@goro.akechi | june 11, 2512

[impede]

Given the turmoil here in New Amsterdam, we have an opportunity available to us. I've covered such an opportunity before, but I've learned that it's an utter waste of time to convince any of you to enter politics. But voting? That seems to be far easier.

There is an election in just four days' time. Even if you're "new," so to speak, you aren't according to your newfound ID and the guidelines of the city. That means you have a choice.

I'm here to outline that choice. Hopefully, none of you will be foolish enough to vote like fucking idiotic idealists, but my hopes aren't particularly high. I've seen how the Displaced think.

That said, in alphabetical order we have:

Mia Ballo. A former cop for the NAPD. She's a fucking moron and her bullshit isn't worth your time. She wants to kill off all the plants in the city, even if they have economic value and are undoubtedly helping keep the poor fed. Ignore her futile attempts at a political future.

Amabel Delafield-Chapin. The first of two anti-establishment candidates. Unlike the other one (Durcell), Delafield-Chapin isn't in the big corporate pocket. But that means she's utterly inexperienced when it comes to leadership. She appears to be on our side, or inspired by us, but you can't ignore that the political world will eat her alive.

Simone Durcell. While they easily and carelessly set aside their position as the head of a Pulsar subsidiary, Durcell is a ruthless politician despite their lack of political experience. Durcell is heavily rumored to be in with the mob families in New Amsterdam, and I believe that we, as a group, have proof of that. The issue with Durcell is that they seem positively ruthless and opportunistic, so even if we have that evidence, it may be meaningless.

Joseph Lynch. Another man we have information on thanks to Cassius' intervention. Whether this would matter to the public means nothing. But for all of us, I believe we'd benefit from having him in office. He has a clean record and is the typical, uninspiring politician. What stands out most to me is that despite his long history with Ibis as their Public Relations director, the corporations were set to back Katelin Jovavich before her untimely demise. I don't believe this is simply because he's risky. There may be more there.

My proposal, then, is that we think intelligently. Many of you've shown that you're afraid of what might happen if people figure out who and what we are. If we back a candidate, especially a candidate with power and resources, we'll be able to protect ourselves.

Lynch and Durcell are the most promising. Delafield-Chapin may suit your ideals, but she's going to be useless to us in office. I won't even waste more words on Ballo. We have enough time to rally support around one of our chosen candidates.

Let's not be idiots about it.

Edit: Since I realize I overlooked the most important detail in my presumption that you all had eyes and ears, these four individuals are running for governor of New Amsterdam.

Comments

[impede]

I wasn't aware that I was expected to do the minimum of research for you. But very well.

Delafield-Chapin is an anti-establishment candidate on the outside of the corporate reach. She's an upstart inspired by our actions in the recent simulation, and she's aiming to bring in rent control.

Durcell is corporate-affiliated, if not supported. Their goals appear to be murky, at best. Consider the type of politician whose involvement in a race is largely inflammatory, and yet somehow they've persisted. If anything, Durcell's involvement in the race likely only continues because their very near rival, Katelin Jovavich, perished upon exiting from the simulation.

Lynch is a local philanthropist who's hoping to use the position of governor to, surely, do charitable deeds? He's more the moderate, middle of the pack type. He has put his money where his mouth is, and you can definitely see all of the causes he's donated to if you know where to look.

Are you satisfied?

[plainsimple]

How terribly rude of me, to think that someone who wants to sway votes a particular way would want to elaborate on why their desired candidate or candidates should be supported. After all, presenting evidence for one person could only help... but perhaps this is a cultural misunderstanding.

Or a misunderstanding brought on by someone who is still new and endeavoring to adapt to this world, but surely we've all been here quite some time and therefore all know what simulation it is you're speaking about.

[impede]

There are others among us who like to clear up those details. I'm not one of them.

