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Gracious Conversationalist
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 Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 3:03 am
This is an side-track PRP Contracting/ Essence Spark Pickup RP for Roots of the Cosmos
Location: Life Essentials shop
Weather: Dreary autumn day; windy, rainy weather
Graficcha/EssentialShrimp will RP Rugovin & Banning
Roots of the Cosmos will RP Marten~
[And his persona, Salvador.]
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Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 8:15 am
He had kept a close eye on these operations. A close eye requiring much effort, and much time, but was beginning to show signs of fruition. He had gathered extensive data, evidence-specific, and searched from there. Who else might be after this apparently vulnerable information? The path to follow to a potential threat was not long at all. This was useful.
Marten was prepared to become an Owner.
Who would have known this monitoring of his only surviving relative would come to such a useful lead? The relative had actually associated with an illegal community, which Marten certainly would not have anticipated for the ''upright personality. But the illicit goods being sold here were quite...unique. And useful to our operative.
Life Essentials, they called themselves. Quaint. Marten did have a reserve of respect for them; they did, after all, keep up such a near-flawless front for their operations, yet still somehow managed to communicate freely with potential customers. Behind the simplicity, of course, was a network of security orchestrated by the founder of this company, but that did not require further thought.
Marten's mind was more focused on the application of his knowledge of this security, specifically a crucial weak point; there was a tiny hole in this shield, and a potential arrow ready to slip right through it. All that was needed for disaster was an archer with accurate enough aim, or more likely, one with the patience to just keep firing. Naturally, the orchestrator of this network would greatly appreciate knowing this weak point, before such an archer was found. This could be allowed to happen, for a price.
A slender man, tall, with long black hair walked the streets approaching the Life Essentials storefront. He wore executive-styled sunglasses, and looked much like a business man, typical in his arrogance and attire. His eyes were a cloudy grey. He bore no resemblance to our assassin, yet it was Marten entering the Life Essentials building as the black-haired man stepped inside, holding only a suitcase in his hand. It was time to make a deal.
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Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 8:26 am
Graficcha: Inside the shop, Banning and his brother were loitering around Timka's reception desk, talking, hardly getting any work done, but neither of them terribly minded this. Vin was going through a dozen stacks of paperwork with fading interest, occasionally asking Ban a question, and listening to the detailed answer. He had to admit, his little brother wasn't doing bad at all...
The door was open, the shop officially reopened after the brief hiatus, and the sign by the entrance proclaimed friendly well-wishes for the Solstice season like all other establishments in the narrow street.
Roots: The long-haired man calmly stepped inside, calmly hiding a flare of recognition as his eyes passed over the Essentic in the room, adapting a smile on his face as they noticed him. His expression seemed to request, 'don't mind me, please do finish your conversation' as he walked to the waiting area to examine the brochures. He'd taken careful notice of the entire room; details of everything there, living or not, had not escaped him.
Graficcha: Vin stopped what he was doing right away, going silent and still as he stared at the newcomer. His crest feathers puffed up characteristically, but his expression remained guardedly neutral.
Banning fell quiet as well, and kept a calm eye on the visitor, leaving him to his business for now.
Roots: The man kept himself busy, it seemed, simply looking through the available reading material; Marten was patient, and quite willing to wait a little longer for the long-awaited deal to occur. He exuded no malice, nor suspicion, simply the aura of a calm businessman. He waited for the two others to finish their business, while carefully taking note of their reactions to him.
Graficcha: Vin remained quiet, waiting for something to happen. he didn't quite know what exactly he was supposed to be doing now, actually.
Banning simply got back to his business.
Roots: Marten lingered near the reading materials for a short while longer...it seems they weren't much for active greeting, were they? Simply meant that he would have to do the greeting himself. "I suppose, if you aren't busy, an introduction is at hand?" Even this persona's mannerisms were different than his own, all the better for the mask to seem real. He smiled, reservedly. "My name is Salvador Demasse, at your service."
Graficcha: It had more been a matter of courtesy, to leave the man to browse at his leisure. "Good day." Banning addressed him when he initiated. "I am Banning DeLonghy, owner of this establishment. Is there anything I may assist you with, mister Demasse?" For now, he was going with the information he was being given, unaware of any deception.
Roots: The deception would be cleared, in time...but only once Marten was given proof it was wise to do so. "It is good to finally meet you in person, master DeLonghy." He stopped for a moment, seeming to think. "There is something you could help me with, certainly, but there is something I'll think you will find more urgent, something that I can help you with. If we could talk in more secure quarters, I think it would be better suited." His tone somehow implied that Vin was not excluded in this matter, but was not forcefully included either.
