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[Digital Hellhound]

Jack's eyes glimmered. 'Forward! I like her!' she said, with a sideways glance at Magnus. The big man didn't smile, even internally. Tension radiated off the bond like heat from a sand dune. Jack felt more or less at ease. She started to answer, letting her eyes travel across the restaurant floor.

'I'm not looking for any kind of relationship that won't be... equal,' she said, smiling. 'Fucking or otherwise. I won't-'

She froze. Her eyes had come back to the Mafiya boss, passing over the nearest tables, and... Jack's blood ran cold. There was a couple sitting on their side of the restaurant... no, that wasn't it - that would've been bad enough, on its own.

There were a couple of... people like her, sitting only a table away from them, and she had seen the other before. She had seen him, and thought nothing of it. That he was here now, where no ordinary person could have been, could not be a coincidence. The bastard and his friend sat there, bold as brass, with that ridiculous gasmask. Anger began to mount over her shock - she could feel Magnus' concern and readiness, but also... bafflement. He was looking the same way, and seeing nothing wrong. Hell...

No. No, she couldn't let them disturb her now. Let them hear - she wasn't about to compromise this meeting. Jack forced her eyes back to Anya's, continuing as if she had never broken off mid-sentence.

'Money is not how our business is going to work, though, I'm afraid,' she said. 'John tells me you have grievances. The shootout was a Cartel hit - I thought you would have realized that by now. Mr. Rhodes was involved, but only because he freelanced, in the past. Still, I was his... patron, at the time, if not employer. So, let me offer you a way to make up for it - and anything else you'd like to blame me for. For my part... I've had my vengeance.'

She had dwelt on this for a while. She owed nothing to the Mafiya, as far as she was concerned, but she wanted Anya in.

'Tell me a problem,' she said, closing her hand, 'any problem, and I will make it disappear.' She opened it, smiling. 'The nature of the problem won't leave this table. You will not need to worry about anything coming back to you. It will simply be... gone.'

'After that, I'll consider us to be even. If you're in, we will go against the Cartel, and we will do it in force. When we move, I expect it to be in full - no half-measures, no hesitation. I expect we both have work to do for a while yet... but when the time comes, we will burn them to the ground.'

In some cases, literally, she hoped. The Cartel-run Esmeralda Casino was a blight in her eyes, and she'd entertained a variety of destructive fates for it from the Omega balcony for a while now. For the most part, this was business... but she could find some pleasure in it too.

'Think on the offer. Really think on it, Anya. I'd hate for you to waste this- ah, one wish on something trivial.'

[Fniff]

"I like imagining I am a forward person. So I'm going to lay out a good reason for why I'm not entirely sure if I should go along with this arrangement." said Anya. "A few months ago, after your first... hm... 'Heart's Desire' game, the head of the Irish Mob approached me and said that you killed his son. Using weird voodoo shit, direct quote. He had pictures and everything. Nasty way to kill someone, but I've killed people in nastier ways. However, my main worry is that you decided to kill the son of the head of the Irish Mob. That was dumb, Coupe." said Anya, who then took a drink of the already prepped water. "Even if he did something real mean, like set your dog on fire or something, it was a damn stupid move. We couldn't do anything else but move in and kill you because that was what we had to do. This is a new Organizatsiya so all debts are wiped away, so that includes the one for your life. But you're unpredictable and you kill the wrong people. The only way I'd be happy with an alliance would be if we had an... embassy, say, within your casino. I'd give you a guy with a phone to me. He sits in with you on your plans, and if they are not to the liking of the Organizatsiya then he will say so. If it's a particularly shitty idea, then he gives me a call. Consider him your Plan Quality Assurance Consultant if you like. I have a feeling if I don't have someone like him, you will do something really, really stupid and get me killed by proximity. You're powerful... but you seem to think that makes you bulletproof. You aren't. Unlike your friend there." She indicated Magnus.

[Digital Hellhound]

Jack's eyes darkened, if only just barely. Her smile stayed painted on.

