Signing articles with the enemy

[Jordanna]

It was a Friday morning when Nick Tiernan was set to meet with Sidney Rosenstein and sign over the ownership of Lusus Naturae. As he waited for the other man's arrival, Nocturne sat in his office, going over the paperwork.

He was going to miss the place, really. It was hardly to his taste, but he had found it convenient for a few of his occasional murderous trysts, and it had long been useful to him for gathering information.

And still will be, with my people there, he reminded himself. By selling it, he would simply enjoy all of its benefits with none of its responsibilities.

Besides, the identity of the new owner was too delicious an irony for him to pass up.

[skybright]

As she'd discussed with Vance, Daws had managed to secure herself a place at Tiernan's meeting with Sid by running the standard background checks that usually accompanied such business deals.

With the last of the necessary paperwork in hand, she made her way to Tiernan's office and took a moment to gather her wits.

Well, here goes nothing -- and here's hoping nothing is what it turns out to be. With a faint sigh, she rapped sharply on the office door.

[Jordanna]

Tiernan looked up, tucking away the sales contracts in a folder. "Come in."

[skybright]

Daws opened the office door and stepped inside, slipping off her fedora and holding out the slim manila folder of paperwork she'd brought with her. "Here's the last of those background checks, Mister Tiernan." She said. "No real surprises."

[Jordanna]

"Very good." Tiernan accepted the folder and began leafing through the papers within.

After a moment, he paused and glanced up at Daws, raising an eyebrow. "I hope you don't feel this was too much of an imposition--an employee of Mr. Rosenstein having once been a client of yours, however abortively."

[skybright]

Daws gave a faint shrug and shook her head. "Like I told you then, Mister Tiernan -- Rosenstein wasn't my client. There's no conflict of interest so far as I can see -- it's just a relatively small world."

[Jordanna]

"I see." Tiernan resumed glancing through the file. Then he remarked, very casually, "I'm given to understand, however, that you attended the funeral of Mister Rosenstein's wife."

[skybright]

Daws felt her blood turn to ice. Caroline Rosenstein's funeral had also been the site of the first meeting of what had become the resistance against Tiernan.

If he knows you were at the funeral, Ace, She thought, trying not to let the thought show on her face, Then there's no telling how much else he could know.

Or how much he's trying to get you to reveal. She countered. So keep it together.

Forcing a nonchalance that she didn't feel into her voice, Daws replied evenly "I was invited -- by my client. My business runs mostly on word of mouth, so it's best to keep good customer relations when it's possible." She shrugged faintly. "Even when the requests are a little bit out-of-the-ordinary."

[Jordanna]

Tiernan's eyes had reverted back to the file in his hands. "Hmm. Rather an odd place to look for leads--and perhaps not a very wise one, considering certain details of the case that I expect you to keep to yourself." His dark eyes met Daws' again. "In future, I hope you'll decline to involve yourself with anyone I've... had dealings with. You won't suffer for it financially, I assure you."

[skybright]

Daws nodded faintly, allowing herself to relax a little. "I understand. And naturally you can count on my being discreet about those 'details' you mentioned. "

[Jordanna]

"Naturally," Tiernan said coolly. He had no need to express what was liable to happen if Daws was not discreet.

He continued reading through the report until a few minutes later, when Tanith the receptionist announced over the intercom that Mr. Rosenstein was on his way up. Then Nocturne sat back and steepled his fingers.

"This should be rather amusing."

[skybright]

Daws quirked an eyebrow slightly at Tiernan's definition of "amusing". "I can split if you'd like." She said laconically.

[Jordanna]

Tiernan smile grimly. "No need. Having met Mister Rosenstein, your presence will make it even more interesting."

[skybright]

Yeah, just one more little sadistic thrill. Daws clenched her jaw briefly and nodded. "All right then."

[Jordanna]

They waited. At last, a few minutes later, there was a tentative knock at the door.

Tiernan slipped into his most darkly charming smile. "Come in."

The door opened, and Sid Rosenstein glanced in almost cautiously. Then he took a deep breath and entered with small steps, as if it was a physical effort to make his feet carry him forward.

He looked Tiernan in the eye, and to his credit, he managed to hold the gaze.

"Um, ah... Morning, sir."

"Good morning, Mister Rosenstein." Tiernan stood up and extended his hand across the desk. Only someone who was watching for it would have seen that Sid's jaw was tightly clenched as he accepted the handshake.

Tiernan inclined his head toward Daws. "I believe you've been introduced already to Miss Dawson, who I retained for certain necessary background checks."

Sid turned to Daws, and was clever enough to pause for an instant as if unused to seeing such an obvious mutant. Then he held out his hand and smiled faintly. "Mornin', Miss."

[skybright]

"Good morning, Mister Rosenstein." Daws kept her expression carefully neutral as she shook Sid's hand, giving it a very faint squeeze by way of encouragement before letting her own hand drop.

[Jordanna]

"Uh... yeah." Sid ducked his head slightly and, as if fearing his eyes might give him away if he looked at her too long, he turned back to Tiernan. But it was no easier for him to maintain a steady gaze in that direction, either.

"So, uh... the lawyers have pretty much taken care of everything, I guess?" he asked carefully.

Tiernan nodded. "The papers are all drawn up according to terms we both agreed on. I have taken the liberty of making one minor clause on behalf of a valued employee, however. I ask you to continue employing the head bartender, Miss Marnique Jenkins."

Sid blinked. "Uh. Um..." His gaze shifted slightly, and could not help darting quickly toward Daws.

[skybright]

Daws cleared her throat diplomatically. "I know anyone who's ever been a customer at Lusus will vouch for her, if that concerns you." She said evenly. "She's good people."

Of course, she's also right in Tiernan's pocket -- but we can worry about that later.

[Jordanna]

"Um." This sort of noise was rapidly becoming the largest part of Sid's vocabulary. At last he shrugged and turned back to Tiernan.

"If you say so... Mister Tiernan. I was kinda... uh... plannin' on givin' jobs to some of them mutants got displaced when their shanty town burned recently."

"So I heard--and I admire your charitable intentions toward mutants," Tiernan replied expansively. "As you know, I'm rather controversial for sharing those sympathies."

"Uh-huh," Sid murmured. "So... uh..."

"Here." Tiernan produced a folder of papers and pushed them toward Sid. "Everything is in order. Take your time looking over them."

Sid frowned and breathed deeply, picking up the documents to read through them.

[skybright]

Daws suppressed a concerned frown and did her best to keep a casual eye on Sid as he read through the documents.

C'mon, buddy. You're tougher than he is -- don't let him rattle you.