[RP] The Inn of Peace - IoP (Open to all)

[Azana Brown]

"You've gotta serve yourself," Elizabeth answered him. "No one else does...besides, his business practices made me sick once I saw them from the inside. Good riddance to bad rubbish. Now, the information. That knife was made by a lovely young woman by the name of Victoria Wesley. I don't know if the name--oh, it does, I see. Good. I wasn't entirely off-base coming here."

"Our missing woman, and apparent informant," Azana explained quickly to Chris, paying attention. "How recently? Where, and who's behind it?"

"Quite recently. The entrepreneur behind your strange manufacturing business invited me over to dinner to gloat about it. That's where I met her...that knife was made as a demonstration. I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it myself." The words came with difficulty...John wasn't a bad guy, not like Cameron. But still, something didn't sit right about it...and she couldn't let it go.

"She was the entire production line. She hand-shaped that knife, carved in it herself...and it didn't take long at all. There under contract, really swanky accommodations, and yet...she's miserable. I don't know what he's got hanging over her...I couldn't ask. He watched her like a hawk at dinner..."

"...Max mentioned Victoria was listed as a low-level kinetic," Sosol blinked. "...maybe she's just very specialized. She usually works as a jeweler..."  

[The Legendary Knightsoul]

Chris and Stacy shared a look. Something about this whole thing smelled oddly familiar. "What else do we know about these people?"  

[Azana Brown]

"Guy goes by the moniker John Doe," Elizabeth explained. "I've never seen ruthless businessman and chivalrous gentleman blend together quite like him...but he makes it work. I know he hasn't hurt her. Wouldn't dream of it...actually, got really offended when I insinuated it." She chuckled. Even with the whole problem, it was a nice dinner. Kind of wish she didn't have to throw him under the bus like this.

"Aside from our occasional banter and a very glossed-over tour of his manor, I don't know as much about him as I'd like to. He's re-purposed a guesthouse on his property to be the workshop. Metal comes in, weapons come out. Firearms with no serials, pretty little things like my new knife...I saw a lot of blueprints, too. I think he's been giving Victoria a lot of homework. He said the contract would be ending, and we'd all win, but I have no idea what he means. Aside from him, he's got some muscle, assumably well-armed."

"Doesn't sound like too much of a challenge for us," Azana shrugged. "A few armed brutes and a guy who won't hit a lady? We could shut it down tonight."  

[The Legendary Knightsoul]

"Bad idea," the two said in unison.

"Too easy," Chris said. "A few armed guards and one guy running the show? It's almost certainly a trap."

"And exactly his style."

"I really hope I'm wrong this time."

"You and me both."  

[Azana Brown]

"John doesn't seem the type to work with..." She trailed off. Maybe she didn't know him as well as she thought, but still...a chill ran up her spine at the thought, and she had a vague notion to make sure her dinner hadn't been poisoned. How had he met Victoria, anyway?

"You think Scarface is lurking in the background? For some guy throwing together pistols and rifles in his glorified garage?" Azana piped up.

"Not for him," Tyler shook his head. "I see where they're going. A growing operation like his, GMO involvement...it'd be a perfect place to find the Knights. Even if they don't, Victoria is using her specialized kinetics to make weaponry. That's a valuable skill, whether she wants it or not."

"Then we have to get her out of there," Elizabeth spoke up. "I don't care what John has on her. I won't let her go through that."

"...it's her store..." Sosol said at last, knife in hand. "The contract had a fine-print clause that turned over ownership of her store to John Doe. If she breaches contract, she's out of business."  

[The Legendary Knightsoul]

"Don't be too sure he's not involved, guys. He's been quiet for a while, we haven't been around and he doesn't know we're back. He may not be running the show, but I'm willing to bet he's involved somehow."  

[Azana Brown]

"Like I didn't have trouble sleeping before," Elizabeth muttered, holding out a hand. "The knife, please, Jacobs. I might need to use it." She hated feeling this vulnerable...it sucked, being backed into a corner. Last time this happened, it didn't end well. And now, Omega was involved and would have no qualms about cold-blooded revenge.

I could use some extra help...but I won't get it from them...

Sosol nodded, handing it to her. The thing about psychic prowess...it was a bit easier to understand people. She wouldn't use it on them. Underneath the self-serving, overconfident woman was someone who was currently scared to death of the bogeyman.

