9430/A Meeting at the Zoo

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A Meeting at the Zoo
Date of Scene: 04 October 2019
Location: Metropolis Zoo
Synopsis: Hammerhead and Cheetah make a deal while Ivory watches
Cast of Characters: Cheetah, Hammerhead, Ivory




Cheetah has posed:
The Metropolis Zoo is one of the oldest on the Eastern seaboard. During regular hours it is one of the most active tourist destinations in the city. We're well past regular hours now and the facility is apparently empty. In the dimly lit gloom one can hear the various nocturnal species vocalizing.

Tigers are largely nocturnal; however, on this night, they are strangely subdued. From their enclosure, which is a deep, fenced-in depression in the ground, two fine specimens sit as though at attention. They are watching a lone figure standing above them and near the tall, steel bars that surround their "den". To anyone approaching from behind (as they must) the figure's appearance is hidden from view by a trench coat and a stylish hat with a wide brim.

Hammerhead has posed:
Getting into the zoo was easy for Hammerhead, he had bought a all-day past. Staying in past closing hours however, was a whole different story. Thanks to help of his boys in the Wailing Banshees, who provided the head of security a cushy bribe in order to let Hammerhead and two pf the bikers stay "after-hours". By that, they meant they would let Hammer and his crew into the park via a maintnece entrance once the park closed and let them wander free, as long as the animals wern't harmed.

Hammerhead looked around the zoo as he approached the tiger encloser, it was much more peaceful at night, besides the sounds of noctornal animals going about their business. To his right, a muscualr biker was carrying an object covered in a towel. This object was why they were in the zoo tonight. One of Hammerhead's new contacts, some artifact smuggler in Athens recently got his hands on a statue and while not discolsing what it was, said it was extreamly valuable. This was proven true several days later after acquiring it when someone contacted Hammerhead asking about buying the thing, and Hammerhead never said no to an opportunity to make some money.

Hammerhead noticed the figure at the tiger exhibit and briskly walked up to it. Once he got close enogu, he pretended to start watching the tigers while saying," You da gal wantin to buy mah statue?" Meanwhile, the heavy biker sets the statue down carefully with a groan.

Ivory has posed:
Sometimes, there's an itch for Ivory, and that itch is just letting out the inner cat. And instead of just staying at home, they have opened their window to the fire escape and only then turned cat, making a stroll out into the city. First into the subway - odd how little people look down to see a white cat - and then swapped to a train to Metropolis, finally into the tram and then exiting at Metropolis Zoo. All for the low price of not a single penny and the gains of the occasinal petting from a kid or two. But now, with the onset of darkness, she had slipped into the zoo. Gates were not designed to keep out small animals like cats. And somehow, the white persian had managed to stay clean all the way from New York. Well, mostly. And now?

Well, the tiny white creature stalked the paths of the zoo, finally ending in the area where the tigers were silent. A moment those white ears swiveled around, hearing for sounds. Was that the cruncing of the gravel path under feet? The pink nose sniffles into the air, trying to pick up something. Tiger piss was the most prelevant in the area. Because the den down there was properly marked by its inhabitants. But was there something else? They had no idea, they never learned to distinguish such. But who was in the zoo after the night but the animals?! The small animal turned the head to the gravel sounds and then jumped away, into a shadow, eying the spot where it came from.

As Hammerhead's gang passed, they just started to follow them along. Who might they be?

Cheetah has posed:
"Ah! Mr. Hammerhead, I presume." The oddly purring voice came from the other side of the hat brim, which continued to obscure the speaker's face, as Hammerhead and his associates approached. The contralto quality of the voice clearly marked the figure as female. Her body language remained languid despite the proximity of such disreputable (and rather imposing) characters. Only the *very* modest and muffled sound of the wrapped statue making careful contact with the ground prompted her to stiffen slightly. Clearly, she attached some significance to the object.

"Let me see it." The woman tried her best to hide the naked condescension in her voice; that tattooed gorilla better not have chipped 'her' statue!

Hammerhead has posed:
Hammerhead nods upon hearing his name. He wasa about to ask a question but was interuppted by the buyer's suddenly stiffiend posture and her demand to see the statue. Hammerhead shrugs and walks towards the statue, rubbing his hands in anticipation as he did. He didn't really get a good look at the statue ever since it arrived in Metropolis, with his friend in Athens insisting he keep it wrapped up at all times. Once he got close to the statue, he gripped the green cloth wrapped around it and said with a grin," Behold, da statue of Hera the Greek Godess."

The cloth was suddenly yanked up, revealing a surprisngly intact statue of Hera made out of marbel. In fact, it's condition was nearl pristine, as if time never touched it. Hammerhead then turns to the buyer and says," Personally, i don't see what da big deal is. But, mah friend in Athens brought up dat Themyscara was bout to acquire it from da provate collector mah friend "collected" it from, so, it must be a big deal to somebody out there.

