paintitrainbows | what comes up when rain comes down?

[Edward has been settling into things at the Citadel, if only begrudgingly. He gets along with... most of the Gentoos fine. The arrangement isn't something he's a fan of, but one makes do. His relationship with Oswald is another matter. Let it never be said that Edward doesn't know how to hold a grudge.

But he takes care of his work. More than he ever managed to get done either on his own or at Hyperion, much as he hates to admit it. If things were different, he'd say it's a pretty nice arrangement. Sometimes he even starts feeling like that, before reality sets back in and he remembers why this has to be temporary.

Not that there's much of a way out. For the moment, he's just sort of forced to accept it.

At the moment, he's working on one of his personal projects, coding away. Just sort of distracted. Not expecting anything much to happen.]

[Knock-knock, Edward, destiny's calling. Oswald's already shot two people today, and he's getting really tired of this whole mess, quite honestly]

[Edward looks up, surprised and just... makes his way over.]

Uh.

Yes?

[Great, Oswald's going to invite himself right in, then] Edward, we're going on a road trip! [he reaches Edward's desk, hopping up onto it and perching there, one leg crossing elegantly over the other]

So whatever portable equipment you might need, now's the time to take it!

[Edward... blinks.]

We're-- Wait, what? [He sits up, then and... slides back in his chair a little, because personal space.] A road trip?

Yes! Shouldn't take more than a day, but we're going on an outing. [Oswald doesn't hide the fact that he's annoyed--not with Edward, of course, but the entire situation]

Meroni received the delivery of technical parts I ordered from him, but now he's refusing to give it up unless I pay him more money. So I told him I want to see the parts first. And I'd like your eye on that. Check them for quality, any flaws, any sign that they're not exactly what Meroni says they are. That man is more brawn than brain, and I don't trust him as far as I can throw him. Which...[he contemplates this for half a moment] I can't. Throw him, that is. So, I suppose that says enough.

Uh. Okay, I guess, um...

[Edward presses some keys to put his current project on standby, looking around to... ah, yes. A datapad, perfect. Though he looks a little anxious about this whole thing.]

I guess I can... do that...

I know you can, that's why you're coming. [Oswald's hopping down off the desk, then] We're leaving in ten minutes, so hurry up, won't you?

Oh, well, thanks for the advance notice...

[He's scrambling a little, glancing up a little uncertainly at Oswald a few times, but... well, he doesn't need a lot. Just the basics, for this sort of thing. All Edward really needs to be effective at his job is something that connect to a network.]

Alright...

Lovely, come along then! [Beaming, Oswald disappears out of Edward's office and down the hall]

[THE DEEPEST OF SIGHS

But he follows, nonetheless. Might as well just get this over with.]

[As per usual, Oswald is completely undeterred by Edward's complete lack of enthusiasm. After all, he's continued to act as though Edward regards him as all the others these past few months, even though he's done anything but.

However, it's not too long before they're sitting before the gates to the citadel, all strapped into their cars, the motors idling as the gate is pulled up. Oswald is humming to himself, watching them go up, glancing at Edward in the passenger seat]

What do you know of Meroni, out of curiosity?

[Edward shrugs a little, at the question, idly tapping at his data pad.]

All I reasonably need to know. I'm aware of his position, the relationships he has with other players on the board, I know of his high ranking employees, the inventory stock he has...

If it's ever been entered into a computer or the ECHOnet, I know of it.

Then I should tell you that, in person, he's your typical brutish idiot. [gates up--and he puts the car into gear, the engine roaring to life as he peels out of there. He raises his voice to be heard while he's driving]

He's not particularly cunning, but he likes to think he is. Everything he has, he's gotten through force and luck, nothing more. So the more you treat him like he's smart, the easier it will be to not have to deal with his bad side.

I'll make a note of that. Though I generally prefer to deal with people as little as possible for exactly this reason.

[Edward is not a people person. This much is obvious to everyone.]

Don't worry, I'll be the one dealing with him most of the time. [Oswald waves a hand, as if dismissing this] However, if he does happen to say anything to you, you'll know what you're getting into.

Mhm. With any luck I won't have to say anything at all.

[Like. That's the dream.]

Here's to luck, then--hold on! [and Oswald's smirking, before he throws the car into a higher gear, flooring it and taking them across the desert wasteland of Pandora.

