Protoman

Deadpool Strikes Again! (DeadlyPhoenix and Protoman)

"Sorry about that. The thought usually just slips out when it crosses my mind. Until I can find a therapist who won't rat me out to the feds, I just chalk it up to my time in the military leaving me on the messed-up side. You might recall how it is. They train you to see targets and soon, any humanity any enemy may have slips away. Before you know it, you can justify anything. Especially anything which would be atrocious to do to anyone else."

Mourning Mirrodin Tavern (A MTG sandbox roleplay)

"Thank you," Lanestol said, taking a piece of bread offered and spreading some butter in the middle once he broke it before placing the halves back together and eating it. "I will have an order of your special."

Chicken? Sounds delicious.

Well, too bad you won't be the one around to try it, now, will you? Don't mess with my business with others. Especially my business in dealing with other Orzhov members. You are not in an enviable position, either. You are technically dead. It is only a matter of releasing your soul from mine that you have not crossed over.

Quiet...I heard something about Nezumi...let me have control for a bit. I can offer them more information.

Fine. You go back when that talk is over.

Lanestol started to overhear the conversation between Alexander and Two-One about the alleged rat problem. His eyes had switched back to red as he leaned in closer to pick up the details. He started clutching his staff harder in anger when Alexander told of the Nezumi invading other villages around Kamigawa.

"Damned rat bastards...sounds like the sentries have gone soft since I left them. They let their blades dull and rust in the pursuit of peace, tranquility and enlightenment," he said in a mocking tone. "Feh. What wisdom we had was good enough. That wisdom included how to drive those thieving, backstabbing garbage incarnations of living garbage. I would be happy to accompany you on your mission. I am fine with either approach. I would prefer to just cut the lot of them down, though we can see what to do once we arrive. Not to pressure you too hard. I just really want to go home, test my blade against one of their so-called 'warriors' and see just how well they stand up. And you can feel free to take them apart and have a look at their insides. It would make for very interesting study."

You're stalling for that chicken, aren't you?

Well, since you already forced me back once, it'll be a while longer before you can do it again.

Gods help me. Whoever and wherever they may be.

Deadpool Strikes Again! (DeadlyPhoenix and Protoman)

"Alright. Well, I'm sure if we paid a visit to a local, well-funded hospital or medical practice, one of the staff there would keep a strong sedative. The stronger, the better--keep him out a while and we wouldn't have to take near as much." His countenance seemed to turn much more sinister after giving the plan a bit more thought--specifically, the thought of having their target sedated and possibly believing what he was seeing wasn't real. "And perhaps, once we're done, we could blow off a little stress and slowly torture him. So long as he thinks it's a dream, he can only believe it to be a nightmare he's powerless against..." Eric let out an evil laugh before he snapped back into focus. "Disregard whatever I may have just said."

Deadpool Strikes Again! (DeadlyPhoenix and Protoman)

"Alright. So just convince him he's either dreaming or hallucinating from his weary, drunken state. Sounds like it'd work. Would any day of the week work or do we have to do this on a certain day of the week in his schedule?"

GAME: Crush A Wish

Granted. I spin around and slop paint on a canvas and call it art. That'll be $50,000.

I wish I had my own personal miniature cannon.

Deadpool Strikes Again! (DeadlyPhoenix and Protoman)

"That is true...it would give us a less discreet way of eavesdropping on them and we could go in closer if we see our man. It doesn't give us much in the way of audio if the cameras aren't in with them. That was part of spying closer on them--anything they say in Franco's absence is valuable, too. Perhaps if we can find an in with a bug or two, that might settle that issue. And...don't you mean it'd raise too many red flags?"

Deadpool Strikes Again! (DeadlyPhoenix and Protoman)

"I say we try to stake out the office first. As you've said, torture is hit-or-miss, even if we find someone who would have that intel. He should come for his stuff eventually. In that case, we would have to either get information on his next visit or try to figure out the patterns to see if there's a regular time he will make himself present to us. However we go about getting that information, this is a stealth op. And it sounds like if they catch a whiff of something suspect, they'll hit the alarm and send Franco fleeing for his high castle somewhere else."

