Nosh an' business

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

The little pub was just the sort of place a man like Jack loved dealing his business in. It was small, with high-backed booths that offered some semblance of privacy, and the type of place where no one asked questions or looked at you twice. Jack was in a corner booth, bowler hat tipped down, leaning low over a steaming plate of fried fish and potatoes. He was wearing a gray shirt with a black vest and pants and a green tie hung loosely from round his neck. The man seated across from him was considerably less presentable; he was a large, thug type with ragged clothes and a sneer on his lips. He had no food in front of him, and was patiently watching Jack eat. "Trigger, the pressure's really on from Randall. You know he's workin' for Colt. We don't get him what he wants, we're gonna have troubles with 'er...and you know we don't want that."

Jack waved his hand to show how unconcerned he was and took a swig of his ale. "We're gonna get it, make no mistake. Why don't you stop your worryin', you're makin' me nervous. I called you down here 'cause I wanted you to take this..." Under the table, his foot slid a small package over to the other man's foot. "...over to Delaney. Make sure he pays you ever'thing this time, I'm not takin' any more IOUs from that arse." The thug glanced round the pub before smoothly reaching down to pick it up and pocket it. "If he doesn't have the money, you want I should rough him up a little bit?" Jack frowned, pushing his plate away and wiping his mouth with his napkin. "Cor, when've I ever wanted you to rough someone up? Nah, just don't give 'im the package. No pay, no deal." The other man stood and nodded at Jack before exiting the pub.

Jack tossed some money on the table before making his way to the bar with his mug. "Refill? He asked, holding it out to the bartender. Taking it from him, the bartender filled it with the same ale he'd been drinking. Jack tipped his hat as he took the cup back and slid a tip across the bar. "Much obliged." The bartender nodded and Jack swiveled on his stool, nursing the ale as he surveyed the pub. Not too many people out yet, but it was coming on towards dinnertime, and he expected there'd be a lot more coming in soon. He wouldn't leave just yet; he might miss something interesting.

[penny]

[OOC: This is Penny pre-stowaway =)]

Penny walked through the streets of Persephone, on her way to where her latest client was going to meet her. She wasn't very happy with the intel he had fed her on the place, as it was completely useless, and the faulty intel had greatly endangered her. She almost got caught, and that made Penny awfully cranky. Sure, she had stolen what he asked for, she always delivered after all. Yet she wasn't too pleased with Trigger giving her bad info on the place she had to burglarize.

When she entered the bar her eyes scanned the place until she saw Trigger sit in a booth, practically concealed from view. She saw him give a package to one of his cronies, and then walking over to the bar, probably to get a refill. Oh, Penny was going to give him a refill alright.

"Trigger!" Penny said, near yelling. "You Ung jeong jia Ching Jien Soh! That's the last time you've put me in danger like that, dohn mah??? This is the ruttin' third time the info on the place was luh suh! I don't know why I keep doin' jobs for you To Mah Duh!"

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Ung jeong jia Ching Jien Soh: Filthy fornicator of livestock
dohn mah?: understand?
luh suh: garbage
To Mah Duh: Dammit!

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

Just as Jack was wondering about how interesting the night was going to get, it got a lot more interesting than he could have wanted. A veritable tornado of cursing and blonde hair swept towards him, giving no mind to keeping things quiet or being nonchalant. A few people spared her a glance, but went quickly back to their own meals. One of the reasons Jack liked this pub. Bloody wonder the cossacks hadn't picked her up yet, advertising her work as she was. If he were the type of crime lord he envisioned himself to be, the successful type that everyone respected, he'd strike her down for even daring to raise her voice at him or to call him a name. But, thankfully for Penny, he wasn't that type of criminal. Perhaps that was why she kept looking for jobs from him.

He spread his arms wide in a welcoming gesture, a saucy grin widening his lips as she came towards him. "Penny, luv! Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" Rapping his knuckles on the bar, he nodded at the bartender. "Anything she wants, hear?" When he slid some coin across to the man, the bartender turned to Penny as she walked up. "What'll it be? His treat." He wagged his thumb at Jack, who grinned and sipped his ale. "What's the fuss all about, luv? I got faith in you, seein' as how you always deliver. Who else could I trust to send to these places? Where else am I gonna find someone so clever and daring as you?" Boy, he was laying it on thick. But that was how he operated. Flattery and charm had always worked better than flinging insults and waving the gun at his hip around.

