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Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 3:34 pm
Manuel Rodriguez was not a happy man. Dark, impatient eyes swept down to the nonexistent watch on his hairy wrist, causing him to make an open sound of impatient irritation. Couldn't this helicopter go any faster? Of course, there wasn't a set time that they were supposed to arrive, but the portly Hispanic was eager to inspect the wares that were waiting at this so-called Island for him. Them. He mentally corrected himself, glancing at the woman sitting beside him within the steadily moving helicopter. She looked nice--but then again, she was supposed to. Manuel was all about first impressions, hence his own casual dress attire, and wouldn't hesitate to flaunt his wife's modest beauty if he thought it'd give him some sort of advantage in all of this.
He really did hate important business affairs.
Digging around in his pocket, the greasy-haired brunette pulled out a handkerchief, mopping messily at his face in preparation. They'd be landing soon--Mercedes was offered a short, foul-tempered glance as a warning while Manuel stuffed the sweaty handkerchief back into the dark depths of his pocket. He eased back in his seat, glancing idly out the window as though he'd just noticed the glorious view of the ocean--then absent-mindedly lifted a pudgy hand to tug at his mustache, betraying his real nervousness. The plan was simple; get the goods, check 'em out, and hop on another helicopter to get to Cuba. What could go wrong?
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Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 4:30 pm
Mercedes didn't like this; even if it was something she had gotten used to, she would never like it.
In her seat, the tall Spanish woman shifted with semi-hidden unease, masking it by adjusting her dress so not quite so much of her thigh was showing. It was one thing to want her to show a bit of leg for this unknown customer, and another to show off one of her hips. She wasn't so sure she wanted that much of a first impression. When she felt Manuel's eyes on her, though, her tanned fingers ceased their tugging, returning to her lap while she tried to fold them into her lap. This looks of serenity was not shared by her nerves; the way she hurriedly turned her head towards the window signalled that much. Mercedes hated heights.
No matter how inviting the island seemed, or how warm and clear the waters, she was getting a bad feeling. Perhaps it was because she feared that they would plummet towards it instead of landing, or maybe it was because she just didn't like the idea of meeting any of her husband's customers. Whatever the reason, she had to sink her teeth into her lower lip to keep herself from whining. Manuel knew what he was doing, and what was best for them. He would not be outfoxed by anything this customer was going to try and sell them just for inviting them to their island base and offering a safe trip over to Cuba. She was just going to have to bare it out until they could leave again and reach their true destination. At least then it might make Manuel a little less tense. Not likely, though.
Thinking of her spouse made her glance in the direction of the aforementioned man, just in time to get that baleful look of his. Mercedes didn't completely wilt from it, though she did unconsciously seem to draw her shoulders and attempt to make herself seem smaller. Her fingers slipped quickly down the very front of her dress, pulling free a small compact mirror from some hidden place to check her face. It looked alright, what with all the makeup she'd applied to it earlier. Folding it again but keeping it in her hands, she lowered her dark eyes and hid them beneath her lashes, silently promising she'd do her best not to embarrass him. Mostly for her own sake.
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Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 5:59 pm
As the helicopter touched down Moreau waited for the couple to get off of the vehicle. He was looking forward to this one actually. It seemed interesting to bring aboard a couple and see how the changes affected their relationship.
Of course there was more to it than that, most subjects were brought in because they would drop into his lap. As his contacts had explained, a couple running from the law, it made people easy to vanish.
He rubbed his head as he took a moment to compose himself, "Welcome to my Island, Senior and Seniorita Rodriguez."
Moreau gave a polite nod, and gestured to the jeep behind him which was still running. "Get in, we have things to discuss on the way."
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Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 7:24 pm
Manuel hauled himself to his feet as soon as the helicopter had steadied itself, not even bothering to spare a glance towards the big, silent man who had piloted. No, instead, in an apparent gesture of courtesy and affection, he offered his hand to Mercedes, offering to help her to her feet as an oily smile tugged at his lips. For all this, though, his dark, piggish eyes remained hard, and the gentle squeeze he offered was only to remind her of how important this was for both of them. For him. Tugging his twiggy spouse behind him, Manuel's face split into a wide, horrible grin at the sight of the redheaded man, releasing Mercedes so he could clasp his hands almost eagerly, "Hola Señor, a thousand thanks from my wife and I for your services..." He chuckled a little, casting his gaze to the jeep with more than a little suspicion, but wisely remained silent. Down to business already? Good--he wasn't here to mess around. "You've received my, ah, orders then, Señor?" The Hispanic was careful to not have too much of a whine in his tone, keeping it surprisingly smooth and pleasant, if faintly curious. One arm had offered itself again to Mercedes, but she was nothing more than an accessory in all of this.
