Post by vastrix on May 5, 2021 14:03:07 GMT -5
At a hotel suite that has a built in conference room, Esmeralda von Krauss paces in front of a flatscreen television that is acting as a monitor for a laptop. The screen is split into nine smaller screens with men and women in a Zoom call though the faces are more silhouetted so that their identities remain secret.
Esmeralda von Krauss: I called this meeting to discuss a new branch and a new way of doing things.
Man: A new way...to kill people?
Esmeralda smiles, lighting an Egyptian cigarette at the end of her obsidian and ivory holder.
Esmeralda von Krauss: A new way to deal with people that they wished they were dead instead of making them actually dead.
There’s a few dry chuckles from the different people in the call. Esmeralda blows smoke into the air before clucking her tongue at them.
Esmeralda von Krauss: There will always be people who deserve death and that is where you come in, but there are those of such a value that we could do better than simple slaughter. We hire hackers and social media specialists to ruin their reputations and steal their assets. Then, they will beg for death. Then we, in our infinite grace, will grant it.
Woman: Is this just a way to rob our targets before killing them? What has this organization come to? Are you running out of money?
Esmeralda frowns. This is not the way that she thought this meeting would be going.
Esmeralda von Krauss: I am not running out of money as our clients can afford to pay for our services. This is also useful for wives who were left high and dry when their husbands left them for their secretaries. Heirs who were written out of wills from doing one too many “bad things”. We rob from the victims to give to our clients while they pay top notch for the service.
Woman: Now, see? That makes more sense to us.
Esmeralda von Krauss: You seem to be laboring under some misunderstandings, dahling. I’m not asking for permission to hire these new people. I’m informing you all of what’s to come. You will be helping me hire these reputation assassins and Robin Hoods. We will create a new and better way to deliver Justice.
Man: Understood. Do you know that we have taken “D” off of the streets and back into our control?
Esmeralda brightens up, putting her Egyptian cigarette out into an ashtray.
Esmeralda von Krauss: I am glad that you have managed to seize control of him through his would-be fiance’. In time, I’m sure we will be able to send him on missions of the normal variety, dahling. Get him to kill again.
Woman: Is it true that you are wrestling in the same company as “D” now?
Esmeralda von Krauss: That is true, dahling. We are in the same company. It will be interesting to work with him once again.
Woman: You have a match yet?
Esmeralda von Krauss: Yes, I face someone named June Harding in the ring. I don’t know much about her other than I’m going to put her into the hospital as a warning to all of the others.
Man: Are you doing all of this in order to attract a new lover?
Esmeralda von Krauss: Why would you-
Man: In the form of Steve Awesome. Do not think that we do not keep tabs on you as well.
Esmeralda breathes in deep of her Egyptian cigarette and blows the smoke out in a cloud that obscures the screen for a moment.
Esmeralda von Krauss: And what, you’ll inform Armand of my indiscretions? Is this some kind of blackmail? You understand that I am more talented than each of you and will kill you all if I must, dahling?
Man: We would never turn you in to your husband. We are simply stating what we know. We wish you luck on your endeavors.
Esmeralda relaxes a little, flicking ashes into her ashtray like she has not threatened the lives of the most powerful assassins in the world.
Esmeralda von Krauss: I did my due diligence on June Harding, but I have not found anything as of yet. No profile on file that I have seen. I would be much appreciated if you would do some research for me to determine how easy of a time I will be having against this lady?
Woman: You want us to research into her background? We can do that.
Esmeralda von Krauss: Thank you, dahling. Now, out of the new people we will be hiring. I will be selecting one of them to join you so that the new division has a say in matters. I will allow you all to select a number of people from the people that will be brought in for me to choose from.
Man: You would let one of them join our council? I suppose it is fitting but I do not like it.
Esmeralda von Krauss: This is why the Council will be going through each new hire to see if they have the wisdom and intelligence to join your ranks. Select wisely for I will make my selection amongst them.
Woman: And if we see none who fit the bill?
Esmeralda von Krauss: Then I will need a new Council. Do not play with me, dahling. This is something that will be happening, like it or not. I already have your replacements selected…
There is a long uncomfortable silence that is only broken by some awkward coughing from a couple of the members until the woman who last spoke speaks again.
Woman: I’m sure we will be able to find a selection of fine talents for you to choose from, m’lady.
Esmeralda puts her cigarette out with a wide grin.
