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Post by Hoch Kreatur on Jun 24, 2014 16:05:40 GMT
It didn't take long for Hoch to get back to work, a solid week in bed with nice full meals helped put the spring back into his step and he was eager to move about, after all he had spent far too long caged up in a box. Of course he wasn't allowed to go back to his lovely office as they were still working to get the blood stains out of the carpet, so he was expected to do all his work from a rather small office (they said he could 'fit'. hah) and afterwards he was to head to where Morgan was hiding out to help plan their next course of action.
The attack Tanya and Icos had done had successfully taken the breath out of the Dust Collection Agency and for once they seemed able to sit down without risking being shot or poisoned. They had been taking this time to rearrange the way they fought this war, Morgan had already taken the necessary step in recruiting soldiers to fight in the cyber world, but they had been on the painstaking task of finding new ways to fight Dust.
Things seemed to be going good. Except today, it had been two days after the festival had happened and everything was going to hell. Icos El-Elron was dead and with him more soldiers and resources the Tyrants could ever get their hands on, they went from having a great army to once again scrambling to adapt to the circumstances. Hoch had skipped work today and made his way directly to where Morgan was.
He was told they were basing the operations from Paddy's club, which of course made no sense because last they checked they were operating from Currie's apartment. He assumed they were being cautious, understandably.
Hoch made his way towards the club that, under normal circumstances, would be closed at this time in the morning. He slipped around back and approached the entrance to it, giving the back door a couple of solid knocks he raised his voice and spoke out, "Hoch Kreatur." He said out, awaiting approval from whomever was behind the door.
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Post by Morgan Flynn on Jun 24, 2014 16:32:37 GMT
"Hi!"
The door swung open to reveal the behemoth, Felicity, who grinned down at the Dwarv Minor with the look of that only seen on a happy little puppy when their master walked in through the door. She gave him a toothy grin and without warning or even asking if it was alright, she swung down and scooped him up in her arms. Slamming the door shut behind her she ran down the hallway with heavy, echoing footsteps that rattled the whole building. Felicity tore past the stage room and if one paid close enough attention they would see the bodies had been cleared but pools of blood on the floor and walls remained. She ran from there, straight into the partially ajar door to the office, the door swinging straight into Albatross on the other side and knocking him down with a painful "AUGGH!"
Morgan currently sat with Sonny at the desk inside the office, the both of them having a hushed conversation when they turned an eye to the door. Morgan's eyes narrowed until he saw that cradled in Felicity's arms was Hoch, the dark-haired man relaxing his features a bit as he hurriedly motioned for her to set him down.
"Ah, my dear friend. Come on in. Sit," Morgan gestured to another empty chair beside Sonny, the smug nerdy man giving Hoch a bit of a scowl as he was presented.
"We have a lot of work to do," Morgan only added simply, then pointing to the desk where fresh coffee had been set for everyone - whether that was Morgan's hospitality or Paddy's one could only guess.
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Post by Hoch Kreatur on Jun 24, 2014 17:10:45 GMT
"Oh no!" Hoch tried to protest as he saw that look in Felicity's that meant he was about to be treated like a child, or worse, an animal. Not bothering to put up a fight the larger woman scooped him up and carried him throughout the building, it was these types of things that humiliated his kind. Being treated as something as insignificant as a dog was sickening to such a well educated Minor such as himself.
He was in Morgan's new office before he could even blink, set down and given but a small moment to collect himself. "Thank you Felicity for that..." He mumbled out as he smoothed down his soft black suit jacket. Hoch's sense of style was as impeccable as ever; a black suit made with tropical wool, so soft and airy that it was perfect for the heat that stifled the city today, along with a Ellusian silk shirt and accessorized with a gold encrusted watch (because he didn't like using his phone for time) and a small tie that kept his now longer hair neat looking and pulled back. He wasn't as clean looking as he had been, his once clean shaven face now had tufts of fur growing on the side of his jaw and down his neck a little, like sideburns that were kept well trimmed but soft like an animal's fur. Most Minors kept their body well shaved to seem more human but they were very capable of growing fur throughout most of their body.
