Roleplaying
2004 Archive
2005 Archive
Seminars
| When: | 13 April 2005 |
| Who: | Kacela, Nicodemus |
| What: | Plans for handling workers at the DuPont site expands to possibly expand to another enterprise - the pharmaceutical industry. |
Lux
A three-tiered, refined establishment, businessmen from cattle brokers to car manufacturers mingle about. The dress is stylish, no one clad in anything less than Sunday best. Tastefully appointed in earthen tones, accented with gold trimmed crystal, there's money in this establishment, both legit and otherwise. Chandeliers cling to the high ceilings and cast warm radiance over the main floor. Reminiscent of a nightclub fashioned in the Art Deco era of the late 20's, round tables serve groups of two to four. A raised stage inlaid with black, malachite, and white patterned tiles hosts acts ranging from standup to grand piano serenades accompanied by throaty redheaded bombshells.
Bay windows opposite the bar provide a breathtaking view of the Colorado River. The labradorite-finished counter is serviced by mostly silent, well groomed and respectful staff. The shelves behind the bar are well stocked with potables that make drinks of the common man like Hennessy look like a joke. An opulent staircase winds upward in a regal S curve to the living area of the proprietor and his more affluent clientele. Business and private revelry takes place in this aerie. Interestingly enough, the door leading to the basement is locked, and even the owners and shareholders aren't seen loitering about the edifice.
The clouds roll uneasily through the skies as a clearing wind sweeps over Austin. It lends a dramatic air to the subdued lighting around those highly coveted bay windows. With jaw slightly clenched, and eyes somewhat preoccupied, Kacela flips through a website on a laptop occupying the width of the armrest on the couch she's commandeered for herself. A mostly untouched glass of dragon's blood sangria sits on the endtable closest to the richly upholstered perch.
In the foyer, Nicholas Lyman appears, following the path he usual takes when visiting his newest business venture. Casually, he saunters behind the hostess stand and flips through the books, if only to verify that sales have been high. But from here, the Austin industrialist does a most peculiar thing. He drifts toward the bar where the young business graduates sit, awaiting possible contacts. Spotting Lyman with wide, anxious eyes, they try to stay calm as the biggest fish in the Austin pond swims their way. But all subtly is lost, as they knock elbows against each other, fighting for the best position to launch their proposal...which always begins, "Excuse, Mr. Lyman. Can I by you a drink?" Yet, just as he is within range of this, Lyman abruptly turns, starting for the bay window area, leaving the little fish to dismay. The company of a Ms. Kacela Howard is his preference tonight...and most nights, these business graduates have observed. "And how have your new duties at Dupont being going?" Lyman greets, "I hope I haven't thrown too much at you all at once. By the way, I hired that Mrs. Rivers we interviewed..."
The toying of Nicholas with the hopes of the young goes mostly unnoticed by Kacela as she alternates between several browser windows. As his voice rings out, she straightens, dropping legs off the couch and crossing them as she rests one elbow on the armrest. "Well hello to you as well, Nicholas." After a moment, she minimizes the one page featuring stylish stone settings combined with tungsten bands, and then nods towards him as she flicks her gaze back towards some of the assets information on the local DuPont plant. "So I heard during the protest. I had caught wind of it, but my outfit was hardly appropriate for the situation. And truth be told..." She fixes him with a significant glance, "I think you should let her do her best. I'm much better practiced in disruptive management," she breathes out. "I might do better sabotaging some of your competition."
Lyman pulls up a chair and slides in next to his associate, his hand propping up his chin as he leans into the armrest. "What are we looking at here?" he asks slyly as Kacela minimizes the window. Quickly abandoning the question, Lyman jumps to the topic of Dupont chemical and Kacela's role in it. He nods in agreement, "Yes, I had thought of that and feel free to do what you will. Dupont shall be our first staging ground for the war...and by that, I do not mean our word alone. It is my hope we might find some mutual goals with our comrades." However, Lyman quickly counterpoints, raising a careful finger as he makes an adjustment, "Still, I would like you to work closely with Ms. Rivers. While her goal will be to strengthen the connection my employees have with my company, I would like you...not to sabotage he work...but to provide some case work that pushes my people in different directions. Provide them with different outlets for their discontent. Let them find war of their own...vendettas, if you will."
Kacela raises a dismissive hand, jesting slightly. "An idea to fend off the more easily... impressionable colleagues of ours. But I doubt that the 'not interested because I'm taken' ruse will work for long without a body to go with it. Bullets and mace are cheaper," she concludes with a hint of disappointment, "But infinitely less pretty to look at. All lightness aside..." She listens intently to the tone and inflection upon the word comrades, gaze distant. However, as he brings up the idea of diverting the workers' attentions, she ahs quietly, looking around to make sure none of the younger business prospects aren't hovering near. She brightens some as she refocuses on Lyman. "What a remarkable convolution. I do adore talking to you at times like this. Consider it done. Ten times over. A different way each time." She scoops up the drink, grinning wide as she finally samples the burgundy-hued liquid.
