5484/Fortune and Glory: Peeking Behind the Curtain

Fortune and Glory: Peeking Behind the Curtain
Date of Scene:	07 March 2021
Location:	Peruvian Restaurant in the Garment District
Synopsis:	Sara and Jovian investigate the Nazca cartel and Sara is hired as a hitman.
Cast of Characters:	Jovian Anderson, Sara Pezzini
Tinyplot:	Fortune and Glory

---

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, but he is. If someone wants to send you on a wild goose chase for millions, potentially hundreds of millions of dollars shouldnt you let it go? In a vacuum, Jovian might but the involvement of the Nazca Cartel in the lawyer earlier who TOLD him about the pending announcement and 'world wide affair of adventure' makes Jovian skeptical. He is formal law enforcement and thus a bit skeptical. He has used connections and good old fashioned detective work to find out where the Nazca cartel are operating in the city, since their prescence is hardly strong here, and called in a few favors to get help from anyone who can help him investigate what they are up to a bit mmore. Right now he is waiting for Grant and Sara at a streetlamp two blocks from the restaurant dressed in casual low profile clothing.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Hearing from a friend on the force of a 'favor' being called in by a former officer, Sara had no problems accepting the location and time for meeting up. The hour wasn't too late, but just after work, so she was still dressed in her standard NYPD required clothing. It was rare to hear mention of the Nazca Cartel in the city, but if they were taking the chance of being there, it was worth taking the chance to find out more about them and stop them before something happened.

Making her way on foot down the street, she walks casually yet to the trained eye, it is obvious she moves with a purpose. Upon spotting the location of the meeting, she only gives it a glance before moving to cross the street and meet up with the man there.

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson says, "Pleased to meet you, Jovian Anderson. Weight was liason to the Marshals for the NYPD and we worked together a lot. Did you have a chance to skim the profile I sent you?" He looks around for Grant, checking his watch. The cartel seems to have an uncanny understanding of probability and circumstance and he is suddenly worried Grant might have been 'waylaid.'"

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara Pezzini mutters something in Italian before switching back to English, "I'm afraid it was handed to me as I headed out the door, could only skim it on my way here." She continues to look around herself, gaging the distance of people, the movement of the cars, anything that might be suspicious to her trained eyes. She notes him looking at his watch and looking around, "I'm Sara Pezinni, NYPD detective, were you expecting others?"

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson says, "Maybe. Grant Ward, a SHIELD agent who specializes in undercover. The cartel knows me, and I seem to be a pet project. I had a doppleganger from another dimension pretending to be me, that seemed to know things including a certain safety deposit box that has somehow triggered a treasure hunt. Only two banks were robbed by people hired by the cartel at EXACTLY the time that my doppleganger did all this. Later, they just HAPPENED to be at the spot where another robbery took place. I admit, without Grant, my plan isn't set in stone. He specializes in undercover work and the cartel IS hiring magical muscle. Do you have undercover experience?"

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Offering a waggle of her hand, back and forth, Sara says plainly, "A little, though not as much as I would like." With the news that another was expected, and a SHIELD agent at that, she starts to focus more on the more shadowed locations where someone might be able to lurk or hover, possibly strike from. "Sounds like you've had a real raw deal with the Cartel, and a doppleganger, damn." Finally she looks back to him, "Do you have a number for this Ward, or are we thinking missing person?"

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson says, "I can't call it missing persons just because he is 30 minutes late, but I do know their recruiting thing has already started. If he hasnt shown up in a few hours we should definitely report it but my suspicion is they're using some kind of supernatural mojo to keep him from getting here....just the things I've read..." he holds up his hands, "to be fair I know THIS much" he holds his fingers barely apart, "about magic"

