[Log] It's all about the game, and how you play it...

[xuejungou]

What: Plotting and planning
Who: Aizen, Sasori, Kuronue, Ulquiorra, and Gin, Zabuza, Lust, and Naraku if their interested
When: Saturday afternoon
Where: Aizen's Condo
Rating: PG-13 - R
Open/Closed To: Those listed above (Sasori, Kuronue, Ulquiorra, Zabuza, Gin, Lust, Naraku

Comments

[vulpine_charms]

The opportunity had not yet arrisen for Gin to visit Aizen. He had kept meaning to but had never gotten around to it. After all, his adopted brother had kept him busy since he'd arrived. Between making Hummers, tow trucks, and bodies disappear he'd hardly had a free moment. He did not however object to these demands on his time. They made life interesting.

Directions to the condo had not been hard to come by. Aizen was a prominent social figure after all, accustomed to hosting guests in his own home. Gin had merely been waiting for an invitation.

Approaching the front door he knocked gently, curious to see what sort of interior design Aizen had gone with for his personal abode.

[xuejungou]

Opening the door, Aizen greeted Gin as he would any guest walking into his home. He didn't want to give any lurking police officers or others who might be watching that there was anything more to this meeting than met the eye. He knew he was being watched, still, and was attempting to be careful.

Waiting until his friend was inside Aizen closed the door, gesturing around his somewhat minimalistically-decorated condo. The living room boasted a cream colored BANCOUCH along with a few tables and chairs, a flat screen television on one wall, and a patio with a view of the city. He was quite proud of his view.

"Ah Gin, welcome. Tea is set up over on the table, you can help yourself to a cup or I have harder stuff in the cabinet under the television."

[vulpine_charms]

Gin noted the way Aizen greeted him, and read into it's hidden meaning. They were being watched. Well, Aizen was anyway. The authorities as of yet had nothing on record to give them reason to follow him other than his casual friendship with a well known public official. And for all they knew that was work related and this was simply a social call.

He did not, therefore, raise an eyebrow as being ushered in as if he was no-one special. For he was as adept at Aizen at playing the masquerading game called "keeping up public appearances." Once inside however he cast his gaze around at the sparse furnishings and allowed himself to comment.

"How very Spartan."

Wandering in further he saw the tea service and waved it away carelessly instead lifting a bag that had been dangling from his hand. From it protruded the gold foil encased neck of a bottle.

"Screw your tea and your liquor. I brought champagne." He fixed Aizen with a wicked grin. "We never got a chance to toast our success after all."

[xuejungou]

It was true, Aizen had been pleased to realize that the police currently thought nothing of Gin which made him a perfect intermediary. The irony of it was delicious.

Once the masks were dropped Aizen became himself again. "We're expecting others, I hope you brought enough to share." He said in regards to the champagne.

"Yes, but suitable."

He smirked fully, taking a moment to gaze out the window before going and procuring glasses.

"We do deserve a celebration, yes?" It was nice to know he was not the only one feeling celebratory.

[scorpionidart]

When Sasori made his way up to Aizen's condo, he received more than a few stares. Partially because one didn't often see a tiny little Japanese man with such flaming red hair.

And also because he wore an unbuckled straightjacket. The sleeves went well past his hands, and the buckles clinked together happily as he walked. He liked his straight jacket. It had been given to him secretly by dear Nurse Mayflower before he left the institute. He had been very fond of Nurse Mayflower, and had been genuinely sorry when he hit her with his car a few days later.

When he reached the door, Sasori knocked with a sleeve-covered fist. His messenger bag was over his shoulder, containing chocolate bars, drawing supplies, all the necessities of life. He wasn't so crazy as to hum to himself while he waited; but his eyes did show a decided lack of stability.

[xuejungou]

Hearing another person knock Aizen excused himself from Gin and went to welcome their new guest.

Inviting Sasori in, he noticed the stares of a few of his neighbors and waved politely. He was more than aware of their thoughts on some of his past guests and figured they would assume Sasori to be part of some rogue artists troupe or something.

Once inside, he turned to Sasori with a slight smirk. "Welcome to my home, make yourself comfortable." He gestured around as he spoke. "That's Gin, he's a friend. There's tea over there on the table, or I have other drinks if you prefer."

[scorpionidart]

Sasori didn't speak at first, pushing his boots off with his feet without moving his arms, then crossing over to the BANCOUCH in his socked feet. He sat down, pulled his knees up to his chin, and reached over, plucking up a teacup and pouring himself some tea without pushing his sleeves back.

He gave Gin a slightly disdainful look over the rim of his cup, not trusting him just yet.

Sasori lowered his cup and spoke to Aizen with the air of a slightly insane person talking to someone who generally understood. "Been a good good good boy. Tell."

[xuejungou]

Watching Sasori, Aizen allowed himself a smile as he considered the obviously unbalanced young man. He had a feeling Gin would be amused until he discovered what Sasori was capable of.

