Scene #7198: Persona: Were the World Ours

Owner	Pose
Janine Liberi	Amidst thick forest in the north of Italy, there is a villa. Nestled comfortably among the oaks and chestnuts, it's fashionably pomo, all white marble with glass and a black thatched roof. Some might describe it as hideous, but whoever lives there must like it enough to protect it, as a wrought iron gate topped with sinister spikes surrounds the exterior. Upon a hill thick with bushes, Janine looks at the house through some binoculars. "This is the place," she says. "I managed to squirrel some info out of the good detectives in Alberichstadt, as well as my dad. The home of Boss Dominick, also known as Nicky Nine-Inch and Crom Dom. He's from the Costra Nostra-the actual, for-real Mafia. And more importantly, his family has a hell of a smuggling racket out of Switzerland. Getting crummy knock-off goods the Swiss seals of approval, then shipping them across Europe to sell as 'excess stock.' Charging less for supposed authentic bulk to make mad profit off equipment that will fall apart at the first rain. Not just the army knives and watches, but guns too." She lowers the binoculars and looks to everyone. "And most importantly to me, that means a lot of routes throughout Germany. He's got a lot of important people in his pocket, which means he's an ideal stepping stone to figuring out who needs to go first." Next comes out a map, which she unfurls on the ground. "Now, I've told him we're coming-don't look at me like that. It's a whole thing with them. Proper respect, courtesy. Told him we'd meet him in his lounge at noon. It's 10am now. We need to show up flashy. We need to let them know we mean business. We could just stride up through the front gate, but that's not enough. We need several angles covered." She begins poking at the map, and then pointing at the environment. "There's a high cliff overlooking his compound here. But also a ranger station, and I expect those who work there are also in his pocket. But if you want an aerial entrance, there's no better place." Next, her hand traces over a stream that cuts under the property fence to become part of a water formation. "This stream passes through a filter no doubt. But if you want to rise out of the pond in his backyard, this is a good bet." Next, she traces the road leading up to the house. "I know for a fact that whenever his consigliere comes back from Switzerland, they bring a box of legit merch for the Boss to hand out as gifts. I also know that said consigliere stops at a truck stop around here to grab some pancakes on his way back. If you want to take him out and steal his truck or something, that'd spook him." "And of course, you can just storm the front gate if you don't feel like being fancy. Your call everyone. I'll be coming in a different way." The map is furled. "Oh, and one more thing; try not to kill anyone. Having their blood on our hands is going to massively increase the chances of them backstabbing us."
Big Boss	DURING THE MEETING Big Boss scans the map. He pulls out a small device, hovers it over the map, and basically makes a copy to add to his HUD. He's an older man in a beret and greatcoat, missing an eye with an eyepatch covering the hole. As the map is finally furled, he nods. "Non-lethal. Understood." He's got a rifle under his coat, a pistol at his side, a bunch of tranquilizers, some grenades...prepared for the mission. AT THE TRUCK STOP Big Boss has made it to the truck stop via, well, truck, not long after. There's another person in the passenger seat - a soldier who'll take the truck back. Big Boss enters the 'diner', takes a seat, and starts looking for a man who screams 'Italian mob consigliere'. Those men aren't going to be quiet. They'll either wear wealth, the easy glance, or be trying too hard to be subtle and be spotted out by an expert's eye. Either way, Big Boss can get to work. He orders his coffee with cream and sugar, by the way.
Karlan Nobles	DURING THE MEETING Pramanix looks less like she's there for official business and more like she's there for sightseeing, seated rather comfortably on that hill and just staring off at the villa in question. Despite the aloof expression, though, she's listening intently to Janine as she goes over who they're meeting, why he's important, and their potential approaches to getting in. "I could go for some pancakes right about now, but maybe on the way back. The truck could work, though..." She nudges her cap forward a bit and claps her hands together once before getting up, straightening out the blue ensemble she has on while turning to Janine. "It sounds better than taking the pond or front entrance approaches by far. And flight..." Pramanix gestures at her back. "I'm lacking in the wings department, I'm afraid." AT THE TRUCK STOP Big Boss isn't the only person of their crew visiting the truck stop this morning. Rather than joining the man in ordering coffee, Pramanix loiters outside. She's checking her watch frequently and feigning impatience as she paces around outside off to the side of the small diner, apparently going for the 'someone's late' act while keeping her eyes darting about for someone that might be a little too well-dressed.
