Dillon Levenque
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Posts posted by Dillon Levenque
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I don't even begin to have anything that compares with these, but this sure is fun to watch! You guys are incredible, all of you. Mo-o-o-o-re!
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Things have, it seems, been made official. I apparently have been voted upon favorably. I have only one more step; an audience with M. I await an invitation.
I've been summoned. I've been told that M's secretary is really the second-best informed person in the organization; she apparently is really an underpaid deputy, so I'm curious. I find an attractive young blonde who I am almost positive I've seen somewhere before. She obviously knows who I am, and she tells me I'm expected and to knock.
I knock, and on hearing a response, enter M's office. It is not what I expected. The furniture is all of a very high quality but there is really nothing of the trappings of power that one would expect to see in the office of a highly placed official. No lavishness. It is, almost, utilitarian. M sits behind the desk, watching me but not speaking. I take one of the two chairs that face the desk.
"You asked to see me."
"I did. You've caused a great deal of trouble here, did you know that?"
"That's been made clear to me, yes. I did not seek that trouble; it found me."
"Trouble nonetheless. A cautious person would, I think, have assumed that doorway was not for the general public."
"I've been known to lack caution."
"So it seems. You also lack the ability to accept defeat. In spite of being held with not a shred of hope for escape, you contrived to smuggle a message to...someone."
I look at M steadily but do not speak.
"Twice."
I continue to look.
"You're lucky. You have skills. You have a very strong advocate on our staff. There is a critical need for more people 'at the sharp end' both here and in other places. Because of that need you are still alive and, to some extent, free. Without that combination you'd be in a cell. Or perhaps a shroud. Do you understand me?"
"I do."
"It's been suggested to you that a position with this firm is available. I am not suggesting—I am telling you that is the case. You have the opportunity to become our agent. You may accept or you may return to your quarters and take your chances. I have gathered from what I've seen and from what I've been told that you have the qualities to become a good agent. You've been compared favorably to some of our best people. Make your decision."
"You've been misinformed."
M's eyebrows rise approximately a millimeter and a half.
"I'm not as good as your best people. I'm better."
M's mouth twitches slightly; with a lot of imagination that could be considered a smile.
"I accept."
"Very well. Welcome. Watch your back."
With that comment the door through which I entered opens, and the blonde gives me a smile as I take my leave.
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Someone apparently wants to see if I can shoot; I've been sent to the range. Either I'm destined for some kind of time travel assignment or MISL's weapons training program is severely underfunded. On the plus side, the Range Mistress seemed very nice.
Can you say, "Blunderbuss?". I think I would have shot a better score but the damn flint fell out haflway through so I had to use my BIC to flash the powder.
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You guys have all the fun. Maybe I should get a Facebook account.
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Suki Hirano wrote:I only received around 1/2 of the items in this dress I bought due to lag or something. I repeatedly submitted notecards and IMs to the creator but she is either ignoring me, never online, or not receiving IMs/notecards. It's been like over 3 months now. Should I submit a complaint ticket or is there something else I should try beforehand? There's no redelivery terminal at the store, and don't want to name the store and creator name in case that's against rules or whatever. Thanks.
Unfortunately there really isn't a 'Complaint Ticket'. I found this out myself when something similar happened a few months back. Issues between merchants and customers are considered resident-to-resident issues, something LL consistently avoids.
You're quite right in naming no names; if that were permitted anyone could post false complaints here. Your only recourse is contact with the merchant. I finally did get the article I paid for, two weeks later. I never did get a message from the merchant; I simply got the article.
I'd add that I buy a lot of stuff and that was the first and only time something like that has happened. The other times I've had questions or problems the merchants involved responded very quickly. Just keep sending messages, and good luck.
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Last night there was a question on the Cartel group chat regarding the RFL kiosk at the Hangout which I was glad to be online to answer. The mention of it brought to mind something I've been meaning to add; now seems a good time.
When I met with the captain of my RFL team to talk about joining he made a point of stressing that what Relay is all about is raising money for the ACS, and I understand better why he did that. The Relay itself has acquired a life of its own—it's almost a social event, and one of the most moving things you'll ever experience. I talked about that a little in a post earlier in this thread. It does bring people together and everyone who goes gains from the experience, but the real purpose is to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The ACS has a simple mission statement:
"The mission of the American Cancer Society is to eliminate cancer as a major health problem."
That, as my team captain pointed out, is really the goal to which all of this effort is directed. And that takes money. There will, I am sure, be much more said in Second Life about this subject quite soon, but a few weeks back I saw something in the SL RFL group chat that really impressed me. The Relay For Life of SL has raised a lot of money.
The first SL Relay was in 2005, and raised $5,000. That's US Dollars, not Lindens. In a bit less than six years, the total amount of money raised is just shy of $1,000,000. They expect to pass that mark in a matter of weeks; when the 2011 Relay actually takes place in July we'll be working on our second million.
Think about that. This bunch of geeks, with a dollar here, a five there, maybe a ten or twenty every now and then, has raised a million bucks. And by the way the ACS is globally involved; I mention that because I'm quite sure a lot of non-US residents have contributed to Relay.
Thank you to those who have donated to the kiosk in the Hangout and to those who will do so as time goes on. We really do make a difference.
A link to RFL of SL: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=34810&pg=entry
And to the group page on the ACS Relay for Life: http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/node/4216
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I've been given at least the freedom of the Forgotten City. They attached a GPS Locator bracelet. No doubt it opens a vein or something if I go where I'm not permitted. But at least I can get out. They brought a lot of my clothes as well, which means they know where I live and how to beat MY security. Not surprising.
While I was walking I saw someone in a rowboat. I found the boat 'rental' dock. I've always loved rowing; it's such a quiet peaceful way to move on the water. This place really is beautiful; it's almost possible to forget I'm little better than a condemned prisoner at the moment.
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Quinn made another visit. It seems my choices weren't as clear as I'd thought. Option B is still the same: I can be executed. But I learned if I accept recruitment, Option B is still my penalty for failure. I don't expect to fail. I don't even plan to fail (nor fail to plan, for those who enjoy inspirational posters). Even so, it was a decision I could not make without thought.
I found yet another loophole in security while I was trying to decide between flight and acceptance, and I managed to smuggle out another message. I did some very extensive testing on the efficacy of digging an escape tunnel with a spoon—sterling, mind you. I'll give the Measlies this: they don't scrimp. After much soul-searching, I've decided to accept the offer of employment. Where that will take me I know not.
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I live, at least. I don't know where I am; I've been moved several times. I've found someone who will smuggle out a note. If I don't get back you'll at least know what happened.
Quinn is not actually a spy, but she is a Measly. She's the director of what they call Q Branch: they make all sorts of gadgets for the actual spies. Exploding fountain pens (what's a fountain pen?), that sort of thing. Quinn's official 'title' is Q—they seem to favor initials for job titles here—but most of her staff refers to her as Q'ute. Can't imagine why.
I found that out during my one visit from Quinn. She's the only person I've talked to other than my 'jailers'. I also learned that my future is under discussion. Apparently they're trying to decide whether I should be recruited or executed. I'm not really anxious to be a spy, but it's better than Option B. I seem to have things both for me and against me.
Against, mostly, is that I know too much. That is reason enough for some of these people to arrange a nice quiet disposal.
On the plus side, I have Quinn speaking up for me. They have also noted my ninja training and I've been given some credit for having found out what I found out unaided; those are qualities they think might be useful.
There was also an unintended consequence of my 'break-in' which has produced good feelings for me. Seems the last person to use (and leave unsecured) the doorway I crawled through was the Chief of Security, a person thoroughly detested by a great many of his co-workers. Apparently he is now in a safe house being debriefed and declassified, a process that will probably take about 30 years. His deputy (the guy with the loud voice, as it turns out) is taking over. I would guess that means security will improve; this will probably be my last chance to get a message out.
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I can't tell you how much easier it would have been had I decided to go look for the saloon and have a cold one.
I now am well aware that MISL is very real. I'd have been a lot better off not learning that, I think. I'd have been so much happier sipping a pint of Yingling's Black and Tan.Did I go for a cold one? No, not me. The door was there. I was on a roll. I tried it; it opened. I found myself in a room full of rather odd looking things, but that didn't matter. The shock was seeing someone I recognized in front of a computer on the other side of the room. At first I was pleased, but she was clearly stunned to see me and I knew right then that I was in trouble.
Yes. That's just who you think it is. Quinn. I'd stumbled into some kind of secret spy nest and found someone I knew, or thought I knew. My friend. My friend, who knew all along I was nosing around in the Forgotten City but somehow didn't think it was important to tell me to stop. My friend who I now know to be a spy! I barely had time to even talk to her before what must have been the better part of a regiment of security officers descended on the room and took me away. The last thing I heard was a very angry and very loud, deep, voice asking, "Who the bloody **** left that door unsecured?".
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Shh:smileywink:
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Your Honor, we ask that juror 6 (that would be Tem 'sugarbritches' Haalan, in case you weren't paying attention), be excused.
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Quinn. Say no more. My assistant has found an absolute gold nugget of precedent; I'd planned to keep it under wraps until we were scheduled for deposition. Just trust me on this; there is a defendant yet to be named. If you hadn't gone out in public without the cast—what were you thinking?—we might have coasted home. The attempted murder thing is a bit more difficult; with that we'll have to start with criminal before we get to civil, where the money is. Hope remains.
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Quinn Morani wrote:It is the miraculous power of prayer. I am HEALED of my pain and suffering. The mental anguish however, lingers...
Mental anguish? Mental anguish? How's this for anguish, sweety? I was shopping for a Porsche! Now it seems I'll be stuck with the Plymouth for another year. I told you once, I told you a hunnerd times: don't take the cast off. Sheesh.
You know how hard it is to keep up with the ambulance in a Plymouth?
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I also am really impressed with the Destination Guide. I like the really well-defined 'type' granularity at the start, and I also like that in all but a couple of places I've visited the look and 'feel' of the sim was very much as advertised. Since I'm not a person with a 'destination' I can't comment on voting or anything like that, but my experience with the Guide as it currently exists has been very good; way better than anything from the old method (forgot what it was called: showplaces?).
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Ima Rang wrote:I'm pretty sure I heard that cow utter (hahahah)" hell no I won't go", somewhere around the 100th time you took it airborne. This is a tough case.
Wow! I had no idea any of those cows were that old! Or is that one of those expressions that gets handed down around the feed trough, like campfire stories?
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I seem to have crossed a somewhat invisible line with my comments earlier; for that I heartily apologize to anyone who posted in reply or in reply to replies.
Actually I shouldn't really say it was an invisible line. I knew what I was doing. I knew who I was talking about. The fact I didn't call anybody out by name in no way changes the intent of my post. I suppose I thought I could 'get away with it' by going sideways. I learn.
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Lia Abbot wrote:Looks like a lot of fun Quinn. Then you are a real fun person. I'd love to have eggsplored it!
I don't believe anyone used 'eggsplored', Lia, but that is probably the only horrible egg pun we did not come up with. :smileyvery-happy:
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I found a Toy Store, and what amazing toys they have. On the second floor an entire airplane hangs on the wall. Whoever built this place was very good with mechanicals. But even while admiring the craftsmanship I had this feeling of being watched. And I kept hearing things, even though I was alone in the store. I'm beginning to think that MISL business is real.
What's this? Looks like some kind of mini-door. I wonder what's on the other side? It does seem like the noises are louder here. On the other hand, maybe this would be a good time to go find that saloon...I am a bit parched.
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Melita Magic wrote:ETA. If you'd like other people to add what irks them about a neighbor one small thing that irks me is when I have one or two things in the sky, and later, out of all the possible choices, someone else puts their own (usually enormous) blingy blangy object RIGHT next to mine in the sky. (Really - both have one object in the sky and they pick thesameheight mine is on? Sigh)
LOL. I had that same thing happen but in my case it was doubly odd since my skybox is slightly hideous. It looks sort of like a flying brick lunchbox—I was fooling around with shapes and textures and just left it that way. I hardly ever visit it but for some reason I clicked up there and found a very pretty Cape Cod about 50m above me on a neighboring parcel. I thought, "Why on earth would you want to have to look at MY place?"
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And I just noticed that in addition to not sending your egg in a timely fashion I even spelled your name wrong! Thank you for not mentioning it. I'll blame my assistant.
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I couldn't agree more, Quinn. I've said before in the thread that I've become friends of or friendly with people I first really 'learned' about here. And like you I would love to see more people bring their stories here.
But mostly I just noticed my post count at 499 and I couldn't think of better place to watch it go to 500. I know it's not an accurate number but it will still be fun to watch the change right here among so many of my friends.
:smileyhappy:
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I have stumbled upon a Forgotten City. A vast metropolis inhabited by, seemingly, nobody. There are humanoid but robotic-looking creatures here and there but they seem inert. Did they build this place? It's not clear.
I've heard rumors, though. There is a widespread belief that this is the secret headquarters of MISL—the Ministry of Intelligence for Second Life. What MISL actually is appears to be a subject about which nobody is well informed. It seems to be a web of agents, scientists, spies, and even assassins. Who they really are and what they are doing is the subject of a great deal of speculation.
The organization is supposedly run by a shadowy figure known only as 'M', who's very identity is a closely held secret. It seems that MISL is trying to infiltrate or destroy some organization they refer to as "The Other Side". Even less is known about the Other Side than about MISL. Whether there even really IS an 'Other Side' is questioned at times. The only really consistent data I've learned about the Other Side is that they seem to enjoy referring to MISL people as Measlies.
Just as I finish writing my notes and set up my camera for a 'street scene' picture, a solitary figure appears in the distance. I manage to snap a photo before she disappears between two buildings.
There is an eldritch feeling about this place. I've no idea what lies ahead. I will continue my research.
Oh, my name? Levenque. Dillon Levenque.
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You Only Live Twice
in Favorite Destinations
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As soon as I leave M's office, the almost forgotten feeling of being truly alone in the world settles on me. I wonder if I've made the right choice, coming back into the cold after so long out. This is a lonely business under the best of circumstances, but a double agent is truly alone. There is only one person I can trust: me.
I had hoped to have more time to surveille the somewhat alarming collection of hot looking women with guns that seems to have blossomed here but I've a mission assignment already. A possible connection. I need to pack my equipment.