Conversation · Joyce Messier

"Corruption! That's how he's done it. Fantastic, würm-like corruption reaching into the bowels of the Earth." She looks at the ground and nods.

"The position of my unusual colleague does not reflect official policy. I hope you understand -- the RCM does not pick sides."

"Of course -- and I don't expect you to share anything he told you with me. I am not a corrupt würm myself." She turns to you: "However, if you felt like discussing something..."

"...how could I stop you? Are we not human? Are we not curious to hear another person's take? It's only natural. We would only be..." she smiles, "gossiping."

Don't fall for it, it's a ploy to get you talking. The honey-mouthed syllables, the smiling, the conspiratorial jokes, all of it!

Intellectually speaking... it would be quite interesting to hear what she has to say about these things...

Tell her, she'll like you for it.

Yes! Your disgusting tie agrees completely. Let's gossip.

"Of course I don't expect you to share anything he told you with me. I'm not a würm myself." There's a pause. "But -- if you felt like passing some information..."

"He is not the champion I have chosen -- I wish to swear fealty to you and the Cause of Capital."

"What?!" She laughs. "I am afraid you have mis-read the situation, detective. This is not some feudal conflict, it is a negotiation."

"And if it were a conflict, the RCM would not pick sides. My colleague's unusual approach to police work does not represent the organization at this time."

"Okay, yes, perhaps I misread the situation. And the era -- it's not feudal."

"Of course. And I don't expect you to share anything he told you with me. I'm not a corrupt würm myself." There's a pause. "However, if you felt like passing some information..."

"I've seen him and believe me -- it's a conflict. I've picked my side in the coming storm and it's you."

"Well, I can't stop you, can I? Just understand that I don't expect you to share anything he told you with me. I'm not a corrupt würm myself." There's a pause. "However, if you felt like passing some information..."

"He's a beautiful man. Beautiful and just."

"Just? Hmm... in what way?"

"Yeah, he's not actually just, is he? He's useless."

"In a funky socialist way. He looks out for the people."

"Of course. Some of them, at least. The ones who work for him -- how else would he have stayed in power all these years... no wait, actually..."

"In a nice, crunchy, white working class way of course."

"Of course. How else would he have stayed in power all these years if it were not for ethnic nationalism... or wait..."

"He's a bloated rainbow-socialist."

"It's not important if I liked him. I was doing my job."

"Of course, detective. Excuse me for implying otherwise."

"The RCM does not pick sides in this. I hope it doesn't come off any other way."

"I don't expect you to share anything he told you with me. I'm not a corrupt würm myself." There's a pause. "However, if you felt like passing some information..."

"Evrart Claire is a hero of the worker's movement. He is the champion I've sworn fealty to."

"Huh!" She nods, understandingly.

"Yes -- I have chosen his side in the class war. My loyalty does not have a price and is non-negotiable. Sorry."

"And here I thought my modest payment of 40 reál would stick..." She shakes her head in mock regret.

"In all good humour -- that was a donation. It has been registered and it will yield you no favours." He nods. "Another thing --"

"I do not expect you to share anything Evrart told you with me -- not being a corrupt würm myself." She pauses. "However, if you felt like passing some information..."

"And here I thought my modest payment of 130 reál would stick..." She shakes her head in mock regret.

"And here I thought my modest payment of 70 reál would stick..." She shakes her head in mock regret.

"And here I thought my modest payment of 30 reál would stick..." She shakes her head in mock regret.

"And here I thought my modest payment of 100 reál would stick..." She shakes her head in mock regret.

"Of course," she curtsies slightly. "You are an honourable man -- way above the money I could offer, so I won't even try. And of course..."

"There may still be room for another bigwig in my life -- in the future. Be on the lookout for a side-shifting class knight."

"Side-shifting? Of course, that's why my payment of 100 reál didn't stick..." She shakes her head in mock regret.

"Side-shifting? Of course, that's why my payment of 40 reál didn't stick..." She shakes her head in mock regret.

"Side-shifting? Of course, that's why my payment of 70 reál didn't stick..." She shakes her head in mock regret.

"Side-shifting? Of course, that's why my payment of 130 reál didn't stick..." She shakes her head in mock regret.

"Side-shifting? Of course, that's why my payment of 30 reál didn't stick..." She shakes her head in mock regret.

"I will. I've always wanted a side-shifting class knight on my side, sir," she curtsies slightly. "Now, of course..."

"I didn't."

"I can do business with him. For a socialist he's reasonable."

"Of course, he must have his practical uses -- how else could he have kept his position all these years... Or wait, actually..."

"He could have kept it with corruption! Fantastic, würm-like corruption that reaches into the bowels of the Earth." She looks at the ground and nods in agreement with herself.

"The RCM does not pick sides in this, madam. I hope it doesn't come off any other way."