Post by Xavier Darnai on Mar 15, 2014 2:03:14 GMT
Editor's Note: The following discussion takes place after the Sudan Job and Sahara Run
Xavier Darnai: Long term deployment was never something he looked forward to, and it was getting to the point that it was either going to become dreadfully more frequent, or his business model was going to need to change. And soon. Standing at the bar around the corner from the common eating area, he hadn't taken a seat yet as he stared at the pair of glasses in front of him and the bottle of Glenfiddich just behind. Things in Russia had been costly, and while it never upset him to have to take a life, it wasn't something he enjoyed doing. Even when he had to. Rubbing at his jawline and the bit of tired and unshaven stubble that had grown there, he clapped his right hand down on the bar and reached for the bottle, pouring out two perfectly measured shots. Not a drop was spilled as he returned the Snow Phoenix to the bar. It had been a costly bottle, but worth it for the memorial. Picking up one of the glasses, he looked into the dark brown liquid before giving a nod and tossing it back. Spinning it over in his hand, it was set on the bar rim down before he repeated the process with the second immediately. Staring at the upturned glasses on the bar top for a moment, he nodded to the bartender and let him take the bottle and glasses away. "Do svidaniya."
Eryn McKearney: It was time. Time to move on. Time to pick up the pieces, what little there were, and start all over again. Other avenues hadn't worked in her favor thus far, so a new direction was needed. Opening the door, she stepped inside, letting the handle go, closing it behind herself. Her hair was longer. Darker than it had been before, as were her eyes. They were still blue of course, but somehow duller. Glancing around the room, she spotted him there at the bar a wisp of a smile came to her features as she approached. Not a word said as of yet. Hands moved to pull the jacket off since it wasn't needed inside. A nod given to the bartender, in greeting rather than to ask for something to drink. When she sat down she glanced over to Xavier briefly, then around the room, at the decor. Last time they spoke it was at a firing range.
Xavier Darnai: The Belyi Plastiny had gone to great lengths to avoid looking like a pit dive like so many other locations in the immediate vicinity, and without trying to play itself up as some sort of swanky night club either. Largely finished wood interior, segmented areas for various grades of privacy including the booths across from the bar that had been built to keep conversations quiet. Not to mention the very well stocked bar that Xavier stood at, but anyone who knew him wouldn't be surprised that a place he frequented was so well stocked. Reaching into the jacket of his suit he pulled out his cigarettes and the flip top lighter, putting one to his lips before dropping the nearly empty pack and snapping the lighter open and to life. Rust red eyes stared at the dancing flame for a moment as he pulled in the first hit, and in the very peripheral of his vision he saw the familiar face sitting there. Exhaling the smoke as he slapped the lighter shut and setting it on his cigarettes, bandaged fingers lowered to undo the buttons of his jacket and leave it open. "Eryn." A simple greeting, but it was certainly more than most got.
Eryn McKearney: "Xavier." Eryn still wasn't a big talker, unless there was something that really needed to be said. Small talk didn't always come easy for her. Sitting up straight, moving so she could stretch her back a bit. "Nice place" she commented, turning her head to look back at him. "How's the food?" Not being good at it didn't mean there shouldn't be any.
Xavier Darnai: "Very. I'm fond've it." Taking another hit off the cigarette, he reached for a nearby ash tray and pulled it closer, discarding the burn-off of his cigarette before giving a light nod and pushing the smoke out through his nose before replying. "Rather good, actually. Yuri's quite the chef. I can recommend the sirloin, or the befstroganov if you're looking for the house specialty."
Eryn McKearney: "I will keep those in mind." Covered elbows rested there against the counter, both hands clasped together. "How are things these days?"
Xavier Darnai: Leaning to the side himself, he rest his right elbow down on the bar top before taking another hit off the cigarette. Offering a slight tilt and twist of his head, his eyebrows shot up once and he let the smoke spill out in a slow exhale. "Rocky. Had a few too many people taking interest in my activity as've late. Makes it difficult to get things done proper when everyone I've got on hand's under a microscope."
Eryn McKearney: She gave a slow nod of her head as she listened, gaze following the smoke as it left the area of his face. "Need an extra pair of hands? I've been off the grid for a very long time. Might be able to work around anyone looking in on you and others."