Hoch walked casually over to the desk and slid onto his chair, not looking at Sonny once. He was well aware of the fact Morgan had been basically prostituting his daughter for the man's services and it sickened Hoch every time he thought of that sweet girl being at the whims of the slimy fuck that was Sonny. It puzzled Hoch as to why Currie wasn't here, as annoying as the man had been he had come to appreciate the words of restraint and wisdom he gave Morgan and he'd take his company over Sonny's any day of the week. "I can only imagine." Hoch finally said after giving a polite nod to Morgan. Hoch crossed his legs and braced his head against his hand, "What were you two discussing?"
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Post by Morgan Flynn on Jun 24, 2014 18:48:19 GMT
Morgan smiled as he leaned back in his chair, a gaze turned to Sonny who returned it with as much deep thought in his eyes as his expression was grim. Whatever Morgan found amusing Sonny clearly didn't.
"We're re-thinking many things at the moment. Change of plan, change of a lot of things," Morgan started slowly, turning his gaze to Hoch and folding his hands in his lap, "Sonny is looking into some people I need to find, to start. With the events of the festival things have changed dramatically and as such, so must we."
He tilted his head to the side as he watched the Dwarv Minor's facial features, continuing, "I'm in the process of getting ahold of certain men that I thought I'd never speak to again, this is a time where if we really feel like winning we're just going to have to play nice, hmm? At least for a time."
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Post by Hoch Kreatur on Jun 24, 2014 20:49:21 GMT
Hoch knew how painful it would be for Morgan to try and make peace with those who/he had wronged in the past. He didn't want to say it but the mummers of peace was crossing his mind; they had gotten in some good shots and Dust had done the same, why not call for a peace conference and try and work something out? He wouldn't be the first to suggest such idea, not yet at least.
"I assume that's what you have Currie doing?" Hoch finally said, also looking to figure out where their ally was. "What are their names, anyway. It'd be helpful for me to know who we might be making alliances with." So I can keep you from selling the rest of your children, Hoch wanted to say as he bit his lip to hold it was. Dust had already proven that no one was out of their reach, kidnapping Hoch straight from his office and blowing up an Imperial! He never took Dust for a foolish group but surely they didn't expect such a move to get the IIA off their back? This would only bring about more rage.
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Post by Morgan Flynn on Jun 25, 2014 1:56:57 GMT
The look Morgan gave as Hoch questioned Currie's involvement in these plans was a damaged one. He looked hurt, protruding a bottom lip in a pout as he tilted his head slightly away and let out a heavy sigh.
"No, Hoch. That's the terrible news! Currie has betrayed us. He and Fin attacked Gill and myself, shot a handful of our own men and took Callie with them," as he spoke he grew increasingly bitter in tone, his lip twisting with every word into something filled with hatred, "I tried to stop him. I shot him. He survived. Sonny is looking for both of them now."
"Both Calisto Alquir and Zachary Lynch have vital information on what we believe is a leading force or someone else of very high importance for the Dust Collection Agency. Apparently they've been looking for Lynch and Callie, and Lynch had already made the decision himself that since that started he had no plans of being seen again. Fin was to take charge, Lynch into hiding, and because the previous leak in your group didn't know Callie even existed we were kind of hoping she'd play as our wildcard against Dust," Sonny added, staring down Hoch with his arms crossed. Morgan sighed again and shrugged.
"It makes perfect sense, doesn't it? I always thought Currie was a bit of a coward but here he was plotting this all along. How many times had he argued with me before, always thinking he had a better way to do something and just when we might have a chance to get ahead, conveniently sitting right in his hands, he snatches it out right from under us. He nearly kills my wife in the process and brainwashes my new driver. How rude, and at the same time how unsettling," Morgan continued, turning a grim gaze to Hoch, "Currie has to die. Apparently he still lives, Sonny says he's in one of the hospitals recovering from when I shot him. I'm afraid what information he carries he'll use against me. Parker snitching to Dust was a harmful inconvenience, but if Currie gets desperate and goes to them as well, well...that's just the nail in the coffin for us. As long as Zachary Lynch does not work with me, he must die."
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Post by Hoch Kreatur on Jun 25, 2014 2:26:36 GMT
Hoch had to press his back firmly against the chair as if the information that was being poured out was forcing him there. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, Currie betrayed the Tyrants? He shook his head and gave a chuckle in disbelief. Was this some sort of sick joke? No way they just lost Icos AND Currie...
"Currie... betrayed us?" He said, having to put his hand down on the table to even steady his actions, "You're telling me Currie turned to Dust or something? I mean, I don't even understand that. He was a brute but dammit he was loyal..." Dust always paid good for that type of thing, what would he have been offered?
