A Clandestine Meeting [Closed]

[mightymegatron]

 Who: Matthew Brillon and Elle Une
What: Meeting over coffee. Well, Matt thinks it's a meeting.
Where: Cafe Espresso, downtown.
When: Tuesday evening, 6 PM local.

Honestly, this probably was going to be another business meeting. Or very similar one. The only difference being he was likely going to be signing over a large sum of money for a rather nebulous purposes. Matt sighed and raised his cup to his lips for a sip of coffee. He'd invested in crazier things, but none that seemed so unprofitable in the long- and short-term. Then again, this could end up paying dividends when it came to survival. 

He leaned back in his chair and glanced at the steady stream of pedestrians passing by - the evening wasn't too cool yet, but it was probably going to get chilly later. Hopefully they'd be on time and they'd get through this with a minimum of fuss. After all, fuss might draw unwanted attention. Not that he didn't like attention, but from people willing to kill? Well, that was something else entirely. 

Comments

[11ady]

[The hours prior to this encounter were spent dolling up a ditzy blonde to take her place. Dick sure knew how to pick them. The girl was about half a foot taller than Elle with long golden curls and smiling green eyes. She had the figure of a bombshell in every sense of the word; a small waist with curves up top and down low. To her credit, the girl wasn't dumb. No, she was an aspiring actress. Of course she knew how to deliver lines.

Be subtle about it, ok?

Elle planted the bug behind the girl's ear, ready to transmit as she listened in and kept tabs on the meeting with the receiver and binoculars from her car. The girl's walking past the outdoor tables now, carrying herself with grace on stiletto heels. Thankfully, Matt had landed his fair share of magazine covers. He'd be easy enough to spot.]

When you see him, sit down and smile. Say "Good evening, Mr. Brillon. Shall we proceed?"

[mightymegatron]

[That was one disadvantage of being a minor celebrity - being recognized. Fortunately, no one had really approached him tonight. So far, anyway. Right up until a tall blonde (a stunner, really) sauntered up to his table and sat with a smile and a little greeting. Matt arched a brow, but otherwise, was all smiles - polite, looking for all the world like he was meeting an old friend. Sounded like it too. You had to have some charisma in the business world, after all.]

I believe we should. However, I'm afraid I don't have your name and you have the advantage of me.

[ He half stands and offers his hand for a shake.]

You are?

[11ady]

[Elle already has an alias ready. After all, the ruse wouldn't be any good if she just gave out her real name. To be kind, she's made it obvious that the name isn't a real one. If he's smart enough, he'll find his way to her eventually.]

Annabel Lee.

[It was many and many a year ago, in a kingdom by the sea...

Her father was awfully fond of Edgar Allen Poe before the financial crisis. It pained him to sell his first edition of one of Poe's poem's collections. She knew for a fact that Matt had been the one to buy it.]

[mightymegatron]

[Something like recognition flickers in Matthew's eyes - he had an interest in poetry, but to a certain extent it was more that he enjoyed very rare and expensive things. Prestige, power and all the trappings thereof. Fortunately for him, he wasn't just another empty suit. Well, he liked to think so anyway.

He still smiles and offers a respectful nod.]

A lovely name. Were your parents poetry fans?

[There, he's put that out there. He's less used to dealing with all this sort of thing, but if that's her real name then he's the King of England. He takes another sip of his coffee. Admittedly, beautiful women were distracting, but he's doing his best to stay focused on the task at hand.]

Before we begin, would you like anything to drink?

[11ady]

[Elle would have accepted such an offer but she's not entirely sure about the girl's etiquette. She has to keep looking proper. You can put a stripper in a skirt suit and give her the right things to say but that doesn't guarantee she won't slip up the moment you throw a curveball at her.]

Tell him you're not here to discuss your parents and that you'd rather not impose on his wallet just yet.

[I'm not here to discuss my parents and I'd rather not impose on your wallet just yet.

Good girl. Eliza Dolittle, eat your heart out. Thank goodness she's not prone to ad libbing. Otherwise, Elle would definitely be in hot water.]

[mightymegatron]

Well, straight down to business then.

[He waves a hand as if the question - and the offered drink - aren't all that important and leans back in his seat with a winning smile.]

Tell me what you're looking for and I'll see what I can do for you.

[11ady]

I think I may have a way into Antebellum Industries. As you may already know, rumors have been circulating for years about their capability to produce strike drones. However, my insider may be less reliable than I initially thought. If you can get me into Antebellum somehow, we might have a fair chance of getting their tech and wielding it for the sake of the city.

[It's a fair guess that the girl has no idea what she's saying but Elle does her best to speak slowly so there are no awkward pauses. She can only hope her little actress is keeping a straight face. Any hint of puzzlement would likely give away what they're doing.]

[mightymegatron]

[Matthew prides himself on having an excellent poker face and being able to lie through his teeth (or tell half-truths) when he needs to without batting an eyelid. Still, he seems to be buying into it, or at the very least he's playing along.]

Well, what do you plan to do with their technology once you have it? Getting it might be possible-

[He doesn't admit that one way or the other yet. He's holding his cards close to his chest.]

-but what then?

[11ady]

We form an army. Use the drones to protect the city. There will no longer be any need for civilians, especially children, to go out and try to face the threat.

[And we'll bring Casval Mass to his knees.

Biting her tongue, she's glad she didn't mention that last thought. It would strain the credulity of this little act. Might break the mind of her hapless vessel.

You're meeting with a very wealthy customer today. He likes to roleplay. Spy things. Just go with it, all right?]

[mightymegatron]

Ambitious. But it won't be easy to hide a private army of drones from the government or the military.

[Really, he has to poke holes in things. It's what he does at work all day.]