Xavier Darnai: With one last hit off the cigarette, he snuffed it out in the nearby tray, exhaling off behind him as he offered a quiet scoff of amusement. Hex' warning of gluttonly played through his head once more as he gave a brief and singular nod. "I do, actually. Your situation changed any from the last we spoke, or have you managed to settle in the dark on a more permanent basis." She was right, she had been off grid for quite some time, and sometimes people chose to stay there afterwards. He'd been close himself.
Eryn McKearney: "I'm bored." Which really was not an answer to his question. Being a twenty three year old widow wasn't something she wanted to discuss, nor was the darkness. "My situation has not changed. I am still a bit more, uh, able than I was when I was younger. I need something to do."
Xavier Darnai: Being bored was a perfectly acceptable reason to get back into the fray. Operatives of their nature tended to go stir crazy otherwise. "You were pretty bloody able when we'd worked together before, being moreso's not that much've a surprise. Something tells me that you're going to be doing this sort've thing well longer than you aught. How active're you looking to get. I've got a few things lined up in the immediate, and I'm fairly certain that someone thinks they're about to get the drop on me with a surprise I'm not expecting."
Eryn McKearney: "It'd be a cold day in hell before someone actually got the drop on you." She smirked. The stir crazy had set in, that much was very true, as was her being a part of this longer than she aught. A long time ago she hadn't even expected to make it to this ripe old age and making her father proud was something she'd given up a long time ago. "Active enough." She'd needed a moment to think on it, really. "I do enjoy my solitude, but it does get old."
Xavier Darnai: "That it does." Nodding again, he rolled his neck back once for a quick pop. "Life've a sniper though, love. Typically means spending a good deal've time out on your own." Looking up at nothing in particular for a moment, there was a twitch in his lip as he thought back to the amount of time that he had spent alone while surrounded by various people. "I've a few things I can use your particular assistance on. Things I'm not quite ready to bring a few others in over. Collins's capable, but he doesn't trust me." Smart boy, really. "And I'll need Hex to focus her attentions on a task that's going to need a few additional hands." He had no doubt of either Hex or Eryn's abilities to operate individually or in command of a fire team, but seeing as the few likely to operate on the fire team were already contacts of Hex, it was best not to rock that particular boat unnecessarily.
Eryn McKearney: "I'm better on my own. There aren't as many complications that way." For much of her life she'd felt the same. Completely alone in a crowded room. Even in a room with people that shared the same last name. Rob had broken the wall, but in the end, she couldn't save him or the kid. "Thought Collins trusted everyone? Guess he's grown up." In all fairness, she hadn't seen Collins in years. Anything was possible. "Whatever you need me to do, I'll do. My aim hasn't lost anything."
Xavier Darnai: "Oh ha." It was an amusing little dig, but it was a fair one. The last time they'd spoken he was working his aim back into shape, and he'd done a job that for most would have been stellar. To his own standards though, he'd felt he was still falling short. "Couldn't say Collins' grown up any, but he's seen a few too many things from my side've the pond to know better than to assume I'm not constantly up to something." A reasonable assessment, but it did still offer a few complications.
Eryn McKearney: She smirked. "You? Constantly up to something? Say it isn't so." She'd always assumed as much, but still, there was a level of trust issued to Xavier that most other people didn't get. They'd worked together and the man has known her for a very long time. Collins, well, he'd just been a bartender at her dad's place way back when.
Xavier Darnai: "Always nice when that's not a surprise to anyone. Care for a drink, it'll be on my tab." Motioning to the bartender, he held up a singe finger, pointing to the Snow Phoenix. He was still drinking in memorial, of sorts. Grabbing the bottle carefully in his bandaged left hand, he carried it down the bar to take a seat next to the girl. Eryn was among the youngest he had ever worked with. She may be older now, but the closest anyone else got to having been her age when he'd started with them was a lifetime ago.
Eryn McKearney: "Pepsi." Always Pepsi. That hadn't changed. It upset her dad once that she wouldn't have an actual drink with him. She'd thought better of that now, if the other person insisted, but Eryn would rather have it her way. "If that's fine with you."
