Participants:
| Scene Title | I'll Take It Under Advisement |
|---|---|
| Synopsis | Sabrina delivers the first two names on Adam's list and also asks to not go. Adam, well, you know the rest. |
| Date | August 16, 2009 |
Ambient lighting blankets the establishment in a soft luminescence, glowing in tones of appealing orange from the front face of the bar and low hanging light fixtures overhead. Old style brick walls given the pub an appealing depth, reflecting the tone of lights in a more amber hue down upon the lengths of the polished, wooden floors. The bar counter of lacquered dark wood stretches along the northern wall, the forefront for shelves of numerous liquors and the substantially sized LCD televisions spaced liberally behind it. The screens flicker with the latest games and news as the labeled spirit bottles wink from lighted shelves with a beckon of their own. Barstools and high tables welcome tipsy patrons to their support, scattered with throughout the barroom with a few wedge into the darker, quieter, and more secretive recesses. Over the bar are a few banners of sports teams, most notably one of English football club Manchester United.
The thick wooden door to the west is fitted with a single neon sign sponsored by one of the brews on tap, glowing in the door's center window to shed its light onto the sidewalk outside and summoning in new customers when the bar is open for business.
Adam is checking boxes in several papers of what look to be financial papers. It's early evening and he looks a bit like he's maybe a bit strung out. It's been a hectic few days after all. Sabrina was told to meet him at Biddy's as soon as she had the information that he needed. And thus, we'll assume that's why she's here.
Sabrina is looking a little tired, though her hair is wound back in that bun she always sports as her heels clip clop against the floor moving towards Adam's table. She has a few papers in hand which she sets down beside the ones he's working on and she doesn't sit yet. "Paula Gramble, District Attorney in Reseda, California and Susan Amman aka Sarah Barton, bookseller in Seattle Washington. All of the information is here. It's not much, but it'll get you to them."
Adam reaches over and takes the papers a moment. He flips them from side to side and purses his lips a bit, "Good work." he says after a moment, "Alright. Make the arrangements. Flights for ten. We'll start in Seattle." he pauses, "Also…I have an old friend…Ben…" he pauses thoughtfully, "Ben….Styles. Look him up. Man deals in arms on the west coast. Or used to, he should give us a line on equipment." he says.
Adam arches a brow for a moment and puts his pen down. He tilts his head a moment and leans back as he considers Sabrina for a few moments, "Alright." he says, "Explain to me why not and do so concisely. And perhaps I will take it under advisement."
"I know who you are. I know what you do. I know you have your reasons, but I don't believe in violence." Sabrina keeps her voice carefully even and crisp. "And I'm not naive enough to think that this excursion won't be like last time. I don't know what it's like to be you. I don't want to. I'll keep your schedule. But I won't be a witness to your revenge."
Adam lays his hands on the table carefully and watches Sabrina slowly. He considers her for some moments further before he says, "You know who I am, yet you don't know what it's like to be me. Then you can't really know me." his tone is quiet and it is sharp, like an adder slowly going from side to side ready to strike. Finally, he adds, "The things I do, they are not pretty. But quite frankly, you knew you were getting into something ugly. Personal assistants don't make the kind of money you're making unless they're working for a James Bond villain." he pauses, "I will think about it." he points his finger to his temple, "You've got a great ability here that could come in useful. Frankly, I think you have more in there floating around that I want." he narrows his eyes for a moment as he considers her, "You don't like people knowing you're Evolved, do you." he states it as fact, not as a question.
The answer to that question is easily revealed in the way that Sabrina flinches, "I'm not like you." She replies quickly, giving him a sharp look for a second or two before she composes herself. "I thought you wanted to change the world. I didn't realize you didn't care if the means matched the end. That was my mistake, I am readily aware of that, and I'm sure I will live with it for the rest of my life. However long that happens to be. But I'm not a terrorist. And I don't believe in villains."
Adam chuckles wryly, "That's because there are no such things as villains or heroes. Am I any worse than the Company who hounds and experiments on children and Evolved?" he questions, "Am I worse than the government who backs them? We're all playing a game, Sabrina. And we're all evil." he pauses, "And the ends /always/ justify the means." he pauses. "One thing I think I can count on now, though if for you to not betray me. You're not that stupid and you're not that selfless. You know some." he emphasizes some, "Of the things I've done and some of what I'm capable of. Unless they're too arrogant to know better, people don't like me on their bad side." he pauses, "But, I sure do hope this doesn't equate a downgrade in your work ethic, Sabrina." he leans forward, "You're stuck with me." and there's something unsaid, a whisper of a threat or a promise. And that unsaid, is 'forever'.
Switching to some awful, awful Japanese so that other people can't overhear, at least not easily, Sabrina says, "You shouldn't be asking if you're worse. Only a fool asks that and you aren't a fool." She gives him a long look when he leans forward. A long, resigned look. "You ought to be wondering if you're better. Are you?" Without waiting for an answer, she moves to stand. "Everything you want is there. Along with notes on their known powers and addresses. And I'll book the flights."
Adam considers Sabrina for a few moments before he picks up his pen and returns to his financial documents, "I'll keep it under advisement." he says in reply.
Sabrina nods, even though he's looking at his documents and turns to go. No arguments, no nothing. She's so stuck.
