Chapter 5: The Invisible Hand

[Calithin Crest]

I sit up a little and look at her.

"Why do you read about these things? I don't assume that this sort of knowledge really comes in handy in your day to day life... So... Then... Isn't it frivolous? Isn't it just a waste of time then to collect all this knowledge about different subjects that you're never really going to get to implement?"

I yawn and blink a few times; all that listening has made me a little drowsy.

"I am just trying to understand your reasoning here, goober."

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

"Oh, well, knowledge is power...I guess." I say with a little shrug. I don't know what a goober is. I think it is a brand of peanut butter and jelly that is mixed together. I think of that and wonder if that is what he meant.

"Well, nevermind all of that. What did you do today?" I ask happily. I bounce up and down in my seat.

[Calithin Crest]

"Huzzah! Good answer. The best justifications are found in cliches, and that's a fact! People have heard them so many times they aren't inclined to argue. Very nice! High..."

No, no. She does not get high fives. I was beginning to raise my hand, but upon reminding myself of the circumstances I try to play it off and instead just run my fingers through my hair casually.

"Uh... Anyway, today I went to work, then I visited my father and discussed some business things... Then I went back to his house and his secretary made us some fantastic cookies, then we got into a bit of a water fight... Then he ran off with the cookies and I left a little while after that. I was on my way home when I spotted you, which isn't difficult... Since most people don't dress like vampires... Then I sat down and listened to you explain things, then I asked you some stuff. Then I told you this. The end!"

I have a ridiculous life.

[Peter "Levitas" Barak]

"Well your right about that boss, as long as they stay out our way they won't be a big deal. Problem is the mob isn't going to stay out of our way. Their criminals and what's worse their damned Russians. Reds, my friend, reds. If we give then an inch then their going to take another until they have the run of the whole island.

Only way to 'share' with those gutless jerks is to have them stay afraid of us and right now thye aren't. But you don't have to worry about that until later, I've already got everything planned out to buy us sometime. See, we do anything to them and this whole deal is going to go to pot. We can make some money off of them being on the island if we play it right but if we piss them off too much then they'll just start shooting and bombing stuff.

That's bad for business.

So, we aren't going to do anything to anyone. Luckily... I know a guy."

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

I listen and I guess my day was not very interesting at all. All I did was work and now talk to Calithin. Although reading the book has been very nice.

"I was attacked by a Creditor Android last night and that was pretty interesting. It doesn't happen everyday." I say after some time of thinking. I guess I really am not interesting at all.

"Reading this book is pretty interesting." I add. "And not as bad as being attacked by a Creditor."

I look down at the book. "Okay, I am pretty boring. Maybe sometime you can give me tips on how to not be boring."


(I have to run, but will be back online later)

[Ariel Tal Shachar]

The rebels in Cuba concerned Ariel mainly because he could not control them, there for they must be eliminated. Any loss of power or control must be dealt with quickly. Dinari while a radical himself, but seemed to be the only one with any current knowledge about Cuba. “Yes get me Dinari Dollar” The map before him hovered in 3d splendor lasers whipped back and fourth adding new information. A dozen satellites whipped overhead feeing information to the display. Maybe the invisible hand could deal with this but first he needed information.

[Dinari Dollar]

"Well, the United States had good relations with Cuba before...when the Mafia was there. They all worked together and stuff." Dinari replies and shakes his head. "And retail just isn't intimidating. The worst thing that Allmart does is ...I don't know, shut down smaller businesses and break up any attempt to organize labor. We also have good deals and products made in China and South East Asia. We aren't a fortress of fear..." Dinari admits.

"But, you know, I am proud of Allmart and ..." But then his upset stomach gets the best of him. "We'll talk later...." And with that he runs off to the bathroom to get rid of some bad burger.

[Peter "Levitas" Barak]

Peter closed his phone. Odd comments from Dollar. Normally his boss was all about getting it done and having the best result possible... he was really scared this time around. With good reason, all things considered. The russian mob would kill him and anybody else at Allmart to get what they wanted and they'd very likely get away with it, or Kaschei would at the least.