There was something in Morgan's voice that made Hoch shake his head in disbelief. A man who was betrayed doesn't smile about it the next day, no the man that did the betraying was the man smiling.
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Post by Morgan Flynn on Jun 25, 2014 3:03:27 GMT
"Currie was a lot of things, loyal was one of them indeed," Morgan bit his lip as he turned his troubled look away from Hoch. He'd long since accepted the idea that Hoch was dead and he would have Currie yet, this was very unexpected. At best even he had expected he'd lose Callie, the damn girl surprisingly had a lot more love for that filthy country of hers than he'd originally anticipated (what was the point in leaving then?), though apparently she'd grown on Currie, his heart was softened tremendously and made him act the way he did. It wasn't all, there was tension earlier between them that Morgan before had no reason to worry about. Currie was dangerous on his own and as far as he was concerned he wasn't going to risk having to fight him again, not after all of these years and with the man knowing his every move.
"Hoch, I've no idea what's gotten into him. Something happened. He'd been on about Dust more than usual lately, irritable around me, and just when we were alone this all happened. He knows everything I do...perhaps this was just a breaking point for him. He and I had worked many years quite comfortably until Dust got involved. You were there, do you not remember his reaction when we first told him? He's only been pushing for control the moment we got involved with Dust and it only got worse...
I don't have the easy way to say this. He has to go. He's one of the people we need to find, and so is Calisto Alquir. If we can't talk sense into her then I don't know what we're going to have to do with her - she's important as far as Dust goes, we can use her! If I have to kill her instead, how will we ever track Dust down? These are some of the things we're discussing today. Time isn't really on our side, here. I need to make a call to Raemos Reheem unfortunately, and somehow we need to get in touch with--"
"Please don't say it," Sonny interrupted, placing both of his hands behind his head while he cringed. Morgan's grin returned, again clearly not one of a man who was actually upset that one of his own betrayed him (as one would recall how angry he had been over Parker and Currie was undoubtedly a much bigger deal) but one of someone who enjoyed watching how uncomfortable the room suddenly got when he dropped the name on his mind.
"Andrew Lawson," Morgan said it and Sonny sighed heavily, eyes glancing up at the ceiling as he bit his lip.
"He's not careful," Sonny grumbled.
"We don't need careful on our front lines, we need someone stupid enough to charge in once we know who and where we have to strike," Morgan said, "but Hoch, those are the four names for now. Questions?"
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Post by Hoch Kreatur on Jun 25, 2014 3:20:15 GMT
Hoch wanted to believe the words Morgan spoke but they seemed so... wrong. Yet even if it was right, it simply showed how horrible of a situation they were in. Everything was crumbling around them, it had been for the last couple of months but now so clearly were the gaping holes, the abyss below and longing to swallow them all. Currie was nearly killed in the streets of Thelotia for his allegiance to Morgan, perhaps that had shocked him into making the sanest decision anyone could possibly had made? Hoch closed his eyes in thought before shaking his head.
He opened his mouth and the next words just slid right out without him speaking, "Sue for peace." He muttered softly, taking a moment to realize exactly what he had just said. His eyes wide, he first regretted what he had said immediately, but with the words spoken he had no choice but to follow them up, "Enough people have died and we've each shown that we can throw good punches. But Dust has killed Icos and we've just lost our general, Morgan, nobody is going to join us. This war is over, be the only sane person and please bring this to an end."
He paused in his words, tilting his head to the side as he pleaded with his boss, "Maybe we can cut a good deal with them, I don't know. What use is fighting for what we have when what we had is all lost? There's nothing to defend anymore. You've lost those who were truly loyal to you and surrounded yourself with, ah, uh," he fought the words that he wanted to speak before simply saying them anyway, "SLIME." He said, blatantly pointing towards Sonny.
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Post by Morgan Flynn on Jun 25, 2014 4:23:03 GMT
He opened his mouth briefly to argue that no, apparently he killed Icos and not Dust but that was when Morgan stopped. If he didn't know now then it was best he didn't. Morgan sat silently for a long time as he stared at Hoch as though he'd just thrown a dirty insult at him. At the same time Sonny's nostrils flared the moment Hoch gestured to him, he actually had been insulted.
