Vinny stood at the podium dressed in his finest business suit, looking around at all the media he had managed. Word had been spreading around the past few days, ever since he had first given word that he was donating towards the new orphanage. He took a deep breath and moved the mike in front of him, waiting for everyone to quiet down.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for taking the time to be here today. On behalf of the Starlight Corporation, I'd like to publicaly announce our donation of $100,000 towards the rebuilding of the orphanage. In the wake of such a tragedy, it is the least we can do towards rebuilding a community that has become a shadow of it's former self. It is efforts like this which we hope will lead other pillars of the community to follow our lead and do some good." He continued on for a few more minutes about how it was time to give something back to the decent people of the city and a whole bunch more sound bytes designed to evoke a passionate, feel-good sense of hope in everyone. When he was finished, he opened the floor to questions, as he knew everyone had some, taking care to steel himself for some tough and skeptical ones.
Press Conference
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Vinny
- Seasoned Adventurer
- Bender of physics
- Posts: 342
- Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2004 11:01 am
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"First question!" he stated, pointing to a reporter off to the side.
"Sir, why has the Starlight Corporation chosen this particular incident to come forth? It's hardly the first time something unfortunate has happened in Badside."
Vinny flashed a quick smile. "Up until recently, the company had not been stable enough to take on a project as large as Badside. It's a rough neighborhood here, and we wanted to be 100% sure that we could put our best effort out there. But now we're here and hopefully we can make even a small difference."
He pointed off to the back. "Your floor ma'am."
"Is there any way you could be a little more specific as to your exact plans. I'm sure all of us would like to know just how you plan on accomplishing your goals here."
"It is our firm belief that any community can be improved by the education of its children. Our hope is to create an environment where they can go, feel safe, and hopefully learn by example about good civic qualities. As these kids grow up, they pass it on to their kids, ect."
"But isn't that what schools are for?"
"You'll have to pardon me if I disagree. I've seen some of the area schools and they are more of a war zone than some of the seedier neighborhoods around here. Kids are scared, and often go armed, if they even go at all. They take their life into their hands every time they walk through those doors. Our plan isn't a school per se. Think of a community rec center, a chance for the kids to relax a bit and get away from their troubles. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm afraid this conference will have to wrap up. Any requests for further interviews can be left at the Plaza Hotel where I'll be staying for a few more days."
With that, he walked off, hoping that he had generated enough buzz, even if it wasn't entirely truthful. They didn't know, and didn't need to know, that he was the sole driving force behind Starlight Corp. Now it was just up to him figuring out how to answer the rest of the questions that would come.
"Sir, why has the Starlight Corporation chosen this particular incident to come forth? It's hardly the first time something unfortunate has happened in Badside."
Vinny flashed a quick smile. "Up until recently, the company had not been stable enough to take on a project as large as Badside. It's a rough neighborhood here, and we wanted to be 100% sure that we could put our best effort out there. But now we're here and hopefully we can make even a small difference."
He pointed off to the back. "Your floor ma'am."
"Is there any way you could be a little more specific as to your exact plans. I'm sure all of us would like to know just how you plan on accomplishing your goals here."
"It is our firm belief that any community can be improved by the education of its children. Our hope is to create an environment where they can go, feel safe, and hopefully learn by example about good civic qualities. As these kids grow up, they pass it on to their kids, ect."
"But isn't that what schools are for?"
"You'll have to pardon me if I disagree. I've seen some of the area schools and they are more of a war zone than some of the seedier neighborhoods around here. Kids are scared, and often go armed, if they even go at all. They take their life into their hands every time they walk through those doors. Our plan isn't a school per se. Think of a community rec center, a chance for the kids to relax a bit and get away from their troubles. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm afraid this conference will have to wrap up. Any requests for further interviews can be left at the Plaza Hotel where I'll be staying for a few more days."
With that, he walked off, hoping that he had generated enough buzz, even if it wasn't entirely truthful. They didn't know, and didn't need to know, that he was the sole driving force behind Starlight Corp. Now it was just up to him figuring out how to answer the rest of the questions that would come.
"Schools... Community Centers..." muttered the Director & CEO of the Kitsune Foundation as she read over the reports of the press conference. "Doesn't this fool realize what kind of society this is?"
The man sitting on the couch across the room said nothing as Ms. Stone shut off the viewscreen. "This is worse than that damned General Perrinis and his 'Great Experiment in Democracy' up North!"
"Indeed you are correct, Madam Director." replied the dark skinned man. Nekkenwande had risen far in the hierchy of the Foundation, trampling his co-workers in the time-honored tradition of all the high ranking officials. "I also believe that Overlord Shakira will attempt to co-opt this man in order to increase her own popularity."
