"I'm back,” Nora said, standing in the doorway to Shatterpoint's room. Patiently, she waited for him to remove his headphones before she continued.
"Purge's right hand man seemed very eager to hear the proposal, right up until the point I mentioned it was the Rockers. Despite this change in tone, Mr. Benito wanted to give us a chance. We need to make our case to Purge, otherwise a partnership won't happen.": Shatterpoint glanced up in Nora's direction, before nodding slightly.
"You can inform Purge that the Rockers have information that can help topple the Community." he said quietly once he had turned off his cassette player and set it and the headphones aside.
"If more pressing is required, you may mention that we are expanding our reach. We will accommodate an alliance between the two factions that he will find favorable."A breath escaped her lips, she seemed disappointed in the response.
"Though that is very compelling, is there anything more tangible you can send me with? I can see why that would be enticing, but it's not tangible" Nora paused a moment before adding,
"I do completely respect your authority on this matter though."Shatterpoint paused a moment, as if gauging the appropriate way to handle Visage's questioning. His annoyance seemed to bleed through his stone armor and saturate the air.
"Information is hard to prove these days. Tell him a thinker found it. If I had something tangible to give you, I would have already, so don't assume to know better." His words oddly seemed to drift. He was still clearly intending to come off as intimidating, but it almost felt as though his concentration was split somehow.
Nora caught on immediately to his annoyance, both the more subtle parts, and him basically outright saying it.
"Noted sir. I'll make sure the meeting goes well." She said, bowing her head slightly.
"That's all I have to report. Her voice was a lot less subdued now, and the change in her demeanor was obvious. Giving a lot of ground when it came to control of the situation, she wasn't playing her normal game anymore.
: Turning back towards the screen in front of him, he nodded once.
"Then take your leave." It was a clear dismissal, that annoyance still present.
Again she bowed her head at his dismissal, leaving without another word.
"I'll have to be more careful in the future" Nora thought, not particularly concerned. Again the young Stranger picked up her bag from its place between the buildings, before heading home. Tomorrow would be the meeting with Purge.
The sky was overcast on the bank Visage was meant to meet Purge in. The building was rather large, three stories tall, and as much a bank as you could imagine. Large blocky letters signified the name on the front, overhanging several sets of glass doors surrounded by glass windows. From the sidewalk one could see three female tellers at the counters, two of them serving people with bright smiles.
The building was, by all rights, as dull and monotonous as one could imagine. Lacking any sort of flair, it was easy to glance over the building without taking note that it was a bank.
The glass door closed behind her by its own weight, Visage standing out a bit. Again she was a vision of confidence, moving to the nearest open teller without hesitation. Nora had woken up early for this, making sure to thoroughly dry her hair. The beautiful red color was a wonderful contrast to the broken porcelain making up her mask. Before she could speak, the teller asked a quick question about the nature of Nora's visit. Her cheer was very evident, and even a little grating.
"Mr. Benito sent me." Nora said, her voice level and rather monotone.
: The woman gave her a curious look before pointing towards the hallway to her right. "Third floor. They'll escort you."
They, apparently, were the two men in suits and black glasses flanking the hallway.
The masked villain nodded, and walked towards the two men. They directed her towards the elevator, and followed her into it. Again, she felt the urge to place nodes on them. An itch at the back of her head, a constant reminder. They pressed the button for the third floor, inserting their keycards to make the elevator actually move. A green LED flashed, and the lift began to rise at a decent pace. Visage glanced at the two guards, before settling on staring at the door. The lift suddenly stopped, the door opening smoothly.
Visage was directed towards a room directly next to the elevator that was similar to a bathroom without the toilets.
"Scrub down your exposed skin, and spray yourself with this." The men pushed a sanitizing wipe container into her hands and a sanitizing spray. "Purge is waiting."
Visage seemed puzzled for a second, but began the process without complaint. Lifting up her hair to sanitize the exposed skin there, she then moved on to her arms, going straight up to the gloves. Next she crouched down, getting the area right around her ankle, before redoing the area on the back of her neck. She even gracefully wiped down her ample cleavage, and exposed chest, looking annoyed at the attention for once as she did so. Next she sprayed herself thoroughly with the sanitizing spray.
