Flat Packed Business (IC)

[Supercape]

"Are yes, m'dear" said Lord Lockwood, answering the phone with his own copper plated, steam powered telephone. He was in the billiard room having a game with Oshima, who looked a wreck.

"Yes yes, just trying to keep this odious little snot busy. Your shot, dear fellow, and mind you don't tear the felt!" he called out. He pulled a cup of iced tea to his mouth and had a little sip.

"Put Oshima on the phone"

"Very well, my dear" answered Lord Steam, putting down his Iced Tea "here's the runt himself...are you well? not got into any trouble?"

Right, ten grand, you owed ten thousand dollars and you weren't willing to pay that back. What the hell man? Seriously though, I only have one real question, is your car paid for?"

"Are you there? Have you got my wife and daughter? Please, bring them back! My car? No, its rental, I can't afford the rent on it...I'm up to my eyeballs in debt! don't tell my family!"

[Aoiroo]

"Why, so you can lie to them, say some bull like they wanted a ransom or something, so you don't lose face. Well that's not gonna work, they're right behind me, they can hear what I'm saying, and even if they couldn't Blowfish is here too, and no I'm not going to beat him up. One, your family is right behind me, you don't want them to catch a stray bullet, two, because as far as I'm concern, he's been much more reasonable to me then you have."

Sighing, she looked back,

"Right, now put the house owner back on,"

She waited for the phone to change hands,

"Hey, yeah, so, we're gonna need to cover this, but you don't get to give this away, I want you to put that little leeche to work, somewhere away from your house, where he doesn't get to handle money, or be in management, and anything to do with shipping. He's slimey, he can't be trusted, and he is in your debt, make sure he settles this honestly, and if he does something, tell him I'm taking the difference out of his hide because he has spent too much of my god damn time getting me to clean up his freaking mess."

[Supercape]

"Hey, yeah, so, we're gonna need to cover this, but you don't get to give this away, I want you to put that little leeche to work, somewhere away from your house, where he doesn't get to handle money, or be in management, and anything to do with shipping. He's slimey, he can't be trusted, and he is in your debt, make sure he settles this honestly, and if he does something, tell him I'm taking the difference out of his hide because he has spent too much of my god damn time getting me to clean up his freaking mess."

Lord Steam chuckled softly. "Excellent! You know, I could almost mistake you for being a little irked my dear. What on earth has this little toerag been up to, eh? he is certainly bringing out your irritable side..."

He sat down and dusted off some non-existent creases in his fine trousers, and played with his cue whilst talking to Carrie.

"Anyway, I am sure I can put this fellow to some gainful employment somewhere. Mucking out the stables, or something. Or, perhaps, if he really does know a thing or two about what passes for technology and business in this dimension, he could handle some of the tedious parts of my organisation. My only reservation is his apparent lack of trustworthiness...but I shall see something done, suitably poetic, of course..."

"In any case, the practicalities of paying of this rather interesting character, blowfish...how does one do it? I can turn up with a briefcase full of gold sterling if that would be best..."

[Aoiroo]

"No, you have got to stop doing that, you keep this up you'll flood the market and depreciate market value. Bring cash, I know you have it."

She let a sigh out,

"You should probably send a trustworthy proxy, not Oshima. I'd come and get it but I have to stay here so they don't shoot the guy and bolt with the hostages or do some other stupid thing,"

She put the phone on her shoulder and looked back at them,

"Seriously don't do that, I'm saying this as a fact not a brag, you try to pull anything I will deck you and your guards and your guest as well if I have too and that will in turn lower the value of the house cause you'll never get the blood out of the carpet."

[Supercape]

A few minutes later...

Bessie, Lord Steam's marvellous steam powered car, pulled up outside Blowfish's house. The door popped open, and Lord Lucien Lockwood himself stepped out. He was dressed in a long overcoat, with a fine tall hat and driving goggles on, which he promptly places on his forehead.

In his hand he clutched a somewhat battered leather case.

A few seconds later...

"Here you are sir, paid in full!" said Lord Steam to Blowfish, who counted up the money and nodded in appreciation.

"Now then, sir" continued Lord Steam "please allow my friend here to escort out the lovely ladies out..." he continued, acknowledgeing Oshima's family.

He gave Carrie a wink "Sorry, I couldn't help myself, just had to meet this fellow blowfish! what a character!" he said with a gentle chuckle.

"Now then, Sir!" he said, adressing Blowfish once more "No more funny business with Mr. Oshima, Esquire. Paid up in fall, that's that, business concluded and everyone walks away with a great big smile on their face! come on you lot, chop chop, car's running!" he said, tapping his foot.

[Aoiroo]

Carrie didn't really talk to him, she just led the family into the car as they drove back to the mansion. Oshima was waiting out front. The family rushed to each other and she stood behind him and said,

"Right,"

She looked at Lockwood,

"As far as you're concerned, you don't know me, I'm no one, if you see me on the street you don't approach me. If you think about talking about me, think again. Because if any word gets out about what I've done for you, I'm holding you responsible, and I can hold a grudge like no ones business. Don't think I won't hurt you, I am perfectly willing and capable after what you put me through to make this happen. You have pissed me off three ways to Sunday Oshima, and made me use my time and resources to save your family from your mistakes, and honestly I don't ever want to see you ever again."

Letting out a sigh, she looked at Lockwood,

"Make sure he pays you back properly, he's not allowed to walk away with this as a freebie. Anyway, I need a ride."

[Supercape]

"Certainly my dear woman!" said Lockwood, opening the door to Bessie to let Carrie in.

He refrained from squeezing the antiquated horn. Somehow he felt he had pushed it as it was, paying off blowfish, and he had no real desire to irritate the man further. Blowfish, in his opinion, was a cad, but not quite a crook. Yet.

"Off we go then!" he said, instead, firing up Bessie under a cloud of steam and shooting off.

"Where too, madam?" he asked her. At first, he had only considered it imperative to get out of the immediate vicinity. Of course, he needed a little direction after that.

"And do spill the beans. What on earth happened there? Glad to help, of course, and I am sure I can put that little rotter Oshima to some use. Hardly his families fault he is a grovelling guttersnipe. Does...he know who you are?"

[Aoiroo]

"No, he doesn't know who I am, he just thought he did, and because of that he thought he could use me, not work with me, not hire me, use me. Likely as a theif, as a spy, as hired muscle or whatever else he could think of. He thought he could buy me and when I corrected him on that, he likely went into debt partially due to him trying and failing to find information which he thought would persuade me otherwise."

She sat back into the steampunk car and crossed her legs as she removed her mask,

"The only reason I am employed at all is because of a large amount of connections made in college and my work own skills both conventional and not. I do not ever work with or for anybody I do not like, it has made me both incredibly difficult to employ for people outside my specialty circle. Bit strange really, one of the only people I would work for who I haven't known for literately years meeting one of the people I would never work for."