"Then perhaps a plan...? If we knew more about his place, we could be ready for a trap..."

"There has to be secret passages...he followed me down a hall and found time to arrive in the dining room first. To pull out my chair for me." She grumbled under her breath about it for a moment. "I doubt your people could find a floor plan..."

"We could make one," Azana smirked.  

[The Legendary Knightsoul]

"How are we going to make one? I doubt this John Doe guy will let us poke around."  

[Azana Brown]

"He doesn't have to let us. Sol?" Azana glanced back to him.

"The Ghost Cloak...?" He smiled in reply, popping out the card. "A few of us could roam safely from in here, keep track of the rooms and halls...that is, if our favorite data miner doesn't find it first."

"Ya think I can't find it? There's gotta be records, ya know..." Max pouted. "I told ya, gimme enough time, an' I can find anythin'!"

"No offense, kiddo, but he calls himself John Doe for a reason. It's hard to find anything on 'im. He's slippery...nice about it, but slippery."

"He's never met Max. So let her give it a try. I'll even throw in a wager, if you want," Ty smirked. He believed in Max's ability...  

[The Legendary Knightsoul]

Chris had faith in Max, as well. Still, he decided to lend a hand. Two hackers are better than one. "Let's crack some code, Mouse. Whadda ya say?"  

[Azana Brown]

Elizabeth looked to him flatly. Was this really the time to be making silly--he was breaking the mood. "Alright, then...if your hacking dream team does find something, I'll eat the spiciest dish you can cook."

"And if they're empty-handed, you get one project out of me," Tyler declared boldly. "Be careful; I've got some mean peppers in the pantry."

"And I've got some great ideas needing building."

Sosol shook his head with a sigh. "I'll grab the energy drinks."

"I'll get the laptop! I get ta hack with Superdude!" She sang it all the way upstairs and through the halls.

As things settled, Tyler joined Stacy. "Glad I never got one of those punches," he opened with a chuckle. "That mad, huh...?"  

[The Legendary Knightsoul]

Nate poked his head out of the kitchen. Someone mentioned spicy food and he had been wanting to make his chili for a while.

"The last time I saw her, she kidnapped my friends and then she kidnapped and brainwashed you. Not to mention, she ruined our date. I was going to offer you a nightcap."  

[Azana Brown]

"Well, I'll certainly take you up on that," Tyler grinned, though it faded as he glanced to Elizabeth. "I get it, though...why she did what she did. I still don't like it, but I get it."

I'm not much better, anyway...not much room to judge. He thought bitterly to himself before getting back to paying attention to Stacy. "Bad thing about betting on this...I can't take part. But seeing Liz's face on fire will be worth it."

"Laptops~!" Max called in glory, holding them over her head like the Ten Commandments. "Superdude, let's find all the things!" She set them down in a very familiar layout (in fact, the same as when she and Ty hacked TEKKER) and set down a cushion on her chair.

"Gotta keep it comfy. Snacks? Check. Energy drinks? Check. Just lemme know when ya need a potty break."

Azana paced a little...she just wanted to go get it and get it overwith. A trap? She'd been in those before...hell, she died once, technically. Didn't want to repeat it, though.  

[The Legendary Knightsoul]

"Potty break? Please. We won't need one." He took a seat and started typing.

"They're going to be a while. How about that nightcap now?"  

[Azana Brown]

"Let's go," Tyler grinned. "Unless we're staying in...best bartender in town and all."

"Just let me know what you need, you crazy lovebirds," Sosol teased, walking off to the bar and getting comfy for a long haul of hacker trash talk.

Kristen stayed near Honey, wanting to be available in case she fell ill again. "Would you like us to take you upstairs? It might get loud down here..."

Elizabeth took a seat. Despite giving all that information, she still seemed to have a weight on her shoulders. If Omega was getting involved with others...it brought everything into question. She didn't like that...having him lurk in everyone's shadow. She pulled out her smartphone, looking through resumes. There had to be something that held promise...

Azana had just gotten back from a search, but all of this made her antsy. Omega being back in the mix just added more for her to do. She'd have to thank him. After thoroughly thrashing him, of course.

"Woohoo! Have I told ya that I missed ya, Superdude?" Max beamed, already poring through high-end architects.