Appearing Sane

Participants:

cardinal_icon.gif lynette2_icon.gif

Scene Title Appearing Sane
Synopsis Lynette comes to Redbird for some business.
Date September 03, 2010

Redbird Security

There's a sharp, professional feel to the main lobby of the building. The carpet is a deep maroon underfoot, the walls an off-white cream that doesn't glare too brightly beneath the recessed lighting in the ceiling. Half a dozen chairs upholstered in a sandy light brown sit against one wall beneath a painting, a print of a Thomas Brill that shows the ruins of Midtown covered in vines and greenery as seen from the rooftop of the Deveaux building. The receptionist's station takes up almost an entire wall on the right side of the lobby, guarding the hallway that leads back into the building's offices. Behind and above the desk, the logo for Redbird Security Solutions hangs on the wall in glossy black.

The central hall continues the same carpet and wall colors to a number of doors. There are four offices, a restroom done in shades of blue and pale sand tones, and a comfortable employee lounge with attached kitchenette. An open doorway in the main lobby reveals a flight of upward stairs, and there's a locked door at he end of the central hall that guards the basement steps.


It's somewhat later in the afternoon, and Cardinal's obviously just gotten up from a nap on his couch or somewhere else that isn't properly a bed; he's wearing a suit that's so rumpled it might be able to put up a solid fight against an iron or steamer, and his hair's a bit of a rat's nest. He's mostly ignored by the receptionist that's on duty as he stands next to the front desk going through his mail, occasionally dropping a piece of it to the desk with a murmur about 'junk'.

In high contrast, Lynette walks in wearing a very crisp and pressed femininely cut suit, high heels giving her a few bonus inches. Nevermind that it's all a deep red with these subtle black pinstripes, she's moved beyond the concept of the power tie.

"Well, well, well. The mystery man himself," she greets with a crooked smile as she spots Richard. "You look like hell." She doesn't seem to register that he's here because it's his business, as she steps over to the desk to address the receptionist. "I'd like to see… whoever's in charge, really."

The receptionist looks up, about to say something, and then Cardinal drops the rest of his junk mail in front of her with a slap of paper on wood that instantly silences her.

"Thanks," he says in dry if bright tones, scratching his fingers behind one ear, "Guys just love hearing that. As for who's in charge, that's me. C'mon, my office is back here." Turning without another word, he leads the way towards the hallway beside the receptionist's desk, calling back, "Hold my calls."

"Is that so?" Lynette lifts an eyebrow and looks him over again before she moves to follow along. She does give a wave to the receptionist along the way, but her attention comes back to Cardinal. "Does the receptionist know you like to run rescue ops or is that just a side job?" she asks with a wry expression, her voice lowered for more private conversation.

"Can't a man have a hobby?" A joking response before Cardinal pushes into the office, stepping along through the well-appointed room towards his large oak desk. The mail's dropped down onto it, and he steps around it to sprawl into the chair there, beneath the Mendez print hanging over the seat. He leans forward, then, hands clasping and both brows raising a touch.

"So. What can I do for you, Miss Rowan?"

Lynette glances to that painting. It's fairly clear she recognizes the style there and isn't… particularly thrilled with it. Perhaps she's an art critic in her spare time. But she looks back to Cardinal, coming over to the desk herself to take a seat. "It's really just a question. My… co-super for Gun Hill mentioned that there was some sort of situation where he almost got some security for the building and while a guard isn't really… needed at this point. I was curious about what other types of security your business might be able to offer. Cameras, systems, things like this…"

"We can certainly set that up," Cardinal replies easily, his head bobbing in an easy nod, "We've got technical experts that can set up alarm systems, cameras, computerize the entire thing. We can isolate it from outside systems if you're worried about technopaths, too — or have it alert one of the other safehouses instead of the cops."

"Fantastic. I'll need to see some sort of price list that I can show when I propose all this. And yes, alerting the other safehouses would be preferable." For some reason, that particular point makes her reach up to rub at the bridge of her nose. "I'm mostly worried about people getting in… who shouldn't be able to get in," she says, her tone… quite serious there. "I know I can't exactly install metal doors to slam down over the possible entrances, but. I'm really not sure what my options are. It's… pivotal to me that I get some safety measures put up… as soon as I can manage it."

"You could do that, technically," Cardinal admits with a silent chuckle shaking his shoulders, "I mean, it'd be pretty obvious and ominous looking, and it might drive off some of your actual paying tenants, but you could. Really, it's a matter of how much you're willing to pay and what you want." More serious, he scratches under his chin, "Are we talking preparing for a riot, or dealing with assassins or something? The latter's a lot harder, especially with 'legitimate' tenants."

