Tight Resources [OPEN]

[flip]

His hand fisted around his automatic as he listened to Nickle's blabbering on and on about FBI closin' their shipment. Two Face stood staring at the empty boxes in his ware house. There supplies were dwindling fast and all his connections outside were falling through. Nickle's annoying babbling certainly wasn't helpin' anything.

He is giving me a headache.

Should kill em'

I find that a bit dramatic.

They rolled the coin in the palm of their hand before flipping it up into the air. It made the familiar ding sound as it fell through the air and back into his palm. He looked down seeing the light side up. Damn it.

Dent turned around before quickly slamming the automatic down on Nickle's head causing the boy to let out a whiney groan before collapsing on the ground. "If you don't have a solution then keep your damn mouth shut," Two Face growled, severely disappointed that he didn't get to shoot him.

We need him, Harvey reminded him before turning back to the empty boxes. Harvey thought of all the big names in government. He could try to contact them. The FBI had stepped far out of boundary of the law. What there doing could be classified as illegal. Dent frowned and began to pace towards the boxes. Nickle was still on the ground groaning as his twin bother Mickey went to help him up. Someone needs to stop them, Dent thought.

We need to get rid of them that's for sure. We don't have a god damn bullet left.

We have a box.

Two Face growled as he walked over and kicked the box Harvey was talking about. Yeah one box! Can't even go to the bird brain to get more.

"Let's go," Harvey ordered as he headed to his nice car in his classic black and white suit. He needed bullets and there was one dealer he had yet to speak with. He opened up the door and sat in the seat of the car. Even with Nickle's new found headache, both twins were in the front seat and starting the engine before Harvey could even flip his coin.

"Where we going boss?" Mickey asked from the drivers side.

There were two places Nelson could be. They flipped the coin. "63rd and K," they stated as they eyed the coin in hand.

"But boss, the Feds cleared the Drunken Crab bar out weeks ago," Mickey argued.

Two Face let out a low threatening growl as he shifted his automatic. Should have put a bullet through both of them.

Wasting resources, you wonder why we only have a box.

Shut up, Dent!

They drove to the bar and passed through the empty streets of East Side Gotham. The Fed had cleared most of it off, but if ya were smart ya could avoid them. The car pulled up next to the Drunken Crab. Dent opened the door and stared up at the routing old building that had the lights in the sign flickering ominously.

[anna]

“The thing about the Feds...the thing about all such forces is...if you can wait them out they eventually leave a building alone.” Anna spoke. The woman was seated at the empty bar, fingering a classic and simple pocket knife in one hand as she leaned over the bar, chin atop the other hand. She didn't acknowledge Harvey by looking directly at him, though her blue eyes were visible glancing at him momentarily when she spoke, before darting away to look ahead of her in the dim lighting. She toyed boredly with the knife, before folding it back into its casing.

“The stupid ones, the frightened ones, they cast out. They look elsewhere for their hideaway, but the smart ones and the ones willing to fight, know when a building is safe again to use. Question is, which are the two of you, Mr. Dent? Brave or foolish?” She finally turned her body around to gaze fully at the segregated man before her. She was every bit dressed as she usually was when portraying her criminal persona. The studded catsuit caught the scant lighting, its metallic parts throwing back the light. She leaned back in the stool, but kept her balance.

Her voice was silky and the intent smirk on her face, showed he had all her attention as she faced him, legs crossed properly, hands in her lap, but always near her belt which held her knives and guns as well as the ammo. She was prepared, but she was gracious and a business lady. And it would not do to be rude, but it was stupid to not be suspicious, no matter what. And Anna Craven trusted few. Very few.

[flip]

They threw opened the unhinged door that mush have been knocked down by the Feds when they raided it. The door slammed against the old wooden walls as he walked in. The twins entered right behind going to either side of him. Nelson would have sit up a new operation here. If he did that would mean the place was now bugged and guarded, so when they threw open the door they expected to see three or four men sitting and playing cards. They did not expect to see a woman sitting at the bar.

He not here! What a waste of time, Dent.

The woman could work for him.

Nelson hates woman. He knows their useless besides for gettin' ya a drink.