[He does, however, shoot along several articles about the simulation in New Amsterdam. In short: the city was swallowed up by a simulation by a previously thought dead AI by the name of Judas. Many people suffered, but most came out alive. The UN's army was disbanded, though they've recently turned a leaf there, suggesting they're going to build their army back up again. The reason why they discharged their soldiers was simple: they were tainted by technology created and run by Judas, and the UN wanted to depart from that risk since many soldiers were killed by Judas when they tried to intervene in the simulation. Otherwise, some notable figures, like Katelin Jovavich, died after exiting the simulation.]

[plainsimple]

My apologies. I'd assumed you were human, but it seems you're Tellarite. I should know better than to make assumptions.

Though the simulation details are quite interesting.

[impede]

An insult meant to be lost on me. Bravo to you.

I'm pleased you find it interesting. If you ever meet Judas, perhaps you can share your appreciation.

[plainsimple]

It satisfies me, much like you calling everyone idiots must somehow satisfy you.

I'll pass on your regards, in the unlikely event I encounter Judas.

[impede]

Ah, yes. You're going to pass on my appreciation, despite you being the one who claimed you found the simulation that tortured millions of people fascinating.

[plainsimple]

I found the technology of it interesting, not the application. But please, do tell me how I feel about things. I'm fascinated by your reading of me.

[impede]

You're assuming that I've made any judgment of you in the first place. I simply don't give a fuck about you.

[plainsimple]

One of those is likely true, and yet one of those is clearly false. I would work on making my lies a little more convincing in the future if I were you.

[impede]

Please reread what you said and tell me it makes any sense.

[plainsimple]

Oh, my dear, I see the problem. I confused your wordiness with intelligence. In text it's unfortunately so very easy to do. Do you need me to explain what I said to you? I can use small words.

[impede]

You're assuming that I've made any judgment of you in the first place.

Painting someone with a broad paintbrush is hardly personal judgment.

Which leads to:

I simply don't give a fuck about you.

A natural conclusion. And thus, what you said doesn't make much sense, now does it?

[plainsimple]

You took my word, 'interesting,' and read into it based upon a judgment of me, broad or not. Your replies are filled with judgment. Not that that's a flaw in itself, one must be constantly judging, but it is telling that you are either blind to it or choosing to pretend otherwise.

[impede]

You called an atrocity interesting. What more was I to take from it?

@jyn.erso

[realists]

What's a Tellarite?

[ not a human so! she is interested! ]

[plainsimple]

A Tellarite is from Tellar Prime, another world, and in their culture you greet strangers with rudeness and insults if you wish to actually be polite. Aggressiveness and vulgarities are considered proper unless or until you've become friends, and only then is civility valued.

They're also particularly ugly. But perhaps I'm just being polite about them.

[realists]

[ amazing ]

What an excellent custom.

There's a species in my galaxy that greets people with increasingly complex maths equations.

[plainsimple]

Really. Do they simply enjoy math, or is it them passing judgment? And I must say it's welcome to run into another person who doesn't only know humans. We are few and far in between.

My own people aren't quite so picky, though as we're not fond of physical contact before we know a person so offering a hand and expecting us to shake it is tiresome.

[realists]

Both. They have a habit to making incredibly complicated equations result in 3 so other, not as inclined species won't be embarrassed.

That's common in my galaxy as well, even with some humans.

[ it is her, she is the human ]

[plainsimple]

So the answer is almost always 3? How fascinating. Are there any of them here?

And humans, I fear, are the greatest offenders with expecting handshakes. At least the risk of an empathy bond has lessened the prevalence of that approach.

[realists]

No, this planet is incredibly human.

Less than half dozen other species, all of them Displaced. A few more not from Earth but still human or near enough that it isn't questioned.

[plainsimple]

But there are a few. I was beginning to wonder. What of you?

[realists]

Human, born on the planet Vallt. This poor dirt planet doesn't realize they have an (involuntary) alien invasion.

[plainsimple]

On the contrary. This planet has been blessed by the opportunity to have some variety. Meanwhile, we're the ones suffering from lack of familiar food, spices, drinks, sights, and the list goes on.

We can only help it.