Ivory has posed:
The cat following to the meeting tilts the head, listening with those perky ears, swiveling as they follow from one to the other to listen. Nothing to see here, just a white little stray staring at them unblinkingly. Like all cats do, right? Because once upon a time humans revered cats as gods and the cats havn't forgotten, or so the late professor doctor (ten times!) sir pratchett had claimed. But what mattered was, that the little white cat eyed the exchange, she moved again, stopping at the base of the statue. The eyes turned away from the discussion while the ears kept on the talking one. Instead, they went up the white marble.

Muscles in the small beast tensed, and the next moment the amphore the greek statue was holding was pretty much covered by a floofy white cat, as the critter landed on it, clinging to the item and totally changing the message from a woman pouring out water or wine into a woman holding a cat in her arms.

Cheetah has posed:
Cheetah spun around to view the statute, the bottom of her coat twirled and lifted slightly as she did so. Her feline features were now in full view and one would have been forgiven for thinking she had recently escaped from one of the zoo's enclosures. Hammerhead and his crew had been around, though. They'd likely seen weirder things than a six-foot cat-woman in a trench coat buying stolen cultural artifacts at a zoo in the dead of night.

Avarice shone in Cheetah's green eyes as she bent and peered at the statue, "You've done very well, Mr. Hamm--!" Just then, the uninvited Persian kitty makes her grand entrance, alighting on the statue. How terribly inconvenient!

Cheetah made a face and spoke disapprovingly at the little animal, "Not now, dear, Mommy's busy." Her clawed hand moved in a gesture of dismissal. An odd expression passed over her brow, then, as though she had anticipated a different (and more immediate) response from the cat. Whatever thought passed through Cheetah's mind was quickly dismissed as she rose to her feet. The very careful biker had prompted ire for *very* carefully placing the statue down; the very careless cat was permitted to remain where she was: ruling atop the patron goddess of the Amazons. Fitting.

Cheetah removed her hat and her cat's eyes flit over to Hammerhead, "I trust the terms of our arrangement remain acceptable?"

Hammerhead has posed:
Hammerhead has seen weirder, but is still surprised by the fact that is cleint is a cat-woman. Once the persian cat alnds on the statue, Hammerhead does something unexpected, he lands over and scratches it behind the ears. After doiing so, he turns to Cheetah, a grin on his face as he says," Yep, da deal still stands as it is."

Ivory has posed:
The cat seemed to wince a moment as Cheetah starts to claw wave at it, asking her to... uh wait? The look was clearly confused as the ears jumped between the two. What was going on anyway? But then Hammerhead goes in to scritch them, and a moment later it purrs, one paw reaching for his arm to keep him from leaving. Dang, why must scritching feel good?

Cheetah has posed:
Cheetah snapped her fingers imperiously. The meeting had been taking place under the glow of a nearby streetlamp -- many of them lined the courses and byways of the zoo. A darkened figure emerged near the penumbra of the light where the strength of the lamp gave way to the weight of the dark. As the shape moved silently closer and into the area of the zoo that was properly lit it revealed itself to be a cheetah. The animal carried a modestly sized Halliburton case in its mouth with the handle held between its teeth. It moved to Cheetah and opened its jaws to deposit the case into her outstretched hand. While Cheetah purred and rubbed the animal's neck it shot a side-long glance at the little Persian kitty. A late supper, perchance?

Cheetah (the woman, not the Acinonyx) lifted the case to one of Hammerhead's minions. "Feel free to count it, Mr. Hammerhead. You won't be disappointed. Quite the contrary. I shall have future need of your services and wouldn't wish to see our relationship marred by misunderstandings."

Hammerhead has posed:
Hammerhead eyes widened in surprise once a actual Cheetah showed up with the money. As the second biker, a shorter, more stocky man took the briefcase and started to count it, Hammerhead looked at Cheetah and said," So, ya wanna be a repeat customer eh? If da amout of money ya want for dis hunk of rock is what ya are really payin me, i would be more then willin to continue doing business with ya." He then turns towards the biker, who nods in conformation, all of the money was there. Hammerhead grins greedily and extends his hand towards Cheetah for a handshake.

Ivory has posed:
Noticing the biggest of the small cats and only member of the family acynonyx, the much smaller feline's ears flopped back, trying to convey the message that trying to eat it would be a painful idea. After all even a housecat has claws and teeth! The hand of Hammerhead retracted had turned the statue pretty much into a safe haven from the other cat. Nonononono. Can't get eaten!

Cheetah has posed:
Cheetah slipped her silky hand into Hammerhead's sealing the deal. "The pleasure was all mine, Mr. Hammerhead." Her stare then rained down an odd mix of greed, anticipation, and hate on the newly purchased statue. The white kitty's continued presence atop Hera was momentarily overlooked; however, Cheetah's fist grasped the spotted scruff her pet's neck tightly as if to say: don't get any ideas, nobody is eating anybody else!

Hammerhead has posed:
Hammerhead grunts and nods at Cheetah before saying," Enjoy yer statue miss. Hope to here from ya soon." He then snaps his fingers and begins to walk away, his two goons follwing behind him.

Ivory has posed:
With Cheetah taking care of her cheetah, the white cat jumps off the statue and flees back into the night, the deal sealed behind them. Man, why was a night visit to the zoo turning into witnessing a spotty woman dealing with shady guys for antic statues? It was clearly different though...