<> <> <> <> <> * Hestia is making the most of things: sipping decent-quality wine on a tab she is going to insist Mr. Charles pay, and sitting langorously in what is very likely the archtypal comfortable chair in the hotel lobby. She doesn't necessarily look at chronos or clocks, because hey... his dime as far as she's concerned. * Hestia commands the AC to kick on! <> * Mr_Charles walks up to Hestia. "Hello, Ms. Richter. I am dreadfully sorry at being late, but circumstances far beyond my control kept me overlong at my last appointment. I trust you've been keeping occupied here?" * Hestia raises an eyebrow. She doesn't come to Red Boston swanky hotels often, so this must be Mr. Charles. She sort of unfolds from her legs crossed, slouching posture of 'indulging self while waiting' and sets up straight, giving the propsective employer a salute with the nearly-empty wineglass. "I've been doing alright." She pauses, sips, and then toasts him again. "Thanks for the wine." No trouble, no trouble at all. Now, Ms. Richter, as you may have surmised, my name is Mr. Charles. I'm glad my rather roundabout messages have intrigued you enough to come here and learn a little more about the employment opportunity I mentioned earlier. * Mr_Charles sits down in a chair opposite Hestia. (NO FUCKER REMAIN STANDING) (*fires at the ground*) (:() * Hestia gives a raised eyebrow at that comment, and finally drains the rest of the wine glass while Charles speaks; emptied, she passes it into the hand of the first hotel employee who walks by, someone who is clearly not intended to receive it. The fact that she turns and starts talking without even looking at said employee certainly speaks to her opinion of the help. What can I say? I was intrigued. But I can have a short attention span. Well, the employment in question will certainly keep you on your toes. I'm speaking, Ms. Richter, of chainjumping. I trust you're aware of the term? * Hestia lets her expression betray the barest flicker of sudden enthusiasm, but she knows negotiating too well to seem TOO interested. "Mole drive, yes?" she starts, sounding casual. "People ship out into deep space looking for new planets, that sort of thing." ("We call them Helix-Americans, thank you.") Precisely that sort of thing, precisely. I'm in Red Boston today recruiting people for a team of such individuals, and I was rather hoping you'd see your way to agreeing to be one of them. * Hestia raises an eyebrow again. Now the cynicism sets in. "It certainly sounds interesting, but I'm not sure what a computer security specialist would be doing in the wilderness of Planet X, Mr. Charles." * Mr_Charles spreads his hands wide. After a moment's reflection he gestures towards one of the waitstaff in the lobby, and manages to order more wine without actually using words. It's kind of impressive. Are you familiar with the Bugs at all, Ms. Richter? The nasty powerful overwhelming species that threatened humanity a few decades ago? <> * Mr_Charles pours both glasses respectably full, then selects one for himself * Hestia doesn't need to be told twice on quality wine. It's about the only alcohol she indulges in, after all. "Only what's on the Net, Mr. Charles. That was all done and settled before I was born." Never mind the partial amnesia, which she feels no need to bring up. * Mr_Charles swirls his glass, idly looking at the wine's legs. "According to reports from the Sleythin, they and their automatic systems tracked or confirmed the existence of tens of thousands of space-faring species! Species which, regrettably, all seem to have perished in the wake of the Bug's wrath through the galaxy." He takes a drink. And that's merely the ones we know about. This, of course, means that the odds chainjumpers will run across abandoned computer systems are well within the plausible range. * Hestia hmms into her wine glass at that, taking a sip. Sounds logical. Sleythin technology is usually pretty reliable, in her experience. She sips, takes a moment to think it over, and then looks up. "Let me be frank. It sounds interesting, and I can't exactly say my dance card is full right now. But what is your stake in all this?" Why, profit, of course. The company I work for will be registered as the official discoverer of the planet in question, granting us better chance at securing things such as mineral rights and colonization requests. Additionally, we will be paying you for a quota of samples and data returned to us at the end of each mission. Of course, anything above and beyond that you are free to sell to the highest bidder. * Hestia smiles a tight little smile at that, again over the rim of her wineglass. "I'm glad you put it that way," she says evenly. "If you'd given me some spiel about the thrill of discovery I'd have been inclined to walk right out the door." Discovery's all well and good but the clink of the coin's what brings us to the finer things in life at the end of the day, Ms. Richter. There's no fooling people like us about that. * Mr_Charles takes a sip of his wine. "Of course, I'm told that it is fantastic beyond imagination out there. All of creation to explore." (Oh, she is clearly in it for "WOO THRILLS! :D" but she doesn't want HIM to think that.) (what makes you think he's not selling you the line you want to hear? :D) (what makes you think she's not selling him the line he wants to hear? :D) * Hestia chuckles. "So you've never been, huh." Well, all the more for her. She drains her second wineglass of the day, then continues with the third degree. "Tell me a little more about the other people you've scouted for this little venture. Unless you were thinking to send me out in a ship all by my lonesome." The composition of the team is still a little... fluid. But there will of course be a pilot, and a scientist. There will be a technician as well. They, much like you, are being scouted for being masters of their respective crafts. And in the event of other, less scrupulous chainjumpers armed with automatic weapons? I have a meeting later today with a rather heavily-armed individual - literally in his case - who has assured me that his desire to protect others knows no bounds. Additionally, some of the other prospective members have combat training in various areas. (Can't imagine you want/need to draw this out too much longer.) (Not especially, if she's sold on it. Mr. Charles is v. busy today.) (And I need to get to bed pronto.) * Hestia finishes her wine and then stands up, offering the glass to Mr. Charles. He can cast Summon Helpstaff and take care of it for her. "Obviously I'll need the full details, but I think I can give a provisional 'yes'. I'll be looking forward to hearing from your company on the rest." * Mr_Charles takes the glass and sets it down on the table. He stands up and offers Hestia a datachip. "There's a contract on here, if you're interested in reading it. I'll be my company's sole representative to you and the team, at least for the time being. My contact information and some identity verification data are on there as well." I can't tell you how pleased I am to have you on board. ("Give it a shot anyway.") (Where is Hestia livinf right now?) (RNYC) * Mr_Charles gestures. "You may of course stay here tonight, or you can find a flight back to RNYC. Either way you should be able to bill it under my name as I;ve made the appropriate authorizations. How generous of you. I'll see you around, Mr. Charles. * Hestia heads out of the hotel! Either to see the sights or go home. <>