OPEN POST;

[spiraea]

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OPEN RP POST ① Pick a character ② Pick a prompt (or DIY) (shamelessly and selectively pilfered from bakerstreet's Random Scenario Meme) ③ Do the thing!. table code by betterdolphin

Comments

[stealwithit]

[ Kasumi does a very slight shrug of her shoulders. Surely, someone like Audrey wouldn't have an interest in illicit dealings. She's just a curator. A curator who similarly quirks a brow at her company, a little unsure of where he's taking this conversation. ]

I'm afraid I couldn't tell you if those rumors hold much water either, sir. I don't know much about the man apart from his art collection, but it wouldn't surprise me to think that he would have much to hide. He always carried himself in such a way.

[nostalgiabomb]

Afraid I didn't know the man very well, myself. A few run-ins with him, here and there, but I suppose we all of us wear some sort of mask.

[ And his voice drops lower still. ] Or, perhaps, some of us might wear hoods.

[stealwithit]

[ ... She knew that voice sounded familiar.

The mask comment had been innocuous enough, but once he mentioned hoods, well, that was the tip-off. She tilts her head at the man who she now knows can only be Star-Lord--or Peter Quill--and her expression remains unchanged. She also casts him a closer, more evaluating look than when he'd first approached her, trying to get a read. Her first conclusion, of course, is that he's here to try and kill her. Try to. In which case, she wants to know who hired him this time. But seeing as he hasn't done anything yet, she suspects that might not be the case.

That, or he's simply biding his time. ]

Fancy meeting you here.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He inclines his head in a sort of truncated bow, and while he doesn't drop the act, hands still clasped behind him, back straight and shoulders set, his voice drops a bit of the formality. ]

Entirely coincidental, I assure you. [ Granted, there's no way for him to prove it, other than his word. Not without compromising his assignment, at any rate. ] I thought you could use the company.

[stealwithit]

[ She quirks a brow, and when she speaks, her voice takes off much of its pretentious aristocratic vibe, too. ]

That's awfully nice of you. [ considering how you were trying to kill me, last time. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He shrugs. As far as he's concerned, that was simply business -- and considering how that arrangement worked out, he has no further interest in targeting her. ]

That, and I wanted to express my appreciation for your discretion. [ And this, at least, is sincere; he casts her a sidelong glance. ] I had expected word to spread after our last meeting. Imagine my surprise when I heard not even a peep.

[stealwithit]

[ her lips curl ever so slightly into a smile, and she turns to move so that their shoulders barely touch. ]

Of course. I'm not looking to antagonize a man of your caliber. [ he's one of the most dangerous men in the galaxy, after all. ]

And it was my way of expressing my gratitude for your cooperation.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ If he reads anything into her proximity, it doesn't show on his face. Mostly he's staying vigilant, in case she sees fit to divest him of his wallet. She is a thief, after all. ]

Yes, well. The arrangement was mutually beneficial -- or at the very least, I hope you found your side of our agreement to suit your needs.

[stealwithit]

[ Tempting as that may be, she doesn't make such a move. She could very well do that to any other guest at this party, but to a man like Star-Lord? No, thanks.

Still, she nods at his words. All things considered, it had only made sense for Hock to have hired a hitman to come after her. That she somehow swayed Star-Lord into working with her instead of killing her and walked out with Keiji's graybox and a bullet in Hock's skull (and a few other things) definitely suited her needs. ]

I did, very much so.

[ And then a thought crosses her mind-- ]

Perhaps there might be another opportunity for an agreement sometime?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He flashes her a quick smirk. ]

Usually I prefer to work on my own. [ Which is true enough -- if only due to the nature of his work. He's honestly not sure what spurred him to speaking with her like this, aside from a passing fancy. Bad enough she knew his name -- now she has a face to go with it, too.

He'll kick himself for it, later (although he's sort of kicking himself for it now). ]

Then again, I'm open to suggestions -- though I doubt you came here to talk business.

