Journotainment unit: Damon | senior editorial staff]
âSo you shoot, you cut, you talk. Got your own gear?â
âEverything. Iâm all set to go.â
âYour reel wasnât bad, Damon. Bit folksy in places, but I know good stuff can be scarce out in the Regions.â
âThatâs true. You really have to keep your contacts healthy. The materialâs there, itâs just buried a bit deeper.â
âI believe weâve run some of your freelance work before â that two-parter on the reptile smugglers?â
âAh, yes, that was mine. I had to pixellate a couple of sources, but most of it went okay.â
âWhen did we run that?
âBack in May. That lizard-cam number. You edited the damn thing, George.â
âHa, yes. Of course. Nice images. Police busted them pretty fast I recall. Pity.â
âGot a certain look, havenât you, Damon â with the hair slicked back and so on? And your, ah ⦠I remember your face, is what I mean.â
âYes, I guess so. Iâve always worn it that ââ
âDiana programs our series. But mostly we need more immediate stuff. Youâd know about our story output. We rely on partnerships with security firms, government contra deals â cash very rarely. Youâve done most of your work solo, I take it?â
âThatâs right. But I mix well with all sorts.â
âI assume you speak Beige? We have arrangements with Polbiz high-ups, business conduits, mid-ranking coppers. We need someone who can maintain those strong links. Itâs easy to grab bites from your basic bystanders and snitches, but that wonât carry you far here.â
âI understand that. Those more complex relationships, that reciprocal work, thatâs exactly what Iâm looking for. And Iâll talk to anyone.â
âRochelle here handles that side of things. We can usually provide freelancers â productive ones, that is â with a few hook-ups. Say one government partner, a data agency source, someone from the security industry.â
âSounds good.â
âRight, but let me state this up front: I just do the intros and oversee budgets. Itâs the consultantâs job to foster those ongoing relationships. That takes time and patience, not to mention social skills. And you can forget that old line about separating work from life. Whatâs your trust quotient like?â
âPretty high, over eight on most tests. I sent the transcripts with my ââ
âAh ⦠yes.â
âBrian? Did you want to ask Damon anything?â
âIâll be honest. Iâm concerned about the transplant issue.â
âWhat â his source base?â
âThatâs part of it. It takes a long time to know a city, Damon, and youâve only just transplanted to the big smoke. The other thing is the accent.â
âMy accent?â
âDonât take offence, but itâs just a shade bumpkin. Donât you think?â
âThatâs easily fixed, Mr Rosslin, Iâve developed a few variations. And Iâve been down here most weekends with the express purpose of building contacts. Iâve already got bartenders, casino croupiers, a dog handler and someone from the middle rungs of interdepartmental liaison. Plus a brothel receptionist and a junior morgue technician. And Iâm working on a street grifter and a geek.â
âNot bad, nice little bunch of fixers. And the man can speak tidy when the need arises.â
âGot any story leads?â
âIâm already following several. The Big Bang: the truth behind the methamphetamine shortage. Blood Money: illegal aliens in blood-trafficking racket . Whoâs Your Daddy: tunnel kids and brothel bosses â¦â
âHm. Sounds alright for a start, I guess.â
âI like your tie, Damon. Is it silk?â
âAh, yes, thanks. An airport number, I have to
âSo you shoot, you cut, you talk. Got your own gear?â
âEverything. Iâm all set to go.â
âYour reel wasnât bad, Damon. Bit folksy in places, but I know good stuff can be scarce out in the Regions.â
âThatâs true. You really have to keep your contacts healthy. The materialâs there, itâs just buried a bit deeper.â
âI believe weâve run some of your freelance work before â that two-parter on the reptile smugglers?â
âAh, yes, that was mine. I had to pixellate a couple of sources, but most of it went okay.â
âWhen did we run that?
âBack in May. That lizard-cam number. You edited the damn thing, George.â
âHa, yes. Of course. Nice images. Police busted them pretty fast I recall. Pity.â
âGot a certain look, havenât you, Damon â with the hair slicked back and so on? And your, ah ⦠I remember your face, is what I mean.â
âYes, I guess so. Iâve always worn it that ââ
âDiana programs our series. But mostly we need more immediate stuff. Youâd know about our story output. We rely on partnerships with security firms, government contra deals â cash very rarely. Youâve done most of your work solo, I take it?â
âThatâs right. But I mix well with all sorts.â
âI assume you speak Beige? We have arrangements with Polbiz high-ups, business conduits, mid-ranking coppers. We need someone who can maintain those strong links. Itâs easy to grab bites from your basic bystanders and snitches, but that wonât carry you far here.â
âI understand that. Those more complex relationships, that reciprocal work, thatâs exactly what Iâm looking for. And Iâll talk to anyone.â
âRochelle here handles that side of things. We can usually provide freelancers â productive ones, that is â with a few hook-ups. Say one government partner, a data agency source, someone from the security industry.â
âSounds good.â
âRight, but let me state this up front: I just do the intros and oversee budgets. Itâs the consultantâs job to foster those ongoing relationships. That takes time and patience, not to mention social skills. And you can forget that old line about separating work from life. Whatâs your trust quotient like?â
âPretty high, over eight on most tests. I sent the transcripts with my ââ
âAh ⦠yes.â
âBrian? Did you want to ask Damon anything?â
âIâll be honest. Iâm concerned about the transplant issue.â
âWhat â his source base?â
âThatâs part of it. It takes a long time to know a city, Damon, and youâve only just transplanted to the big smoke. The other thing is the accent.â
âMy accent?â
âDonât take offence, but itâs just a shade bumpkin. Donât you think?â
âThatâs easily fixed, Mr Rosslin, Iâve developed a few variations. And Iâve been down here most weekends with the express purpose of building contacts. Iâve already got bartenders, casino croupiers, a dog handler and someone from the middle rungs of interdepartmental liaison. Plus a brothel receptionist and a junior morgue technician. And Iâm working on a street grifter and a geek.â
âNot bad, nice little bunch of fixers. And the man can speak tidy when the need arises.â
âGot any story leads?â
âIâm already following several. The Big Bang: the truth behind the methamphetamine shortage. Blood Money: illegal aliens in blood-trafficking racket . Whoâs Your Daddy: tunnel kids and brothel bosses â¦â
âHm. Sounds alright for a start, I guess.â
âI like your tie, Damon. Is it silk?â
âAh, yes, thanks. An airport number, I have to
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