Manipulation

IMortiMascherati: They were in Costa Rica. Manuel Antino to be exact. It should come as no shocker there was a Phoenix Hotel there. Since Stefano now owed the Suey Sing Tong a favor, that favor was in this country. And since it was a favor, he'd opted not to bring in any SVT Agents or the like for the job. He had a few others in mind. Others that he was waiting for, sitting in the outdoor restaurant adjoining the hotel, under an umbrella with a pair of sunglasses on, drinking and smoking a cigar.

feminaobscurus: Thanks to the transfer of power and titles, Liliana felt like she was in a state of perpetual vacation. Her schedule changed from day to day. So did her office. She got to get her hands dirty more and more. And she was loving every minute of it. About fifteen minutes after Stef sat down, she strolled into the restaurant and sat across from him. "We have the best hotels."

IMortiMascherati: Amusement flickered in his eyes as he released the puff of scented cigar smoke into the air. "We do. Is there a particular reason you think so, today?"

feminaobscurus: "No." She lifted his drink for a curious sniff and flagged down the waiter. "I'm just enjoying being out and about after spending I don't even know how many years behind a desk."

IMortiMascherati: His mouth curved briefly. "Missed your big brother didn't you." He sipped his drink before she stole it. "We're waiting on Caleb."

XCalebarcherx: "Islands really start to blurr together after a while. Just a buncha tropical shit." Caleb climbed out of the flashy car Stefano had had pick them up for the aiport, and adjusted the brim of his white fedora. "Hey pablo." He assigned that name, whether it was his name or not, to the young man in a hotel uniform coming down to greet them. "...where's Terenzio at?"

feminaobscurus: The waiter arrived. Lil ordered her usual and lit a cigarette, hiding a grin behind the flicker of flame and the cup of her hand. "I missed real work."

IMortiMascherati: His lips parted with quiet laughter as he lowered the glass back to the table. "How's Stupid taking to your new job?"

LaXLadrona: Terenzio had called them to Costa Rica for a job. They weren't on that job yet, but Aislara was always on hers. So, when Caleb climbed out of the car and she followed, she was dressed impeccably in designer clothes and oversized sunglasses, with a ridiculously expensive, oversized purse on her shoulder--and, of course, Princesa tucked under her arm. The teacup chihuahua shook and barked at Pablo, and Aislara cooed at her in Spanish. "Isn't that them over there?"

FeminaObscurus: "Kyle--" She glared at Stef. "--is very appreciative of the effects of my new job,"

XCalebarcherx: Caleb followed her line of sight. "That's them. Pablo take the bags to the suites." He reached into his pocket and gave the a guy a hundred then headed in that direction with Aislara, a grin forming as he approached their table. "My two favorite Terenzio's."

IMortiMascherati: His amusement remained hidden behind his sunglasses. "Good." That gaze shifted when Caleb and Aislara appeared. Setting his cigar down on the edge of the table, Stefano rose to his feet so he could hug Caleb. "Archer." Releasing him, he leaned into Aislara to take her hand and kiss her cheek, ignoring the barking rat in her purse. "More of a pleasure to see you again."

XCalebarcherx: He smacked Stefano lightly on the back, let him go and then eyeballed Liliana. "Mmhm. Damn Mamma. Trounching around the world with your brother is good for you." And hugged her.

FeminaObscurus: Stef said they were waiting on Caleb. He said nothing about the little Spanish tart. Nearly rolling her eyes as the pair arrived, Lil set her cigarette on the edge of the ash tray and stood, returning Caleb's hug. "It's good for my aim, too, so watch those hands." She gave him a knowing look, smiled at Aislara, and took her seat.

XCalebarcherx: "What is your husband here? I hope not, because you're more fun when it's just the two of us." He winked knowingly at her, then sat down too, motioning the waiter over.

LaXLadrona: Aislara took a moment to study the two Terenzios from behind the cover of her sunglasses. LIliana looked much the same, both amused and annoyed. She was more interested in Stefano, about whom she had heard so much, but had never actually-- "Again?" She pressed her fingers over his and kissed both of his cheeks. "Lo siento, Senor Terenzio, but we haven't met before. I remember men like you." They had met, of course, but he had been in Marcello's body at the time.

IMortiMascherati: "Caleb, I'm standing right here." He shot the man a quick glance from behind the sunglasses, then turned his attention back to Aislara. "Trust me. We've met, under very unusual circumstances." He pulled out a chair for her, then sat down after she did, picking back up his cigar.

FeminaObscurus: Her smirk stretched. "You say that like it's going to stop him."

XCalebarcherx: "Only if you tell him." Caleb let his grin go, and laughed when he heard Stefano, holding up his hands. "What? She's a grown ass woman Stef. She can handle me. Did. Does. Did. Pablo..." Said to the waiter. "I need a mojito."

LaXLadrona: Under very unusual circumstances... She studied Stefano as she sat, trying to place him amongst the many and varied people she met in her line of work. Maybe she would be able to once they got down to business. Meanwhile, she leashed Princesa and tied her leash to the arm of the chair. "Two mojitos, Pablo."

FeminaObscurus: Lil had plenty more barbs sitting on the tip of her tongue, but once she and Caleb started laying into each other, well, that was when trouble started. Keeping quiet for now, Lil sipped her gin and tried to ignore the shrill yapping coming from beneath the table.

