[Schwartz Members- First Post Here]

[plotbunnytiff.livejournal.com]

 

The automated doors of Primetech, Inc. slid open with the barest of sound, allowing the gentleman who waited on its threshold entry without the use of an ID card. The security guards at the front desk didn’t even left their heads to acknowledge his entrance.

 

Amazingly, it didn’t hold a hint of rudeness. They simply acted as if they didn’t see him there. Their eyes did track his steady movement across the dark marbled floor; the sound of his cane made a measured click on the floor like an old-fashioned clock.

 

The man didn’t look old enough to require the use of a cane. He appeared to be in his mid to late forties. Scattershot threads of silver glinted in his coffee colored hair, and the telltale bump of reading glasses protruded from his left pocket. Other than the black and silver cane, he seemed to be the picture of health. When he reached the other end of the lobby, he slid open a panel next to the up and down buttons. He flipped his cane up and pressed the seal on the end into the accommodating slot. A soft ding, and the doors opened.

 

Nine floors and a two minute walk later, and the gentleman walked into a door labeled as the office of Gregory Johnson III. The cane came to rest at the side of a large mahogany desk. He sat in the large leather chair, picked up a remote control and pressed a few buttons. The wall sized plasma screen television on the other side of the room flickered to life, reviewing the video data he had on each member of Schwartz.

 

This wasn’t everything that was available of course. His superiors were strict about clearance levels and only giving out the information they thought was necessary for people to know. Still, watching this reminded him to walk on eggshells around those four. He flicked open a black marble cigarette case on the desk and removed a navy blue and silver-tipped cigarette. They should be receiving the video-taped invitation he sent to them any moment. All that was left to do was wait for their answering phone call reply.

Comments

[deathcomes4u.livejournal.com]

Crawford didn’t like surprises. He liked to know his choices and see possible outcomes. So, while the invitation he had just received via email wasn’t unexpected, the motives behind it were still unknown. Even so, it piqued his curiosity enough to briefly contemplate what sort of dealings he was about to take part in.

A smile hovered at the edge of his lips. Well, it wasn’t like it really mattered. He already knew he was going to humour the sender with a call. Work was work, after all.

With that thought, Crawford’s face slid back into a more business like expression, giving away none of his displeasure over the unknown particulars of this invitation. He picked up the phone and dialed the number provided, stating only “This is Oracle,” when the phone clicked, indicating someone had connected on the other end.

As he did so, he let his mental shields down just enough to grab Schuldig’s attention. ~Mastermind~ Last Crawford had checked, his teammates had been present and accounted for within the house. But with a possible job ahead of them, Crawford didn’t like to leave things to chance.

[plotbunnytiff.livejournal.com]

His phone beeped softly, and a small red light indicated a call on line one. He pressed the answer button as well as a small purple button on the other side of the phone. Soon the sound of Crawford’s voice filled the office, pumped in through subtly hidden speakers.

“This is Oracle.”

He smiled at the use of the codename. Quite professional, and just what he was expecting.

“Good morning, Oracle. I am pleased to hear from you.” The man’s voice was a pleasant baritone, smooth and featureless as a polished river stone. While his Japanese was flawless, it had the neutral formality that betrayed that it wasn’t his native language. “I am called Johnson. We are glad to hear from you so quickly. May I assume that you will speak as the representative of your team?”

[deathcomes4u.livejournal.com]

"Yes, of course," Crawford replied. He was nothing if not professional more often than not.

He took note of the man's name and the fact that Japanese was not his first language. It didn't really mean anything one way or the other to Crawford as far as business went, but he liked to remember details like that. You never knew when something might come in handy.

It still irked him that he didn't know what the call was about ahead of time. He liked to have the upper hand in conversations, even when it sometimes appeared otherwise. No matter, he could easily work with it. He was good at what he did.

He felt Schuldig’s acknowledgement. Good. Hopefully that meant the other man was still lounging about the house. The rest of Schwarz as well. He'd like to meet with them after speaking with Johnson. Or perhaps before, depending on how the call went.

"I take it you’re interested in our services.”

My, that almost sounded like a possible legal business venture. Crawford couldn’t help smirk a little at that.

[plotbunnytiff.livejournal.com]

“Yes. Quite. My organization is currently in the midst of a very important project.” He paused to take a small draw on his cigarette. “It is imperative that each step is completed with minimal fuss. Your group has a renowned reputation as a remover of obstacles.”

((Here, Crawford would get a flash of a scientist slurping noodles out of a plastic container while simultaneously opening the lid of a metal box.))

“There is a group who persists on interfering where they should not. We would like you to act as a stopgap. I must warn you, they are very skilled assassins. We are assuming that you are better.”

((Another flash, this time of the Weiss boys facing two security guards in a hallway, faces tense and drawing their weapons))

“You will be duly compensated, of course. All requirements will be seen to within reason. Does this sound like something of interest?”

