(The Link Plot) The House of Light leadership discusses Connecticorp.

[Portland House of Light]

How do the existing organisations of the Secret World react to the sudden rise of a newcomer in their midst? Below is a transcript of the staff meeting of the Portland House of Light staff to discuss what to do about Connecticorp.

For easy reference, a summary of who's in or mentioned in this meeting:

Portland House staff
Freya: Senior staff, Chief Training Instructor
Finley: Senior staff, Public Relations
Jayden: Senior staff, Student Counselor
Connor: Senior staff, School Medic
Justine: Senior staff, Head Magus (currently absent)
Olivia: Junior staff, IT specialist
Reese: Mischievous exchange student

House of Light leadership
Hikari: Leader of the House of Light
Desiree: Manager of the House of Light
Cynthia: Former manager, sharing Desiree's body (deceased)
Nicci: Headmistress of the Portland House (currently absent)
Natalyia: Co-leader of the House of Light
Janna: Executive agent of the House of Light

Since these people all have busy lives, on different parts of the planet, getting them all together in one room would be impossible, and even getting them all in front of a computer at the same time for a teleconference would be nearly so. Thus the 'meeting' happens over text messages through a secure channel.

Obviously thus, all this information is OOC only and not easily obtained IC.

 

[Portland House of Light]

Desiree
I'm running a search, relatively light to start, on this Conneticorp using Ops to spread the search efforts across the 4 locations.
Will let you know when I have more information.

Freya
If you think it's necessary.

I mean I'm sure you'll find they're shady and have a lot of skeletons in their closets! XD

I'm just not sure that's reason to avoid them? They all do. The Lumies, the Dragon, lots of organisations some of our students want to join after they're on their feet.

It's a shitty world. I really can't imagine these guys are even worse than those societies. But we'll see!

Hikari
Sadly, there are more than a few things worse than the Illuminati.

Still, it could be a good group. It could not be. Diligence is always important.

If they check out, I'm sure we'll be happy to work with them.

If not, it will be most unpleasant for them.

Desiree
And which of you sent that last message?

Jayden
Caution is always wise.

But my understanding is that this is not a new society, but rather a business that seeks to connect the societies? So that people like us can find our way among them easier?

If they prove good, they could take a lot of work off our hands. Instead of having to keep lines open to all the societies, we could simply refer all students that wish to leave us to this business to help them find their place in the secret world.

Jayden
Apologies, that was Jayden. Good morning.

Hikari
Always be wary of the person who offers the one perfect solution for everyone.

How is everyone there? If we send anyone, I'd prefer it be volunteers in pairs.
A skeptic and an optimist.

Finley
So wait, it's like a temp agency for supernatural temps?

Sign of the times, huh? With more and more bees going freelancer and doing odd jobs for one society here and one society there, I guess it was only a matter of time till a business like this popped up to fill the demand.Good old capitalism.

That totally explains why it'd be popular with the students though! I get the impression they just wanna sign up and be able to window-shop the societies.

Sadly our biggest skeptic took a cue from our bosses, it seems. Though Connor can rival her in cynicism at times.

Not like she'd be good for undercover work anyways. I recommend Freya as optimist. Jayden can be her caution.

-Fin

Desiree
Justine still gone? Can call or text her if we need her.

Freya
We don't! >_<

Who's she going to infiltrate with that attitude? They'll send her straight out!

Finley, you just don't want to be sent out again, lazyass!

Finley and Jayden always make our best infiltration team! But I'm happy to go if you need me!

And sorry, that was me from the first message! XD

I stayed up kind of late for pizza taco night and slept in this morning, sorry! -_-

Freya
-Freya

Uuuugh see not awake yet! Somebody make me coffee!

Connor
I'm cynical? See if I make you guys charred bits of cow and chicken again.
But seriously, I think the boss meant who keeps tweeting about Connecticorp?
And I can go or stay behind. - C

Freya
Oh, yesterday's was me! Freya! I think the one about their twitter account was Olivia judging by the smileys!