IMortiMascherati: "I wouldn't start that game Caleb. I'll win it. And that's the only warning you'll get." Simply, even as he reached into the pocket of his light blazer and offered a lifelong friend a cigar. "You've done a job for my son in the past. It went over well. We're going to need you for a portion of this one."

XCalebarcherx: He took the cigar, sniffed it and glanced at his friend amused. "Simone's got a new stupid ass boyfriend I'm gonna have to lay into. You're beat." He pulled out his lighter, glancing over at Lil and nudged her arm playfully with his own. "So what's been good Mamma?"

LaXLadrona: The faint pall of confusion vanished as Stefano steered the conversation toward business. A slow smile stretched the length of her generous mouth and her eyes gleamed over the top of her sunglasses. "Everything goes over well when I do it," she said, leaning suggestively into the table. "What can I do for you, Senor Terenzio?"

feminaobscurus: With half an ear cocked to the conversation taking place on her right, Lil looked to Caleb on her left and arched a brow. "Lots of things, Caleb."

IMortiMascherati: His eyes flickered behind the black lenses. "The job is tomorrow evening. A cuban crime group that goes by the stupid name of The Corporation has pissed off a few friends of mine. We'll be joining them for a party on their yacht. Caleb, Lil and I will be handling the messier aspects of the assignment. However, there is safe on board. I need it opened. There's some jeweled dragon statue thing inside among other things. You can have everything inside of it, except the dragon."

XCalebarcherx: "Well I'm curious. Talk to me. What we're not friends no more? A brother can find out what's going on with his fly sista?" He tipped his head to one side, looking at her with a little smile forming.

feminaobscurus: If her eyes gleamed before, they glittered now, lit by the prospect of a good, old-fashioned safe cracking. So much of modern theft was tied up in foreign bank accounts and electronic transfers. This was a rare pleasure; one in which she fully intended to indulge. "What kind of safe, and how big is this dragon?"

IMortiMascherati: "I have no idea." He paused as their mojitos arrived, and puffed on his cigar. When Pablo number 2 was gone he continued. "If you would prefer not to go in blind, I do know where it's docked. We could sneak on board tonight and have a look."

feminaobscurus: She laughed, knocking her cigarette against the ashtray. "Call me fly sista again and I'm taking away your black card," she said, sipping her drink. When she set it down, she traced the rim of the glass with the tip of her finger. "You know what I've been up to."

XCalebarcherx: He laughed with her. "Some things you just can't take away. And you wouldn't want to take that away." He paused to light the stogie, puffing on it a few times and kept his eyes on her. "Yeah, I've heard some stuff. Miss me?"

LaXLadrona: She ignored the waiter completely--servants were so far beneath her public persona--and took a thoughtful sip of her mojito, licking a drop of the drink from the corner of her mouth. "If I only have one chance to get into the safe, then I want to see it before the party."

IMortiMascherati: "That's interesting. I would have thought you more of a risk taker." He lowered his cigar hand and just happened to release the long train of ash onto the yapping rats head.

LaXLadrona: The slow rake of her teeth over her bottom lip and the grin that followed said quite plainly when and how she took certain risks. Aislara leaned back in her chair, bringing her drink with her. "When I steal something for myself, I break every rule that can be broken. When someone hires me, I take their job very seriously."

feminaobscurus: "You're right. You wouldn't be nearly as fun without your black card. Or nearly as big," she added conversationally, burying her grin in her glass. "And no, I didn't miss you."

IMortiMascherati: He set the stogie down, lifted his hand and removed his sunglasses setting them on the table as he regarded her. "What if I said I'd pay you extra to see you work, raw. The job isn't that serious. And I'm not concerned about whether or not we'll complete it. We will. A little, fun is in order."

XCalebarcherx: He glanced over at Asi, then at Stefano, and came back to Lil at that retort. A grin formed. "You're such a liar. But your a good one." He took a healthy swallow of his mojito. "You know it doesn't count as cheating if your on a different continent. Then it's just...opportunity."

feminaobscurus: A heartbeat after Caleb looked toward them, she cast a hidden glance in his direction. She looked down at her drink, sipped from it, and leaned forward again, slipping her sunglasses up into the soft thickness of her hair. "I would ask you what kind of currency you intend to pay me in..."

FeminaObscurus: This time, Lil did roll her eyes. "Jesus, Caleb. Don't you ever get tired of chasing my skirt? I do." She took a heavy drag off of her cigarette and double-took at Aislara and Stefano when she heard the innuendo in Aislra's voice. She lifted her chin in the Spaniard's direction. "You better keep an eye on your girl."

IMortiMascherati: The corner of his mouth curved, subtly. "You pick the currency." And then he pulled his gaze from her and lifted an amused brow at Caleb. "A business arrangement."

FeminaObscurus: Caleb's attention properly diverted, Lil leaned back in her chair and finished her cigarette with a relieved puff.

LaXLadrona: The slight curl at the corner of his mouth drew a grin out on hers. Aislara slowly twirled a lock of dark hair around her finger, licked her lips, and parted them to answer when Caleb broke into the conversation. "What is the matter, papi? You brought me here. You don' want me to do business, now?"

XCalebarcherx: "Course I want you to handle your business Boo, but he..." Caleb gave Stefano a look. "Whatever. What's the job by the way, Stef?"