Esmeralda von Krauss: Good, dahling. Now that we understand each other, this meeting is adjourned. Good luck on your missions.
The Council: And good luck unto you.
Esmeralda von Krauss: I called this meeting to discuss a new branch and a new way of doing things.
Man: A new way...to kill people?
Esmeralda smiles, lighting an Egyptian cigarette at the end of her obsidian and ivory holder.
Esmeralda von Krauss: A new way to deal with people that they wished they were dead instead of making them actually dead.
There’s a few dry chuckles from the different people in the call. Esmeralda blows smoke into the air before clucking her tongue at them.
Esmeralda von Krauss: There will always be people who deserve death and that is where you come in, but there are those of such a value that we could do better than simple slaughter. We hire hackers and social media specialists to ruin their reputations and steal their assets. Then, they will beg for death. Then we, in our infinite grace, will grant it.
Woman: Is this just a way to rob our targets before killing them? What has this organization come to? Are you running out of money?
Esmeralda frowns. This is not the way that she thought this meeting would be going.
Esmeralda von Krauss: I am not running out of money as our clients can afford to pay for our services. This is also useful for wives who were left high and dry when their husbands left them for their secretaries. Heirs who were written out of wills from doing one too many “bad things”. We rob from the victims to give to our clients while they pay top notch for the service.
Woman: Now, see? That makes more sense to us.
Esmeralda von Krauss: You seem to be laboring under some misunderstandings, dahling. I’m not asking for permission to hire these new people. I’m informing you all of what’s to come. You will be helping me hire these reputation assassins and Robin Hoods. We will create a new and better way to deliver Justice.
Man: Understood. Do you know that we have taken “D” off of the streets and back into our control?
Esmeralda brightens up, putting her Egyptian cigarette out into an ashtray.
Esmeralda von Krauss: I am glad that you have managed to seize control of him through his would-be fiance’. In time, I’m sure we will be able to send him on missions of the normal variety, dahling. Get him to kill again.
Woman: Is it true that you are wrestling in the same company as “D” now?
Esmeralda von Krauss: That is true, dahling. We are in the same company. It will be interesting to work with him once again.
Woman: You have a match yet?
Esmeralda von Krauss: Yes, I face someone named June Harding in the ring. I don’t know much about her other than I’m going to put her into the hospital as a warning to all of the others.
Man: Are you doing all of this in order to attract a new lover?
Esmeralda von Krauss: Why would you-
Man: In the form of Steve Awesome. Do not think that we do not keep tabs on you as well.
Esmeralda breathes in deep of her Egyptian cigarette and blows the smoke out in a cloud that obscures the screen for a moment.
Esmeralda von Krauss: And what, you’ll inform Armand of my indiscretions? Is this some kind of blackmail? You understand that I am more talented than each of you and will kill you all if I must, dahling?
Man: We would never turn you in to your husband. We are simply stating what we know. We wish you luck on your endeavors.
Esmeralda relaxes a little, flicking ashes into her ashtray like she has not threatened the lives of the most powerful assassins in the world.
Esmeralda von Krauss: I did my due diligence on June Harding, but I have not found anything as of yet. No profile on file that I have seen. I would be much appreciated if you would do some research for me to determine how easy of a time I will be having against this lady?
Woman: You want us to research into her background? We can do that.
Esmeralda von Krauss: Thank you, dahling. Now, out of the new people we will be hiring. I will be selecting one of them to join you so that the new division has a say in matters. I will allow you all to select a number of people from the people that will be brought in for me to choose from.
Man: You would let one of them join our council? I suppose it is fitting but I do not like it.
Esmeralda von Krauss: This is why the Council will be going through each new hire to see if they have the wisdom and intelligence to join your ranks. Select wisely for I will make my selection amongst them.
Woman: And if we see none who fit the bill?
Esmeralda von Krauss: Then I will need a new Council. Do not play with me, dahling. This is something that will be happening, like it or not. I already have your replacements selected…
There is a long uncomfortable silence that is only broken by some awkward coughing from a couple of the members until the woman who last spoke speaks again.
Woman: I’m sure we will be able to find a selection of fine talents for you to choose from, m’lady.
Esmeralda puts her cigarette out with a wide grin.
Esmeralda von Krauss: Good, dahling. Now that we understand each other, this meeting is adjourned. Good luck on your missions.
The Council: And good luck unto you.