Something wrong with tweeting about Connecticorp? They ARE the hot news items right now! We tweet about Orochi and the Phoenicians too if they're in the news, I'm preeeetty sure even if the Connectiguys are evil, they're not literally The Evil that makes you drop dead as soon as you mention its name! XD

Desiree
With Nicci and Justine out on walkabout, I just want to make sure our phones are secure and that our tweets are our tweets.

Freya
That's a good concern with Reese on the loose...

Roger boss! I'll go ask Olivia if she made those tweets rightaway! 07

Freya
She did! We're clear! -Freya

Hikari
Jayden.
Since Finley and Freya are quick to volunteer each other. Your thoughts?

Hikari
Please make it clear to Olivia that she is not to actually go to one of the facilities on her own.
The Los Angeles may be a good location as we have a pretty broad sphere of influence on the West Coast.

Jayden
I am under standing orders not to leave Finley's side, Hikari sensei.

So either we both go, or we both will have to stay.
-Jayden

Hikari
Hmm. Alright. Feel free to elaborate if you like.

I believe we'll leave the Los Angeles chapter to you.
Not sure what to do about New York. Still waiting on information.

Hikari
Feel free to use the California location. Try not to damage any of the cars.

Finley
I KNEW IT!

Is 'mistress Nicci' afraid I'll turn on her after she abandoned us to run off with her mistress?

Well she's quite right! I just might!

Maybe I should take this mission to check out this Connecticorp. Maybe they understand employee loyalty better!

Stay the fuck out of my mind, Jayden! You and her!

Finley out

Hikari
Finley, my dear. Now is not the time to go off half cocked.
If you think you've been wronged, we shall deal with that.
I know this has been a troubling time for you all.
We must remember that we are here for each other and you are far more than an employee, dear.

If this new player can help us and others as you have helped so many of your fellow students, we'll certainly work with them.

But we must know that we can count on each other first.

Jayden
Apologies, Hikari sensei, I fear I am not as good at hiding my intentions any more.

Finley, Nicci sensei is worried you could do something you will regret later. Please remember you are here for yourself, not for us.

Jayden

Reese
I the only one wants a butcher's on the smack down Doc'd give Dorsal Fin? xD
BOSH

Desiree
Ah, a volunteer.

Freya
Finley, get your ass back together before I remind you who's in charge around here!

Reese, give that phone back to whoever you took it from if you haven't already!

Now then...

I don't think Olivia actually wants to go join CC, boss! She just likes playing to be important in setting us up new relations. But I sent out a general message that nobody is to run off to CC on their own!

Do we need to do anything about New York? All the same company, isn't it? They've got an office in London too if you want to check them all out. Not really my concern anyways, we'd almost certainly be dealing with the Los Angeles office!

-Freya out

Freya
Oh, and please tell me you're not serious about volunteering Reese? >_>

Still a better choice than Justine, but subtle that girl is not.

Hikari
We'll tend to the other locations as needed. I agree, Los Angeles should be our first point of contact.
I'm still willing to trust your team's judgment on who to send.
Provided you can come to a concensus.
In this regard, I believe the 5 of you have proven yourselves.
All respect to Desiree and Nicky.

Freya
Looks like we may not even have to come to them. They'll come to us.

Freya
Also looks like you were right, Fin! They ARE a supernatural temp agency! XD

Desiree
Well.... our defenses are stronger at the House to be sure, but we'd be exposing all the students to them if they are hostile.
I'm still leaning towards sending a couple to LA first.
If Olivia is so excited, maybe Freya and her should go, with Connor(or yes Reese) on backup.

Desiree
Can approach it as a "Show us yours, we'll show you ours." sort of thing. They've been very accomodating, to be sure. We can certainly take a few steps by going there first.

Freya
Do you have any reason to believe they're hostile?

It sounds like they're working with all the big factions already.

And if they are, surely it'd be more dangerous sending two of ours right into their lair? >_>

But okay, I'm sure we'd have to visit their office too eventually!

If you really think they'll attack us in their office though? I think you should probably go? Or some other bee? Definitively not sending Olivia on a dangerous op. :/

- Freya

Finley
Frey, do keep in mind Orochi also was 'working with all the big factions'.