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Turning now, more to the side so she can watch the direction he can't, Sara nods a little. "I'm not that well versed in the magi either to be honest, only what I've heard or some reports that very well could all be speculation on the part of the officer writing it. It sounds like we need this Grant, or at least someone with more knowledge on magi."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson shrugs, "I asked for his expertise in undercover work, not magic. The cartel is recruiting muscle, not wizards. I am comfortable with you pretending to be a merc if you are. If not, the other option is sneaking in while they are having this meeting though that er...MAY be kind of illegal without a warrent. I just dont trust this whole 'treasure hunt for fortune and glory' they're doing. At the end of the day, they're still organized crime, not publisher's clearing house.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara Pezzini keeps herself in the side ways position, watching the roads and sidewalks as the talk, arms folded lightly across her chest. "I can play merc, though I will need a change of wardrobe to do it. I scream 'cop' dressed like this. When you want to do this, tonight? I can be ready in under fifteen if I go back to my car."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson says, "Do what you need to do," he smiles, "its either sneak in or wait for you to change. I am no master of disguise and **I** am their project so they will all know me on sight. I can wait here and keep watch"

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Another look up the street, then Sara looks back to him. "I'd prefer not to sneak in. I may think of them all as scum of the earth, but I'm not compromising my morales for them. I'll go change and be back in ten. Then you can tell me where I need to be to go get 'hired'."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson nods and waits, keeping a close eye on the place. He also texts Grant who seems to have simply had a series of minor inconvenient events prevent him from being able to arrive. It makes Jovian suspicous but not of Grant. Does the Cartel have control of fate?

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara Pezzini half jogs, half walks back up the street in the direction she came from. Just as promised however, she returns in ten minutes. Her hair has been pulled up into an annoyingly high ponytail on her head. She's wearing a pair of black BDU pants with a pair of combat books. A black tshirt, with perhaps a couple of small holes covers her chest and over that a black leather bikers cjacket. To spice it up, she's added eye liner and pale green eye shadow, some rouge on her cheeks, and brick red glossy lipstick. If she's carrying a weapon of some kind, it's not immediately obvious. "Did I time it right?" she breaths as she comes half jogging up.

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson nods, "I think so?" He has seen more than a dozen tough types walk into the restaurant and says, "I have a comm if you want to be able to speak to me in an earpiece. Else I can wait here in case you signal for back up. Hell, if I just walk in they might just watch me, just dont want you going in there alone." Of course HE can sneak in without a warrant and just might depending on her preferences

Sara Pezzini has posed:
So many 'tough' looking thugs, it's almost as if there was some sort of convention being held in that restaurant. "The comms a good idea, that way you can hear what's going on and maybe give me a little guidance if I start to fail in my mission to pretend I'm a merc who gives a fuck." Her eyes shift back to him. "Give me the comm, let me go in first, then if you want to follow by all means do so. Just not a good idea to arrive together, and don't worry, if things go south I'll do what I can to get you out of there. Yes I know, you can take care of yourself, no you won't be taking care of yourself alone this time."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson does just that and moves to the shadows, cloaking darkness around himself as soon as she moves in. He waits five minutes and then walks in after her. The bouncer at the door looks skeptical of Jovian at first but does not stop him and he is given a booth away from the private room that Sara is directed to. The room is full of would be mercs, some of whom look compotent, some who look like....not so compotent. A lawyer, the same one who spoke to Jovian before on the train comes out and smiles, "Welcome to dinner. I am sure you have all heard the basic terms, but do I need to repeat them?

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara Pezzini finds a good spot to lean, the heel of one boot against the wall, arms folded across her chest, as she states with a thick New Yorker accent, "Prob'ly a good idea, some a dese mooks don' look like dey have da memory capacity ta get past what dey had for lunch."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
The lawyer nods, "10K for the weekend, 2K now, 8K on finish. Odds are, you dont need to do anytihng. BUT you will be given a series of manilla envelopes. You are not to open them unless a certain text is sent. If the text isnt sent, throw the envolelope away. Do what is written on the paper. No questions. If you open the envelope without the text, you get no pay. If you dont do what the instructions on the envelope tell you, you get no pay. This is low risk work and the odds of combat are small. None of you would be here if you didnt already have some kind of a reputation for compotence.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara Pezzini shifts just a bit, smirking slightly. "Sounds good nuff," she comments, though her mind is already wondering just how they would know if the envelope was opened early. Text, so what if it was opened early, go do it. No text, open it and through it away anyway... but these are questions for another time. While others might be muttering or agreeing, she speaks very quietly so the comm will pick her up, 'Got anything you want to know about this part?"

