recolle | (no subject)

WHO: kyrie & aranea
WHERE: styx
WHEN: 2/7
WHAT: just making some not entirely legal business deals nbd
WARNINGS: none

[ he's tried to dress down for the occasion but he still doesn't fit in. the rolled up dress shirt sleeves and slacks he's in don't look like they belong anywhere near a tattoo parlor, but still-- here he is. he's passed the parlor on a number of occasions but had never had any reason to enter till now. ]

Slow night? [ he asks like it's not 7 p.m. on a tuesday. ] I'm sorry, I don't believe we've met yet. Not formally.

[ he extends a hand because its the gentlemanly thing to do. ]

Ms. Highwind? Kyrie, wonderful to make your acquaintance-- I'm not sure how much you know about me but I certainly know quite a bit about you.

[ the trail she left had made it easy enough. granted, she was good at what she did. he'd only managed to learn what he knew by actively looking for it, seeking out dots that very few would realize to connect. ]

Do you have a moment to spare? I'd like to talk to you about some of your other business ventures.

[ he smiles, but stops to cast a wary glance over his shoulder. doors have ears and counters have an odd habit of hiding ways to shut down perceived threats. ]

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[ Days come, they go, and suddenly a dressed-down businessman with dark, slightly green hair walks into Styx. Aranea is sitting in one of the chairs in the waiting area, the remnants of her hopefully last cigarette of the day lying in the ashtray on the coffee table.

She instinctively stands when the door closes behind the guy’s back. Taking his hand into hers in a firm, professional handshake, the moment Aranea lets go and gives him a good look. ]

No, I don’t know a thing about you. But… that is why we all have beginnings, Kyrie.

[ … Her other business ventures?? Tilting her head to the side, she momentarily acts confused as if she doesn't know what he's talking about, when she’s really trying to figure out what hole this person crawled out from. If this was some undercover police game, they've certainly got a lot more creative recently. ]

Luckily for you, I'm free for the rest of the evening. Follow me. [ It only takes her half a minute for her to agree, turning away in order to lead him to another conversation area. They pass by a line of chairs, turn down into a corridor past a couple private rooms. Stopping at the last door on the left, she enters a room with an office area at one side and a small kitchen at the other. Nothing about the surroundings scream fancy digs, though they’re simple and clean. ]

You can take a seat here. [ She gestures at the chair opposing the desk that she’ll sit down at. Normally she’s not the type to go out of her way as far as pleasantries are concerned, but Aranea figures she should take this at least somewhat seriously. ] Want anything — coffee, tea? Water?

[ you're never really sure what kind of reception you're going to receive when you're kyrie's variety of businessman. this time though it looks like it's a warm one, if only for the moment. ]

I'm fine, thank you. [ his voice is pleasant, eyes skirting across corners of the room-- he tries not to linger too long on any one thing before they settle on his host. ]

I'm here on behalf of my associate. We'd like to make you a deal. [ he doesn't say boss-- that's an ugly word, besides the hierarchy was mostly symbolic. the only time it would ever be relevant is if they went under and kyrie needed leverage for a plea deal. ]

You clearly seem to be doing well for yourself. [ he motions with his hand; to the expanse of her establishment, to the things that fall under the breadth of this conversation and aren't there. ] But there's always room to be better.

[ she hasn't pulled a gun on him yet. that's all he needs to find the confidence to push forward. ]

This city is very quiet-- which is good for you because it means the police don't have any reason to be very diligent. But that also means that the moment anyone gets any whisper of what you're up to-- [ he brings his fingers together and snaps, smile still light and pleasant like they're talking about the weather and not possible felony convictions. ] -- It's all over, just like that.

[ After Kyrie declines the offer of beverages, Aranea takes a seat on the other side of the desk.

This situation is really odd, considering they are in sleepy Recolle, a place that she had originally chosen to get away from the madness and mayhem. Alas, the heart wants what it wants.

A wrinkle forms between her brows as they begin to furrow. She can already tell this guy’s been born with the gift of the silvertongue, concealing the notes of a threat behind his pleasantries. Great, she was already being played. Kyrie was definitely holding the better hand of cards. ]

The police here might not have much of a workload, but… a word of warning. They’re still a right pain in the ass.

[ It’s very hard to keep a straight face when talking to Kyrie, but Aranea swallows a sigh and retains her composure. ]

Main problem for them is, they require evidence that works in the court of law. Not hearsay and theory.

[ She has gotten into a bit of trouble with the police, a fact that probably has not entirely escaped Kyrie’s notice. During a nighttime burglary in Enprise, she caught the unwanted attention of then-new police officer Bigby Wolf. The game of cat and mouse — her not wanting to be caught, him wanting to catch her — eventually made them far better at what they did. ]

Sorry, you’re going to have to give me more details on how exactly I’ll be able to do better. You just said it yourself — the city’s quiet. She’s at peace. [ Aranea adds with a crooked smile. ] What kind of mad man would want to break her out of her slumber?

Not a madman-- a capitalist. [ though he supposes that depending on what you read those two things went hand in hand. ]

With the way things are right now, and as I'm sure you know from your own exploits; there's not much competition. [ there's a careful sort of pace to his voice. he makes room for pauses, time to look up and watch his companion, time to be sure she hasn't drawn a weapon or signaled for some ugly, muscular lackey to get rid of him. from the looks of it? so far so good. ]

And not discredit your efforts but I think we both know you've been coasting. There are few people who scare you enough to make you put in the extra effort and your market is only so big... [ he folds his hands in his lap, tries to figure out from her guarded expression just how persuasive he's being (he doesn't have much luck, but he smiles nonetheless) ]

My associate and I are looking to change that-- expand markets, increase clientele, and other assorted business jargon that I can't be bothered to think up right now. And we're of the belief that we would rather have you as a friend than an enemy.

[ she's still unreadable but he presses on. ]

Needless to say you are a force to be reckoned with and we don't want any trouble. [ an ironic statement all things considered, but it fits. ]