08-08-2013, 08:05 PM
It'd been a long day--Nicholas had been coordinating fundraisers for Dayton disaster victims, editing news articles from other Vulpesnet contributors and drinking. Perhaps a bit more heavily than he should have... but how else do you handle figuring out that you can use goddamn magic?
He still couldn't control it, but he knew it was there if he could just--nothing.
Again. Another shot, then. The wonders of working from home in the modern age.
Since the interview, and the Dayton disaster, his daily routine had been pretty constant. Keep up appearances to the outside world and try to figure out what the fuck is going on.
He tried to do some real good, of course. "Lord knows those poor bastards in Ohio could use a little."
But even with the near-constant workflow he was bored, professionally. No new stories broke out, no new diseases or cures. No new cults mutilating the genitalia of pregnant women--now that was a Pulitzer.
So it was with a resigned feeling, a lack of expectation, that he keyed into his mail feed. And for the most part he was right, until his eyes drifted--a little more slowly and wobbly than they should have--to a message with an interesting subject line.
It was addressed simply enough, to Nicholas Trano's Vulpesnet account. But the sender, now that was interesting. CCD press corps, executive office of the Ascendancy. Probably some cease and desist letter threatening him with prosecution or a civil suit for demonizing the CCD--he'd gotten those before. But the sender was new, he usually got the threats from their judicial custody. So he opened it.
<small>Nicholas Trano,
Vulpesnet
In response to allegations that political freedom of speech has been hindered in the CCD capital, the Custody is formally inviting members of nonCustody-accredited press to participate in a two-week rotation on the Ascendancy's Pool--the Moscow journalists accredited to regularly cover the activities of the Ascendancy.
</small>
So essentially they were asking him to come on a guided tour through their city, like the Norks did back in the early nineties up through the tens and twenties. He'd probably see a few sights, talk to a few actors and get shipped straight on home, with the implied expectation that he give them a glowing recommendation as the future overlords of America. Not buying it.
<small>If accepted, you will be provided an honorarium, travel, amd five-star accomodation, with access to on-site Custody press conferences, be eligible to cover news of the day, and attend regularly scheduled AP events such as dinners, flights, and tours.
</small>
Well at least they're trying hard to get me to spread my legs before they fuck me.
People had called him a whore for the radical right before--a ridiculous statement. As far as conservatives went he was pretty moderate in his own opinion--but even if they were right, he would be a damn high class whore. Nicholas didn't take payment in the form of fancy dinners and tours. Time for another shot.
<small>The Central Custody Press Corps have also invited representatives from China's Oriental Daily, the Australian Broadasting Corporation, the Canadian Press, and Notimex.
Your immediate response requested.
</small>
Hah.
They were trying to win over famous news personalities from every country that wasn't already under Dominion control or too much of a shithole to want. He couldn't call it particularly clever--it was, after all, a pretty obvious decision--but it wasn't a bad idea either. Well, they can call up Piers if they want someone to deep throat their egos. When is that bastard going to retire?
His decision-making may not have been the best at the time, but he was right. In the wake of the Dayton disaster, America needed him far more than the CCD did. And even if his country didn't need him more, he was more loyal to it than he would ever be to the CCD. He wasn't going to spend time in a five star hotel being lied to by politicians while there were people to help.
He still had to schedule two more fundraisers. It was going to be a long week, and he'd have to... he looked at the bottle--he didn't even know what he'd grabbed other than that it was clear and strong. Half empty. Scheduling could wait until tomorrow.
Still, he swiped over to the reply screen. A simple no would do.
Edited by Nick Trano, Aug 22 2013, 09:49 PM.
He still couldn't control it, but he knew it was there if he could just--nothing.
Again. Another shot, then. The wonders of working from home in the modern age.
Since the interview, and the Dayton disaster, his daily routine had been pretty constant. Keep up appearances to the outside world and try to figure out what the fuck is going on.
He tried to do some real good, of course. "Lord knows those poor bastards in Ohio could use a little."
But even with the near-constant workflow he was bored, professionally. No new stories broke out, no new diseases or cures. No new cults mutilating the genitalia of pregnant women--now that was a Pulitzer.
So it was with a resigned feeling, a lack of expectation, that he keyed into his mail feed. And for the most part he was right, until his eyes drifted--a little more slowly and wobbly than they should have--to a message with an interesting subject line.
It was addressed simply enough, to Nicholas Trano's Vulpesnet account. But the sender, now that was interesting. CCD press corps, executive office of the Ascendancy. Probably some cease and desist letter threatening him with prosecution or a civil suit for demonizing the CCD--he'd gotten those before. But the sender was new, he usually got the threats from their judicial custody. So he opened it.
<small>Nicholas Trano,
Vulpesnet
In response to allegations that political freedom of speech has been hindered in the CCD capital, the Custody is formally inviting members of nonCustody-accredited press to participate in a two-week rotation on the Ascendancy's Pool--the Moscow journalists accredited to regularly cover the activities of the Ascendancy.
</small>
So essentially they were asking him to come on a guided tour through their city, like the Norks did back in the early nineties up through the tens and twenties. He'd probably see a few sights, talk to a few actors and get shipped straight on home, with the implied expectation that he give them a glowing recommendation as the future overlords of America. Not buying it.
<small>If accepted, you will be provided an honorarium, travel, amd five-star accomodation, with access to on-site Custody press conferences, be eligible to cover news of the day, and attend regularly scheduled AP events such as dinners, flights, and tours.
</small>
Well at least they're trying hard to get me to spread my legs before they fuck me.
People had called him a whore for the radical right before--a ridiculous statement. As far as conservatives went he was pretty moderate in his own opinion--but even if they were right, he would be a damn high class whore. Nicholas didn't take payment in the form of fancy dinners and tours. Time for another shot.
<small>The Central Custody Press Corps have also invited representatives from China's Oriental Daily, the Australian Broadasting Corporation, the Canadian Press, and Notimex.
Your immediate response requested.
</small>
Hah.
They were trying to win over famous news personalities from every country that wasn't already under Dominion control or too much of a shithole to want. He couldn't call it particularly clever--it was, after all, a pretty obvious decision--but it wasn't a bad idea either. Well, they can call up Piers if they want someone to deep throat their egos. When is that bastard going to retire?
His decision-making may not have been the best at the time, but he was right. In the wake of the Dayton disaster, America needed him far more than the CCD did. And even if his country didn't need him more, he was more loyal to it than he would ever be to the CCD. He wasn't going to spend time in a five star hotel being lied to by politicians while there were people to help.
He still had to schedule two more fundraisers. It was going to be a long week, and he'd have to... he looked at the bottle--he didn't even know what he'd grabbed other than that it was clear and strong. Half empty. Scheduling could wait until tomorrow.
Still, he swiped over to the reply screen. A simple no would do.
Edited by Nick Trano, Aug 22 2013, 09:49 PM.