Janine Liberi	The truck stop is relatively quiet. There's a clear attempt to emulate that American 50s diner you see in movies, with the tiled floors, stools at the counter and cushy booths along the windows. Right now, three people are eating. One is a massive fellow who embodies the trucker stereotype. The cap, the plaid shirt under the vest, the beer belly. He is currently demolishing a massive steak breakfast. The second is a fellow at the counter, currently halfway through a stack of pancakes and a coffee. The third is a woman at a booth, also eating pancakes and a coffee, but with sugar. There are two trucks outside and three patrons. Only one is their target, and two fit the order Janine gave. But is the consigliere a man or a woman? Some intel work may be required.
Karlan Nobles	Nobody coming from outside. Their target must be inside, then. Grunting in feigned frustration, Pramanix steps into the diner to take a quick look around and figure out what they're working with. A trucker with steak. Two people with pancakes and coffee. It's hard to sort out just which one of the three is their person from that alone, leaving Pramanix to gamble a bit on identifying their person. She approaches the counter, waits to put in her order, and sets down a handful of bills. "Steak and pancakes, please. Two coffees." She sounds annoyed and ready to stress eat. It's a convenient excuse to try both of these things, at least, and she's banking on somebody noticing or commenting on it. She hasn't quite thought up the rest of her investigation plan just yet. That'll need more improvising.
Big Boss	Big Boss is drinking his coffee. Three possible marks. While 'two' fit the mold, any of them could be it. He pulls out his iDroid, and starts looking into it. Something shifts as he presses buttons. Directional cameras. He begins looking outside through the windows, trying to spot the trucks and get any information he can. While he's doing that, directional microphones are shifted around, trying to pick up any mutterances in the diner. He'll see how Pramanix's plan goes, first. If all else fails, they can steal the truck as it leaves, mid-transit.
Janine Liberi	"Big order for a little lady," the other man at the counter says to Pramanix. "But a good one. Best pancakes I ever had came from here. If you can't finish yours off, I'll gladly take 'em." He speaks with the air of a regular. And on closer inspection, he kind of fits the 'mafioso' stereotype. He's wearing a tracksuit, but there's a glint of gold around his neck. He's big, but in a strongfat kind of way. It's really obvious, maybe a bit too much so. Boss has the trucks peeked at. One of them clearly belongs to the trucker fellow, as the cabin is stuffed with pin-ups of barely dressed girls, one of those padded seats you strap to a car seat for extra support, and the floor is littered with takeout cups and bags. The other is austre, save for the film of tobacco residue on the inside windows. It's clean. It's neat. It would get waved through any damn checkpoint in the world. It's so innocent it's downright suspicious.
Karlan Nobles	"I've waited long enough. I might as well do something productive before I go, right?" Pramanix channels memories barely forgotten as she sounds both annoyed and mildly humored, the latter at the man at the counter and the former at someone who isn't even here. She acts like she's about to say something, stops, then chuckles with considerably less hostility while not quite getting rid of all of it. This has definitely happened before. "That good? I look forward to it, then. Are you here often?" Taking a seat finally with one seat strategically between herself and the man at the counter, she tucks her tail under her seat while turning just a bit towards the man at the counter without facing him directly. Plus, it lets her keep an eye on a good chunk of the diner with at least a little subtlety.
