4285/About that Offer...

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About that Offer...
Date of Scene: 16 April 2018
Location: Unknown
Synopsis: Summary needed
Cast of Characters: Loki, Svetlana Kuznetsov




Loki has posed:
    Two straight days of raining have taken their toll on the old brownstone building in Greenwich. It's not just the steady patter of droplets upon the window and those long rivulets that trickle their way down those subtle imperfections in the glass. It's perhaps more the palpable way the water's falling causes what little light comes in through the window to be heavy with shadows and for those shadows to dance with each twist of the rainfall there.
    In some ways the lighting lends itself to the serene, and the plink-plink-plink of a single drop falling into a nearby plastic bucket seems to go well with the white noise of the droplets pattering outside. But to some people, at times, it's difficult for them to pick up on the positive angles to such moments. Especially if they have an instinctive dislike for foul weather due to their brother's efforts in the past.
    Standing near the window, the man who calls himself Sam Gwydion frowns with arms folded over his chest. A finger taps upon his bicep, his eyes narrowed a touch as he considers breaking character for just a moment if only to cause the rain's fall to at least fall elsewhere. But no...
    That would be cheating and the rules of the game don't allow that.

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
    The phone rings, breaking the man's dark reverie. Lana has had plenty of time to consider her previous conversation with the man, of course. She's a lot more sure of herself now, both who she is and what she's capable of.

    When he answers the voice at the other end is familiar, as well as the Russian accent. Every syllable is deliberately chewed as it's pronounced, as if the speaker is focusing on accuracy. "Good morning, Mister Gwydion. This is Svetlana Kunetsov. We met some time ago in the park and you gave me your card. I was wondering if you are available to meet today."

    What she's not telling him is that she is standing in the doorway downstairs already.

Loki has posed:
    With the phone in hand he spends only a brief moment on the silence it's needed to recall the name and to conjure forth the young woman's image to his mind. His eyes widen slightly as he answers, "Assuredly." He says, then perhaps shifts gears as he says, "Well. I may be a touch engaged later this afternoon. But I can spare some time to speak with you."
    She'll hear the faint shuffle of steps as the man moves back towards the window, the sound of rainfall growing subtly in the background noise from his phone, but it could just come across as perhaps static or some other white noise.
    "If you have the address at hand feel free to wander by." A fingertip taps on the receiver then he touches a hand to the slats of the shades, opening them further and causing some slivers of light to enter the room. He adds, "I'd recommend you bring an umbrella."

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
    "Da. I have already an umbrella." the young woman replies. "I am on your street and close. Will see you shortly." Lana pushes the red button on her smartphone, and takes a few minutes to finish her coffee. For the most part she doesn't much -like- American coffee, although she makes an exception for Starbuck's.

    Throwing the empty cup into the trash on the way inside, she shakes the rain from her umbrella and heads up the stairs to his office. She's dressed informally, jeans and a Rolling Stones tee along with leather boots and jacket. Unusually, she's wearing bright red lipstick and tastefully applied makeup today. A single knock, and then she steps inside.

Loki has posed:
    The stairwell that leads up to the office on the third floor is rather dark, with the only window to offer a hint of light is the skylight high above. All in all the super could definitely perhaps pay more attention to this particular property. Not that it's too dirty or untended to, more that it could just use a little more care. A little more dusting. And perhaps someone to air out the place.
    Once she reaches the third floor she'll pass by a few other doors, mostly accountants and insurance agents. But she'll find the Off World Investigations door unlocked and open for her, the name of the place stenciled on the glass of the windowed door. But when she gets inside... it's entirely different.
    There is no waiting area, nor a place for a receptionist. It seems almost like it was perhaps an old apartment that had been converted for the main dining and living room to form a large den. At one end of the den is a desk, and on either side of it are tall stacks of books on shelves as well as with a myriad of curios set up like so much brick a brack. It's warm at least, compared to the chill outside. And there's something homey to it, something that would be all the moreso homey if the fireplace was going. But for now it's not.
    When she enters the room she'll see the man at first assuredly, leaning over a kettle on a hot plate. He straightens up when she enters and offers her a greeting by lifting that kettle in her direction and saying, "Hello, Svetlana. Tea?"