"Alright, lets go boys," She said, looking at the henchmen expectantly.
Silently they led her down the hallway to a large set of double doors, and held them open for her.
Inside, behind a white desk stood a
hulk of a man standing at an even six feet tall. His face was covered in a simple mannequin face mask as he surveyed Visage. He looked to be, possibly, in his early fifties going by the white in his hair and beard. But he was
ripped beneath the white suit he wore. Tan skin rippled as he shifted his weight.
Stepping around the desk, he extended a gloved hand for her to shake.
"I'm happy to make your acquaintance, Visage. Please take a seat and we can discuss matters." Seating himself after her, he pulled a cloth from a pocket on his suit, and began methodically wiping down his hands. The smell of antiseptic lingered as he dropped the wipe in a wastebasket behind the desk.
The villain shook Purge's hand firmly, and took the seat offered to her. Visage took note of him wiping down his hands, and better understood the situation from earlier because of it. Quickly, she studied the man across from her, watching his mannerisms and stature, while she appeared at ease.
"I'm at a bit of a disadvantage here, sir. I hope you don't mind me inquiring how much you were informed about my purpose in being here. I don't want to waste your time, after all" Nora's voice was rhythmic, talking slowly at first, before settling in to a faster pace at the end.
"My Second, Benito, informed me that you had a proposition for me, and were using a Cape identity. Capes are invaluable, as one can imagine," he said easily, clasping his hands in front of him.
"And please, you are hardly wasting my time unless this is an elaborate prank. Can I get you anything? A drink, perhaps?":
"If it suits you, I'd prefer we revisit sharing a drink after my proposition," Visage said, not entirely sure he would want to offer it by the end of the talk.
"And no, this isn't an elaborate prank. I've been sent as an ambassador of the Rockers, to try to establish a partnership between our two. . . Organizations."Purge chuckled lightly.
"You sound apprehensive, my dear."He tapped the desk lightly, considering her words.
"The Rockers.... I'll admit they aren't my first choice to form a partnership with. It's common knowledge that Shatterpoint is one of the few reasons they're even still around."He leaned back, nodding lightly.
"I would be remiss if I passed up hearing your offer, however. What do the Rockers have that they think is enough to impress me to join hands in partnership?"Straightening slightly, she considered her phrasing before speaking.
"The Rockers have information that can help topple the Community, courtesy of a thinker." Visage said, watching for his reaction very carefully.
: Purge considered her for a moment, before letting out a hearty laugh.
"Why, that is unexpected news. I didn't think the Rockers had it in them!"Standing, he turned his back and looked out the large floor to ceiling window for a few moments, his gloved hands clasped behind his back.
"A chance to eviscerate the Community.... Something everyone in Denver would gladly partake in at this stage of the game. Tell Shatterpoint that I would like to extend an olive branch between our organizations and convene at the soonest available moment to discuss the next steps forward."She smiled underneath her mask, secretly surprised that he took her and her offer on face value.
"I'll pass on the news to Shatterpoint," Visage said, glad that it was good news she would be carrying back. She stayed sitting, waiting to see if there was anything else he was going to note.
Purge nodded, moving back desk and pulling out some materials. Writing quickly before putting the paper in an envelope and sealing it with wax and a stamp. Passing it across the desk, he motioned for Visage to take it. Upon returning his tools he again sanitized his gloves.
Walking to hold open the door for her he gave his final word in that same amicable tone.
"Just remember, my dear, I do not take offenses lightly. May your travels be fair, it was my pleasure to host you today."He paused for the briefest of moments before chuckling lightly.
"Ah, forgive me. Did you want that refreshment before you depart?":
"That's alright, I want to keep my senses sharp for this next part. If I'm being honest, my boss is gonna need this good news without smelling booze on my breath" Visage said, giving a conspiratory wink, gripping the letter in both hands.
"Oh and it was a pleasure to be hosted." She said, leaving through the door with humor in her eyes.
