8933/Hunting Party: The Contract

Hunting Party: The Contract
Date of Scene:	24 August 2019
Location:	Fred's Diner - Mutant Town
Synopsis:	Jamie Madrox offers Domino a job. He brings Armor. Because he owes Dom money still.
Cast of Characters:	Multiple Man, Armor, Domino

---

Multiple Man has posed:
He's only been back in town a week and already everything is going sideways. He should change his name to Sideways Man. Out there in the wild is a version of him wreaking bloody mayhem and sending him a postcard timeline of events. It's aggravating. With money to his name after a thoroughky successful gameshow scam, Jamie Madrox hit the old channels with some tempting offers sent toward Domino's haunts. A job offer. From the man who still owes her after saving his backside over in Houston

"Hungry? I'm starving. They still do breakfast so order whatever you want... " Jamie pauses, holding the door open for Hisako as he flicks his cigarette butt toward the street. "Hey, you're totally bulletproof, right?" He asks the you get Mutant before waving it off and entering the diner. Hanging his old overcoat at the door, Jame plops down into a booth and snatches up a dog eared menu. "Because I'm absolutely using you for your namesake, Hisako. Oh. Waffles."

Across the street, a Dupe watches from behind a newspaper. Seated at the bus stop. Dressed identically to Jamie. Like they do.

Armor has posed:
Hisako Ichiki does come on in after him. Invited out, despite school starting she still has interest in part time jobs and things. Technically with all her extra summer classes this year shoudln't be that hard. "I am bulletproof if I have my armor on," she explains softly, but "I don't keep it on all the time."

Domino has posed:
    Dubious. Dubious Domino is a few minutes after the two in entering. She had been waiting, watching as well until Jamie and his /friend/ entered. The pale mercenary is dressed in a bright blue silk blouse, opened just enough in the front to show off some assets, a pair of fitted jeans and combat boots round off the outfit as she works her sleeves up slowly while she approaches. Rolling them up slowly, Domino focuses on the figure of the cute little thing and then Jamie.

    "Robbing the cradle? I mean I wouldn't put it past you...Madrox," she says and presses a hand into the edge of your table and leans into it. Madrox gets to keep his side of the booth to himself and Domino lowers her back end down beside Hisako. "Hello. Scoot please." She's polite at least as she then lifts her feet, resting her boots beside Madrox. "I'd ask you to rub them but I think you might enjoy it too much." She turns her head towards Hisako. "Never trust him." Pause as she looks bad at Madrox. "Why is the kid here?"

Multiple Man has posed:
Jamie Madrox, dead set on establishing himself as a Mutant Town fixture once again, is hyper visible as always. That emerald green shirt, the odd design. The black M emblazoned over his right eye. Mutant. Out and vocally proud. Draping one arm over the cushioned backrest, Madrox lifts brows as Hisako joins him. "Good to know. If things look like they're going south? Suit up. I'm not having Sam try and kill me over a bullet hole in your-"

The door opens and in walks Domino. The Dupe across the street texting Jamie OG. He doesn't look back at her. Instead he lifts an arm to single them out. Which he's pretty sure he doesn't need to do. Buuuuut... he likes to show off. "Hey, hey, hey. I'm not that old, Neena." A look to Hisako and he smirks wryly. "Too bad that armor can't protect my sterling reputation, huh?"

Madrox chuckles. Shoulders shaking as he leans forward in the booth. Free hand smoothing his stubbly jaws. "Not a foot guy. More into weirder things these days. Escalation is a nightmare when you're like... twenty five people..." He waves it off and smiles wide. "She's my protection. I didn't know how pissed you were at me still. Hard to- Hey! I am Not that bad!"

Armor has posed:
Hisako Ichiki looks to each, folding her hands behind her back, her moves careful even if her outfit is casual. She nods to Domino. "I am graduating high school this year, and I am trained in combat by Wolverine." One of those things probably carries more weight than the other. "That Wolverine." She then looks to Madrox. "So why did you bring me along? What is going on that might get me shot?"

Domino has posed:
    "Nothing on this earth or likewise outside of it has been invented to help you with your reputation. I believe you tanked it a few dozen versions ago," Domino remarks. She has yet to look at a menu as she dusts her hands off together and glances to Hisako. "Ahhh yeah, I am familiar," the way she says familiar might mean something more but her head turns back to Madrox as the young one asks her question. "Why not answer the young lady eh? What are we doing that could get her shot and by proxy likely myself," she intones. The waitress heads over and Dom ticks a finger into the air. "Coffee," she remarks and then adds, "Family size fry with mayo on the side," she gets that out and then lowers her hand, waiting for others to order.

