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Aberrant: No Good Deed - Prologue: Iron Rose and Tomas and Davian [Mature]


Iron Rose

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Not even two weeks after the Halloween party, Lexatech Incorporated CEO Jeffry Kusonoki was hosting another huge soiree, albeit it was far less gaudy than the Party hosted by his rival.

Rianna knew what the party was about, seeing whether or not Kusonoki's partners would actually support him, as they seemed to support his rival. He hadn't yet learned that in the world of corporate politics, the parties barely mattered, it was the Deal that was important.

She snapped a pencil in her fist. The Damn Deal. Kusonoki had lent incredible capital to her parents when they founded Dynamo Technologies. Because of that, while he didn't own the company, he had alot of say in what they did. Since taking over the company she'd moved quietly towards either repaying that debt, or what was more fitting to her, taking over Lexatech.

Kusunoki thought her his obedient little puppet, but he had been blind to what was really going on. Soon she promised herself. Soon he'd pay for what had been done.

Like clockwork, her real "Ace in the Hole" appeared from the shadows in her office. Besides her the top eight floors of the corporate office were completely empty. "Darkling a pleasure as always, are you ready to go tonight?"

She herself wore a revealing black dress that didn't even reach her knees. A platinum necklace, set with large emeralds and a pair of emerald earrings were her only jewelry, and for once, her long red hair wasn't bound, or put up, flowing freely down the pale skin of her exposed back. Most of the time she cultivated a conservative look, tonight she decided to be the "Bad Girl."

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"Indeed, Ms Connelly." The speaker was a young man, little more than a boy, possessed of an eerie poise and a calm soft voice that was almost hypnotically beautiful. It was a voice that could make 'how are you' sound like an irresistable invitation to bed.

The speaker matched his voice in allure. Dressed in a finely-tailored black tuxedo, he stood at roughly the same height as Rianna, though the executive seemed taller due to her heels. The luminescent white of his shirt was almost a match for the moonlit perfection of his face. An artfully-tousled fall of midnight-black hair framed his face, brushing against his shoulders. He adjusted the gold cufflinks of his shirt briefly before turning his gaze towards Rianna. Iridiscent emerald eyes sparkled in the golden glow of her desk lamp, and she once more reflected on how someone so young could have eyes so old. Old, and terrible in their inhuman knowing.

"Just so I am clear as to my duties this night, Rianna." His voice caressed her name, sending faint shivers through the back of her mind that her iron discipline kept from showing. "Am I accompanying you as Tomas solely? Or do you have need for Darkling's services as well?"

As he spoke, he extended a hand to her, the other sweeping in a courtly gesture towards the elevator.

Click to reveal.. (His Tuxedo)

dbcontour.jpg

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"Keep your ears open for anything any of the three female Lexatech executives let out after a few drinks, or whatever you can wrangle out of them."

"We will of course have to make a few rounds of pleasntries together, then you are free to do as you wish. I may come find you as needed to dance for appearances. Just be sure to be discreet as always."

"After the party tonight, if you have a chance at taking out either Jasmine Kalasa, or Eric Rhyde, do so at your discretion. They're the two executives who will prove most difficult to reconcile with when my plan comes to fruition."

She smiles. "Beyond that, try to look as though this isn't the pain in the ass that it is." She clearly didn't feel this worth the time it took, but snubbing Kusunoki would arouse his suspicions.

She took his arm and allowed him to lead her to the elevator and the limosuine waiting in the garage. inside they were free to speak again. "Everything is taken care of on my end."

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Tomas merely nodded as he settled into the rear-facing seat across from her, the glitter of his eyes and a slice of pale face the only parts of him readily visible in the gloom of the limo as lights played across the interior from beyond the tinted windows. On the cusp of Rianna's hearing were faint whispers and guttural chuckling, almost lost beneath the muted thrum of the vehicle as it rolled smoothly out into the night, and she had the strangest sense of her escort not being the only one keeping her company in the darkened passenger compartment. Rianna's fingers twitched as she quelled the urge to turn on the lights and see. A surge of irritation washed away the unease: she was no fainting violet to be afraid of the dark, after all.