Big Boss	Big Boss finishes his coffee. He moves to read the menu as if he's going to order, and then his phone starts ringing (set up) to 'take a work call'. He pays for the coffee, says he'll be back, and heads outside. And immediately, passes by his truck, glancing at the windows, making sure he's not being watched, and moves towards the tobacco-smelling truck. He's not sure this is actually the truck - the big burly driver might still be the guy, somehow. It's always possible, Raikov existed, people can be bizarre. For now, he moves to pick the lock of the truck, bypassing the alarm, and peek inside when he's not being looked at. Look for documents, perfumes, colognes, anything that might indicate who the owner of the truck is.
Janine Liberi	"You get stood up huh? What idiot did that to you?" the man at the counter says. "Don't worry dear, he's the fool here, not you," says the lady. She's an older woman, but not elderly yet, wrapped up in a beige coat. At that moment though, Pramanix's order arrives. The steak looks a bit medium-well, but those pancakes slathered in syrup and butter smell like heaven. "Eat up kid. Take it from this place's number one customer; nowhere better." The man grins, and returns to his own plate. Boss slips out, escaping practically everyone's notice save the waitress who hoovers up his bills. The truck's lock is easily bypassed without setting off an alarm. Once he's inside, the smell hits him. This is a truck that has seen a lot of overnight trips. The persistent scent of BO and deodorant is bound to the leather. But under that is a more recent smell, one Big Boss is well familiar with. The scent of oil and gunpowder and metal. Someone was tending to a gun in this truck. And the glove compartment is locked. Bypassing it's pathetic lock would reveal said gun.
Karlan Nobles	Wait. Crap. Why /would/ she be at a truck stop of all places? Nobody would call someone out to a date unless they were... "A local friend. I mean, it was supposed to be a..." Still on track. She just needs to really sell it. Pramanix takes a deep breath to feign composing herself, then goes right back into that politely pleasant, but badly masked irritation at someone else tone. "He is. He used to be so reliable, but lately... Ah, my apologies." She clears her throat, then puts on a slightly different smile: Appreciative, yet clearly trying not to lose it. "You're both far too kind. Yes, I think I will. Enough about my troubles, though..." She takes a moment to finally sample the steak and pancakes, taking small bites of each and letting out a pleased noise with both samples. "Oh, those /are/ good... Should order some more for later. Ah. Are you here on business or for personal reasons today, if I might ask?" She asks without focusing on either person in particular. The hardest part will be figuring out how to get the trucker's attention.
Big Boss	Big Boss considered field stripping the gun. But once he saw how well-loved it was...he put it back, and then started looking around more. Next step, back of the truck. If he can see inside from the front he's in, he'll look from there. Otherwise, he's not going to the very back and opening the trailer, that'd be dangerous. So, if he can't take a look at the contents of the truck at all, he moves to break into the other truck, and make the same cursory examination, while Pramanix gets intel. Hopefully, quickly - he doesn't want to be out here longer than he has to.
Janine Liberi	The old woman gives Pramanix a look of sympathy, when the stereotypical trucker speaks up in a thick accent. "Tell you what liddle lady folks like that ain't nothin' to fuss over. People change the moment they leave ya sight an it aint always for the better don'tchaknow. But don't let their dust cling to ya heels. You've been changin' too, so leave 'em in your rear-view mirror and drive on. You'll find the right stop for you someday." And with that bit of folksy road wisdom delivered, he starts laying out bills and mopping up his plate with his final slice of toast. At the same time, the old woman and man at the counter are wrapping up too. "Coming off of business," the man says to Pramanix. "Just one more stop nearby and then I can go home. Gotta make sure my daughter doesn't forget her daddy's face." Decision time is looming. Outside, Boss checks the other truck, as the first had no branding or windows on its carriage. The funk of BO is stronger here, and nothing is there to mask it. The wheel is worn, with grooves a the 10 and 2. The driver's seat has a big impression left in it, one that would suit the trucker inside. This one's carriage bears the branding of some big soda brand, and the rear carriage does have a window, offering a glimpse at the cases of fizzy drink that make up the trucker's load. He seems legit.