    "Madrox, it really depends on what version of you we are getting for it to be 'not that bad'. Which are we comparing it to?" That question is likely not going to be answered and Dom doesn't seem to mind either way.

Multiple Man has posed:
"Wolverine." Madrox repeats the name with a hint of both distaste and flat out respect. It's Logan. He gets it. "Jesus. I didn't know that." Madrox states with clear surprise as he looks Hisako up and down with a sharply raised eyebrow. He lurches back in the booth, back thumping into the old cushions. "Yeah. Got me beat." He says with an accepting shrug. Lifting both arms, he laces fingers together behind his head.

He doesn't answer either of the women at first. Instead, Jamie upnods the waitress. A pretty, middle aged woman with mousy brown hair and insectoid eyes. "Porkchop sandwich, two eggs over easy, hashbrowns, three waffles and keep the coffee coming as if my life depends on it." A wink, a little smile and Madrox returns to the task at hand. "Well. For one, Dom here my try to kick my ass inside out and I'd like to jump behind you and run before she can. For two? I want to hire -you-, Dom... to find one of my wayward Dupes. Hisako, I need to ensure that. Incase he hired his own big ass brute. This... this isn't the usual rodeo. This is a mess. One I can't clean up by myself. Pains me to admit that as it does to pay for the table but it is what it is. You know, that and if we all come back alive? Offer you jobs."

Armor has posed:
Hisako Ichiki raises herhands and rests them on the table. "Do you have rice? No? What is that? Mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes and um... some sort of meat that you serve with mashed potatoes." Then turning to the others again. "You do not control your clones, Jamie?"

Domino has posed:
    "It means the girl has balls," Domino's way of compliment to Hisako before she snorts, a lazy sound as she eye rolls. "I would kick your ass and can before you could cry for help." She runs a finger along the blouse neckline, rubbing the cloth between thumb and pointer finger to draw it far enough back to show the rig strap that hints at more without giving Jamie a show. He's "Not paid me yet," she inserts after his comment about paying for the table. "And you want me for another job."

    Her feet plant on the ground and she leans into the table towards him. "So you caused trouble by letting one of them...develope an independent personality," she rumbles and narrows her gaze. "How are you going to compensate me now? I do not take coffee and fries as adequate compensation for having to track down one of you. That costs extra because you annoy me."

Multiple Man has posed:
"Meatloaf." Jamie offers in way of help in Hisako's order. God, he's hungry. "And chicken fried steak. For me. Actually, just do the dinner and bring me a Coors too." Settled into the corner of the booth, Jamie leaves both hands behind his head. Always such a deceptively easy target. "Not really, Hisako. Usually we're all on the same page but sometimes... not so much. Kind of a new development, you know?"

A look to Domino and he smiles bright and too toothy. Jamie has one heck of a display of pearly whites and he knows it. "Giant girl balls indeed." Agreeing with the Mercenary at the table, his gaze following Domino's fingers on collar before a sigh. Clearing his throat, he brings eyes back up and hands front and center to clasp together atop the table.

"Long story short, the Dupe I left back on Muir Island decided to leave a Dupe in his place and run to Genosha. He sends me post cards every month or so. Very crude drawings. Not for children or people with heart conditions." Licking his lips, he pauses a moment. Looking between the two mutants before his shoulders rise and fall. Cocky smirk on his lips. "I, uh... won a gameshow a couple months back. No fries. Twenty grand to locate. Twenty more if you want to capture. Which could be a whole other can of worms. Genoshan laws and all."

Armor has posed:
Hisako Ichiki nods up to the woman "Chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes. And a coke. Yes, Pepsi is fine." Then turning to the others to speak quietly. " You... want us to find his location... on Genosha? And maybe go there to capture him? I... I'm not a tracker, Jamie. I'm a warrior. I would not know the first thing about finding your.... friend? Self?" Have to say, all the talk about her... qualities does bring a satisfied smirk on her face.

Domino has posed:
    "A gameshow...go figure. Not going to ask," Domino lifts her hands up palms facing him before she sits back and keeps her feet on the ground. Better keep your feet on the ground around Madrox. Her eyes flicker over towards Hisako as she smiles slowly, "That's where I come in, Little Wolf," she quips a bit and then sighs, rubbing at her face. "I want upfront payment this time, Madrox. Got it? Since you are flush it should not be a problem - unless of course you are lying which you very well could be."

