(Untitled)

[jla_extras]

In a leased floor of a commercial high-rise in San Francisco, Yuri Ivanovich Mediev conducts his business. A small staff of secretaries answer phones, make appointments, and coordinates talent with clients. Business seems to be booming

Comments

[damage_granted]

The two young Titans have been practicing for this meet-and-greet for the last two days; as Nightwing had said during the briefing, they only had one shot at this, and Grant certainy doesn't intend to screw this up. Equipped with one of Blue Beetle's holographic images, his hair, skin, and eye color have been altered, along with the bone structure of his face.

Rory O'Halloran is a red-haired, hazel-eyed Irish-American, a low-level member of the North Jersey Irish Mafia specializing in small arms sales, as well as more...specialized products. Mediev is, no doubt, already familiar with O'Halloran's dossier - why else would he and his assistance have been allowed into the Russian's place of business.

Extending his hand to the older man, O'Halloran - nattily attired in a three-piece suit and tie, carrying an expensive-looking briefcase in his free hand - returns the over-friendly smile with one of his own. "Coffee would be fine," O'Halloran replies. "Thank you for seeing us on such short notice, Mr. Mediev."

[mari_grayson]

"Ciara Kelly" does not sit. Instead, the "black Irish" woman takes up a stance behind and to one side of "Rory O'Halloran." Her face is frozen in a neutral expression. Bodyguard's eyes.

[jla_extras]

"Anya, coffee for Mr. O'Halloran. Cream? Sugar?"

He glances at the bodyguard with the practiced eye of a man who's spent years in the mercenary business, and there's an almost imperceptible nod of approval.

[damage_granted]

"Yes, thank you," O'Halloran replies, releasing the Russian's hand, sitting in one of the heavy chairs in front of Mediev's desk. Setting the briefcase down, Rory shifts in the chair, crossing one leg over the other, his ankle resting on his thigh as he rests his elbow on the armrest. "I'm sure your time is rather limited, " the Irishman explains, regarding the other man with an easy smile. "You are already familiar with the people I represent, Mr. Mediev?"

[jla_extras]

"Of course, of course. Rather surprised to hear from the Irish, but it is a pleasant surprise, and I'm most intrigued by the .. items you mentioned."

Anya sets the coffee, with cream and sugar, down in front of Grant, and departs, closing the office door as Yuri shoos her.

[damage_granted]

O'Halloran gives Anya a brief glance as Yuri's assistant sets the coffee down and he nods politely to her. Reaching for the coffee, Rory sips at the cup, leaning back in his chair, holding the cup by its slender handle. "The firm that I represent has taken something of an interest in your...enterprise, Mr. Mediev," Rory explains, setting the cup back down on its saucer.

Reaching for the briefcase beside his chair, O'Halloran sets it on his lap, snapping it open, then draws out two small devices - a PDA and a rather impressive looking miniature holographic projector. Setting the projector down on desk, Rory taps the screen of the PDA, the projector whining as it powers on. A moment later, the holographic image of an AR-15 assault rifle is spinning slowly above the desk, the image emanating a soft, bluish glow. "This is a small sample of the various goods the firm specializes in," he explains, tapping the screen again, the display changing to that of an MP5A4 submachine gun.

[jla_extras]

"Weapons are always necessary when one is protecting the interests of a high-profile client, of course.." The technological display seems to have piqued his interest as well.

"And if I can acquire them cheaply, I can lease or sell them to the talent, to increase my share of the profits."

[damage_granted]

A few more taps on the PDA and the image shifts - a SIG 550 assault rifle, a FAMAS service rifle, and an RPG-7 antitank weapon. Rory's gaze shifts from the image above the projector to Yuri's face with each tap, the smile on his face widening at the Russian's reaction.

"Of course," O'Halloran says, pressing a key on the PDA, the image above the projector fading away. Reaching into the briefcase again, Rory takes out a weapons catalog containing pictures, descriptions, and prices for all manner of handheld weapons, from tazers to machine pistols, specialized grenades to various rifles. The catalog is placed on Yuri's desk and he pushes it toward the Russian. "This is...shall we say...an intro-level selection from our warehouse," Rory explains, taking the projector and setting it back in the briefcase along with the PDA. The case is snapped shut and Rory sets it on the floor, returning his attention to the Russian.

[jla_extras]

"Yes, of course. You hinted at some more.. unusual things?"

He takes up the catalog, flipping through it quickly. If not for his polished professional demeanor, he'd probably be drooling.

[damage_granted]

Lifting a hand to his face, Rory runs his fingers along his jawline, watching with some interest as Yuri flips through the catalog. This is going better than I expected...he thinks. Shifting in his seat, O'Halloran assumes the same easy posture he had shown before, one leg cocked over the other, elbow resting on the armrest, chin in hand. Here's the kicker...

Lifting a hand, Rory gestures for Ciara to step forward with her own briefcase. "Apart from more standard goods, the people I represent also offer...designer pharmaceuticals," Rory says, his hazel eyes shifting toward the leggy bodyguard.

[jla_extras]

The grin that splits his features is almost predatory, and his eyes gleam. The very idea of having superpowered talent to hire out..

"I am most interested. What sorts do you offer?"

[mari_grayson]

The sample case snaps open with a quick one-two flick of her fingers, releasing a hiss of cold air. When the brief puff of steam clears, Yuri can see that the climate-controlled case displays a small number of capsules, each in its own clear container. On the inside of the lid is a thick steel bar. She removes it from the fastenings, then holds it out to Yuri. "Would you care to test the strength of this, sir?" Her voice, like her expression, is perfectly neutral. She might be asking him about the weather.

[jla_extras]

His eyebrow quirks, and he reaches out, taking the bar into his hands. He bangs it against the floor experimentally, then attempts to bend it - to no avail.

[mari_grayson]

She holds out a hand for the bar to be returned to her, then once it is in her grasp again, bends it into a U.

For the first time, a smile curves her lips. It is small, but there.

[jla_extras]

"Most impressive, my dear. How is it done?"

[damage_granted]

Leaning forward, Rory turns the case so that its contents are more visible to Yuri, a number of capsules encased in small, clear containers. "Fast-acting designer steroid cocktails, along with more...specialized ingredients that produce rather..." O'Halloran glances at Kelly, giving the woman a sly smile before he returns his gaze to Mediev. "Interesting results." Lifting hand, Rory gestures vaguely in Ciara's direction.

"This is the result of our proprietary performance enhancers." Tilting his head to the side, the corner of O'Halloran's mouth quirks upward into a half-smile. "The firm I represent guarantees that there will be no negative side-effects from their products...a claim that most of their competitors cannot make. Unfortunate for them, fortunate for us."