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Post by Assault/Arthur Aldrin on Feb 4, 2012 22:22:27 GMT -5
"It will. I am a professional, even in the face of personal matters." The Senior Partners can bite his shiny, polished aft too. Except he doesn't have that anymore. His brass knuckle ring, then. Yes, that sounds more like it. Then another curse when Cipher tells him the fruits of the search for Brawl. It was too much to hope for that he would find him with as much ease as he did Vortex. "Keep searching. He must be out there, somewhere." A little while later.A ringtone starts playing. Arthur wastes no time. He gets up and races towards the closet, drops to his knees and answers the device, leaning over to speak into it. What will follow, from Cipher's perspective, is the following conversation.
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Frenzy
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Post by Frenzy on Feb 6, 2012 21:26:20 GMT -5
"I'll widen the parameters," Cipher says, tapping on her datapad. "You were surprised Ms. Wei-Li-Zhao was a woman, despite knowing so much else about her. Perhaps Brawl is similarly outside of what you're looking for."
A little while later.
She listens. While she listens, she also transcribes onto her datapad in secretarial shorthand.
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Post by Assault/Arthur Aldrin on Feb 8, 2012 13:54:33 GMT -5
There is an actual smile on Arthur's lips as he speaks with the woman on the other line. A part of him realizes how uncharacteristic this is of him, but the thought is a fleeting one that he does not pursue further.
Then, the conversation ends. Arthur sets the device down and reaches for a prepare suitcase, with enough room to fit the device. "Cancel all of my appointments for the next..." He puts in the coordinates on the screen, checking the coordinates given to him. "...Two days to travel there. Hm. I have seven vacation days. Make it a full week."
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Frenzy
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Post by Frenzy on Feb 8, 2012 13:57:24 GMT -5
"Of course, Arthur. Do you want me to make reservations for you?" Cipher saves the transcript and e-mails it to herself. Then she wipes it from her datapad entirely.
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Post by Assault/Arthur Aldrin on Feb 8, 2012 14:09:15 GMT -5
Arthur takes a few seconds to think about that, packing the device into the suitcase and hiding it beneath some clothes as he does. "No. I can sleep inside the car." He may be a super villain now, but at his core, he is still a soldier. He can deal with the lack of a proper bed. "I will need a car. The limo will stand out. I need something inconspicuous and untraceable. No disguises necessary, I can do that on my own."
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Frenzy
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Post by Frenzy on Feb 8, 2012 14:11:07 GMT -5
Cipher lifts her eyes to just Look at him. "With all due respect," there isn't very much due at the moment, her voice says, "I will be the judge of that. Who are you going to meet and why?"
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Post by Assault/Arthur Aldrin on Feb 8, 2012 14:26:07 GMT -5
The Look is met with one of his own. Did she just defy him? Only the Combaticons can do that and live.
Yet, he smiles. Just a little. He will decide later what to do about this. For now, he turns back to his suitcase, focusing on his packing. "Blackarachnia. I thought you were paying attention. As to why..."
He zips the suitcase shut and stands up, clutching the handle while he looks deep into Cipher's dark eyes. His own thoughtful. He takes too long to answer. He realizes this. No point in lying, not anymore. It will not be believable. And even if the memories are fake...He has never lied to her. It is a streak that he does not want to break.
No answer comes.
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Post by Frenzy on Feb 8, 2012 14:32:18 GMT -5
"That isn't actually a helpful answer," Cipher points out.
She rarely outright defies him. More often, when she disagrees, she will simply ignore him and return later with results. But this is obviously a matter of importance to him and not yet a matter for the Senior Partners. She will not let him appear foolish in front of this... 'Blackarachnia'.
She presses, "Why are you going to see her?"
Her hands shift slightly on her datapad, considering. If he gets angry enough to attack, throw it in his face, hit him with the ring, and...
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Post by Assault/Arthur Aldrin on Feb 8, 2012 14:47:07 GMT -5
There. A decision has been made. He takes a deep breath and puts the suitcase down, folding his arms behind his back, looking closely at Cipher. Whether the memories are real or not, she has proven herself reliable time and time again, and the entire world was affected by this. He can trust her, as much as he can trust a human.
If not, he will leave her in a ditch.
"She is one of the cases. She is an important element. It is vital that I meet her, in person, with as few people knowing of her as possible."
So he is taking a considerable risk in trusting her.
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Post by Frenzy on Feb 8, 2012 14:56:28 GMT -5
Cipher nods. "I see."
Her fingers dance across the datapad. "You want to make a good impression then, which means no sleeping in a car. You will need access to a shower and proper food. A bed and breakfast under an assumed name some distance from the rendezvous point. A very standard car - the motor pool should have a number to choose from. A man traveling alone might invite more scrutiny than you'd prefer..."
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Post by Assault/Arthur Aldrin on Feb 8, 2012 15:04:35 GMT -5
Two things occur to Arthur. One is obvious. Cipher is extremely helpful. The other is a little more subtle, and takes him by surprise. Enough to make him quirk an eyebrow. He will not accept the help of anyone else, but he knows the state her own life is in right now. "I appreciate the offer. You are welcome to join me. But the hat will not do. If you have a disguise, request a drop off. If not, pick something out of this wardrobe. But be quick. I want to leave as soon as possible."
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Post by Frenzy on Feb 8, 2012 15:19:15 GMT -5
"Do you have a particular impression you're intending to give?" Cipher smiles. "And could you run down to the limo and fetch my bag, please? There are a few things in there that would be helpful."
Also, it will get him out of here long enough for her to root through his closet, change her clothes, and transfer her weapons without him getting an idea of how many she carries.
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Post by Assault/Arthur Aldrin on Feb 8, 2012 15:32:15 GMT -5
"I could try 'college student', but I do not have enough time to sit in the makeup applier. Middle class husband and wife on a weekend trip should work." They could go with friends, but married couple going out is easier to explain.
Then he raises an eyebrow at her little request. "Don't press your luck, Cipher." And yet, he still leaves the closet and soon after the apartment. He will be back in a little while.
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Post by Frenzy on Feb 8, 2012 15:41:26 GMT -5
Quick as a wink, she's rummaging through his closet and wrinkling her nose at the deplorable tastes of some of his lady friends. Most women aren't built as tall as she is, either- but there's a larger than zero number of tops and pants in her size.
"You're hopeful, aren't you, Arthur?" she murmurs as she pulls them out. None of the pants quite suit, but...
In a little while, when Arthur returns, Cipher sits in the living room in a turquoise top, a pair of his pants, and the same black shoes she was wearing when she walked in. There's an overnight bag packed on the couch beside her.
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Post by Assault/Arthur Aldrin on Feb 8, 2012 15:50:47 GMT -5
It takes just a little while to fetch her bag, wave off the driver and go back up the elevator to his apartment. With a quick swipe of his keycard the door opens and he slips in, closing it behind him, and walk over to his PA putting the bag on the table.
"Here. Did you arrange a car?"
He tries not to appear taken back by the appearance of her in a casual attire.
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