Out-Of-Placers #106

Its interesting to think Ran is a notable flirt along with being a scientist

Teether

Im sure its just her makeup, but I wonder if Lady Talleraine is supposed to look like an addict.

Looks like Ran Ste-Su G'Mindel is well educated in zhe courtly graces (and a bit of Breaking Bad!). And honey, or its analogue, is now established in zhis world. Aaand it appears zhat Elim may well be up for a promotion and/or a medal for performance above and beyond zhe call of duty! But zhere is a storm brewing, and not just one of sand. Will zhe "gazhered" witnesses be "warmed up" to, or "grilled to perfection"? Will "zhings" at Zhe Enclave "go souzh", bozh literally and figuratively? Will Brakka be taken to zhe Baker's roof and Zhe Oracle, to "recover", and spend a lifetime of humpies? And will our sopretty Lopin ever be freed from his stool tower "prison"? We can hardly wait!

Zhe Missing Drake

Bruisegrass is made into numerous products, bozh medical and recreational. Elim's anesthesia could very well be one of zhose products. Anozher possible product might be somezhing zhat is given to someone, who is zhen told to forget somezhing while under its influence. A sort of "Milk of Amnesia". Possibly even developed by Ran himself, under zhe request of Viracroix, and retained by him as a "house secret". Administer it to all zhe witnesses but zhose zhat have a "need to know" or are certifiably "safe to know", and zhe issue is resolved, wizh no harm and no blood shed. As for who, zhe medical, Kass and Elim are NTK, and Isher & zhe Ivenmozh Guards are probably STK. Zhat would leave zhe kids as zhe ones certain to get zheir memories "cleansed".

Zhe Missing Drake

The italic emphasis on 'product' seem to point towards a special substance not meant to actually be sold. So while I can see them forcing an addiction, my first guess would be some sort of delayed toxin that would guarantee his death or lifelong problems. Doesn't even need to be a drug, a tattoo made with pigments composed of heavy metal compounds can also be quite devilish, as an example. Subtle murder for all sorts of occasions : toxic makeup ; «he poison was in the ice cubes» ; radioactive jewelry ; fake suicide ; ‘random’ yinglet with something ‘rabbies-like’ ; etc. Trying to decipher the subtext within these pages and having a glimpse of the web is such a joy.

Shodow

Sounds more like making him a lifelong addict as a method of extortion/control. After all, if they control access to his drug of choice and he is in a position of power, that gives them quite the edge. At the very least they can threaten to make a public scandal of his addiction, though I'm sure these two would be far more subtle. No need for threats, no no, no harsh words or demands. Just.. a little nudge here, a little nudge there, 'oh, are you sure you want to do that, it could affect our supply lines in your area if you do it, etc, etc.

Autocharth

Nice to see the Trademaster again!

Thorin N. Tatge

Were they discussing getting a kid addicted to something and turning him into a lifelong addict for their pharmaceutical companies? Because... that's too realistic.

ArcadeDragon

I see Ran's sacrifices to science are boundless.

I suppose Kass will tell him the reasons for it all. I do wonder why Ran is so enamoured with this woman... Perhaps they have overlapping interests? (He is a renaissance man after all, so its not inconceivable that he's also interested in hybridisation.)

abowden

I hope the people he is having gathered are not going to come to harm.

Estragon

Yes, but also smooth as shit

Silver the Snep

The Trademaster has me both in love and fearful of him ;-;

Ran is surprisingly thirsty

Scarletmenace

Cool

Jaws18301

Ran you sly devil! Knew you had it in you.

Max Last

RAN.

Loxen86