She was right to be angry, though. If there was one thing Jack was bad at, it was crime. He had the luck of the Gods of Earth-that-was, and somehow everything always turned out, but not without considerable danger and a good bit of finesse. It was very likely he had given her bad information, but there was no way he would ever admit that. He waited for her to order her drink before continuing. "Well? I expect you've good news for me, else you wouldn't've come in just to yell at me." Winking cheekily at her, he raised his mug to his lips for another pull at the amber liquid within.

[penny]

Penny wasn't the least bit afraid of Jack. It wasn't a big secret that he couldn't shoot a gun to save his life, and there were rumors as well that he gave the name "Trigger" to himself. He was just smalltime, but compared to working for Minerva Colt, doing jobs for Jack seemed more like a hobby. That's, if everything went smooth.

She gave Jack the chance to suck up to her, as usual. And when he offered to pay for her drinks, she let out an annoyed grunt and sat on the barstool next to him.

"Vodka with cranberry juice and two shots of tequila." Penny ordered. "And don't forget the lime and salt!"

She opened her satchel bag and took out the object she had stolen for Jack. It was windled in cloth, and the contours of it would suggest that it was some kind of weapon. It was a laserweapon, and Penny had overheard some of the guards talking about it. It belonged to a man who used it to shoot up a brothel, killed a former Companion who owned the place, and then got executed himself by one of the whores. Somehow the weapon had made its way to Persephone. She was handing it to Jack but then quickly retracted the weapon halfway.

"I want my regular fee, and twenty percent of what you make of this thing instead of the usual ten." Penny said. "I figure I deserve a bit extra since people were actually shootin' at me this time."

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

Penny sat beside him and ordered a lot of alcohol for a woman her size. He hoped she wouldn't try to take the two shots all at once; holding one's drink had never been an impressive feat to Jack. "Gettin' an early start, eh luv?" He asked mildy, raising an eyebrow. She also asked for limes, and as fresh fruit was always a little hard to come by, Jack shoved a little bit more coin across the bar to cover it. It was no matter to him; the object he'd sent Penny to get was tenfold more valuable to him than the cost of a few drinks and a couple of limes.

Setting his drink on the bar, he cocked his head as she took out the cloth-swaddled object. It certainly looked to be the right shape and size of the weapon he'd sent her to retrieve, but he obviously couldn't be sure since he couldn't see it. He took off his hat and tossed it lightly on the counter beside him. As she held it out, he reached for the object, but she pulled her arm back and gave him conditions. A stormcloud passed over his face as she made her demands, quick as a flash and then gone, leaving his features passive and unreadable.

Jack may have been one of the kindest, most charming and bumbling of the bosses to employ petty criminals, but he did not like being taken advantage of. Acting nonchalant, he slid out a pair of crimson fingerless gloves from his pockets and pulled them on, flexing his fingers before speaking. "Let's get one thing straight 'ere, Penny. I'm not some business owner, an' you're not gettin' any insurance from me. You took the job knowin' full well what you were goin' after. Far be it from me to explain to you the life o' crime isn't all sunshine an' daisies; even if I gave you bad intel, you know no job I give ya is gonna be a walk in the bloody park."

His voice was calm, no venom or anger in it as he raised his sharp eyes to meet hers. "You did the job, then come in here yellin' my name and advertisin' that you did work for me, pull the package out in front of everyone jus' in case they didn't quite get the picture of what it was we're doin' here, and now you're demanding more money from me?" Before she could have a chance to respond, he leaned forward and laced his fingers together. "I'll give you the twenty percent this time, but I don't want you thinkin' you can pull this shyte if you do me another job. I'll work harder to get you the intel you need, and we'll go back to the usual cut. You're one o' the best I got." This wasn't strictly true, but flirtation and flattery were Jack's trademarks and he didn't want to lose Penny. She had style with what she did, even if she lacked in discretion.

His lips suddenly spread in a large, disarming smile, back to his usual charming self. "Incidentally, I'm glad you didn't get shot. Does the 'verse good to have a pretty face like yours in it. He winked roguishly. "I'll be wantin' to actually see the package before the coin changes hands, mind. Shiny?" Without waiting for an answer, his practiced fingers deftly counted out the twenty percent as well as the money for the job from a secret pocket sewn into his left glove. He already had a buyer for this particular item, Randall working for Colt, and the price was already settled, so he felt confident enough giving Penny her cut pre-sale. Colt never went cold on her end of a deal. Flipping his hat into his lap, he smoothly pinned the money he had just pulled from his glove to the inside of the hat. Jack then flipped the hat back up onto the bar and slid it over to her, but kept his fingers resting lightly on the brim. He cocked his head at her, wanting her to flip open to cloth so he could get just a quick glimpse of the package before he would let her take the money.

