15164/RoT: Recruiting the Circus

RoT: Recruiting the Circus
Date of Scene:	17 June 2023
Location:	Sister Margaret's School for Wayward Girls
Synopsis:	The Recruiter hires Maynard Tiboldt and his circus to commit a theft.
Cast of Characters:	Stephanie Brown, Maynard Tiboldt

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Stephanie Brown has posed:
The note had been left after one of the performances with one of Maynard's more trusted members of the circus. It was just a simple card, with "Recruiter" on one side, and a note on the back:

Have need for your troupe. Will make it worth your while. Meet Sat, 6pm, <address>.

The address in the Bronx turns out to have a plaque outside that lists it as being Sister Margaret's School for Wayward Girls. But watching two bikers walk in suggests there is probably more to the place than meets the eye, even if Maynard isn't familiar with the mercenary bar.

Inside the crowd is just starting to gather for the evening. Weasel is behind the bar, regaling a regular with a story while he polishes a glass.

Of across the room, a man whose black suit looks out of place sits waiting in a corner booth. He has dark hair, a receding hairline, and a face that looks like it couldn't decide between nondescript, and unpleasant. And somehow managed both.

Maynard Tiboldt has posed:
When Elliot "Crafty" Franklin came to Maynard with a note, surprise was one of many emotions that ran through his head. True, he was undoubtedly a criminal, but there was no way the general public knew of his activities. That meant someone had somehow figured out about the Circus? less-than-savory activities and wanted to hire him and his troupe for a job. This could either be very good or very bad. On the one hand, Maynard and his troupe always needed the money, which could pay quite a bit. On the other hand, this could be a trap that could lead him and his whole Circus to federal custody. After a night of deliberation with his troupe, he decided to take up the offer.

As the bar hidden within Sister Margaret's filled up four more patrons arrived in the bar. Maynard was in the front of the group, wearing a well-pressed suit that complemented his neatly groomed short black hair and mustache. To the left and right of him were an odd sight, two women who appeared to be twins were walking at either side of him, each wearing the traditional stylings of a Japanese Kabuki performer and, eerily enough, masks that hid their features, only showing porcelain faces. Trailing behind Maynard was a very tall, muscular, but not too muscular, man with shaggy red hair, a bushy mustache, and blue eyes fixed in a permanent scowl. The foursome made their way to the table and, as they got closer, the smell of cologne, delicate shampoo, and oddly enough, circus popcorn filled the air surrounding Maynard. Maynard stopped at the table and glared suspiciously at The Recruiter as he said,

?I take that you are the fellow that wants to hire me? I am Maynard Tiboldt, Ringmaster of my beautiful Circus. I hope you don?t mind the extra company, I still have my suspicions about you. Please, let me introduce you to ?Iron? Jake Baker and my lovely Kabuki Twins.?

Baker glared at the Recruiter while The Kabuki Twins bowed politely.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Over at the bar, Weasel looks up at the rather unusual sight. First it was the man in the suit, and now two Kabuki women and another guy in a suit. Though the scowling muscleman fits in with Weasel's normal clientele well enough. The bar owner looks to Buck there at the bar and says, "Ever get a feeling it's going to be one of those nights?"

Over at the booth in the corner, the other man in the suit lifts his eyes to gaze at the newcomers as they walk over to join him. "I don't mind at all. Whomever you are fine involving in discussions of a business opportunity. One best kept closer to the vest," he replies. The Recruiter's voice has a bit of a slick, oily sound to it. It goes right along with his appearance. "Please, have a seat," he says, gesturing to the booth. "I'm pleased that you came," he replies.

Maynard Tiboldt has posed:
Maynard grunts and nods at The Recruiter and sits down at the booth. The twins moved in to join him, but Maynard suddenly snaps his fingers and said something harsh in Japanese. The twins paused, then moved to the edge of the bar, eyeing everyone with their blank faces. They didn't seem like much, but the emitted the auras of someone you do not want to mess with. As the twins left Baker grunted and squeezed in next to Maynard. Baker growled and said to the Recruiter in a Cockney accent,

"I am warnin ya mate, any double cross and it'll be yer head!" As he said that Baker took out a rod of iron and bent it. Maynard suddenly placed a hand on Baker and said,

"Calm down Jake, let's hear the man out." Maynard then eyed Recruiter apologetically as he said," My apologies my good fellow. Baker is just tense after his companion Bruto got locked up. We're still trying to get him out of jail."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
The Recruiter's almost reptilian smile doesn't shift much at all in reaction to Baker's comments. Unflappable, some might call it. Or perhaps single-minded.

"Mister Tiboldt," The Recruiter says to Maynard. "Those that I represent is interested in obtaining a certain item from a home in an affluent section of New York. Something that needs to be acquired in a way it doesn't seem particularly targeted," he explains.

"They would like for you to acquire this item for them. In the guise of a crime spree within a multiple block area. You will be well rewarded for its retrieve. In addition, anything else of value that you and your cohorts might happen to acquire, you would of course be free to keep, or sell, or whatever else you wish to do with it. And there is quite a bit of value there," The Recruiter explains. "This needn't be a subtle act. In fact, the crime spree itself would work best as a diversion if it was quite overt. Make it appear the loss of the particular item was just one of many. Does this interest you?"

Maynard Tiboldt has posed:
Maynard paused for a bit, his brow furrowed in deep thought as he considered the offer. On one hand, they did need the money and they were planning on hitting New York for all it was worth eventually. One the other hand, planning a crime this soon could bring the law, and heroes, down on them all. Then again, the offer of substantial compensation plus being able to keep all they stole would make for a great haul. As Maynard began to grin he said,

"Well sir, I believe we have a deal. What do you need stolen and when do you need it buy. It takes quite a bit of work to organize a Circus performance you know."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
The Recruiter pulls out a piece of paper and pens a number on it, sliding it across the Maynard. "This will be your reward for acquiring the item. Of course, discretion on not sharing the true details of the matter is a requirement," he says.

If the amount seems pleasing to Maynard, The Recruiter passes over a sealed envelope. "The details on the object in question. Along with everything that is known about any security around it. Again, this need not be a quiet theft. And it should be as high profile as anything else so nothing about it stands out as unusual," he says, passing it across. "Here is a number to reach me at when the item is acquired. I look forward to hearing of your success," The Recruiter says to Maynard.