'I failed to consider Dillard when I dealt with Duffey,' Jack said. 'That was dumb. Still, Duffey acted unfortunately publicly against me - I imagine Mr. Dillard would've come to the same conclusion, no matter what. You must understand, Anya - he tried to fuck me over. He was a stupid little shit way over his head, but I don't make exceptions.'

She sipped her wine. Something Anya had said was off. 'I don't see what pictures he could've had,' she said. 'It would have seemed like depression and sickness - no poison to be found, no evidence it was anything but... unfortunate. Pictures from the Game? More likely. But whatever, that's all in the past now.'

'I'd make one adjustment to your proposal. As I said, I'd like our agreements to be equal. If you want your spy in on my plans, I want the same. I'll send one of my people to your meeting, let you know when I feel you're getting off-track. Of course, only in meetings related to the problem of the Cartel,' Jack said. 'Both agents will be unarmed and kept under watch, naturally.'

Jack supposed she could be more cautious... but subtlety only took you so far. When they struck, they would need to do it big-time, fuck the risks.

[Fniff]

"I did not see the photos... Anyway. I would be happy with that arrangement, but how about we, for special circumstances, have the ability to withdraw the other's man from the meeting as long as we do the same at the other's? That way, if I want privacy on one meeting, I have to guarantee you privacy on the other as a reward. I'm certain some things you would want to keep private from us. I respect that." Anya heard the weirdest laughing from the other table, sort of ominously gleeful. Wait, what other tab... Anya lost her train of thought.

[Digital Hellhound]

'Agreed,' Jack said. She forced to keep her voice normal. Those two didn't even care if she noticed them... or perhaps they didn't realize? She hoped for the latter, but doubted it. She wondered if she could replicate however their... effect on other people worked.

She dared a glance their way to see what they were doing while she talked; 'It may be necessary sometimes to speak... absolutely privately, not through intermediaries or in the presence of others,' she said. She wasn't sure how to alert the woman to the presence of the pair when her eyes seemed to slide off them. Damnit. Jack hated losing control.

[Fniff]

"You think we're not alone?" said Anya, looking around. She did get that feeling for some reason... It was like someone was talking in the distance...

Jules stopped wrapping the spaghetti around his fork and grinned at the Stranger. "Oh, she's looking at us again! She must think she's so subtle, doesn't she?"

The Stranger put a palm to it's forehead and let loose the sort of sigh that the embarrassing parents of teenagers could recognize. It looked at Jules as he picked up his chair. The Stranger rapidly started motioning with it's hands like someone signaling from a burning oil rig. Jules tilted his head.

"Come on, bring the wine. I have something I want to tell her anyway." said Jules, beginning to walk over to Coupe's table. After a short pause, the Stranger briskly picked up the wine bottle and two glasses, then swiftly followed him.

[Digital Hellhound]

'We definitely are not,' Jack said, seeing the pair get up and march towards her. She hesitated. She'd intended to deal with them after the meeting. She needed to get a hold of the situation, fast.

Jack stood up, pushing her chair away. The screeching it made against the floor sounded louder than it should've. Everything did. She could feel her heart beating like hell. Fuck, but she was nervous of these two. Magnus stepped forward, hand going towards his weapon. She told him to wait - she didn't want Anya spooked any more than she was. He frowned, the pair seeming to finally register on his vision - or atleast, that's what she hoped was happening.

'Gentlemen,' she said. 'I was waiting for you to stop skulking in the shadows. I've been wondering of your purpose here - frankly, if a meeting was what you wanted, an old player,' she inclined her head at the freakish gasmasked giant, 'could've just asked.'

Did her voice sound shaky? No, no, of course not. She'd been doing this for a while. She could project confidence even when she was scared shitless - though she had a feeling that would only be for Anya's benefit.

[Fniff]

"Who are you talking to?" Anya said, unable to keep looking at the place where... nothing was.