[penny]

Penny rolled her eyes and tilted her head to one side until Jack was done lecturing on how crime was done. All she could and wanted to hear however was blablabla.

When the bartender put the drinks she ordered in front of her, Penny immediately put some salt on her hand and licked it, then gulped down one shot of tequila and ended it sucking on a piece of lime.

Jack mentioned her 'advertising' her work, and doing business in front of everyone, but the reality was that no one really cared. This was Persephone after all, and apathy was something that one encountered daily.

"Relax, Jack." Penny said. "You grew up here as well, didn't ya? It's the best and the worst thing about Persephone: no one cares! Most people know what you and I are and the reality is they don't give a damn. Besides, Minerva controls this district and she makes sure the Feds don't come around here pokin' their noses."

When she saw that he was taking out the money, Penny gave Jack the package. She would've given him the package in good faith too if she didn't want something extra this time. She could live with the fact that it was a one time thing only. Other crime bosses like Minerva paid her a lot more than ten percent, but Penny had a thing for the underdog, this in this case being Jack.

"Don't worry about it happenin' again." Penny continued. "Just need a little extra this time anyway. Ripped my 'chute on a streetlight touchin' down, and silk is expensive."

Penny went over the same routine again with the tequila shot, but this time it was as if the shot tasted a bit more strong than the previous one. She let out a little inside cough as she sucked on the lime. She then put the lime down and washed down the tequila shot by sipping on her vodka with cranberry juice.

"You'll make a nice buck if you present that thing to Minerva." Penny said. "And if she's in a good mood you'll probably score some points with her as well. I overheard a guard sayin' that thing killed some Companion, so be sure to mention that as well."

Having said that, Penny took another drink from her vodka-cranberry mix. She waited for Jack to hand over her money so she could spend some at that very bar. She didn't have anything else planned for the day so she figured she could hang around a bit longer and get smashed. She had earned that much.

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

Jack could tell the girl wasn't listening, but as he was rather fond of the sound of his own voice, he just carried on with his short lecture. Penny took one of her shots, then shot some dry words his way. "No one may seem to care, but I do. Ya think I want Minerva knowing I'm doin' my business under her umbrella? I don't need her havin' somethin' else to hold over my head." He was uncharacteristically grumpy for a moment, sipping at his lager. The woman, Minerva, annoyed him with her air of superiority. He did not like doing business with her, and would avoid her completely if only she wasn't so powerful around the area he worked. It was better to deal with her than to make an enemy of her.

As Penny offered him the package, his easy smile slipped back across his lips and he slid it into one of his many roomy pockets. "Thank you, luv." He released the hat on the counter and nodded towards it, letting her take the money. If he could afford paying people the same amount as Minerva, he would be in a much more powerful position than he was. However, people dealed with him for a reason. While he paid less, because he earned less, he also offered a security most others did not even pretend to give. Never once had Jack strong-armed anyone, and he treated his people with more respect than they could hope to get elsewhere. Despite the illegal nature of his duties, and the fact that he was a bit unconventional in his methods, Jack was a decent person, and a lot of people were attracted to that.

As Penny took her second shot, Jack cocked his head and rubbed her back. "You plannin' on gettin' a little pissed, there, Penny?" She mentioned on how he should sweet-talk Minerva, and his nose wrinkled a bit in distaste as he lifted his drink once more. "That sounds less than appealin', though you may be speakin' a bit o' sense." He sweet-talked the people he hired to do jobs for him, but with the people who hired him he was all business. It was just his modus operandi. He nodded at the drink she was sucking on. "Vodka's a good drink, but I'm not much a fan o' the cranberry. Bet you'd like a sour. Ever try one?" It was a drink made with a liqueur and sweet-and-sour mix; not anywhere near as strong as what she was drinking, so she wouldn't end up on the floor, but it had enough alcohol in it to nurse along the buzz she surely had going by now.

[penny]

Penny's business was concluded for the day, and she didn't have anything else planned. So getting drunk on someone else's dime seemed like a very good idea. It would help her forget, if only for a few hours, that her brother was sentenced to life in prison right before he was to be released. His appeal was running, but Penny wasn't too optimistic about that. If the Alliance passed sentence, there was little one could do to revoke it. Even if like in Patrick's case you accidentally killed someone in self-defense.

She took another drink from her cranberry-vodka mix, and wondered for a moment how her brother was doing. When Jack asked her if she ever had amaretto-sour, she looked at him again without so much as hinting that her thoughts were with her brother.

