IC: Emerald City Nights, This Ain't no Oz... Options

[Sedna]

"What's it looks like I'm doin'?" Kai wants to know. "An' anyways, Liddy's different. Liddy's okay. We talks all a' time. Y' kin trust her."

[OOC: Kai hasn't actually waved Liddy over yet, just waved her out to the others in the group.]

[Glyph]

Viper tilts her head curiously, getting a glazed look in her eyes briefly as she looks at the raggedy street gir. Then she smirks (which you have come to realize is one of her more common expressions).

"Yeah, I can vouch for Liddy. She's a... spirited girl, but she can be very inobtrusive when she has to be. Seems to pop out of thin air, she does."

[Thomas]

[OOC: Sorry, my bad – stupid bold names gave me the impression of shouting and waving.]
Steve looks at Viper, then to Kai, then back to Viper – as a confused expression crosses his face. He looks as if he is about to say something – but doesn’t.

[Bastard]

"Well, now that I am finisished with my drink," Johnson gives Kai a look, "lets head out."

[Sedna]

After a startled glance over at Viper -- "We cool then? Cool!" With the ease of long practice (well, a week anyway), Kai ignores the look Johnson gives him as the kid stands up -- well, "stands" really isn't appropriate to the instant way he comes to his feet, like his thoughts and mind and spirit are already halfway to the next place -- "c'mon, Glide, let's blow this joint."

"Can't," says Glide regretfully, snapping shut her cell, into which she'd been speaking quietly. "Boss wants me back in for something. Maybe I'll catch up with you guys later."

" 'K then," says Kai. "I be hangin' 'round Merciless Ming's. Yah, I'll be watchin'. Payin' attention even. There's a glitch, gotta phone, ya kin call --" and everyone winces as Kai pulls up the new ring du jour at increasing volume: something from Darwin's Bastards that might have sounded vaguely like fingers on chalkboard, had it drifted closer to an actual tune. "Hey, Liddy, gotta sec?"

Just that quickly, he's up and gone.

[Sedna]

Kai knows he's gotten to Merciless Ming's way before the rest of the group. Nearly as he can figure, that's the point: if he's going to be watching for any trouble cropping up on the outside, he'd better be in place first. Standing lookout's never been his favourite job -- he'd much rather be doing -- but the way the others were talking, this was as close to doing as he's likely to be doing for a while.

Lookin' a' it that ways, I gots the good job. Go figure. An' leastways I don' gots ta do it lonesome, gots Liddy here t' yak wi' and lend an eye s'well. S'cool.

They're drifting in and around the booths and wagons and tables of the street vendors who've set up camp in this place, talking up a storm, Kai showing Liddy the new rings he'd talked the electronics guy on his last delivery run into downloading -- if Steve were around, he'd be relieved that at least while Kai's fingers were occupied with the phone, they wouldn't be straying into other people's things (which wouldn't be in the best interests of the team either) -- but both of them always keeping an eye on what's going on in and around Merciless Ming's; and Kai, at least, waiting with some degree of impatience for the others to just get there already ...

[Digital Heroin]

The scene around Ming's in the evening is still jumping, though the market is closing down for the most part, the crowds linger for the late food vendors, and for the chance to get a seat at the best Noodle House in an old Mexican facade in the greater Seattle Metroplex. With the crowd it takes getting fairly close to see it, but Kai will be able to easily spot their contact. Even in a place where everything seems to fit in, a suit stands out just a touch. Especially when he is alone at a table, with the table next to him occupied by two other, albeit less polished, suits. The off the rack look just screams Bodyguard.

[Bastard]

Johnson steps into Ming's, brushes himself of, and heads in through the doorway. He quickly spots the suits, scanning the room as he approaches the table. If he spotted Viper or Steve, he didn't give it away. He continues his confident stroll toward the back table where Mr. Johnson and his two shlubs sit.

Arriving at the table, he nods to Mr. Johnson, "Hermes said you need some work done. Lets get down to business." He seats himself almost before Mr. Johnson can reply.

[Glyph]

Viper bounces cheerfully into Ming's, rubbernecking like any other customer looking for a good table. When she sees their contact, she walks over, not bothering to conceal it. Hell, if they wanted discreet, they wouldn't have worn suits - they stand out even more than she does here. A smile dimpling her face, she sits at the table that has the two bodyguards, within earshot, but far enough away to let Johnson do his job uninterrupted. She idly looks at the suits, shifting to astral perception briefly to see if there is anything unusual.