Xavier Darnai: "Drinking's not for everyone love, believe me I'm fully aware've the consequences." Running the bandaged fingers of his left hand in a scale of emphasis against the bottle for a few muted clinks, he nodded to the bartender when the fresh glass was set down. Tilting it to the side, he poured himself a double of the dark brown Scotch, rotating the bottle slowly as he pulled it up and away to prevent wasting even a drop as he rest it down on the bar. Another tilt of his head towards Eryn while looking at the man behind the counter was enough to get him serving her the cola. Carefully taking his glass in his left, he clinked the base of it against the side of hers. "Do poslednego vystrela."
Eryn McKearney: Eryn lifted her glass after the clink, giving half a smile to the man and then the bartender for serving. "My Russian hasn't gotten any better." Her hand moved to bring the glass to her lips for a long drink. Through everything she witnessed over the past few years, the one thing she was proud of was that she hadn't gone for the booze, drugs or even smoking. Lowering the glass, she motioned toward his bottle. "What is that stuff anyway? I don't recognize it."
Xavier Darnai: Turning the black bottle so she could get a proper view of the label, he lift the glass for a slow sniff before tilting it back and taking a sip. "Few years back Glenfiddich'd put out a special release've a few casks that'd been hit by heavy snows all year round. The temperature adjustment did something particularly brilliant to them, gave it a nice, smooth texture, sort've a rich coffee flavor. I keep a few bottles about for particular occasions. It's getting harder to find a fresh one."
Eryn McKearney: "Ah." She nodded once then took another drink of the soda and set the glass down on the counter. "To each their own. Maybe it was growing up in bars filled with drunks, but I never did understand the fascination."
Xavier Darnai: "Considering how your family'd taken to the drink I can understand your inclination to avoid it." Pausing for a moment as he tilted the glass back, he thought about the statement a third time and drank again anyway. It was a harsh reality, but it was still reality. "Have to imagine growing up in the presence've an addict's keen to show just how bad the consequences've an action can be."
Eryn McKearney: "Fire arms an other weapons were always much more interesting." Several vices traded for one. Was it worse to drink yourself under the table or to pull a trigger to put someone in the ground? She didn't know and honestly didn't care.
Xavier Darnai: Offering a bit of a smirk, he gave a quiet nod and leaned his elbows against the bar top before taking another pull of the rare Scotch. "It'll be good to have you about again Eryn."
Eryn McKearney: "Thank you." She lifted her glass for another drink of the soda. "Maybe it'll be good to be about again. It's time to start over again."
Xavier Darnai: "Seems to be a good bit've that going about lately." Coming back from the dead could do that for a person. Eryn may not have been declared dead, but going dark was close enough sometimes. "You'n Hex I think'll be like minded on more than a few fronts, though I do not doubt she's going to have a field day over bringing you on as an extra hand."
Eryn McKearney: "Whatever floats her boat. I don't do anything that I do to make friends. I do it because there's a job to do."
Xavier Darnai: "You do not say." Grinning a bit, he looked to her briefly before finishing off the glass of Scotch. "It'll be fine. She's not one to hold her tongue either, but she's bloody good at her job. Between the two've you I might even be able to take holiday regularly again." It was a pipe dream. The idea of Xavier relaxing was like spotting a unicorn at a coffee shop asking for an espresso.
Eryn McKearney: She grinned. "Your better half might appreciate that. Time to yourselves, all alone for a little while. Wouldn't that be nice?" It sounded funny to say.
Xavier Darnai: A twitch in his eye was evident as he picked up the bottle and murmured something about mending fences as he poured another glass of the Snow Phoenix. "It'd certainly be something out've the typical." A slow draw of breath was made as he exchanged the bottle for the glass, picking it up again and exhaling again.
Eryn McKearney: "But welcomed, if possible." The tone of her voice had softened when she spoke. After a moment she lifted the glass to take another drink of the soda. "I should take off. You know how to get a hold of me if you need something before I come back in." Another drink from the glass and she set it down on the bar, giving it a nudge away with her fingers Sliding from the stool, she pulled her coat back on.
Xavier Darnai: Nodding again, turning to watch her head off. "I do. Keep your head on, Eryn. I'll let you know what's around the bend once it's time to get ready for it." Looking back to the bar tender, he nodded and waved the bottle off, making the universal hand gesture for the check.
