16153/Bounty Hunt

Bounty Hunt
Date of Scene:	29 March 2024
Location:	Private Office, the Blue Lady
Synopsis:	Thomas, Nick, and Harry meet to discuss the bounty.
Cast of Characters:	Thomas Raith, Phantasm (Drago), Harry Dresden

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Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith had left orders with Axe and Crush that Nick and Harry were to be shown straight up to his office without delay. He's already deactivated anything electronic such as Computers, TV's, his Scooby doo night light... And when the pair are shown in is drinking something that is definatly not iced tea.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Considering the nature of the phone call he had received. Nick's arrival to the Blue Lady was reasonably quick. He would have popped into the building directly but ....manners. So the sometimes figure of ill-omen popped in via shortcut to a nearby alley. Once he was certain no one was watching, he shifted back to his regular form and went around the corner to come in.

His attire was definitely not meant for performing a show tonight. Jeans, jacket. Presumedly a shirt under said jacket, gloves and a knitcap make up the ensemble. And judging from the bit of scruff to him, he may not have been fully awake when Thomas initially called.

Quite the turnaround really.

Once the musician makes his way to the office, he knocks the side of the open door before letting himself in.

Oh hey. No invite. And he don't care.

"So any explanation to why this asshole put out the list?"

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry is his usual grumbly self. He doesn't love having to drop everything, but apparently this is important enough. Thomas is a lot of things, but reactionary to anything other than females he isn't.

Harry nods to the man who shows him the way. Not that he doesn't know the way, but just letting the guy feel like he can do his job. No knocking, he opens the door and walking in. Somewhere in the back of his mind is the slight dread that he might walk in on Thomas and Faith doing less than standing and dressed behaviors. Fortunately, that isn't the case.

Thomas Raith has posed:
The White Courtier takes a long drink of very expensive scotch, refills his glass, and steps away from the personal wetbar, gesturing for the other two men to help themselves. He'd tried to explain to Harry the situation, but of course trying to call Harry on the telephone is often less useful then running a taunt string across town and talking into two tin cans. "Count Pablo Ortega has issued bounties. Allot of them. He dropped the list off with me, as a curtasy. Sent a lawyer to do it." He looks at the business card "Franklin DiMoony of Takk, DiMoony, and Rahn." He shoots the drink back and gestures to the paper on the desk. "Faith and Buffy are on there. Willow too. The Winchester Brothers. You Harry. Some other names I don't know. Faith seemed to think it was funny they were only offering Five grand for some guy named Xander Harris."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick nods, listening to the summary. "That's probably because Xander doesn't have any powers or super strength. Or magic..." He pauses, "That one seems less 'view him as a threat' and more of a personal attack." He pauses, "So... what did you guys do to piss him off so much? Kill one of his guys?"

Harry Dresden has posed:
Shanking his head, Harry mutters something under his breath before he says clearer,"The think about Ortega. He knows how to pick his enemies. The other names people you don't know or you don't know the other names on the list?" Harry asks,"Show me the list." Grumpy guy is giving way to try to see a pattern guy.

He glances to Nick and tells him,"Some of them decided to play with fire and it ended poorly." That sounds like a story,"In easier terms, we're still alive and an affront to his existence."

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith hands the list over to his brother. Nick and Thomas's own names are noticibly absent though others Harry might know are on there William and Georgia Bordon. Michael Carpenter. Prudence, Piper, Phoebe Halliwell. Paige Mathews. Macy Vaugh, Maggie and Melody Diaz. Almost all of them worth at least $1,000,000. Only Xander's name is less then five digits. ... Justine is $15,000.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
As Thomas hands the list over to Harry, Nick looks to the wizard to somewhat gauge his reaction. It's certainly a better option than him trying to look over the man's shoulder.

For one the height difference would make it very awkward.

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Ambitious tool isn't he?" Harry mutters darkly,"The Hallwell's are witches. Strong ones at that." he mutters,"A Knight of the Cross too. That will get all their attention. So Ortega really is begging for it. The Winchesters brothers I don't know well, but know they aren't to be taken lightly either."

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith nods casually to Harry's impression, gesturing for him to show the list to the other man as well. "I've made some descreet calls. Ortega is still in Mexico. Doubt he plans on coming here any time soon. He's just trying to make it so that your average gang bangers start taking random shots, and hoping someone somewhere gets lucky. You think it's gonna be the Joker that takes out Batman? It's gonna be some lucky motherfucker with a gun and a good shot."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick cracks a slight smile to the mention of the Winchesters. "I met Dean around the time I met Buffy. Seems a vampire stole his car to go looking for me. He didn't fare very well. Haven't met the brother though." He pauses, looking to Thomas, "...I thought you said Harry was involved with the accords. If the Red Court's involved too, how can he go about putting out contracts on other members without any consequences?"

Harry Dresden has posed:
"You know there is a thought..." he mutters to himself. Neither of them would have an idea what the thought is mind you, but a thought. He frowns thoughtfully and chases his own line of thinking for a minute.

Finally he mutters to Nick,"The Red Court is involved, but prove it. If they use puppets to do their bidding who will know? Just be mindful of...well everything really. For the time being. If it moves, it's a concern."

