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 Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 5:58 pm
A modest dark green car pulled in front of the impressive mansion that this Maximilian called a laboratory. The driver circled slowly so as as not to kick up the dirt and gravel that paved their large drive way, finally coming to a stop beside another parked vehicle. Unbuckling his seat belt, the man relaxed back in his chair and glanced into the rear view mirror at his employer, silently waiting for her next move. She had requested no one to speak in the rental car, suspicious of surveillance or wire taps inside the vehicle.
Two large men, dark skinned and bald-headed, sat beside a tall woman with the same complexion. She pulled her dark woolen coat tightly across her chest in preparation for the weather outside. Coming from an island that rarely got lower than 70 degrees in the winter, the climate in Europe was something she was still getting used to.
"Caballeros..."
At the acknowledgment, the pair quickly opened their doors and exited the car, Pedro, the man to her right who held all his weight in his massive shoulders and chest, kept his door open so the woman could get out. She took the proffered hand and all 5'11" of her stood up on spike heels that shot her up past her imposing bodyguards. It ruined the illusion, but there were only so many men up for hired help, she couldn't pick them out like brothel whores.
The last car door closed and she looked back at the driver, making sure he was nice and contented where he sat. She had wanted to bring her personal chauffeur, but four Cubans in a car would probably raise some flags. Ofelia needed to remain under the radar which was why she was out in the middle of nowhere, so to speak, glad Maximilian had the same security interests as she.
It was... uncomfortably quiet up here.
Pedro leaned down in question. "Senorita Valez...?"
"Si, vayamos..." Taking the lead, Ofelia Valez swiftly ate up the distance between her and the mansion. The Cuban woman surveyed the archway of the door before finally pressing the red button of the intercom. It buzzed obnoxiously and then went silent. Waiting for a reply, she made sure she was presentable. For once she had opted for a discreet skirt, long and in her usual red tones she enjoyed. It fell right above her knees, her stark white blouse hidden by her tailored coat. Long fingers smoothed over straight black bangs before they brushed her beaded braids behind her narrow shoulders.
But after all her primping and shifting from one stiletto to the other, no one had answered.
Ofelia tried again, but no voice replied. "Bueno..." She remarked dryly. What were they supposed to do, knock? How barbaric. Pursing her plump lips into a tight line of dissatisfaction, Ofelia finally raised her hand and gave the hard door a few taps. She doubted it reverberated anywhere near Maximilian. She could have Alberto break the deadbolts and open it forcefully, but that was rather thuggish for a first meeting. She would like to present herself as civil and classy.
"Madre de dios..." She went back to poking the intercom again and again. Maybe it would short-circuit and set off an emergency alarm if she just kept at it.
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Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 2:20 am
There was a fly buzzing near his ear, and it was bothering the poor slumbering Maximilian, fast asleep in his bed. He swatted at it once, in a half-aware stupor, then again and again and the buzzing continued. It took a hard and rather well-placed slap against his own ear that forced the professor awake, promptly realizing that it wasn't actually a fly but the intercom at the front door, irritatingly grazing against his eardrums, making him huff out loud.
Guests hadn't dared venture near his pollutant-producing palace ever since the majority of the MOTHERLAND had heard wind of the radiation poisoning and cancer outbreaks occurring on a massive scale throughout Saltaire. Such news was often snuffed out immediately by the Propaganda Police, but it had taken them a while to cancel newspapers and of course, word spreads like wildfire..
That apparently didn't stop visitors from visiting. Unfortunately.
Immediately, Max turned to the projection flickering against the far wall of his bedroom, the image of a rather handsome woman in her mid twenties appearing before his eyes. She didn't look too happy. Curiosity getting the better of him, Maximilian stood, pulling his blond hair back into a loose, messy ponytail and yanking a plain long-sleeved shirt over his head. To appease the mystery woman, he pressed the button for the intercom, the holographic doorman (or woman as it were), appearing directly besides the stranger to assure her that the owner of the house was on his way. Tugging on a plain pair of dark dress pants, he glanced at himself in the mirror. Yes, he was very handsome today, in that sort of Hans Solo way in the ancient films he watched as a youth.
