LongTech Industries - Military Contractor? - RPLOG
Participants
Date
21/8/477
Log
Early morning in the Castle District, or to be more precise, Longtail Square. While Firmament is a city that never truly sleeps, it nevertheless is muted, especially about this part of town. Without much ado, a plain, unmarked carriage pulls up to Longtail Manor as close as is reasonably possible for an upstanding member of the public, before a single figure emerges and makes straight for the gates. Whoever he is, the gate guards don't seem to need very much convincing at his arrival, and quickly escort him up to the front door.
A small smile adorns Flora's muzzle, and the feline silently opens up the door to the house, ears flicking lightly. "Flora was... Expecting sir Solacious, yes," she rumbles softly, her ears flicking and her arm gesturing inside. "Do join, yes... Flora trusts Sir Solacious has had some time to test the camera?"
Accepting Flora's welcome, the fox dusts some invisible lint off his clothing - being simple everyday dress of the sort one might find on the street - and once the door is closed, a few of his illusions fade. "I have. There are a few potential uses for your clever invention that could be put to immediate application, of course - but the High Lady is ever one to get down to business immediately. Perchance there is somewhere we could sit down and share a drink, perhaps? A dining hall, a refectory, perhaps some gardens? Consider it a way of apology for waking you at this hour."
"It is... Quite alright. Flora prefers rising early. Flora can have the mess-hall made off-limits to the employees, or do the same for the courtyard, if Sir Solacious prefers?" she rumbles, shuffling some papers, before smiling faintly.
"Of course, all our sales are recorded, with the names of the reciepient, and the particular object being sold noted. For reasons of keeping track of customers, and the quality of any given product, of course. As such... We would have to license their use to the Spyguard, yes. So that when they come in damaged, we will know to look the other way, of course."
"However, that does, of course, bring the problem of exposing whoever delivers them as an associate of the Spyguard... Which is also less than desirable, of course. Flora trusts Sir Solacious has already contemplated this... Issue?"
Sirus gives noncommital shrug as he follows Flora through the manor. "There is no need to disturb your employees' daily activities and generate talk. Somewhere which is normally private will do. Someone as well-versed in the importance of discretion will understand that I do not wish to discuss sensitive matters out in public," - there is just the slightest emphasis on that last word - "yes? It is not that I do not trust your employees, but in the last day, I've had to repremand some wayward members of my own family who let their tongues run away with them. Talk some sense into them, for the sake of their continued good health." He pauses a moment. "It is very sad."
"Flora understands, yes," she rumbles, before gesturing towards the upper floors. "The study, in that case, yes," she rumbles with a smile, before nodding faintly, turning around and up the stears as she waits for Sirus to catch up with her and head into the small room. She's made sure to tuck away all designs elsewhere for the time being, just in case.
With a brief nod, Sirus follows Flora upstairs to the study, finding a seat of his own accord and waiting for Flora to get settled down before clearing his throat and pulling out Flora's earlier gift, setting it down on the table. "Very well. Let's begin with the praise first, then. Ever since his Majesty mentioned your invention to me some time ago, in addition to graciously loaning me the one you gifted him, I have been considering the proposition - and indeed, had made moves to have it accepted when you tried to convince one of my family to sign you on as a contractor. A picture is worth a thousand words, as the old saying goes
With a brief nod, Sirus follows Flora upstairs to the study, finding a seat of his own accord and waiting for Flora to get settled down before clearing his throat and pulling out Flora's earlier gift, setting it down on the table. "Very well. Let's begin with the praise first, then. Ever since his Majesty mentioned your invention to me some time ago, in addition to graciously loaning me the one you gifted him, I have been considering the proposition - and indeed, had made moves to have it accepted when you tried to convince one of my family to sign you on as a contractor. A picture is worth a thousand words, as the old saying goes; we can simply photograph documents instead of having to outright steal them for copying, which take sinordinate time and effort. Ten minutes is still long, but is quicker than our old methods. And those, of course, are merely the beginnings of potential applications. His Majesty is also of the mind that your House be given a chance to be tested, and this is an excellent opportunity for such.
"You are free to keep records, but I am sure you can keep them under aliases. That solves most problems. Is my name really Edmund Sirus Solacious the Eighth? Is the face I wear in public my own, or simply some poor folk whose visage I happened to fancy that day? Do not worry about records, so long as you follow the furnished guidelines.
"As for deliveries...I am given to understand that you did offer to process photographs 'in-house' the last time we met, or am I mistaken?" He clears his throat. "So much unpleasantness, but it is necessary. I'm sure we'd all rather we get to the point where I pay you a lot of money for your services."