IMortiMascherati: A trace of amusement lingered behind the steel as he brought his scotch glass up to his lips for a sip. "Mario Escobar, and about five members of his family will meet their end tmorrow. While we're doing that, Aislara's theiving fingers will be removing something I need from the safe."

feminaobscurus: Lil waved the waiter over and ordered a refil while Stefano gave the details. "Six to three? I like those odds."

LaXLadrona: "I am very good with my fingers," she agreed shamelessly. She glanced down at Princesa, clucked her tongue, and dusted the ash off of the twitchy little dog's apple head.

IMortiMascherati: "Plus whatever security is on board. I've told him I wanted to discuss some business my family to his." He slide his gaze over to Aislara. "I would hope so. Though, I've heard that in those instances that type of skill doesn't extend beyond one's job."

XCalebarcherx: "And I even brought my new whips." Caleb pulled the hat off his head tossing it onto the table and quirked a brow at Stefano's latter comment. "Un huh. Okay. I see how it is." He looked over at Lil. "You not even gonna try to keep yah brother an honest man?"

LaXLadrona: When the waiter returned with Liliana's drink, Aislara ordered a bottle of still water and a bowl, because Princesa was thirsty. When the waiter left, the forced the vapid look off of her face and fixed Stefano with a look that was equal parts wickedness and glee. "We can put those rumors to bed, Senor Terenzio..."

feminaobscurus: Aislara had a hell of a set on her. Big brass ones. Watching Stef for a moment, she picked up her drink and shrugged at Caleb. "He knows what he's doing, and who's waiting for him."

IMortiMascherati: A slow smile curled faintly across his mouth as he watched the look in her eyes. After a moment he slide his gaze from her and back to the table. "So, what's been keeping you busy Archer?"

XCalebarcherx: "No loyalty in your family. My sister woulda been on my shit. For at least the first five minutes anyway." He look briefly amused and took another healthy swallow from his mojito. "Same ole, same ole Stef. Smoothed over my relations with the WMT a few weeks ago when I did a job for em. That'll keep em away from my island for a minute."

LaXLadrona: Stefano was a safe unto himself. Moreso than Kyle had been. Wondering just how she could go about cracking him, Aislara sat back, putting Princesa's water down when the waiter returned, and enjoyed her mojito, absently smoothing a hand over Caleb's knee. "Your sister's energy isn't wasted from fighting you off."

feminaobscurus: Lil scoffed into her drink. "Are you saying you want me to come to your rescue, Caleb?"

XCalebarcherx: He winked over at Aislara, and tossed Lil a devilish grin. "If that's what you wanna call it." And then he held up his hands in surrender "Don't even say it, mamma. I'll be good. For the rest of the weekend. I swear."

IMortiMascherati: "Caleb I don't think you've ever even known the meaning of the word. But then again, neither have I." He drank to that, then motioned poor Pablo back over to get everyone a refill.

LaXLadrona: "Oh, that isn't the truth. Caleb can be very, very good." She gave him a shameless smile and squeezed his knee, enjoying the sunshine and the beginnings of her buzz.

feminaobscurus: She walked into that one. Rolling her eyes yet again, Lil tossed back a swallow of gin. "Your definition of good is very different than mine."

IMortiMascherati: He canted his head, looking at Aislara after that comment. "Compared to what, exactly?"

XCalebarcherx: "That's whats up. And every other man on the planet. Because Boo has probably had them." Biting back a grin, he looked over at Lil. "Yeah I seen your definition of good. I like it."

LaXLadrona: She laughed, setting her drink aside to pet Princesa as she jumped into her lap. "I have my standards, thank you. But I am very good at finding men who meet them." Her eyes, as vivid and luminescent as the northern lights,

LaXLadrona: danced as they settled on Stefano. "Compared to you, maybe. If we have met before and I don't remember you, then you must not have been very good."

IMortiMascherati: He thanked Pablo this time as fresh glasses were delievered. Folding his forearm on the table top, he plucked up his glass with the other. Amusement shone throught he steel at that. "All that time in the spotlight has given you an unfounded ego. The reason you don't remember, just might be because I turned you down."

feminaobscurus: Lil watched the interaction between Aislara and Stefano like she was watching a tennis match. Grinning faintly, she leaned into an elbow and ticked a glance at Caleb. "I think they're going to be ready for

feminaobscurus: a cigarette in a couple more rounds."

XCalebarcherx: Caleb had burst into laughter at Aislara's comment, and kept laughing at Stefano's. He turned his gaze to Lil. "You see Mamma? We could be having fun like that. But nooooo." A teasing grin forming.

LaXLadrona: She lowered her chin and lounged more deeply in her chair, watching Stefano with the stillness of a jungle cat. "I go in blind," she said, striking a deal. "When I break the safe and bring you the dragon, I get to give you something to remember me by."

feminaobscurus: She watched the tete a tete a moment longer before glancing up at Caleb. "Too late. We've already slept together. The tension's been broken. Our moment has passed."

IMortiMascherati: He took a slow sip from fresh sctoch glass, watching her over the rim as she struck up that deal. Lowering his glass he was silent for a moment, then nodded once, his mouth curving again, faintly. "If you think you can."

XCalebarcherx: He cut up laughing at that and lifted his mojito in toast. "That's what's up. To good times."

LaXLadrona: Another slow, shameless grin settled along the generous line of her mouth. "If it was going to be easy I wouldn't bother."

IMortiMascherati: His lips parted in quiet laughter. "I believe you. I'll try to kill all mine early, just for the pleasure of watching you work."

feminaobscurus: "Besides," she added, lifting her glass into the toast, "You have your hands full with that one."

