[Open Video/Action] Grand Opening of Pawn Takes Queen

[maybeitsmaybelline]

[It's the big day! The video opens with Roman behind the counter, giving the camera his best charming smile.]

Good morning, Genessia! Roman Torchwick speaking. I'm sure you've heard that I've followed Mercury's excellent example and decided to turn my life around. To help make up for all my terrible mistakes, I've decided to provide a valuable service to the community. To be precise...

[The camera swivels to take in the shop. Roman's obviously spent a long time getting his pawn shop ready to open. The whole place is decked out in his decadent style, looking less like a shady back alley pawn shop and more like a classy showroom.]

I'm opening a pawn shop! Today is the grand opening of Pawn Takes Queen.

[Is that a subtle dig at Cinder? Or maybe Weiss? Of course not! He would never dream of such a thing!]

I'll be having sales all day, so drop by Nova City and take a look. We also pay top dollar for anything you'd like to get off your hands-- provided it's high quality. If you want to buy, sell, or just come in and get to know the new, model citizen Torchwick, we'll be open until 10 PM.

[He's about to cut the feed when he pauses and leans in for a final note.]

Ah, and I hate to include such a bleak reminder, but if anyone has vigilante justice on the mind, I assure you that the police and I will have some words with you. I run a strictly peaceful establishment.

Thank you, and I hope to see you all at the grand opening of Pawn Takes Queen in Nova City!

Private to villains, thieves, weapons dealers, and any other unsavory types who might want in:
Don't cross me out of your business contacts just yet. See, I got a few interesting concessions in my deal with Ice Queen...

[He winks.]

Top secret, of course, but it's put me in a unique position of power. I can serve as a liaison between our world and the more... [Air quotes.]"respectable" parts of society. Information, moving goods and money, organization and consulting... you name it, and Roman Torchwick will make it happen.

Private to Emerald:
I heard Cinder got nabbed. I'm not going to pretend I miss her, but it is a shame that we're both out an employer. So if you find yourself in need of a job, or somewhere to fence the fruits of your labor, maybe we should talk.

[He pauses and gives the camera a meaningful look.]

If you can keep your filthy hands off my profits.

Comments

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[ringed_fate]

Clever name. [He is sincere. Though he's a little nervous at talking to a possible former criminal, they are both business owners, so he's going to be polite and friendly to the new guy.]

I recently opened a shop here too. Good luck to both of us.

Re: video

[maybeitsmaybelline]

I know.

[What's humility? In any case, he can still appreciate having his ego stroked. Not a bad foot to start out on if Bakura wants to avoid getting on a former criminal's shit list.]

What kind of business are you in?

Re: video

[ringed_fate]

[Shit list? But you're a good guy now, right? No, Ryou, don't, dammit! He grins a little because the guy's ego is kind of funny.

He looks notably modest when asked about his own work.]

I mostly craft figurines of people and things. Though later on, if I do well enough I might make models of other things. People seemed to like them a lot, so I opened a shop.

[Other things also include the model of Genessia and its cities. Though he's too shy to bring it up just yet. It's not finished and Mercury only saw because he asked.]

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[highprices]

[Crystal's charming and somewhat sultry smile flashes on the camera.]

Obviously you currently have very little inventory but if you receive anything in the way of jewelry I'd be very interested.

[She has a weakness for gems.]

Video

[maybeitsmaybelline]

[The reply takes a second because he's sure that he knows that pretty little face-- he just needs to figure out why. It doesn't take him long, though.]

You're one of Gale's girls, aren't you? Don't think I caught your name.

As for jewelry, I do have a few pieces... [He makes his way over to one of the display cases.] What kind of jewelry are you looking for?

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[highprices]

[Crystal’s teasing smile tells him that his memory of her is correct.]

You can call me Crystal. [Her voice is smooth and sweet like honey though there is an undertone that promises of much more sinister things. It’s obvious to Roman that she is very good at her job.]

I love crystals, much like my namesake.

[The bright blue of her eyes laugh as if sharing a private joke.]

Private Video

[have_hat_will_travel]

Oho. Sounds like quite the interesting deal.

Certainly, I can keep in touch. Particularly once I take the chance on a few... 'Acquisitions'.

Private Video

[maybeitsmaybelline]

I've gotta say, I didn't expect the Ice Queen to have such a practical business sense. Don't be fooled by the rich kid act.

What kind of acquisitions are we talking about here? Is your boss looking to get into a new market?

Re: Private Video

[have_hat_will_travel]

He's been relatively quiet as late... So I was pondering doing a few 'jobs' of my own. Gotta have some excitement, you know?

[Action]

[evenglass]

[When Ivina got the private filter, she was immediately intrigued by Roman's words. The pawn shop wasn't enough to really draw her in, but since he seems to have a gripe with Nova City's current guardian and has some information to offer, she figures it's worth dropping by for a visit in person. A hovercar parked outside just before she enters the pawnshop, dressed in a red skirt suit, with her hair tied in a bun. The sound of her high heeled shoes clacking against the floor, as she slowly paces around and observes the wares behind the glass panels. While human tastes in design are a little different from Mordrahns, this classy showroom vibe really clicks with her.]

I must say, Roman. You have outdone yourself with the design of this establishment.

[She speaks, still looking at the displays. It's not all crystally like After Life, which is where she's been spending most of her time in nowadays, so this is a nice break from it]

If you weren't such a scoundrel, you have a future in decorating.

