fettchquest (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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maskormenace2019-10-13 09:45 pm
fettchquest) wrote in maskormenace2019-10-13 09:45 pm
video;
[When a new imPort arrives, it isn’t uncommon for them to make an introduction via comms. Fett recalls that most of those newcomers would open with questions, about this world, their powers, how they might return home—but Fett isn’t new, not really. Even if he were, he’s not one for introductions.
Warnings are more his style. Especially to those who might bring up less favorable memories of his last time here.
The video feed that opens isn’t focused on Fett at all. Instead, a middle-aged man in bulky clothes hangs suspended about a foot off the ground by his ankles, tethered to something offscreen by a fibercord. Some more experienced imPorts may recognize him as one of the criminal elements in Maurtia Falls. He’s breathing hard, face panicked as he stares into the camera. The screen shifts slightly, as if the person behind it has given some sort of cue.
The hanged man begins to speak.]
This— [He swallows.] This is a message f-from the holder of this account. He would like to make known th-that he isn’t interested in resuming his employment as a smuggl— [The man’s eyes suddenly bulge and he waves his arms in a frantic conciliatory gesture.] Courier! I mean courier!
[There’s a beat of silence and then the man gives a shaky exhale before continuing in a tight voice.] He asks that all previous employers respect his wishes and privacy regarding his employment. Any offers or demands to the contrary will be met with a, ah… forceful rejection.
[Another pause and the man’s eyes move to someone offscreen.] Is… is that all?
[As if in answer, there’s a snap as the fibercord suddenly slackens and the man yelps as he tumbles to the ground.
With that, the video feed cuts out.]
Warnings are more his style. Especially to those who might bring up less favorable memories of his last time here.
The video feed that opens isn’t focused on Fett at all. Instead, a middle-aged man in bulky clothes hangs suspended about a foot off the ground by his ankles, tethered to something offscreen by a fibercord. Some more experienced imPorts may recognize him as one of the criminal elements in Maurtia Falls. He’s breathing hard, face panicked as he stares into the camera. The screen shifts slightly, as if the person behind it has given some sort of cue.
The hanged man begins to speak.]
This— [He swallows.] This is a message f-from the holder of this account. He would like to make known th-that he isn’t interested in resuming his employment as a smuggl— [The man’s eyes suddenly bulge and he waves his arms in a frantic conciliatory gesture.] Courier! I mean courier!
[There’s a beat of silence and then the man gives a shaky exhale before continuing in a tight voice.] He asks that all previous employers respect his wishes and privacy regarding his employment. Any offers or demands to the contrary will be met with a, ah… forceful rejection.
[Another pause and the man’s eyes move to someone offscreen.] Is… is that all?
[As if in answer, there’s a snap as the fibercord suddenly slackens and the man yelps as he tumbles to the ground.
With that, the video feed cuts out.]
no subject
Boba?? That you, bud?
Boy do I know a couple of clones that'll be glad to see you!
audio;
Fett ignores the inexplicable urge to respond via text.]
It’s me.
[It’ll be the same Concord Dawn accent Poe remembers—just significantly older.]
video;
Sounds like the Porter pulled you in from later, huh.
[ Oh. Oh, that meant he might actually be a bounty hunter now...
Trying to not sound excited: ]
You, uh, mind me asking when you came from, this time?
no subject
Year 39. 23 years on my end.
no subject
Oh.
... Okay how do you politely ask a guy if he's dead?
Maybe you just don't. ]
Damn. That's a hell of a time jump.
You, uh... you okay?
[ Yeah he knows how stupid that sounds the instant it comes out of his mouth. ]
no subject
Is there a reason I wouldn’t be?
no subject
It's just gotta be a lot to take in all at once, you know?
The time jumps I've done haven't ever been more than a few hours, and it's still enough to mess me up.
[ ... nailed it? ]
no subject
You knew of me the first time I was here, [he says, an iciness to his voice that doesn’t seem to recall any of the amiability of their prior encounter.] You said you’d seen holos.
[Of Slave I, true. But it would be odd for someone to know about a ship like that and to not know even in broad strokes of her pilot.]
You’d know better than me whether I was “okay.” [A pause, deliberate.] Wouldn’t you?
no subject
Uhhhhh...
[ Yeah, he’s totally got this. ]
I mean, a year is a long time.
And I’m my experience it’s a bad idea to talk to people about stuff they haven’t lived through yet.
no subject
A finger taps the side of his communicator as Fett considers. He could press further. He could make Poe talk, one way or another, drag out whatever it is he’s so hesitant to say.
And then forget it the second he returned home. Fett actually frowns beneath his helmet, a rare and ultimately pointless instance of expression.]
Perhaps you’re right, [he concedes, voice as impassive as ever. If what happens here can’t affect the future, then his focus should be the present, anyway.] Who else from our galaxy is here?
Video
Soliciting criminal acts is in itself a crime. Will the suspect be turned over to local police?
[Poe may be just a little bit off in his assessment of gladness levels, but this is as close as he can get while speaking in an official capacity.]
audio;
Fett appreciates the professionalism. It makes it that much easier to respond in kind.]
Do they pay?
no subject
Be advised: Rex is still working for them. [Which is a good thing. Rex helps keep the locals honest. But he remembers how they left things before Boba ported out.]
no subject
And you?
no subject
no subject
[What he’d known about Aegis Force as a boy, he’d known from their occasional presence on the network, calling for imPort support with whatever disaster had most recently made landfall. As a kind of law enforcement, they’d made him suspicious. But he’s had more clients than Jabba now. He knows that law enforcement can be just as viable a source of income.]
What’s the penalty for rogue imPorts? Execution seems unreliable.
no subject
Imprisonment, power dampening, probation. The power dampeners will take away your gear as well.
[Perhaps that would make a difference. Or perhaps this was going to be an absolute mess. The message sent had been clear enough confirmation of what he'd already suspected: Boba had done illegal jobs here as a child. As an adult now, he might've moved on to even more dangerous and destructive work.
But that didn't mean he didn't deserve to know about dangers that had been revealed since he left.]
Reality's gotten more unstable here. More anomalies. Not all of them are dangerous, but we've seen civilian casualties recently.
no subject
Especially if the former has the ability to skin him of his armor.]
Define “rogue imPorts.”
[Video]
That's a very boldly public way to make a point.
text;
No point in subtlety.
Re: text;
text;
text;
video;
Boba? You got... tall.
video;
no response;
video »
Was that really the only way to get your point across?
Re: video »
[Just the most effective.]
video »
[ unimpressed. ]
no subject
video;
no response;
no subject
Oh man. Thank you for that today. Thank you.
no response;
video;
Well, someone's secretive. Or just a coward.
audio;
Neither.
audio;
no subject
[His network ID remains unchanged. He isn’t taking on a new name or identity like he had the first time he was here. And if Catra cared to peruse any of the other responses, she’d see that others had already figured out who they’re talking to.
She’s the only one who hasn’t figured it out yet.]
Perhaps you’re just unobservant.
video;
[ Oh, NOW she's looking at the ID. ]
Pipsqueak??
no subject
[It’s completely deadpan, with none of the kneejerk outrage that nickname would’ve provoked when he was younger.]
I see you haven’t changed.
[At all.]
no subject
Not.