Nodding at his statement, Aizen moved to stand slightly closer, noting the look Sasori gave Gin.

Chuckling slightly, he glanced from Gin to Sasori before speaking. "Yes, you have been quite good. I will tell you, although I need to ask something first - are you comfortable with a gun?"

[charming_bandit]

Kuronue's swagger was well-defined as he made his way towards that condominium. Of course, he drew a few stares along the way, in part due to his rather...tattered clothing and blue-streaked hair. Still, he was confident, pausing before that door for a moment to stare at the building itself, giving a low whistle.

"Fancy place..." he muttered, unable to hide a flicker of greed at the thought of what treasures it might hold. All too soon though, he shook his head, scrubbing a hand through the back of his head, then promptly adjusting his hat and the rather long ponytail.

He knocked, hand moving to brace itself on his hip. And then he simply waited.

[xuejungou]

Aizen was well aware that some of his guests might attract stares, but he honestly didn't care. He would come up with some sort of explanation if needs be, but he didn't see any need to considering his position.

Opening the door he greeted Kuronue with a slight smile, standing aside as the young man made his way inside. He was pleased that Kuronue had chosen to show up.

"Welcome, feel free to take a seat. We have tea, and a variety of other beverages, you can help yourself if you like."

[charming_bandit]

Kuronue sashayed right inside, glancing at Aizen intently for a moment, before turning away and settling himself on the floor. Throwing his arms back to brace himself he stretched, tipping his hat up to better see Aizen and the others before speaking.

"Pepsi, if you have it. Anything but tea. Could go for some whiskey right now, but I'm gonna stick with bein' professional."

[scorpionidart]

Sasori looked up when Kuronue came in, and gave a little one-fingered wave from under the sleeve. At the mention of whiskey, however, that same hand darted into his bag and quickly resurfaced with a bottle of the stuff.

Sasori came prepared.

[vulpine_charms]

Gin had expected other visitors. Aizen was, after all, merely the head in this endeavor, and a head is capable only of thinking, directing, sending out electrical impulses to the limbs...the fingers that did the menial labor. He knew he was not the only one involved in the last little caper and he wondered idly what sort of motley crew Aizen had asembled from amid the cities myriad miscreants

[xuejungou]

It was true, Aizen considered himself the brains of the operation, but that didn't devalue anyone else's participation. There was always someone else there to pick up the slack in case things began to fall awry and typically Aizen depended upon Gin for those things. He knew of everyone else around him Gin was most likely to know enough to take over

[snow_and_ashes]

The old Camaro's engine practically seized as Zabuza shut it off, leaving the steel monster silent and unmoving, a stark contrast to the low rumble and constant vibration even while idling. He managed to have no problem ignoring the afterfire note gunning out from his exhaust pipes, but the gunshot-like pop earned him more than a few stares from the ritzy pedestrians milling about. The condo's resident valet looked bewildered as he caught the jingling cluster tossed at him, shocked that such a car was to be expected to be placed among the others. "If you scratch it, I will find you." There was no humor in Zabuza's voice despite there being almost no clean paint left to scratch on the American muscle car

[xuejungou]

Of all the people Aizen had chosen to surround himself with only Zabuza was actually allowed to enter his house and any other place Aizen was at without knocking. As his bodyguard, Aizen did actually trust the perennially shaded one to watch his back.

The main reason for Zabuza to be here was so that Aizen could inform him of the upcoming plans. It simply wouldn't do to have things blown up without informing the person who got paid to make sure these things didn't happen.

"Ah, Zabuza! Welcome. I don't believe you've met the assembled? Gin is the taller gent with the silver-white hair, Sasori is the redhead on the couch, and Kuronue is on the floor. We're making arrangements. Oh, that reminds me - prior to Friday I may need help getting anything valuable out of my condo. Can I count on your assistance?"

[snow_and_ashes]

Zabuza kept a mental tally of the guests, sizing up each as they were introduced. "Nice to meet everyone." Knowing their names didn't put him at ease, but at least he didn't need to toss anyone through an unopened window.

"Arrangements? Sounds... interesting. Any details as of yet?" While bodyguarding paid well, arrangements tended to be more entertaining. "Moving stuff? Not the most enjoyable activity, but of course you can. So what's going on by Friday?"

[xuejungou]

If it was just Aizen, Gin, and Zabuza the descriptions identifying the other attendees might have been slightly different. He knew Zabuza and Gin had both most likely made their own assumptions, but everyone was here for a certain reason. All of them had skills Aizen respected but would never do himself.

"Well, I'm working on a way to make myself appear less of a threat to ShinRa. That Tseng, the boy-president's bodyguard insinuated that I was involved in the situation there. I want to allay suspicions." Aizen smirked, knowing full well Tseng was smarter than he looked. "Friday, this condo will be subject to a rather flashy display of pyrotechnics. I'd rather not see good furniture and antiques ruined."