"I believe you are wrong there, Nekkenwande." Ms. Stone replied, looking to her view of the city. "I believe that a state of equality for the masses conflicts with Shakira's plans." She rose from her chair and paced behind her desk a few moments in silence.
"No... I believe if this man becomes too popular, we may have to throw some of our support behind Shakira."
Mr. Nekkenwande nodded... this was exactly what he had been bribed to ensure happened, after all.
The man sitting on the couch across the room said nothing as Ms. Stone shut off the viewscreen. "This is worse than that damned General Perrinis and his 'Great Experiment in Democracy' up North!"
"Indeed you are correct, Madam Director." replied the dark skinned man. Nekkenwande had risen far in the hierchy of the Foundation, trampling his co-workers in the time-honored tradition of all the high ranking officials. "I also believe that Overlord Shakira will attempt to co-opt this man in order to increase her own popularity."
"I believe you are wrong there, Nekkenwande." Ms. Stone replied, looking to her view of the city. "I believe that a state of equality for the masses conflicts with Shakira's plans." She rose from her chair and paced behind her desk a few moments in silence.
"No... I believe if this man becomes too popular, we may have to throw some of our support behind Shakira."
Mr. Nekkenwande nodded... this was exactly what he had been bribed to ensure happened, after all.
The word was on the street. Someone was asking around about property to buy along the wharf. So far, no money had changed hands, but the interest was rising among certain circles. A low-ranking boss or two were moving to take advantage of the situation.
In recent months, the crime rate along the wharfs had skyrocketed. Thugs were leaning on the local businesses for protection money. Some businesses paid. Some had not. Some of those that had not began experiencing trouble from vandals. It usually started with broken windows. Shops reported late-night burglaries. After the first fire, many of the businesses changed their minds about not paying protection.
The violence and crime had been on the rise for several months. A dozen businesses closed their doors and vacated the area. A scant few enterprising merchants began hiring their own security services, hoping to thwart the mobsters. Some of those "security services" turned out to be as bad as the thugs, extorting ever increasing amounts for their services.
There were a lot of rumors about why things had begun esclating in Badside. Nobody really seemed to know the truth. Whispers here and there suggested it was all part of some bigger plot. Others said it was all just part of the natural way of things, the way of "free enterprise."
Then there were the bodies. The murder rate in Badside had increased three-fold in recent weeks. Corpses were turning up everywhere as turf wars started. As one turf-lord bumped up against another, each claiming a street as their own, the fighting got worse. Merchants paying protection found themselves paying out double, or even triple, trying to keep all sides from looting their establishments.
In the middle of this upsurge of mayhem, came the buyer. A dueler in the city's arenas, who had put out feelers, looking for warehouses to buy down by the waterfront. The bosses were puzzled. Once the word started to get around, the bosses changed their tactics. Instead of just leaning on the local proprietors, they began encouraging them to sell-out, or even just sign-over their places of business to them under threat of violence. In a short time, a dozen warehouses had "become available" for purchase. All were grossly over-priced, being offered at a million or more.
In recent months, the crime rate along the wharfs had skyrocketed. Thugs were leaning on the local businesses for protection money. Some businesses paid. Some had not. Some of those that had not began experiencing trouble from vandals. It usually started with broken windows. Shops reported late-night burglaries. After the first fire, many of the businesses changed their minds about not paying protection.
The violence and crime had been on the rise for several months. A dozen businesses closed their doors and vacated the area. A scant few enterprising merchants began hiring their own security services, hoping to thwart the mobsters. Some of those "security services" turned out to be as bad as the thugs, extorting ever increasing amounts for their services.
There were a lot of rumors about why things had begun esclating in Badside. Nobody really seemed to know the truth. Whispers here and there suggested it was all part of some bigger plot. Others said it was all just part of the natural way of things, the way of "free enterprise."
Then there were the bodies. The murder rate in Badside had increased three-fold in recent weeks. Corpses were turning up everywhere as turf wars started. As one turf-lord bumped up against another, each claiming a street as their own, the fighting got worse. Merchants paying protection found themselves paying out double, or even triple, trying to keep all sides from looting their establishments.
In the middle of this upsurge of mayhem, came the buyer. A dueler in the city's arenas, who had put out feelers, looking for warehouses to buy down by the waterfront. The bosses were puzzled. Once the word started to get around, the bosses changed their tactics. Instead of just leaning on the local proprietors, they began encouraging them to sell-out, or even just sign-over their places of business to them under threat of violence. In a short time, a dozen warehouses had "become available" for purchase. All were grossly over-priced, being offered at a million or more.
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