Graficcha: At the first few of his statements, Banning nodded attentively, but then he, quite exactly, serious'd up. "I will... hear what you have to say." He left it at that. It would be unwise to start asking questions, as a question implied assumptions, and were often answers to unspoken questions in themselves. "Come with me, then." he invited him calmly, hawk-eyes transfixed on his face. Backing off and turning, he headed towards the staircase behind the door on the left side of the room.
Rugovin had stiffened up considerably, and appeared to be making up his mind over the matter only slowly. Trust, no trust?
Roots: 'Salvador' followed calmly after the Duke, not seeming tense at all, in contrast to the others. It was not in Salvador's nature, after all. He met Banning's gaze mellowly, yet quite confidently, eyes expressing no worry, while still keeping professionally serious.
Graficcha: A strange disposition to have, that was, when confronting a duke about possible offer-he-shouldn't-refuse. It usually paid off to be wary in this business.
Banning lead him up the stairs, betraying no surprise when he saw Rugovin trail after the two of them. A minute later, Bane invited his guest to please have a seat, and make himself comfortable. While Vin remained standing near the corner, Banning sat down behind his desk, steepled his fingers -how conventional-, and looked at Salvador. Talk.
Roots: The man sat down in the closest available seat, setting his briefcase next to him. Ah, good, the Essentic chose to come as well, excellent. Salvador took a moment to gather his thoughts, before beginning to speak. "Master DeLonghy...through various sources, I have over time become quite aware of your operations here. Fascinating venture, honestly. I am sure we are both aware, however, that there are many forces that would disagree with you, and that we would both hate to have them learn of this. I would in no way put you at risk, but in my investigation, I have discovered a number of things that might." He paused. "I can fix this."
Graficcha: Whereas Banning retained a rather exquisite pokerface when he was told this, his brother didn't act so unaffected. "You have guts coming in here to tell us that."
"What is your proposal?" Banning cut him short, now glowering subtly. He realised it was likely no use to ask him for his information directly. If this person knew of a leak, and wanted something of him, he'd have to be a spectacular sort of idiot to give his intel away.
Roots: The man smiled at the less-than-pleased reaction he received. "You seem to think I am trying to threaten you. Please, do not let yourselves fall under the belief I would do such a thing. All I am saying is that a threat does exist, one I will happily extinguish for you." He cleared his throat lightly. "This is not blackmail. If you refuse my offer, I will not expose this vulnerability to anyone. This is an offering of...alliance, as well, in that I am willing to do all in my power to keep your operations safe. you could, of course, just take the leak information into your own hands, but I honestly believe you will be much safer with me." He hefted the briefcase into his lap, opening it at an angle where only he could see the contents, removing a few papers. "But now, regarding how you can help me. I believe what I ask is quite fair. I won't bother with tact, and I will be entirely direct. Quite simply, I wish to become an Owner, as I believe the term is used here."
Graficcha: Banning listened to him speak quite stoically, closing his eyes for a few seconds to think. Yes, he got the idea. "We generally do not require any form of reimbursement save for an agreement over confidentiality of our customers. I would very well enjoy being of service to you."
It was almost creepy how he ignored the entire issue that Salvador was bringing up to him. Business was business, if the man wanted an Essentic, he would damn well have one. The offside deal would receive attention separately from the normal protocol.
Roots: He smiled. "Ah...I do not believe in taking things for free, however, I do my best to repay my debts." He removed several more documents from his briefcase, setting them on the desk for Banning - and the unsettled Essentic, if Vin wished to - see, they detailed with perfect clarity who, what, and where there were security threats. "I give you these merely out of courtesy, because I can assure you that shortly the problems they entail will no longer exist. Security is of utmost importance to me, and I will gladly sign this confidentiality agreement." Abruptly, the man's voice moved to a lower tone, no longer the voice of Salvador Demasse, but of Marten, instead. "But it will not be signed with the name Salvador. I will entrust with you my actual name, Marten, and it will be good doing business with you."
