❝ I mean, I would have preferred you to be gone forever, but, we can’t all have what we want, now can we? ❞ Saccharine sweet and with entirely too much teeth, Felicia grinned up at Ky as she leaned into him. It was a job she needed him for, no matter how much she hated it.
❝ Now, just keep that little smile on your face and look at me like I put the stars in the sky. I’ll have those jewels in no time. ❞
❝ No, we can’t always have what we truly want, can we?❞ No matter how hard he tried in all reality. ❝ Now, if you’re wanting me to smile… more and especially play my part.. ❞ He trailed off for several moments as his attention shifted from the ground back to her. ❝ You’re going to have to let me have a little fun after this is over. ❞
❝ Well, then it looks like we’ve got the beginning of a deal… Still a couple details to hammer out. ❞
There was something that wasn’t quite adding up, a wriggling feeling in the base of her stomach that was the impetus for her unease. Felicia had dealt with cocky benefactors before, but the ease with which he agreed… There was something wrong.
❝ Have you done anything to arouse suspicion? Pressed a little too hard? Attempted to grease a couple palms? Museum types and archaeologists are familiar with men of your sort… I need to know how difficult you may have made this. ❞
❝ i’ve pressed just hard enough to get their attention. as i said before, i’d go myself, but they won’t even let me near the building. ❞ not to mention ky had attempted to kill a few guards the last time he was there, but that was besides the point in his mind.
❝ these.. types don’t know a good deal when they see one. if it was me, what i want would have been in my grasp months ago, but as it stands… ❞ he trailed off for a few moments….❝ it doesn’t look like i have any other options. ❞
SO MAYBE COMING to this meeting with all the major crime lords on the Eastern Seaboard was not a good idea. Fisk had been glaring at her for the better part of the cocktail hour, leading the Black Cat to reject every drink that came her way. Hackles were up, sharp green eyes scanning the room for allies.
SHE WAS MOVING to him as soon as he was spotted, sitting at the corner of the room. Long and lean, with a cold and dispassionate aura, exactly what Felicia was needing for cover. This world involved so much more politics, especially with so many players in this room. Sliding in close in the booth, shoulders brushing, the thief turned boss looked up with a playfully arched brow.
❝ Well, I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure. Black Cat. You are? ❞
HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO AVOID ANY CONTACT here. That way, he wouldn’t RISK voicing his opinions too badly and he could LEAVE with out a real incident of sorts. More importantly, a name was ONE thing, but his FAMILY was another completely.
KEEPING HIS HEAD DOWN was in the best interests of everyone; saying what he wanted could get people KILLED. Not that the simple prospect of death MEANT anything to him, but he wasn’t going to cause any UNNECESSARY violence when it could be AVOIDED.
AN EYEBROW LIFTED as she approached; plain DISGUST spread across his features as she spoke. The question of WHY she was over here was on that mind of his, but he wasn’t going to ASK that – no, that would come out another way of sorts.
RUDENESS WOULDN’T SUIT anyone in his situation; too many BIG names in one place. It was why he chose the approach of being UNINTERESTED (even if that could have been considered rude in itself).
❝ Ky’lar, ❞ he said, forgoing any TITLES that could have proven to be beneficial for the moment as he leaned back against the wall. ❝ An’ we haven’t. ❞ There was a gesture to the area at large. ❝ As soon as the business is done? i’m gone. ❞ Then he could relax in a very cold hotel room, but business first, and then attempting to ignore the REST of creation later.
They were outnumbered. That much was a given. If it was up to him, her voice would have been silenced, and the obvious wouldn’t have been stated. It was quite clear he knew the odds were against him, but as per-usual, he decided ultimately ignore it.
“Are we?” He asked, sarcasm practically dripping from his lips. “Not for long.” His eyes narrowed. “I can handle this myself.”
it hadn’t exactly turned to led, but he did make sure to hold his tongue for the moment. he’d been caught in something he couldn’t exactly get out of. so, in his mind, it was best to cut his losses, and remain silent. that way, he could attempt some sort of damage control down the line, and not lose his head in the process. “no,” he said sucking in a deep breath. a few moments later, he let it out slowly. “i just… made a mistake..”
It was the dispassion with which he spoke that intrigued Felicia, curiosity coloring her face. Too interested to even react with more than a sniff of disdain at the questioning of her ability to complete what was being described. It was appearing to be a relatively simple job and the thought of a near unlimited payday on top of it?
“I believe I’m familiar. It’s to be a part of the Art in Weapons exhibit at the Met? Not an easy place to get into, but not impossible. One hundred thousand dollars and give me a week to deliver. I require half up front, the other half can be paid at delivery.”
She tried not to roll her eyes at his explanation, stopped by the step forward that she felt was meant to be intimidating. A shapely and dark brow quirked upward, pointedly staring at the shortened distance between them before darting back up to his face.
“Not to give you the impression that I don’t care, handsome, but uh… I don’t really need to know that. Now, do we have a deal? Or did you want to attempt to negotiate?”
The price was… fair. He had said any price – so he half-expected something far higher, but wasn’t going to complain either. It was a mere scrap of pocket change in his mind – considering the amount he had tried to pay through more legal means. Not to mention that this route would have far less paperwork involved.
“Negotiating would mean your price is a bit too steep.” For him, it wasn’t – not at all. It was simply a means to and end. One, that hopefully would earn him some points back home, but only once he had the item in his grasp.
“A reason to why we have a deal.”
More importantly, why attempt to negotiate when it wasn’t needed? Sure, he could have found someone much cheaper, but they more than likely would have failed. Or failed, got caught, and then it would all come back to Ky – something that he didn’t need at the moment.
“Not to sound terribly selfish, handsome, but what’s in it for me?”
Working for benefactors was never something she liked. They always had these fanciful ideas about how they wanted the job to be done, like they themselves were the master thief. Green eyes sized up the tall blonde in front of her, maybe, just maybe this one would be different.
“Where are my manners, jumping straight to the good bits. Tell me what you’re looking to procure.”
On most days, he would have requested manners, but there was no point in them. Even more so when it was so much easier to get around them. Titles meant nothing in this day and age. Maybe back home they would have meant something, but here? He wasn’t going to take that risk – well, not around people he didn’t exactly trust with that information.
“It’s always about what’s in it for you,” he said as calmly as possible. “money, reputation, and even power.” there was a shrug. “any price you request is all possible.” his lips formed into a thin-line. “i just wonder if you’re able to obtain what i ask.”
a moment passed, maybe two; his arms folded calmly behind his back as he took a step forward. “there is a dagger that will be on display soon – it’s apparently said to be a possession of a very old friend of mine.” though, friend was used very lightly. “i’ve tried to go through a more… legal matter of things, but apparently they believe the offer isn’t genuine.” not to mention he wasn’t going to directly dirty his hands to obtain something like that. no, he’d go a more direct route or have a third party handle it. just like he was doing right now.
Hellfirebound 