"Watch your tongue, dwarf! Smart mouth of yours won't be flapping when I get you thrown onto a ship and tossed back to the filth where you belong!" Sonny snapped, giving his thick-rimmed glasses a push up the bridge of his nose as he glared at the shorter man. Morgan ignored it. He didn't come this far to give in to the Dust Collection Agency, he wasn't about to crawl to them on his hands and knees and asking them nicely to forgive him. What kind of reaction would he even get from that?
He didn't want to admit that he was really, really screwed right now. Currie had to die, this he was sure of it. It was the truth though that Currie was one of his major life lines and without him...
Morgan's lip twisted. This was ugly. And yet...
"They don't want us, we all die. And if they do..." Morgan growled, "I hate to think how this would work, Hoch..."
The idea was there, he just wasn't fully convinced yet. But the seed, that was planted in his head now.
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Post by Hoch Kreatur on Jun 25, 2014 4:34:49 GMT
Hoch ignored the vile puke that was Sonny's breath and the sickly words that leaked with it. He decided if Tanya had to put up with all of it then he could take the insulting words that were being tossed at him. Besides, acknowledging the slime ball was more than he deserved, Hoch kept his eyes focused on Morgan as he took Hoch's words with careful thought. Which surprised him a little.
"We'd put a word out that we're looking to make peace. I suspect they'll find a way to get in contact with us and when they do they'll be a meeting, I expect with their bosses and we'll have to come to some sort of agreement - perhaps scale back the range where we work, make a generous payment and maybe they'll agree to let us have parts of the Thelotia mana business." Hoch was just making guesses of course, he'd never taken part in peace talks between two gangs - usually Morgan was pretty good at ridding them of any annoying gangs pretty quickly.
"They won't kill us. They operate within a 'code'. By the Empress, they wouldn't shut up about their damn 'code' and how it guides them. A sick sense of honor." He rubbed his forehead carefully, "They think themselves of Imperials, they do."
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Post by Morgan Flynn on Jun 25, 2014 6:48:19 GMT
"Phhhbt. 'Code'..." Morgan might have scoffed at it but he trailed off, mumbling under his breath while the room fell silent again. If Hoch was so sure that they had the assurance of being kept alive then that was, sure, one less thing for them to worry about. Where was the fun in deliberately looking to make peace with them? He wanted to kick down their castle and laughed while it crumbled, revel in their pain and cause it simply because he could. He wanted to own Thelotia for no other reason than to exercise his ability to smash and rebuild it as he pleased.
And then a thought came to Morgan that seemed to change his tune. Perhaps a meeting would be beneficial. Perhaps getting to know Dust on a personal level was the best thing they could possibly do.
"They already know about us, our operations. There's nothing left for us to hide and if what you say is true, them willing to spare us in their little 'code' could potentially work out in our favour. If anything, getting cozy with them might be just what we need. We don't know very much about them, this would be a chance to actually have a look into and try to understand their group and system..." Morgan spoke aloud mostly to himself, tapping a finger to his chin then for a moment before he turned his gaze to Sonny. The nerdy man was still fuming, his body shaking in a boiling rage yet especially with Hoch ignoring him. Through his thick frames the man glared at Morgan as the black-haired man snapped his fingers at him.
"Are you paying attention?" he asked simply. Sonny tapped his foot against the leg of the chair impatiently.
"Oh, I'm paying attention. You do what you want but how pointless is it for you to have gone through all of this trouble, especially to convince me to join you to begin with only for you to change your mind weeks later?" Sonny grumbled.
"No one said you had to quit, we all go as one great big family. You're still one of my own," Morgan mumbled as he pulled a cigarette out of the box on the desk and instead fumbled with it, tapping the butt of it on the finished wood. How much thought was truly going through this when Morgan actually hesitated to light one up?
"This was a waste of my time then. I turned down the opportunity I had originally to turn you into Dust and potentially convince them to want my expert services just to join you instead, only for you to decide oh wait, we're going to go attempt to make peace with them instead - with you. You see the problem, right? Waste of time?" Sonny narrowed his eyes while he spoke.
"Why, Sonny. I was unaware you thought Tanya a waste of time," Morgan raised an eyebrow, giving the other man a look that might have seemed genuinely hurt if it didn't look so obviously fake with the overly-protruding bottom lip and the sick smile that teased in the corners of his mouth.
"I didn't say that. I agreed, didn't I?" Sonny kept his argument short, eyeing Morgan suspiciously.