LaXLadrona: "Oh, there can be a lot of pleasure when I work," she purred in that sultry Spanish velvet. "I am very good at multi-tasking."

XCalebarcherx: "Its not like that. Its just you know, whatever." He tossed Aislara a glance, briefly wondered how she was going to give Stefano this remember me by present, lets it go and looks back at Lil. "So how are you and the white boy? No disrepect, I'm asking for real."

feminaobscurus: She arched a brow at the look he gave the Spanish tart, but smiled as he shifted his attention back. "We're doing really well. We have our rough patches, but we come through them a little closer and a little stronger."

IMortiMascherati: "You talk a very good game, Aislara. Which is common in my line of living. You leave me little choice but to put it to the test." He glanced over at his sisters cigarettes and made one float over to him.

XCalebarcherx: "That's what's up." He took a small sip from his mojito. "I know I fuck with you a little bit, but you can't blame me, its all about the bootay." He winked, "But, you and the white boy your for real, aren't you? I mean you two really work at that shit."

LaXLadrona: "You know Caleb." She nodded in his direction and sipped at her drink. "So you know that he wouldn't waste his time with me if I couldn't play the game, too."

XCalebarcherx: "Ey, ey..." He glanced over. "Don't make me an accessory to this." He wiggled his fingers at the two of them. He glanced at Stefano. "She's a lesbian." Then looked back at Lil.

IMortiMascherati: He opened his mouth to say something but it died in his throat at Caleb. He pressed his lips together hard, holding in the laughter. When the moment had passed he cleared his throat. "Nothing wrong with a lesbian. As a vouyer I'm a big fan."

feminaobscurus: "You know how you have that handful of girls that you keep going back to? The good ones?" Her smile deepened. "He's the only one worth going back to, for me."

XCalebarcherx: "I know that's right. It still burns a little." He had on a teasing, mock pained expression. "I mean, you left the hot tub. That's some shit right there." Humor rolled around in his eyes.

feminaobscurus: She grinned faintly. "Nothing personal."

XCalebarcherx: "Ima get over it eventually." He winked. "How's the future gangsta's?"

LaXLadrona: She shook her head and finished what was left in her glass before the ice diluted it. "He wishes I was, so he could have the challenge of trying to 'turn' me."

IMortiMascherati: Amusement flickered. "He wouldn't be able to do it. I could though."

feminaobscurus: Her grin widened. "Wreaking havoc. We have to meet with the teacher at least once a week."

XCalebarcherx: He started laughing. "Your slacking mamma. You gotta teach how not to get caught. I gotta roll through? Some em some stuff?"

LaXLadrona: Her eyes set to dancing once more as they landed on Stefano. "And how would you do it?"

feminaobscurus: She laughed and shook her head. "Hell no. I don't need you rubbing off on my son or teaching my daughter anything."

IMortiMascherati: His mouth curved with just a tinge of arrogance. "Let's just say most lesbians problem isn't the equipment, its what attached to it. And mainpulating people, is what I do."

XCalebarcherx: "Aww c'mon mamma why not. LIke he's a better influence." He jerked a thumb at Stefano.

FeminaObscurus: She laughed again. "He's a Terenzio. I don't mind his influence."

XCalebarcherx: He laughed with her at that. "That's just discriminatory. I'd have your daughter using a whip. Let somebody talk shit to her then. Public school can be rough."

FeminaObscurus: Lil smirked, but pride moved through her eyes. She's my daughter. You think she'll take shit from anyone? She doesn't need your whip."

XCalebarcherx: He laughed again. "That's whats up. I'm just sayin, its a little early for handguns. Whips on the other hang, she just might get detention."

feminaobscurus: She sat back, crossing her legs at the knee, and pulled her sunglasses down over her eyes. "That makes two of us."

IMortiMascherati: "I knew I liked you for a reason." He lifted his glass to her and took a long swallow.

_________________

IMortiMascherati: Stefano was standing outside the hotel, leaning up against the side of the limo waiting for the crew, his cell phone against his ear. "Meet us in Costa Rica tomorrow then Basher. You and Lil can discuss selling your microchips."

FeminaObscurus: Lil had lingered in her room long enough to call home and give Kyle and the kids their goodnights. As soon as she finished, she joined her brother downstairs--and perked up at the half of the conversation that she could hear. "What did Basher lift?"

IMortiMascherati: "Its not your birthday fuck you." Amusement flickering in his eyes, Stefano hung up the phone, looking over at his sister. "You know the microchips the WMT made everyone get? Basher's mass producing them."

XCalebarcherx: He came strolling out of the hotel, decked out for the party. And kept his hand on Aislara's ass the whole walk down, just in case that sneaky reporter was hiding in some potted planet. Might as well give him something for the tabloids.

FeminaObscurus: Liliana blinked. Rapidly. "He's what?"

IMortiMascherati: "Its Basher." He tucked his cell phone back into his pocket. "You can sell half of them on the market and we can give the other half away to people with abilities trying to get out of WMT area's. It'll be good PR."

LaXLadrona: Aislara followed on Caleb's arm, wearing sharp stilettos and a flirty cocktail dress that left little to the imagination, and looking like she had smuggled an profesional hair and make up team into the hotel. For once, she was sans Princesa, having left the quakey little canine in her room. "So that some back alley surgeon with a suspended medical license can open up their heads and plug the chips in?"