Harvey's mind went over the bald stocky man in his head and remembered all his rants. Yes, Harvey agreed, it is possible he was caught in the raid. You better hope he wasn't or I'm going to totally lose it, Dent.

The woman's voice pulled them away from their mental argument. Two Face hated these types of people. They put on a costume, and for some messed up reason, their bravery or more like stupidity rises. The new costume trash in Gotham had the gulls to speak to him. Trash. That's what they were: trash.

The twins already had their guns on the woman: one aimed at her head the other are her heart. Two Face walked forward to the bar. He wasn't gonna leave here empty handed. He at least was gonna get himself a freakin' drink. He sure needed one with dealing with Dent. "Chick if ya think this is safe just cause the Feds aren't here you gotta a few problems you need to work out," Two Face stated as he moved to the bar. He noticed the weapons. He noticed that she thought knew how to use it, but as long as the chick didn't mess with him, he didn't care about her.

Harvey eyed the woman as well. So much tight black, it reminded him of the Catwoman though different. While Two Face felt a bit relaxed, Dent was more cautious. He definitely thought she was some sort of copy-cat, but copy cats still could be nuisance.

Let's leave.

Not until I get a drink.

The coin that was always in his hand or pocket flew up in the air and landed in his hand. Their eyes gave it a quick glance.

I suppose I could use a drink, Harvey thought.

[anna]

Anna raised an eye to the men with the guns to her head. Well, what had she done speak? She had no want to cause any trouble, if trouble was not wanted. In fact, she was only there because she liked the place and now that it was empty, she could explore it, but of course she wasn't doing by herself. She wasn't stupid, she was more than five years into the game of running underground operations. She was no “new costume trash” like Harvey believed her to be. In fact, she turned back to the bar unconcerned, at least she showed none to the men aiming at her, but moved slowly enough to prove just how little intention she had of doing anything “cute”.

She did, however, smile in amusement. Think the place was safe, no...she knew the place was safe, that's what was good about being part of the Gotham Police Department and a crime boss. “I appreciate the concern, but excuse me, shouldn't the two of you also be concerned about being here then? Oh and if you're looking for whiskey, you're going to find any back there.” She tapped her fingers on the bartop twice with her fingers.

At that moment, the door on the other side of the bar opened and two men quickly walked out, now aiming their own guns at the twins. Anna shook her head and raised her hand and waved them down, but the two men stiffened and glared at the twins still aiming guns at their bosslady. “If they mean no harm, no use spilling blood. Could one of you bring Mr. Dent whatever drink he wants from the back, though, if he'd like it.”

“But, Ms. Rook they're—”

Anna lowered her head and looked at them. “They're what? Aiming their weapons at me? Intruding? I know, but you two forget what this place used to be. I'm certain Mr. Dent didn't come here looking for me, and neither did I expect him, but things are what they are. I'm certain I can give him whatever information he wishes, though.” She turned her head back to Harvey. She pursed her lips in though. “You're looking for Nelson, right? I know him,” she frowned, “doesn't much like me because I'm female and all. Unfortunately he was caught in the raid.” Anna remembered that, took him down herself and with pleasure. Let that be his first lesson in real women.

[flip]

They watched the woman with careful eyes as they made their way over to the bar. She was far too calm for their liking. People in this field of work who showed little to no fear were trouble, and Harvey had no interest in trouble with the Feds spreading across this city like a virus. His finger traced along the bar causally as he other hand still held his automatic. He felt the dust coat his fingers as he moved. Her smile only made Harvey feel more uncomfortable.

You too paranoid, Dent. She just a newbie with too much confidence.

It's not confidence I'm seeing, it's pure indifference.

"When you have been around as long as I have," Harvey said causally in respect to his DA and his criminal activity, "You learn your safety is merely left to chance. If that's the case then I have no reason to fear the unstoppable." He watched the girl tap her fingers and immediately heard the door open.

Shit, they both thought as two men came from behind. I told you she was too calm. Chill the f*ck out! Tweedle Dee and Dum have her on aim. Her words only confirmed that she was not going to start a war with them. With their limited amount of resources, they had no interest in a war themselves.