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She looked at her counterpart, not sure whether it was intentional or not. Oh well, such is part of the price for his services, he hates these parties as much as I do, if not more.

They rode in silence to the Helipad, and from there an hour and a half ride to Las Vegas and the Grand Hotel where the party was being held.

They made their arrival in another limosuine, and were greeted by the flash of photographers as they breifly made their way into the Hotel ballroom.

She looked over to Tomas and gave him a wicked Smile. "I loathe those vultures."

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As always, Tomas smiled dazzlingly for the photographers, his face assuming the manner of a young man somewhat overawed by all the attention he was getting on Rianna's arm. Only when he glanced at her did she see past the facade to his true feelings about the throng around them. His expression was a pleasant, charming smile, but his eyes betrayed his own sense of loathing.

"I suppose even vultures have their place." He said as he leaned in close, as though murmuring an endearment. "They might even have their uses. Despite the foulness they surround themselves with."

Squinting slightly against the glare of the flashbulbs, the pair entered the ballroom, both relieved that the paparazzi would not be hounding them beyond this point.

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The room was packed with tables at the far end, and everywhere, men and many attractive women. The atmosphere screamed of "controlled orgy", if that oxymoron were possible. Many eyes turned to look at Rianna and Tomas, though more focused on the stunning dark-haired man.

In short order, Kusonoki an older black-haired man with glasses and a fair share of lines appeared to welcome them. Tomas in particular noted with amusement the two women next to the Lexatech CEO on either arm.

"Ah, Mrs. Connelly. I'm glad you could make it." he said, in a slightly condescending manner to the woman he thought he had control over. Inside, Rianna slightly bristled at the tone. "Please enjoy yourself at my gathering." Kusonoki continued.

Click to reveal..

If you feel you need to make a roll when you're doing something, go ahead. I'll determine whether you succeed or not, though you probably will.

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"Of course, Mr Kusonoki, I could hardly refuse the invitation of an old friend my parents." Rianna managed to blend enough honey into her words and tone to hide the ice beneath.

"You remember Tomas of course, he's been an invaluable asset to me."

She squeezes Tomas's hand a little for show, giving him that thankful look she always uses.

"I see alot of familiar faces here tonight, you must have something planned, my old friend."

She gives Kusonoki a mischievous smile, and nods. "Any hint to what you've got in store, or are you going to make us wait like the others?"

Click to reveal..
Trying to persuade Kusonoki to reveal his plans manip+ subterfuge

(16:20:19) ChatBot: (Iron_Rose) rolls 8d10 and gets 9,2,5,4,5,10,3,10.

(16:20:19) ChatBot: (Iron_Rose) rolls 8d10 and gets 9,2,5,4,5,10,3,10.

(4 successes)

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The smiling look disappeared from Kusonoki's face for a moment. Then it was back. "Honestly, it's a pleasant place to gather people around in. I do have some deals working in place. I wanted you here for when the post-dessert meeting occurs. Now please excuse me..." He left with the women and moved out into the throng.

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Tomas watched Kusonoki move away from he and Rianna, then looked up slightly at the metahuman businesswoman beside him with an apparently innocent and guileless smile, his perfect lips barely moving as he murmured "That human is up to something. He is worried." The ageless emerald gaze met Rianna's. "Why, I cannot tell. But you may need me in that meeting. I can be there without calling attention to myself, and if you do happen to need my intervention..." he smiled "...well, we can call it a favor."

Whilst he spoke he was steering his 'date' through the crowd towards the buffet. Metahuman appetites being what they were, it was necessary for any function, even a dinner party, to have snacks laid on for their more-than-human guests.

