maskormenacelogs | A meeting of nasty men

A meeting of nasty men

Who:Archer & Izaya (CLOSED)
Where:Some swanky place in Maurtia Falls
When:Backdated to around mid or late May
Summary:Archer contacts Izaya for a meeting of nefarious reasons
Warnings: Will update if needed or necessary
Log:

[The email that flashed on his screen was one Izaya wasn’t expecting, but opened it anyway. The peculiar, yet enticing thing is that there was no email to reply with, just a private email with a short message to meet at some fancy place in an upper class area of Maurtia Falls the next evening. The only information given was that his services were requested over dinner, and a name for the table to join. Alright, he could do that, and dress nicely as well since this place showed a dress code.

The next evening he shows up earlier than he normally would, but hangs back a bit after checking where his table would be, just to observe not only the person who he’d be meeting but also to see who else was around and what was going on at the tables and with the waitstaff, gathering up some information just to show his skills to make an impression for a potential client. After enough time, Izaya goes over to the table with a smile.]

Are you the one that sent me the email last night? I’d like to make sure I’m not embarrassing myself before I get myself seated.

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[ Archer is precisely 5 minutes early. Normally he would not arrive more than one or two minutes ahead of time, but if the contact is anything like any of the information brokers back in his own world the man will need a little time to see him to figure out if contact with him is desirable. Of course, five minutes is more time than he might otherwise give, but with Archer's current persona being one who is on the side of the law he figures the contact might need some time to deliberate.

The restaurant is lovely. A place in a back alley with more entries and exits than strictly required, and clientele that is either passionate about food, privacy, or both. The food is delicious, ingredients brought in fresh daily. An expensive menu for people with valuable secrets to keep. ]

[ When Izaya comes to the table, Archer greets him with a smile, even as his mind races through all the faces he's seen, trying to decide whether or not he knows this man from anywhere else. ]

That depends. Have you found what I lost?

[ Of course he had lost nothing. He had however asked for something as proof that the man he was meeting was who he intended. A simple photo of a moth - an American Dagger Moth, to be precise. ]

[Five minutes is more than plenty to soak up the details. From seeing how one waitress ever so slightly changes her tone between one guest compared to the others, an affair with the man judging by the tone an lack of ring on his finger and it light on the spot it should be, to other guests chatting more hushed than others.

Upon hearing the question in return, Izaya cracks a confident grin. Oh yes, he has that picture requested of him, and slips it from his pocket onto the table.]

You really should be more careful not to lose such things, who knows the dangers of something so precious found by others?

[ Archer takes the image with a genial smile. ]

Thank you, losing something sentimental truly is the worst.

Shall we order before we get down to business?

[ Depending on how business went, they would either be taking separate checks in the end, or Archer would be paying for both. Well, that was the etiquette in his mind. ]

[A quiet nod as he sits in the char, folding his hands in his lap, not deigning to be ill-mannered and brutish by placing his elbows on the table.]

I am feeling rather famished, so yes, please. Is there anything you would recommend from the menu, drinks and food alike? One cannot conduct business on an empty stomach with prying eyes around.

Of course, of course, [ Archer chuckles. ] I would suggest the seafood linguine, or the grilled salmon. Despite being so deep inland they have managed to master the preparation of various types of seafood. It is not to be missed.

As for drink,the sharpness of the white wine goes well with the butter and herbs of many of their dishes. Though should you choose a dish with beef in it I can say that their house wine is spectacular.

The seafood linguine you say? I haven't had seafood in quite a while, not since I was back home. I do believe I shall have that and the wine as well.

[A short pause before he speaks twice in both Russian and Japanese.]

Do you, by chance, speak this language at all?

[ Oh how the edges of Archer's eyes crinkle into a smile when he speaks. He switches to Japanese, and his speech is fluid, having the music of a native speaker, though the exact region of Japan was difficult to pinpoint - possibly by design. ]

I am familiar with both, though the former language is one I have only recently picked up and I am not yet fit to speak it in public.

