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Post by Phobia/Pierce Fobster on Apr 16, 2012 14:38:39 GMT -5
Pierce fists his hands under the table at the brush of Xavier’s leg and absolutely does not react, a completely neutral expression plastered onto his face. And then Rook starts commenting on Xavier’s... less than stellar record on crime scene treatment and he resists the desperate urge to hide his face.
He just knew this was going to happen and especially after the meeting on the roof but it was like watching an oncoming train about to hit a concrete wall: there was nothing he could do to stop it.
Can Pierce just hide under the table and pretend that he doesn’t have to play mediator? Please?
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Post by Rampage/Xavier Goodkind on Apr 16, 2012 15:01:14 GMT -5
Xavier's eyes narrow slightly and he gives Rook a hard smirk. "They're both my hobbies," he says, eyeing the folder, then glancing furtively around the restaurant. "I simply make a living off of one of them. I also enjoy reading poetry, if my hobbies matter so much to you."
Catching a glimpse of Pierce's stoic expression, his fingers strum harder against the table top and he gives Pierce's leg another tap with his knee.
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Rook
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Post by Rook on Apr 16, 2012 19:32:30 GMT -5
"Well, what would you say if I told you that you could make a living at two of your hobbies rather than just one? I happen to be looking for someone to read some poetry to a few clients," Rook says as a waitress arrives bearing food and wine that perfectly complements said food. There's not even a pause as he switches from talking about murder to poetry and sweeps the papers off the table and back into his briefcase with a practiced motion.
Just a few guys having a fancy dinner here, miss waitress. Nothing sinister.
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Post by Phobia/Pierce Fobster on Apr 17, 2012 17:49:16 GMT -5
Pierce’s neutral facade breaks just enough so he can cast a sideways glare at Xavier at the tap of his knee. He is not going to play footsies with you in front of his boss, Xavier. Absolutely not.
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Post by Rampage/Xavier Goodkind on Apr 17, 2012 18:43:26 GMT -5
Xavier isn't trying to play footsie! He's not even using his foot! However, he's not going to pout in front of Pierce's boss about Pierce glaring at him, so he'll just... internalize his pout. Yes. Outside he will continue to look rather bored.
"Hmm," Xavier says, eyeing the waitress as she places food in front of them. He gives the fish an odd look. For some reason he feels like it might be more appetizing... raw. A rather cruel smirk curls his lips. "I do so love performing for the public."
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Rook
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Post by Rook on Apr 20, 2012 17:19:53 GMT -5
Sadly for Xavier, the Whitney is not a Japanese restaurant.
Rook assures the waitress that he does not, in fact, need any more salt and pepper or parmesan, and sends her on her way, taking a bite of his rather excellent salad and chewing, then wiping a stray bit of dressing from his lips with a napkin before jabbing the air with his fork in Rampage's general direction. "It's the public performance that needs to be cut down on if I'm to hire you. Discretion is required in this line of work," he insists.
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Post by Phobia/Pierce Fobster on Apr 22, 2012 8:50:41 GMT -5
Threat to his dignity subdued for the moment, Pierce’s expression fluidly slides into a pleasant smile, giving the waitress a final polite nod before she heads off.
“You will have to give up public attention,” he says finally as he daintily cuts the fish into five exact slices and extracts one piece to further divide it into smaller bite-sized pieces. “But you will considerably more protection from us in exchange and I do think it could be a potentially intriguing new experience.”
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Post by Rampage/Xavier Goodkind on Apr 22, 2012 11:03:55 GMT -5
Eating it all nicely sliced up isn't as satisfying as gutting it yourself, anyway.
Xavier picks up his fork, tapping it against his fish in a way reminiscent of a cat flicking the end of its tail. His expression sours as Pierce supports Rook's offer, gaze flicking between them. He already knows that Pierce wants him to be more discreet, but he still doesn't like his Pierce siding against him. Stabbing his fork into the fish, he works off a piece then skewers it.
"Well, where's the fun in that?" he says finally, before taking a bite.
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Rook
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Post by Rook on Apr 22, 2012 19:41:57 GMT -5
Rook takes a sip of excellent wine and another bite of his salad before responding to Xavier, voice low so as not to be overheard. "Let us be clear, Mr. Goodkind, I could not care less what sort of sick games you need to play in order to get your jollies. Goodness knows I'm used to that sort of behavior in my comrades, being brought up among our sort of people. You can cut your victims into collops for all I care, so long as you do not leave evidence behind. Clean up your toys once you are through with them, and I will see to it that you are amply supplied with most entertaining toys. If I find the authorities have been forced to pick up your messes once again, however, I shall become rather cross. Priviledges may be revoked. I would very much like for things not to come to that."