Eryn McKearney: "Thanks for the drink." She lifted a hand, giving him a soft salute. "Take it easy. I'll see you soon." Buttoning her coat as she headed back out and away from the diner.
Xavier Darnai: Looking at the folder that had been set down, he reached into his jacket and pulled out his billfold, laying down proper payment before closing the folder and sliding it away. Returning his cash to his inner pocket, he picked up his glass again and drained the last of it. Setting it on the bar rim down, he picked up his cigarettes and stepped away from the bar, making his way to the common eating area.
Eryn McKearney: It was time. Time to move on. Time to pick up the pieces, what little there were, and start all over again. Other avenues hadn't worked in her favor thus far, so a new direction was needed. Opening the door, she stepped inside, letting the handle go, closing it behind herself. Her hair was longer. Darker than it had been before, as were her eyes. They were still blue of course, but somehow duller. Glancing around the room, she spotted him there at the bar a wisp of a smile came to her features as she approached. Not a word said as of yet. Hands moved to pull the jacket off since it wasn't needed inside. A nod given to the bartender, in greeting rather than to ask for something to drink. When she sat down she glanced over to Xavier briefly, then around the room, at the decor. Last time they spoke it was at a firing range.
Xavier Darnai: The Belyi Plastiny had gone to great lengths to avoid looking like a pit dive like so many other locations in the immediate vicinity, and without trying to play itself up as some sort of swanky night club either. Largely finished wood interior, segmented areas for various grades of privacy including the booths across from the bar that had been built to keep conversations quiet. Not to mention the very well stocked bar that Xavier stood at, but anyone who knew him wouldn't be surprised that a place he frequented was so well stocked. Reaching into the jacket of his suit he pulled out his cigarettes and the flip top lighter, putting one to his lips before dropping the nearly empty pack and snapping the lighter open and to life. Rust red eyes stared at the dancing flame for a moment as he pulled in the first hit, and in the very peripheral of his vision he saw the familiar face sitting there. Exhaling the smoke as he slapped the lighter shut and setting it on his cigarettes, bandaged fingers lowered to undo the buttons of his jacket and leave it open. "Eryn." A simple greeting, but it was certainly more than most got.
Eryn McKearney: "Xavier." Eryn still wasn't a big talker, unless there was something that really needed to be said. Small talk didn't always come easy for her. Sitting up straight, moving so she could stretch her back a bit. "Nice place" she commented, turning her head to look back at him. "How's the food?" Not being good at it didn't mean there shouldn't be any.
Xavier Darnai: "Very. I'm fond've it." Taking another hit off the cigarette, he reached for a nearby ash tray and pulled it closer, discarding the burn-off of his cigarette before giving a light nod and pushing the smoke out through his nose before replying. "Rather good, actually. Yuri's quite the chef. I can recommend the sirloin, or the befstroganov if you're looking for the house specialty."
Eryn McKearney: "I will keep those in mind." Covered elbows rested there against the counter, both hands clasped together. "How are things these days?"
Xavier Darnai: Leaning to the side himself, he rest his right elbow down on the bar top before taking another hit off the cigarette. Offering a slight tilt and twist of his head, his eyebrows shot up once and he let the smoke spill out in a slow exhale. "Rocky. Had a few too many people taking interest in my activity as've late. Makes it difficult to get things done proper when everyone I've got on hand's under a microscope."
Eryn McKearney: She gave a slow nod of her head as she listened, gaze following the smoke as it left the area of his face. "Need an extra pair of hands? I've been off the grid for a very long time. Might be able to work around anyone looking in on you and others."
Xavier Darnai: With one last hit off the cigarette, he snuffed it out in the nearby tray, exhaling off behind him as he offered a quiet scoff of amusement. Hex' warning of gluttonly played through his head once more as he gave a brief and singular nod. "I do, actually. Your situation changed any from the last we spoke, or have you managed to settle in the dark on a more permanent basis." She was right, she had been off grid for quite some time, and sometimes people chose to stay there afterwards. He'd been close himself.