IMortiMascherati: "These are the ones inserted into the hand. Anyone could do it really. He's got a market." He pushed off the car and opened up the back door, climbing into the car.

FeminaObscurus: "Mass produced chips, and no surgery," Lil marveled, following Stef into the car. "That will wreak so much havoc."

XCalebarcherx: "Tell him to hook me up with a couple." He waited for Aislara to climb in too then followed after her, shutting the door. "Can we keep the boat?"

LaXLadrona: Into the hand? Arching a slender, considering brow and glancing up at Caleb, Aislara eventually shrugged and slipped into the backseat, curling around Caleb once he was settled. "What do you need another boat for?"

XCalebarcherx: Caleb grinned. "Boats are like booty calls. You can't ever have too many."

FeminaObscurus: Lil chuckled, raising the divider between the front seat and the back. "That's just the pirate in him."

IMortiMascherati: "No. We blow it when we're done." He stretched his left leg out in front of him. "I'll conjure up your weapons once we're on board. Unless of course some there has that ability." He glanced over at his sister. "Or you could just make them all shoot

LaXLadrona: Her nose wrinkled. "Shoot themselves? What is the fun in that?"

XCalebarcherx: "I second that." He stretched his arms over the back of the seat. "Guns are overrated too."

IMortiMascherati: He shifted his gaze towards Aislara. "And here I thought you were just an honest theif."

FeminaObscurus: Lil smirked. "Right. Bullwhips are much better. More practical, too."

LaXLadrona: She leveled a smile onto Stefano and fingered the back of Caleb's collar. "I have my fun."

XCalebarcherx: "And quieter." He grinned. "Betcha I can take the gun out of your hand before you can squeeze the trigger."

FeminaObscurus: Lil eyed him narrowly, tracing the seam in her armrest. "What do you want to bet?"

XCalebarcherx: "You outta know better asking me a question like that." He tipped his fedora back from his forehead. "What are you willing to loose mamma?"

IMortiMascherati: "I'm sure you do." The limo pulled up in front of the docked yacht. Two men stood at the bottom of the carpeted gnagplank, their guns visible underneath their suit jackets. "That's two." He waited for their driver to come around and open up the door for them, then curled his fingers around the handle of his cane and climbed out.

FeminaObscurus: "I was hoping you would know better than to suggest something you're not going to get. And I asked you first." Ticking a brow at him, she quit the car after Stefano. "One more at the top of the gangplank."

XCalebarcherx: He laughed as he got out of the car. "I'm going to think about it, and hollah at you." He patted one of the guards on the arm as he passed him. "Nice tie, son."

LaXLadrona: She watched Stefano step out of the car, and once she had done the same, she looped her arm through Caleb's and fanned her lips over his jaw. "Why didn't you introduce me to him sooner, Papi?"

FeminaObscurus: She fell in step beside her brother and spared him a brief, sidelong glance. "She did the same thing to Kyle."

XCalebarcherx: He tipped his head down, and bit back again. "Because he doesn't get to be on your booty call list."

IMortiMascherati: "I'm sure she did. And a dozen other alpha males." He flicked his gaze over to her briefly. "I'm shocked you let her live."

LaXLadrona: Both brows arched sharply. Telling Aislara no or that she couldn't do something was not like hitting her brakes. It was like hitting her accelerator. "Oh? He must be better than you, then."

FeminaObscurus: "It was an exercise in restraint," she admitted, half-smiling. "That was also the weekend that Kyle's memory came back, so I was more willing to let it slide."

XCalebarcherx: "Hold up, hold up. Nobody said that." He kept his voice low since the two at the bottom of the gangplank were now following behind them. "He's my boy. My boy's are off limits. Its like family."

IMortiMascherati: "You are getting soft." His mouth curved for the briefest moment at her, and vanished as they were taken out to one of the desk were Escobar and two women were sitting. "Stefano Terenzio. In the flesh. And the Black Widow. On my boat." Escobar remained sitting, but smiled. "Who are you friends?" Two more armed men stood nearby.

LaXLadrona: Some of the playfulness went out of Aislara, replaced with an indignant set to her jaw. Who was he to tell her who she could and could not fuck? When they arrived at the top of the gangplank, though, the tension gave way to her empty-headed, fame-courting alter ego. "Dios mio, what a beautiful boat this is!"

FeminaObscurus: Lil matched his fleeting smile. "So are you." Smiling fully at Escobar, Lil stepped aside and gestured to Caleb. "Caleb Archer and his lady friend, Aislara Valdes."

XCalebarcherx: "What's good Escobar." Caleb smiled over at the cuban. "Miss. Valdes is right. It is a beautiful boat. I've got a few myself."

LaXLadrona: "There must be many, many places to sneak off to.." She pulled at the front of Caleb's coat and gave him a hungry look, pressing into him as she touched her chin to her shoulder and glanced back at escobar. "Maybe we can have a tour later?"

IMortiMascherati: "Caleb is our transportation expert." He slide his gaze over the armed men around them. He'd counted five. Maybe one or two more wandering around on board. "Dealing in anything but cocaine these days?" Escobar shook his head. "Nope. No need. Please sit..." Escobar motioned. "I'm very curious what you want Terenzio with us Terenzio. I thought the white goddess wasn't good enough for you." "I'll go into it. Over a drink. And if you could, give Miss. Valdes a tour so we can discuss business."

