dualisnet | (no subject)

[Text]

This is Hank Anderson, and I recently got my promotion so it's now Det. Hank Anderson. Which is why I wanted to make this announcement.

[Hank still wants to research into the missing people and initiate his vague plan to devalue the iterations. Right now the public see them as a protective force for good. Hank wants the people to see other fucking people as their reliable protective force. That in the many variations of temperaments and personalities and creative resolutions to conflict, they can find their safety.]

I have a case that could use some assistance from some specialized outsiders. If you could come to me and lay out your experience and training, I would like to offer you temporary deputy work in helping solve this case.

Necessary qualifications include:
-Combat against armed opponents
-Negotiation and Interrogation
-Ability to secure an area until CSI arrives (cursory crime scene analysis a bonus)

Due to Dualis's policy on providing payment through credit, if you would want rewards we would have to attach a name to your activities. However if you'd want to work off-record [which is as close to anonymously as he can get] we could come to some sort of arrangement such as donated payment.

I'll be at the cat cafe to conduct interviews 4:00 to 6:00 in the afternoon for the next week. You can show up when it's convenient to talk. Sounds like a fucking weird place for it, yes, it'll make more sense when you're there.

I've also arranged for donated goods to be offered when people come in and might find themselves in a state of disrepair or any nicer version of saying fucked the hell up. New clothes, medical things like crutches for people with chronic conditions, sanitary supplies like soap and toothbrushes, things of that nature. So if you want to donate something to the people coming in there's a donation box in the dormitory's lower entryway and they'll be taken to the temple.

[Action]

Like he promises, Hank's waiting around at the cat cafe whenever someone shows up. Usually reading a book, sometimes bored, sometimes deeply into it. Right by his side though? A mammoth green cat, purring and resting her head against his arm. She's twitching her tail to and fro.

Hank is pretty sure he'll be able to tell if someone is bullshitting their credentials and whether they'll do intentional harm with their new role. It's hard to do background checks when different universes are involved, but he thinks he's figured out a way to beat the system without having to use any of the department's lie detectors.

Note: Plotting post here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Dualis's currency works strictly on a credit system so we can't pay you without giving the police department your name. I've already cleared that money can go to a business or a charity of your naming, though.

[That way no specific name would be attached to Charles' abilities, even vicariously.]

Do you have any experience specifically with the drug trade or organized crime?

[ charles shakes his head. ]

No. You don't really get that kind of exposure with running a school.

That's fair.

There's not a lot of rampant theft and violence in Dualis. This is a police state, it's nearly impossible to get away with anything like that. Usually the crime in Dualis is neatly organized, has a lot to do with smuggling and kickbacks, some blue-collar crime. That kind of thing. And like most organized crime it has a familial military structure. A leader, a sort of parent. Someone who manages finances and business. Someone who manages physical enforcement. And all the people that work under them.

There are two families in Dualis made mostly out of people that come from that sort of lifestyle and history. One in the north and one in the south. But I'm predicting she's working in the same way, it's pretty standard. Someone's running violence. Someone's running finances and production. Wiping people out in performance killings, open drug possession and sales? That's something the other two families would not want, and would make their lives a hell of a lot harder.

I know they won't come to the police but I think if their lower ranks know they're at real physical risk now, they might be willing to give up what they know to other people.

[Which is where bringing in outsiders really helps.]

Back in Detroit I used undercover cops for this sort of thing but we don't have that kind of time.

[ charles hums at that. that's partially why he offered. better to have an inside hold than to work from the outside. his time with the government taught him the value of ingratiation.

with a subtle tweak, charles directed the people in the cafe to look the other way. ]

The police force here. How much do you trust it?

A lot more than the iterations.

For the most part, this is the least corrupt police department that I've ever come across. But there's always room for exceptions. Like I said, no one remembers the blackout. And one of the deaths happened to a man who had been under observation by the police. They located him while the team assigned to him was off-duty.

I trust them about as much as I can trust them under the circumstances. A department of cops mostly on the level, in a city where they're a step above decoration.

[ he nods. ]

That's fair. I have a difficult time trusting institutions, so I wanted to hear your opinion.

I'm flattered my opinion holds some weight, then.

[He'd always legitimately wanted to make a difference, but he came across the idea that meant being a part of an institution and encouraging it to change.]

Right now I'm in charge of this case. It's a small task force across multiple divisions. If you need to go to 'em for information for me? Go for it. And I'd absolutely recommend going to them for help before iterations.

[ charles slots that away. ]

Anyone by name?

If you wanna talk to detectives, go with Karen or Nigel. Only people with their names in the department so you can name 'em. A lot of the plain clothes officers are mildly powered in some way, too. So if you're in an emergency, you can go to them.

I fuckin' am a bargain brand human but I can throw a pretty good punch when I need to. [He can break a nose in one punch and pick a guy up, and that's pretty impressive.]

[ charles smiles faintly. ]

Of that, I have no doubt.

[Hank smiles a little himself and shrugs. Tired grumpy bear cop can only get you so far in a fight.]

You'll at least be glad to know that even if this place is a totalitarian shithole, in the actual police force there's a variety of people. They're not all human or close equivalents. There's a significant portion that are powered or like my partner-

[There's that giant bloom of disgustingly gross affection. The implication that 'partner' isn't partner in duty, but currently a domestic partner. Connor, in fact, comes directly into his thoughts there.]

-is an android. And being from a marginalized group where I'm from, he'll treat people fairly.

[ charles almost wants to ask . . . but he lets it go. ]

Thank you. Knowing the people I can reach out to helps a great deal.

Have you managed to at least get comfortable here?

[Hank notes the much better chair is an improvement, and he knows the guy has someone to make it easier, but he's still concerned enough to ask.]

[ charles chuckles, patting on the armrest. ]

Not to worry. I'm rather adaptable, constraints aside.