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Post by Phobia/Pierce Fobster on Apr 25, 2012 18:26:47 GMT -5
“You will gain considerably more than you lose,” Pierce says softly. “No more authorities on your back, no more threat of jail...” He very carefully presses his knee against Xavier’s, a hopeful smile on his face. “Considerably less time worrying about either as well. Please consider it at least?”
He seldom ever tries manipulating anyone outside of the interrogation rooms, but this was a rather special occasion and dearly, dearly hoped to get a good deal out of this if only for Xavier’s sake.
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Post by Rampage/Xavier Goodkind on Apr 25, 2012 19:25:36 GMT -5
Xavier jabs irritably at his fish, glaring at Rook. "Why would I care about what you-"
He's distracted by the touch on his knee and he shifts his attention to Pierce, his heart fluttering slightly at that hopeful smile. That is just terribly unfair, and he gives Pierce a betrayed look. Everyone is conspiring against him and his personal freedom to murder people as he sees fit! The worst part is that when Pierce says it, he almost wants to obey...
Huffing out an annoyed breath, he refocuses on Rook. "I don't enjoy being ordered around," he says with a growl in his voice. "What exactly is in it for me?" He shoots Pierce a meaningful glance.
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Rook
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Post by Rook on May 3, 2012 19:39:42 GMT -5
Rook steeples his fingers on the table and leans forward, the interplay of light and shadow on his face bringing out all the sharp angles and making him look rather menacing. That's the intent, anyway. "You seem to have mistaken this for a negotiation, Mr. Goodkind. It is not. This is your superior officer handing you your marching orders. I am being nice about it because I prefer to be both loved and feared, but if I have to choose just one, it won't be love. You want me to spell out 'what's in it for you?'" he says, sitting back and waving a hand.
"Very well. If you do as I tell you, you will be well-paid, and allowed a fair amount of autonomy. If you do not, you will be seperated from Mr. Fobster, I will redefine your life as unending misery, and you will end up doing what I want you to do regardless. No-one likes taking orders, Mr. Pierce. Learning to deal with it is part of being a grown-up."
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Post by Phobia/Pierce Fobster on May 6, 2012 10:21:29 GMT -5
Pierce bites down on his tongue hard and keeps smiling pleasantly. He can just about feel Xavier’s temper boil over next to him and desperately, futilely wills him not to show it- not to get mad at Rook because that would end horribly and in all the ways his superior had just outlined.
He glances cautiously back and forth between Xavier and Rook, trying to find something to say to dispell the tension. There wasn’t lot you could say against that sort of threat though so he falls silent, the smile slipping off his face. There wasn't a lot he could say without giving away his full attachment to Xavier either. Everything Rook says is a possibility and neither of them had the power to stop it from happening.
He keeps his knee pressed firmly against Xavier’s. It all hinged on whether or not the red head would lose his temper.
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Post by Rampage/Xavier Goodkind on May 6, 2012 11:29:53 GMT -5
What was that? He will be separated from Mr. Fobster? After a split second of shock, Xavier's expression contorts into an enraged grimace as white-hot rage floods through him. He does show some restraint, though! Instead of going with his first instinct to stab Rook with his fork, he simply clenches it in his fist hard enough that the metal begins to warp.
He thinks he remembers someone who he hated more than he hates the man in front of him right now, but it's certainly a close race.
Shoving to his feet, he places his hands flat on the table and tries to loom over Rook. Voice strained with the effort to keep quiet, he hisses, "If you ever so much as try to take Pierce away, I will hunt you to the edges of the universe and I will make you wish you had never been born. He belongs to me."
Roughly grabbing for Pierce's arm, he tries to yank the lighter man to his feet, growling, "Let's go."
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Rook
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Post by Rook on May 12, 2012 14:00:06 GMT -5
Oh, are we going to have a liquid waste expelling contest? How delightful. It'll be just like that time with the Cultural Attache from Polyhex. Only without the strippers. And presumably a lower body count.
"Do sit down, Mr. Goodkind. We wouldn't want to make a scene in this establishment. Certainly not before we've had dessert," Rook says, tone approximately the same temperature as liquid nitrogen.
"Mr. Fobster does not belong to anyone. He is a sentient being and not, as far as I know, a slave. His working time, however, belongs to me, as does yours." He pauses, taking another sip of wine. It's very good, for restaurant wine, but he's had better. "As to hunting me to the ends of the universe, you don't currently possess a starship capable of making the trip, nor the means of acquiring one. I do."
He's really hoping he can get Rampage to do what he wants via some method other than a show of force. That would be so gauche.
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