i need a knack for keepin' out of trouble:

[capemods]

WHO: ImPorts in Venezuela
WHERE: Mérida, Venezuela
WHEN: October 15th 2012 - October 18th 2012
WARNINGS: Strong language is likely. Potential violence.
SUMMARY: President Pisani throws a festival for imPorts one and all! While this is a catchall log for the first four days and set wholly in Merida, you are not limited to those parameters. If you want to pursue your own logs too, feel free!
FORMAT: Whatever you'd like.


It was a beautiful city, green and lush. Morning mist locked fingers with older stone and quiet brick. Much of the populace lulled in the valley between two solid growths of mountains, cushioned in an ancient palm and electrified by the lively pulse of the crisp, rain-courted air. The temperature is brisk, chilly, but that shouldn't discourage you from enjoying the lakes and rivers breathing through the land. The city itself is equally crisp and its usually pristine avenues are ablaze with color; banners and posters and warm hellos. There was warmth everywhere, in homes and faces and hands.

Welcome to Mérida, Hero.

Comments

[waiting]

So he can't know about this - or he can't know it comes from you. [ It sounds ... Bradbury doesn't like how it sounds. He knows Mitch cares about appearances, especially in politics, where appearances are sometimes all the difference there is between winning one more political ally than not. Manipulating public impressions isn't really something Bradbury's had a lot of practice at, but keeping secrets is one thing he knows how to do.

Fuck, but Rick hates politics. But this is a part of the job, too, and if it's anything that might give him an advantage, stay one step ahead of any potential mess? He'll take it. ]

All right. [ He says at last. ] We gotta deal. But I'm gonna go ahead and ask: is this a one-time-offer only thing?

[ Wanted man or not, Jack used to be a cop here. And Bradbury's been seriously feeling the lack of his own sources and connections from back home hampering his job. ]

[out_of_time]

That's up to you. I'm asking this because this trip is a high-risk situation, but if you want to keep in contact after we're all back in the City, I'm willing.

[Not just willing- eager, enthusiastic. However removed Jack is from the system, despite the freedom it gives him, he does miss being plugged in, having resources and connections, a team. The chance to operate vicariously through Bradbury is more than tempting.]

[waiting]

I'll think about it. [ Not a yes, not a no, but an answer that simply suggests that he's open to the possibility. City Hall's security team is a far cry from a private army, despite the roster it's made up of, but within the confines of his position, Bradbury wants to do what he can. ]

How do I get in touch with you when I need you? [ He assumes Jack knows that Mitch talks to machines, so any method of communication using those would be risky. ]

[out_of_time]

Sounds good. [He'll just have to earn further interest by proving how useful his ways can be.]

There's a dead drop located near the hotel. I check it at least once a day.

[He hands Rick a small piece of paper with the details on it. Going back to old-school fieldcraft like this feels odd for Jack, who has spent much of his career immersed in electronics, but that's what you get when the Mayor is on a first-name basis with cell phones.]

[waiting]

[ Bradbury takes the paper, skimming it for details and memorizing it before he tucks it into a back pocket. Judging by the wry smile on his face, he finds the relative primitiveness of this funny, though he knows he really shouldn't. Kicking it old-school style. ]

Feels like we should be exchanging codenames or something, too.

[out_of_time]

Yeah, we should. [If Jack sees any humour or is in fact capable of humour, he doesn't show it.] Any message you pass to me, you should address it to 'Ron.'

[waiting]

[ Business, then. Rick hesitates for a moment, thinking, then settles on: ] I'll go with York.

[ New York, like back in the Marines, but that would be too obvious a pseudonym. ]

[out_of_time]

York, then. [Jack nods again, then stands up to leave. Staying much longer would be a risk.]

I'll be in touch if I find anything you should know. You're not gonna regret this, Rick.

[Rick will probably regret this.]

[waiting]

[ He already kind of does. ]

Yeah. See you around.

[ He'll watch Jack until he disappears into the crowd, then take a long pull from his beer. After that, he figures he needs a drink. ]