But Peter didn't get afraid for his life. He survived. And he owed Kaschei. Personally. But, since this couldn't really be personal right now he'd settle for the next best thing. He knew a guy.

[Calithin Crest]

"I don't know... Getting attacked isn't boring. That's down right eventful, I'd say. But I suppose your little existence here does lack a certain lustre."

I think for a second but am getting kind of antsy just sitting here, so I stand up and pull Hilja up with me.

"Let's walk and talk, Watson. Walk and talk."

I begin to trudge along a path in the park and contemplate the concept of entertainment as I do so.

"It depends on the kind of interesting you want. The cheapest form of entertainment is comedy... So... I suppose you could just do funny things all the time. However, in my experience you aren't particularly comical... Or atleast not on purpose. Comedy sort of happens to you rather than is created by you."

I dig around my pockets until I find a packet of cigarettes and a lighter. I pull a cigarette out of the pack, light it, then put the pack and the lighter back in my pocket. I don't smoke very often but when strolling and lecturing it adds to the scene, so I take it upon myself. I smoke for asceticism rather than enjoyment, really.

"What I mean by that is... Like, if a creditor hopped out right now and started attacking you, that would be funny... But, say, you probably wouldn't be able to make a very good joke or tell a particularly humorous anecdote about creditors. Understand?"



((Later, dawg.))

[Malak Al-Dabaran]

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought it was related to some work I was doing." Malak replies to her statement about the interview of Calithin being for a more public media source. He isn't sure what to say about her statements about Calithin, but he is shocked.

"What come on? How can you say that? He's like..." He pauses to think of someone he can compare Calithin to. Someone terrible, ruthless, and rich. He can't think of anyone. "He's unlike anyone who's ever lived. That's how bad he is." He asserts.

"Yeah, we can meet at the hotel. It is more private anyway. Safety first!"

[Jack Kruschev]

"That's alright, Virgil," Anthony agian, lied. "Why don't you draw something happy?" Anthony asked, slightly annoyed.

[Tuesday DeCastro]

Tuesday raised an eyebrow. "Well..." She thought for a moment.

"Everyone has their bad points. But Calithin really isn't as bad as you might think, really." She nodded to enforce her point.

They walked into the elevator, and she pushed the button to her floor, walking down the hall, she unlocked her door, on the first try, schockingly enough, even Tuesday was surprised. "Wow, I've never done that on the first try before."

"That was pretty much amazing."

[ronny]

Ronny spent the last few days in her bedroom sleeping or reading the Book of Manala in Braile. She did manage to do very few Jewish prayings whenever she isn't with Scrag or not preaching the Manalist Prayings to other people.

"Maybe I should get some air." Ronny mutter to herself.

She puts on her navy blue dress, which it goes to her ankle and close toe sandals. Ronny quietly left her bedroom, and went to the teleportation booth so she can go to Helsinki. Once she's there, Ronny began exploring around the city.

[Linnea Korpela]

She watches him go, she was going to tell him she was going to try and be his friend anyway and jsut tell him when he was being mean.
"Maybe I'll just do it," Linnea says softly. "I don't really have anything to lose and a hopefully a friend to gain."
She traces some swirls on the counter. Calithin couldn't have been more wrong when he last spoke of friendship. Not having many people she could really call friends she valued them very much.
"I guess its time to go," she says as she slides off the stool and then walks to the other side of the house to avoid being seen by Keito.

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

"Alright, Alright..." I say and listen to this lecture. I can't believe that Calithin smokes. That's horrible. I feel like I should mention something, but, that would be rude.

"Alright, pretend that you are me...what would you do if you were attacked by a Creditor, as me. And I am the Creditor." I say. Now the pretending starts.

I run up ahead of him, then jump up on a park bench. "You've been late on your student loans. Well, now it's time to pay!" I shout at him.