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith nods slightly, "Some coked up gang banger happens to shoot Harry on the street. A few hours later same coked up gang banger happens to have a million dollars appear in his bank account. What an amazing coincidence." Thomas says with obvious distaste. "And of course as the Scion of the White Court they can't put me on the list because it would be... bad manners." He says rolling his eyes and refilling his drink again. Not normally a drinker, but when he drinks he drinks /allot/.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick looks over to Harry to the warning. Frowning. Thomas said he wasn't on the list so of the three, he's got the least to worry about.

Well, with this situation. He's got other people to worry about.

"Are you suggesting a possible misdirect for something else entirely?"

Harry Dresden has posed:
A deeper frown and Harry muses,"Tell Faith we need to talk soon. I want to get a group together to deal with something that has been hanging over us. If we can deal with it and bring it in alive...I think I have a little presence for Ortega." he mutters.

"It is possible it is a misdirection, but it sounds like an axe to grind. Ortega needs to feel like he is important." Harry agrees,"Don't discount the idea he isn't up to something bigger, but mostly this feels like his ego needs stroked and he needs indirect attention."

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith nods. "Faith was here when the letter came. I think she went out to warn some of her own people." He says simply, "But yeah we'll all get the group together soome and see what to make of this." To Nick he adds, "If my father had made this list, i'd say look for the hidden move. The Red Court aren't nearly that subtle. Harry's right, this is Ortega stirring the pot. If someone takes one or two of us out? Great. If all he does is work us up into a lather? Also great.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"Hmm. Ok." Nick nods, "Although. How on earth did he come up with that particular list? If it was purely name recognition.... Why Xander?"

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Faith and I have to something else going and I want to discuss some ideas on how to wrangle of the lastest thing that bothers dreams." he comments,"Two birds. One stone. One serious screw you to Ortega for being a problem for us."

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith nods slightly to Harry. "I'll make sure it happens. In the mean time make sure Willow knows to be careful. I don't like how many Scoobies are on this list. Like Nick said, why is even Xander even on here except by association with Buffy and her crew.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick looks over to Harry curiously. "...So what's the problem? Are you having issues with another dream walker or something more demonic?"

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry nods to Thomas,"I think I have an idea the sort your girlfriend will enjoy. I will get Willow aware of what it happening. Just one more feather in her cap."

A shake of his head,"Some of the locals are having a similar dream. Last time it happened we got to meet a legendary monster or two. Chupacabra and the dogman. This looks to be worse."

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith nods slightly and taps a name on the list, "I'd rather neither of you bring it up with Faith, but Paige Mathews is the red head in my own dreams. Justine is on here too, and I thought she was already dead except Madeline showed me a photograph..." He pulls out a grainy polaroid of a girl who looks too young to be working a stripper pole, but definately is. "To be fair I figured my dear sweet cousin sent me there in the hopes I'd get eaten by the propritor... but now this... I just don't know."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick pauses. Giving a nod. "Ah... prophetic. Well, those just suck. Actually helping with something that also is involving one of those types of dreams" He pauses, "...Although I think we might be working on different things."

He pauses, looking over to Thomas, "...The one in that alternate reality dream?"

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Red heads will get you killed." Harry replies to Thomas. A funny thing to say considering his girlfriend carries that same red headed distinction,"Since Faith is as likely to kill the messenger as the culprit, I think you are safe." he suggests in regards to telling her anything.

He nods to Nick,"In a manner of speaking. They all had a very similar dream. Little difference, but overall the same. Faith, Molly, Sabrina, Cassie, Buffy, and now Raven. To say the least whoever this is likes to screw with powers way out of their depth."

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith nods slightly to Nick. "That's the one. Haven't had that dream in weeks, but it's still rather creepy as you might imagine." to Harry he raises an eyebrow, "So it's all women as well? Or is that just a coincidence do you think?" He asks calmly, though his eye twitches at some of those names.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"Just to be sure there's no overlap. Were there any mention of stones or cults in these dreams?" Nick wonders, "Either way, although I get the general sense that it'll never come to it, if you need my help with anything, you guys do have it."

Harry Dresden has posed:
"All women yes. All women that are connected to the mystical arts in one way or another." he explains,"Witches, Amazon, Slayers, and the like." He sighs and looks at the list one last time,"I should go find Willow so she's up on the situation. I will have her tell Buffy too. If I can reach the sisters or the brothers I will, but assume I don't see them so tell them too."

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith nods slightly, "I was planning on seeing Billy and Georgia latter this evening, I'll get them to put word out on the Paranet. Maybe get word out to some of these names that we don't recognize." He walks over to a powered down printer and pulls a sheet of paper out of the tray. Apprently having the forethought to print off a copy before harry came over. "I'm not going to bother telling either of you to be careful. Just for my own sake, don't die. funeral flowers are expensive as hell in this recession.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Taking the general hint that the conversation is ending, Nick cracks a slight smile. "You know I will." He assures Thomas, while stepping for the door. "I'm so cautious that people forget I exist." There's a chuckle before he looks over to Thomas, "But seriously, if you need my help with anything. You got my number."

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry takes the list of names and folds it, placing the paper into his duster pocket. He nods to them both,"Careful is over rated." he mutters. Still makes a few motions with his hand to wave off concern,"Thanks for the heads up. Maybe call next time and tell me Faith is pregnant. You know something really dangerous." With that he turns and heads for the door.

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith smiles and shakes his head pouring himself one more drink and trading grips with his friend and his brother. "I have to get my quarterly tax filings reported as well. I might fuck with the Red Court, but the IRS? Now that is truly evil."