Athinar — Roleplayer Guild

Before long, another knock came at the door, the repeated three knocks getting louder as Josie came to answer the door.  They were still patient, but a little more firm as time went on before the young metahuman gangster got to her door.  Looking through her peephole, she could see that there was a man on the other side, attired in a black three-piece suit and fedora, highlighted by the bright teal tie and neatly folded handkerchief in his chest pocket.  His face was hidden by a featureless mask, firmly secured with a pair of teal-tinged round glasses across his face.  While the attire seemed well-tailored, there seemed to be a hint of wear and tear to the attire, a bit of tattering at the suit’s edges.  Oddly enough there was no sign of dirt or grime on the suit, it was well washed and spotless, yet why would a man wear a tattered suit? There was only one in town who bore a similarity to that description, one that any underworlder would know by sight alone.

This was none other than the right hand of the Cowl, his firm lieutenant known only by the name of Specter.

“Excuse me...Miss Josie?”  The voice came from outside.  It was light in tone, his polite manner complementing his attire in an unsettling way, as if his suit had never been damaged like it was. “Might I have a word?  My employer would like to discuss a business expenditure with you and your organization.  I do so hate to come straight to your place of residence, but it was difficult to find any other abode you frequented.  If you let me in, I can discuss the matter further.”

He clasped his hands behind his back, standing unflinching in front of the door as he waited.  He did not pace, nor did he shift his footing impatiently, his body firmly fixated on the portal as he waited for Josie’s response.

Josie, sitting on the couch, gave a start when the knock came. However, she reacted quickly, and stood up, walking over to the door. Without even so much as a glance at the peephole, she threw the door open, ready for anything, an attack by a gang, a police raid, a- A politely spoken man with a great fashion sense? 

Nodding, Josie stepped aside. "Of course. But might you tell me who you work for? It might aid in the negotiations if I know exactly who wants something from my gang."

Dammit, why does every single big player in Lost Haven know where I live? I don't even know who this guy works for, and he's with some large outfit, I can tell. Might want to get a better apartment. 

As the man entered, she looked him over. "Nice fashion sense, there. I prefer a white number, myself. Maybe trade suit cleaning tips later?" Josie winked, showing that this was a joke. Yeah, she wasn't much for subtlety. 

The suited fellow gave a single, brief snicker at her joke before striding into her apartment, his glasses glinting off of the ceiling light as his head slowly turned to scout the room, his upright posture unflinching as he waited for her to shut the door.

"Perhaps if you accept my employer's offer, we'll talk about it."  Specter said as soon as the door was shut, turning to face the young Josie with his full body, his movement slow and methodical, a practiced zen-like state as he continued the conversation.  "I am honestly surprised you do not know the Cowl's second-in-command when you see it, but then again I am merely his shadow, I suppose without proper introductions I am easy to overlook, though I've been running things in his absence until his recent return."

He offered her an open hand to shake, his opaque lenses bearing down on Josie. "My name is Ramon, though most in this city know me as El Espectro...or 'The Specter' in English.  I represent the Cowl's interests, mainly the Shroud Syndicate here in Lost Haven.  We've been keeping an eye on you since your merry band came ashore in the docks of our little city, and might I say we've been quite impressed.  You made quite a few waves with the elimination of the Brown Rat Gang, and we're looking for people with that kind of gumption to work for us."

Josie listened to his offer, and shook his hand, a thoughtful look on her face at the mention of the Shroud Syndicate. She was no good at keeping any sorts of secrets, unless it was from an interrogator, so Josie might as well tell him. She'd tell the Cancer that she was approached by the Specter as well, to make things... fair.

"Well, El Espectro, I feel like there's something that you might want to know before we continue with negotiations." Josie took a pack of cigarettes off of the coffee table, as well as a flip lighter, and lit herself a cigarette, offering one to Specter before she realized that he had a mask on. Setting them both down, she lounged lazily on the couch, frown on her face. 

Jaaaaaaaaaaaaack, why did you trust me with this?

"It might be a major roadblock to our partnership, but I have been approached by an individual named "The Cancer," who wishes dearly for your organization's demise. The Enigma gang could use a power vacuum to climb to the top."

Taking a puff on her cigarette, she exhaled, smoke forming an ashen haze between the two criminals. "Other than your organization's legendary status, what could you offer us that the Cancer cannot?" Josie played a dangerous game, but at least she came right out and said it.