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Riannna nodded. "Indeed." She made her way through the throng of guests, alone, allowing Tomas free reign until he was needed. She greeted several other associates and their dates and made note that both of Tomas' targets of opportunity were present.

She was curious now to see what he had in store, but satisfied herself with pretending to care about everything she was hearing about who was sleeping with whom, and and how revelutionary several three and four month old products were.

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For his part, Tomas likewise moved through the cluster of partygoers. He nodded, smiled, and mouthed platitudes concurring with the meaningless, trivial concerns of those present. A consummate actor, not once did any hint of his true disdain for those present show.

He smiled flirtatiously in response to a sally from Ms Kalasa, idly wondering what quality the woman possessed that Rianna wanted her dead. She seemed very... baseline. And all too easy to twist around his fingers. He reacted with appropriate coyness as she fingered the lapel of his jacket, his emerald gaze seeking out Rianna as though making sure she was not noticing before returning to the woman's avid face. He showed none of the revulsion he felt for her, or the rest of the braying herd around him.

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As Rianna spoke with a obsequious VP about Lexatech's new software product soon to release for law enforcement, a solemn burly bodyguard pushed through them. The VP was shouldered aside without complaint from the man.

The bodyguard nodded respectfully to Rianna. "Mr. Kusonoki would like you to meet with him now, Miss Connolly."

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He excused himself with a smile and a murmured promise for a dance, making his way towards the Mens Room and stepping out of sight before 'dimming', as he called it. Dimming removed the sparkle from his eyes, the moonglow lustre from his skin, and turned a youth of remarkable beauty into a nonentity, not worth a second glance. In fact, he hardly warranted a first glance, either. Some subconscious projection of 'you don't see me' kept others from noticing him as he moved quickly across the room and fell into step with Rianna, gently touching her elbow with his fingers as a reminder he was there. Unnoticed by the bodyguard, he moved at her side into the meeting room, where Kusonoki was waiting.

Click to reveal..

Activating Mr Nobody and spending 1QP to become unobtrusive. "Nothing to see here, move along."

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The room was moderately-sized, with plain but functional furniture. It was organized in the manner of a corner office, with Kusonoki sitting gravely at a desk. Another man, young, black-haired and quietly brooding sat at the couch on the other end of the room.

As Rianna and Tomas entered, the bodyguard closed the door and stood in front of it. Two more flanked the couch. Kusonoki nodded in an uneasy manner to Rianna. "Please, sit." He gestured to the black-haired man. "This is Davian Layton, of Lexis. He's going to be part of our discussion."

Click to reveal..
Davian, aka Mala is in now.
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Warning lights went off in Rianna's mind and she nodded. "The metahuman research company. I know of it." The comany focused on enhancing metas, something Rianna did in secret, while publiclly researching anti-meta tech.

"So Jeffry, what's all this about, and must your hired guns remain present here?" There was no hiding the annoyance in her voice.

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Davian's lips twitched at the annoyance in the red-head's voice but he said nothing. He'd once gone over a year without speaking and had found that silence was often far more educational. Instead he quietly repositioned himself on the couch so that she would not have to compromise her personal space if she decided to have this conversation in a seated position.

He inclined his head to her once he was repositioned, both a greeting and an invitation to sit. If he minded the guards himself there was not hint of it in his expression. He looked as he usually did in the rare photographs or video shots the paparazzi managed to capture of him: collected but brooding, handsome but aloof.

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Tomas moved languidly about the room, fingertips now trailing over a shelf, then arm cushions of Davian's couch. He would be unnoticed unless he gave people reason to suspect another was present. He passed by the seated Kusonoki without sparing the human a glance, his eyes drawn back to the young man on the couch. He was a metahuman, certainly. But why was he here? Was he Kusonoki's creature or serving his own interests. After studying the man's composure, weighing it against the nervous demeanour of the executive, Darkling decided on the latter.