[Then she finally looks to Roman, with a smile etched on her lips. She crosses her arms, leaning her hips slightly against the display case]

[maybeitsmaybelline]

[He stands up a little straighter when he sees her coming. Roman Torchwick doesn't need anyone's approval, mind you-- but he certainly could do worse than earning Ivina's. Flirting and thrills aside, she was a potential customer for several facets of his business. He grins at her.]

Darling, I may be a scoundrel, but I am a scoundrel with taste! [He emphasizes this with a mock bow.] What's the point in getting filthy rich if you can't appreciate the finer things in life?

[He sidles up to her next to the display case, decidedly closer than a salesman needs to be.]

So... do I have anything that suits your fancy?

[Action]

[swordprincess]

[Well, this was an interesting twist from Karla's former orders from Weiss to kill Roman if he came near the Schnee Company building. What sort of items would a supposed former criminal sell, she wondered. Karla just had to take a look.]

[So after her shift at Schnee, she strolled over to the shop and stepped inside.]

...Hello?

[maybeitsmaybelline]

[Roman looks up when she enters, and he can't help but be amused at how cautious she is. He flashes her a too-wide smile.]

Hello and welcome! What can I do for you today?

[swordprincess]

Ah, there you are.

[Karla drops her cautiousness and steps in further.]

I was curious about your little...establishment, so I just came to take a look.

( video )

[alittlebitofhell]

[He's interested in the pawn shop. They have the uncanny ability to collect really odd firearms you wouldn't normally find somewhere else. That and, a lot of the time, they didn't really know what they'd gotten their hands on, so they sold them for whatever. Of course, with the way the guy's talking, he also sounds like he might be dipping his hands a little deeper than the up-and-up bit would suggest.

You're laying it on a little thick, brother.]

So. You have a lot of problems with "vigilante" types, huh? What did you do?

[maybeitsmaybelline]

[Roman? Not being subtle? Say it ain't so!

He heaves a long-suffering sigh and shakes his head.]

Not nearly enough to deserve the vitriol I get, I assure you.

[He almost believes that, really. Don't get him wrong, there's plenty of reason to loathe him, but he usually has more fun earning that hatred. Working with Cinder actually felt like work, and he felt that the authorities in Genessia had rather overreacted.

In any case, he's not going to go into detail until he has a feel for the stranger and what side of the law he might be on.]

But that's all in the past now, so let's let bygones be bygones, shall we? Unless you have a personal interest in my history.

[A raised eyebrow. He wouldn't mind going over his resume with a potential business contact.]

[alittlebitofhell]

"Let bygones be bygones", huh? Sounds like you did something to me, buddy, and I don't know you.

[And something tells me I would.]

So, just a pointer. If you're trying to turn over a new leaf, a pawn shop was a bad idea. Cliche, too.

video;

[orlokbutterfly]

[Well, this is a bit of a surprise. Gale grins, lifting his butterfly mask from his face.]

Lookit you, gettin' into the business world now. Do I get a free shot at lockpicking your door now when you're not open, just to make us even?

Re: video;

[maybeitsmaybelline]

You can pick locks? My goodness, I had no idea you were such a delinquent!

[That's a high compliment, coming from Roman. Amusement twinkles in his eye. ]

As long as I'm inside at the time, you're free to try.

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[iridescentillusion]

[When Roman's done with his announcement, he may turn to find a familiar brown-haired 'human' behind him, leaning against the counter casually like he's been there the whole time. Since he was in Nova City, he was in his usual guise as Liam.]

Making ourselves a model citizen now, are we? Whatever took you so long?

Re: action;

[maybeitsmaybelline]

Woah!

[In a horribly undignified display, he actually jumps back a little. His eyes narrow and his jaw sets in a scowl.]

Would it kill you to come in through the front door?

private, em+roman filter

[unhappy]

What is there to talk about? I don't like you and you don't trust me.

[ It's unclear where she is, but it looks like she might by lying on a couch while she talks. ]

[maybeitsmaybelline]

[Oh good! Maybe she's finally getting that therapy she desperately needs.]

Sweetheart, you don't like anyone and I don't trust anyone. But you still need money and I still need workers.

[action]

[offwithhishat]

[ Coincidentally, Jefferson had never been to Nova City before the opening day of Roman's shop.

He'd originally been in the area at Airy's insistence that he accompany her to the beach party, but even amid all the new sights in a city he'd never been to, a name like Pawn Takes Queen was something he found pretty attention grabbing. He hated to make Airy wait on him, but not checking the place out wasn't even an option in his mind.

He did have a little experience with both pawnbrokers and queens, after all.

Jefferson raised his eyebrows upon entering the establishment. It was much more classy than he'd expected. The only worker he could see was a fellow with a fancy looking hat. People with fancy hats were usually in charge, or at least should be as far as he was concerned. He was lacking his own hat that day, though. Sad. ]

Pardon me, are you the owner?

[maybeitsmaybelline]

[Roman raises his eyebrows right back.]

Oh no! I'm just the publicist, entirely unrelated to the identical man who made the video.

[But this guy cuts a nice figure despite his excessively stupid question, and Roman can't be too rude to a man with such an excellent cravat. Or, you know, a potential customer.

He saunters over to Jefferson, extending a gloved hand.]

Roman Torchwick. And you are...?