It's not too far--no more than about a 45 minute drive before they arrive at the designated meeting point: an old billboard sign, dilapidated and falling apart. But safe enough. Oswald slows the car to a stop before hopping out, lighting gently on the ground.

It seems that Meroni has already arrived, standing in front of the billboard with a couple crates laid out, as well as a table and chairs. Oswald smirks, demeanor immediately changing as he moves over, one of his Icicles scurrying up behind him to open an umbrella for him. Butch isn't far behind, either, glancing sideways at Edward and just inclining his head slightly in recognition.]

Don Meroni~ How lovely to see you. I'm so glad we could meet in person.

[from there, there's pleasantries. Niceties. A few words of idle chit-chat before Oswald brings up--]

So. If you wouldn't mind--I do have someone who I would like to look over the parts you've acquired. Then we can...renegotiate.

[Oswald motions to Edward, indicating, and Meroni acquiesces, making a sweeping gesture at the merchandise.]

Butch? Accompany him, please.

[because he super doesn't trust Meroni and he'd like to have Butch there to pull Edward out of the way, just in case]

[Edward glances at everyone for a moment, before going over to the merchandise in question, to inspect the parts. And yeah, he is just going to stay quiet as he does that, checking over everything.

An incredibly simple task, honestly. He double checks information on his data pad as he does so.]

[The merchandise is....decent. It's what's needed, certainly, and it looks like it'll function, but it's not worth the brand-new price.

Oswald is settled in one of those two chairs at the table, now, one leg crossed elegantly over the other, that umbrella still held above his head.]

Come now, Don Meroni. This hike in price is unreasonable. The acquisition was your job; it's hardly any fault of mine that you so happened to do so in the most difficult manner possible.

[there's a thread of annoyance seeping into Oswald's voice, now.]

[Edward just... walks over to Oswald. And instead of outright saying anything, just taps some things into the data pad and shows it to Oswald. He figures it's better that he doesn't outright say what he feels, because... this isn't his area, he'll just screw things up, probably.

It just says

merch =/= great

he's trying to cheat you big time

Because that's... pretty clearly what's happening here.]

[Oswald glances sideways at the datapad, taking that in. He keeps his face, somehow, relatively neutral, eyes flicking up to Edward's face briefly]

Hm. Interesting. Thank you. [he turns his attention back to Meroni, then, eyes narrowing]

Really, Don Meroni. Is all of this truly necessary?

"Necessary? I'm just tryin' ta get a good price for the merchandise I'm deliverin', Penguin. My boys gotta eat too, ya know."

[Oswald quirks an eyebrow, removing the long black cigarette holder that he somehow got out during the time that Edward was inspecting the merchandise. He blows out a stream of smoke] Then perhaps you should consider the quality of said merchandise before making an attempt to increase the price.

"If you don't like it, we can just take it back."

Oh? And try and sell it to another? I already paid you partial for the acquisition, Meroni. This sort of business is really quite uncouth.

[the way Meroni smirks is infuriating, and Oswald's hand twitches, wanting to grab his gun and put a bullet in his skull. Unfortunately, that would cause more trouble than its worth at this point.]

"You say uncouth, I say just getting what I'm owed. Eh? So what'll it be, Penguin?"

[Edward is mostly just... watching. Noticing Oswald getting more agitated and he honestly can't say he blames him much. He idly taps on his data pad again and notices... something.

He looks up, the conversation still going. Oswald growing more and more agitated as things go.

And before he can think better of it, he looks up at Maroni...]

Um, excuse me. [Immediately, he regrets speaking up. But he's already going, so...] I don't mean to interrupt, of course, but I just have one question.

[And glancing between the two, briefly.]

If that's alright.

[for a moment, Oswald looks as surprised as Meroni does that Edward, who has until now been quite silent, speaks up.]

"Who're--"

[but Oswald holds up a hand, and Meroni's mouth snaps shut, not out of respect in any way, but out of sheer affront. Not that Oswald pays him any mind; his attention is on Edward]

Of course. Go ahead.

Well, I- I was just wondering, really...

[Edward isn't looking at Oswald, right now, looking at Maroni instead and... Despite his clear nervousness, there's an odd look in his eye.]

Do you know how many fusion cores there are on Pandora?

[...Isn't that a random thing to ask, all of a sudden.]

i can't see where you're comin' from

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject