1584/Who You're Working For

Who You're Working For
Date of Scene:	10 June 2016
Location:	Witchhunter Professional Services
Synopsis:	Mikoto and Miss White have a business conversation. That Never Happened. Ahem.
Cast of Characters:	Mikoto Nakajima, Hannah Sharpe

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Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Mikoto's research has been going well. She's starting to get a handle on how Devices work, what the various parts are and do, and what tools she needs and is still missing. She's been spending more time at WPS' labs of late, taking advantage of the advanced equipment available to her there, and sharing tidbits of her findings with the company to justify her continued access.

As if her willingness to fight for them didn't do that already.

Still, some things bother her about it. Like Hannah's recent doings on behalf of, apparently, Easter. And certain casual remarks from Riventon.

And Ikuto's continued absence.

Eventually, she decides to take further advantage of her position. After all, it's access. And if it can get her more information about what she needs to know....

"Hey, Boris," she says as she walks into the CEO's outer office, dressed in - as usual when in the building - Hagane's sharp blue suit. "Is Herself in? I need a little consult."

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
It's been a while since Hannah's been in the office properly. She was gone to a family reunion, and then has been obsessing in the lab. Rumor is, she's working on the Puella Problem. Indeed, she's ordered that all Puella-based research be given absolute priority.

But Boris finally all but nailed her to her office under a pile of paperwork. The sight that Hagane gets as the husky-Familiar-Russian lets her in?

Miss White has her head on the desk, right on the papers. Slowly, slowly, she looks up. Those bags under her eyes are /awful/.

"Yooooo, Hagane. What's up?" She reaches over for coffee, and slams it down.

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
"Apparently, not you," is Hagane's first reaction to the sight, as she strides in to settle in one of the visitor chairs, across from Hannah's desk. "Maybe I should've brought cinnamon rolls."

She crosses one leg over the other and leans back a little in the chair. At least the company doesn't skimp on the furniture.

"It's good to have you back. I bet Gull's happy, too, hm?"

She smiles, lightly, and then gets on to business. "I need... well. Let's say I'm curious. I heard about what Virtue did... Have to say, really not impressed with them. But then, you have had a lot of dealings with what I'd occasionally call pretty unsavory sorts..."

She pauses, briefly, then shrugs. Quit rambling, girl. "I suppose I'd like to know who I'm really working for."

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
"...I would love some cinnamon rolls right now." Uppp she goes, then leans right back. Sorry Hagane, you're not getting eye contact during Hanners Crunch Time.

She manages a grin though. "Yup! I missed you guys. A shame I couldn't drag you guys along. Oh well, at least you missed the family hunting trip." Eye roll.

But, down to business. She slowly nods a few time.

"Well, you're definitely right, on both counts. I've done shadey things myself. Let me put it like this: I'm in no way some sort of saint. I want to change the world. So I do what I think I have to in order to get there. But, I also work for very powerful people who sometimes do things that even I think are going a little too far. And sometimes my hand gets forced, like with the Easter situation."

Both of her hands spread. "You're working for me, a slightly shadey woman with principles and an end goal that works for a conglomorate of people that have power. Some think the way I do. Some don't. But I can't operate without their support and funding, so sometimes I have to toe the line until I'm in a position where I can refuse those kinds of things. Morals alone don't change the world, after all."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
A quick beep, and an email is sent out by Hagane's Device. Helpful thing, it is. Maybe there will' be cinnamon rolls.

"It just worries me sometimes, you know? Especailly when certain unsavory sorts start asking why I'm on the other side when they let loose monsters in the streets... monsters that we're here to stop."

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Soon enough, /FOOD/! Those delicious buns are delivered, and Hannah sets in, tearing through them like a ravenous wolf.

Still, Hannah kicks back, and frowns a little.

"Yeah, I know the feeling. I don't /like/ working with some of them. And it's mutual. Some of our 'partners' want me dead, in fact."

A tap to her chin. "But there's some upsides. And honestly it's why I have people like you, /and people like Mara. I need someone to oppose me when I'm in one of those binds, and people who can assist me when I have to do things to benefit our goals that might not exactly be noble."

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Hagane munches her way through a cinnamon roll as she listens, savoring the gooey pastry and the heavy coating of frosting. The Midori-ya always serves up perfection.

Eventually, though, they're all gone. Which is sad.

"There are some that I could do without, myself. One of these days, a certain mad scientist is going to find out why Victor Frankenstein made for the Ends of the Earth..."

She mutters under her breath, something about leaving a certain someone in Antarctica in their underwear...

"Still. I'll admit, I'm enjoying having access to some things." It's likely Hannah's noticed some of her lab work and requisitions. Including a few bits allocated to 'off-site experimentation'. "Got to keep ahead of the game, after all."

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Really, Hannah can't help but laugh a bit. "Be sure to send pictures!"

She does squint a bit. "How's your work coming? I know you've been working on Devices. Pretty extensive stuff. Well, that's fine, just show me the finished products when you're done. I like surprises. From you anyway." A shrug.

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Mikoto shrugs and stretches out, hands high above her head, before answering. "It's been keeping me busy. Which is a big help in keeping me from going crazy. But until I can deal with a certain few minor problems," or not so minor, after all, "Life's going to be ... complicated."

She re-crosses her legs and ploughs on. "That rifle you were toting around for a while... you said you owed something to some fairly unpleasant folks. Wouldn't happen to have a name relating to a certain springtime holiday, would they?"

The playful joker is long gone, now, as much as Mikoto prefers her over the serious soldier. "You see, they have a couple of things I want... very badly. And they're - let's say misusing them. To the point of destruction. That leaves me... disappointed. And willing to pull any strings it takes to get what I want."

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Miss White folds her arms behind her, and smiles. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Whump. She 'accidentally' hits a button under her desk with a knee, and the room goes dark, electronics dieing in the room.

"Honestly, I don't care about that particular part of my 'partners'. I've already satisfied the man I'm beholden to. Now, obviously, I can't officially sanction whatever you get up to. So what I'm saying is, don't get caught. If some of my stuff dissappears, well, that Kukai idiot probably took them in the chaos he caused. Do the smart thing, make up an identity, and go to town if you feel that strongly." Shrug.

"...And some of their stuff 'falling off the back of the truck' into my labs without people noticing? Well, I have no idea who put that there. Got it?"

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Mikoto nods. "Obviously, we never had this conversation. I certainly would never ask you to betray a major partner of our organization. It's just not cricket, hmm?" She puts on a rather blatantly fake plummy English accent for the last bit.

"And if any files regarding them were to be left lying about, I'm sure you could trust that a security-conscious associate would ensure that they were returned to proper storage."

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
A slow, sloooow smile from Hannah.

Whump! That knee again.

"I'm glad we understand loyalty to the cause, Miss Hagane. You've been working pretty hard as of late. Go take a vacation. Here. Nice little cruise tickets fell into my lap lately." Shove shove an envelope.

"Go have fun! Cut loose a little!"

Mikoto Nakajima has posed:
Mikoto reaches over to take the envelope, nodding. "That does sound like an excellent idea. I hear the Carribbean is lovely this time of year. And I've always wanted to see Disneyland."

She flashes a little smile. "Thank you for your consideration. I'm sure this will help me relieve the stress."