11546/New Town, Wrong Market

New Town, Wrong Market
Date of Scene:	25 May 2020
Location:	Market
Synopsis:	Duncan went to see about an antique, found stolen pieces, and more or less backed into a Punisher Warzone. An encouter with the Punisher is never dull.
Cast of Characters:	Duncan MacLeod, Punisher

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Duncan MacLeod has posed:
     Well dressed and mildly out of place, Duncan arrives in the market place and looks around. It isn't exactly a market place, but more like a really upscale flea market...for a flea market anyway. Reluctant and hesitany about legitimacy, Duncan shows anyway because money is money. He frowns and looks around the area, probably looking for his contact.

Punisher has posed:
Grey market areas like this are prime areas for off-the-books sales. It's nearly impossible to keep up with for traditional law enforcement without a lot more manpower... and these days, the NYPD has it's hands full just keeping the peace with all the superhuman activity in New York.

Where deals of this nature are made, the Punisher tends to keep up the slack. He doesn't catch them all... but he doesn't need to; just knowing the Punisher is monitoring the area tends to make the more cowardly merchants terrified...

Then, there's the man Duncan is coming to see. People like him brave the risks, and charge more to make sure their customers *know* they're braving those risks. At least, that's what happens with off-the-books purchases.

Duncan... is here for wholly legitimate business, and does not get the markup.

Up on a rooftop overlooking the market, the Punisher sits with a monocular overlooking tonights activity. To his right is a suitcase packed with a broken down sniper rifle.

There may be an assassination. There may not. There are rumors that one of his targets will be in the area tonight. Time to find out if those rumors are true.

Duncan MacLeod has posed:
     Duncan doesn't like the look of the place, but he makes his way towards one of the "vendors" to find the contact he came for. He pauses and looks around the area for some reason. Shaking it off he notes the one he came to talk to. His expression is skeptical at best, but business is business.

     The other man offers a hand to shake, but Duncan looks at him asking something hard to hear, but probably inquiring how to get on with things. The man snarls, but goes to get the piece that Duncan was here to look at. He looks around the man's goods and pauses, head turning to the left a little as he recognizes a piece and walks over to it. His face has gone from not wanting to be here to what the hell?

Punisher has posed:
A couple of surveillance targets, but nothing serio-wait, who is that?

"Priority 5 is here, Microchip. What's the word on response time?" "We're all good Frank. latest shows patrols are just hitting the eight minute mark. If you wanted to take the shot, now's the time."

Then, the target moves out of sight. With no way to know if he'll be back, time to get to the ground floor.

Using the grapnel rope to one side hidden behind a pipe, the Punisher descends quickly and efficiently. His trenchcoat is adjusted as he starts moving through the buildings to get to where the man is...

Duncan MacLeod has posed:
     Duncan looks at the piece closely, taking it down and probably annoying somebody. He turns it over and then back again. Annoyance turns into something a little more. He might not know the Punisher is afoot, but he is clearlynot happy about something regarding the piece. A quick snap of a picture to his phone and Duncan hangs it back into place.

     The man comes back out with another piece. Duncan takes it from him and starts to examine it.../really/ close. Duncan is quiet for the time being, going over it like he expects it to do a trick or something.

Punisher has posed:
Someone comes out of the door the man just came out of... someone in a trenchcoat... which opened just slightly once the man is just behind him. Duncan may or may not recognize that internationally famous skull vest symbol on it.

He'll definitely recognize the small caliber pistol that is stealthily and suddenly pressed into the back of the mans skull.

The other hand moves around to cover his mouth... and keep him in place for that precious second it'll take.

*Thwip* *thwip*.

Two silented .22 caliber rounds were just fired into the precise back of the mans skull, turning what was once health brain tissue into so much sludge inside.... and it was done with the cold precision of a hitman.

There's no malice in his eyes as the Punisher looks to Duncan directly in front, even as he slowly begins to move the man into a chair.

Duncan MacLeod has posed:
Annoyed at the stolen antiques, Duncan isn't exactly aware of the man that comes in. The silencer noise is hard to miss and the antique is forgotten. He turns his attention to the man in the coat. His eyes meet those dead eyes of the Punisher and watches.

     There might be a moment he considers doing something, but he pauses. He might be more or less bullet proof in his way, but the others aren't. His stance eases again and he watches the other man, maybe marking his appearance for another time.

