InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Huh?"

Vivianna "Vivvy" Rivelli (light_chaser) wrote in kings_ransom,
@ 2008-04-28 20:15:00

Friday
Who: Vivvy, Kesh and Alex
What: The Lightning Sale
When: Early Afternoon
Where: Nevada Power Co.

Vivvy woke that morning refreshed and in a fairly good mood. She swung her legs over the side of her bed and stood up, heading for the shower as she stripped her clothes off and threw them across the room to the hamper. She turned the knobs on in the shower and waited while it warmed up. She liked her shower scalding. Jumping in, she quickly showered.

She stepped out of the shower and toweled off after fifteen minutes. She twisted her hair in the towel to squeeze out excess water and then began to blow dry it straight. When she was done, she swiped on a little mascara and eyeliner and a smudge of eyeshadow. She pulled on a pair of black dress slacks and a white button down shirt with cap sleeves.

A string of pearls, a matching pair of earrings and a bracelet went on, and a pair of strappy black heels with a cockroach killer pointed toe. She grabbed a clutch and walked out of her cabin door, shutting it behind her. She walked down to the storage bay and opened the door, looking inside for one of the canisters. They were beginning to run low. They would have to do another harvest soon.

She found that one of the canisters was already on a dolly. Grabbing the handles she pulled it out of the storage bay and shut the door behind her. She pulled the dolly along behind her and walked through the halls of the ship to the deck. Kesh and Alex were going to go with her today. Hopefully they would be meeting her near the plank soon.

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tarnished_aegis
2008-04-30 05:49 am UTC (link)

Another big town, another late night for Kesh. Still carrying a heavy charge due to the heist, there was no way he could sleep. Hell, he probably wouldn't sleep for a week or more with the amount of voltage that generator had dumped into him. So the moment they had touched dock, he had bounded off the ship and disappeared into the city of sin.

Time didn't matter in Vegas, no clocks to be found and casinos were windowless so you didn't think of the falling or rising sun. Clubs could be found that ran all hours of the day, just have to know where to look. Kesh just grinned and popped his neck, he felt like finding some trouble at the moment. Had to do something to burn off all this energy and he wasn't a gambler. So he had his choice, pick fights at bars... or try to lure out some less reputable people. He chuckled, always the same options... always the same choice... never did feel bad about smacking around sleazy characters.

Kesh was just walking up to dock as he saw Viv standing waiting on the deck. He looked down at his watch, she was a couple of minutes early... same as him. He had a thing for punctuality... demanded it of himself and expected it from others. Nice to see another that did so as well it seemed. He bounded up the ramp and stepped up the the lieutenant. "Good morning LT. Any details to be addressed before heading out?" The slight smile on his face and elevated demeanor pretty well told the tale that he had indeed found the trouble he sought out the night before and it went just how he liked it leaving him ready to go out and do something productive.

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goneinaflash
2008-04-30 02:08 pm UTC (link)

Alex snapped his cell phone shut after turning the ringer off, and put it on vibrate. He’d just texted Mag about that evening. God he hoped she wanted to go. He slipped the small contraption into the pocket of his pants. The ringer going off during the middle of a sale would have been terrible and awfully rude. Shaking his head he made his way to where Vivvy had said they meet.

That morning Alex had his physical with the doc, spoke to him about a few things and now he wondered if Dr. Lance had managed to get a hold on his sister. After that he showered, and dressed in a pair of khakis and a white button up shirt. Alex had had physicals before, so the whole ‘turn your head and cough’ thing wasn’t new to him. He just worried that Niki would take it as Doc violating her.

Darkish eyes blinked as he spotted Vivvy and Kesh already there. Turning his wrist he looked at his watch, breathing out a small sight of relief. “Alright, I’m not late. You know it’s odd,” He started as he moved over to the small group going out on the sale, “I’m the fastest one on the ship and I’m always late.” He shrugged his shoulders, and chuckled softly. “Morning Vivvy, Kesh.” He nodded his head to both of them in turn and folded his arms over his chest as he looked at the dolly. Alex glanced over as Kesh asked his question, and looked back over at Vivvy.

He shifted on his feet, arms folding over his chest. He let out a slight breath, readying himself for the sale. It wouldn’t be that bad, they’d dealt with them before but like with anything Alex was always prepared for the worst case scenario.

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light_chaser
2008-05-01 01:41 am UTC (link)

She nodded to Kesh as he arrived, and looked over to Alex as he arrived soon afterward. "Neither of you are late." She smirked at the two of them. She looked back to Kesh as he posed his question. It was funny. The last sale they'd made in Romania it had been she, Mag and Nate. Two girls and a boy. Now it was the other way around. She supposed that was good, kept people from getting too comfortable with the norm.

