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Jane/Aya - connie (she/her):
Aya had come to the Green Room dressed in the latest modest designer fashions from Dubai, colored in light tans and browns that managed to play perfectly with her skin tone and set off her eyes. She ordered a tall latte, and settled down in a seat at a table to pull out a small journal into which she began to write...
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
Thepis was arguing with someone on his bluetooth as he walked into the Green Room, "Do you know who I am, 20 thousand is the bare minimum you should be offering-ok, fine, then you can find someone else to-ok, ok, 25 thousand is acceptable, I'll call you back." he says tapping his ear and ordering a Cappuccino, he nods upon seeing Aya, "Afternoon." he offers
Jane/Aya - connie (she/her):
She looks to Thespis and smiles, "Good afternoon." She gives him a slight nod by way of greeting. "You can join me if you wish, Mr. Harken.." She continues writing into her journal.
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
he sits down, accepting the invitation, "I don't mean to intrude." he says, taking a sip of his drink, "I hope you've been well since we last talked."
Jane/Aya - connie (she/her):
As he joins her, she stops writing. "I have been doing fantastic. Philadelphia has so many of my friends in it, some I didn't expect at all." She smiled warmly, "With good friends, it's pretty hard to not do well. And you? How have you been?" She reaches for her drink and takes a sip.
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
"Finally set up my agency, getting some decent clients." he smiles, "Been meeting some people, one I'm not calling a friend yet but. . .an interesting associate who I'm keeping an eye, also found someone who might have potential as a rising talent, so I hope to speak with her again."
Jane/Aya - connie (she/her):
"That's great, I'm glad to hear it. It is always difficult to start again, may you find great success and many hidden talents." She rests her cheek on her hand, leaning her elbow on the table as she asks, "What is it about your work that most appeals to you? I could think of a number of reasons it might appeal to someone. What's yours?"
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
he thinks on that, "Shaping," he says, "I'm selective in my clients, theirs too many toxic assholes gaining fame and abusing their status in the worst ways, I won't help anyone who might end up like that, I want to cultivate those who will use their talents for the right reasons, being able to introduce a positive influence into the culture."
Jane/Aya - connie (she/her):
"I see. That was actually not an answer I expected." Her usual smile broadened a bit, "I like that; I could see how someone could cast that in a darker light, but that's not who you are, is it? You truly want to shepherd people through the difficulties of fame while allowing them to do good work." She takes a deep sip of latte, watching him curiously. "But what are the 'right reasons', what is a 'positive influence'?"
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
he shrugs, "Media should be about expanding out minds, seeing the world as it could be and viewing the truth, " he thinks, "I'm not saying I want boy and girl scouts, I'll get my clients the best drinks, best substances," he says carefully, "And point them to the wildest party, it's all about knowing how much to handle and not fucking over others while they do so." he takes another sip, "To understand my view on right reasons, let me ask, what was the last 'original' movie you saw, not a remake or something cooked up with market testing."
Jane/Aya - connie (she/her):
"Hmm.. that's a tough question. I suppose it depends on how 'original' you mean and in which directions." Thespis is unaware that he has awoken the sleeping cinephile, "Everything Everywhere All At Once was... there's a reason it's probably going to absolutely ransack the Oscars this year. But there are a few gems every year, you just can't rely on AMC to show them to you."
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
"That was a good one," he admits, "I feel that people are losing the drive to challenge people, to expand horizons and challenge their perception, I felt more emotion watching Precious then I ever did watching the Infinity War movies, fuck I cried my eyes out." he chuckles, "I think we're slowly losing the ability to make people feel with big name franchises, some call me an elitist but that's just my take."
Jane/Aya - connie (she/her):
"Oh yes, the franchises are tiring. It's like there's a factory churning them out on a predictable schedule at a machine-learning generated budget. I'd rather watch someone with their friends in their basement lightsaber fight with cardboard tubes, to be honest." She chuckles and shakes her head, "At least I know everyone involved had fun and loved what they were doing."
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
"I think movies shouldn't go more then Trilogy's," he admits, "But at the same time, we still have people who make things that capture the fascination yet still are churned out by mainstream disribution, have you watched Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities, on Netflex, an anthology that captured me each episode."
Jane/Aya - connie (she/her):
"I haven't had a chance to yet, I have to admit. My book reading time fights it out with my movie viewing time, and they both duke it out with my writing and speaking time. If only I could make more time, hmm?" She smirks playfully at the thought of actually making more time. "I will put that to the top of my list now, though. Back to your motivations.. your good reasons and positive influence would be to help craft art that gets people to think more, escape their mental 'comfort zone', so to speak?"
"That would be good. I appreciate seeing it when someone makes a movie that challenges the prevailing theme of 'doing violence makes you a cool guy who does cool things' and makes hurting people seem casual, easy, practically consequence free."
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
"Comfort Zone," he laughs, "It's an illusion people set for themselves I find, but yes violence," he intones, "Violence should be the last option but so many action films see at the the option, now I'll admit I'm a fan of 80's cheese fests like Die Hard, Commando, Rambo, but that's why they where rated R, Clone Wars was a children' show where Obi-Wan committed war crimes for Christ's sake!" he face palms, "But yes, expanding people's mind to possibilities, challenging perception, hell I'd love a film that made people uncomfortable but they'd come out learning something."