It was all a dance, he felt. Rianna moved in clean, ruthless straight lines pausing, if at all, only to prepare for the next move: like a snake coils before she strikes. Kusonoki was edgy, nervous, a rodent ducking and dodging from side to side. Yet potentially dangerous: the mongoose is a rodent, and more than capable of handling a snake. The young man introduced as Davian Layton was dancing another kind of dance. Darkling wondered what steps would ensue.

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Kusonoki took a long deep breath. "Things haven't been going very well for Lexatech. We've received serious losses in the quarter. And the approaching 4th doesn't seem any good." His eyes looked nervous, fearful, hating the idea of losing his shirt.

"I was quite generous to Dynamo and Lexis both in lending great sums, and in short, it is only reasonable that you Ms. Connolly and Mr. Layton both do the same for my company." At this, his face hardened, refusing to back down in any way. "It is only right."

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Davian took in a long breath and then spoke in quiet but smooth voice that carried only far enough for those involved in the conversation.

"I have no issue with that, Mr. Kusonoki." He paused just long enough for the man to begin to relax, "Of course, I would also expect to have the same influence in decisions made for Lexatech, then, that you have exercised as an investor for Lexis." His smile barely existed and lacked any hint of malice. "It is, after all, only reasonable and right."

His eyes flicked over to Rianna Connolly, unconsciously leaning just a little away from the expected outburst from Kusonoki's demand.

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Rianna ranted and raved inwardly. It was too soon, and of course this other upstart interfereing in the plan was completely unwelcome. She briefly contemplated taking out a contract on the interloper. quickly assessing the risks therein versus the gains she elected not to. She also left unsaid how Dynamo had already repaid the outlay a couple years ago, that would have been bad form.

In a calm voice that belied the urges beneath to throttle everyone but Tomas, she spoke. "Of course Jeffry, how much of a Capital investment are we talking here? Like my colleague, I'll also expect a voice in how Lexatech spends its capital. Fair is fair after all my friend."

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The look on Kusonoki's face indicated that the idea that Rianna could exert so much control over Lexatech was unpalatable. But he nodded. "Of course." he slid two pens and a pair of sheets over to the front of the table. "The full agreements are here to sign." he added. "I don't have to tell you to look them over first." he chuckled.

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Davian stood and crossed the room to Kusonoki's desk with casual grace. He slid the contract off the desk and scanned down it with easy practice; nodding at the straightforward begging that it was. He made several slight alterations (and one grammar correction) to the document, initialed the changes, signed it, and held it out for Kusonoki to counter-sign and initial. Or refuse. Davian's mannerisms gave no indication if he cared one way or another.

Click to reveal..
The alterations mostly just define the nature of the arrangement more to Davian's favor, indicating Davian's 'equity interest' in the company and his right to advise and vote on the Executive Board.
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Rianna looked at the agreement made her own alterations, whoich were literally identical to those Davian made and slid it back signed and initialed. She smiled, not onf of smugness, just one of a friend happy with a mutually beneficial arrangement made with a friend.

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Darkling was only mildly interested in the minutiae. The dangerous moments had come and gone, the slice of time where lives had hung in the balance had been all too swift, and life was once more prosaic. He sighed faintly, leaning on the edge of Kusonoki's desk, watching the other two metahumans as they subtley took this human's kingdom out from under him one rock at a time.

That thought piqued Darkling's interest. Surely not even this flatscan was stupid or weak-spined enough to give up his property so easily, especially to metahumans. Tomas smiled, an unseen expression of anticipation. Doubtless things would get interesting soon, if not tonight.

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"Unacceptable."

It was uttered with a quiet finality and Davian watched the human in front of him with inscrutable eyes. His tone was rich and smooth but his expression remained a cool detachment, "Your investment in Lexis Innovations came with many strings, Mr. Kusonoki. I accepted that as the price of your money. I have given you my terms. As yours were not negotiable, neither are mine."