If we have reason to believe these guys are hostile, why are we bothering with them at all? Better to just stay far away from them.

Fin

Connor
Because it's what we do, Fin.

Okay.. Freya is right.. but not like she thinks. A Chosen of Gaia should go.

If there is a chance these people got Justine, I'll be damned if I'm going to let them take Freya, too.

I think Justine knew. Maybe you did, too. I'm a bee, as they call us. I'll go with Freya. - Connor.

Hikari
I need to keep Desiree looking over this on a high view.
As I say, your team has proven yourselves these last few months.
I'm sending Natalyia and the Trinity to New York.
Keep me updated on Los Angeles.

Finley
No way on earth am I going to let you take Freya anywhere after that stunt you pulled with our mistress Cynthia, in our dojo, without telling us anything! (*)

And now you're telling us you've been a bee all along, so that's twice in less than a month you've been lying to us and holding important information back!

At this point I'd trust Connecticorp with her before I'd trust you.

"It's what we do?" This is bullshit! Our job is running this dojo and taking care of our students, not taking down every evil organisation in the world just because they're evil! Are we gonna take down the Lumies next? They're definitely evil. Proven evil many times over. And I know where their headquarters is. Shall we send two of ours in there to take them down?

If they're evil, leave em to the Nicci's and Hikari's, that's what they're for. Oh wait, I forget, you're one of them too. Maybe I forget cause you lied about it for a year.

And wait, there's no indication whatsoever Connecticorp is evil, is there? What else are you lying about and holding back, that you're so convinced they are?

Fuck, you're worse than the Templar. "This thing might be evil, we must destroy it no matter the cost!" What a hero.

You want to go in there guns blazing? Knock your immortal ass out. But you're not taking Freya. I don't care if your super bee powers could knock me out in two seconds, you're going to have to.

Dorsal Fin says fuck you.

Olivia
Guys! Guys! Sorry for butting in to your command meeting, but you're totally exaggerating!

There's like, no indication whatsoever Connecticorp is evil! Seriously, I looked ALL over the web, including the secret parts!

All there is is the usual rumors that every organisation in the secret world gets when they start recruiting. "Oh no, they're evil brainwashers!" Cause all the others organisations are scared about losing members to them, or that someone might expose their own bullshit.

And it's really not a surprise, cause from what I can find, Connecticorp wants to create a world where people like us no longer need the secret societies! No wonder the secret societies spread all kinds of rumors that they're evil.

Come on, no secret societies anymore? That sounds like our ideal, right?

You know how many people think the House of Light is a brainwashing cult? More people than think Connecticorp is evil, I can tell you that!

Heck, I can find more conspiracy theories about the Council of Venice.

Yeah, OKAY, MAYBE they're just like Orochi! But even Orochi would never just like, attack our dojo openly! Or ambush our guys when they're visiting an Orochi office for negotiations!

That takes like, Phoenician level crazy! And there's a reason all the societies shun the Phoenicians, right? Right?

I'll totally go to this Los Angeles office! I'll go on my own, even! It's totally worth the risk if we can really start making a difference in the world!

Jayden
I would still advise caution. We are dealing with a completely new, unknown player.

However, I must agree I have still not seen or heard any reason to suspect they are dangerous, or involved in Justine's disappearance.

Connor seems sure they are but refuses to share his reasons. And I must agree with Finley, his recent actions do not really speak of trustworthiness. Twice he has held back important information from us, and now he appears to be holding back again. (*)

As for Desiree sensei, I am sorry, but she is a stranger to me. Her mind is not that of the mistress Cynthia we had known for so long.

Unless either would like to divulge the reasons that they are so sure this company is evil, I see no reason to go in 'guns blazing'. As Connor seems already intent on doing. This could end up costing us a potentially very useful ally.

Still I do advise caution. Who we send should be experienced with hostile situations.

That means not you, Olivia.

Hikari sensei, if I may? Freya does not want to admit Finley would be the better choice because she wants to go with Connor. Finley does not want to admit he would be the better choice because he doesn't want to go.