Mourning Mirrodin Tavern (A MTG sandbox roleplay)

"So I would guess it was some time ago, then," Lanestol responded to Aspasia. "I was not looking to purchase it. Had it not been for recent events, I could have gotten one like it. In fact, I did have one like it for casual attire just after I graduated my village academy, just of lighter color. The hard part was sufficiently turning a trap on him so I could stop him cold and siphon out his life. I would have definitely lost a straight-forward battle and the way I did it guaranteed the pelt stayed whole. Not much risk of tearing it with a weapon, though for some, that gave it a bit of charm or room to sew in a pocket. These days, werewolves of Innistrad are mangled abominations, far beyond how twisted they were to begin with. You may want to keep that one intact as long as possible. It is not replaceable, as it is. You could get another if you not mind the next one coming with tentacles or other unnatural appendages."

Lanestol turned to acknowledge the contact who had finally come to meet with Veronica. Upon hearing the messenger's contemptuous tone toward Alexander and Victoria, his demeanor took a sudden turn. The ruby pendant flashed for a moment before his eyes turned the same shade of red, and a wicked smile curled as he made direct eye contact with the messenger cleric. He stood from his stool and walked right to the agent as he bowed before him. He leaned in and whispered in the contact's ear, a disquieting anger concealed as he grit his teeth.

"I would have hoped you would treat your hosts with a bit more respect, especially considering your current status. It is not one which commands respect or draws envy from anyone. If this goes poorly in the Advisor's view, you will be fortunate to stand in line for the Maw. If you do hold respect for my station, act like it and be a more gracious guest or you will be no one's guest again."

I could have told him something like that myself without the threats.

Someone with his arrogance needs a good whip now and then to know his place. He needs to know just how little control he has of the situation. Whelps like him are why I wonder you still don't just blow them all to the aether and become the Guildmaster.

I would be no different from him, flexing my power to control people. That, and I know that would motivate you to try to take control of me permanently. I only tolerate you since I cannot exorcise you yet. If you drive me to it, I will seek someone else to send you on your way. For now, I wish to have command again.

With his own message given to the agent, Lanestol stood and returned to his seat. His pendant flashed again and his eyes reverted back. His face had also returned to its usual forlorn stare before he faced Alexander upon his query.

"I suppose some work would be in order. At least, after I eat. My stomach has settled from the nervous moment earlier."

Deadpool Strikes Again! (DeadlyPhoenix and Protoman)

"Damn...this guy really sucked the well dry. Guess we can ask Mr. Franco why he'd leave himself open to someone getting so much evidence on him. Or why he would pose for pictures with the guys he hired for his shady deals. Before we kill him, of course. And if he doesn't want to talk, we don't have to have reasons for his cockiness." Eric sorted through the remaining documentation Deadpool had available before setting it all back. "So, since I unwittingly offed the guy who was going to lead you to him, we need a new plan. Where are we starting now?"

Mourning Mirrodin Tavern (A MTG sandbox roleplay)

Lanestol held on a moment longer, pondering what the Myr said before lowering his defense and taking his right hand off his staff. "Very true. I have greater fear of coming across the blight than any other illness that can befall a creature. Most diseases do not compel service to one of the most vile wretches in all the realms. Seeing as how you have not tried anything yet, I can take you on faith for now, at least." His attention turned away once another sat on his other side and questioned about the Orzhov's anticipated meeting at the tavern.

"I am not privy to the exact reasons why our leadership insist on meeting their patrons where they are at rather than inviting them to the Church of Deals, where we are at," Lanestol responded to Victoria. "Perhaps to project an image of openness. In reality, it may be because too many dealings at the Church itself would invite too many of the kinds of people the Orzhov don't care to have poking about. The sorts of people as there are in the Azorius Senate or the Boros Legion or the kinds of people who would, in turn, attract their attention. They take no chances with alleged House Dimir agents poking about, even if they have already intruded our ranks.

"To answer your question, no, I am not the contact. They just gave me some information about the meeting and to assure the liaison will be of greater intellect than the thrull we mistakenly trusted last time. They did want me to warn you in case he meets you and seems...a bit less lively than usual. An Advisor met him to speak about that meeting and his debt problem."

A small celebration had broken out upon Alexander's acceptance of Two-One. Seemed to him they would carry on for a bit with it. In the meantime, he finished off his drink and decided to strike up conversation with the woman Alexander referred to as "Aspasia". He hadn't seen her before, though the fur covering her armor had caught his eye and he figured she would at least be worth a talk with.

"When did you get that? The coat over your armor. How long ago was it you got that?"

@Achronum