Graficcha: "I will not deny you the right to do me a favour..." A man in Banning's position couldn't afford being too proud, no. When the documents were presented to him, he scanned them briefly, with rapt attention, and found them to be unsettlingly enlightening. Again, he dismissed these issues, though, in order to continue this calm negotiation. At Marten's unveiling, both brothers looked mildly disturbed, though as usual, Rugovin's expression was the darkest, and the most confused. Bane, on the other hand, managed to read the implications of this. He had a professional on his hands here. "Marten. It will be a delight doing business with you." Yes, indeed.
"What is it that you require of Life Essentials, then? I’m sure you are aware of the range of solutions we offer."
Roots: Marten thought to himself, on how professionally calm Banning seemed to keep himself. This was a good sign. "I do...apologize for my previous façade, one in my position cannot be too careful." He nodded. "Yes, I am well aware of your many solutions, and I have taken this into careful consideration. I've realized that, while all useful, only one class of these solutions can do things exclusively that I cannot do any other way. I believe the solution most useful to me would be that of a Magicker."
Graficcha: "Neither can someone in mine, though if we went into lockdown mode we wouldn't do much business, i'm afraid." If it was a joke, it didn't sound like one. "A magicker. I will take your word for it that you have considered this..."
"You just... want one right now?" Vin couldn't help it, he just had to butt in again. This was all so strange... Had their mother been like this? Picking up a rock at the store, to say?
Roots: Marten nodded. "Your ability to remain open to your clientele, yet hidden to others, is quite respectable..." He stopped as he heard the Essentic's comment. "If you prefer, I can wait; this is not a hurried matter for me."
Graficcha: Vin grunted, nudged his head at Banning. 't Is your customer, bro.
"There is no reason to impose a delay." Bane concluded curtly. "I can go and fetch you what you desire right away, after we get some...paperwork done."
Roots: Marten nodded once more, keeping his eyes on Banning. "Very well then, shall I remain here?" He sorted a few of his papers back into his briefcase.
Graficcha: "You may as well." Bane muttered, or at least, appeared to mutter, because he'd just stuck his head under his desk to retrieve the contracts. Once he had them, he brought the single parchment up, turned towards Marten to read, and handed him a clean filled pen. You know the deal.
Roots: "Efficient..." Marten calmly uttered as he took the pen, reading through the document before signing it with a precisely formed signature. He placed the pen carefully next to the completed contract.
Graficcha: "Thank you." That was all he said, before rolling up the parchment carefully and stowing it away safely. "It will be only a moment." he excused himself then, and headed into the hall, his steps sounding on the stairs a moment later.
Roots: "Mmhmm..." was the only sound Marten made in response, as he was left alone in the room with the Essentic.
Graficcha: Vin remained silent, stoically silent. For five long minutes, if he had to.
Roots: Marten was silent for a moment, before looking over to Vin. "I understand we have met before, a great deal of time ago. But that can wait for a more opportune moment."
Graficcha: "...what." Something is that tone made it clear that he felt right now was plenty opportune.
Roots: "When you see my actual face, it will become more clear..." He considered his words. "But I was once a hunter of your kind. Before I realized a number of things."
Graficcha: "Do you desperately WANT to die?" How deadpan. He was not amused.
Roots: Marten kept his expression flat. "Not quite. I believe we met very nearly upon the time of my realization... Which is why I did not fulfill my 'duties' upon meeting you. Senseless orders, they were..."
Graficcha: "They were. So I never actually met you, you just happened to... be planning on killing me but didn't."
Roots: "We may have met, in a fashion...but I had not the luxury of making my own plans. Until I began defying the plans of others, that is."
Graficcha: Vin was scowling at him by then. Like he cared...
Roots: "What I have done in the past cannot be undone, I do not seek redemption of any kind. I simply wished to inform you of the matter in the interest of keeping open communication between us."
Graficcha: "Fine. I'll inform you that if you try anything funny you'll have me on your a** then." Hmph.
Roots: "And I will inform you that unless I'm given good reason to, I do not engage in such business." Not once did his tone show any distinct emotion.
Graficcha: Vin's definitely did. "You better be very selective in your reasons then. What do you even need one for, huh?"
Roots: "Discretion." He closed his briefcase. "And despite your opinions of me, I can assure you that is will be treated well."
Graficcha: "I had no opinions of you until you gave me one, tsh. You better..." b***h b***h b***h, god, Vin, woman, you.
Roots: "Opinions and prejudices are things we only give ourselves." He was utterly calm despite the hostility.
Graficcha: "Please stop talking." He wasn't violent per say, but goodness, this man was a spectacular sort of aggravating.
Roots: "As you wish." He spoke no further.
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