I'll just live on in the Dark

[motherflocker]

WHO: Anyone heading to the Iceberg Lounge
WHERE: At a damn fine building downtown
WHEN: 12/12; Night
WARNINGS: Will be edited if necessary.
SUMMARY: Opening night!
FORMAT: Whatever you want! Tag yo'selves in!

Comments

[nottheanswers]

Mr. Kinley wandered his way up to the table, nursing a martini with one hand as he offers the other to Cobblepot.

"It would, of course, be ill manners to neglect a greeting to our host. It's an impressive establishment."

[motherflocker]

His grin spread wide, and Ozzie shook it only slightly gingerly. "Thank you, thank you, Mr...?"

[nottheanswers]

Mr. Kinley's grin stretches to match, politely. Professionally. "Stefan Kinley. I work in exports, and have been looking to assist others in expanding their businesses while also benefiting my own. And business does seem to be treating you nicely, Mr. ...Cobblepot, was it?"

[motherflocker]

"Yes, yes, interesting business that is," and with the hand shaking over, he even offers him a chair. This is the business he prefers, and making connections of this sort could only help him in the long run. "How has it been treating you here? The export business seems be a very narrow field, not many to choose from, eh?" and then there was the knowing grin, a twinkle beneath his monocle.

[nottheanswers]

Mr. Kinley takes the seat and gives his martini a sip. "Aggression and territorialism are simply within the nature of the business, as I'd imagine you to be familiar. There's always room for some healthy competition, but as long as there is demand for certain products in multiple locations, there will likewise be a need to distribute them."

He places his glass on the table and smooths his moustache with a thumb. "I would imagine my competitors have already attempted to enter some sort of negotiation with you."

[motherflocker]

"Oh yes, of course. I have had some approach me, but with little stock yet to export, I'd prefer to wait until my eggs have hatched, if you will," a slight chuckle from the Pengin, and he sat back in his chair, comfortable in his castle.

"And yours? Is this your attempt at negotiation?"

[nottheanswers]

"I find it would be uncouth to seek such an arrangement at our first meeting, especially when you're not as yet seeking to make use of such services. No, I feel this introduction would best be considered potential for bridge-building."

And he takes a sip of his drink. Classiest gent in the room, that Mr. Kinley.

[motherflocker]

Oswald laughed, a chortling sound, cut off only but him taking a long drag on the cigarette in his holder. "I like you, Mr. Kinley! Or can I call you Stefan?" He took his own drink into his hand, but didn't drink from it. "Bridge building, eh? That is something I can get behind. And are you an import, or one of the locals?"

[nottheanswers]

"Whichever would be most preferable to you, Mr. Cobblepot." Kinley smiled while Vic did his best not to glare at the cigarette, the list of resulting toxins running through his head. "But, unlike my illustrious host this evening, I'm in fact native to this world. Nonetheless, I feel it proper to extend the olive branch, as it were, as others in my position have a history of such unkindness toward imPorts."

[motherflocker]

"Stefan, then," he paused, and another long pull on the holder came before he continued speaking. "I'm new enough, but indeed I have looked into some of the history. It's a pleasure meeting one like yourself with an open mind. More than a pleasure. Do you have a card?"

[nottheanswers]

"Mr. Cobblepot, I'm a professional in my field." He reaches into his jacket and produces such a card. "I wouldn't be caught lacking such a necessity."

[motherflocker]

A moment later, the card disappears again, into Oswald's jacket, as smooth as a man with a career that had once been in crime could make it. "You would be surprised how many I've found who don't. These kids and their phones seem to think that can replace actual legwork and networking. It's good to see not all are so resistant to the way things should be!"

[nottheanswers]

Vic actually hated computers for a long time, and wouldn't have bothered learning them if that weren't the direction information had begun moving. He can sympathize almost as much as Kinley here. "While necessity dictates that one move forward with the business, should he expect to remain within it, I prefer to maintain those more traditional amenities when I have the option."

[motherflocker]

"Indeed, and I prefer to have others deal with the worst of those contraptions," not that he would ever admit how old he sounded, but Oswald did prefer to stay away from such things. Although he had been able to pick up a few tricks over the years. Enough to stay ahead. "The tradition is appreciated. It's a wonder you're not the only one still in business."

[nottheanswers]

Kinley folds his hands in front of him on the table and smiles. "It would be discourteous of me to speak ill of my competitors. They certainly maintain an adequate degree of competence in keeping themselves in their own businesses."