Who: King John and Guy of Gisborne When: Monday evening, April 12 2011 Where: a posh hunting lodge-themed bar Ratings/warnings: G
John made sure he was there first. Even if it meant arriving at a meeting up to an hour early, John always was there first. It was not a good look for someone to be waiting on him, it made him seem like he wasn't in control.
Still, the bar was nice enough. Again, not a usual haunt of John's, but it didn't look the type Richard would frequent either (him and his damn generous streak). It was all log fires and mahogany tables and mounted stag heads on the walls. John liked it rather well. He did look rather more impressive at the head of a table sitting right below a stag with a rather commanding curve of antler.
He drank scotch as he waited for Guy to arrive. Guy was a little bit weasely but he did do what he was told, mostly out of self-preservation. And at the moment, Guy had valuable intelligence and John wanted it. He hated being caught out.
It was rare enough to be the person around with the information and some sort of leverage so he didn't plan to be out of that position any too quickly without some sort of favor out of it. On the other hand maybe now he'd be able to redirect Robin's damn attention to someone else for a while. The man was beyond annoying.
He was early but he knew John would be even earlier. Which meant when he walked in to join him he still felt like he'd shown up late.
"Nice place."
Oh yes, and it intimidated everyone who arrived after him. That was the other reason he was always early. John gave Guy a smile and gestured to a chair next to him on his left, and didn't get up to shake hands or anything like that. They were in an out of the way part of the bar. This bar was good like that.
"Gisborne. How nice of you to join me. Please sit. Would you like a drink?" He waved a hand imperiously to a passing waitress, gesturing for another two of what he was having. Too bad if Guy liked anything else. Still, it was expensive scotch.
"Thank you." He took the drink without ever having expected to get a choice in what he was having. The left hand side made a reference to not being his right hand man maybe. Or he could read way too much into this right now.
"It's been a long time. How have you been?"
"Well, thank you. I hear you're doing alright, except for..." John made a face. "That pest does make things difficult. I haven't had to deal with him in decades but of course as soon as I see Richard... I'm sure my pompous brother encourages it, just to be a pain." He made a noise of disgust and finished his glass, pushed it away, and took his second. "So what does he do? Tell me everything."
"I hadn't seen him in a long time myself but of course he just appeared in my lobby one day." He scowled thinking of Robin. Damn history and belief to making him always the hero no matter what.
"Which he? I mean I assume you know what your brother is up to but just to be clear..."
John paused a moment at the assumption of knowing what his brother was doing, then waved a hand imperiously. He didn't know as much as he'd like, but he wasn't about to let Guy know that. "Yes, I've done my own inquiries, but I'd like to know what you know about them. Richard, Loxley, and Marian." He glanced sideways at Guy when he mentioned Marian. He well knew he wasn't the only man to have walked the path to her door in the past.
"Well they are all here but Richard is newer in town. I haven't actually ran across him yet but I've seen him interacting with some of the others." His face was kept scrupulously blank when John mentioned Marian. No sense giving away anything there if he didn't have to.
"Robin runs an armored car service. Tries to skim a bit off the top when it comes to certain clients and be his usual self."
John rolled his eyes, unsurprised, but decided to keep that piece of useful info handy. He might have to start asking around to see who had ever hired Robin's services. "He seems to think he's some sort of expert hacker now too, and can break into bank accounts, or so he threatened. The man is a nuisance." He leaned forward a little and folded his hands together. "And... Marian?"
He didn't like discussing her with him. But that was something he could probably find out without too much effort if he knew where she was.
"She works in stunts. She was filming not long ago."
John looked impressed. "Really! Well I never. You will keep me informed of anything that comes up, won't you." He looked at Guy over the top of his glass. He'd have to keep Guy onside. He couldn't afford to have yet more people plotting behind his back. "I'll make it worth your while, of course."
"So watch out for her right hook." He smiled as he took a sip of the Scotch he'd been given. Marian was more likely to hit people herself than go back to Robin for help which would be interesting to watch.
"I do have coffee with her once in a while. Much to Robin's dismay mind you."
"Uh huh. I will then." John raised an eyebrow. "So you've convinced Marian you can be friends?" He looked slightly impressed, but amused too.
"Well I'm not entirely sure she's convinced of it but she's been kind enough to still give it a try." The amusement from John made him feel a flash of anger before he managed to push past it. "So many things have changed over the years after all."
"Hmmm." John mused to himself, thinking of Richard and how much that absolutely had never changed. He chewed the edge of his fingernail, lost in his thoughts for a moment. "Well, just keep your eyes open. Anything you find would be of interest to me. You're one of the few I have to rely on in this matter."
"Of course." He inclined his head with a polite smile. "I will definitely keep my eyes and ears open."
"Good." John pushed his business card across the table. "You can email me at that address. Call if it's urgent." He glanced at Guy a moment, wondering if he should say something more friendly. "So is there anything else? You are okay?" He still managed to sound impatient, even when he wasn't trying to be.
He took the card with a quick smile and tucked it in his pocket. "I'm good. I've got a lot of things on the table with business and all that but good." He finished off his Scotch and pushed the glass away from him.
"I shouldn't keep you. I know how valuable your time is."
John nodded curtly, not looking in a hurry to move. He reached for his wallet and pulled out a couple of crisp hundred dollar bills, and pushed them across the table to Guy. "Take a taxi home. Buy yourself something nice," he said. He was feeling moody and bitter, and since Guy looked to want to leave, he just wanted the man to hurry up and go away.
"I'll call you if I need you," he said dismissively and without making eye contact, sipping his drink.