Two Face lost attention on the girl. He was focused more on the alcohol factor and realized quickly the chick hadn't been lyin'. Great. Just damn great. All the shelves were empty. He would have to take the chick up on her offer, which could possibly be poisonous. "Scotch, get me a scotch..the whole bottle," he snapped at the two men, the chick obviously employed. He nor Harvey were slow. They managed to climb the criminal ladder quite fast. For that reason, they came to the conclusion that this woman was the leader of some type of crime organization. Dent ran through his own knowledge of people he brought to court. The woman in front of them had not turned up. A person in crime they don't know, not usually a good sign.

The mention of Nelson and the confirmation of his whereabouts were disappointing. "If ya know who the rat bastard is, then you must be in the same line of work." Two Face said as he waited for the man to get his drink.

[anna]

“You heard him, a whole scotch bottle,” she waved her men away easily to do the task, before crossing her legs and continuing to listen to him. She had no way of hearing his thoughts, but she would have chuckled at them, but said nothing. The fact was that she was not indifferent. She may have been confident, but not overly so. The fact was, she was more cautious than Two Face gave her credit for. She was very careful, but why allow your opponent to see such a thing. She had had five years to learn to school her expression. She may have seemed laidback and unconcerned, but she was aware of every movement. She didn’t let others see her caution, though because why let someone know you fear them? She would not allow anyone to have power over her and besides, it was test. Let them underestimate her, think her nothing, and she would prove them wrong.

She lifted her brow at him and then simply turned her head to regard him. “And what business is that? Being a supplier?” She shook her head. “I can certainly offer supplies, but that’s not my main business and I’ve been in my business for over five years.” And she cared little that he didn’t know who she was, it was to her advantage for two reasons; the first was that when all the more infamous names were captured by the FBI, if such a thing occurred, she would be able to monopolize, but the second was that, if she committed a crime with her organization it would be blamed on someone more known. She liked the shadows, being unknown. She also liked power, but taking too much too quickly meant losing it just as fast, she was slow methodical.

“What are you looking for?” She asked. “Obviously if you’re coming to a supplier, you need supplies, so what kind are you looking for? Guns, ammunition, armor, all three?” She listed off casually.

[flip]

Two Face shot her goons a dirty look as they moved back into the hole they crawled out from. He leaned back on the back counter. His hand holding his automatic landed on the counter with a clang at he used it to hold up his weight. His free hand started to shift the coin between his fingers. The bitch is a bit cocky isn't she. You didn't seem to care before. That was before she started braggin' bout her career. Why does she think we give a damn? We've been running these streets for years! Two Face gave her an annoyed glare. He didn't have an urge to straggle her like most women, but he also couldn't say he liked her.

"Can't be that big of a business if I've heard nothin' bout you," Two Face commented, still fiddling with his coin, "Can't say I care either toots, but I'm likin' your proposition."

We shouldn't be telling her anything!

Shut up, Dent.

Flip.

Two Face causally flipped the coin in the air, giving it a brief glance as it landed. The moment was almost so habitual it almost looked normal. Dark side, Dent. He gave a small smirk.

"FBI have been riding my ass for far too long. My suppliers are shot, and I'm in need of ammunition. Can't say I care whatcha do, but if you can get me that, I can get you a fair price," Two Face said, stressing the word fair. He hated to be cheated. They both hated to be cheated.

Harvey did not trust this strange woman that had managed to keep under the radar. Two Face needed to be more cautious or they would end up with a gun at their back. "I apologize, this is a bit late and impolite, but you know my name, may I ask what is yours?" he asked. He was not going to get into business with a woman without knowing her name. Just call her chick she responds to it. I swear you would be no where without me. What was that, Dent?! Once we get a name we can get a clue to how big her gang is. It's possible we heard of it. Pfft, who cares?

[anna]

Anna met his dirty looks and glare coolly. If only he knew she was agreed with his thoughts. She hadn’t been being cocky, he really needed to learn the difference between being factual/honest and being cocky, when she was cocky, oh he’d know it. Neither did she give damn about whether he cared about her career or her, she returned the sentiment. She hadn’t really given a damn about him until he waltzed into the joint like he owned it or was going to put several bullets in the walls. Now, she was being cocky as she thought, he probably didn’t have enough bullets. She turned the lithe little grin that that thought gave her as she answered his questions and statements.

