is thinking about something else in that moment, his voice even took on that distant tone. He, after all, had his body warped and changed against his will, disfigured similar to what he went through, in his own world.

And he knows he got off lucky, if his dreams were true. ]

Not that long, but... I'm pretty sure I'm lucky. I probably uh -- I probably looked fine before it was already gone. Maybe less than a day.

It grew out of my... my already existing alterations.

[ The odd scar on the side of his face, no doubt....is what is meant by already existing alterations. But Baelish politely doesn't press on the subject. ]

I am glad it was relatively quick. But have you considered getting checked out by a scientist afterward? To make sure there isn't any lasting damage you cannot see?

[ He has a recommendation, of course. He's pretty sure Hange would love it. ]

Oh -- er -- no.

[ A pause. ]

I'd know. It's... it's complicated, but I'd know if it was...expanded.

007; Video

voice

voice

voice

voice

voice

voice

voice

voice

voice

voice --> private

private

private

private

private

private

private

private