Inbox [cerealia]

[cardboard_journalism]

"Sss, sss, sss.

You've reached the desk of Myriam Scuttlebutt.

If you're calling to submit a story to the Cerealia Times, please press 1.

If you're calling to inquire about employment with the Cerealia Times, please press 2.

If you're calling to make a complaint about a story in the Cerealia Times, you are free to hang up. Complaints will only be accepted as submitted letters to the editor, delivered in physical form.

If you're calling for any other reason, please leave a message after the beep."

[boop]

[if 1 is pressed]

"You've reached the extension for submitting a story to the Cerealia Times. Please describe your story after the beep. For reference, please include your name and contact information. You may also make your tip anonymously, or ask for anonymity. As a source, your anonymity is protected by law, and will not be revealed without your express permission.

Kahk-kahk... Keep in mind, you cannot be financially compensated for information you provide, for reason of journalistic ethics. ...no, really, journalists aren't supposed to do that."

[boop]

[if 2 is pressed]

"The Cerealia Times is in need of correspondents, reporters, photojournalists, and delivery personnel.

Correspondent: you are expected to respond to stories that break out in an assigned section of Cerealia, report the information at the scene, interview witnesses, and supply written stories. Mild literacy is required.

Reporters: you are expected to actively pursue assigned stories and conduct related interviews in a timely manner. Mild interpersonal skills a plus, but not essential. With approval, you will be free to investigate your own stories.

Photojournalists: you are expected to record newsworthy events on film. This may require taking shots under suboptimal conditions.

Delivery personnel: you are expected to transport, unload, and fold bundles of newspaper around Cerealia.

All of these jobs take long hours and are very demanding... but they're worth it. --Except for the delivery job, that's just busywork. Sss, sss!

Leave your contact information, desired post, and brief description of your experience, if any!"

[boop]

[action thread continuations can go here too!]

Comments

[capforthat]

Sure. [Bulma leads the way back to the table, returning to her seat.] Don't worry about being late, I was only waiting a couple minutes. No big deal.

[She idly smooths a wrinkle from her purple dress, then folds her hands on the table top and smiles at Myriam.]

So... you're in charge of the paper, huh? I must say I'm surprised. I didn't expect someone so--[Box-shaped.]--interesting.

[cardboard_journalism]

Sss, sss, sss, sss! [she'd take that as a compliment, spinning her pen with pride as Bulma brought up her favorite topic]

The Cerealia Times is a collaboration of many talented individuals. I, myself, am but one cog in our perfect journalistic machine! You are right, though, The Cerealia Times buck stops with me.

--But, enough about me. We're here to talk about you! Let's start on our good foot... you said you wanted to provide new information, correct? Meaning what was printed in today's edition is more or less, just part of the story?

[capforthat]

That's right. Vegeta can be a little... intense. [Scary. He can be a little scary. Okay, a lot scary. Dude is so bad at first impressions.] And Jaco's just prejudiced. Neither of them gave you a complete picture of what Saiyans are like, so I thought I'd set the record straight.

[She pauses.] ...Uh. Do you have any questions, or should I just keep talking?

[cardboard_journalism]

Oh, no please! I'll save my questions for after you're done. Sss, sss, sss.

[she had her pen and notepad ready to take notes]

Go right ahead. Let me hear it "in your own words," so to speak.

[capforthat]

[Ah, there's the notepad. Bulma leans down to draw a somewhat worse for wear copy of today's Times from her bag. She opens it to the second page and lays it on the table, smoothing the rumpled pages.

Where to start.]

Firstly, I want to be perfectly clear. I'm not refuting that the Saiyans were a warlike race. Jaco didn't lie about what they did. They were planet wreckers, and as far as I'm aware they enjoyed it.

They were also working for someone far worse than they ever were. He took the planets they cleared and sold them off to the highest bidder, and when it looked like the Saiyans might be a threat he destroyed them, too.

Vegeta is one of the two remaining Saiyans that currently live on Earth. [She hesitates.] Lived on Earth, I guess. Before the Flamines destroyed everything.

[cardboard_journalism]

[she was certainly writing, too]

Right, so it wasn't the Saiyan themselves who were selling the planets?

[capforthat]

No. It was the Planet Trade Organization. [She spits out the title like it's poison.] The Saiyans were just a cog in the machine. Vegeta included.

[Her finger taps on the paper.] ...Which brings me to what I wanted to talk about. He didn't lie to you, but he did fail to mention some points. Like the fact that he's been one of the Earth's strongest protectors for more than a decade.

[cardboard_journalism]

Really! That is a bit of a thing to leave out... Kahk-kahk-kahk.

--Why would he lie? Or at least... y'know, make that omission. Kahk-kahk.

[capforthat]

Off the record? Because he's an idiot that thinks fear is the same thing as respect.

I wouldn't print that, by the way. He really does have a temper that's out of this world. [Pot calling the kettle black.] ...But he isn't evil. He likes to think he is, but evil isn't capable of half the things he's done.

[cardboard_journalism]

I think I'm beginning to get the picture.

[she sighed...]