He quickly made his way to the front door, past winding corridors and a labyrinth of rooms, slipping into his shoes besides the door before sliding his fingers into the fingerprint scanning gel that resided on a little keypad besides the entrance. The doors slowly swung open and Max was greeted (or not) by the frosty air outside, immediately regretting not putting on an additional coat before greeting his visitor.
"Apologies for the delay, I was.. working," he smiled, glancing over to the escorts in the driveway, blue eyes widening slightly--nobody just visited him out of the blue with a contingent of burly men waiting for said visitor just yonder. Either she was a government official.. or somebody that he was very interested in meeting. The former seemed unlikely to him, due to her very exotic appearance, so Maximilian stood back and gestured into the warmth of the mansion. "My name is Maximilian.. Won't you should come out of the cold so we can discuss the purpose of your visit, Madame..?"
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Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 7:36 pm
What collected demeanor Ofelia had built during her time on the front steps fell with a flinch and an unbecoming yowl. Her big brown eyes narrowed at the holograph as it "talked" to her with a gentle smile. "....." The woman ignored her two bodyguards hovering behind, both no doubt held secret smiles at her embarrassing show of fright.
Thankfully the sound of the door opening pulled the scowl off her face while she took a deep breath, keeping her features relaxed, calm, cold.
"No need for apology, I came without prior notice..." Though she was fluent in English, the Cuban woman still retained a thick Spanish accent that gave her words an unintentional seduction. The main reason she coupled it with a hard expression so there would be no misunderstandings when it came to business relations.
"Alberto..." The man to her left straightened reflexively. "Estancia aquí..." She needed someone to keep an eye out on the driver. He wasn't one of hers and, in this country, that gave her no peace of mind.
"Si, senorita..." Unfolding his hands from his center, the man took up residence in front of the mansion door, watching the silent greenery from under black sunglasses.
"I hope you don't mind if he waits outside, Maximilian..." Ofelia wondered why he was willing to offer his first name so readily to a stranger? Well, she hoped he wouldn't be too disappointed using her last name, familiarity made her uncomfortable. "Thank you..." She slipped inside with Pedro quietly, the last of her guards keeping his distance so Maximilian and his employer could speak. Shrugging off her coat, the Cuban folded the thick material across her arm as she followed along. "Are we able to speak freely here...?"
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Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 5:42 am
Not being used to a woman of such imposing appearance (his partner Adelle was far more slender and fragile than this one), Maximilian allowed her to stride on past him as he closed the door behind her, the mechanical locks closing with a menacing hiss, clearly indicating that leaving on the fly would be no easy task once you were inside.
Ever hesitant about the presence of a third party (such as the bodyguard standing besides her) during any sort of transaction that went on inside his home, whether it be a mere conversation or business proposition, the scientist was uncomfortably folding his arms over his chest, glancing every now and again towards the guard. He dismissed her question with a wave of his hand,
"This place has been free of government officials for quite a while, Madame, and they only really ever visit to check on my research.." He smiled lightly, giving a slow nod of his head. "I assure you that asides from the various forms of surveillance I was born with," he chuckled, "Nobody else can find out what goes on behind these doors." Max swore to himself that the phrase wasn't intentionally flirtatious.
Though, that being said, he eyed the bodyguard once more, taking in a slow breath and touching the stranger gently on her lower back as he asked in a hushed tone, "I am not too comfortable in the presence of B2 over there, would it be incredibly rude of me to ask if he waits in the lobby while we discuss the intention of your visit?" The scientist slowly began to guide her further into his home. "Speaking of which, I assume your visit has a.. business-related purpose, correct?"
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Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 2:34 pm
"Excellent..." Even with the knowledge they could speak freely, Ofelia's body language still remained stiff and alert. She could admit that she was a paranoid person, but her childhood gave her just cause to be suspicious of everything and everyone. It was the only thing that had kept her alive thus far and one European man's reassurance wasn't going to change all that. However, she wasn't going to get what she wanted by keeping silent either. "Then you may call me Ofelia Valez. Miss Valez..." The woman offered Maximilian a rare smile, all white teeth and dimples. It never hurt to be nice.