"For the sake of her sanity and yours, let's keep this quick." said Jules, fixing Jack with the greenest eyes. Anya would not be able to see those gems for at most six months. "We expected to have a lot more time then we in fact possess, but that is fine." He took a small, ivory box from the depths of his jacket, and laid it upon the table. There was a simple iron lock on it, probably easy to kick in even if you weren't in possession of magical abilities.

"The cliché of the box that unleashes hell comes to mind." A figure wrapped in black bandages like a goth mummy says, standing next to the Stranger. Wasn't there no-one present until now? "It'd terrible if the grand story we are in is written by a hack of a writer who would think it genius to follow the cliché to the end."

"Oh, I'm sure whatever directs our movements knows what it's doing. Maybe. Perhaps there's nothing there and we're simply puppets who pull their own strings." the green-eyed man waved his hand, in which Stranger placed a glass and began to pour. The Speaker, if you could guess at it's eyes under the gauze, gave the Stranger the sort of look only siblings give to siblings who are doing something hilarious. "Our purpose here, as you asked, is simple. We like you. We like all your friends. Or would that be... No, that sort of information we don't give out on a whim. What we do give out is this. This is what I like to call Six Seconds of Safety for alliteration purposes. When you open this, nothing can damage you... for six seconds. This is going to come in very, very handy in future, so don't spend it all in one go. Your friends will be getting similar gifts. You may wish to swap. This is fine."

"We can't answer anything due to the circumstances of the future." said the Speaker. The Stranger began to pour it's own glass. "We want a meeting that isn't obvious so we don't get jumped by... well, if you want to see the future, ask the wizard's apprentice."

"Or don't! You have an empire to build." Jules drank his wine after giving it a sniff. "Of course, your empire might just be built on sand."

"And that's not a bad thing." said the Speaker. "We might just need it. Accept our gifts, and try to use them well. Any questions?"

"Why are you just staring blankly into space?" asked Anya. She suddenly lowered her head. "Oh, is there a sniper?"

[Digital Hellhound]

'Fantastic,' Jack said, taking the box. 'Just what I needed. Why the fuck couldn't you gentlemen come meet me like normal people? This whole spookshow was for... what?'

She felt more tension right now than the last two years combined. That was easier to direct into anger. She wasn't shivering with fear. She wasn't. 'You tell me you can't answer my questions, and then to ask some. Well, to hell with it - what's coming? Who the fuck are you three?' Jack demanded. 'And now you've left my business associate here totally lost. I'd appreciate if you did something to smooth that over. From the way those waiters are looking at us, she managed to pay them off before me.'

Take the bloody box.

[Fniff]

Jules rolled his eyes. "Someone got out of the wrong side of the bed this morn--."

"Goddammit, what the hell is going on?" said Anya as she stood up. "I didn't come here to listen to some schizophrenic jabber on in a conversation I can't hear!"

The Green Eyed Man focused his eyes on Anya with no visible expression. "Ooh, it takes some effort to interrupt me. Sit down, shut up," and then Anya gained a blank expression and sat down. There was a difference in the two's expressions: Anya was empty. Jules was full of something, maybe anger, maybe shit, but he was keeping such a tight lid on it something else was bursting out from the strain. "You like to hide it, Jack, but you really are a brat. I'm sure you want this over as much as I do, so let's answer your questions. My name is the Green Eyed Man, occasionally the Jewel Eyed Man or Jules for short. These are my associates the Stranger and the Speaker. If you're unlucky, the Soldier will be along shortly. Do you wish for plain English? Fine. A single one of us could fucking annihilate you. Four of us at once? After what we'd put you through, no-one would ever remember you. We wouldn't do that, because we are the only friends any of you have. But the monsters that are coming for us in a few months? You'd be wishing for us to be your enemies, because we would kill you rather then what they do. There's going to be a war. For all our power? We might just lose. Thing is, even if we do, you'll be the one that takes the fall. You and the rest. So enough for the lip."

"Jules." said the Speaker. "You're--"

"I'm what?" asked Jules.

The Speaker paused. "Nothing."

"Any other questions?" asked Jules, looking Jack in the eyes. "Or do you think you understand the situation? If you have any intelligence at all, prepare and stay strong."

[Digital Hellhound]

Jack's eyes flashed, but her expression remained calm. Anger was beginning to take over fear. That was good. She could work with that. Those eyes, though... she didn't feel like looking into them for too long, bravery be hanged.

'You're not giving me any specifics. I get the feeling questions won't much help,' Jack said. 'Right. I guess we're done. Thank you for your warning and... the box. I hope to never see you again.'

[The Alchemist]

A phone rang throughout the halls of the police station originating from police chief Vimes. The phone rang again and Vimes made no movement to answer. The phone rang for a third and final time until the voice-mail was played and a voice rang out, “Heya Vimes, ol’ buddy ol’ pal! It’s me Absolon! I know you’re there, but there’s no need for you to answer, just listen. I know you don’t think too highly of me and probably rightly so. Regardless I want you to put aside your prejudice for a while.” Lloyd paused for a few seconds. “For the good of the city,” rang out the voice in a tone Vimes could not belief to be in any way sincere.

“Why I call you today is twofold first to talk about our deal and secondly to announce something I hope to have your support for.” Again Lloyd paused for a few seconds. “It has come to my attention that Adam overstepped his bounds during the negotiations, so I want you to know exactly what I’ll accept about our deal and that I deeply apologize that such a crude negotiation tactic had to be used. The support in cleaning up the Rust Streets is of course my main priority so your support is duly needed.

Secondly you do not have to take any damn orders from me whether they be about what to buy or god-forbid who to arrest. I want this to be a mutually beneficial partnership, as such I wish for the two of us to cooperate. But you are still a man of the law and I do not expect you to be overly lenient with me or my associates.” A loud clamor erupted. “Sorry about that I kinda dropped...so where was I? Umm, right, don’t worry about buying any of my products. You are completely able to refuse buying any of my products or services with no repercussions. In fact I’ll give you and the rest of the police force a discount, I’ll even donate some things that you can use… or not if you really think I’m up to something.”

Lloyd’s voice cut off for a few minutes and just as Vimes reached to pick up the phone his voice burst forth. “Are you ever going to pick up the phone, I mean I love hearing myself talk, but this conversation has been awfully one-sided. Now the other thing I wanted to talk abo-.” Lloyd paused for a few more seconds, “hold on, the thing I wanted to talk about is starting now. I’ll talk to you after it so don’t hang up. Oh, and if you wanna watch I’m sure you can find it on a local news channel, you’ll know it when you find it.” Vimes proceeded to fiddle with a small t.v. in his office until he happened onto a live press conference with Absolon speaking in front of his factory wearing his usual gaudy outfit.
   
"Now some of you are probably wondering why I have called this meeting. I have called it to show you all the greatest achievement that this city has had in the past 20 years if not more. Look around you, in just a few short years this city’s most dangerous district has become one of the safest and is quickly growing in prosperity. And all this without a serious operation by the city or the police. This was accomplished in large part by me at great risk to myself. I was the one who started a business here while it was still filled with near-insane drug addicts. I was the one to acquire my own security force to protect myself and several recovering addicts from the dangers of the Rust Streets. And it was I who convinced the police to re-establish a presence here and legitimize the Rust Streets not as just a part of “some guy’s” plan but as an integral part of this city.

So now I ask, why stop at just the Rust Streets? Why not go onto the whole city? Well to that end I would be pleased to announce that I am now running for mayor at the soonest possible election. It is my desire that this city be brought back to its former glory. I intend to do so by making this city safer and increasing its production capacity. Now I know that my past is far from spotless, but I ask of all of you to look not back at what I did but rather to what I am doing and what I have accomplished. Unfortunately I am extremely busy and must take my leave. If you have any questions that need to be addressed immediately, please direct them to Mr. Denton and Aldrow.”