He never reached for the contracts, nor did he glance at the other 'investor' next to him. He held the human's gaze as he again waited for another emotional outburst.

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Rianna speared Kusonoki with her emerald gaze and shook her head. "I'm affraid my terms are not negotiable as well Jeffry. My mother and Father spent a Decade repaying you your investment,a Decade where you had an equal say to theirs in their company." She let that sit a moment.

"I'm not asking for the same share, but I wish to ensure my investment is spent in a way where I approve, just as yours was spent with Dynamo."

She decided to probe abit deeper. "Or perhaps you're working on something you'd prefer Mr. Layton and I not know of. I can respect company secrets, but if I'm footing the bill I want to know for what."

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Davian inclined his head to the human across from him and then glanced between Rianna and Kusonoki. He bowed respectfully to the both of them, "There was no other business concerning me that I am aware of. So unless I am needed further, I would bid you both good evening."

He let the statement tactfully border on a question in case there was a reason for him to linger here any further.

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Davian swallowed his sigh. To refuse the man's hospitality after already dealing his pride a blow would be.....inadvisable; Davian might care little for the petty businessman's feelings, but he understood the intricacies of keeping face and public appearance too well to ignore them so blatantly.

So he forced a ghost of a smile, politely bowed again, and made his way to the door. He turned after he opened it, motioning to Rianna, "Will you be rejoining the fete as well, Ms. Connolly?"

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At Rianna's nod, Tomas un-dimmed.

It wasn't a simple blinking into existence, as though he'd been invisible. It was more a matter of the mind finally recognising what the meat of the eye had been passing over time and again, like the set of keys that cunningly eludes discovery by hiding in plain sight. To Davian, Kusonoki and the bodyguards, the effect could be summed up as "Oh, of course that's where he is. How did I miss that?" It was mildly disconcerting, especially as Tomas himself was definitely noticeable.

Green eyes glittered with more-than-human amusement for a second as he stepped to Rianna's side, nodding courteously to Davian.

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As Davian's eyes finally settled on the now-again-remarkable young man the only sign of his annoyance or distress was a barely detectable tightening of his lips. He recovered quickly, though, and followed Rianna and her escort out of the room. As they heard the latch of the door fall into place, the young Layton answered Rianna's question.

"Lexis is a reasearch company; it will always be a volatile endeaver. I did not lend Mr. Kusonoki funds from the company. That would be-" He took strictly longer than necessary to suss out the word he wanted, carefully guaging the reactions of his two current companions, "fiscally unwise, I think. The contract was signed personally, not as a representative of Lexis Innovations." He did smile then, the warmth of the gesture actually touching the stormy blue of his eyes. "But to actually answer your question, yes, Ms. Connolly, business is doing well. And with you?"

He had fallen into to step with them, their pace and path eventually leading them back to noise and clutter of the party but giving the three metahumans a few moments to converse with privacy.

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She smiles as Tomas resumes his metahuman appearance. It was easier when you knew what you were dealing with, even if you only knew part of it. "That wasn't so bad." The fact that one of her hands was cleanched into a white-knuckled fist put that statement to lie. She realized she was doing it and unclenched her fist and sighed.

She nodded to Davian. "Of Course, I didn't agree to put money from my company in either. No need to get into that legal snarl."

"Dynamo is doing well, and looks to continue doing so. The designs we debuted last quarter are in full production, and we've no shortage of orders."

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"Kusonoki was exceedingly nervous." Tomas's voice was arresting, harmonics and subharmonics combining to make a compelling whole as his scintillant gaze moved to Rianna, then to Davian. "For what it is worth, you may have both made a good decision in not tying the bulk of your resources to him. I would advise that you have your accountants audit his books, however. As is your right as capital investors. Be alert for trickery. Desperate men make foolish investments."

"Forgive me." The boy-man offered Davian a slim pale hand, his demeanour and poise at odds with his youthful appearance. "I am Tomas, Ms Connelly's special advisor."

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