Following the man's concerned eyes, she did her best to ignore the hand on the small of her back and focused on sympathy instead. "No, I understand..." Her smile fell when she turned to Pedro with a wave of her hand. "Estancia aquí. No vaya dondequiera!" He nodded automatically, shifting into a power stance and waiting for her return. "And yes of course, I do not enjoy having my time wasted so I do my best not to waste others'..." Ofelia took a step forward to Max, her heels clicking together where she stopped. "I have come to Saltaire specifically for your company and what you can offer me..."
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Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 10:43 pm
This was one paranoid woman. The laboratory may as well have been a church, for that perfectly described the government's attendance list every Sunday. Noting her stiffened posture, Maximilian gave her a warm, unfaltering smile, however forced it may have been. He was woken up much earlier than he had intended on and he wasn't too happy about it.
"Miss Valez?" Max inquired with a bemused little smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. What an ugly word that was, Miss. An English invention no doubt. He hadn't retained a love of his father's homeland as much as his parents tried to teach him different, which was evident by the soft German undertones that seeped from his lips every time he spoke. He was determined to be viewed as a pure-blooded German; he hated the country he lived in and he hated Former England's governing style, it was enough to make him consider joining the other side! "Very well."
One he had moved them both further into the mansion, he stopped to listen to her request. He couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him, smiling bemusedly at the contradiction she was presenting him with. For a woman who claimed to not enjoy wasting others' time, Ofelia was being rather vague with her speech. Not wanting to carry on for much longer, Maximilian quickened the pace, raising his eyebrows at her,
"I take that to mean you are interested in my little... royal project that I am currently undertaking." Maximilian turned away from Valez for a few seconds, striding over to the little reception desk nestled into the corner of the room and signaling the sensors with a wave. Immediately, light burst from the floor on which he was standing, illuminating the professor's body for a few split seconds before a flickering black and white hologram of a woman appeared, seated behind the counter, merrily glancing at both Maximilian and his guest.
"G-ood morning professor, is there anything I can help you w--"
"Wine. 2898," he interjected, and immediately, a panel on the desk hissed and lifted up, two glasses and a filled bottle seemingly glued to the bottom of the panel. It flipped around quickly, snapping back into its original position, the smooth surface of the counter underneath barely giving any clues to suggest where the bottle had appeared from in the first place. Maximilian wasn't in the mood to rush. He popped the metal seal from the top of the bottle and filled each glass to the halfway mark, daintily picking one up and offering it to Valez--He was always the type who enjoyed a drink before he was about to screw someone.
"It's the finest German wine you will encounter in this country. Surely someone in your caliber could afford some herself, but it's always nice to have guests around here." Complete lie, Max was renown for hating the art of socialization, but Ofelia didn't look like she was from around here. "Speaking of affording things.. I assume you know exactly what I do here, word spreads like wildfire, I'm sure, Miss Valez. Am I also correct in the assumption that today's meeting will not consist of what I can offer you, but what you can offer me in return?" His eyes glinted slightly, the hues brightening from the reflection of the hologram.
Max was going to end up a very rich man.
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Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 6:26 pm
The woman took a deep breath and slowly let the air bleed back out through her nose. "Yes..." She said simply, lips thinning with suspicion as her host moved away from her. She was glad he didn't lean over the top of the desk, but the sudden wave made her nervous. Ofelia didn't begrudge the man hidden cameras, her establishment had several of course, but if was signaling--well if he was signaling so blatantly--
"G-ood morning professor..."
O-f course. At least she didn't embarrass herself a second time as the holographic image smiled at her.
It was almost pathetic how uncomfortable she felt, and had been feeling since she had moved to Europe. She had little to fear in the bosom of her family and country surrounded by loyal followers, and those who would cause harm found themselves removed through strange circumstances. Now, the last of her followers numbered three and her enemies grew around the world as the Cuban government looked to allies to assure her capture. Apparently political opposition was now considered terrorism.
"Ah, thank you..." The Cuban woman held the glass gently, a thin grin slipping across her dark face in response to Maximilian's assumption as she took a tentative sip. She didn't enjoy being out of control of her emotions or actions, and so alcohol rarely passed her lips except in social settings. "Yes, well..." The tension crept back in to her posture. Ofelia hadn't missed the amusement in the man's eyes and she knew she needed to just swallow her mistrust, there was nothing left to lose now.