[deathcomes4u.livejournal.com]

While still not as much as he'd like, the flashes did help him gather a better understanding of things. Not that the assignment sounded too terribly difficult. He now knew the assassins they would be dealing with were Weiss.

Tch. And they *were* more skilled than Weiss. It had nothing to do with ego (okay, maybe a little bit) and everything to do with the fact that they had several...talents...the other four assassins lacked.

That's not to say Weiss were easy opponents, quite the contrary. They could hold their own against Schwarz better than most.

Still, Crawford didn't see any problems with the arrangement. A job was a job. It meant pay and things to occupy their time. It wasn't hard to tell that some members of the team were growing restless.

"It does. I'm quite certain we can be of assistance." It didn't matter enough to him to ask about this 'important project.' Besides given enough time Schwarz could figure it out well enough themselves if they wanted to. Right?

"I'm assuming you want us to start immediately?"

He waited to see if the man had any further details to divulge. Already, Crawford was already creating a 'to-do' list, so to speak, of things that would need to be done. It was good to have some work to do. Oh, and he'd need to remember to request a good-faith deposit. He wasn't about to start a bunch of work without more funds, even if they weren't necessarily lacking in that area.

[plotbunnytiff.livejournal.com]

“Yes, but not until tomorrow evening, to be precise. At that point we believe that they will attempt to steal several computer disks with extremely sensitive data on them. If they are successful, then your team will be called in to retrieve the disks and return them to us.”

The Gentleman finished his cigarette and snuffed the butt neatly in the onyx ashtray to his right.

“If they fail, your job will be to send them a firm message that any future attempts to derail our plans will not be tolerated. You are free to deliver said message in any manner you deem fit, however for practicality’s sake we want them at least vaguely alive. For the time being.”

Four separate images popped up on the screen in front of him. Ran and Aya-chan frozen outside the Koneko, the young girl waving goodbye to the solemn man over her shoulder as he watched her leave. Omi ringing up a bouquet of lilies for an elderly woman, a soft, indulgent smile on his face as he counted her change. Ken standing outside on the sidewalk with a broom, frowning at the sky as drops rain begin to fall. Yohji lounging against the counter, toying with snapdragon blossoms and looking horribly bored.

“We would also like you to keep a running tab on this group to ensure that they remain aware of their tenuous place in the world. Our reports show that they have a history of being slightly willful and nosy when they ought not be.” A paper-thin layer of bitter humor coated those words, and was gone when he spoke again.

“Unless you have any further questions, my secretary will go over the salient financial details with you.”

[deathcomes4u.livejournal.com]

"Understood," Crawford said. They were pretty clear and concise instructions. Very nice. This should keep Schwarz happy and busy. Especially the 'any manner you deem fit' part.

He studied the images on the screen as they appeared, carefully logging each away in his memory. Keeping logs on Weiss shouldn't prove to be too difficult. He was already forming assignments for his team.

"No, I think I've got it," he stated, indicating he had no further questions at the time. Financial details would be easy. He already knew what account he wanted the funds deposited in, and he'd transfer money as appropriate to the rest of the team. Everyone deserved a pay check for good work. "I'm sure it'll be a pleasure doing business with you."

[plotbunnytiff.livejournal.com]

"And with you also. Have a pleasant day." And with that he pressed a button on the side of the phone that transferred Crawford over to a nasally voiced secretary. She would take down account numbers and all the other important details.

Meanwhile, the gentleman sat back in his chair and allowed himself to smile. It was such a refreshing change dealing with competant people. If this team lived up to even a third of the rumors about them, this little "insurrection" would be put down in no time.

{{At the end of the conversation Crawford, you get a flash of the Weiss team speeding away from the smoking remains of a building. They all appear sooty and in various stages of injury, but there are disks in their possesion. Another flash, this time of Omi putting a disk into his pocket; a third vision shows Ken cleaning a fairly serious wound on Yohji's chest and arm while the rest of the team and the girl look on}}

[bloodyfarfie.livejournal.com]

Farfarello was sitting in the living room, sharpening a few blades that were resting around him on the couch, the tv on some inane movie. He couldn't have told you what it was, as he only looked up when he heard the 'squish-splat' of blood and gore. What he could have told you was that it was horribly inaccurate, but that wasn't anything new.

He sat there, in his own little world, sharpening his knives. His mind was completely focused on what he was doing and calm for that.

[fireun.livejournal.com]

Finally. Schuldig flicked a bit of acknowledgment back at Crawford and indulged in a rather involved stretch before rolling off his bed. Sloth had lost its charm ages ago. He attempted to restrain his hair with a chromatically improbable bandanna and left his room. Mastermind was ready to play.
Hell, he had been bored enough lately that he was even willing to play nice, if that’s what Crawford wanted. He might even be convinced to work.

[genuinelie.livejournal.com]

[MOD POST]

[Whoever starts next, please open a new post so that it can be seen on the page ^^; This is getting kinda far down from the current Weiss posts]