    She looks up and around the establishment, a quick survey before her startling blue eyes return to Jamie. "You always have to make things interesting, don't you? One of your /charms/." Charms is sarcastic to the nth degree. "So then, got those postcards so the kid and I can look through em?"

Multiple Man has posed:
"Make that a double." Yes, he just ordered more for himself. The man is clearly ravenous. At Hisako's questions, he nods easily enough. As beverages are soon brought to the table, he leans forward for both his coffee and that beer. "Yup. Find him. Catch him. Don't kill him. Otherwise I end up in the lurch and nobody wants that, right?" A long sip off his coffee and then the beer, Madrox continues. "Yup, Neena said it. You, Hisako? You're what I want for the ace in the hole. Knowing me, Evil Jamie already set up a crew of heavies."

Jamie laughs and lifts his beer in cheers to Dom. "It was legal, I promise. Ethical? Ehhhhhh." Another sip and Jamie gestures with his already half empty beer bottle while talking. "Twenty five up front. Secondary fee is circumstantial." Again that smug smile. Punchable. "I am at least twenty percent charm. Well, this me is." That's when Jamie gestures to the Jamie across the street on the bus stop bench. Other Jamie upnods and salutes with a VERY smug smile! "Jamie Prime over there is like... at an even 60 percent charm. We've done the math."

At the request, Jamie knocks on the glass with the back of his knuckles. Jamie Prime crossing the street toward the diner. The sneaky bastard!

Domino has posed:
    "How many are you eating for this time, Madrox?" Dom has quips for every occasion and she has more than a few for Madrox himself. Quiet. Dom is quiet and then there is movement as her boot shifts when he is done making a spectacle. She thumps her foot down on his beneath the table if he's too busy gloating to catch it. "See, you did not make this clear. Twenty-five for each of us, fifty total with further pay AFTER the fact depending on how the job is done. You owe me," she makes it a point to say that weight weight just like the heel of her boot has on his foot if its there.

    "Further more we are talking business. The name is Domino. Madrox, the walking billboard for everyone including himself," she says and then glances over at Hisako as her boot is drawn back. "We should talk a bit. Tell me a bit more about what you can do." Domino is friendly actually when not faced with the likes of Madrox. Coffee is brought and she lifts her own, upending several sugar packets into it. She may look like a black coffee kinda girl but you would be wrong.

Armor has posed:
Hisako Ichiki shakes her head, sighing. When her food arrives, she will dig in though. Using that as an excuse to be silent, as she considers her options. "That's a lot of money. I... is it even SAFE to get to Genosha? But if you want to bring me along as a bullet shield, that's fine. But understand I don't have connections to do detective work." Then to Domino. "I'll show you what I can do, but not in here. I'm sure if we look outside a bit we'll find an appropriate criminal in the act."

Multiple Man has posed:
"Just the one. I'm Jamie's unchecked hunger." The Duplicate says so matter-of-factly that he may as well be commenting on the weather. As a waiter goes past with someone elses food, he huffs. "Ah, damn. Breakfast skillet. What was I thinking?"

The boot stomp under the table gets a jump from Madrox. It gets a jump AND Blip! Just like that, the impact given and recieved spawns another Duplicate. Now two Jamie Madrox...es? Madroxses? Madri? Screw it! There's now two looking back at Domino and Armor. The new Dupe lifting a hand and politely requesting an icr water with lime and ginger.

"Yeah, about that." says Jamie Prime as he walks through the door on his way to the booth. Sliding in, the Jamie's meld together in a dizzying display of oddity. Three men becoming one. He lifts the coffee mug for a sip. "Got a deal." He says calmly. Eyes flickibg between the two before he shrugs indifferently. "International law won't matter if you don't get caught. But... I could always talk up Lorna. See if she has an in for us."

Domino has posed:
    "Ugh," Domino says below her breath. She wets her lips and drinks her coffee as she watches the Jamies with wariness. Trust is a hard won thing form the mercenary. She turns her head to look at Hisako. "Jamie could play our criminal for expediencies sake," she smiles winningly but eye narrows as Prime slips in and all three rejoin. Making a face for a moment, an expression shifts and she smirks at whatever private though went through her head.

    "International law is not going to mean a damn thing. Because we won't get caught." Confidence oozes off Domino as she waits for her fries and then begins to dip them liberally into the mayo. Eyes close and she sighs long and low. "Alright Madrox. I'll do it."