Looking up from her glass of wine to Max, she began again. "I have come here to secure one of your products, or however you refer to them, for my own. Gold is of no consequence to me, or if you prefer to barter in another currency... Either way, all I need for you to do is name your price..."
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Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 1:04 am
Maximilian spared no time in downing his wine--He had built up such a resistance to the alcoholic drink that a whole bottle would barely put a smile on his face. But it was really good wine, that. As his eyes surveyed her, he could tell that she was out of her comfort zone. At once, the image of a strong Cuban woman slipped from his mind and he could only see one word now, Weak.
Well, so long as she had the money to cough up, he didn't care who looked after a Prince. He leaned back against the desk, quirking an eyebrow up when she gave him such an offer. Not even taking the initiative to choose an amount herself.. Tsk. Madame Ofelia should have really learned by now, this was a perfect opportunity to extort her for Maximilian.
He placed the glass down on the table and crossed his arms over his chest, a light smirk shaping his lips and tossing his hair over his shoulder with a flick of his head,
"Princes. They're very hard to come by and we don't give them out too often... Fortunately for you, I have a prototype in my possession. He could grow up very strong, agile, cunning--all those things would be up to you. But he comes at a rather steep cost, even for most connoisseurs. Thirty thousand gold, no less."
Just enough to keep him satisfied, though he probably could have gotten away with even more by the looks of it.
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Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 3:08 pm
"Prince..." She smiled at that. How far this prince would fall once she was done raising him.
Finally, her host came to the information most crucial: cost. Ofelia didn't even blink at the amount. "Done..." She made that kind of profit off black market arms alone almost every day. It was like a chip of ice from an ever growing burg; "peanuts" as it were. She was already making it back up what with every louse on the streets right now looking for another illegal hit, which her family was happy to provide through their coca and poppy plantations.
Taking one last sip of her wine, the young woman came to stand beside Maximilian and placed the glass right by her host's. Ofelia's hands were now free to open her coat for her pen and paper. "I hope a check is alright with you... " Leaning over the reception desk, she began to fill in an empty check from her book. "I will need to know your last name, unless I can make it out to a company..." Thirty thousand turned into fifty thousand for Max's polite discretion, however she waited to sign her alias. "Will I have to wait for you to cash this in before I can get my prince, Maximilian?" Her words held nothing of worry, more like amusement, as she waited for his acceptance.
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Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 9:43 pm
Maximilian was rather taken aback by her acceptance of the amount--Gold was difficult to come by nowadays and the government had long ago slowed production of gold and hiked up taxes to withdraw the surplus funds that they had lavishly given out during the war; Though there was still plenty of time to extort her. As dangerous as the woman looked, I'm sure she wouldn't object to another thirty-thousand gold fee to grow the experiment. Sipping his wine thoughtfully, he watched as Ofelia withdrew the checkbook and began scribbling her name and the amount. Surprisingly enough, he barely noticed how much extra she was shelling out--He trusted her, there was after all, no reason not to; it wasn't as though they could get anywhere with the Prince without Max and Adelle's help.
"Maximilian Wexler..." Drumming his fingers on the counter, he chucked at her question. He always had a few frozen eggs on hand in case of emergencies, just like his parents had taught him. Be prepared. Rapping on the front desk, he called out, "Oh-oh-four." One could hear the hissing of gears underneath the floor as mechanical arms selected the appropriate freezer to open it and gently pick up 004's pin. Depositing the precious cargo into the steam-propelled lift, the brooch was soon on its way up to the desk. Maximilian may have looked like quite the fool standing there waiting, but soon enough, the hatch from where the wine bottle appeared from opened once more and the pin was slowly lifted into sight.
As soon as it hit the warmer air, it began to defrost and the lifeform inside the egg would begin to awaken. He plucked it up and offered it to Ofelia. "I hope this species is alright for you. Hylarana erythraea. Wear it over your heart as often as possible, for in the end, a few weeks of discomfort it will cause you a lot less trouble when it grows up."