"Of course, yes," Flora rumbles. "Do understand that an adequate alias must be chosen... If any of our pens or cameras come in in bad shape repeatedly, they tend to be confiscated. We could licence them to 'the Military', though links would be easy to make to your organization once more... If you have a proper alias, Flora will use it, yes... Keep in mind that upper management will be aware of its meaning. Upper management comprises of a mere four or five beings, and each of them is sworn to secrecy in these manners," she rumbles.
"Development of pictures can take place in-house, by the Spyguard themselves. For a fee, we can teach a few of your beings how to develop the images, and you can indeed perform it yourself. Materials to perform the developing, along with picture-slides can be purchased from LongTech Industries. Repairs to the cameras, we will handle ourselves, again for a fee, which will of course depend on the need for replacement-parts, and the amount of work required. Worst case, we supply a new camera as required. They are... Delicate devices."
"And of course, if we make any innovations that make them faster, or smaller, your organization has the option of setting aside some funds to partake in the... Test-runs, so to speak."
"I understand. And I am sure that on their part, they understand the need for discretion. I have had the liberty of being informed about the contents of one of your contracts - they are quite extensive. If you are agreeable to the use of aliases, I will furnish you with the details in a day or two after some discussion with my associates.
"The second part of your offer is reasonable. A one-time fee to learn how to develop the pictures - we already know how to use them, thank to your gift to the King - and a fee for the services you mentioned. We were considering, and the Treasury did suggest, a base fee for so many services or parts, followed by a small additional fee for any number past the aforementioned agreed number. This would guarantee you some kind of income, while being flexible if there is a busy month. A win-win proposition, do you think?
"Finally, we would welcome any innovations in portability, concealability, and speed, and would in fact be willing to donate a small amount of money to see this happen - so long as we are satisfied that progress is possible and is being made, of course. This goes the same, with your permission, for any other inventions you may dream up."
"Keep in mind that if Flora finds any cameras with a... Similar production to those delivered to your organization, there will be talk as well, yes. Secrecy may be your... Business-model, but it is quite an important part of ours as well," the feline rumbles with a faint smile, before looking off into the distance for a bit. "Flora will contemplate the offer, of course... Give Flora a few days to draft up an agreement, yes... As for research... Research is slow. One cannot generally expect changes in a week's time... But donations to the general research-department of LongTech Industries are... Always appreciated. Perhaps we can contemplate setting up more... Specialized fields of research along the road."
"And of course, if you are ever in need of pens, do stop by the store," she murrs with a faint smirk. "We do have another product in the pipeline, but... Flora does not feel it will be of general use to your... Organization. We will see."
Sirus shakes his head most empathically. "High Lady, we may have cause to steal on occasion, but we are not thieves. We may kill on occassion, but we are not assassins. My only concern is the safety of the Goods...if he orders me to purloin your invention, I will, but it would be most unseeming of me to cast aspersions on the nobility of our ruler, who has absolutely no need or cause to do such a thing."
"If you will draft up an agreement, simply leave it with your people at your gates. It will be collected posthaste, and a reply penned. Do understand that further negotations over price may be necessary, but I trust you will not overindulge our liege's generousity. I do love it when other folk willingly do the boring part of things for me."
"Flora was more cautioning... Not to leave any cameras behind. It would be most unsatisfactory for your organization to lose any of the expensive devices, and it would be most unsatisfactory for us if someone were to devise their inner workings," the she-cat rumbles with a small, faint smirk. "LongTech Industries would not want to be connected with any inferior copies of its wares, of course," the she-cat rumbles, smiling softly, before summoning two members of the security-team. "Flora will set to recording some terms, yes... These two gentlemen will escort you to the gates, of course," she murrs with a smile, before sitting down behind her desk and jotting down some notes.
"My people do not 'leave' objects. Such forgetful folk are never even considered for inclusion within our ranks. And if dead...well, they can hardly be blamed for such an unfortunate eventuality in service of the King." Sirus stands and nods, his figure wavering slightly as his features shift subtly. "I can find my own way out, but will accept an escort if it will set your mind at ease. Have a very fruitful day, High Lady."
Flora smiles softly and flicks her tails behind her, before gesturing at the door. "Of course, yes," she rumbles, before setting back to her writing, tails still asway as she sets to writing down the terms of LongTech's agreement with the Spyguard. "Oh, and Flora will need to know that alias as soon as possible. Adress the note to Flora personally, and have it sealed. Flora will destroy the letter after reading."