Jane/Aya - connie (she/her):
"Illusions are comforting, they don't require much from us. You don' t have to think, you can just go on autopilot." She lifts her latte and tilts it towards him, "In LA, you've had to have seen it, the people who drive on the freeway and they're practically asleep at the wheel, but still driving. They can brake the car when the brake lights come on in front of them, they can move forward, change lanes here and there, but when they get where they were going and you ask them about their drive, they don't remember a thing. They were checked out the whole time."
She takes a sip of her coffee, "That's a bit of how I see most people when it comes to all the violence in society; obviously violence directly, but other kinds as well, so many wrapped up in poverty. The media glorifying it, to me, is a lullaby; stay asleep, don't think about what you're doing. They're not even really people, it's just a dream."
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
"Illusions are meant to be shattrered." he says, "And the best way to do that is to open your mind, not everyone's as comfortable with psychedellic substances as I am," he fully admits, "So the silver screen will have to be the tool."
Jane/Aya - connie (she/her):
"Yes, I refrain from those as well, but partake in the silver screen," She says proudly. "At least as much as.. time allows. Though I mostly expand my horizons in meditative contemplation." She sets her latte back down and folds her hands together.
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
"And how has that been working?" he asks, "I've tried it myself but doesn't seem to click for me."
Jane/Aya - connie (she/her):
"It works quite well. I have had some impressive breakthroughs with it, which allow me to perceive things about others which are hidden to most." She looks down, "I have a lot of senses about people, which is why I've been very effective in talking down very angry people."
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
he raises an eyebrow, "Sounds like something to help pierce the mind," he shrugs, "Do you use this insight often in your work or just when you encounter a tougher obstacle?"
Jane/Aya - connie (she/her):
"I only really 'do' anything in an active sense in serious situations, when I need every insight possible to prevent harm. It's draining, and the staring involved would be very strange if I was doing it all the time." She chuckled, covering her eyes, "Just imagine the memes that would be made of me."
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
he chuckles, "Everything is memeable these days." he laughs, "Most of my work involve making social connections, bargaining, haggling, making the best deal possible." he shrugs, "But the perks are good."
Jane/Aya - connie (she/her):
"And do you use any special insights in your work?" She chuckles.
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
(brb)
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
"Sometimes," he admits, "nothing too invasive of course, but a nudge in the right direction helps now and then, getting a feel of what would the right words to say, gauging emotions."
Jane/Aya - connie (she/her):
"It's about the same for me. I can't exactly read minds, but it's more just understanding emotions through the energies people give off." She chuckles, "The 'vibes' being wrong is a very real phenomena. One of the signs that there's more to humanity, I think. We leave our mark wherever we go."
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
"We taint everything we touch." he muses
Jane/Aya - connie (she/her):
"Is that your view?" Aya's curious eyebrow hopped to attention. "You sound like a bit of a pessimist."
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
"I. . .view people to be grasping for things they can't properly understand," he admits, "We've come so far with technology, but so little mentally maturing as a species, I wish to challenge people's perceptions yes, but as a way to mature and guide them."
Jane/Aya - connie (she/her):
"Perhaps so. There's technology and the power it provides us, and then there's the wisdom to use it properly. You may be correct in assessing that as a species, we've too much of the power and not enough discernment." She taps the lid of her latte, "The gun is a terrifying thing; point and click death. And we still grapple with handling that responsibly. To think nuclear weapons exist."
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
"Exactly, it's better to vet people before letting them in on the joke," he admits, "Once again, I can come off as an elitist to some."
Jane/Aya - connie (she/her):
"Elitist or not, your perspective is understandable, though I hope you can see its limits; who decides who does the vetting? Who checks to make sure they do not get corrupted?" She goes for another gulp of latte, and then shakes it at the end. "Hmm. They never make these cups big enough.."
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
"They do need bigger cups," he chuckles, "What if the ones who do the vetting are also the watchers of. . .other interest groups?"
Jane/Aya - connie (she/her):
"Could be dangerous." She joins his chuckle, "If the vetters are also the watchers, then, as the saying goes, 'Who watches the watchers'?"
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
he waves his hand, "In this case the watchers are a fine group of wise and upstanding people, I hear some of them are quite handsome." he laughs
Jane/Aya - connie (she/her):
"Ah, I see!" She laughs as well, "May you be well-guided and wise in your watching, then. For all our sakes, yes?"
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
he nods, "Thank you and I will." he chuckles, "So, made in progress on the dangers of robots?"
Jane/Aya - connie (she/her):
"Yes, I've managed to talk to a few friends and get more informed about their nature and dangers. I'm planning to begin making some trips to city hall to hear their perspective on the matter and make some new friends." She shrugs, "Small moves, but ripples can become waves."
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
"That's something many don't see to get, slow and steady, riots don't solve all problems."
Jane/Aya - connie (she/her):
"Well, one did bring me here," she says with a tip of her head and another smirk. "Not that I condone rioting, but not all consequences are bad. Sometimes pain is worth suffering if you learn something, or at least it motivates you to act."
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
"Now that we agree on, pain is as much teacher as anything else."
Jane/Aya - connie (she/her):
Aya nods in agreement, "Yes, and the city has learned these robots are something to watch. Hopefully it'll be less painful for the people to find that they don't like what they see."
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
he rises and puts his money on the table, "Time will tell, I enjoy these talks, care to have another some time?"
Jane/Aya - connie (she/her):
"Most definitely. You're an impressive interlocutor, Mr. Harken." She lowers her head and places her right hand over her heart as she often does in greeting and farewell: "I look forward to the next time. Ma'a salama."
Vincent/Thespis/Edward-ET:
he nods, "Have a good week."
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