2nd Oration / Voice

[dun_moch]

[Dooku's voice on the Network is difficult to miss: deep, resonant, rich, and inexplicably British despite him being from space.]

Good evening, my friends. As his probation officer, I feel it is my duty to inform you that Death the Kid has departed from this universe.

[Pause]

A pity, really. He only had a few days remaining on his sentence. I was looking forward to recommending his freedom from government supervision.

Now then, there is another matter I wish to discuss. I have been considering the role of emotion in the matters of power. ImPort abilities often seem tied to how we feel. Passions such as anger and fear can threaten our control, yet they can also spur our powers to greater heights in times of need.

In my Galaxy, there are two philosophies which have debated these issues for many thousands of years. One believes in the denial of passion. They insist upon tranquility and harmony. It is their belief that only a calm heart, without attachments, can attain true wisdom in serving others. They do not even allow themselves to fall in love...

[The Count's voice drops slightly, becoming a touch darker.]

The other perspective calls this a lie. It accepts passion as the truth of all living things, and draws power from it. It teaches that even the strongest of emotions can be embraced, and disciplined, and used to great effect.

I would be interested to know what my fellow imPorts think on this matter. Are our feelings to be repressed, or embraced? Which path do you believe will lead to greater fulfillment?

[Talk to the Sith Lord about feelings, Network. Also, if you're tagging him for the first time it's a good idea to check out his permissions post!]

Comments

[resipiscent]

[This statement startles a laugh out of him.]

You think so? I think I've got a ways to go, myself.

[His experiences since leaving home have shown him that he is the complete opposite of wise.]

Private

[cantwalkwithoutit]

[ He laughed. ]

The terms never change; you are expecting to reach into the essence of creation and reality itself without need of sacrifice. There always will be.

There will always be rules, and they don't change. However, once put to words, they can be...creatively interpreted. ...That's where I come in.

[pillz]

Man, big oil sounds creepy enough. Big robots, that's some next-level shit.

[to people who are not kavinsky's contemporaries, he often sounds like he's just yelling random words. but this is probably true of kavinsky's contemporaries too, actually. his exact age and demographic. people who went to school with him. and honestly, most of the time, he yells garbage because he doesn't care.

but he might care about this. freedom and survival and all.]

You tried asking? Or the Feds are stonewalling you?

[matadorable]

Oh. Security. I see... [He's a bit apologetic for asking a potentially personal question, but there's some disappointment in his voice too.] Sometimes I wonder if I'm using my powers to my full potential. You have obviously accomplished many things in your life, so you must have lots of wisdom to share too. Do you have any advice?

[knightunerring]

[There's a decently lengthy pause while Flynn organizes this in the context of what the Count has explained so far. War and corrupt governments are definitely things that strike a sympathetic chord with him, all else aside.]

I see. So Serenno and an Alliance of other planets are fighting for independence against the interstellar democracy you mentioned. [Assuming he has all the pieces there correct and there aren't even more moving parts to this.]

...This must be a difficult time for you to be pulled away from your duty there. The Porter really doesn't have much consideration.

[leonized]

Ah.

[So it is something you're born with. And it's rare. Very unlike how magic worked in his world. At least, he thought of this like magic.]

So those people are the ones who end up in power?

Private

[dun_moch]

I have a great respect for those who can be creative in their interpretations. But it is all a matter of how much leeway you might be able to find in these rules you are bound by.

Private

[cantwalkwithoutit]

That all depends. What do you love most?

[dun_moch]

[He definitely sounds like he is yelling random garbage... yet the more Dooku becomes accustomed to his odd patterns, the more the Count begins to realize that there is sense under the jargon.]

I have not, for two reasons. The first is that the government has a long and well-established history of lacking transparency. Any question I asked would surely not receive a useful answer.

The second is that if I were to ask, they would know of my interest in this matter... and that could easily draw unwanted attention. They already have reason to be displeased with me, you see.

[dun_moch]

[Dooku smiles at that question. Another willing and eager apprentice for his teachings... excellent. Manolo doesn't have a fraction of the potential that Ken Kaneki did, but the Count is confident he could be useful nonetheless.]

Certainly, my friend. I would be pleased to advise you in these matters... and I have much to share. Perhaps we should meet in person sometime soon, and discuss these things over tea.

[dun_moch]

That is indeed the case... on both points. Even knowing that time will not pass while I am here, I often find myself anxious to return to my duties.