Eryn McKearney: "I'm bored." Which really was not an answer to his question. Being a twenty three year old widow wasn't something she wanted to discuss, nor was the darkness. "My situation has not changed. I am still a bit more, uh, able than I was when I was younger. I need something to do."
Xavier Darnai: Being bored was a perfectly acceptable reason to get back into the fray. Operatives of their nature tended to go stir crazy otherwise. "You were pretty bloody able when we'd worked together before, being moreso's not that much've a surprise. Something tells me that you're going to be doing this sort've thing well longer than you aught. How active're you looking to get. I've got a few things lined up in the immediate, and I'm fairly certain that someone thinks they're about to get the drop on me with a surprise I'm not expecting."
Eryn McKearney: "It'd be a cold day in hell before someone actually got the drop on you." She smirked. The stir crazy had set in, that much was very true, as was her being a part of this longer than she aught. A long time ago she hadn't even expected to make it to this ripe old age and making her father proud was something she'd given up a long time ago. "Active enough." She'd needed a moment to think on it, really. "I do enjoy my solitude, but it does get old."
Xavier Darnai: "That it does." Nodding again, he rolled his neck back once for a quick pop. "Life've a sniper though, love. Typically means spending a good deal've time out on your own." Looking up at nothing in particular for a moment, there was a twitch in his lip as he thought back to the amount of time that he had spent alone while surrounded by various people. "I've a few things I can use your particular assistance on. Things I'm not quite ready to bring a few others in over. Collins's capable, but he doesn't trust me." Smart boy, really. "And I'll need Hex to focus her attentions on a task that's going to need a few additional hands." He had no doubt of either Hex or Eryn's abilities to operate individually or in command of a fire team, but seeing as the few likely to operate on the fire team were already contacts of Hex, it was best not to rock that particular boat unnecessarily.
Eryn McKearney: "I'm better on my own. There aren't as many complications that way." For much of her life she'd felt the same. Completely alone in a crowded room. Even in a room with people that shared the same last name. Rob had broken the wall, but in the end, she couldn't save him or the kid. "Thought Collins trusted everyone? Guess he's grown up." In all fairness, she hadn't seen Collins in years. Anything was possible. "Whatever you need me to do, I'll do. My aim hasn't lost anything."
Xavier Darnai: "Oh ha." It was an amusing little dig, but it was a fair one. The last time they'd spoken he was working his aim back into shape, and he'd done a job that for most would have been stellar. To his own standards though, he'd felt he was still falling short. "Couldn't say Collins' grown up any, but he's seen a few too many things from my side've the pond to know better than to assume I'm not constantly up to something." A reasonable assessment, but it did still offer a few complications.
Eryn McKearney: She smirked. "You? Constantly up to something? Say it isn't so." She'd always assumed as much, but still, there was a level of trust issued to Xavier that most other people didn't get. They'd worked together and the man has known her for a very long time. Collins, well, he'd just been a bartender at her dad's place way back when.
Xavier Darnai: "Always nice when that's not a surprise to anyone. Care for a drink, it'll be on my tab." Motioning to the bartender, he held up a singe finger, pointing to the Snow Phoenix. He was still drinking in memorial, of sorts. Grabbing the bottle carefully in his bandaged left hand, he carried it down the bar to take a seat next to the girl. Eryn was among the youngest he had ever worked with. She may be older now, but the closest anyone else got to having been her age when he'd started with them was a lifetime ago.
Eryn McKearney: "Pepsi." Always Pepsi. That hadn't changed. It upset her dad once that she wouldn't have an actual drink with him. She'd thought better of that now, if the other person insisted, but Eryn would rather have it her way. "If that's fine with you."
Xavier Darnai: "Drinking's not for everyone love, believe me I'm fully aware've the consequences." Running the bandaged fingers of his left hand in a scale of emphasis against the bottle for a few muted clinks, he nodded to the bartender when the fresh glass was set down. Tilting it to the side, he poured himself a double of the dark brown Scotch, rotating the bottle slowly as he pulled it up and away to prevent wasting even a drop as he rest it down on the bar. Another tilt of his head towards Eryn while looking at the man behind the counter was enough to get him serving her the cola. Carefully taking his glass in his left, he clinked the base of it against the side of hers. "Do poslednego vystrela."