[stealwithit]

[ Kasumi does have to wonder what compelled Star-Lord to approach her in this manner. They're both here on business, she's sure, but if so, why reveal yourself to someone who already knows more about you than anyone else should ever know? Not that she's complaining, because he's really rather nice to look at, but she's a little perplexed.

She finds that Peter Quill should consider himself lucky that the only person to know about his real identity is someone like Kasumi Goto. She has no real reason (at present, at least) to compromise him--but even if she did? She would hesitate. Because Hock mentioned Quill's family back on Earth, and Kasumi would never knowingly put someone's loved ones in danger.

(Except for Hock. Because screw that guy.)

At the moment, she tilts her head at him, her expression curious but confident. ]

On the contrary. What reason would I have to come here other than business?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He waves a hand dismissively. ] Ah, the enjoyment of fine art, perhaps?

Did you have a more immediate arrangement in mind, or were you merely leaving your options open?

[stealwithit]

[ She responds with a rather noncommittal shrug before taking a quick glance around the room. ]

I would hate to disturb the other guests with our irrelevant chatter.

Perhaps we can take this conversation elsewhere, outside the gallery?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He nods, then offers his arm. ] Have you seen the gardens yet, by chance? They're lovely.

[stealwithit]

[ she quirks a brow at his gesture, at first. You know, if she weren't still a wary that he would pull a gun on her once they're in a more secluded spot, she would be enjoying this charm very much. Still, she plays along, hooking her hand around his arm and giving him a smile. ]

Oh, I've heard the flowers are in bloom right now. Sounds like the perfect place.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He does, in fact, have a blaster holstered beneath his jacket and a blade concealed in his sleeve, but as it stands, she's given him no reason yet to use either.

Leading her through the crowd, he leans down occasionally to make small remarks on the artwork as they pass through the gallery, then through a side hallway. The gardens aren't quite as crowded as the gallery had been, thanks to the space; the plants are carefully and artfully arranged, with winding pathways and delicate marble statues dotting the paths. ]

I meant it when I said I said this was a coincidence. [ His voice stays low, his posture impeccable, though he drops the soft-spoken, rich boy accent. He sounds more like he did when they first encountered one another as Star-Lord and Kasumi Goto. ] I'm on the clock, but I promise I'm not goin' after you this time.

[stealwithit]

[ Kasumi, meanwhile, has her omni-tool at her disposal. And if things really go sour, her pistol is holstered against her thigh beneath her dress (which would explain her strategic selection of a dress that flares out a little as opposed to the silhouette-hugging pieces that have been in style for a while--that and she'd never been one to blend in that much when it came to fashion).

In any case, once they've reached a more private place in the gardens, hedges creating a little room of sorts around a rather sculptural-looking bench, she loses her socialite voice, too, although her movement and posture retains that natural grace that she just carries herself with in general. She lets go of his arm, walking forward and taking a seat on the bench. ]

Good to know. So, what, you just wanted to come and say hi and thanks to me, then?

[ Her tone is light, maybe even flirty, but there's an edge or skepticism to it. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He remains standing, hands clasped behind his back once again. ]

More or less. I take it you believe I shouldn't have.

[stealwithit]

[ She leans forward with a smile, resting her elbow on her lap and her hand on her chin. ]

Oh, it's alright. I apologize if I seem rude, but you understand why I might have been a little apprehensive, yeah?

Besides, I imagine you'd be better company than any of the fellas in there. Better looking, too.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He can't help but smirk a little. ]

You're apprehensive, and yet you wander out here with me to a far less populated area of the grounds. You'd think the moment you saw how empty the gardens were, you would've steered us right back around.

[stealwithit]

[ She smirks right back. ]

I wouldn't be the best at what I do if I didn't take risks now and then.

And what can I say? I'm attracted to danger.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He chuckles softly at that. ]

Alright, fair enough. I take it your plan is to acquire something tonight, then.

[stealwithit]

Like I said, I'm here on business, just like you are.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He holds up a hand, as though to interrupt her. ]

The less I know about it, the better, I'm afraid.

[stealwithit]

[ she quirks a brow. ]

Really. What about that potential agreement I mentioned?