I was taken to this place while on the verge of a major confrontation. One that may mean the difference between victory and destruction for our cause. It is my hope that very soon, our Galaxy will know peace once more.

But I am sorry to have diverted you, Flynn. You simply wanted to know about stellar governance, and here I have begun to ramble about wars you have no stake in. Please, forgive me.

voice.

[glowsferatu]

Only at the start. But that it was only at the start is just one more reason they revere and deify them. But the people who do include all 25 years of the first wave in that, when a much smaller percentage would have been directly involved.

And, if the police state had persisted until 2010, I can't imagine any imPort would be able to elect to return to their source world at will before that.

[matadorable]

Really? [On the other end of the line, Manolo perks up with a smile, blissfully unaware of the Count’s true thoughts.] You are not too busy? I know you’ve been working hard on your music career these days, so…

: [text]

[thelimitdoesnotexist]

[He never raised an arm to him during their encounter...perhaps he had some interesting if odd insight.]

I don't intend on letting anyone make that for me.

perhaps I will seek you out in the future.

[knightunerring]

Ah--it's fine. If anything, I'm sorry for asking about troubling things like that. I was fortunate with the Porter myself, but if it had taken me from a few months earlier, I'd be in a similar position. I think I can understand how worried you must be.

[It's his first real smile of of the conversation, and even without video the genuine sympathy carries over to his tone.]

Private;

[angelfire]

So many exciting titles. And some that you don't find flattering, I'm sure. I have them too. What is it my brothers call me? "The Adversary"--that's my favorite.

[ But he makes an assertive noise in response to the rest. ]

We can meet. The timing is up to you. I can go anywhere, any time. I don't sleep. But my church, in Miami, is my sanctuary. If you're worried about any kind of ears, they won't hear you hear. My magic prevents it.

[pillz]

[kavinsky pauses for longer than he strictly needs to. he is actually surprised that count "underground railroad" dooku has run afoul of the feds, which is probably stupid if you seriously think about the particular historical events that that silly pseud refers to. he's just young and dumb. he forgets that the vast majority of rebellions are waged in truly righteous fury, by people who think that the ends justify the means.

rather than, you know. knowing and deliberate creeps, by himself.]

Well shit. What'd you do to piss them off, gramps?

Private

[dun_moch]

[There's a brief silence before Dooku responds.]

That is not a topic to discuss in a first conversation, I think. Perhaps it can be revisited the next time we speak... in person, I would prefer.

[dun_moch]

Your understanding is appreciated... thank you.

[Achievement unlocked: gain sympathy for your plutocratic rebellion that ripped the Galaxy apart.]

You have also faced war in your world, then?

[dun_moch]

[It's basically Space Magic, jargon about energy fields notwithstanding.]

That is the case. Even when they do not openly wield political power, their abilities grant them great influence over galactic affairs. They may be active in peacekeeping, law enforcement, diplomacy... all fields which involve shaping the destinies of others.

Private;

[dun_moch]

The Adversary? How very fitting for you.

[The Count considers for a moment. Miami is a long way to travel, and the last time he met someone in his sanctuary, it turned into a lightsaber duel. Yet at the same time, Dooku is curious to see what the Adversary has created for himself in this world- what assets he has to offer the cause.]

I believe I will take you up on your offer. You may expect me in Miami sometime soon.

[OOC: Log in June?]

[dun_moch]

It is no trouble at all. I have been hard at work on many priorities... including assisting my fellow imPorts.

Perhaps we could combine our interests. You could tell me more about being a musician, while I give you advice regarding your powers.

[text]

[dun_moch]

Very good, then. I will look forward to your contact, if you decide to pursue this path.

[dun_moch]

[The Count chuckles darkly.]

I sang, if you can believe that. The government assigned me a performance career upon my arrival here. I decided to use my music as a platform to remind the world that this nation was once a police state, and that it was the imPorts who saved democracy.

The authorities and the media were most displeased with my... artistic decisions. It seems that even the most justified criticism can be treated as subversive by those in the mainstream.

[knightunerring]

[Goes right next to the 'slightly less transparently cackling evil than Palpatine' achievement.]

Our last true war was ten years ago, before my time. But a few months ago the former Commandant of the Imperial Knights staged a rebellion and managed to seize control of the capital. We're just fortunate that it didn't escalate into full civil war.

[He only briefly considers trying to explain the eldritch abomination space octopus fiasco that followed. That wasn't really a war, that's just... Terca Lumireis.]