The man known as Specter bore no signs of panic or fear when Rosie confessed that The Cancer had already reached out to offer them.  Admittedly his facemask and glasses were hiding any facial features he may have had regarding the news, but his body language made no hints of alarm.  He did not tense up, nor did he slump in defeat at the idea that Rosie may consider working for the gang leader.  Instead, he calmly walked to the small couch that Rosie possessed in her small apartment, taking a slow seat as he proposed his counter.

"In all honesty, we probably cannot offer much different than the Cancer can offer on the surface.  Power, money, and influence among the city is a standard offer for any would-be capo in this town."  The Specter began, the glint in his glasses flashing as his head turned to meet with Rosie's gaze. "However, the difference between the Shroud Syndicate and The Cancer's organization is a matter of mindset.  Think about the name for a second, 'The Cancer' and tell me what kind of image that provides.  That is disease, that is sickness, that is a pathological need to destroy, burn, and degrade all around him until there is nothing but a stinking pile of rot at his feet.  The Cancer does want to destroy us, yes, but not because he wants our position.  He wants to leave the city in flames, not in prospects, which makes for a poor leader and a poorer businessman.  The Cancer will be just as likely to kill you as partner with you if it helps bring down the order this City has lived in for so long."

	His attention to Rosie never wavered as he leaned back in the couch, though it embarrassingly sank more than the capo had expected as a bit of dust to expel into the air as he shifted to a more comfortable position.  "What we offer more so than our competitor is stability.  As a global goods trade organization there is nowhere in the world you couldn't go where you would not find a safe-house to hide in, a contact to reach out to, supplies, resources, and paid men will always be accessible to you so long as you contribute your fair share."  The Specter gestured with a free hand, sweeping out across the room to illustrate his point. "We are not a group who thrives on the surface of things, our name may be well-known and our reputation may supersede us but nobody truly knows how far our influence spreads, piling among our assets.  We did not get to where we are because we butt heads with every opponent, that we lash out and unleash war on every upstart that fights us.  No, we got to where we are because we always kept our priorities at the top; profit.  Nothing in this city is done without careful consideration for what will get us in the best position, no act is committed without reason, no job proposed without benefit to us.  At the end of the day, partnering with us means you will be partnering with someone who will always keep you paid."

	The Specter paused after his speech, adjusting his glasses slightly as he brought his arm over the back of the couch. "Plus, while our disappearance would create a power vacuum, is that really a vacuum anyone else really wants to claim?  The amount of micromanagment that comes with owning a city is staggering, is that something a group like yours would even want to take?  Or has the resources to do so?"

Josie sighed. "If we're going to be completely honest with each other," Josie smirked, for obvious reasons, "I must tell you that I quite like murdering and anarchy. However, if I'm going to make a decision, it'll be one Bleeder Jack would approve of. So, consider your deal accepted."

This was dangerous. She had already sort of told the Cancer that the deal was accepted on their end, and now, she was cutting a deal with the Shroud? Risky. She would have to choose a side sooner or later, but hopefully Jack or Byron could help her decide. 

Draping her arm around the Specter's shoulder, she held out her left hand in front of the two of them, like unveiling some new landscape, headline, or portrait. 

"Imagine, Specter, this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship." Smirking, she stood up, and turned around, holding her hand out to be shook. "I look forward to seeing you again, Specter."

The Specter was subtle in his response to her choice, his facemask hiding any emotions he had regarding the matter as he stood up to shake Josie’s hand.  There was an air of expectancy around the man, like he knew this was going to happen, his movements going through the motions as he had done dozens of times before.

"Excellent, while my interests on anarchy and murder are not exactly aligned with yours, I see the merit to it and therefore am please with your decision. I will let my employer know that you and the Enigma Gang are on board.  There are a few operations in the works that we could use talents like yours in the near future." The man said, his handshake firm and abrupt as his opposite hand reached into his coat, pulling a phone out of his pocket. “You’ll want to take this, there are no numbers on this phone, but we will be able to reach you directly.  The device has been rewired to disengage its gps tracking, so by all standards this device is off the grid.”

Specter did not keep the handshake long after Josie took the phone, his attention quickly going to the door.  “I must head out for now, let your boss know that we will be trying to get in touch with him as well, as we’d like to know a little more about you and your gang before we continue.”  He made his way towards the portal, resting his hand on the doorknob before turning glancing back at Josie through his peripheral vision, the glint in his glasses briefly illuminating as he turned his head.

“We will speak again Josie, but for now...welcome to the Shroud.”
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