However, I would say it's worth pursuing - at least to see if we can get something worthwhile out of it. Drones, after all, can't be everywhere and they're rather clumsy for certain things - but they would be useful.

[He clicks his tongue.]

I might have some contacts.

[11ady]

And properties as well, yes? Perhaps you could provide a base for operations. I do admit that keeping the operation under wraps may prove difficult but it should be possible. I hear you have an airfield near the city? For your private jets? As for contacts, I'd be interested in hearing more about them.

[It always pays to do one's research.]

[mightymegatron]

Strictly speaking, I rent a hangar for a small, private plane. Not an entire airfield.

[Matthew laughs.]

But you do know quite a bit about me - which is fair, I suppose, considering I've featured in a few news stories - but here I know nothing about you.

[He turns the conversation around to her. Time to see if she could think on her feet.]

[11ady]

Ask and you shall receive.

[Based on his questions, she can get a better gauge on his motivations. Is he easily misled by a pretty face and a seductive body or do her thoughts matter more?]

[mightymegatron]

What makes you so interested in drones? They're... an interesting technology, but a rather unorthodox solution to the problem we face. Especially considering how vague everything really is.

[He shakes his head.]

And I'm curious as to whether or not you've had a formal education - you sound like you have. You mentioned a background in finance when we first got in touch. I'm also curious as to your motivations with this Casval fellow, the obvious aside.

[11ady]

I like to think outside the box. The government's recently unveiled drones as a way to reduce casualties in war. If it works for them, it might work for us. As for my education, let's just say I went to college.

[Still attending actually.]

All I want is to take men like Casval Mass off the table as an option for defense. He's not exactly mentally stable. At least I'm willing to listen to dissenting opinion and step aside should someone more capable come along. Leaders are servants. They shouldn't be raised up as infallible nor should they strut around drunk on power. They should work for the greater good.

[mightymegatron]

The problem being that even with my resources, we don't have billions of dollars and a small army to man our drones with.

[Interesting idea, though.]

I'm not a general, nor do I pretend to be, but I agree with you on that principle.

[In public.]

Men like Casval... they may be fit to lead trained soldiers into combat, but we're not trained soldiers, nor are we really going into combat.

[11ady]

I have my own contacts. There are quite a few favors I need to cash in.

[Favors that can be bought with blackmail. Dick will take care of that.]

I doubt we'd end up with billions of dollars or professional soldiers but we may be able to get a think tank on tap. Several drones can be manned from a remote location by select individuals. That's what the rumors say about Antebellum's prototype. We're not here to think like soldiers. We're here to think like entrepreneurs. Treat defense as a non-profit endeavor.

[mightymegatron]

So my resources are just a bonus?

[He's trying to figure out how to gain out of this.]

Perhaps, but it's probably not wise to advertise.

[Although he's currently having doubts about the blonde. She doesn't really have the look of someone who's willing to go this in depth - then again, appearances can be deceiving.]

And I don't get to write off my illegal investment in weapons as a tax write-off.

[That was a joke.]

[11ady]

[Clearing her throat, she uses it as a signal to tell the girl she's about to issue a command that's not to be repeated verbatim. They worked out a system beforehand, and it hasn't failed yet.]

Now, I want you to laugh for him. He thinks he's being clever. Bat your eyelashes a bit. Flirt. Maybe place your hand atop his from across the table. After that, I want you to smile and repeat after me: "The burden would be too great for you to bear alone. We'll figure out a way to make our expenses look more appealing to the government as well as investors. You mentioned a dummy corporation when you texted, yes? We could always set up a scholarship fund to tie into it. There's your tax write-off."

[mightymegatron]

[He's still all smiles and charm - even if he's not entirely sure about being flirted with. It's happened before, of course. Money and power tend to be attractive and he's learned how to play the game. But this doesn't quite add up - their conversation over the network didn't seem to indicate a particularly flirtatious person. She'd been much more brusque, much more business-like. But he plays along.]

I'd just as soon not report it to the IRS. This is... murky. My dear, before we really get too in depth, I'll need to consult with a few friends to see what I can actually risk without facing too much federal prison time. Or get procedures in place to cover our tracks. This is not to be approached lightly, you understand.

[He's no stranger to less ethical business practices. He just likes making sure he has all of his bases covered.]

[11ady]

[Clearing her throat again, she ponders her next move. Go for the jugular and have the girl aim for a seduction to make him more agreeable? No, it's too early for that. Too desperate. Go from hot to cold?]

Pull away. Sit up a bit straighter. Fold your hands in your lap. Mirror the tone of my voice. Keep it stern. Now speak. Tell him: "Time is of the essence but caution is necessary. I completely understand."

[mightymegatron]

[Well, that was interesting. Hot to cold in a few moments - maybe he wasn't taking the bait like he should? Ah, well. They can still work with this. He lays the charm on and offers a rather dazzling grin.]

I'm glad we could reach an understanding, then. Aside from the network, is there any way I can contact you? Or should we keep our messages there?

[11ady]

[Signalling the girl again, she asks to have an envelope placed on the table. The number to a burner phone is typed out on a plain sheet of paper inside. Elle might have been a bit too meticulous in preparing it. The flap was made wet with a sponge to leave no DNA and she handled it all with gloves to leave no fingerprints.]

Slide it to him then get up and don't say anything. Catch a cab and ride around for about an hour in case you're being tailed. Dick will pay the fare when it's done.

[The girl does exactly as she's bid before rising from her seat.]

[mightymegatron]

[Matt slides the envelope over to himself and then glances up at the woman with another one of his smiles.]

Well, that was productive. Do take care.

[He drains his coffee and then pushes to his feet. He has places to be, after all.]