17160/Finding the Lost

Finding the Lost
Date of Scene:	11 February 2024
Location:	A coffee shop near Happy Harbor
Synopsis:	Caleb has a mob contract on him, and is visited by the assassin.
Cast of Characters:	Caleb Dykstra, Rose Wilson

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Caleb Dykstra has posed:
It's Sunday, and Caleb has taken some time to get out of Happy Harbor campus, and do some strolling around the city area along with Sheila, kid sister extraordinaire. Feels good to stretch legs, every now and then.

But, just like any day, what is a stroll without some actual stop point at your local coffee shop, and get yourself something to eat?

So they enter the coffee shop, and they sit on one of the booths, waiting for the waitress to come and tend to their order...

Rose Wilson has posed:
Rose Wilson always does her homework, at least she does when she is on a job. Admittedly she took this one mainly so that no one else would take it, and she has a general dislike for the mob. She has been watching Caleb for a little while, now, learning his routines and memorizing his regular stops. It would be easy to take a shot with a sniper rifle from across the street, but that is not only NOT her style, it would leave so many questions unanswered.

Caleb and Sheila stroll into the local coffee shop and see quite a few familiar faces. The waitress isn't one of them, however. The short, slender girl wears a polo with the shop's logo along with a nametag that reads simply 'Rose'. Long, white hair flows loosely and drapes partially over the eye patch on her left eye. She stands there, hip cocked and ready to scribble on the order pad.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"So, when're you going to tell me about your date?", the kid sister asks, "You've been grinning like an idiot all week."

"Yeah well, she's okay", Caleb keeps himself a little more reserved. "Real nice, actually."

Sheila listens, and holds for a few seconds for more details. And then she realizes she has to make the question, "Anyone from here...?"

Caleb chuckles, "Not even remotely." Cryptic, and everyone listening would know it.

"Okay, you wanna play that game... Fine by me!"

Caleb keeps his eyes on Sheila, studying her, and already assuming she's going to give him the sibling silent treatment. He looks at Rose the Waitress, and makes his order. "Morning. We'll have two grilled ham and cheese sandwiches. Coffee, black double sweet, and a cocoa with whipped cream...?" The last words are directed to Sheila for confirmation, who just nods. Silent treatment, indeed. The older brother ignores, and looks back to the waitress, "And a cocoa with whipped cream, please."

Rose Wilson has posed:
Rose Wilson scribbles quickly on the pad, glancing up often as she takes down the order. She has an apron around her waist with a pocket for the pad and pen, and that's where they go when she turns away with a smile. Without looking at the pad she repeats the order, rapid-fire, then nods. "I'll be right back with the coffee and cocoa."

It's just a minute or so before she returns, coffee and the doctored cocoa on a tray. Serving both, Rose leans the tray against the seat and slides into the booth with them. Her (mostly) pleasant demeanor changes, voice taking a lower tone and a bit of a rougher edge. "There's no tactful or easy way to say this, so you're going to get it straight, Caleb Dykstra." she begins. And no, he never even mentioned his name.

A look to Sheila, then back to him, and Rose adds. "You are in an awful lot of trouble and there are people willing to pay good money to see you dead." She shrugs, then. "Not a -huge- amount of money, but enough to make it worthwhile."

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"How considerate", Caleb replies, and his own voice drops the cheerfulness it was having.

Sheila's lack of experience betrays her some, that her eyes go wide and she starts to shift her position, but Caleb dissuades her with a look.

He leans back against the seat, pulling his elbows to rest them on the top of the seat, like he's actually... /relaxed/ about it. "How much they offering? A quarter mill?"

Rose Wilson has posed:
Rose Wilson tilts her head at that, full lips pulling into a wry smile. "Are you looking to counter? Because it doesn't work like that." Rose is good at reading people, and when Sheila reacts she also shakes her head slowly.

"I'm here to talk, so you can both relax. Yes, I picked up the contract, but not for the money. I have a strong dislike for the ones who offered, and I didn't want to see anyone else take it."

Her smile becomes almost mocking now.

Rose also keeps her hands on the table, although undoubtedly she is probably well armed. "I know you probably don't want to discuss this in front of your sister Sheila, but consider this an appraisal of the contract." She pauses, then adds. "In other words, I'm curious why someone would want you so very dead. Say as much or as little as you want, but know that I haven't made my decision yet."

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"No, I'm looking to spoon", Caleb says. "Maybe my date's coming over, so I'd like a seat all prepped up for her, just in case."

Sheila, obeying her brother, remains silent. But aware. There's training there - martial training, to boot.

"She knows what I did, and why we left Gotham." He smiles to her reassuringly. Then he looks at the yummy plates and drinks. "Am I to suppose the quality of the plates is... questionable?" He means poisoned.

"As for wanting me dead, that's simple", he says, "My performance evaluation, shall we say, had been dropping, and it culminated with government types showing up during an operation, who actually had already showed up at my doorstep. I knew I was dead if I stayed, and given how I had already gotten a few tips from some good people to bail, I took the leap of faith. Ta-daa!, I'm here, my family's alive, and I've had no small share of grief since."

Rose Wilson has posed:
Rose Wilson clucks her tongue, head tilting with an almost offended look. "Puh-lease... the food here is actually really good. And I don't work like that. I'll taste everything if you want, but I would be very offended." Her gaze flickers between brother and sister, hands remaining motionless on the table.

When he starts talking about government interference in an operation, Rose groans audibly and rolls her eyes. Or eye, rather. "Our tax dollars at work..." she snorts. "I've made my decision, then. I dislike the government only slightly less than I dislike your former employers and this wouldn't be the first time they've fucked something up." Rose slides out of the booth, then, slowly and carefully while keeping her hands within view. "I'm gonna sit on the contract a while until I decide how to handle it. In the mean time, you've just acquired a new shadow. You may see me, you may not." Rising, Rose unties her apron and removes her nametag. "Your meal is on me."

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"It was the one time they worked just fine", Caleb comments, "since it got me to pack up and leave for good."

Both siblings look at the one-eyed mercenary girl as she leaves. It's only when she's out that Sheila relaxes her guard, head dropping, "I-I think I'm gonna be sick..."

"Hey, hey", Caleb reassures, "It's alright, okay? We just need to keep our heads down." And prepare for the eventuality of Rose coming for them, though he doesn't say that; he'll whip something up for Sheila afterwards.

"Well, at least... Forewarned is forearmed?", Sheila asks after moments of silent consideration.

Caleb smiles as he reaches for his grilled sandwhich, "See? Now you're getting it, young Padawan."