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Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 8:24 pm
When the helicopter landed, it was all she could do not to tear up the seat beneath her with her freshly-manicured nails. Taking off, landing- it all made her so frantic for something to clutch onto. So when Manuel offered a hand, it was graciously taken, the woman struggling to quickly find balance on her high-heeled shoes. The squeeze was silently acknowledged, and she allowed herself to be pulled along while she worked to convince herself it was a gesture of comfort.
Without his help, she held the side of the compartment doors and eased herself to the ground, passing a minute glance to the pilot with her eyes only. She was certainly happy to be back on the ground, though the heels of her shoes sunk obnoxiously into the earth with each step. Only a soft smile a small nod was given to Moreau for his greeting, for Manuel seemed to be speaking for the both of them at the moment. Though she seemed shy, sliding closer to husband, her sienna-colored eyes discretely looked the redhead over, evaluating in her own way. The arm was accepted, the slender fingers of the closest hand looping around his plump forearm as she drew herself to his side. She was noticeably taller than him, and at the moment she didn't attempt to hide it. While the men talked, Mercedes played her part and tried to look somewhat radiant beneath the hot sun. As far as the jeep went, she was curious about it, but was ready to sit back down as soon as she could. As far as Moreau went... well, for the moment she was not so sure.
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Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 4:30 pm
"Ahhh of course, but there's been a problem, apparently the U.S. Coast Guard has taken an unwelcome interest. So you'll need to lay low here for just a little longer." Moreau attempted a reluctant smile. The type you'd see when someone was just trying to make the best of things.
Moreau gestured to the jeep, "I've made arrangements for you to stay here, in our little island community. It'll be a nice break, sun and sand, with no unwanted attention for you or your lovely wife."
"We'll see if things clear up shortly, hopefully they'll loose interest quickly. Then you can inspect the goods, package them up, and be on your merry way." Moreau shrugged again.
"Of course, being on an island in the Caribbean there is a matter of certain vaccinations." his eyes silently gleamed a bit in the warm sun.
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 1:53 am
Moreau might as well have slapped the Hispanic hard across the face: Manuel stopped dead, his eyes bulging a little with alarm. "Coast Guard?" He repeated, careful not to let his voice slip into a higher range. No need to act like it bothered him--though his hands were busy strangling one another. Manuel's suspicion had flared high for a minute, a trickle of sweat rolling down the back of his neck as he considered the fact that maybe these fools had turned him in, that this had been some sort of ploy...but then came the news of the island.
His broad shoulders eased considerably, and, in a flash, that oily grin had flickered back to his face to bare his yellow teeth. "Of course, of course! Couldn't hurt after such a long flight, eh?"" He chuckled, transferring an affectionate squeeze to Mercedes, quite pleased with how easy this was starting to be. Manuel was a happy man--and why not? Oh, there was always the risk of the Costal Guard finding them out, damn Americanos, but he wasn't thinking about that right now.
The grin on his face slipped a little at the mention of vaccinations, however. "Señor, is this place not safe from disease?" Manuel questioned, finally allowing his mistrust to break through and dampen the thrill of his success. The way the man had referred to the Caribbean though...Manuel was no expert on disease, and, after a moment, reached out to pull the jeep door open, absent-mindedly gesturing for his wife to get in. Dark eyes were riveted on the red head's face, suspicious, but not quite ready to pull out just yet.
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 4:52 pm
Coast Guard. An unpleasant trill had wrung its way up her spine at that, only shaking harder when Manuel stopped abruptly. There was no way they could have been found out! Right? The panic seemed to have suddenly fled from the man whose arm she held, still leaving her confused for a moment. An island retreat? It seemed almost too good to be true to the woman who was so used to be treated so cheaply, but inwardly, she did feel a bit of a thrill. Finally- somewhere that might be nice to walk, where she wouldn't have to worry about getting caught in any of the local gang wars. And also, she would not take her husband's good mood for granted, stroking her fingernails lightly through the coarse hair on his arm with the hand that held it. Maybe later, if she was good, he'd allow her out to wander for a while?
And of course, just as her luck would have it, the mood shifted again. True, though, there was reason to be unnerved. The woman gave a soft gasp at the mention of disease, again looking Moreau over only this time failing to hide her nervousness. For mere moments. At the gesturing, she quickly composed herself, and drew her dress accordingly so she wouldn't trip on it while she delicately slid into the jeep. She was also quick to slide away from the men as far as she could to situate herself, crossing one leg over the other then proceeding to avert her eyes. Not one thing had to be said- Manuel's dominance over her was quite clear. And though she didn't believe she had done anything wrong yet, she ticked her own actions over in her head for a moment while she waited, as well as prayed silently that this redhead didn't put her spouse into a lasting bad mood. She would feel it later.
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 9:51 pm
"Don't worry too much, we just have a strain of a rare disease to worry about. It wouldn't kill you... most likely..." Moreau mumbled. "But you wouldn't enjoy your time here, probably not straying far from the toilet."
