[Saturday, October 25th. 4 PM] [There are lots of restaurants on Eighth Avenue in the upper 40s and 50s. Quite a few of them are coffee shops. And at least a handful of those are actually pretty damn good.] [But if you ask any real New Yorker, the best of the lot is Nino's on 52nd. The decor is simple. The wait staff is appropriately surly. The coffee is fantastic, and damn if they don't have the best danishes, pastries, and other carb-based food products around.] [Best of all, it's big enough that you never have trouble finding a table, without being a loud zoo.] [At this moment, the place is about half full. One more's about to be added, as Jacqueline Hyde reaches to open the front door.] [Mini Start] * Jacqueline made a point of using what resources she has(read: skimming news articles, pulling data she had access to from the Rampart, extrapolating past clients for intimidation purposes) to track Kama Sutura down, and just to be certain the mercenary'd feel at ease, she set up the kind of ambiguous, sort of, kind of clandestine meeting that could only occur in a movie or superhero comic. Also, she did it because it was a good reason to visit Nino's. * Jacqueline is quick about finding herself a table; there's plenty of space, after all. She's also quick about ordering a danish for herself. [The waitress, who appears to be have been born sometime during the Jurassic period, grunts as she takes Jacky's order, but is back with it rather quickly.] * Jacqueline is wearing a black labcoat that could probably pass for a normal leather one if it the pockets were arranged and shaped differently, as well as blue jeans and a red t-shirt with the yellow sickles and stars of the USSR emblazoning its front; she'd made some mention of 'Mother Russia' in the note, and that's probably why. She flashes a wholly insincere smile up at the waitress who brings her food before beginning to pick at it. [A couple of bites into her danish, a young woman wearing large sunglasses and a smart business skirt suit, with her hair up in a bun held with a gold and jade hairpin, sits down across from Jacky, setting down a cup of tea and a half-eaten pastry. "You were right. This is the best coffee shop I've ever been in."] * Jacqueline smiles thinly as she tears another bite of danish away to pop into her mouth. "I'm most always right; you shouldn't sound so very surprised. However are you, then?" [She grins. "I had a moment of regret in my choice in clients after that affair with BabeLon. Then I parted company with the authorities, checked by bank accounts, saw that the second half of her payment had cleared, and all my worries melted away."] * Jacqueline clucks her tongue softly as she reaches into her labcoat, plays her fingers along no less than three tiny explosive devices, and hits upon a folded sheet of paper. It's drawn out and slid across to Kama, but she keeps her fingers pressed down against one end of it. "Good," she replies sort of genuinely. "And if you had the chance to earn money without the nastiness of possible jail time?" [An immaculately plucked eyebrow raises up over the top of the large sunglasses. "My dear Miss Hyde, are you trying to recruit me to the side of angels?"] To my side, anyway. ["It *is* a rather pleasant side, that."] * Jacqueline once again smiles as she says with less arrogance and more outright self-assurance, "I know. Mentalism of any sort is in short supply; you /would/ be... helpful to have around." With that, she takes her fingers away so that the paper can be unfolded and a quote roughly in the vicinity of the mercenary's norm can be seen. [Said eyebrow raises again, though not quite as high as before. "I'm impressed. I didn't think 'the good guys' had the resources to come this close to my usual rate."] * Jacqueline makes a soft noise of amusement before sobering somewhat and admitting, "You will not be the only one who's surprised; I'm reasonably certain that /some/ of them are amenable to an arrangement such as this, but there was scarcely time to /clear/ it with them ahead of time. There were enough variables that I thought it prudent to check with /you/, first." [Kama tilts her head. "Well, that's a question right there. Before we get into the details of whatever you had in mind, I'd need to know that your people wouldn't arrest me on sight before I'd even consider that. The air at Rikers does terrible things to my hair."] There's a /salve/ for that, you know. * Jacqueline brushes her fingers primly through her own hair before replying to the more serious part of Kama's queries, "I do not imagine they would; we did talk about it. They recognize that you're a mercenary." [Kama tilts her head. "I can believe that from Redcoat and yourself. Perhaps of the priestess... she did seem the clever sort. Maybe even this new Horus. But if the rumors are true of a data scavenger, trained by Scales of Justice, on your side... the Scales name is not associated with compromise."] Solaris - and she's the one whose opinion truly matters - was not against the idea when it was raised. * Jacqueline takes another bite of her danish as she keeps an eye on Kama for her response. [The young woman chuckles lightly. "The great Solaris knows my name? I feel honored." A sly grin. "She is an... impressive woman, I will admit."] [She takes a small bite from her pastry, then leans back in her seat. "Well, if Solaris herself approves, I suppose I should at least listen to the pitch."] * Jacqueline nods firmly as she agrees, "Quite," and then she frowns slightly and shakes her head. "As I said: you are the first one to know of this. The /idea/ of your being approached was discussed; the actual execution has come entirely from me." ["And you have Solaris' ear?"] In theory; I'm sure I'll have a reasonable chance of getting through to her, once you've agreed. [Kama takes a slow sip of her tea. "A reasonable chance... not my favorite words, I'll admit." She shrugs. "I've taken such assurances from people with far less integrity than yourself, though, so I can hardly deny you that."] People with far less pleasant sides to boot, I'm sure. ["So very true, my dear."] * Jacqueline has another bite of her danish before noting, "I would not know the precise