Armor has posed:
Hisako Ichiki squints at these STRANGE goings on, shifting her hips and digging in to the food in front of her. "I'll go. But know that I'm only bulletproof if I'm armored. It won't take me long to finish this, we can go outside shortly to for the demonstration." And sure enough, once she's done she'll be prpeared to outside iwth the pair.

Multiple Man has posed:
Why go himself and risk a bullet to the head when he can send a Dupe? As memories start to meld, Jamie closes his eyes momentarily to ride the wave of experience. Eyes moving rapidly beneath the lids until they lazily open. "Alright. Now that I'm caught up... Ah, crap." He says with a shake of the head as two people are needed to bring all that food over. As it's all laid out, Jamie looks both intimidated and queesy. "Wouldn't be the first time I was put in cuffs. You know, when Charles found me? Middle of my first criminal record. Inciting a riot. Only I was the riot." He laughs softly at that before his humor is bludgeoned to death before his eyes. Dawning horror playing across his face as he watches Domino dip fries in mayo. "I'll give you two hundred dollars right now to use ketchup like a normal person. Jesus. Mayo? I didn't know you were Canadian. My condolences." He says with a bemused tone before another sip off his coffee.

"That's the spirit, Hisako. It'll be like a field trip. Ever been to Genosha? You're gonna love it. It's like Chicago. Or... not. I've never been." A pause. "Other than the me there right now. Right. So! Bullet proof. Super strength?"

Domino has posed:
    A soft sigh escapes Domino who does not really ever stop munching despite the disgusting display of body melding across the booth. As he works himself through memories, Dom watches with her striking blue eyes and eats another fry. When he begs her to use ketchup she lifts up the mayo and dips her finger into it, sampling the condiment without a vessel to carry it. "Mmmmmmm" she says and sets it back down before nodding to HIsako. "I trust you. Hard thing to get me to do but Logan and I go back. He's training you, you should have a good sense of where to stand and what to do."

    She is demolishing her fries. "I would pay you five thousand to eat all fo the food, Madrox."

Armor has posed:
Hisako Ichiki lets the rest finish eating as well, and then after mkaing sure the food is PAID for, by Jamie, she'll lead them out, and start looking around. "As soon as we see some street crime, I can show you. Or we can go to the airport. It's up to you two."

Multiple Man has posed:
Eyes widened though mild shock and apprehension, Madrox mouths the word 'Unclean' and makes a cross with two fingers at Domino as she savors the mayo. A shiver and he sets the coffee down to finish that beer his Dupe ordered. A glance at the bottle and he shakes his head. "I don't know what's worse, that somewhere in the back of my head I wanted a Coors or -you- torturing me with mayonaise. Special place in Mutant Hell for that. Right up there with people who put ketchup on hotdogs."

And just like that, Dom is trusting Hisako. A rapid glance between the two like he's watching a tennis match before he hears Dom out on the wager. "Five thousand if I eat all the food? DEAL." He near shouts before slapping himself in the face. BLINK and miss it. Another Madrox appears beside Jamie in the booth. He immediately pulls a plate close and starts whispering a prayer under his breath before eating. Before she can protest, he smacks his other cheek. Jamie Madrox turns around in the booth behind Jamie Madrox, reaches over Jamie OG's shoulder and takes the waffles.

A stupid grin plastetered on his red cheeked face, Jamie Prime shells out some cash for the table. Oh so proud of himself. "Armor is gonna give us a demo? This I have to see. Let's go get mugged. We look like helpless, inattentive tourists, right? Right."

Domino has posed:
    "You, not plural..." Domino is quick to add, holding up her finger. "Already forfeited." She eyes the other Madrox a moment - pointing that once mayo covered finger at him. Like some heretical digit that will ward him off. "Note to self..." she reaches for her mayo and begins to squeeze it out over all the food. There is a delighted grin at him as she rises up so Hisako can get out from around her and leans really close to Madrox. "You'd be a lot of fun..." pause. "If you weren't so God damned annoying." She shoves out of the booth then, downing her coffee and then following Hisako out.
r    The merc pushes the door aside and then folds her arms across her chest. "I got guns, though I am not fond of shooting kids."

Armor has posed:
Hisako Ichiki looks around, still looking every bit like the Japanese school girl she is, though not in uniform. That might be too much. She looks carefully. "Does that look suspicious to you?" she says, pointing across the street to a small group of young men.

