[VegasRigged]

I taste everything carefully so I can pass an observation later, then eat as quickly as I can without appearing rude.

"So, you seem to have quite a few friends here, i can't help but wonder if your running this little show?"

I'm fairly certain she's not running the show, but I need to bring it up now, and probably later as well, if I'm going to find out what I'm up against around here.

[Mercy Merchant]

Sylvia nods and smiles as she eats her food.  "I am, yes.  More or less, anyway, and it is not really all that little a show.  I have put together the sort of talent that any country or AAA would be proud to have, if they knew we existed."  She chuckles as she reaches for some toast and butters it.  "Actually, they all DO know I exist, just not how big I am.  I am the girl they go to if they want something done without getting their own secret police involved.  I solve problems, I guess you could say.  I am always looking out for new talent and you have impressed me, in more ways than one."

[VegasRigged]

I smile. I'm smiling about a lot of things, and though the gears in my mind scream caution I smile at Sylvia, maybe the first real smile since I woke up from the nightmare of my imprisonment.

"Well, assuming this sale goes off well, and barring the unforeseen, I think I could become quite comfortable here- with you."

She's surely bragging, probably to impress me, but she does have a strong and descreet fighting force available, and if I play my cards right they could be integral to my greater plans for Seattle.

"Mind if we finish while we walk? I'm eager to see how our prisoners are doing."

[Mercy Merchant]

Monday   11 June 2075   1620   You do not know where


Sylvia smiles and her eyes glint a bit as she looks at you and talks between bites of buttered toast and what appears to be real raspberry jam.  "Thought you might, but there is no real hurry just yet.  None of them will be awake for another hour, and those are the ones Lady Marisart and I took.  The ones you got will take a bit more time because they were drugged later.  We have plenty of time to finish eating.  I am going to get me some more coffee, would you like some?"  She stands with her cup in her hand and motions to yours, offering to get you a refill.

[VegasRigged]

My mind inevitably wonders if she's planning to poisen me now, but I hand her the cup all the same. "That would be most welcome, thank you." I slow my pace of consumption and check my commlink while I eat.

Knowing theirs no hurry on that front is useful, but I need to check in on other things. Mostly my new porn business, my Submissive clients, and the theft related needs of my primary benefactor within the Triads.

[Mercy Merchant]

Besides a helping of the sort of junk mail that no filter seems able to defeat, you have three messages from your secretary.  >>Good morning Miss Coulter.  I hope that you are well, but you have not been in to the office yet this morning.  I do hope that I am not reaching you at an inopportune moment.  There have been two calls to set up appointments to come see you, but I do not know your schedule for the week.<<  >>Miss Coulter, I do hope that you are alright.  You have not called in yet and I am getting a bit worried.<<  >>Miss Coulter, now I am really worried and do not know if I should contact the police or not.  Please contact me to let me know that you are safe.<<

[VegasRigged]

My smile has become a relaxed fixture of confidence and ease as I lean back and type a quic response.

'I am alright, I stayed out later then I intended and overslept rather dramatically. Please forward the requests to my 'link at your earliest convenience. Your concern is appreciated, feel free to close up early as I will be attending to another matter for most of the day.'

I send it, idly wondering if my communications are being monitored. Since my dear secretary manages only the public facing aspects of my life, I doubt she has received any more interesting information about the other, much more interesting side, and certainly nothing that these assassins would find useful.

[Mercy Merchant]

The response comes shortly after you send the message to her.  Included are the com codes for the two potential clients and one message that she is passing on from one of your special clients confirming a date for tomorrow evening in your office at 2000.

[VegasRigged]

I put my phone aside and continue eating. I'll need to curb my dear secretaries protective instincts, the last thing I need is a Knight Errent investigation into my whereabouts because I was out late. God that would be an embarrassment, not to mention the amount of palms I'd have to grease to cover it up.

When Sylvia returns and thank her for the coffee and allow a pause. I asked a question and got an answer, now it is her turn. Let's see where she goes with it.

[Mercy Merchant]

Monday   11 June 2075   1630   You do not know where


Sylvia sits down and sips at her coffee then puts the cup down on the table in front of her.  "You are a smart woman, Eva.  I am sure that you realize that what I have here is no minor organization.  At this point you know only enough to be a nuisance if you should decide to turn me down and talk to the newsies after leaving.  As it is, I would not even stop you as I do not think I am in much danger and I............care........too much about you to want to do you any harm.  If you decide to stay with us, you would be given enough information that you might be able to use to hurt me, at least a bit.  The thing is, you see, that too many people need me and what I can provide to really want me to go away.  I have worked hard to get to that position.  It does help, of course, that no one on the outside really knows the full extent of my organization."

She picks the cup up and sips again.  "I suppose that I should now ask you if you are interested enough to learn more or if you just want to return home and forget about all of this?"

[VegasRigged]

Ooc: I did tell her about my true identity didn't I? I'd kinda forgotten about that :p

IC: "Syl, I don't understand how someone as compassionate and intelligent as you ended up running a league of assassins, but that you have and do is a feat I would never see undone. I'm still suspicious, it's my nature and we will spend much of our time together struggling with that paranoia, you having to overcome it and me trying to see when it is and isn't needed. But you did hear me right, our time together. I'll stay, I will work here and help you and fight at your side until such time as you have no further need of me, or find my company abhorrent."

I lean forward and place my hands on hers, showing my warmest and happiest side "I'm here to stay."

[Mercy Merchant]

Monday   11 June 2075   1633   You do not know where


Sylvia takes your hand in hers and smiles at you.  "Thank you.  I will need to have you vetted and a security check done as a formality, but I would like to start the process by having Sigrid talk to you.  She is an important member of my team and more or less manages the awakened team members.  Would you mind talking to her for a bit?"

[VegasRigged]

"An essential precaution, I wouldn't mind in the slightest." I'm still smiling, comfortable, at ease. Part of my wonders what else I can get from Sigurd, if she can tell me more or give me Intel on the groups strengths and weaknesses.

I'm nearly finished eating by this point and thinking about going back for seconds as last nights antics were fairly demanding, which reminds me of an important question "I wonder, who here would have the most up to date Intel on the local Vory cell? I encountered a few last night and would like to know leaving them alive wasn't a mistake."

[Mercy Merchant]

Monday   11 June 2075   1642   You do not know where


Sylvia stands and picks up her tray. "Good.  I will ask Sigrid to join you here, if that is alright with you.  Hmm, gangs intel would be Heidi.  Ask Sigrid to introduce you to her when she is done with you.  I should not have to tell you that you will need an escort to be walking around here.  It is only for the beginning and is actually more for your safety than anything else."  She takes the tray to a set of bins and scrapes the plate before depositing everything on a large rolling rack.  Looking back at you, she smiles again then leaves the room.

[VegasRigged]

Inreturn the smile and my mood began to sink. Syl is the only one I know here, meeting the others, who I know for a fact are dangerous killers, will be nerve racking.

The gears in my head spin up, pushing options into my mind. Magic. Bad option, I'm going to meet the head of heir magical section, my chances of casting a spell without being noticed are virtually nonexistent. I could seduce her, probably doable, but not any kind of promise of success or advancement, plus it could backlash on me if I create tension within the company. A new line, again, unlikely to be useful since the interviewer will be comparing her findings with Sylvia's and any discrepancies will raise  suspicions. Honesty then, at least as much as I have given Sylvia.

I lower my head and rub my temples in an attempt to jog memory, what have I told Sylvia? The real downside to letting someone in is remembering how close they are and how much they know.