Yet neither of them can deny Finley and I would be better suited to investigating this company. Freya and Connor's skills would be put to better use finding Justine.

Jayden

Olivia


Freya
UGH, FINE! >_<

Fin, I told you to get your ass back together! You don't want Connor and me going? You're gonna have to go yourself!

Now what's this about Nicci telling me to obey Desiree's order to "not tweet about Connecticorp"? I went through all the message logs and I see no order like that!

I even specifically asked if there was anything wrong with tweeting about Connecticorp, and Desiree said: "I just want to make sure our phones are secure."

I don't know what game you two are playing, but we're not your children that you can use as some kind of leverage in your divorce!

You think we don't know how it goes cause we're stupid youngsters? A third of our students comes from broken homes and divorced parents! First you both abandon us to ourselves, then you start playing us against the other!

Frankly, I don't know which of you is lying and I don't care, I'm done taking orders from you both until you sort your shit out. -_-

Hikari sensei, do you agree we should order everyone not to tweet about Connecticorp, whoever of them it came from?

-Freya

Desiree
First, my dissatisfaction should have been more clear.
I believe we should refrain from promoting a group we know little about.
Second, regardless of who you /think/ I am, I am the person who was here with you building this House. Cynthia was made of the parts of me that I denied myself, but they were still me.
I'm sorry I was gone so long, but I could not return until I had dealt with her. She is gone. Even her dearest friends could not save her, because in the end, she wasn't capable of being more than a made thing. A mockery of life. Of me.
I know you'll miss her. I miss her even though she tried to kill me.

I'm sorry we left you. That wasn't how it was supposed to be. Once it was clear Nicci wasn't coming back... I was in no shape to return.

Connor
This is not the time for this... but very well.

I have no intention of going in 'guns blazing', but I do believe we need to be safe. We don't know they're dangerous. We don't know they're safe. Testing the waters is the best course.

As to the rest. We all have secrets. It's why most of us came here. Allow me to have a few less.

The Orochi were just as welcoming. Just as friendly. The supplied us with weapons just like they do Venice. We didn't question the motives hidden beneath their beautiful glass towers. We paid the price.

I was in Tokyo. At the House of Light when the bomb went off. I'm the only one of my friends... My family, that made it out alive.

So yes... when I came here, I was lying. Trying to forget that past. It was just a job. But then this place... it had new friends. New opportunities.

When it became clear I should tell you the truth, I was a coward. I was afraid to lose what I'd found here.

But if we don't act and stop bickering among ourselves, we're going to lose everything. I'll be damn if I'm going to let that happen.

So yes, Fin. Get your ass together, as Freya so eloquently put it. You want to leave this to Nicky or Hikari or Desiree or whoever... but that's not going to happen. We should be able to handle a simple two person meet and greet with out all /this/.

People want to talk about divorce and parents... it's time to be adults.
This is our House. It is our time.

Just go with Jayden, please? I'll protect our home so we can discuss this more later. -Connor

Hikari
Reading through all this, I can't tell you anymore than what you already know, dears. This is an uncertain matter. Taking some precautions is warranted.

The fact is, you already know all you need to know. All your answers are laid out before you, but only you can find the question to frame that answer.

Even though I've not had the opportunity to know all of you. you have shown you know what it means to be part of our House. I truly hope these people are all they say and not another attempt to twist our message. It is because of all these other groups that do evil with a smile, that we are not trusted. We are called a cult.

But we know better. I love you and I trust you.

Freya
Did you just fucking call me a child?

We get treated like fucking children by our supposed leaders and then you say WE are acting like children?

For fuck's sake, Con, spend less time having movie nights and more time in the real world. Where you can't just suddenly make everything be okay again with a bad-ass speech about your tragic past and gritty determination.

Specially not if you insult the people you want to listen, you ass.

How can you call yourself one of us and just shrug off Cynthia's death like that? You knew her almost as long as we did! Were you one of us when you kept the whole thing from us and did it all behind our backs? Or is it something you just switch on and off? (*)

And you call us childish for giving a fuck about our manager? While you're turning a simple meeting into some kind of life or death crisis so you can feel like an action hero saving the day?