Eryn McKearney: Eryn lifted her glass after the clink, giving half a smile to the man and then the bartender for serving. "My Russian hasn't gotten any better." Her hand moved to bring the glass to her lips for a long drink. Through everything she witnessed over the past few years, the one thing she was proud of was that she hadn't gone for the booze, drugs or even smoking. Lowering the glass, she motioned toward his bottle. "What is that stuff anyway? I don't recognize it."
Xavier Darnai: Turning the black bottle so she could get a proper view of the label, he lift the glass for a slow sniff before tilting it back and taking a sip. "Few years back Glenfiddich'd put out a special release've a few casks that'd been hit by heavy snows all year round. The temperature adjustment did something particularly brilliant to them, gave it a nice, smooth texture, sort've a rich coffee flavor. I keep a few bottles about for particular occasions. It's getting harder to find a fresh one."
Eryn McKearney: "Ah." She nodded once then took another drink of the soda and set the glass down on the counter. "To each their own. Maybe it was growing up in bars filled with drunks, but I never did understand the fascination."
Xavier Darnai: "Considering how your family'd taken to the drink I can understand your inclination to avoid it." Pausing for a moment as he tilted the glass back, he thought about the statement a third time and drank again anyway. It was a harsh reality, but it was still reality. "Have to imagine growing up in the presence've an addict's keen to show just how bad the consequences've an action can be."
Eryn McKearney: "Fire arms an other weapons were always much more interesting." Several vices traded for one. Was it worse to drink yourself under the table or to pull a trigger to put someone in the ground? She didn't know and honestly didn't care.
Xavier Darnai: Offering a bit of a smirk, he gave a quiet nod and leaned his elbows against the bar top before taking another pull of the rare Scotch. "It'll be good to have you about again Eryn."
Eryn McKearney: "Thank you." She lifted her glass for another drink of the soda. "Maybe it'll be good to be about again. It's time to start over again."
Xavier Darnai: "Seems to be a good bit've that going about lately." Coming back from the dead could do that for a person. Eryn may not have been declared dead, but going dark was close enough sometimes. "You'n Hex I think'll be like minded on more than a few fronts, though I do not doubt she's going to have a field day over bringing you on as an extra hand."
Eryn McKearney: "Whatever floats her boat. I don't do anything that I do to make friends. I do it because there's a job to do."
Xavier Darnai: "You do not say." Grinning a bit, he looked to her briefly before finishing off the glass of Scotch. "It'll be fine. She's not one to hold her tongue either, but she's bloody good at her job. Between the two've you I might even be able to take holiday regularly again." It was a pipe dream. The idea of Xavier relaxing was like spotting a unicorn at a coffee shop asking for an espresso.
Eryn McKearney: She grinned. "Your better half might appreciate that. Time to yourselves, all alone for a little while. Wouldn't that be nice?" It sounded funny to say.
Xavier Darnai: A twitch in his eye was evident as he picked up the bottle and murmured something about mending fences as he poured another glass of the Snow Phoenix. "It'd certainly be something out've the typical." A slow draw of breath was made as he exchanged the bottle for the glass, picking it up again and exhaling again.
Eryn McKearney: "But welcomed, if possible." The tone of her voice had softened when she spoke. After a moment she lifted the glass to take another drink of the soda. "I should take off. You know how to get a hold of me if you need something before I come back in." Another drink from the glass and she set it down on the bar, giving it a nudge away with her fingers Sliding from the stool, she pulled her coat back on.
Xavier Darnai: Nodding again, turning to watch her head off. "I do. Keep your head on, Eryn. I'll let you know what's around the bend once it's time to get ready for it." Looking back to the bar tender, he nodded and waved the bottle off, making the universal hand gesture for the check.
Eryn McKearney: "Thanks for the drink." She lifted a hand, giving him a soft salute. "Take it easy. I'll see you soon." Buttoning her coat as she headed back out and away from the diner.
Xavier Darnai: Looking at the folder that had been set down, he reached into his jacket and pulled out his billfold, laying down proper payment before closing the folder and sliding it away. Returning his cash to his inner pocket, he picked up his glass again and drained the last of it. Setting it on the bar rim down, he picked up his cigarettes and stepped away from the bar, making his way to the common eating area.