007; Video

[baetiful]

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.

Comments

[baetiful]

[ Your empathy is amazing, Sinjir!!!! ]

It is the nature of the beast, isn't it? So many of us come in with that same sort of attitude to not become attached, and yet in spite of our best efforts -- someone will come along to make that a challenge.

[pickledturncoat]

[Amazing in its non-existence.]

Perhaps some of us are more determined in that respect than others.

[baetiful]

Then I would venture to gamble they will meet someone who is equally determined to draw someone out of their shell. Some of the people here are ridiculously optimistic and overly friendly.

[pickledturncoat]

Mm, yes, so they are.

Disgusting, isn't it?

[baetiful]

Unnatural, surely. I would not go as far to say disgusting, no.

[ Haen had been that way herself, hadn't she? ]

But I do think it will make them more liable to be hurt -- either when people they're close to get ported out or because they foolishly march straight into harm's way while playing heroics.

[pickledturncoat]

You are not me, obviously.

[A thing for which Baelish should be very thankful.]

We do seem to have an abundance of those, don't we? Striving to live up to the registered hero tattoo.

[baetiful]

We do. I suppose it is good as there's no shortage of things for them to do here, but...

[ He shrugs helplessly. It's still a dangerous way to be. ]

I am curious, though. Do you keep people at a distance to protect yourself or is it to protect them?

[pickledturncoat]

Oh, is it candid answer time? Fine then.

To protect them from me.

[baetiful]

No pressure to answer. I just cannot help but be interested in you, Sinjir.

[ Baelish is honest when he says that. Sinjir has always been an interesting sort of man, one who hid behind the layers of sarcasm and charm. So getting the chance to dig into the more meaty parts of his personality? Don't mind of Baelish tries.... ]

So what is it about yourself you want to protect them from?

[pickledturncoat]

You know, it's generally the thing to find out more about a person before you hire them.

Would it be off-putting at all if I told you I used to be a bad man?

[baetiful]

Sure, but that would only be if who they are will affect their ability to do the job. And I do not believe that to be the case for you.

[ A pause at the question. But after a bit of thought, he shakes his head. ]

Not entirely -- if only because you said the keywords: used to be. Meaning you are not one any longer. What sorts of things do you believe made you a bad man?

[pickledturncoat]

A bad man who's trying to be a better one might still end up being a bad man.

I'm exceedingly good at torturing people.

[baetiful]

Being good at something and enjoying it are two drastically different things. So I suppose the question is, did you enjoy it?

[pickledturncoat]

The job was to use physical and emotional means to break a person and elicit a confession. There's a certain amount of satisfaction in achieving that goal.

[baetiful]

But it's not something you wish to continue doing, even though there is a market for it in this world? Especially within Maurtia Falls.

[pickledturncoat]

Before I was brought here, I had the opportunity to use my powers for the good guys, rather than the bad guys. It... didn't make me feel like a better person.

[baetiful]

So what do you think would make you happy? Or is this what you are still trying to figure out?

[pickledturncoat]

At the moment? Having another drink. Cheers!