"And should you wish to keep that agreement, I'm sure you'll come around to this as well, right, friend?" Morgan didn't even watch or wait for his response this time, he turned his head away and back to Hoch with a contemplative look in his eyes.
"Alright, Hoch. You have my attention. I should say you've never really failed to offer an educated opinion up to me before...yes, this...might just work..."
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Post by Hoch Kreatur on Jun 25, 2014 15:05:25 GMT
"Exactly!" Hoch said with a snap of his fingers, seemly noticing that Morgan was beginning to understand reason, "We make peace, get as close to Dust as possible and when we're nice and ready we can strike. There's no point on fighting them on uneven ground like we are!" He couldn't help but think Morgan had no intentions of peace, at least for long. "With the war over we can focus on more profitable things, like building up Flynn Inc.. This entire war has sucked our resources dry..."
He almost wished Sonny would try and betray Morgan, that way there was an excuse to end his life. He couldn't stand the fact that Sonny was sitting where Currie normally was, did that make Sonny his new general? This all confused Hoch so much, he steadied himself with the idea that Morgan was open to peace.
"I can put word out right away if you'd like, Morgan."
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Post by Morgan Flynn on Jun 25, 2014 15:54:03 GMT
Hoch's uncertainty with exactly how long Morgan would consider keeping peace with the Dust Collection Agency was understandable, depending on what happened Morgan's actions could shake or steady everything, including the city itself. This was a huge deal if it were to go through well enough.
"Or I could put the word out. Not sure how your financial manager is going to do a job that clearly I'm built for doing," Sonny interrupted, rolling his eyes at the Minor. Morgan looked between the two of them and finally lit the cigarette in his hand.
"You'd be surprised what he accomplishes. I don't have to give him anything extra for it, either," Morgan grinned, watching as Sonny tilted his head to the side.
"I ask for nothing extra."
"Yet."
"If things go well with Dust I'd say it's a cause for a celebration," he spoke carefully, narrowing an eye at Morgan, "though you brought me in to take down Dust, not play friendly and that's what our agreement was based off of. Maybe I can't help you much more unless I know you're not going to jerk me around. We make things legal between me and Tanya, perhaps?"
"Fine, whatever," Morgan answered automatically, clearly not giving it much thought in terms of what a caring father should have. To him he got what he was expecting, Sonny was a little weasel and he was surprised he didn't ask for the whole moon and all the stars in the sky from the beginning. If that's all it really took to make the little roach happy then so be it, if he somehow thought he was asserting some kind of dominance over Morgan by being legally bound to his daughter then he very much figured Morgan, and the whole situation, wrong.
"Hoch is taking care of this, though," Morgan added, turning a wide grin to Sonny's baffled look, "you get what you want, don't complain. I choose Hoch for this, now get out. I'll speak with you soon."
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Post by Hoch Kreatur on Jun 25, 2014 16:14:05 GMT
Hoch seemed to often forget his job title was merely financial adviser, after all officially all he was supposed to do was tell Morgan if they're keeping their books balanced and if they weren't it was his job to tell him how they could. Yet he seemed to often act as a voice of reason and strategy for Morgan, time had not seemed to erode his position within Morgan's sphere of advisers he had.
"Thank you sir, I doubt they'll take long to get back with us." He gave his head a small bow towards Morgan before turning on his heels and walking straight out. His face visibly distressed with the idea that Tanya was going to be married to that Sonny, he had thought she was worth so much more to Morgan than this. Tanya was his golden girl, nobody and nothing got ten feet towards her without feeling his wrath. What had happened?
Hoch stepped outside, his eyes tracing the streets carefully before falling upon a man by the side of the road. His face covered in a bushy beard and his hair falling below his shoulders, he looked desperate for money yet he made no attempt at soliciting those who walked by. Hoch shoved his hands into his pocket and walked casually over to the man. Stopping just a couple of feet from him he gave the man a quick glance before speaking.
"You're looking to sell information to Dust Collection Agency?" Hoch questioned, "Well sell them this - Morgan Flynn is looking to make peace. Be quick about it."
The man blinked a couple of times but said nothing to Hoch as he moved from the man. Even if that man was truly some random man down on his luck than the Collectors that were always following them would probably have heard. Either way Hoch's mission was finished, he thought he'd finish off this morning by buying himself a nice cup of juice, for a job well done.
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