Private Eye

[Evoros]

MANY MONTHS AGO...

Evoros sighed and studied her reflection in the window, impatience writ across the lines of her face (save those, of course, she was flawless as ever). It was clear that she was disgruntled, but she kept it from leaking into conversation with the brunette sat next to her as they waited--she was good at saving face, and staying pleasant was a very important part of making friends.

Which, as it so happened, was their job today.

She'd heard the name Arai before in passing, but certainly would've never had anything to do with the family attached to it if it hadn't been for the Collective. One Mr. Arai owned a very successful business, and the Collective liked being friendly with very successful business owners. So she and Mara had been sent to meet the Arai family, make a decision, strike a deal, the works.

It was nothing Evoros couldn't do.
It was just the kind of work she found exceptionally dull.

She supposed it could be worse. The restaurant they'd arranged to meet at wasn't so prestigious as to intimidate, but certainly enough to lift eyebrows and certainly the kind to offer a better dinner than Evoros was used to. And at least she wasn't tackling this dinner by herself. She knew agent Mara Kellarov from a previous mission and the woman was good company (even the kind Yvonne would've taken to dinner of her own accord, if she ever tried to make the time for such things). There would be some enjoyment in this.

But it definitely wasn't in the contract.

[member="Kaori Arai"] | [member="Mara Kellarov"]​

 

[Mara Kellarov]

Mara glanced over the moment Evoros sighed, catching the ever subtle lines that gave away the woman's current mood. She refrained from chuckling at Evoros expense, getting the impression quickly that her fellow Agent didn't like these type of things.

Based off her experiences during their first mission together, Evoros struck her as someone who liked the action. And this...well was the complete opposite to that.

She was admittedly the same, much preferring to keep moving than sitting down and waiting. But that had been years ago, and ever since having to go into hiding - Mara had come to learn the benefits of just taking the time to step away and have a break from so much excitement.

They shared some idle chatter, mainly consisting of Mara's commentary on what they had on the menu. It was all fancy dishes, stuff the Agent rarely ate on even a yearly basis. Mara had gone years without spending a whole lot of credits on expensive items. Much preferring to just keep her fundamental needs fulfilled, along with a couple luxuries here and there sated.

Evoros had given her the details on what the mission was; about Mr. Arai. She was taking point on this, while Mara was her backup.

And also to keep her sane, probably.

"How long until Arai is meant to arrive?"

[member="Kaori Arai"] | [member="Evoros"]​

 

[Kaori Arai]

Kaori hated meetings.

She found them to be dull - a glass filled to the brim of fake smiles, fake appearances, fake people. The only time people had ever wanted to meet her and her father was for their own benefit.

For as long as Kaori could remember, she had thought that way about people. She didn’t trust them as far as she could throw them - which wasn’t very far considering she didn’t have a whole lot of upper body strength. It wasn’t that she wanted to look at every person she met with the thought of what their actual motives were - it was just how it was.

So when her father and her showed up to the restaurant they were meant to be meeting people at - Kaori had hardened her eyes, shoulders rolled back, head tilted with a fake sense of confidence as she walked towards the table, a smile donning her lips.

Kaori had been told many times that her smile could bring people to their knees. This was one of the few things she knew to be true. Her father exploited that specific trait of hers many times to ensure business deals had gone the way he had wanted. He wasn’t a bad man - Kaori just felt he cared more for his business and his money more than her.

As they approached the table, Kaori took in the two women sitting there. They were both gorgeous in their own rights - but she was skeptical. Her father hadn’t given her any specifics for this meeting other than the fact that they were trying to strike up a business deal between them. She wanted to think these women didn’t have any ulterior motives, they seemed nice - maybe they could even become friends.

They may be innocent for only so long! They may be innocent for only so long! They may be innocent for only so lo-​

No! With her eyes clamped shut, she subtly shook her head. Those thoughts were dangerous - invoking a feeling within her that felt as though she was burning from the inside and could only focus on shutting them up. She had to douse the fire - she had to make it stop.

With arms at her sides, fingers curling momentarily around the fabric of her dress she took the last few steps forward - smile returning as her eyes first met with the blonde’s, then travelling over to the brunettes. After her father introduced himself to the two women Kaori took that moment to do the same.

Extending her hand, elongated fingers wrapped gently around the first hand that reached out to meet hers, head bowing slightly in greeting.

“Kaori Arai. It is lovely to meet the both of you.”

[member="Evoros"] | [member="Mara Kellarov"]​

 

[Evoros]

"I'd give it another few minutes before getting worried--oh, speak of the devil."

There was no trace in her eyes of the steel precision that bore into the Arais. A heartbeat was all Evoros was afforded to profile father and daughter, and it was all she needed. He was proud, confident in his ability to play the game, certain of the cards he held. She was abiding by her part as one of those cards. But it was a part, a role she'd been assigned. By herself she'd be the deadlier player.

Another heartbeat, and she'd studied both head to toe in search of weapons. None were visible, but that didn't put her at ease. She was looking at the sort of people who wanted you to know they were powerful, but never to know just how powerful before it was too late. Hidden weapons were unconfirmed but far from unlikely.

Conclusion? Both were on their way to proving worthwhile allies. And that meant to fear them both.

"A pleasure," Evoros replied, shaking both newcomers' hands in turn. Her expression was neutral rather than cheerful, but there was a gentle warmth that underlined her words, a dozen times more sincere than the laughter and smiles of a business meetings.

Of course, her pleasantness was exactly as artificial as the thin-as-air smiles you'd spy at any conference you ever visited. But Yvonne Evoros lied to be believed.

"Would you like to order food before we start to talk business, or shall we get right to it?"

[member="Mara Kellarov"] | [member="Kaori Arai"]​

 

[Mara Kellarov]

Her and Evoros were to play two roles, similar in function but different in appearance. It would've been potentially intimidating, and practically suspicious if both woman were almost mirror images of one another. And while cold efficiency like that had its uses, they weren't here to strongarm the Arai's into making a deal.

At least that was the aim anyway.

The Board wanted their business within the Collective's domain, and the duo were going to make sure they did.

Mara hadn't looked at the new arrivals until they were nearly at the table. Instead, she took the moment as they sat down to analyze what she saw. It was a split moment, a simple movement of sitting down where cracks in a person's facade could show if they didn't have the training. Mr. Arai was like a rock, unchanging as he got settled in his seat - years of being the head of his business had taught him well.

Kaori Arai, not so much. There was no doubt she had been trained, but she lacked the experience her father had. Mara had to give her credit though, there was barely a sign of there being a facade to begin with - but the fake confidence; a shift in her posture, and the smile gave it away. Although she could see others being somewhat enraptured by the woman's smile, fortunately for her and Evoros they were here purely for business.

Thankfully they had no weapons on them, at least from what Mara could tell. A little contort of the body here and there, ensuring whatever concealed weapon they had on their person wasn't going to dig into them.

"It's a pleasure to meet you both." Mara shook both their hands with a smile. She was more cheerful to Evoros neutral expression. "I'm Mara, and this is Evoros."

She didn't speak after that, deciding to let the Arai's make that choice and get comfortable.

[member="Kaori Arai"] | [member="Evoros"]​