Friday 1.12 A visit from a dead man

[genuinelie.livejournal.com]

The bell to the Koneko tinkled, the visitor not bothering to wait at the entryway for assistance. Yutaro Sato locked the door behind him speedily and headed directly to the back of the shop. He descended into the mission room without pause, guessing - correctly - that would be where to find Weiss with a Kritiker liaison present.

Gone was the former cheerful smile, the man had a gaunt look and stress lines at his eyes and forehead. A weak upturn of the lips greeted Abyssinian and Manx. He forcibly grew it into a bright smile. He hadn't met Weiss' former contact in person, and she was younger than he'd supposed. The other redheaded Weiss looked deeply unhappy, but it could be he was reading into things. They hadn't exactly started out on the right foot.

He nodded to the two present, and remained by the stairs. Manx was Kritiker after all, and he did not have a deep knowledge of his coworker. "Balinese called me here. It is good to finally meet you." He nodded at the redheaded woman.

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[ginnyvos.livejournal.com]

Omi looked up from where he was working behind his computer when the alarms he had placed around the perimeter went off. He had switched them on as soon as he had gotten upstairs, a tiny little bit of protection in times that were far from certain. He quickly sent a text to both Yohji and Ken's phones before rushing downstairs.

He had only meant to hop up into his room and back down again, but then he'd realized that Yohji and Ken had stormed out without even knowing the proper address. Really now... And of course they were too proud to just text him and ask for it.

So instead, he'd sat down and looked up the school that matched what he remembered of Nagi's uniform and was just texting it to both of his idiot teammates when the alarms went off. Someone had entered the shop. He quickly made his way downstairs and was just in time to see the battered form of Sato disappearing into the mission-room.

He put away the dart that he'd taken out and silently followed the man down.

"Yes, I asked Balinese to call you," he replied, even though he was pretty sure that their liason hadn't noticed him yet. "There are a few things we are unclear on and we would like some clarification. Manx also has some questions in regards to you and your role in the organization." Omi said, all the while smiling pleasantly.

[genuinelie.livejournal.com]

Ran nodded at Sato, watching how jumpy the man still was. He was half-amused by Omi's attempt to take their dubious liaison off-guard.

Suddenly his phone vibrated silently in the backpocket of his jeans. He passed his eyes over Omi, but their teammate hadn't shown any signs that he'd been contacted too.

His sister?

It was too soon...

He tried to make eye contact with Manx, but said to Sato, "Omi will explain. We're following your..." Something balked at describing Sato's directions as commands, but they couldn't afford not to treat Sato as their Kritiker contact until they knew what was really going on with Kritiker. If there was just a cell of rogue agents who had found their way to the top, Sato would still be their superior, even in the event of the rogue agents in the organization trying to kill him. "...following your mission directions."

Ran turned up the stairs. "Excuse me. I'll be back."

He didn't wait for anyone's permission.

[Ran exits]

[bcmanx.livejournal.com]

Manx hung back, and nodded in return to Sato's greeting, a small pleasant smile all she offered in return. Omi was at his cheerful best, once again assuming the role of the polite host. Manx carefully regarded Sato as he fidgeted through the greetings.

Fairly fresh bruises, his face drawn and pale, clutching his briefcase as if it were life and death. It was clear this man simply did not fit the standard psychological profile required for field work. Her eyes narrowed slightly. The man was desperately trying and failing at putting up a brave front. Even if Sato was the traitor, he wouldn't be much of a threat as one. He was ready to crack under the pressure.

Ran excused himself and though Manx caught his glance she did not return it. She purposely kept her scrutiny on this ad hock agent. The heirarchy in the room needed to be clear.

"You've been a difficult man to reach, Sato. Despite that, I've carried out your request." She approached the man, small pleasant smile still in place. "Now, care to fill us in on why this team is playing cat and mouse with Schwarz?"