Bickering. Giving a fuck what happens to our own is childish bickering.

Get the fuck out of my dojo.

Janna
Cynthia could have lived. I tried to save her. She chose to die. Just my five cents to inform you of this before you go on fighting each other. (*)

Desiree
Also, Only those of you who came here from London knew Cynthia at all. I was myself long before we came here. And even then, she had few friends.

Finley
Not the fucking point, Janna.

Point: We could have seen this ourselves if we hadn't been kept in the dark. (*)

Yes, we've seen just how much Hikari sensei trusts us.

Whoa, Frey, calm down! Please?

I thought yelling at Connor was my job?

I'll go to Connecticorp, okay? I'd like to find me some answers. You just stop worrying about them and leave them to me. You focus on keeping this dojo running.

Nice going, Rad-ass. Mister "This isn't the time for this" after choosing it himself as the time to make his dramatic reveal.

Sadly she'll probably take those last words back after she calms down, cause I'd feel a lot better going to Los Angeles if I didn't have to leave a plant in the dojo.

-Fin

Connor
It's hard to tell who's talking to who here, but it's clear I haven't earned my place in this discussion, so I'll leave it. After I address one thing.

Freya,
Of course I wasn't. I was trying to follow the previous comparison to divorced parents. Badly.
I wasn't trying to be a hero, either.
I was trying to support you in the hope that I could prove myself to earn back a sliver of what I lost. I know I shouldn't expect your forgiveness. The brain isn't where hope comes from.
If you still want me gone, come talk to me later. I'll leave.
-Connor

Jayden
Do not worry, she likely just spoke in anger. Give her some time.

Connor, thank you for sharing your reasons for mistrusting this company. That can not have been an easy experience.

I see where you are coming from now. Even Olivia had to admit this company reminded her of Orochi.

But, may I please remind everyone we are not currently under any threat from Connecticorp? We are just going to meet with them to discuss relations, and it is us who approached them. We are not facing any crisis, yet I cannot help but feel everyone is acting as if we are.

Finley, if you are going, please accept my company? I promise I am not a plant for Nicci, I am simply concerned.

For you and Freya, but you will need a friend to help you keep a cool head more, on a diplomatic mission.

Jayden

Freya
Connor... no, you don't have to leave. We welcome everyone whose intentions are good. And we still need you.

Just... don't talk to me for a while, please?

Everyone else, I'm sorry I let my anger get the better of me. That's not fitting for a leader. No wonder people don't accept me. >_<

I'm better now, so let's get some things in order.

I admit, I was hoping for some more direction from Hikari sensei, because Connor is right about one thing, I worry we're starting to have the beginnings of an authority crisis over here.

We have a bunch of locals of all kinds, but most of the students who transferred here from London and New York were already the more independent types...

And not everyone has been willing to accept my command... though at least Finley and Jayden usually are, right, guys?

(PS. Finley, let Jayden go with you. That's an order.)

But Justine never did listen to me, and some students... amazingly... looked to her for orders rather than me. >_<

Then there's Connor, who I think would still listen to me, but after that stunt with mistress Cynthia many now feel he's a 'spy from headquarters'. Since he's our doctor, I worry what should happen if our students don't trust him.

Then there's our two dojo mistresses... I'll just be blunt and admit most of us feel abandoned by them, but there's a few still fiercely loyal to them, and mostly the ones who won't accept my orders.

I was hoping an order straight from the top would still be respected by all, but I guess the Champion knows what's best...

We'll just have to do what we can on our own. I'll let Connecticorp know you're coming, you two. Good luck. Maybe they can give us some new direction.

-Freya

Hikari
Please, do not judge Connor too harshly, my dears.
Your home was his escape and chance to restart, but I needed him to do this for me and he followed my order without question. And it cost him. (*)

I know you would like it if I gave a similar order, to unite you, but I have always taken a different approach to your House for reason.

You will over come your crisis of faith and leadership together and be stronger for it.





(*) The earlier event that's repeatedly referred to has been described here:
http://www.tsw-rp.com/forum/page/1/...esiree-cynthia-deqi/post/118147494#p118147494