[Japanese it is then, even better to conduct business with and not draw unwanted attention.]

I'm fluent in it, if you'd like a tutor. A useful language to know, even if it draws the ire of the locals for some reason.

[ That is cause to chuckle lightly. ]

Ah, their history with the nation most known to speak the language is certainly an interesting topic. One for another dinner, should all go well.

[ He, too, has switched to Japanese. It is a pleasure to speak the language again. He has no trust for automatic translators and his speech, and thus save for certain altercations with Nikolai and Archie he has had little ability to use his native tongue. ]

I am interested in making a long term deal with you concerning the gathering of several types of information, should you have an interest in lengthy contracts, and should you be even half as impressive as they say.

[A nod, and then a glance down to the table before glancing back up.]

Yes, another time and place indeed. As for my talents and contracts? Well, I do enjoy doing business in the long term.

[A very slight gesture to the waitress he'd observed earlier, but nothing too unnatural.]

You see that woman there? She speaks differently to that man at the table alone. Softer and more alluring, it's even in how she walks and sets his plates and drinks down. How she smiles and looks at him, as well as he to her. Now. Notice his hand, are you seeing something missing? A ring perhaps? There's a tan line where it should be, yet it's oh so conveniently missing. What would you make of such a thing other than an affair?

[ It would seem they were both to test each other this evening, and he was to be tested first.

Archer looked to the man, the woman, and then to his lack of companionship. His eyes searched for details, even as his mind took them in and spun them into a tale, or, rather, a few different tales. ]

While an affair is the most likely, it is far from the only conclusion.

The man is clearly returning her interest, that is for sure, but I would argue that he is not 'putting his heart into it' as one would say. While he is attracted to her, and happy to play along with her advances, he is not going nearly so far as she is with this game of theirs. He shows more attraction than affection, while she shows quite a bit of both, though I am unsure of how much of it is genuine and how much is put on. He is hiding it better than some men, but he is troubled.

Assuming the man's self-restraint is decent, I would suppose he has yet to have sex with her, both due to the lack of his apparent passions and the strength of hers. It is not hard to suggest that perhaps she is seeking to start a relationship, but that he has not yet consented. He does not appear to be waiting for someone else, so I would suggest that either he is being held back by his conscience, or that there are other concerns. I would wager it more like to be that his concerns are nothing to do with his morals, based on certain other traits he possesses.

[ He scans them again, looking thoughtful as he does. ]

Yes, if what they have is not yet an affair, it quite likely will become one should this course remain. Though not due to any love on the man's part. His clothing is suitable, but it is out of fashion and well-worn, and his shoes are similar. I would wager by three or four years, and things that you would usually expect, such as a watch or cufflinks are missing. This would suggest to me that he is having financial difficulties, as he looks far too young to have given up on making a good appearance, especially in a location such as this one.

The woman on the other hand is quite fashionable, and while she is but a waitress her jewellery is far more expensive than is typically seen in the wait staff of an establishment like this one. Her hair, makeup, even down to her nails are also particularly modern and well kept. She likely comes from wealth, possibly new money as nothing she is wearing looks particularly historied, but it is just as possible if not likely that she has simply chosen to leave any such heirlooms out of her place of work. [ As she moves to place something down, he catches a good glimpse of her hands and smiles as he confirms something he had wondered. ] Be it old money or new money, it is certainly not clean money. Not with some of the marks on her palms. Most of those do not come from honest work.

It is less likely than some options, but I would wager it is not all that unlikely to be the prelude to an assassination if it is not an affair. Though, [ he smiles, amused with his own thoughts ] if she is not careful, and they are having an affair, she will find herself the target of his own machinations, especially if she is foolish enough to agree to any form of legal binding. That is a man but a few steps away from desperation, and he is clearly not the one between them with the better cash flow.

[The more Archer describes, the more Izaya's devious look grows.]

Quite impressive, her jewelry certainly is not that of common money. Perhaps, if an assassination is in order, she is the one assigned and is leading the man on to execute her mission. After all, who would choose to take a job that she has when being of the money she has?

