04-14-2014, 08:01 PM
Stepping out of the conditioned air of the Rose Pagoda, for a second time, Takeo lingered on the last stone step to watch a pair of affluent moscovian ladies slink past. His hand rested on a snarling gargoyle at the end of the handrail, and with the left he gave them a roll of his fingers in wave. The taller of the two looked surprised, artful brows rising against an unnaturally wrinkleless forehead. The other wasn't paying attention, but looked once her conspirator leaned in to whisper her a few words of warning.
When she did look, Takeo noticed her lips shape a small, tight 'o', then proceed to lip his name to her friend. They knew him, then.
"You probably have time," Kasumi said from behind him on the stairs. He could hear the smirk she was undoubtedly wearing.
"Pig,"
he replied, but he did look away from his current distraction to replace them with another. "Jun, the car?"
Junnichi didn't bother nodding, nor slowing down as he descended the stairs after Kasumi. He moved off around the corner of the Pagoda and disappeared into the night. Kasumi had another cigarette lit up already, the first puff billowing toward Takeo on a cool westerly wind. It was going to rain.
"Why did he bother calling?" Kasumi asked after a drag. She seemed to have adopted that particular square of wall to lean on. "Didn't sound like he was seeking much council."
"Obviously he values our insights."
She laughed, and he ignored her. He wasn't serious, but he also wasn't in the mood to spar with the girl. With the damage done
, Brandon obviously just needed a sounding board before making his decision. Takeo could only assume they'd hear about it on the news within the hour - either the complete destruction of Mecca, or the situation was under control. There are no alternatives in crisis management.
"What do you need me to do?" Kasumi had a mouth, but she was loyal. He could ask her to take a flight to Mecca to check things first hand, and, without question she would be on the next jet on the tarmac. It was a relief - a very unique sensation for Takeo.
"I missed a call with H-O. See what they need, and if you can provide it."
He had an idea what they wanted. Protege went public today - Takeo had followed its share peripherally. Mori would be biting at the bit, but Takeo didn't have time to hold her hand tonight. She'd have to hold to what loyalty she held, a fraction of that of Kasumi though it might be. Regardless, Kasumi couldn't help them. But it would be helpful to have someone chew her ear other than him for a change.
Jun's black Jag rolled quietly from the shadows and Takeo finally turned to look at his hacker. "Give the others the night off. I'll have my ear on."
She nodded, impatiently, and crushed her stick on the wall, again. "Goodnight, K-chan."
His door clicked behind him, and a mild wave of heat let him know Jun had opened the door for him.
"Goodnight, Onoda-san," Kasumi said, punctuated with a bow.
Takeo smiled and fell into the car. He wasted no time in stripping off his suit as Jun walked around to his side. They were off, leaving the Pagoda and its finery well behind them.
When she did look, Takeo noticed her lips shape a small, tight 'o', then proceed to lip his name to her friend. They knew him, then.
"You probably have time," Kasumi said from behind him on the stairs. He could hear the smirk she was undoubtedly wearing.
"Pig,"
he replied, but he did look away from his current distraction to replace them with another. "Jun, the car?"
Junnichi didn't bother nodding, nor slowing down as he descended the stairs after Kasumi. He moved off around the corner of the Pagoda and disappeared into the night. Kasumi had another cigarette lit up already, the first puff billowing toward Takeo on a cool westerly wind. It was going to rain.
"Why did he bother calling?" Kasumi asked after a drag. She seemed to have adopted that particular square of wall to lean on. "Didn't sound like he was seeking much council."
"Obviously he values our insights."
She laughed, and he ignored her. He wasn't serious, but he also wasn't in the mood to spar with the girl. With the damage done
, Brandon obviously just needed a sounding board before making his decision. Takeo could only assume they'd hear about it on the news within the hour - either the complete destruction of Mecca, or the situation was under control. There are no alternatives in crisis management.
"What do you need me to do?" Kasumi had a mouth, but she was loyal. He could ask her to take a flight to Mecca to check things first hand, and, without question she would be on the next jet on the tarmac. It was a relief - a very unique sensation for Takeo.
"I missed a call with H-O. See what they need, and if you can provide it."
He had an idea what they wanted. Protege went public today - Takeo had followed its share peripherally. Mori would be biting at the bit, but Takeo didn't have time to hold her hand tonight. She'd have to hold to what loyalty she held, a fraction of that of Kasumi though it might be. Regardless, Kasumi couldn't help them. But it would be helpful to have someone chew her ear other than him for a change.
Jun's black Jag rolled quietly from the shadows and Takeo finally turned to look at his hacker. "Give the others the night off. I'll have my ear on."
She nodded, impatiently, and crushed her stick on the wall, again. "Goodnight, K-chan."
His door clicked behind him, and a mild wave of heat let him know Jun had opened the door for him.
"Goodnight, Onoda-san," Kasumi said, punctuated with a bow.
Takeo smiled and fell into the car. He wasted no time in stripping off his suit as Jun walked around to his side. They were off, leaving the Pagoda and its finery well behind them.