arrangements; /I/ would push for your accompanying us directly on the missions in which intelligence gathering is required, and otherwise retaining your services for dealing with captives, and the like. I, however, am unfortunately not in charge." [A small laugh. "So I'm not to mount a white stallion and charge headlong into danger in the defense of truth and justice? I'm almost disappointed." The laugh fades, but a small grin remains. "So, in essence, keeping me on retainer for those situations that require my particular skills?"] So I would /imagine/; if nothing else, I wouldn't want to imagine the potential backlash you might face were you to work actively with us. ["It would put something of a crimp in my regular activities, yes... once the association with 'the good guys' is on you, it's hard to shake. My usual clientelle tends to be a tad paranoid about secrecy." Another sip of tea. "It is something of a risk, definitely."] ["So we have the 'what'. That 'why' is still outstanding, however."] * Jacqueline nods with understanding as she says, "Quite the risk, but one that would, perhaps, be worth it; guaranteed money without the risk of arrest. Associates whose loyalties you won't have to doubt. Basking in the warmth of my proximity; your talents would be unique among us. I can't imagine the 'why' is difficult to understand, nor the benefits." [Kama nods slowly. "And yet... arrest is not high on my list of concerns, I don't often have associates to doubt, and..." A pause, and a smirk. "I'll admit, I have no counterargument as regards your... warmth."] * Jacqueline returns the smirk as she suggests, "Then perhaps it would be wisest to forget the first two arguments." ["You make a very..." *looks down over the top of her glasses* "... attractive offer. Still, my current work allows me to lead the life I want, with a minimum of risk. As wonderful as you are, Miss Hyde, I need something more to justify abandoning the security of my current situation."] * Jacqueline mms softly as she carefully uses a napkin to clean her hands so that they can be neatly folded before herself. She then flashes a smile at Kama in bare thanks for the complimentary words as she wonders, "Have you heard anything at all from what will swiftly become the alternative? I know that right /now/, you are free to work for whomever you like, but... I can only imagine that consolidation is the way of the future, thanks to the nasty demi-man afoot." [The small smirk which had been a constant across Kama's delicate features throughout the conversation fades as she takes another sip of tea. "Which brings me to my other concern."] * Jacqueline 's eyebrows rise. "Yes, darling?" ["I do not accept jobs in a war zone without doing my own evaluation of the sides. Prudent both for self-preservation and for if unexpected job opportunities present themselves."] * Jacqueline 's own smile slips as she quietly asks, "Then have you done this, yet? Or are you still waiting?" [Kama leans forward slightly. "Your side is going to lose, Miss Hyde. And as high an esteem as I hold you in, it would take more money than anyone would offer for my services to make such a risk worthwhile."] * Jacqueline contains herself from actually recoiling, but she does draw back from Kama somewhat at that proclamation. She breathes in slowly and deeply through her nose as she contemplates those words, and after exhaling she's settled herself enough to sound as confident as ever when she leans in to wonder, "Then will you try to do /one/ thing for me?" [Kama nods slowly. "I will try."] Remain neutral. * Jacqueline continues, as she leans a little nearer, "The prospect of doing something horrible to someone with your sort of bearing, your panache would be /very/ unfortunate, and if you were on the other side..." She clucks her tongue softly; it isn't as if she needs to finish that thought. "I would /prefer/ to be given the opportunity to know you better without a gun's barrel or prison glass between us." [Kama waves her hand dismissively. "I've no intention of accepting work for the other side, don't worry. I quite like the world the way it is, and have no desire to see how it would change under new management." She flashes a small, almost apologetic grin. "I am a businesswoman, first and foremost. Picking sides in this conflict is just bad business."] * Jacqueline relaxes a little and pulls partly away as she says, "Good." A beat, and then she even returns the grin, faint air of apology and all. "Then I'm perfectly content, really; we'll live without a mentalist, somehow." [Kama chuckles lightly. "Oh, I'm no mentat. I'm just... highly skilled in certain arts that are, sadly, mostly lost to antiquity."] Bending people's minds to your own will; perhaps you can't /read/ them, but that's certainly near enough for /me/. [That smirk is back. "I do have my charms."] * Jacqueline takes the last bite of her danish, finally, and after briskly brushing her hands off she refolds them before herself and replies, "Quite, but if I'm not concerning myself with what they'll mean for mine or others' free-will, perhaps a walk? A movie?" A quick glance out of the window to check the time, as her goggles are not present. "A proper meal?" I wouldn't want to leave empty-handed. ["Heavens forbid. I'm a mercenary, not a barbarian." A bigger smirk. "I know how to treat a lady."] ["This is your city. I place myself in your capable hands."] * Jacqueline stands in place and offers oneo f her hands down to Kama as she says, "Fabulous," with a smile. "A show--" Beat. "A movie, and dinner; the last play I attended was very bad. I had very harsh words with its director; we wouldn't want a repeat." [Kama takes the offered hand, and stands. "We wouldn't?"] He wasted my money with his awful dreck; I hid his cast's costumes in subatomic space for the next night's performance to spare the rest of the city. * Jacqueline leads the way from the coffee shop - sure to pay for her danish, along the way - as she adds, "It was a public service." ["And I reiterate... we *wouldn't* want to repeat this experience?"] [Kama leaves money on the table for her tea and pastry.] [And so the two stroll out of Nino's, destination as yet undetermined.] [Mini end]