XCalebarcherx: He laughed, sliding his arms around her and smacking her ass lightly. "Yes there are Boo. Its just like the one Papi takes you on." He grinned over at Escobar. "Think you can spare a man to show her around, son? She likes twisting the wheel. Feel me?"

LaXLadrona: "Mmm... if it's like the one you take me on, then when you're done, you should meet me in our specia little place." Lifting up onto the tips of her toes, she stole a heated kiss from him and slipped back, giving Escobar's men a quick once over. Selecting a target that was handsome enough but didn't seem too bright, she smiled at him. "Me gusta. You can give me a tour."

FeminaObscurus: Letting Aislara do her thing, Lil took a seat as it was offered and lit a cigarette while she waited.

IMortiMascherati: Escobar laughed and nodded. "Si, si. Of course." He looked at the two women at his side and sent them to his room. "Mario, give Miss. Valdes a tour. Not my office eh? Oh, and take your time." Mario nodded and turning with Aislara attached to his side walked away. Stefano pulled a chair at the table and lowered himself into it, resting his cane against the tables edge. "You've done business in Asia before, haven't you?" "I am expanding my Asian markets. There is a group who attempts to get into my way, but we'll work it out. You know how that goes." Escobar looked over at Liliana. "You are more beautiful than the rumors give you credit. Why have we never worked together before?"

XCalebarcherx: He passed his thumb over his lips, watching the poor sucker mario. "Have fun baby." He opted to remain standing, leaning back against the railing and setting his hands out on either side of him again. Quicker uncoil motion as soon as Stefano made his whip appear.

FeminaObscurus: Liliana smiled warmly at Escobar, leaning back in her seat as she felt her gun materialize against the small of her back. "Because now is the time. I'm looking forward to working with you."

IMortiMascherati: He made Lil's gun appear first. He was less sublte with his own weapon and Calebs whips. He put those right in Archers hand. His own gun appeared on top of the table. He didn't offer any explaination either. He simply raised it, and put a bullet in the forehead of the guard standing behind Escobar. Escobar's eyes widened at the sudden appearance of guns and he shot to his feet "What are you doing?!"

LaXLadrona: Mario was a most willing tour guide. Aislara was a model patron, up until the point that they breezed past Escobar's office. "What's in there?" Mario tore his gaze from her cleavage long enough to look behind him. "That? That's off limits. Come on. I'll show you the captain's quarters..." Aislara grinned slowly, raking her teeth along her bottom lip. "Show me this room," she murmured, pressing into him. She smoothed her hands up his chest. "We can have so much fun..." Mario wrapped his arms around her waist and lowered his chin, breathing her in--and that was the last thing he remembered. Consumed, he crushed Aislara's mouth beneath his and shoved his key into the lock. They tumbled into Escobar's office, knocking things off of his desk. And then, with Aislara's legs wrapped around his waist and her mouth fused to his, he groaned weakly and collapsed on top of her. Aislara peered down at the top of his head and pushed him off of her. "Tan facil," she muttered. So easy.

XCalebarcherx: Nothing like the feeling of a hard leather in your hands. He'd no sooner gotten them, then he snapped them out, robbing the two men standing next to him of their weapons as they drew them. Making a 'tsk tsk" sound, the next roll of his arms had the leather wrapped around their necks. They'd be dead in five seconds.

FeminaObscurus: "What we came here for." She pulled her .45 and dropped the guard on her right and the guard behind Escobar. Then she leveled the barrel on Escobar himself. "I think I look prettier with a gun in my hand. What do you think?"

IMortiMascherati: Mario made five. Stefano winked at Escobar then turned around in his chair, watching the open hallways in case any more of his men walked out. Escobar was sweating. Shaking. He held up his hands. "What do you want? I can't get you anything. Money? Powder? Boats? What?"

XCalebarcherx: Caleb smirked as he pulled the leather from around the dead guards necks, and began lovingly coiling them back up. "You got some twizzlers on board? I think we could start with that."

LaXLadrona: Aislara closed the door and tucked Mario beneath Escobar's desk. She then perched on the edge and swept a quick glance around the room. It was a beautiful yacht, but it was still a yacht. There were a limited number of places in which a safe could be hidden. Picking her discarded clutch up off of the floor, she checked the pictures mounted on the walls and eventually found what she sought hidden behind a false wooden panel in the wall. Carefully pulling the panel away, she grinned. It was a Magister 95A. She could crack it.

FeminaObscurus: "We have what we came for. Or we will, in a few minutes. You're no longer needed." Lil squeezed the trigger and put a bullet in Escobar's brain pan.

IMortiMascherati: He made two blocks of C4 and a detonator appear on the table, and then he tucked the gun in the waist band of his slacks, and picked up his cane as he stood. "Plant these. I'll go find our theif and we'll be on our way."

XCalebarcherx: He briefly considered switching roles with Stefano, but then again alone time with Lilian was always fun. Decisions decisions. Leaving it alone, he walked over to the table, picking up one of the small bricks. "Wanna learn how to use a whip? I could teach you. Never know, yah man might like it." He grinned faintly.

LaXLadrona: Aislara knelt in front of the safe and closed her eyes, recalling the locking mechanisms and security features by memory. It was a digital lock. The microchips and circuits were embedded in the door. It was a simple matter of drilling and using an electronic reader to access the code; assuming she didn't drill too hot and fry the circuits. Opening her eyes, she picked up her clutch and pulled a small drill from it; the kind used in nail chop shops.