“You can call me Rook, Mr. Dent.” She didn’t trust him enough to give him her actual name and she only knew his because he liked to advertise himself, which would probably come eventually for her, but she got by with word of mouth just fine and she had a legitimate job as well, fame as a crime boss wouldn’t be good for that. “And big business, little business, it serves its purpose and I’m sure you’d get me a fair price. And you say you want ammunition,” she pressed her lips together in thought. Did she get the wares and then ask for the money or speak to him about it first? “I can certainly get it, and then price can be spoken of.” If he didn’t pay up, she’d have more ammunition for herself and more to peddle anyway.

“Don’t worry about insulting me just yet. I could hardly care that you’ve not heard of me, I have my reasons for that being the case, it’s how I work and it suits me. Besides, not being known, has advantages too and for now, those outweigh my want to be more renown, especially right now with this FBI fiasco going down.” Her smile was easier this time, more friendly and good-natured. “And I think your scotch is here,” she turned her eyes to the doorway that lead to the back and her men emerged. One came forward and placed the bottle on the bar top before joining his friend. They were more relaxed, though they showed the caution that Anna felt, but didn’t display.

[flip]

"Rook? Like Rookie," Two Face snorted as his burnt fingers tapped along the table. Two Face had his question about the girl, but now he was starting to see her as a waste of time. Stupid Feds were takin' all the good suppliers out of town and leavin' him with Rookie here.

You are a fool. She said she had been in this business for some time. We would best be watchful. Penguin went the quiet route too, but we both know how rotten that fat bird is. They both fisted their hand on top of the table at the thought of Cobblepot. I'm gonna make that bird into fried chicken someday. Agreed, but we should be careful of other threats. If you think Rookie is such a threat we shout hit her now. Threaten' her men and take the ammunition. We shouldn't be making enemies with the Fed around.

"You have to understand Rook," Harvey began, his fist hand turning back to an open palm playing with his coin. "I have learn that one cannot rely on trust in this town. The only thing you can rely on is chance and why your offer seems sound, I am always suspicious. Before we roll our luck with you, what do you get out of this trade. I got the money, but how far can money get you in this current mess the Feds have us in," Harvey stated causally as the scotch was brought out. Finally! Two Face grabbed the bottle with his coin hand, his other hand still holding the automatic. Ya know the Rookie probably just wants us to take down the Feds ourselves like any chicken. Maybe she should be locked up with the chicken too. They'd probably like each other lots. Don't drink that yet, idiot!

Two Face growled and let go of the bottle. They flipped the coin. Dark side won. Two Face grabbed it again and shot it back. The liquid burned, but it was hardly noticeable when your face is already burned off. He slammed the bottle back down. "Rookie, don't think ya can sit on the sidelines and not get bruned," Two Face stated as he wiped his face with the back of sleeves.

[tetch]

Jervis was trying to find a new hide out since Batman rooted him out of his last establishment and low and behold there it was a derelict building."Oh my must be my lucky day."he said gleefully as he approached the door and opened it, however what he saw inside the building nearly made him bolt for the door."Oh dear now this is quite curious."he said nervously moving out of the doorway and into the seedy bar, it was hardly the place for him but since he was here he thought he may as well gather information.
He retrieved a wayward barstool from the floor brushed it off and took a seat at the bar, he began to triddle his thumbs looked back at them and then looked away nervously.

[flip]

(OOC: Since Anna has left our site, I am going to use her as an NPC for this post.)

The door open and everyone in the room turned to it, guns pointed immediately at the intrusion. By how quick the movement and the sound of weapons being aimed, proved how tense the room had been before the random entrance. Neither group completely trust the other, but there were benefits to be made.

Two Face looked at the smaller man that had opened and recognized the large obnoxious hat within one eye blink. The Mad Hatter had decided to pay this bar a visit as well or was he looking for a play to squat until the Feds rolled through. Two Face was starting to get annoyed with all these random rogue run ins. He preferred not see any of the other costume freaks. They all just ended up angering him, but bad luck was after him lately. He wasn't one to argue with chance though. Life rolled the dices, and you just went along for the ride.