Karlan Nobles	The religious leader is actually caught off guard by the trucker's words of wisdom, and there's a brief moment where she chuckles in genuine amusement. "That's... That's right, isn't it? They really can." If only everyone else could see her now. As everyone starts getting ready to leave, Pramanix asks for something to pack up the rest of her food in, but she keeps sneaking in a few more bites in between responses. "Oh, I'm sure she'll be thrilled to see you. Thank you again, sirs. Madame. Blessings to you all." Immediately after that, she takes another bite of pancake to hide the oh-shit hitting her right in the gut. Would that be too suspicious? Or would not eating at all be suspicious? Where's that takeout container? She gets the tip money on the counter ahead of time, but she may just have to shadow the the pair if they leave before she can get her food packed away.
Big Boss	This truck's legit. Big Boss exits it as quickly as he entered, and goes back to the 'correct' truck. He starts pacing at firearm-range away, taking out a cellphone and talking on it. Business buzzwords. In his holster, held by a hand under his coat... Is a tranquilizer pistol. He radios Pramanix. <"If there's two of them, get ready for a simultaneous subdual. Be quick, be stealthy. Do not allow the diners or the other driver notice you.">
Janine Liberi	The old woman leaves first, and veers away from the parking lot. Standing by the road next to a bus stop, as an old spluttering bus pulls up. The trucker and the man head towards the trucks, each one approaching their own. The man gestures as the obvious issue rears its head; two trucks pulling out is gonna be a nightmare, so he cedes to the trucker first. Thank goodness. In a skilful display, the trucker pulls his vehicle out, and departs, leaving the lot empty save for the man. The mafioso. He's stopped at his door, and is staring at it. Has he noticed that its been broken into?
Karlan Nobles	<<"Understood. I can do quick and stealthy...">> Pramanix sounds enthusiastic, if nothing els, even though actual close range takedowns are not exactly a thing she's ever done before. No time like the present to learn by doing. Alas, she doesn't quite get that opportunity as the woman leaves on her own, and there's some part of Pramanix that's disappointed despite the relief. With the trucks taking some time to leave, she gets some time to sneak in a few more bites and pack her food before leaving as well. Seeing the man staring at his door, however, has her mind racing on how to proceed. Knocking him out now could raise suspicions, but the only person left to see anything are those inside the diner and anyone happening to drive by. Glancing back at the door to the diner to make sure nobody's coming out, Pramanix relays her plan to Big Boss before approaching the man from the trailer-side of the truck. "Is something wrong, sir? I thought you went out a while ago." She's holding the bag of food on her forearm, and she does't have to try very hard to feign curiousity. Pramanix isn't sure what he's looking at, after all, so this could be a good learning opportunity.
Big Boss	Big Boss stays on the phone. He lets Pramanix talk to the man, waiting to see what he says through the directional microphone. And then, when he finally has a good shot... Press L2 to aim, R2 to shoot. This is protocol, Boss. The tranquilizer pistol goes up, suppressed, and is fired straight at his head. The dosage will knock him out within a second, if it succeeds. <"Get his keys and start the car. I'll fulton him."> If the man goes down, that's exactly what Boss proceeds to do.
Janine Liberi	The mafioso looks up at Pramanix calls to him. "Oh... just the mutterings of paranoia little lady. Don't mi-" And then the tranq round hits him clean in the head, knocking him unconscious. Thankfully, the truck obscures the act from the diner windows. No witnesses. Big Boss ranking. The keys are in his pocket, but Fultoning him here would draw a lot of attention. Might be best to do it en route to the villa. The truck is theirs.
Karlan Nobles	Catching the mafioso shortly after he goes down, Pramanix breathes a heavy sigh of relief as she holds her food-holding arm up and gives Big Boss a brief thumbs up. "Step one complete. Now for the rest." After sorting out what to do about the tranq round and the mafioso, it's time for steps two through question marks! The saint is looking absolutely psyched about this, undoubtedly due in part to being given the driver's seat. "This should be fine... Hm. I'm not quite used to somethin this big, but I think I can manage." Luckily for Big Boss, she's careful enough. A little faster than she should probably be driving, but still within reasonable trucker speed despite not being within reasonable newbie speed. "You've done this sort of thing for a while, right? How-gh. Bumpy. How often have you met the mafia in a situation like this?"