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
    The young woman smiles at the offer, nodding her head. "Da. Tea would be nice, thank you." Lana is carrying a long umbrella and leans it against the door frame as she steps inside. Nevermind she just finished her coffee; it's polite to accept.

    "So this is what a Private Investigator's office looks like? I must admit that I wasn't sure what to expect. Since we last spoke I have been watching a lot of movies. I am trying to imagine you as Sam Spade, but you need blonde woman to roll your cigarettes for you."

    Lana's brows knit, then as she considers what she just said. "I have also noticed that not many Americans smoke. At least not as many as where I am from in Russia."

Loki has posed:
    A few steps are taken to the side so he can reach the mantle and takes down a cup and saucer to which he adds to the tray which rests next to the kettle. He gestures with one hand to one of the chairs near that small end table even as he settles down into the chair opposite, easing down and crossing a leg over his knee. His green eyes meet hers as he looks and offers a small smile then, "Well, if you want to roll mine you're welcome to." Though it's not too obvious that he's a smoker... though there is a curving ceramic flamingo next to his desk that looks like it could serve the role as an ashtray.
    "And no," He turns up the heat on the small hot plate next to him then looks back to her, "It's curious that for a supposedly free country they seem to take great pleasure in denying their people the freedom of choice."

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
    Lana settles in one of the offered chairs, sitting upright without touching the back. And yet she looks comfortable all the same. His smile is contagious, it seems, and she returns it with one of her own. "I have not smoked in a very long time." A long time? The girl can't be more than mid-20's.

    She considers him for a moment, apparently declining the offer to smoke. "You did not invite me here to be your 'Effie', as Sam Spade would call her, when you spoke of 'gainful employment'." Lana rests her elbows on the arms of the chair and watches his face while they talk.

Loki has posed:
    "I did not," Sam's eyes follow hers and the way they seem to accentuate that smile, it's almost as if he were entirely intrigued with her in that moment, even as she offered him only the smallest inroads into her thoughts. He lets the corner of his mouth turn upwards a touch more even as one eyebrow lifts in perfect counterpoint. "To be fair I had entertained the idea of engaging your services due to your... facility in handling the young man who sought to do us ill that evening."
    The kettle begins to whistle, the trill growing slowly and then dying as he removes it from the heat. The hot water is poured into each cup, and he holds up a small pewter container that flips open with a twist of one hand. He ponders each particular flavor and settles on a darjeeling though he offers no statement towards the evidence of that. It's applied to the cups in any case and allowed to steep as he looks back towards her.
    "There are times when the people I meet wish to do me harm and I think it would be lovely if you would take the time to disagree with them on that matter. If you feel that is something you could perhaps see yourself doing."

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
    Lana quirks a dark brow at that, her smile tilting a bit. "So you would hire a girl to be your bodyguard?" she replies, apparently finding the thought to be amusing. The tea is offered and she makes her selection, choosing something Middle Eastern.

    She takes 2 sugars in her tea, stirring briskly before she continues. "I am not at all opposed to this, of course. My training is very suitable for such a role. But I am curious about you, and you are no doubt curious about me. When you talked about this country, you said 'they seem to take great pleasure in denying their people the freedom of choice.'..."

    Lana lets this hang for a moment, then adds. "This suggests to me that you are from somewhere else."

Loki has posed:
    "Well yes," For a moment that seems to take him aback, that first question she gives him. "I mean, you seem like you can handle yourself well enough. And if needs be I can always claim you're my charming girl Friday and others might not imagine you to be so terribly threatening. It would be like carrying a revolver in my pocket. But less obvious." His lip twitches slightly.
    "And yes, I do admit I am curious about you." He stirs some sugar into his own tea as well, the spoon clinking faintly upon the rim of the cup then it's withdrawn and set to the side. "But, to be fair, I am not exactly in a rush to discern those mysteries in full. It might be more enjoyable to take our time to learn of each other."
    There's a pause after he says that last, but then he adds on with a wry smile. "Unless, of course, you were the type of child who would sneak glimpses beneath the wrapping of her presents."
    That said he takes a sip of tea while listening to her observation of him. He nods in answer once she's finished. "Indeed, I am. I do have a touch of the Queen's English to me, South London if you must."