"Hell Jack." Penny answered. "I've pretty much drank everything there is. Although I must admit amaretto-sour doesn't ring any bells. Not that I can remember though."

Penny knew that sometimes she drank too much for her own good, but what else was there to do on Persephone besides thieving and drinking? Things used to be different when Patrick and everyone else was around. After Patrick's arrest the old gang had pretty much disbanded: Barney Callahan got arrested and was forced into military duty, Kylie Grasan had joined up on her own, Kate Turner got killed in a bar shootout and she hadn't seen Rade Grasan ever since he started working on an interstellar transport.

Thinking about Rade Grasan made Penny wonder however: he too was a friend of Patrick and he had always been loyal to him. Maybe he would be willing to help Patrick breakout if his appeal would be denied. Also, Rade would be flying with a crew that might be willing to help her break Patrick out. Rade wasn't too keen on morality and it was likely he flew with people that weren't either. And even if they were, she had a lot of dough stashed at home.

She decided it would be best to start working on it immediately rather than to lose a day getting hammered. Getting to know what ship Rade was on would be easy, and if she was lucky she could get an estimation date on when that ship would arrive in port. If she was really lucky the ship would already be there.

Penny gulped down the last bit of her drink and jumped down the barstool. She buttoned her jacket halfway shut, so she'd still be able to reach for her knives, just in case.

"You know, gettin' hammered will have to wait." Penny said. "I think I'll be takin' a holiday, go off-world for a couple of weeks. I'll come by when I get back Jack, I'll be seein' ya!"

As she waited for Jack to respond to her goodbye, the sound of doors opening averted her look to the main entrance of the bar. By the look of things, Penny knew that there was going to be trouble.

[Minerva Colt]

Minerva had made quite the gamble investing in the Lenore crew. Normally she wouldn't have invested in a venture so risky, but she needed an able crew to do some dangerous jobs and with this investment she had the Lenore crew by the balls. If they got themselves killed when trying to free their friend she'd seize their ship as payment. If they succeeded however she'd have control of an able crew.

Still, Minerva wouldn't be Minerva if she wouldn't cover all of her bases. She needed someone to overlook her investment, but she was worried sending one of her own along with the crew of the Lenore would affect their morale and made them less efficient. And why send one of her own to die when she could hire someone else?

Along with her crew, Minerva was on her way to the pub where Trigger Briggs did business. The guy had only been a minor nuisance to her, and he paid tribute for doing business on her turf, so rubbing him out wasn't necessary... yet.

For this investment, she was going to hire Jack to keep an eye out on things. She chose Jack for two reasons. One, without him around she could find out what he was involved in, and maybe buy a few of his guys out. And second, if the Lenore crew failed she'd be rid of Jack as well leaving only Badger after Murdo Dunstan and Ash Fenix both met their end.

As usual, when Minerva and her boys arrived at the pub, she had two of her men go in first to see if all was clear. One of the reasons she had survived this long was because she was always prudent when entering an unknown place. And having bulletproof material sewn into her red and black leather outfit helped too.

When her men gave her the all clear, she entered and looked down upon the sailors that were just drinking, trying to drown their worries of their sorry lives. When her eyes found Trigger Briggs, she found with him another known face: Penny McAllister. Minerva knew that the young thief had other clients besides her, yet she wasn't too happy about that. She had asked Penny to join her outfit many times over, and with the money she paid her, it was a mystery why the girl insisted on staying freelance.

She approached the two elegantly, even though she wasn't wearing one of her usual dresses. She wasn't too fond of Jack, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to be courteous to him.

"Ah, Penelope! Monsieur Briggs!" Minerva greeted them. "What a pleasure to see you both!"

[OOC: played by Rade]

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

Penny admitted to drinking a vast variety of alcohol, and Jack just shrugged as he took another sip of his drink. It was running low, but he would not buy another. The hours were waning, and he had some more business to take care of on the other side of town before nightfall. "It's a bit too sweet for my tastes, but a lady such as yourself may like it." Penny seemed lost in her own thoughts, and Jack let her muse, sitting beside her in companionable silence as he nursed his lager along.

Suddenly, Penny was up and in a whirlwind of energy, just as she had been when she had come in. Spinning slightly on his barstool, he cocked an eyebrow at her as she spoke. "Bloody strange, you up an' takin' a holiday all of a sudden. There somethin' I should maybe know about?" He narrowed his eyes suspiciously, wondering why the girl had such a sudden urge to get off-planet, and whether it was something he should worry about. "Or are ya in some sort o' trouble?" His voice lowered with the last question, a rare look of concern softening his features.