Big Boss	Boss carries the mafioso into the passenger seat, preparing to fulton him once they hit the road and can park somewhere briefly. In-between 'doing that' and 'getting to the villa, he speaks. "I have never dealt with the mafia before. I am a soldier. I have fought in many theaters throughout the world - but this is newer to me. But, war is war, even if it has changed."
Janine Liberi	There is a open field on the way with enough clearance to the sky and no one around to make a stop and fulton the consigliere. From there, it's a smooth ride until the villa comes into sight. It is now 11:50. Ten minutes to the scheduled time. One of the men guarding the gates spots the truck and gives a wave. It's recognised. If they try and pull in, the fact that they are not the man they are expecting would be spotted immediately. What to do?
Janine Liberi	In the distance, there is a sudden crash. Something that Boss and Pramanix had front row seats for. One of the great trees suddenly toppled, and crashed down on the property fence. The guards get a call and immediately rush inside, leaving the gate open for the truck to enter as they go to stop the 'attack.'
Karlan Nobles	"Never? OH my. I wonder if I might have more experience in this sort of thing, then..." Pramanix chuckles softly, but she doesn't sound pleased. After the initial shinyness of driving a big honking truck wears off, she proves to be a fairly smooth driver. Still a bit on the faster side, but easily within her control on that open field. As they draw closer to the villa, though, the issue of herself and Big Boss not being their guy becomes a fair bit more apparent. Luckily, Janine's on the case, giving them ample distraction with the suddenl falling tree to drive that truck right on in! Carefully, of course. Just because the finish line is in sight doesn't mean Pramanix is going to risk tripping up by crashing through the gate now. "It's time, Big Boss. Let's find the lounge and hurry to our meeting." If they can get somewhere close enough to park the truck, Pramanix will do just that before exiting the truck and just heading right on in like she's supposed to be there. It's almost 12PM, after all.
Big Boss	Big Boss opens up the map on his iDroid after the distraction lets them in, moving forward with Pramanix. He has lit a cigar in the time they took to drive, and smokes it all the way through. They won't smell the scent of smoke until it's too late. At noon, preferably, where a man with a cigar walks in, looking like an old, grizzled man, armed to the teeth. If they can find the lounge, he just steps inside at exactly noon, takes a seat, and smokes.
Janine Liberi	And so the two go inside. And just wait in the finely furnished entrance hall. There are some antique chairs to take a load off in, very cushy and comfortable. As they wait, and the sound of heated conversation lilts over, a door open and a figure emerges. A man with a head of greying hair, and a square face with a strong chin. He's clad in a simple white polo that probably cost four figures, a pair of brown slacks, and matching loafers. His brown eyes glitter dangerously as he examines the two, before letting out a belly laugh. "Oh wow, you two set that up just to waltz in without a fight huh? Well, if you're waiting patiently, you're probably not gonna blow my brains out. Come in." He gestures through the door which leads to the lounge. A comfortable room with a sitting area set in the floor underneath a skylight. Taking a seat within it, he says, "Gonna smoke. Hope you don't mind," before opening up a box, producing a thick cigar, snipping the end and unwrapping it with practised hands. "So what's this about anyway?" His answer comes from the skylight. It's been left open to let a breeze in. And through there, Janine slips inside and slowly floats through the air to sit across from him. "Boss Dominick. I'm here to help you graduate from being a big player in the game, to the only game in town. And I just need information you already have to help you do it," the Italian girl says as she lands with her legs crossed and resting her head on a fist. The mafioso stares at her with befuddlement, before looking to Pramanix as if he was noticing her tail for the first time, and then Big Boss. Charitably, because he's the oldest here. Less charitably, because he's the only man here. "What's going on here?"