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson thinks a few moments and shakes his head, "This isnt what I thought. I thought they were actually recruiting for the organization, this is just a dumbed down version of the same jobs they did before. Hire a guy to hire more guys with multiple distractions. They seem to be really good at that. Short of breaking in to the office, I'm...I don't know." He wishes he had a better mind for strategy.

The lawyer nods, and says, passing around a series of burner phones. "You will be texted the address of where to wait and where to find the envelope at midnight on Friday. Know this, if you accept the money, this is a binding contract. You can leave now and no ill will cross between the organization and yourselves. You won't be hired by us again but we wont care. Take the money....and do the job."

He pauses and smiles, "Or else."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara Pezzini has to take a moment as the lawyer is moving around, still speaking way quiet to the comm. "Information is information, I'll take the job, maybe we can gleen something from it." That said, when the lawyer comes to her, she accepts the phone with a smile.

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson has vague recollections from memories that aren't his own that this is a bad idea, but those memories are ignored for now. He wasn't in the secret service. He is not a body guard. Why would he ever have thought that? HE was ex-Marshal, not Sec-And it is done as she takes the money and the 2000 in crypto currency in the wallet on the phone. Apparently cold hard cash is electronic now.

Everyone takes the phones.

"Stay, dine at our expense or leave. Thank you for your time." He bows and walks out.

"This is weird," Jovian says as he orders a rice dish and a beer, speaking to seemingly nothing and no one.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Finding a table, Sara sits herself down for a cold coke and a small meal, of rice with fish. She keeps her back to the wall, near the door, just to be certain her escape routes are clear. To most it looks like she's muttering to herself as she says. "Everything about this is weird, but we need mor e information and this might give us that. Don't rush through your meal, but don't dawdle either. Once you've finished, you should probably head out."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
"No kidding, you see what I'm up against? These guys are weird, even for organized crime ...i'd say magic but my experience consists of exactly three encounters with it."

He carefully eats slowly, pacing himself, "I'm about half way through."

About 2/3rds of the thugs stay for the mean, and booze but about half of them quickly leave as they find out that no one is offering them more, and so they take the phones and leave. It's awkard silence for a while until a bald guy near Sara says, "So, new in town?"

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara Pezzini looks up from her meal to the man, looking him over both as a woman looking over a man and as a trained merc looking over a possible challenge. "Wha difference dat make?"

Jovian Anderson has posed:
The man shrugs, uncomfortable, "Dunno. Just haven't seen you before. Name's Drake."

The others near are smiling or looking appraisingly at the sitaution. Apparently they are equally cautious and curious. They also seem to like the free booze.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara Pezzini sits backs lightly, wiping her napkin across her mouth before dropping it on the table and standing up. She's not a short woman, though the man likely is taller, all the same she stands to look him more evenly in the eye. "I didn' come 'ere ta make friends, Drake. I came 'ere fer a job, an a meal. Don' take dis da wrong way, but tanks fer ya time, time ta fuck off."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
The others seem to nod approvingly, a few even eyeing Drake suspiciously. Jovian finishes his meal and heads out. He looks back at the office, tempted, but avoids it for now.

Drake seems even more nervous than he did but drinks more.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara Pezzini kicks the chair in to the table, leaving the rest of her meal sitting there, before turning to head for the door. "Nuff dis shit, got wha I came for."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
The others chuckle and as she stands there is a tap on her shoulder. One of the wait staff asks,"Would you be able to speak in the back with Mr Cala? He has a question for you?"

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara Pezzini pauses, looking at the person who touched her like she might just chew that hand right off their arm. She has no idea who Mr Cala is, but if he's in the back, he's got information. "Sure, jus don' touch me 'gain," she replies, waiting to hear from Jovian how much of a mistake agreeing to that was.

Jovian Anderson has posed:
The waiter nods, raising his hands and points to the office in the back.

Jovian says through the comm, "This is interesting. I'll keep quiet and listen."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Looking in the direction the waiter pointed, Sara shrugs slightly like it's no big deal she wanted to eat his hand, then turns to head toward the back. Every step she examines her surroundings, noting where windows are located, where all the doors are, even the location of bathrooms. Escape routes known, she knocks on the door once, then walks in... he wanted to see her, right?