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
    Lana sips her tee, settling back into the chair a bit now. "South London." she repeats, nodding and filing that away. "I was taught how to fight by Spetsnaz instructors in Russia." Okay, so the Russia part is sort of a given. But Spetsnaz? That's Russian special forces.

    Apparently she knows this game, trading information one for one. "But my parents did not celebrate Christmas. I believe that is the metaphor you are using, yes? Tell me, Mister Gwydion, what do you mean by your 'charming girl Friday'? That reference I do not understand."

Loki has posed:
    Spetsnaz, now that causes both of his eyebrows to raise as that does indeed seem a thing worthy of following up on, but unlike her experience he doesn't mind allowing a particularly interesting gift to sit a little longer under the tree. Instead he answers her questions one after the other, at first with a nod.
    "Well, Christmas. Boxing Day. The Festival of Twelve Nights or what have you. Various winter celebrations shared." With that small bit of obscuring answer given he advances onto her next question. "Ah, as to that..." His smile grows as it seems he's pleased at the chance to elaborate on the history of such a phrase.
    "I believe..." He starts, scrunching up one eye, "It began with Defoe's novel, Robinson Crusoe. The character in it he named Friday was his manservant, his compatriot in his battles against the trials and tribulations of life." A sip of tea is taken and then he sets the cup down with a ceramic click. "But Girl Friday came about after..." His hands lift, fingers flaring faintly as if seeking the right words. "A movie with Cary Grant, titled 'His Girl Friday.' Which was about a man and the lengths he would go to preserve the companionship of his assistant whose help he found invaluable."
    He touches the lip of his cup, eyes dropping down to it, then peeking back up under his brow. "It's a bit of a comedy. Rather funny."

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
    Lana nods as he explains the various incarnations of Christmas, sipping her tea. "Robinson Crusoe. I will need to read this book." she declares. "He named his manservant after a day of the week...? Oh! But I like movies much better. And this Cary Grant, I have heard of him. I will watch."

    For a 20-something, the girl seems rather lacking in her pop-culture exposure, to be sure.

    "So you wish to hire me as your bodyguard, but I would be pretending to be your... Effie Friday. Is that close?"

Loki has posed:
    Again he flares his hands, as if is alright with allowing her to define the terms of the relationship. Which he is. But a moment later he murmurs with a smile, "Perhaps you can take some time and consider what sort of title you would prefer. But yes, I think someone to aid me with the more physically demanding aspects of my job would be very helpful for business."
    That said he leans to the side, resting his elbow upon the arm of the chair as he looks upon her with those green eyes. His lips part for a moment as he takes a breath, as if a thought occurred to him then. He voices it as he tells her, "The only thing I would ask of you, however, is if you might be perhaps fleeing some trouble or have some aspect of your past that might haunt you in your time with me."
    He holds up a hand as if to still any objection, "That is not to say that it would preclude the possibility of your employment. Simply that we would then perhaps be motivated to address whatever issue it may be."

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
    Lana shakes her head immediately at the question, then she takes another sip of her tea. "No. Any ghosts of my past are dead and gone, now." She's seen the video footage of the bunker where the SHIELD team found her, after all. Nope. Nothing but bodies.

    "I should probably tell you that I have friends who are in law enforcement. I think that's the best word for it." The girl looks thoughtful for a moment, then she puts her tea down on the desk. "I was part of a project in Russia to train people meeting certain criteria to be soldiers. The project was shut down and I was brought to New York. But I can promise you that no one from that project will be following me to cause trouble for you."

Loki has posed:
    "Ah, well, as to that." Sam leans forwards and shifts in his seat to the other side, weight upon his forearm as he continues to look upon her. "Pay that no nevermind, most of what I do is entirely legal so we should have no fear of it." That said he takes up his cup again and extends it towards her for a small toast as he adds. "To new beginnings, then." He offers.