--Look, I don't want to bruise your husband's ego any by destroying his vision of himself as the all-conquering super-villain, [especially because he was terrifying] nor do I want to start any sort of unnecessary conflict between you two.

So-- I've got two ideas that could possibly handle this, that is, if you don't prefer another option.

[capforthat]

[Oh, but they thrive on conflict... although, to be honest, Bulma would prefer to avoid it in this instance. She leans forward, lifting her eyebrows.]

Believe me, if you think you have a way to settle this without ruffling any feathers I'm all ears.

[cardboard_journalism]

All right, option number one...

I simply don't print anything more about Saiyans in the newspaper anymore. If Jaco feeds me anything else, I shut him down. This gives Prince Vegeta the last word, and the collective readership will probably forget about it in a week or so.

--Of course, that will fall apart if your husband happens to do something genuinely newsworthy. Like, say, get into a fight in a public place with lots of eyewitnesses. Or destroy the world. Either/or. Kahk kahk kahk.

Option two: the source of the article was Jaco with a public statement. If we can get Vegeta and Jaco to meet, without Vegeta stepping on him like a roach, then Jaco himself can see how not-evil Vegeta is. They can pose for a nice picture, and it gives the public a good story about how two enemies in their own galaxy can find common ground in Cerealia-- possibly united in common mutual-animosity against CERES. I get a nice narrative for my paper, your husband can have an image of himself as a villain generously tolerating an enemy in extreme circumstances, you get to wrap a bow on the episode and call it 'done' without having to worry about "the Saiyan Menace" anymore.

[Until the next guy, probably.]

[capforthat]

[Bulma listens attentively, nodding along--at least, until that second option is outlined. She freezes, eyes going wide.

Then she blinks, once, twice.

...and then she laughs, genuinely amused by the idea of her husband and Jaco playing nice for the camera.]

Ahaha... heh... l-let's go with option one. [There's still a smile twitching at the corners of her mouth.] I'm surprised you're willing to let the story go. Thank you for that.

[cardboard_journalism]

... [seeing Bulma's reaction, she'll laugh along with her, even]

Wow, that bad, huh? Sss, sss, sss!

[she calms herself]

Well, your husband gave... a very explosive response! I'm not sure what I went into our talk expecting to hear from him regarding Jaco's statements, but it wasn't that!

--But, yeah, it's not particularly newsworthy in itself. Present actions are news, not past prejudices.

[capforthat]

[Explosive, huh? Yep. Sounds like Vegeta. She grins, resting her chin on her palm and looking far more relaxed than she did when they first sat down.]

I'm glad to hear you think that way. I'll just have to make sure there's nothing worth printing in the future. [Easier said than done.]

[cardboard_journalism]

[she'd definitely pick up on that. Phew! Scuttlebutt was off the hook, again]

Well, let's not waste the trip out here! Sss, sss. Let's get something to drink and chat a little bit.

--If you don't have another appointment to get to, Bulma. --Can I call you Bulma?

[capforthat]

[Chat? Well, she can never have too many friends. She might learn something useful about the colony, too... Miss Scuttlebutt must be well connected to be able to run a newspaper, right?]

Yes, please! I'm not old enough to be "Mrs. Briefs" yet. [...yes she is. A woman can dream.] ... do you mind if I ask you about the box, Myriam?

[cardboard_journalism]

[there were many people with opinions about Scuttlebutt, it was true]

I see... your curiosity about the box grows stronger. Sss, sss, sss!

Y'see, I'm not just the editor, I'm also a reporter. And I'm not just a reporter, I'm an undercover reporter! This box protects my identity. With it, I am one with the shadows. Observing everything, missing nothing. The inside of this box is like a black hole... from which no scoop escapes!

[capforthat]

[...]

No scoop, huh.

[Her confusion melts away and she snaps her fingers, understanding making her smile.]

Oh, I get it! It's like a mobile hiding place, right? No one suspects a box!

[cardboard_journalism]

Kahk kahk kahk. You never heard that expression? It's journalist lingo! A "scoop" means any bit of newsworthy information that can be published. Especially before it becomes common knowledge.

That, too! Just crouch down, it's an instant hiding spot.

[capforthat]

Pretty clever! [Bulma glances down at the newspaper beneath her hands.] This is quite the undertaking. I can't help but notice the slogan beneath the title--"Because newspapers can't be hacked!" Is hacking a problem here?

[cardboard_journalism]

You're a very attentive reader, Bulma. The answer is yes.

...I'd rather not go into details, but I, myself, recently found myself victim of a daring hacker, or cracker, or whatever you call it. Kahk-kahk-kahk...

[capforthat]

Aw, you can tell me! Just between us girls right? [She grins and winks conspiratorially.] I am a genius, after all! Maybe I can help.

[cardboard_journalism]

...

[she sighs]

...a threat was made against a friend of mine. Somehow they broke into a private conversation I had over the network and... used the information to threaten a friend.

[capforthat]

[Well, the grin is definitely gone.] Wow. That's a lot worse than I expected... I suppose running the paper you must make some enemies. Your friend is okay?