FeminaObscurus: Left with the dead bodies, two chunks of C4 and Caleb, Lil finished her cigarette and stubbed it out on the arm of her chair. "As long as I can practice on you."

XCalebarcherx: "We can work something out." He picked up Escobar's unfinished glass, sniffed it, then polished it off himself. "Down in the engine room?" He motioned at the C4.

FeminaObscurus: "Oh, sure. You know how I relish the moments that you and I are stuck in close quarters." Panning him a level look, Lil picked up the second brick and started for the stairs.

IMortiMascherati: He was correct in his assumption, one more guard prowled the inside of the boat. Turning a corner, Stefano caught his back. Canted his head, and a second later the man dropped with his neck bent an odd angle. He stepped over the body, and continued his search for his Escobars office.

XCalebarcherx: "Keep your hands to yourself, and I'll do the same." He bit back a grin and followed behind her. He didn't touch, but he might have looked at her ass a few times on the way.

LaXLadrona: The drill wasn't overly loud, but the yacht was quiet, especially below decks. Confident that the Caleb and the two Terenzios had taken care of the guards and left with little choice but to forge ahead, she dripped a special lubricant onto the small drill bit, set it to the door just to the right of the number pad, and switched the power on.

FeminaObscurus: "You keep your hands to yourself? I'll believe that when I see it." The yacht was large enoug that it had been equipped with signs, so finding the engine room wasn't difficult. It was, however, locked. Lil rattled the handle, shot the knob clean off the door, and swung it open.

XCalebarcherx: "I'm not sweating you that bad. I mean it was good, but you know." He followed her inside, squeezed past her and found a good spot to stick his particular brick. "Cuban had good taste in machinery I'll give him that."

IMortiMascherati: It was the faintest sound of the drill that narrowed his search. He swung open the door to escobar's office and saw Mario's unconscious form first. Amusement flickered openly in his eyes as he closed the door behind him and propped his shoulder against it, closing both hands comfortably over the handle of his cane. "And here I thought you would have been done by now."

FeminaObscurus: Lil glared at him, heatlessly. "You're baiting me, but I'm biting. I was fantastic, thank you very much." She dropped to a knee and leaned through a pair of metal bars, stretching as far as her fingers would allow, and mushed the explosive into a tight spot that looked like it would explode exceptionally well.

XCalebarcherx: "I'll give you bout a 7. 7 and a half." He made sure the detonator was set on them, and stepped back. "Watcha think, ten minutes?"

LaXLadrona: Senses finely attuned to her surroundings, she pulled her finger off the power button when she heard the door knob turn and threw a quick glance over her shoulder. Then, she smiled. "Thirty more seconds," she said, turning back to her work. She leaned a little more heavily into the drill, backing off seconds later, and stopped when she felt the bit slide forward into the minute space between the metal of the door and the delicate circuitry behind it.

IMortiMascherati: He slide his gaze away from her only briefly to glance down at his watch. "I'm going to hold you to that."

FeminaObscurus: "Seven and a half, huh?" She pushed to her feet and joined him, dusting her hands. "So why are you slumming it with me when you have your hot little ten with you?" She checked his

FeminaObscurus: watch. "Ten, I guess. Depends on how good your girl is."

XCalebarcherx: "Most nigga's want what they can't have. And she's like an eight." He paused in brief thought, and just for shits and giggles set the time for eight minutes, pressed the button and that was that. "Lets bounce."

LaXLadrona: "Twenty nine." Grinning, she put the drill away, clicked on a penlight, and pushed a pair of precision tweezers into the small hole she had made. "Twenty five." She continued to count down, ticking off each second as she pulled a blue wire through the hole, cut away the coating, clipped a hand held device to the bare copper beneath it, and punched a command into the device. Numbers cycled through the screen, stopping one at a time. "It's usually their birthday," she said, watching the numbers as they scrolled. "Or someone's name in numbers. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Thr--" The numbers stopped. The screen on safe's number pad backlit. It beeped three times, and the locks slid back.

XCalebarcherx: He laughed, letting her pass in front of him for obvious reasons and followed along behind her. Maybe a little closer than aboustely necessary but hey, he wasn't touching. "Maybe. That's why I've always got you to fall back on."

LaXLadrona: "Deception is fun, no?" She gave him a sharp, knowing smile and disconnected her equipment, tucking the small devices into her evening purse. Then, without ceremony, she looked inside. The safe was filled with standard fare: cash, bonds, legal documents, and spare guns. It held three small lock boxes as well, and the dragon statue. Aislara carefully lifted it out of the safe and held it up to the light. "Beautiful craftsmanship. What does it do?"

IMortiMascherati: He shrugged a single shoulder. "I don't know. I don't particularly care either. It's return pays off a debt I owe. Do you need assistance carrying the rest of the contents of the safe?"

Femina Obscurus: Lil turned to face him, walking backwards down the hall. "Damn, Caleb. You sure know the way to a woman's heart; telling her she's the default when a man can't get a better piece of ass."

XCalebarcherx: A slow smile formed. "What we have is no way connected to any heart strings." He licked his lips, sparing a quick glance at her mouth. "You're tighter when you're mad at me anyway."

Femina Obscurus: "Oh, for fuck's sake..." Shaking her head, she turned on her heel and continued to follow the signs.

XCalebarcherx: He burst into laughter, and followed along behind her. "What? I was just saying."