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Inside, the Lawyer sits at a desk, with a large map of the city behind him showing several pinned locations with no immediate pattern. He bids her sit, "I found your handling of Drake effective. More so since you weren't on our invited list. Who are you?"

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara Pezzini laughs dryly, "Nice, no wonder he was so nervous. Names Lilith Crane," she extends her hand toward the man. "If ya don wan uninviteds, ya shouldn let so many dumb, thick necked thugs go wanderin inta a place at da same time. It was jus screamin fa me ta take a look, get da skinny an a job. Can always use da money."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson nods, "Pleased to meet you. And yes, the invitation was open. Local help was...used up recently. We have an opening for a sargeant. Someone to keep these idiots in line for a bit. How would you like to earn some extra cash?"

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara Pezzini oohs, rubbing her hands together as she licks her lips, "Really now, jus like dat? Hell yeah! If deres one ting I love more den random jobs, its bashin skulls of dumb mooks t'gether ta keep em in line. Question is, which of dem mooks out dere are ya serious 'bout, an which are expendable... an don' go tryin ta tell me none, cause I know how dis all works. Some 'er important, some ain't."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
"They are all expendable. As are you, but if you prove useful you are less expendable than they are. But the cartel pays its debts and we honor our terms. If they do as they are told, we will keep our word and pay them. If they don't....we'd like you to take care of them. Care to do some wetwork?

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara Pezzini goes from rubbing her hands together, to cracking her knuckles as she nods. "If dats da job, den da pay 'as gotta be good, so yeah, I'll do it. I like ya honesty, if ya'd told me I wasn' on dat expendable list, I'da walked out right now."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson says, "100K per whack." He leans back, not at all worried about whether she is wearing a wire, and come to think of it, she hasnt heard from Jovian since she went in the room. "And why not be anything but honest?" He smiles wryly."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Folding her arms back across her chest, Sara just nods, "Sometimes honesty costs, most got a ting fer lyin. Ya got anytin else ya need?" She holds the burner phone up, "Still got dis, dis da way ta contact me?" Yeah, not hearing Jovian, she needs to get out of this room, stat.

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Mr Cara nods, "Yes. You still have that" he smiles, and taps into his own phone, "You will find an extra 50K in funds. Be ready at midnight. With this lot, I expcet many will try to cheat us or sell us out

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara Pezzini nods once, unfolding her arms as she starts to walk toward the door. "I'll be waitin fer ya call," is offered over her shoulder as she opens the door, unless she is stopped of course. If she's not stopped, she will get into the other room and immediately sing quietly, "I think I'm alone now..."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson says, "queue 80's music here, I'm out front where we met. See you there. Let's go silent until we talk face to face." Jovian is a lot more nervous about these guys but glad she got out of there and he didnt need to assault the restaurant"

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara Pezzini makes her way through the back room, pausing to drop a tip on the table by her meal. It may be free, but she's not a cheapskate and waiters don't get paid much. That done, she moves back to the main room, and out the front door. She pauses to light a cigarette, not really smoking it but damn does she look like she is, and starts to talk toward the place they first met.

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson nods and smiles, "Glad that worked out. What happened?" He seems nervous but pleased the whole thing wasnt a total wash. "Tell me everything."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara Pezzini continues to 'smoke' her cigarette, pausing near him but not exactly by him. If someone were to be watching, it looked a lot like she paused to lean against the wall and smoke her cigarette away from any entrances where people might be. She speaks in a low voice, "I'm a hit man for the cartel apparently. It was an open invitation, but I think it's all a test to see how real Lilith Crane, that's me by the way, is. I'm not killing anyone, but I can get them off the streets and into a cell, which is as good as dead."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson says, "REALLY?" He seems shocked, "I've known FBI guys who had to work for years to get that. It's...yeah I think it might be a test after all. And dont blame you for not killing anyone. We'll need to think about this. I need to plan but thanks." He smiles"

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara Pezzini pulls the phone out for a moment, looking at it as she whispers, "Burn phone, orders will come through on it. They're feeling me out, no doubt about that. I can make it look good if I have to, make it look like whomever it supposed to be dead actually died, but we need more information and a plan before midnight."