Lyman laughs aloud, as if Kacela had just shared with him a dirty joke. "I thought you might like it," he returns, "I'm just concerned that my employees might become...too tame...under the direction of Ms. Rivers." His tone drops abruptly, to dark note, "And, if you find any truly bad apples, feel free to send them my way. My corporeal organization may have a use for them...and who knows? Perhaps they'll even like to swear and oath to our celestial one."
Kacela quickly catches the meaning of the matter, and ahs as she leans forward, crossing arms to rest her chin upon her well-moisturized forearms, breathing in the heady aroma of gardenia and freesia as she considers, once again stretching out on the couch opposite Nicodemus as she resettles opposite the coffeetable from him. "Oooh, how /are/ you doing with that, anyway? Are the usual facilitators just... boring you? Being a little uppity? Looking to expand the 'family', as it were?" Or are you just getting bored with the business side of things with DuPont? You know, I was thinking of putting out a few press releases emphasizing the company's involvement with the recent environmental initiatives as well." She's toying with a laptop at the same time, and chews on her lower lip as she pops open the one window featuring titaniumera.com -- and then winces at the price of her chosen selections. "Nearly four grand? Mmm. OH, I suppose I SHOULD tell you what I have been doing with myself lately, so you don't think me terribly lazy for distancing myself from the festivities surrounding your chemical plant..."
"Not bored," Lyman muses, his hand cupping his chin from the armrest, "But, this dispute has gone on long enough." Reflecting on the riot, he goes on, stretching his neck out in a wide, circular motion, "Certainly, pushing them to the brink served my ends, but now...it is simply a distraction. Greater battles will be fought." He flashes that wicked smile, anticipation...even glee...burning brightly on his features, as he prepares to reveal certain plans that have been set in motion. Yet, before he can blurt it out, Kacela brings up the webpage and his faces turns momentarily sour. He grimaces, as if there were suddenly a sharp pain in one of his teeth, "Exquisite, yes. But I do not mean to replace the watch I lost. I mean to get it back." Fortunately, Lyman cannot dwell on his thoughts of Tyrr for long, as Kacela speaks of her own plots. That bright expression returns. "You first," Lyman urges.
Kacela looks quizzically at Lyman as he mentions the watch, completely absorbed in deciding how feasible her own red herring would be in deterring would-be suitors. Another sip is taken from the sangria, and she contemplates the glass before setting it back down on the table, nodding. "If you haven't purchased any properties yet on the Western side of town, you may want to consider waiting a few months longer. I'm sure the property values will drop once this summer's West Nile season proves to be parcticularly disastrous. You just may want to ensure that your less celestially gifted associates wear mosquito repellant." She looks positively pleased with herself. "Can't do anything TOO outlandish, you know. That song's /loud/." She darts her gaze over the edge of the glass, "Which is why I've taken it upon myself to doing night time swims."
"I see, I see," Lyman says, eyes glowing with new possibilities, "I am only vaguely familiar with the virus. There is no cure, correct?" A low hum resonates from the industrialists, as he continues on that same train of thought, not bother to wait for the answer to his question, "What have doctors come up with so far?" He leans in toward Kacela, "Perhaps this is another area in which we could collaborate with the Vapulans. If we had an antidote, even if it were only partially effective...pedalling moderate quantities of it might send Austin into a frenzy." Up until now Lyman has said nothing of Vupula and his servitors. "With Dupont up and running again, I can awaken a project at Dupont...something I suspect the Vapulans will be eager to get involved in." Now, it seems Lyman is only willing to give this hook, as he gets up and prepares to leave, "Fax me over anything you have on this virus...especially any experimental cures."
Kacela hmms to herself, eyebrows raised as she drums her fingers on the couch's plush armrest. At the suggestion of incorporating it, she gives a shiver of delight at the consideration, and slides a more than admiring gaze Nicholas's way, bordering on a leer. "Oh, I'll be certain to do that. And it would do nicely to get those more technically inclined involved. At this rate, I'll be entirely too read on all the nasty little things that humans can contract, poor dears." A bit more loudly so that others can overhear, Kacela insists, "I think it would a wonderful idea to expand to the pharmaceutical market, Nicholas. Helping people? Decidedly noble." Her voice drops in timbre, as he looks ready to take his leave, "And have a wonderful, productive night." She begins to pull up some data from the CDC site.
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