LaXLadrona: "No, I can do it." Rising to her feet, she turned toward Stefano and stepped into him, putting the statue behind her back. "I went in blind," she murmured. Her shimmering gaze slowly raked over him. "Are you going to honor the other half of our deal?"

Femina Obscurus: "Yeah, you're always just saying. Always pushing, always testing, always ruffling feathers and stepping over boundaries and..." The list continued the farther they walked down this particular corridor, in which she eventually hung a left.

IMortiMascherati: "So you did." He murmured, tracking her motions as she stepped into it. He tilted his head slightly. "I'll honor it. Though those might be my famous last words."

XCalebarcherx: That amused expression remained sitting on his face as her list continued. "Never know what you can get away with unless yah push the limits. You know that better than most Mamma."

LaXLadrona: The desk was behind her. Aislara set the statue on it and eased herself onto the edge. She pulled Stefano with her, drawing him between her knees, and smoothed her hands up his chest. She slipped them over his shoulders and guided him down to her mouth. Hers was hot, soft and inviting, and she skillfully slipped her tongue over his.

Femina Obscurus: "You really don't get tired of it?" She stopped and turned back to him, hands planted on her hips. "Not the button pushing, that's just you, but the skirt chasing and the empty encounters and the same meaningless pursuit over and over again?"

IMortiMascherati: A deal was a deal. That could have been a lame excuse for the encounter he found himself in. He let her draw him in, watching her with that impentrable mask. He didn't resist when she pulled him to her mouth, but he didn't wrap his arms around her. Just, indulged. She tasted like he'd expected. And for a just a moment, he gave into temptation and flicked his tongue against hers.

XCalebarcherx: "You want it straight up?" He shrugged. "Every now and then. But I'm not at the point that I'm ready to call it quits and go find true love, or some sappy shit like that."

LaXLadrona: She drew back long enough to draw breath and grin in the half-light. "It gets better," she murmured against his mouth, ducking down to kiss him again; harder this time, drawing his heat and his flavor into her mouth, and sucking the consciousness right out of him.

Femina Obscurus: The corner of her mouth lifted. "I didn't expect that. Wow. Honesty, from you." Giving him a playful smile meant to take the edge off of her remark, she glanced up at the signs. She frowned.

IMortiMascherati: She was too secretly devious just to impart a kiss on him. Which left him wondering where this would lead, as she drew back just a breath. And then she kissed him again, with more insistance, and he indulged a little more, might have leaned closer and then - he was floating in the abyss, knocked out.

Femina Obscurus: "How much time do we have? Because I took a wrong turn."

XCalebarcherx: "I anit never lied to you Mamma. We're peoples, regardless of anything else." He looked down at his watch. "Um, about three minutes. Shit can't be that big. Haul ass."

LaXLadrona: Taking more care with Stefano than she did with Mario, Aislara caught him as he collapsed and eased him onto the ground, patting his head once he was situated. "Demasiado facil," she sighed. Too easy. Finding a duffel bag in the office, she tossed her clutch, the contents of the safe and the statue into it, zipped it up, and darted into the hall--two doors down from Liliana and Caleb. She looked at them both, smiled apologetically, shrugged, turned, and sprinted down the hall, taking a sharp left.

XCalebarcherx: He knew that look. He'd know that look anyway. "Oh no she didn't." He glanced down at the top of Lil's head. "C'mon move faster we gotta get your brother."

Femina Obscurus: Lil was just about to complain that Stef and Aislara were cutting it close when Aislara herself appeared--sans Stef. When she took off running, Lil's eyes narrowed. "Now I have no problem telling you that I despise that woman." Drawing her .45, she ran to the second door down the hall.

XCalebarcherx: "You just don't like her, because she almost got Kyle in the bag." He burst into the room with her and saw Stefano next to Mario. He shook his head and bent down, hauling Stefano over his shoulder. "I can't believe that girl. She's fuckin with him. On purpose. What the hell. I said not my boys. Didn't I say not my boys." He was still muttering as he carried Stefano back out of the room.

LaXLadrona: She had ulterior-ulterior motives with the tour; walking the yacht with Mario had provided her with an escape route. She cut through the galley and took the port side stairs up to the top deck, carefully picked her way through the bodies, and raced down the gangplank.

Femina Obscurus: "Yeah, and now she's fucking with my brother." Caleb obviously had Stef. She tugged on his arm. "This way. Really this way." Following the correct signs this time, she ran up the starboard stairs and cut to the railing just as Aislara broke away from the bottom of the gangplank. Not caring what whit about what she might or might not mean to Caleb, Lil lifted her .45, took aim, and fired.

XCalebarcherx: "Whoa, whoa. whoa Mamma!" Shouted as they reached the bottom of the gangplank. "Chill! I mean it'd be aii'right if you wasn't the shot to kill kinda of woman." Just as he said that, the boat exploded. "Shit." He stumbled forward, hunching his shoulders and letting Stefano take the brunt of any flying debris as he moved away from the vessel.

LaXLadrona: Something whizzed by her ear, punching through the rusted out container just ahead of her. Belatedly, with the gunshot echoing in her ears, she realized it was a bullet. "Pinche perra!" she screamed at the yacht. And then she was gone, lost in the maze of containers.

Femina Obscurus: Lil shot once more, just because she could, and managed to glare at Caleb before the yacht blew apart. "I missed anyway!" she called over the roar of the flames.

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