paintitrainbows | what comes up when rain comes down?

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.]

[Oswald frowns a bit, at that, as does Meroni. But....Edward's got some kind of look in his eye. And Oswald is suddenly very intrigued to see where he's going with this. He turns his head to look at Meroni again, who just looks incredibly confused.

Oswald arches an eyebrow]

Well, Don Meroni?

[Meroni jerks a bit, as if startled, glancing between Oswald and Edward]

"Uh....no?"

[Edward's looking back at his data pad again, scrolling through some things.]

Well, the exact count is a little hard to pin down, sometimes. It is Pandora, after all. But there are at least one hundred and sixty three, scattered across the planet, if all the manifestos are to be believed. They were quite popular with the companies that brought in the initial settlers, you see, and they brought over quite a few. These days all their buildings have been taken over, of course, so you can find them in... oh, bandit HQs, Hyperion settlements...

And... no less than two right underneath your biggest warehouse.

[He looks up again. A little more confidently, this time. And with a pleasantly curious tone...]

Did you know that?

[it takes Oswald a moment to follow this--but when Edward reveals that bit, his eyes widen just slightly. And his attention is wholly on Edward, rapt.

Meroni, on the other hand, still looks confused as to why they're discussing this, though that's quickly slipping into annoyance]

"No. So?"

Well, the thing about all of this, of course, is that the technology is dreadfully outdated. I mean, no offense to the old Dahl technicians or anything, but their idea of security... it's somewhat of a joke.

Even with just this it's practically child's play to get through and... Well.

[Edward tilts his head a little.]

I trust you at least know what happens when a fusion core overloads and blows up?

[Everyone knows that one.]

It would seem like a bit of a shame to lose that warehouse. It seems rather important, from where I'm standing, but...

[Oswald barely keeps himself from grinning outright. Instead, he manages to keep it to a slow smirk, though he's delighted by all of this. Not just the clear upper hand Edward is handing him, but even moreso, the delight of seeing Edward claim the upper hand against a nincompoop like Meroni.

Meroni, however, doesn't quite seem convinced yet.]

"You're lyin'. There ain't a fushion core under my warehouse, and even if there was, you couldn't do anythin' to it."

...Yes, I suppose that's a valid assumption. It would be a little hard for someone to locate one of those remotely and set it off.

Fair enough.

[It almost seems like Edward is backing off, admitting this. He's a little quiet again.

Then he taps two things on his data pad, almost as if bored.]

[The next thing that happens is the sound of an explosion, not so far off. Visible on top of a nearby mountain. Quite the spectacle.

Edward doesn't even glance at it.]

[Nor does he blink as he looks ahead.]

...I'm sure I have no idea where to even begin with something like that.

[Oh.

Oh that....that's something. That is really, really something.

And it takes all of Oswald's willpower to keep from acting as he wants to, aside from the pleased smile he now turns on Meroni, who, for all his tanned skin, is fairly pale.]

....well. I would consider that a point well-made.

[Oswald sits back in his chair, humming a bit in thought]

I believe our original deal still stands, then. Doesn't it, Don Meroni?

[at that, Meroni's attention jerks away from Edward and to Oswald, and there's a long, tense moment where he grinds his teeth....before finally admitting:]

"...yeah. Yeah, we gotta deal. That'll be...fine."

Wonderful! [Oswald beams, at that] Butch, transfer the man his money, won't you? The rest of you--[he snaps his fingers in the air, towards the Icicles he's brought along] Load all that up! And make it snappy.

[Meroni is somehow silent, still glaring daggers at both Oswald and Edward]

[Edward is already tapping away at his datapad again, back to his earlier quiet demeanor, like he didn't just do... that.

Like that wasn't really a big deal at all.]

Don Meroni. [Oswald's pleased smile widens, just a bit.] It's been a pleasure doing business with you. Until next time~

[and with that, Oswald stands, reaching out to gently brush his fingers across Edward's shoulder, the only indication he should follow, before turning and walking back to his car.]

[Edward looks up at the touch, briefly, and then just follows. He's more than ready to get out of here.]

Butch~ Finish up here and meet us back at the Citadel, won't you?

[Oswald pats Butch's arm in passing, already knowing the answer]

"You got it, boss."

[Butch glances at Edward as he passes, inclining his head again, this time with a quirk to the corner of his mouth. He reaches out and claps Edward on the shoulder, briefly, before moving forward to deal with this as Oswald climbs into the car and starts to buckle in.]

[Edward blinks a little, at that. But then he just joins Oswald in the car, once again.]

[he'll wait until Edward is buckled, as per usual, before turning on the ignition and pulling the car out of there.

At first the drive is quiet--they need to get far enough away, of course, and make sure they aren't being followed before....the car slows to a stop in the shadows of one of the rock formations and Oswald, who has been keeping a relatively pleased-slash-neutral face this entire time, pulls the parking break and turns to Edward, unable to really modulate the volume of his voice as he practically shouts]

What in the world was that?!

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