@dr; text; February 1st

[donttalktome]

A proposition for you, Beacon:

The Night Market is set to return this month, and with them, the machine that gives answers.
For reasons a certain subset of you will understand, I refuse to go anywhere near the thing ever again.
And yet, I still have questions.
Hold that thought for a moment.

Some of you have come to me with requests for new tablet programs. "Apps" as we call them, but I realize that term means nothing to people from worlds without it.
In the past, I offered my services relatively free of charge. Spirit of goodwill and all that.
But I did say it wouldn't last forever.

Henceforth, anyone requiring new apps or other technological assistance will be charged one answer from the Night Market's machine.
The answer must be to a question of my choosing, and it must be documented in order to count.
Payment is expected upfront, and all payments are non-refundable for obvious reasons.

If you require a portfolio of my work, you're probably already using it.
Aside from the few basic functions, a good deal of the apps on these tablets are mine.

If you require an incentive that isn't tablet-related, I'll lay one other offer on the table:
I still know the location of a place that this group has yet to discover.
But that'll cost you two answers.

The short version, for those of you too lazy to read:
If you want anything from me, you'll have to ask a question to the machine, and give me the answer with proof of where you got it.
A simple transaction, but if you have any questions, don't worry, those are still free.

[OOC NOTE: any apps/modifications characters request from Will still need to be approved as player projects by the mods. They will likely take some time to create, especially since he lost his fancy hacker tablet, so nothing will be instant. If you have any ooc questions, hit me up over at leucrotta or just PM Will's journal.]

Comments

@wayne

[pearlstrings]

What if they lie?

[donttalktome]

That's what the proof clause is for.
I need photo evidence that the answer came from the machine.
And if the answer makes no sense for the question, I'm going to be suspicious.
Though if you're already there asking questions, I don't see the point in screwing around like that.

[pearlstrings]

But some of the machine's replies are read aloud.

I suppose it would require you to be a little selective about participants. Unless you plan to supervise.

[donttalktome]

In those cases, they'd need to provide an audio recording.
I guess I'll have to weed out anyone who can perfectly mimic voices.

[pearlstrings]

That sounds reasonable.

And what would the cost be for sharing what you learn?

[donttalktome]

What do you mean by that?
You want me to share the answers with the rest of the class?
I suppose there's no problem with it.
I didn't think up this business plan with secrecy in mind. A bit hard to enforce when I'm offering it to anyone and asking for evidence.
It's not like I'm going to ask personal questions.
Believe it or not, I want to prevent the looming death of us all just as much as you do.

[pearlstrings]

No, I suspect you had the avoidance of consequences in mind. Not that I blame you.

But I suppose I asked because I didn't want to make a presumption in either direction because I can see the value in both. There are certainly some with- hotter temperaments than others.

[donttalktome]

Are you referring to some people who might have refused to tell anyone anything helpful, or are you trying to warn me that people might want revenge?
Because if it's the second, someone already beat you to it.

[pearlstrings]

Both. I suppose I'm reluctant to trust that the majority of our group isn't short-sighted.

Are you alright?

[donttalktome]

Oh, I didn't mean someone had actually threatened me yet.
Just told me they thought someone would, and probably should.
We'll see, I suppose.

[pearlstrings]

Well, there's that at least.

Has anyone accepted the offer?

[donttalktome]

Three so far.
Though one of them was bargaining for the location information.

[pearlstrings]

Can't fault a system that works.

Is that also on your behalf?

[donttalktome]

Both sides are beneficial to me, really.
I get more answers and everyone gets a new area to play around in.

Not that I expect there will be much playing in this place.

[pearlstrings]

Will that be the focus of most of your inquiries? Finding new locations?

[donttalktome]

In the future, perhaps.
For now, I'd like to establish more about our current situation and the general state of things.

[pearlstrings]

I see.

Thank you for entertaining my questions.
I'll keep an eye out once the market departs.