"We are going to meet with the Las Vegas chapter of Nevada Power. They want one canister. It should be an easy sale. In and out. I've already partially negotiated a price. We just have to finalize it and hand over the canister. Kesh, you'll handle the canister. I'll do the talking. Alex, you can look pretty and if they try anything fast, you'll do it faster." She looked over their attire, decided it was satisfactory and nodded.

"Do either of you have questions?" She waited a moment to answer their questions, if they had any. And then she handed over the canister to Kesh and walked down the plank. There was a hovercraft waiting for them next to it. She climbed into the driver's seat and waited for the two men to climb in as well before she took off for the building on Sahara.

She pulled up to the Nevada Power building and turned off the craft. She stepped out and waited for the boys to step out before she turned and headed for the front doors. Her stride was long and brisk. She didn't fool around when it came to her lightning. It was her passion. After Vegas, she planned to restock. She looked over her shoulder to be sure the canister was in good shape and the boys were keeping up.

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tarnished_aegis
2008-05-02 04:12 am UTC (link)

Kesh nodded to Alex as he came into view, then extended a hand when he approached. " Don't think I've met you just yet. Name's Kesh"

Kesh chuckled and looked over to Alex, "So basically, we stand around and make Viv look even better." Honestly he was pleasantly surprised to have been asked along on the sale. Hadn't been on the crew for long and figured he would stick with the background tasks... not getting thrust out on representation.

"Carry the can. Got it." He paused and his nose wrinkled in thought, " If by some chance something goes wrong with the payload... stay well clear. I can absorb it... but you do not want to be around me afterwards." He'd leaned his lesson in the past on that one.

He followed behind LT and Alex pulling the cart and canister. He couldn't help but think how easy Mag made lugging that thing around look. The thing was actually pretty heavy to load up into the craft. Viv's stride was quick, but he kept up with some challenge.

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goneinaflash
2008-05-02 03:21 pm UTC (link)

Alex smiled at Kesh, and took his hand giving it a firm shake. “I’m Alex, Nikita’s brother.” He nodded his head, slipping his hand from Kesh’s.

He glanced over to Vivvy and shook his head. “Not that I can think of.” He gave her a grin. He turned his head to Kesh, giving the other man a nod. “Not that she needs the help.” He gave him a wink, and then nodded his head at his words.

Alex would be sure to stay out of the way, and to move as quickly as he possibly could if something happened to go wrong. He doubted it would. Routine mission and all that. Should be fun, fine and leave him plenty of time to hang out with Mag.

He followed after Vivvy, and stepped into the craft. He settled down in his seat, watching the canister carefully for a moment. Then in no time they were at the Nevada Power building. Alex kept up with Vivvy, although a step or two behind. He glanced back at Kesh, shaking his head. Mag did make things like that look easy. He smiled softly as he thought of his girl, and hoped that she’d want to go out dancing that night. He’d have to change again, that was for sure.

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light_chaser
2008-05-08 10:48 am UTC (link)

Viv slid her eyes in Kesh's direction when made the comment about making her look better. Having two handsome men along certainly didn't hurt when dealing with the female members of the panel they were about to bargain with. But, she hadn't asked them along to make her look better. She rolled her eyes and shook her head with a small smile when Alex retorted that she didn't need the help.

"If something goes wrong with the payload," Vivvy's eyes went to Kesh once more, "we're all pretty screwed. Serena's canisters don't usually leak, or explode for no reason. Unless it gets dropped, and pretty heavily dropped, we should be ok." She nodded to the two of them as she finished her sentence. "Besides, I trust you with it. We'll get through with no problems."

She smiled and opened the doors to the building. She held them for Kesh, so he could get the canister through without having to worry about the door. When they were in the foyer, Vivvy went to the desk clerk and told her that they were there. She walked back to the boys as the clerk alerted the panel they would be meeting with. "As Nate always says, we refer to each other by code name only in the presence of anyone not from the ship. I know you know that, but I just wanted to remind you."

She turned as her name was called. "Phera? The panel will see you now." With her head held high, Vivvy walked into the conference room and took a seat across from the panel on one side of the long table. "Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I am Phera, this is Aegis and Hermes. Shall we begin?" She smiled and looked from Kesh to Alex, nodding to each of them.

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tarnished_aegis
2008-05-08 10:26 pm UTC (link)

"Ah, Alex... the speed demon I've heard?" He thought for a moment, other mutant's powers always intrigued him. Always something different with each he met.