"Of course, one simple vaccination and it won't even be an issue." Moreau attempted a smile and gestured to the jeep again. "If we can get going of course."
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Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 2:55 am
A rare strain of disease...Manuel mulled over that long and hard, weighing the risks. An unknown vaccination--or a disease that could kill him. He knew which one he'd choose. A tic had started in one of his pouchy cheeks, and, after a moment, he nodded to show his consent. Manuel got into the jeep, pulling the door shut behind him, one hand immediately fluttering down to mangle the fabric that was covering his knee. Things were still all right, eh? Nothing to be worried about...His oily gaze slid to Mercedes for a moment, evaluating her position and silence for a moment before he deemed himself satisfied.
"Niiiice walk on the beach'll do you some good, eh?" The Hispanic chuckled a little, reaching out to fondly stroke at one delicate shoulder. Yes, she'd been good this entire way so far--Manuel had no reason to keep her around. Of course, there was still the chance she'd slip up before this man turned them loose...but, until then, the broad man absent-mindedly planned on letting Mercedes do what she pleased, so long as she stayed nearby, just in case.
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Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:39 pm
Shots... She certainly didn't like needles. She disliked life-threatening diseases more, lucky for Moreau. Really though, it should have been evident from the beginning that she would be compliant just as soon as Manuel gave his ascent, and she had no intention of talking him out of it. Absently, she rubbed her hands up and down the sides of her arms in an almost pacifying manner, easily allowing the thought of dirty needles to drift far from his thoughts. Instead, they were replaced with more hopeful visions of the oceanside- these merely images that she had stored from commercials about remote beaches and postcards entertained into something bigger.
"Ai, si, amor." She said softly, in what might have seemed a hesitant whisper, making no indication as to whether or not the gesture comforted her. "Gracias..." As Moreau entered the jeep, she stared quietly at the back of his head, then elsewhere.
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Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 5:02 pm
Moreau looks back to make sure both of his passengers are secure then he pulls out of the helipad and down the paved road that lead to the labs. The deep jungle whizzes by, the path following many twists and turns. After only a bit of traveling the labs come into sight.
Impressive buildings, tall and uninform, with the large Feral Labs logo on the side, they are surrounded by the fence, with it's tall gates that opened as the jeep approached. Moreau looked back to see the reactions on his passenger's faces.
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Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 1:37 am
Needless to say, Manuel was more than a little impressed. Having settled pudgy hands on the tops of his thighs, he nodded in approval at the seemingly well-guarded buildings and gate. His eyes slithered over the logo for a moment, instinctively calling the name of the company to mind: Feral Labs. What they did, he didn't know--some sorta scientific research, eh? Why else would it be called a lab?
With a greasy smile, the Hispanic nodded his approval towards the red-head--realizing with a start that he didn't even know the man's name. "Forgive me Señor, was a long flight...What should I call you, eh?" A small, warning bell had gone off in his mind, and he wondered suspiciously if the other had kept his name hidden on purpose. But...another glance at the tidy buildings that loomed in their places was enough to put him at ease, and Manuel relaxed once more, content.
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Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:22 pm
While Manuel was feeling somewhat impressed, the woman in this small caravan was beginning to find herself very feint. A delicate hand fanned her face and base of her neck quietly, chest swelling with a small grasp. Oh, my, it was like some sort of small city! Right here, right in the middle of the jungle! An oxy-moron, if she ever had seen one, surely. But those gates... As they slid past those large gates, her eyes darkened in a small sign of discomfort. The fence wasn't something for privacy, was it? After all, they were one a remote island near Cuba, so it was hard to approach without calling attention to one self. So if it wasn't a privacy fence then... protection?
Wild animals was one thing; wild animals that were likely to wander in and maul you were another. Mercedes was worried again, glancing back into the jungle from whence they came as if expecting to find something particularly nasty following them. She almost missed the exchange between Manuel and Moreau, and yet somehow, she'd caught the tail of the other Hispanic's question and managed to put together things her own way. So. Manuel had gotten into this without even knowing this mysterious benefactor's name? She valiantly kept her vision from him, for she knew she'd betray her worry of him with it. That'd probably get her in trouble- he seemed to know what he was doing.
Ah, her poor heart. How she did silently wish to get these shots and formalities over with so she could be dismissed for time to relax in the new environment.
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 4:09 pm
Moreau stepped out of the jeep, and in a chilvarious manner he opened the door on Mercedes; side. "My representative didn't give that to you?" Moreau said with a smirk and directed his attention to Manuel. "My apologies."
"I am Dr. Nicholas Moreau. CEO of Feral Labs, my family company." he smiled a bit more, his own personal arrogence showing through. "If you'll just step this way though I'll show you inside."
Moreau looked over the two. He'd developed quite the thing for tall women and obviously Mercades was not unattractive. Perhaps a bit too ragged for his tastes, besides, he had Aubrey. Still, he couldn't help but notice her.
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