[ Archer chuckles a little at that. ]

Information gathering, for one. Perhaps, if this is not an assassination, she is attempting to get close to him for the purpose of informing her masters of some activity of his. Some take lower jobs as a source of fun, though I cannot understand why personally. [ He takes a sip of water. ] The passing of messages in situations such as these is not uncommon, too.

[ He sounds as though he would know from personal experience. ]

Ah true true, to gather information means doing what is necessary. Even if it's not the way we'd like to do it. [he shakes his head, amused by that.] The way you say that sounds like you've done so yourself, and given how quickly you spotted that, I'd wager you actually have.

[ Archer's smile widens. ]

That I have. [ He hums once. ] I am quite skilled, if the results I acquired are any suggestion.

I know a skilled information broker when I see one, and you defy expectations so far, much to my pleasure.

[ Nothing on you, buddy, but this world has a lot of sloppy individuals. ]

Oh, they most certainly are. More than a suggestion, a confirmation.

You flatter me, should I take this as interest of working together?

That you should. [ He steeples his fingers together. ] I require someone of your skills to look into those who come from my world, or any world with pokemon, and should I be ported out to have reports on general goings on when I return.

[ When. Not if. ]

Naturally, if I am ported out, I will have the required funds available to send each month for up to two years from whatever date I am whisked away from this world, and your contract would not require you to continue such work once the payments ran out.

Those of your world you say? I do believe I have seen them around. Two of them, in fact, while I was on a stroll in Heropa near the beach. One is a blond with pale skin, appears in his teens, and the other is a rather bulky man with darker skin. They seem to go there frequently.

[He nods at the payment, what an exciting thought to be given payment should the man be ported out.]

Ah, the older of the two would no doubt be Archie. [ The distaste oozes from his voice. ] If you would be so kind, a particularly deep look into any and all information would be appreciated. Naturally you will be compensated in accordance.

The boy would be Gladion, I believe. He has a young sister, Lillie. He works for Guzma, who also employs Tupp. [ He allows more distaste to show before his voice returns to normal. ] There are two more children, one named Mizuki and one named Sun. I would also require information on any new imPorts from my world, and will naturally increase your payment in those situations.

Then is Nikolai. No doubt when you do your research on me, assuming you have not had the chance already, then you will know that he has meaning to me. I would like you to keep an especially close eye on him, and should he come to any harm which information can save him from in my absence, you will make sure it is provided to the individuals who can best utilize it to his benefit. [ He pauses, then grudgingly adds. ] Even if those people are my enemies.

Edited 2020-08-05 04:36 (UTC)

Archie, Gladion, Lillie, Guzma, Tupp, Mizuki, Sun [he muses their names quietly, to get them down in his head with mental notes of keeping up to date on all of them.] Strange name, Sun is, but yes I will keep tabs on each of them.

[He raises an eyebrow at the last boy's name, whom he'd seen briefly in his research of Archer.] Ah, yes, the redhead I presume? I will keep an especially close eye on him, in the events that you should disappear or otherwise. Might I add, you keep your information very well looked after. I commend you for such levels of protection on precious information.

[ He, in return smiles. ]

Now, there you go again, exceeding expectations. Good, good. I would like to think that I have adapted well to this world's superior technology, though there are many things that I could have done to protect such information further had I adapted sooner.

[ The message is clear. Even with how tightly he has secured things, he is not the sort to find contentment. Perhaps not even if he were the only person alive capable of accessing the information. ]

[Careful Archer, don't go stroking his ego further. He knows he's good, he's prided himself in these things after all, and has the know it all to back that up.]

What kind of information broker would I be if I didn't know at least the basic things of potential clients? Or in your case, actual clients whom I am sure I will thoroughly enjoy working with.

[ Oh he does seem pleased. (Besides, ego can be manipulated.) ]

And I with you. Now, I believe it is time we order our meals. [ he motioned for a waitress to come over. ]

While we wait, I would love to hear your ideals for the future.

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A meeting of nasty men

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delayed tag D:

Worry not!

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