Kesh chuckled and nodded, "Indeed.. she doesn't does she?" He grinned back to Alex then looked to Viv. "Not that I'm complaining by any means, glad to be along. But why did you chose two new crew for this job instead of more experienced members?"

Trust. He smiled softly at the thought. This crew gave it so freely and easily. Kesh was not used to it at all yet he found himself buying into it more and more. He nodded at the use of code names, not at all against having an alias should things of past or future go wrong.

Aegis hefted up the container over a shoulder as Phera stood and led them into a conference room. He gently set the cylinder down and stood behind it as Phera took a seat. A nod and something polite but not quite a smile was exchanged as Phera introduced him to the panel. He was actually happy to be here and see how the Ransom ran business and negotiations and to see the LT do her thing.

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i_mimic
2008-05-09 11:34 am UTC (link)

Hardly anyone knew what Eric Vandenburgh really looked like. Since he had grown into his power early in his pubescent years, he had used the shapeshifting power of a mutant he passed in the hall at school. Today, he looked like a member of the Nevada Power Company's panel. The unfortunate man had fallen asleep on the toilet, and he was going to miss his meeting. The nice thing to do would be to stand in for him, right? With a tight smile, Eric had taken on the form of the sleeping man and headed for the conference room.

He had taken his seat, giving an apologetic nod to the rest of the panel, just before the mutants walked into the room. He had timed it just right. This way, he didn't have to speak to the rest of the panel and possibly give himself away, and the mutant trio wouldn't know that he was anyone other than a part of the panel they were trying to sell their lightning to. He gave them all a cordial nod, carefully holding back the repulsion he felt toward them. The woman was quite pretty, and the men handsome. Sometimes it seemed as if the King's Ransom took only beautiful people aboard.

Eric folded his hands in his lap as the panel was introduced by the chairman. He nodded his head when the name of the man he was standing in for was called. As the woman sat down and the two men seemed to flank her on either side, he settled in to listen to the proceedings. The trio was so close that he could call in his reinforcements and detain them, but that would give him away. He was watching, observing, and taking mental notes. He would have enough information on them soon enough to take down the whole ship.

A self-satisfied smile flitted across his face momentarily and he turned his attention to the panel. The chairman had begun to explain their situation, and the price they were willing to pay for the lightning in the mutant's posession. The offer was on the table. His eyes shifted toward Phera and waited for her to begin the counter-offer. Everything was going according to plan. Soon the filthy mutants would be extinguished. Eric couldn't wait.

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goneinaflash
2008-05-10 04:32 pm UTC (link)

“That’d be me.” Alex replied with a smile, “I’ve heard you put on a light show.” He teased the other, giving him a smile. Alex couldn’t help it; it was in his nature to have a little fun.

He nodded his head, and then his brows furrowed. “I’m not too new. Been on the ship a year.” He shrugged his shoulders, and gave Kesh a smile. He listened to Vivvy and nodded his head once again. He was Hermes, quick and deadly if need be. Although he hoped that the need wouldn’t arise for that. He really wanted to go out tonight with Mag and just have a good time.

Once inside he regarded everyone with a cool, even gaze for a moment. When he was introduced a small smile pulled up the corners of his lips and he inclined his head to the panel. He stood on the other side of Vivvy, hands clasped behind his back.

His eyes scanned over all of the faces, his mind working in overdrive as it tended to do while just standing still. There was a strange look to one of the men, a fleeting look at that but Alex’s quick eyes caught the movement. He watched the man carefully for a moment and then shifted his gaze without being obvious about it; just a normal thing, looking over the faces of the panel without staring hard at any particular one. Although the one lady sitting closest to the end of the table looked awfully familiar, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.

Oh well, maybe it’d come to him at some point. He slid his gaze to Vivvy, watching her out of the corner of his eye as he waited on her to counter. It was then he shifted from foot to foot, nothing more than a simple motion since Alex was one who couldn’t sit still. His gaze flicked back to the man sitting at the table, the one who just didn’t sit well with Alex. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but something felt off. Maybe the dude had the hots for Vivvy. Slowly he slid his gaze away and back over the panel before they settled on a painting on the back wall.

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light_chaser
2008-05-13 09:22 am UTC (link)

"Alex isn't all that new. He's been around about a year. We like to give everyone the opportunity to see how the ship runs. And your power could come in handy if anything went wrong with the canister." Viv didn't really think anything would happen with the canister. Serena was too meticulous for that.