[Thomas]

Steve approaches from the opposite side of the seating area, quickly settling in next to Viper, and sizing up the bodyguards himself. He scoots his chair around to face the Mr. J’s more directly, using the bodyguards table as an armrest. Comfy at last, he hears the contact say…

[Sedna]

Kai watches the mutual positioning and posturing of the men and the slight stiffness which telegraphs Johnson's discomfiture over Viper's -- descent -- with some amusement. If any of them have seen him, they're not showing it. Well, maybe that grin of Viper's, but that could mean anything. Anyway, they're over there, and he's out here. Where he's supposed to be.

The thought makes him inwardly frown for a moment before he shrugs: he's given his word to these people. Sort of.

[Digital Heroin]

Johnson's approach isn't entirely unexpected, and so the suit doesn't seem to concerned. His bodyguards perk up a bit when someone joins their boss, and they outright tense when they are joined by not only Viper, but Steve as well. In a place like this, though, they shouldn't be so suprised. It's easy not to be noticed. Proof positive is that they haven't even spotted Kai yet, though they've been told who to look out for in general terms.

The suit manages an affable enough smile at the directness of Johnson's dialogue. The place wasn't his first choice for a meet, but it would seem things might take little time.

`Right to the point; I admire that. Hermes was correct, my employers require your services for, shall we say, some reconissence.`

His voice is neutral, accentless. No doubt Johnson knows the logic. A voice can give plenty away, and it is best kept in check.

[Bastard]

Keeping his attention towards Mr. Johnson, only giving a strange look at the empty table in front of him, half expecting at least a small mixer there. He couldn't believe that there wasnt even a glass of water.

Looking back at Mr. Johnson, "So what's the job?"

[Thomas]

Steve shifts position, accidently bumping the table, as he focuses in on what the Johnson has to say.

[Digital Heroin]

If The Suit catches that strange look, he doesn't let on. They're free to eat and meet here after, he doesn't much care, but he's not sticking around.

`My employers wish to know the contents of shipments going in and out of a certain warehouse.`

The implication there being that until the job is accepted, that warehouse's location will not be revealed.

`They wish the investigation to be done low key, without raising any potential alarm. If the people operating the warehouse know of your interest in the shipment, our deal will be cancalled, and you shall not be able to contact me again.`

[Bastard]

"Sounds straight forward enough," Johnson flashes a confident, but not arrogant, smile.

"What are we looking at, in terms of pay and timeline?"

[Digital Heroin]

`My employers would prefer to know what is being shipped within the next few days, though their sources place the final shipment at being a week away.`

The Suit does not return the smile, his expression is rather bland.

`Payment will be one hundred and fifty nuyen for every day or part of a day spent on the job, but no more than five days.`

[Thomas]

That's about three day's pay from that fat ork, depending on tips...
Steve glances at Viper, to see how she reacts.

[Bastard]

"I don't mean to sound ungrateful for the job opportunity, but thats only a little more than we make at our regular job. Plus you will pay us more, the longer it takes us? Why don't we go with a more realistic flat rate." The last statement is more of a suggestion than question. Johnson knows that the offer is basically a lowball offer, to see how green they were.

[Glyph]

As Steve glances at Viper, he sees her lip curl up slightly in scorn at the Johnson's initial offer. Even for someone as new to the shadows as her, the initial offer seems less than acceptable. Viper may not take home a regular paycheck, but she is still used to getting more money when she does get one of these jobs. She fidgets slightly, but stays calm enough to let Johnson handle the negotiations.

[Digital Heroin]

`I'm willing to speak with my employers on your behalf, and bring the paymet to two hundred a day, plus reasonable expenses.`

The Suit shifts his eyes a moment, catching Glyph's look of scorn at the offer, though he doesn't comment.

`My employer might also require you and your associates for a followup job, should this go well.`

[Bastard]

"How about a flat rate? Lets say a flat rate of 75 hundred nuyen. That is 1500 :nuyen: a head...plus any additional expenses, such as if we need to hire a decker or something." Johnson's smile has faded, his face seems almost humorously serious to his chummers sitting near by.

[Digital Heroin]

The Suit considers a long moment, long enough that Johnson might get to worrying the deal was blown, and then he nods.

`I believe I can arange the flat rate, though only seventy-five percent of expenses will be covered in that case.`

His tone has an air of finality about it. Something about the change in the expenses deal also speaks that he thinks a decker would be exessive, given the task.

`Shall we move on to finalizing the details?`

[Bastard]

"Yes, unless you would like to offer us a signing bonus."

[Digital Heroin]

The Suit considers a moment, then reaches within his suit jacket, a move that might get some on edge When he withdraws his hand, however, he is holding two certified credsticks. He places them on the table, hand covering them, and slides them to the middle.

`For expenses.`

He explains, rather simply.