Punisher has posed:
The head is angled forward, so the hole does not leak; the Punisher is obviously experienced in this. But then, he's been assassinating underworld figures for years now... this is probably routine for him by now.

The pistol is holster on his gear web, and the Punisher looks to Duncan, "You should do more vettin' for your sources. This guy sold to slavers." Punisher notes, "and he knew it. No excuses for this one."

Then, he turns around fully, regarding Duncan, "You clearly have a problem with that piece. What's it to you?"

Duncan MacLeod has posed:
     He watches you for a while and nods when he mentions vetting his sources,"You're not wrong." he admits,"I was skeptical about coming here and I was right." He looks back at the piece in his hand and then he points to three hanging in the booth,"Stolen. Stolen. Fake." he studies the last one and shakes his head,"Not even a good fake." He doesn't fully let Castle out of his sight.

     He looks back to you head on again,"I've made a living buying and selling pieces like these and I don't like thieves or forgers." He might not want to risk hurting others, but he doesn't back down from the other man either,"So I admit better vetting should have been done. I would have liked to see him in prison." A quick look at the other man in the chair,"I guess that's not really an option."

Punisher has posed:
"For some people, prison can be an option." The Punisher admits. One of the biggest mass murderers of this era admitting killing isn't the only option? That's new. "This one has been bribing patrols, and it would have taken too long to investigate him with his methods. This was the better option."

Then, the Punisher starts to toss the merchandise around, examining as he goes, "Take a few of these if you like. I'll be taking the rest."

Duncan MacLeod has posed:
     Shaking his head Duncan doesn't see a point to arguing with the man. It's not as if he hasn't killed his fair share of men in the last 400+ years of existence after all. Sometimes you have to pick your battles, act from a tactical stance. Most of the people have fled, but some weren't smart enough and are hiding under the booths and such,"These two are coming with me. I have no interest in the rest." He points to a few others,"Most are fake and some are just not worth much."
     He watches you thoughtfully and shrugs as he decides you can have whatever you want, the rest of these things are worthless. The other booths, well who knows? He takes to the two legitimate pieces and tells you,"I'm going to contact the authorities in this city about these pieces or would it be better to wait until I get back to my home and turn them in there?"

Punisher has posed:
"Makes no difference to me, pal." The Punisher replies, "This guy's gonna be reported soon, and you'll likely have that confiscated if you want to stay within the law." the Punisher notes. "Me? I'm the Punisher, a wanted man."

A couple of the pieces are taken, pouched, and the Punisher nods slightly, "Do you do much business here?"

Duncan MacLeod has posed:
     Shaking his head he gets the pieces settled safely into a box and replies,"I'll get it turned in." he agrees. He looks at the dead man and back at you and humorlessly replies,"A wanted man?" He looks back at the rest of the things and people and sighs,"Not popular with your version of justice I take it?"
     Considering what is asked of him he shakes his head,"No. This is my first time in New York in a long time. It might as well be my first time." he tells you and nods to two people hiding, trying to get them to get out of there, but they are staying right where they are. He looks back at you and one good turn,"Duncan. Not really wanted at the moment."

Punisher has posed:
"Call me the Punisher. In the eyes of most of the world, I'm a vigilante mass murderer with no remorse." The Punisher turns around and starts to head back to the door, "They're only mostly right." The Punisher notes, "if you plan to stay here. I recommend preparing for superhuman conflict. Lots of shit happens in this shithole."

Duncan MacLeod has posed:
     There's something to be said for straight forward at least. Since all the little peoples still hide under the tables there is no real smart choice for pushing this any furthur. How many other of his kind would try their luck with the Marine war machine? Instead he pauses at the talk of superhuman conflict. He considers that and marks it for another time,"Thanks for the tip." He starts to back out of the place and turns to go back to the car and get lost before the police arrives. Not because he has anything to hide, but he doesn't really seem to want to deal with that sort of issue tonight either.

Punisher has posed:
"Good luck." Punisher gives in goodbye.

Moments later, he's disappeared into the doorway, intending to go back to his perch and observe.

Duncan MacLeod has posed:
     Getting into his rental Mustang Duncan mutters,"Scotland is starting to look better and better." He starts the car and heads out to the main road again. Whether he calls the cops now or not is anybody's guess, but he's starting to think most of the New Yorkers are out of their minds. Connor warned him about them once before. There will be an "I told you" conversation.