Karlan Nobles	And finally, their man appears. Pramanix keeps her tone and stance steady as she turns to face him with a light curtsey, keeping her hat on as though that helps to mask her non-human nature. "We have our ways." She replies with a light chuckle, shaking her head at the question about smoking. It truly does't seem to be bother her, since she didn't even react when Big Boss was smoking in the truck. She lets Janine do the introductions while pacing around lightly and letting the breeze sothe her nerves. The tail is not nearly as hidden as her ears. "We have a proposal, Mister Dominick. You know certain people in your line of work, right? Important people that... Might be in the way of advancement opportunities?" Smiling brightly, Pramanix paces around the room slowly, eventually picking up a vase or cup or something relatively breakable. She looks it over, then approaches the mafioso and runs her other hand along the cup/vase/breakable thing while turning her smile towards the mafioso. "So! If you could provide us with information about those people, we'd be quite grateful. You can do that much for us, can't you?" She might be laying it on a little thick, but she's never done this vague threatening thing before.
Big Boss	Big Boss smokes as the man appears, talks, starts smoking himself. He doesn't speak. Janine drops through the skylight and makes her proposition, and Pramanix follows it up. Big Boss finally speaks. His eyes and voice are a man who's done this for a very long time. The eyes of a soldier. A killer. "Specifically relevant to Germany. The boss of this operation-" He glances towards Janine. "-has plans there. The simplest way to put this, to someone who wouldn't understand, is that we are not your normal 'hired guns' you may be expecting. We are highly trained, highly skilled, and possessing abilities you haven't seen." He doesn't mention the consigliere. Not yet. That's a backup token.
Janine Liberi	Dominick looks to the three suspiciously. "The only game in town huh? What, you gonna bump off the other families? Because things are pretty sweet between us right now." He puffs at his cigar as Janine shakes her head. "No. We're going to overthrow Europe entirely." He chokes on the smoke and has to cough it up. "Good joke kid. Revolutions don't happen in the first world any more. Between government spying and all that, you'd have boots to your throat before you rouse your first rabble." Janine looks at the glass coffee table between them, takes in her reflection, and summons Catherine. This causes the mafioso to gasp, the cigar nearly falling from between his lips. "The government doesn't even have a name for what I can do yet. Save for some people in the German top brass. And that's what we want from you. Figure out who knows what, and pass it to us. Even if it's only one name, we'll make them talk. And then, in the new world, you get to deliver on all those demands that governments and laws don't let you supply right now. All above board." Dominick puffs away seriously, looking at all three of them. In that moment, the men investigating the tree come in to report, see the guests and start raising guns. Only for the Boss to raise a hand to stop them. "Leave 'em be. I think... we can come to an arrangement. I'll put some feelers out, collect on some overdue fees I've been overlooking." "But gimmie your names. I don't make a habit of working with strangers."
Big Boss	"Big Boss, commander of Outer Heaven." Is what the older man says. A mafioso like that won't be able to use that against him. He already proceeds to take a stand, holding his cigar. He only needed to sit for as long as they were negotiating.
Karlan Nobles	Pramanix waits until after the guns are lowered before she puts the vase down, still posturing just a bit as though she could actually do something more than just throw it. It's not like they know what she can actually do. "Pramanix, Saint of Kjerag." She doesn't bother hiding her name or title, although she does watch the mafioso and his men for their reactions. After a moment, she smiles once more. "Let's work well together. We can all benefit that way."
Janine Liberi	"Janine Liberi. Yes, that Liberi, you probably know him. He already knows about me, so don't try the blackmail route." The mobsters all mutter among themselves. 'Big Boss?' A saint from some place they've never heard of? Dominick just laughs though, and reaches over the table to offer his hand. Then his other hand when he notice's Janine's slinged one. "I guess I'm getting sentimental in my old age. I've been dying to get into the action again. Make a mess and pull myself out. Sounds like you're out to make one hell of a mess. Let's do it then. Just let me piss on the ashes of the EU headquarters if we make it that far. Hate that place, it's hideous."