Multiple Man has posed:
"You didn't say!" Jamie is just as fast with a rebutal and counter-pointed finger. The other Madrox pauses, eyes wide and fearful as he looks up from his plate at Domino. He's muttering a soft spoken appology as the Madrox behind them starts mocking the softer hearted Dupe. As she begins her ruinous assault on the food, Jamie OG fake dry heaves. Planting hands on the table edge, he moves to get up. "If I wasn't so goddamned annoying, I'd never get anything done. I'd be too busy having all the fun." A beat. "Or am I already?" A finger wiggling oOoOoooohhhh is given before he stands up on the seat to step over his Dupes.

Snatching his overcoat off a hook near the door, Jamie slips into it with practiced ease. Summer heat be damned. Image is important. Almost immediately sparking up a cigarette, Jamie lifts his head and shots across the street at the young toughs. "Hey! You! What are your thoughts on Mutants, gun control, politics, religion and or my relationships with your mothers?!" Thaaaaat should prime the pump, so to speak.

Domino has posed:
    "Well if there was not suspicious Madrox just because the catalyst for a 'I banged your mom' confrontation," Dom says eveningly arms still crossed over her chest as she waits to watch how this all unfolds. Though she does step a little to the side, pauses, seems to confirm and obviously has chosen her best vantage point to watch him get beaten up. "You know...Hisako. I think I understand how your powers work. Why not sit this out....Madrox has this." A slow grin spreads across her lips as she puts Madrox in the hot seat. She winks at the man with one bright blue eye.

Armor has posed:
Hisako Ichiki folds her arms and watches Jamie. This wasn't what she had in mind. So, when Domino makes her suggestion. Hisako purses her lips, and nods. "It would not be proper to call upon my ancestors to defend Jamie speaking of their ancestors that way." So, she sits, and waits.

Multiple Man has posed:
A drag off his cigarette is taken, he tells himself this is his last pack as both Domino and Hisako -immediately- leave him in the lurch. As three young men look back across the street and squint at them. "Oh, you two are the worst." Jamie says semi-quietly of his current companions. A glance over shoulder reveals his Dupes picking sadly at the mayo covered breakfast foods. One begins to sob into his hands. "Oh you have got to be... "

The larger of the three, a barrel bodied, squat youth with skin like cracked asphalt. The other two easy passing for Homo Sapien. "Nice try, Madrox! My mom says they should call you 'Minute Man' instead of 'Multiple Man'!"

Ash tumbles from his cigarette as it bobs loosely from his parted lips. "Should have settled down in Gotham. Dammit."

Domino has posed:
    "See, you are getting it," Domino compliments Hisako, appreciating at the girls stands side line with her to see what unfolds. There is a fiendish gleam in her eye as Madrox responds. "No, definitely not the worst. Incorrigible and opportunistic, at least for me. For all I know she's definitely got ancestors that don't like you." She ticks a thumb from where her arms cross over at Hisako before she nearly misses what the teen says.

    Domino goes utterly still and silent.

    What starts as a cough turns into a low snicker and then the Merc bites her lip. "I guess that answers any questions I have."

Armor has posed:
Hisako Ichiki blinks and shakes her head. "This is not what I Expected when I was asked to come on a mission. Are you done playing around, Jamie?" Arms still folded. "I thought you said this was important."

Multiple Man has posed:
The two friends of Asphalt Boy immediately start jumping around their buddy after he thoroughly scorches Madrox. Lips purse as he chews his tongue and considers the words. He simply holds up a hand, accepting the blow as the good one it was. "Alright, alright."

A drag off his smoke and Jamie offers the two women a plain smart phone each. Exhaling upward politely away from his company, Jamie lets the burn heal. "Tonight isn't the mission, Hisako. Next week. Gonna track down Lorna, see if she can get us in all quiet and proper. If the Princess can't do it, we'll do it the old fashioned way. Sound reasonable?"

Domino has posed:
    "Nothing wrong with the tried and true," Domino remarks about the old fashioned way as she turns the burner found over in her hand. She glances aside at the younger female in the mix and then slides the phone up, pulls open her blouse and makes it disappear like magic. Hands free. She steps towards Madrox, then takes another until she is right in his space. "You know the routing number. Make sure the money is there or I can keep hitting 'send to voicemail'." Domino glances up at the teenage boys and nods her head, appreciating the burn in silent acknowledgement.Her hand without looking smooths Madrox' shirt unless he opts to dodge out of her grasp - who would blame him.

    "Madrox." she says and takes a step back. "Armor? Little wolf...you,' she says to Hisako and offers a nod of her head. "See you in a week."