"Trust me, Mr. Dent, I do not plan to sit on the side lines," Rookie spoke and pulled his attention away from the Mad Hatter. His peripherals caught the short man moving to the bar, almost oblivious to all the guns pointed at his head. Rookie stood from her barstool just as Mad Hatter sat next to her. "I will contact you with our deal, Mr. Dent," she stated then headed to the back door. She snapped her fingers, and her men followed.

They glared at her back as she left. Girl acts like she owns this joint. It in infuriated Two Face, but he wanted the supplies and if the girl could hold up her part of the deal, he would deal with the attitude. When the door closed behind her and her men, Two Face finally turned to face the little man.

He pursed his lips in disgust then took another swig from the bottle of scotch. He slammed it down on the counter. "Tetch, why you scurrying about like a rat?" Two Face asked in irritation. He was almost certain the little man was the reason the Rookie had left early.

We should be nice to Tetch. He's quite intelligent in his field. More like insane! I can't understand half the things that come out of his mouth!

"Do you want a drink, Tetch?" Dent asked. He wasn't sure what was going on with the man, but he knew the Mad Hatter was probably having a rough time with the FBI as well. Who wasn't at this point?

[tetch]

Jervis turned in Dents general direction and smiled nervously. "Very curious but alas she was not my Alice, police...not at all pleasant then again I have come afoul of their ilk..Oh my did those men have a quarrel with you, Dent? I should think you would have gone aground what with all these raids." Jervis said timidly as he fished around in his long trench coat and produced a thermice full of piping hot tea and poured a bit in the lid. "Thank you old chap but I prefer tea for now, hmm now if only I could help diminish the threat of all these raids, but sadly my newest scheme is still in beta testing...but maybe hmm-mmm." he said thoughtfully taking a sip of his tea.

[flip]

Two Face stared at the strange man as he spoke in jibber jabber for the time being. He never particularly talked to Tetch, mostly because he truly couldn't understand a word the man said. He also had a creepy obsession with blondes, and Gilda was blond. He's talking about the woman. Yeah genuis got that, but why is he mentioning cops with her. I have no idea. It probably just ramblings from a mad man. We finally agree on something, Dent. When he pulled out the tea, they both were quite shocked and amazed. Where does he keep that stuff?

They fiddled with their coin for a second or two as the man mentioned the FBI. They nodded. "Yes, the FBI has raided two of my places. Most of my men are in Blackgate," Harvey said in disgust as he put more pressure on the coin in his hand. Don't see why this guy gotta problem with the Feds. He had mind control. He should have two men already in there. They smirked.

"You got beta plan things?" Two Face said with a sneaky look, "What if I can get you close enough to the head agent? I think he needs a new hat."

[tetch]

"Well that is if you don't mind actually I have been working on an a formula that is sightless and tastless but 100% effective, I got the idea from our dear friend Jonathan and his crude methods I can effect a target without having to make contact with them....I actually have a sample vial I only need to test the full effects past attempts under controlled conditions have met with success...I also have a few bands with me just to make things interesting." he explained as if he were just giving a lecture on the life span of mayflies as he took another sip of tea.

[flip]

They studied the man who sipped tea causally with slight disgust. Amazingly enough, when he started talking technical Jervis became very clear in his speech patterns compared to his usual insane babble. Crane having anything to do with that stuff means it's pretty nasty. I am more uncomfortable with the fact that he has a sample here.

Two Face frowned as he took an unconscious threatening step closer to the man with power to manipulate the mind. "Ya look like your tellin' me to be your experimental puppet, Tetch, " he growled stressing his displeasure with the idea. "I might not be fond of the FBI, but I certainly would not enjoy you controlling me in its place," Harvey paused in thought as his eyes went above the man and to his two lackies. "I might be able to find someone else up for it, that is, if luck is on your side." If Jervis's formula actually work, and they gained control of the agents mind they would have control over Gotham. It was a highly potential partnership...if Jervis didn't push him down the rabbit hole first.