Because he was so focused on Penny's behavior, Jack did not see the two thugs working for Minerva. It was doubtful he would have recognized them if he had, but he would have noticed that there were two strange men feeling the place out and at least would have had some type of warning as to what was to follow. Unfortunately, he did not notice them, or Minerva for that matter, until she called out his name. It was almost as if Penny's hasty attempt at an exit had foreshadowed the woman's arrival. Quickly arranging his face into his trademark nonchalance, Jack turned back to take his hat from the counter and set it back onto his head. He downed the rest of his lager in one large swig and finally turned to meet Minerva as she approached.

"Well 'ello there, Miss Colt. The pleasure's all ours, I'm sure," he said, touching the tips of his fingers to the brim of his hat. "To what do we owe this visit?" Jack politely asked, getting straight to the point. A woman like Minerva did not frequent places like this. She was obviously here to look for him, or Penny, or both. It was not often the woman came looking for him; she usually sent for him like he was one of her thugs or some errand boy, so the fact that she was here in his favorite pub unsettled him. However, his facial features and poise remained relaxed, the slight clenching of one gloved fist being the only sign that he was in the least bit agitated.

[Minerva Colt]

Minerva had no time for the usual pleasantries. The Lenore would be leaving soon and it was essential that Jack would arrive on Londinium before them if he accepted, otherwise he might miss them.

But before she said anything to Jack, she had to get rid of Penny. Sure, she admired the girl's thieving skills and her ability to get the job done, but Minerva didn't trust anyone and Penny was no exception, no matter how skilled or reliable she was. She dealt with other crime bosses too after all, and she probably just had business with Jack.

"Penelope dearest, would you mind excusing yourself while Jack and I discuss business?" Minerva asked politely, knowing the girl wasn't going to refuse. No one refused Minerva's requests after all.

"Yes miss Colt." The young thief replied. "Rightaway."

Penny nodded at Jack and then was off, making her way toward the docks, hoping to find what she was looking for.

"Wonderful girl." Minerva continued. "Obedient and never disappoints. Traits I admire. Shame she insists on staying freelance."

She then put one leg over the other, with the form of her perfectly shaped legs completely visible in her armored outfit, and the slight sigh of the leather barely hearable.

"I have a business proposal for you monsieur Briggs." Minerva said. "It is very profitable, but it would require a quick decision. Interested?"

OOC: Played by Rade

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

As Minerva sent Penny away, Jack marveled at how quickly the girl obeyed. So different from the usual, fiery girl he dealt with. He wasn't sure he liked the Penny that bowed before another's authority so easily. It wasn't like her, and it made Jack dislike Minerva even more. He tipped his hat at her, refusing to meet her eyes, and glanced back at Minerva as she left. He didn't really know what to say to Colt's words, since he'd never known her to be obedient and she had also just succeeded in disappointing him for the first time ever. "Freelance suits her," was all he offered. Minerva fussily crossed her legs and Jack inwardly lamented the fact that he'd finished his brew. Already he was tired of the woman's presence.

She offered a business opportunity, which he'd known was coming. He sat in silence for a moment, as if considering. The truth was, it wasn't exactly a proposal. He could no more refuse her than Penny could. Maybe even less so, because he was only useful to her when he did her bidding. Using one finger to push his hat back off his forehead a bit, he leaned closer to her, entwining his fingers. "I'm listening."

[Minerva Colt]

Minerva could tell Jack wasn't too pleased with her presence, but then again no one ever was. It was lonely at the top, and the fact that she managed to stay there was because she didn't have any friends, or didn't trust anyone. And she couldn't care less what some two-bit dealer like Jack Briggs thought of her. Everyone hated her, but more importantly; everyone feared her. And that was just the way she liked it.

She flipped back her hair, which was tied into a ponytail, as Jack told her that he was listening. She wouldn't expect any less. When she spoke, everyone listened. And those that wouldn't listen would end up dead, or with one less ear, given her mood.

Luckily for Jack, her mood was quite good today. Being on the streets looking down on the lower lifeforms did that for her. She felt no pity for them, because no one felt any pity for her when she was one of them as well. She climbed up all by herself, and considered those that couldn't weak and unworthy.

"I have invested money in a ship whose crew is about to embark on an interesting adventure." Minerva said. "I need someone to keep an eye on things, make sure my investment is well spent. And in case they fail, bring their ship back to me and if any of them survive, those too. Either way, you'll stay out of harm's way. Interested?"

OOC: played by Rade