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Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 4:31 pm
"Wex-ler..." Ofelia spelled it out carefully, unfamiliar with European names. The last thing she needed was to write it out wrong. Lastly, her alias for the family's secure bank account was signed in the fat black ink. Blowing unnecessarily across the wet signature, her long manicured fingers pinched the side of the check and ripped it out with experienced ease. It was placed on the receptionist desk, the tips of her fingers keeping it still in case a draft lifted it off, or more likely until she got what she wanted first. And she was happy to see Mr. Wexler did not waste time. She waited patiently, the Cuban's brown eyes lidded and edged with boredom, but the rest of her sung with energy. She couldn't even begin to imagine how her host could have succeeded in such a project. Her only knowledge of science lied in chemistry in order to understand the reactions of narcotics and their effects on the human body or to just instill fear in the hearts of the superstitious. Chemistry alone didn't create a functioning organism, and Ofelia respected Maximilian's ambition.
However she was at a loss for words when he unveiled her prince. She wasn't expecting talisman or, what was it called, a brooch. The woman couldn't help but smile. Apparently the two of them were in the same business, though at thirty thousand Ofelia hoped it was more than smoke and mirrors unlike her antics. She opened her hand to him and brought it up to eye level, intrigued by the blue metallic sheen across it. "Does it represent the markings of the species...? Very pretty...." Well it may not be a boy yet, but that gave her more time to break the kid in when he is young.
Unclasping the back, Ofelia pinned it to the white fabric of her blouse above her heart and picked the check back up for Max's convenience. "Thank you for your services, Maximilian, it has been a worthwhile trip..."
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 11:51 pm
Ah, dammit, he'd revealed his last name. The professor cursed at himself inwardly before his mouth soon twisted into a firm smile, plucking the check neatly from her grip. Nodding dismissively at her, he hurriedly spoke, "Yes, yes, it is a beautiful specimen indeed. You will love its colorings, I assure you.."
His hand touched her back and he started to move with her back to the hallway and towards his front door. Maximilian wasn't a man to idly wait around for something else to happen once he had gotten what he wanted. With the check for fifty thousand gold tucked safely into the pockets of his pants, he simply had no use for her anymore.
"Now, Miss Valez, you may come back in two weeks or so--when you notice activity in its shell--but for now, our business is done, and I must return to my work. I am sure you understand, you look like quite the busy woman yourself.."
Now all that was left was to return back to the comfort of his king-sized bed, the only one in his manor that could fit the professor's king-sized ego. He just needed five more minutes sleep now. Or Adelle would certainly come barging into his bedroom with questions relating to the aesthetic properties of 002's jar, and that woman sure did not enjoy being ignored.
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 12:52 pm
"Of course..." She had plenty to do herself. Mainly, moving fifty thousand gold from one account to the other before the check has a chance to bounce. The woman had debated long and hard about whether or not to tell her host, but for fear he might withdraw his offer if the money wasn't already in place she had kept quiet. She had plenty of time to transfer the funds, it wasn't as if he would ever know.
Having received what she had wanted, Ofelia was willing to ignore the hand that once again cradled her back as Maximilian led her to the entrance. They met with Pedro back in the hallway, who fell in line silently behind them. At the door, the Cuban woman stopped to put her coat back on before she entered the cool air, all the while being mindful of the new brooch she wore. Waiting for her host to reopen the sliding door, she glanced Mr. Wexler's way. "Thank you again, Maximilian, and I will see you again in a few weeks... Pedro, vayamos," Her bodyguard stepped out first to regroup with Alberto who was still standing stiff and alert outside.
Both men walked swiftly toward their rented car, Pedro cordially opening the door for her to slip into the center seat. "If you would..."
"Home?" Her chauffeur asked, watching Ofelia from the rear view mirror.
"No, the nearest bank..."
"Yes, ma'am..." Popping into reverse, the man turned his head back to the passengers in order to pull out of his pseudo parking spot. Ofelia shifted comfortably between her two guards and let the silence sink in.
It was broken soon after.
"Is that all you came here for?" Alberto commented quietly beside her, not even bothering to tilt his head toward her. She only smiled dryly.
"It is the latest fashion craze these days. I need to fit in..."
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