That is the question, isn't it. Lynette clears her throat for a moment, and shifts a bit uncomfortably in her seat. "It isn't for any assassins. At least none that I know of. I… ah. I have reason… to believe my building may… I suppose a raid would be the more appropriate term. And my goal isn't really for no one to get in ever, but for the safehouse's wards to have time to get out. I know it sounds terribly strange, and believe me, I've tried to find a way to explain it that leaves me sounding sane, but it just isn't in the cards." With a heavy outlet of breath, the woman sits back in her chair, her hand covering her face for a moment.

After her explaination, Cardinal shakes his head, a rueful half-smile twitching to his lips. "Lynette," he says quietly, "I collect precognitive paintings and visions in an attempt to alter the future. In the course of getting you and the others out from the hospital, I fought a giant ice monster that used to be a man I played poker with one night. I once survived a point blank nuclear explosion. I'm pretty sure I left the ballpark where I'm allowed to question people's sanity a long time ago."

"Try me."

"Ah, a connoisseur of the bizarre, is it?" Lynette, at least, doesn't seem to have a hard time swallowing that list of… accolades. "Well, first of all. My being taken by the Institute, in all likelihood, means that my safehouse is a high risk point. I've gotten advice to register and look totally legal to let Lynette Rowan disappear and go lay low until god knows when. So, there is the 'they're after me' reasoning that I would normally tag as paranoia, except it may very well be very true. And then, those visions. My safehouse gets raided. People get shot. There were these… hidden escape hatches that aren't there now, but I suppose I better build them so people can get out. In comparison, I suppose paranoia and visions don't sound too strange." She pushes an errant lock of hair back from her face there, her fingers shaking just enough to be noticeable.

"You could say that," Cardinal admits with a quiet chuckle, "Life has certainly taken a turn for the strange in the past year or two, I'll definately admit…"

Then he listens, lips pursing in a slight frown. "You had this vision with the flash? Or did other people have visions of the same place…?"

"Frankly, I don't know what visions other people had. And until it was mentioned to me that it was sort of a sweeping thing, I assumed- well, it wasn't as if I was at my best in there." Lynette looks away for a moment, fingers drumming on the arm of her chair before she looks back at him. "So, yes. It was my vision."

"Alright." Cardinal nods a little, nothing surprising there, although his expression is serious as he asks, "So what exactly did you see? I don't suppose there was any - suggestion of what time it was?"

"It was… night. Dark outside the windows. I'm not sure how late. But it wasn't near sundown or sunrise." Lynette looks over at him, sitting up and trying to appear more together than she really is. "Myself and some other Ferrymen were helping to get some children out. I'm not sure… why they where there at all, but we were getting them out and… onto some truck, I think. The preacher said something to that effect. Someone called for help, he went off to help, and myself and another woman were in the hall when they came in. Dark clothes. Guns. Boots. I remember the sound his boots made before he tried to get us to stop. He shot the other woman and I… retaliated. But that was the end."

"Joseph was there?" A nod. Cardinal's lips purse slightly, "And you said there were - secret hatches or something in the building?"

Lynette nods there and adds, "And… Kaylee. They both stay in my building. I haven't really…" But as he goes on, she nods again. "At least one. On the ground floor. I don't know about anywhere else, but-"

"Alright." Cardinal pushes a hand back through his hair, leaning back, "I'll have a team sent over there to take a look at the place to see what they can set up. I'm not exactly the tech guy here so I'll leave it to them."

"Thanks. I just… it's my job to keep those people safe. I need to do whatever I can." Lynette starts to stand up there, still shaky, but she puts her fingertips against Cardinal's desk to ward it off. "Did you see anything? That day."

"Yeah." Cardinal pushes himself slowly upwards, his gaze cold for a moment, "Yeah, I did. Which is why I know that it's not going to happen… one way or the other, we'll stop what's coming."

"Because whatever you saw pissed you off enough to stop it?" Lynette asks, an easier smirk coming to her face. "You're going to move mountains for us, Richard?" It's… only half-teasing, that question. But the other half is perfectly serious, under that demeanor.

"If I have to," Cardinal says seriously, one hand resting on the desk as he looks to her, "That's exactly what I'll do." He steps around the desk, shaking his head, "I'll send some people over, and we'll negotiate a Ferry discount of some sort."

His answer makes her breathe out a laugh. Just a little one. "Men." It's an indulgent commentary before she steps away from the desk herself. "Thank you," she says to those last words, though, "I appreciate it. Someday, this organization really needs to find a rich, anonymous benefactor. Let me know if you know any of those around."

"Sorry," he replies with a chuckle, opening up the office door, "If I did, I'd keep them for myself. This sort've work is expensive business, after all, Lynette."

"Not even if I asked nicely?" Lynette says, passing him on her way back through the door and giving him a playful, overdramatic flutter of her eyelashes. She's no Mata Hari, apparently.

"I'm all business, babe," Cardinal grins back to her, stepping through the door after, "I have to be."


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