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October 28, 2001 |
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Trump call...
To the image of Rapture, Damen looks up from his worktable. "Hello."
The image of Rapture says "Greetings; my name is Raptre Thanlis. I was hoping we could talk."
To the image of Rapture, Damen quirks an eyebrow up. "About? I have no dealings with Thanlis."
The image of Rapture says "You don't. But I am also the Minister of Lands and Fiefs."
To the image of Rapture, Damen says "And why would that interest me?"
The image of Rapture says "You're laying claim to a particular land and fief that has already been laid claim to, and the House in question would like it handled without violence if possible."
To the image of Rapture, Damen rolls his eyes, "Oh, this again....come through."
Rapture grasps Damen's hand and he pulls her through.
Banished Sun, Warehouse Studio...
Damen moves to his kitchen. "Can I get you something? A beer? Glass of wine?"
Rapture says "No, thank you."
Damen nods and reaches into his refrigerator, pulling out a beer. He twists it open and moves back to the couch. Gesturing to a chair he offers, "Have a seat."
Rapture sits down, leaning back.
Damen sips and waits.
Rapture says "I think I've really stated my case. Banished Sun can't belong to you; it's already owned and operated. If you let the issue go, the owners will too; they're not vindictive. But if you don't, it will get ugly."
Damen narrows his eyes, "If it was apparent your second sentence to me was going to be a veiled threat I would have saved both of us the trouble of not pulling you through to waste my time." He shrugs, "As I told your presumptious little lackey....Banished Sun was not Stone's to give. Thus the entire subject is moot. Can't sell a bridge if you didn't own it in the first place."
Rapture says "I'm not the one making the threats; I'm just the messenger. It's an in-house fight - but one they have every right to make. It's belonged to this House for many convolutions, they have the full support of the government of the shadow /and/ it's on our side of the Ygg."
Damen shrugs, "So when I sell Finndo your House you won't have a problem with it. Afterall, even though I'm not the true owner of Thanlis it would be okay for me to march on over there and sell that as a choice piece of real estate...and he could lay claim to it, just as you are trying to do with Banished Sun." He studies you, amused. "Are you that daft? You got conned sweetie. Stone never owned this shadow."
Rapture says "I don't know the history or who, or what, or why. I just got this job a few turnings ago. But it doesn't matter. Whoever owned it in the past, or sold it to who, is ancient history. It belongs to Cragvale now, and has for a very long time. I'm sorry if you thought you owned it before, and it slipped out of your fingers - but it has."
Rapture says "They're perfectly happy to let you live here, run you business here, whatever. But they aren't going to let it go."
Damen laughs, "Get out of my house. You're almost better than the comedy channel....but not quite."He taps his nose, "I'll sell Cragvale to some schmuck tomorrow....and you'll understand how ludicrous you're being."
Rapture says "Tell me what your claim is based on, then."
"Darling, you said yourself you don't even know the *history* of this place. Banished Sun wouldn't even exist if not for me....now stop wasting my time with your paltry claims and run along like a good new employee and tell your boss to stop annoying me. Or things *will* get ugly."
Rapture sighs. "I'm not his employee; he's not my boss. He's not my lackey; I'm not his boss. I'm just here to investigate, to find out what's going on. I'm certainly willing to listen; who knows, maybe if they know your side, they'll just let it drop."
Damen chuckles softly, "Do you even know how Banished Sun came into being?"
Rapture says "No. When the old minister was fired - well, I was lucky to get a listing of the House properties."
Damen nods, "Then go do your homework...because Cragvale *is* wasting my time. Stone may have good ties with Cragvale and has had those ties for a long time.....but he's a con artist. He could sell a club to a baby seal." His casual regard turns to your jawline, "And apparently he did."
Rapture says "He didn't sell anything to me; it's not my House, and it's not my property."
Damen nods, "Finally...the first thing you said that makes sense. It's not yours....it's not Cragvale's....and it certainly was never Stone's."
Rapture says "Or you could tell me the history, making more likely to be supportive of your side when I go back to report to them."
Damen smiles faintly, "Darl'n....I really don't care if you're supportive or not. You're pissing on a tree that was never yours to begin with....despite what papers Stone created for his pleasure. You could have signed your name in a pool of water....it would have had the same legal bearing."
Rapture says "And what legal bearing do you have?"
Damen chuckles again. "I already said....this shadow would not exist if not for I."
Rapture says "So you say; but you'll probably want to back up that claim."
Damen smiles, "And how would you propose I do that, lass? Would I convince you if I furrowed my brow and laid waste to Banished Sun. Would kind of defeat the purpose don't you think? Why should I even expend the energy to back something up when all you come to me with is 'Well, this guy sold us your shadow." He grins and sips his beer. "As I said....this whole situation is wearing on my patience."
Rapture says "And your proposal is?"
"I have no proposal. A madman sold you a piece of real estate he didn't own. You bought the proverbial bridge."
Rapture sighs. "As I've said, a half dozen times, I didn't buy anything. I'm just an investigator."
Damen nods. "Just as I have told you and your associates a number of times.....that you bought something from a man who didn't own it in the first place." He regards you, "Gets tiring, doesn't it?"
Rapture says "Is there anything you /do/ want? Because I can't help wondering why you waited all this time to stake your claim. Cragvale's been in possession - well, longer than I've been a House lord."
Damen raises an eyebrow. "There's a whole hell of a lot of things I want, lass. Do you mean for Banished Sun? No....this is my home...always has been. And that's why it was made." With your last words he laughs, "Stake my claim? Lordy. Don't you even know how *that* started? Your man Crimson overheard my fiance talking about Banished Sun....and she mentioned offhandedly to *someone* that her husband-to-be owned it. Suddenly I start getting his telemarketer-esque barrage of.....'well, you don't own Banished Sun....we do." and here he grins, "Which is the first time *I* ever heard that Cragvale was under the misconception that they owned it. Why stake my claim over something I have always owned?"
Rapture says "I'm sure they feel the same way."
Damen chuckles, "Yet I never signed fake papers....there lies the subtle difference."
Rapture says "I doubt anyone /thought/ they were fake; including the government."
Damen shrugs, "I'm not responsible for Cragvale's poor techniques in the research department."
Rapture says "I honestly don't know what else to say; I'll talk to them. But I can't promise it won't go badly."
Damen shrugs nonchalantly. "It will go how it will go." He smiles, "It's never concerned me and it won't start to now." he regards you, "And I'm not trying to diminish your claim, lass. I realize you are just doing your job. I just find it very amusing."
Rapture sighs. "It's not /my/ claim."
Damen winks, "I know."
Rapture says "I will be off now."
Damen nods, "I would say it was a pleasure....but it was business. Perhaps another time."
Damen stands, finishing off his beer.
Rapture stands also. "I can find my own way out." A moment later, she is gone.