2020-09-15 - The Importance of Diplomacy

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : You can't have the Library.

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : The Glorious Empire of the Rising Sun will accept a generous donation to consider its attention turned on other Wonders...

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : I don't see why I should have to bribe you for my Library. It has my name on it!

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : Mostly my name.

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : But I've already hired the masonry guy. The lumber shows up tomorrow. My citizens were promised jobs. You see my predicament?

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : Also, given your insistence on names, it seems strange to ignore its not really your name on it.

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : Your citizens are welcome to have jobs in my empire, as soon as the computer player in Mongolia stops trying to conquer me with cavemen.

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : And it's not a real thing. I mean. It WAS a real thing. But it's not a real thing in the game, so it doesn't really matter what you call it.

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : I just like that it's close.

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : And it's filled with imaginary books.

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : Oh? Sounds like Mongolia has their armies west of the Himalayas.

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : We will take this information in trade. You may have your Library. The Glorious Empire thanks you.

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : Thank you! 🙂

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : Found anything else out? Also, you hear about those murders on Elm?

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : Byron Thorne is curious and is looking into the video game angle as an investor. See if he can figure out where they get the ideas for their quests - if it's a specific dev pushing them, or whatever? I think we three should meet and talk it out. I also invited him to play with us sometime.

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : I heard about the murders. It might be due to the underworld unrest.

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : Hmm. Might try bothering Wilkerson again. I'm usually only allowed to work on what they give me... Which is BORING. Also, did you know how many hoops you have to jump through if you want to hack someone's social media legally?

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : Yes. It's one of the many reasons I'm not a police officer. Sometimes the direct method is faster.

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : Its a lot. Do you think Javier will be opposed to parallel construction?

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : (...)

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : In my experience, he can be flexible.

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : But my gun got thrown out, and that wasn't even inadmissible, so he might want to be careful.

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : (gif of a table flip)

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : Well, if there was ever something convincing me to reopen my shop, its that working for others bloooows.

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : It does. The justice system in general has a lot of rules. Which are good rules, in theory.

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : P.S. Is Thorne any good? We can't have scrubs in the guild.

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : I've never seen him play a game. But he says he does. You are welcome to challenge him for the right of admission if you want. He says he has a PS4?

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : I'm just sayin... No Scrubs

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : I mean, he had a PS4 before. We see how well he took care of that.

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : That outfit looks uncomfortable. Also, that wasn't his fault! His car got set on fire. It was a NICE car.

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : (shrug gif)

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : Look, sometimes you sacrifice comfort for fashion.

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : I don't. Usually. But it is a valid lifestyle choice.

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : I don’t presume to question the cost/benefit analysis of Left Eye, God rest her soul.

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : I may be too old or too desperately uncool to know who that is.

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : (another gif)

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes, best known for being 1/3 of TLC, the group who sang No Scrubs.

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : Oh! Yeah. Count me as 'desperately uncool', since I think they were actually popular when I was a teenager.

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : You sure? I was already trying to pick out a walker for your birthday.

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : Might be helpful. My leg exploded.

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : Ok, I was joking but whaaat duuuhhh fuuuck?

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : Isabella, August, Itzhak and I went over to try and figure out wtf is happening with these false memories. We got turned into balloons and popped on a circus tent that was topped with spikes. Isabella's arm popped, my leg.

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : That's a great mental image. So fucking with our memories is like sure big circus over there.

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : You need anything? Food? Medicine?

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : Less fun to experience. Being a balloon was okay, though. But...maybe. Or maybe a circus is 'in town' over there and this is one of the ways its presence manifests? Could explain why the the memories are so random and tend towards the sensational - it's like a show?

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : I...thank you. For the offer. I'm okay, though.

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : Well, two ways to end a circus.

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : Does one involve setting it on fire? Because I'm favoring fire.

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : It's either that or a dance number with Hugh Jackman. Both sound fun.

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : I don't dance, so still hoping for fire. 🙂

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : (Another gif)

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : Okay, that's impressive, and I like his jacket.

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : So what you’re saying is, fix the leg, get the jacket, there’s a chance?

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : I don't dance. But I will happily watch other people dance and hum along with the music.

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : Ok, I’ll throw in the top hat. Final offer.

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : I don't dance. But I will not stop you from wearing the top hat or the magnificent jacket or dancing with Hugh Jackman, as it pleases you.

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : (Disappointed gif)

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : The greater disappointment would be seeing me flail around like an electrocuted octopus.

(TXT to Alexander) Abitha : To who? 😆

(TXT to Abitha) Alexander : To the world. The whole, entire world.