Viv watched the two men. She usually supressed her power for the most part during meetings, only having it available to guage the moods during the negotiation. She could tell when someone was upset, or nervous, or hiding something. She could sense anticipation in Alex, and she didn't think it was because of the meeting. Perhaps it was because of Mag. He had been scarce since Hawaii. A moment between them on the ship's deck had been quickly put to rest. Not that Viv was surprised. Alex's attention seemed to move on as quickly as his feet. Or maybe it was just that he wanted something more definite than she was willing to give him.

Her senses went to Kesh, next. She could sense that he was rather relaxed and happy. He was in no rush and seemed content to be there. That was good. She nodded to the both of them and turned her attention back to the panel. Then she sensed a change in Alex's feelings. He was uneasy about something. She glanced quickly at him, wondering what had set him off. She then concentrated her power on the panel, determined to find what it was that had made Alex uneasy.

She went from one panel member to another, guaging their feelings. Most of them were nervous, some of them unhappy, others seemed content. There was one she couldn't get a direct reading from, however. Perhaps this was what had caught Alex's attention. But, she couldn't determine how he had sensed something was off. His power was speed, and as far as she knew he had no other senses. She shrugged it off and began the bargaining.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. We have with us a canister of lightning. Enough energy in one canister to light this whole town for three days. That may not seem like much to you. But if you think about what the Casino owners would pay to keep their building alight, I am sure that you will find our asking price more than reasonable." The negotiations continued for a few more minutes before the price was settled. It was just under what Viv had asked for, but she had asked for more than she had sold it for in Romania. Their supply was running low, and it was nearly the last canister. It was worth more than it had been in Romania. Supply and demand. Two basic principles of Economics.

She smiled as their money was handed over. She gave the bag of cash to Alex to handle and motioned to the canister. "It is all yours. Be sure to extend my thanks to the good people of Las Vegas." She nodded her head, her eyes flickering toward the gentleman she'd been unable to read at first. But his feelings were loud and clear now. Satisfaction. Well, they all ought to be satisfied. Giving a small smile, she turned and headed out of the conference room and into the lobby of the Power Company building. "Ready boys?"

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tarnished_aegis
2008-05-19 03:53 am UTC (link)

He laughed and shrugged as Alex and Viv both said how long the guy had been on the crew. "And shows what I know!"

As the panel filled the chairs before them, Aegis's face went from Kesh's usual happy demeanor to a blank front. He had learned long before to remove emotion from his end of business. Get involved, get attached, angry, and you wouldn't think in terms of profit. The captain's insistence on stage names made it that much easier for Kesh... here he was Aegis, the blank face. Kesh got to wait till later to come back out.

The glances between Alex and Viv weren't lost on Aegis. And he had a fair good guess about their basis. That guy... the one with the smug, self-serving grin. Kesh knew that grin, it was the same look of contempt he often had when baiting and thrashing on lowlifes. Something was up, were they being baited? It was a routine sale and their coming wasn't a surprise, something could be planned out. He wondered what the other two's impressions were, especially what Viv's read on the man was.

As the conference door closed behind them Kesh turned to Viv, "I got a feeling of no good from that guy in there, I know that smile and it's not one to be on the receiving end of... what did you get from him?" He looked to Alex, intending the question for him as well.

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i_mimic
2008-05-20 04:41 pm UTC (link)

As Eric sat at the table, he decided which powers he wanted to absorb. Deciding that he liked all three of them, he decided which ones he wanted to shed. Pushing those aside, he absorbed the powers of the three mutants across from him. As they would feel nothing, he was confident they would never know. As he absorbed Vivvy's power he realized that all three of them were distrustful of him. He quickly put her power to work and soothed their worries away. It wouldn't be until after they left him that they would question him once more. And by then, he would be gone, thanks to Alex's power.

As the negotiation concluded and the trio walked out of the room, Eric smiled to himself and got up. He made a quick excuse and returned to the bathroom to wake the man whose identity he'd stolen for a while. When the man woke, he was nowhere to be found.

Eric returned to his hotel room to report his findings to the HILE. He sat on the edge of the bed playing with the shield he could make come and go at will. The pretty colors amused him as he spoke with the man on the other end of the line. "Yes, sir. I am confident that I will be able to find another member of the ship and go aboard. Yes, sir. By tomorrow at the latest." He smiled and nodded. "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

Hanging up the phone, Eric walked to the mirror and stood there for a minute, watching his features transform into those of his female counterpart. As Savannah took shape, he shed his clothes and opened his suitcase to pull out a more feminine outfit. He was going to find more of the mutants from that ship, and infiltrate it. And he was going to have such fun doing it.

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