A few moments later a voice resumed from the speaker, “So Vimes, I’m asking for your official support for my election campaign. You’re free to do whatever you wish whether it be support or oppose me. Also I have developed an interesting security system for the Rust Streets so come on down and test it out if you want. As a show of good will I am giving you the same authority that I have over the security system.” Lloyd once again paused for a few seconds, “well you sure are taking your sweet time replying. Anyways that’s all I had to say so talk to you later Vimes. I’m going to look like an idiot if he wasn’t there after all.”

Vimes proceeded to sit still for a few minutes before sighing deeply and deleting the voice-mail and turning off the t.v. Vimes continued to sit there silently before eventually laying his head on his mahogany desk.


“That seemed to go splendidly L,” Ayana chirped in as Lloyd hung up.

“it did go about as well as I hoped, I put on a good performance for Vimes, the city, and whoever else seems to be watching us.”

“Do you know anything about these people,” queried Ayana sounding slightly worried.

“Not at all but with the amount of commotion we’ve made it’s nearly impossible for someone not to be watching us.”

Null Act: Run for mayor with a platform focusing on increasing security and increasing the city's production/economy.

Null Act: Donate a good number of Bolters, weapons, and prosthetic limbs to the police for them to do whatever they want with them.

[Xantalos]

As Merlin opened the back door to the shop and stepped through, he could discern that something was amiss as soon as he crossed the threshold. It was mainly the smell, a peculiar mixture of alcohol and bitterness that he technically hadn't smelled for a millennium.
He proceeded forward and found a man sprawled out in the middle of a puddle of vomit right in front of the door.
Merlin blinked in bemusement. Well then. This proved his hypothesis about life experience residue accumulating on the soul over time. Either that, or the man was a powerful practitioner of magic that was able of bypassing a soul-powered security system while unconscious.
"This warrants some questioning," he mumbled as he wandered out of the store.
One jaunt to grab his robes, staff, and two suitably comfortable chairs, with Matthew's help, which didn't entail much more besides a confused look at the subject on his part, and he was sitting in front of the man in the red overcoat, still lying unmoving in a rather large puddle of vomit. That'd have to be fixed. He tapped an edge of it with his staff, being careful not to actually get any on him, and the puddle began to glow orange on that particular spot, which spread out to encompass the whole pool. It then began glowing brighter until it was shining white, at which point it slowly broke up into little white flakes which floated into the air and faded away. Merlin noted with satisfaction that there wasn't even a stain left on the floor. He then tapped the person on the top of his head with the staff, focusing a small jolt of energy through it that would wake him up with the sensation of waking up from a deep sleep, only sped up tenfold. Odd, but not unpleasant in itself. That done, he settled down in the chair's cushions, waiting for the spell to take effect.

Sometime after returning from Bogmogelov, Merlin finds Johnny Carpenter in the shop, cleans up his mess, and wakes him up, hoping to talk.

[Fniff]

Jack
"Oh, promises, promises," said Jules.
Then, like a jumpcut in a bad film, he was gone.
"...  So, I suppose your business was... concluded" said Anya. "You are certainly a character, Ms. Coupe."

Merlin
Many nights like this for Johnny resulted in a morning without any energy. This was the opposite in a lot of ways.
It took a long time before his mind caught up with his body. The alcohol in his system was trying it's damnest to keep his head in a haze, but he experienced something he thought he had lost forever: the feeling of waking up after a restful sleep. He opened his eyes to see a guy in robes with a big beard.
"... Yeah, that seems about right," he said, mostly to himself. Besides, he couldn't think of much to say to the man.

[Digital Hellhound]

Jack returned to the table, forcing her legs to be steady. She downed her drink before responding.

'Welcome to the new world, Anya. It's getting more fucked-up strange by the minute,' she said. 'I'm not sure if any plans we had are gonna be worth shit in a short while. Not sure the Cartel matters, at this point.'

'Still... you still up for what we agreed? Spies on eachother, whatever. Now's not the time to stand alone. Not in this city.'