Just Another Corpo's Associate? (Lady Arachnia x Chesira)

[Lady Arachnia]

Cressidia Delmare Octaviana was a member of the board of directors at the Poseidon Association, a megacorporation that had a large offshore operation which involved mining and harvesting various resources from the sea bed and creating maritime warfare equipment as well as less aggressive maritime vessels and rig sites. It was a market that they had gotten in too early while most other corps were busy with what was on land. It also gave them a lot of power, influence and sway. At least around these parts they were the go to corp for all things aquatic.

Cressidia wore, as she so often did, a tight fighting white jacket that had a pvc glean to it. Underneath the jacket a simple smart blouse was present. A knee length matching white skirt covered her lower half and her ensemble was finished with expensive looking sensible heels of the same colour. About her left breast she wore a golden insignia of the Poseidon Association which was a trident held by a metallic hand. Cressidia had short white hair that was styled up on top of her head while the sides were left shaved which also revealed the numerous cybernetic implants she must have had there. She had a slender build and stood around five foot six though the heels added an extra inch. Her arms clearly weren’t her natural ones either as a number of marks and patterns signified them as cyberware.

Currently she was sat in a smart looking office room which had everything from a tv screen to a minibar that was adequately stocked. She was behind her computer currently waiting for her three o’clock appointment. A merc she’d worked with a few times, one who, just a few months ago, had spiked an upcoming rival in her own business in a way that made it look like it was a gang hit, in a way that gave her an excuse to send her own security teams in to wipe out said gang that she’d had framed. Two worms with one swoop, efficient, pragmatic and swift. Words that summed up the woman pretty well.

This merc though… she found her interesting, different, something that stood out which was saying something. She came across no end of punks, suits and slimes but none really caught her eye or took her attention. Sure she saw attractiveness in people and had made use of joytoys and flatbacks on a number of occasions… but they were just fixes, people to use for her own needs. In fact she tended to view most people like that. Whenever she met a new person Cressidia summed them up and analyzed them, sorting them away into her mind as to how they could be useful or dangerous to her and her own ambitions… or if they were simply not worth regarding. This one was different, that was likely why she’d left her four months since that last job with no word of thank you, just swift payment and stonewalling by her assistant. Up until last week when her assistant reached out at least. Right on time she heard the buzzer outside of the door.

“You may enter,” she answered in a short propper voice.

 

[Felis-nyan]

Calypso Avalon Nyx sighed as she headed to her meeting. She had been sorely tempted to screw with the corpo's head and show up late and yet, something about Cressidia drew the mercenary in like a fly to honey. It wasn't just that woman paid well, which she did. Calypso could have gotten by a good month without working on what she had been paid, even given her somewhat flashy lifestyle when she wasn't on the clock. She hadn't, though. She enjoyed the hunt too much, the thrill of a good fight, the satisfaction of a job well done. She got off on that kind of thing, which was also why she was considered one of the best at what she did. It was also why Cressidia's continued silence after her work was done, had been so hard to accept. Even as confident and cocky as the merc usually was, more than once over the past four months she had found herself running through the gig in her head. Wondering if she'd fucked up somehow, missed some detail that had warranted the corpo's radio silence.

So when, four months later, while in the middle of another gig, Cressidia's aide had contacted her, arranging for a meeting, she might have fed him a mouthful of abuse. It had been unprofessional, and she fully expected it to come up in her meeting. But when she'd calmed down, after emptying an entire clip of her assault rifle into some poor gonk who had happened to be the nearest target for her temper, she had agreed to the meeting. Said she'd show up, even though she knew she'd have to put on a show of being grateful for being called upon again even though in reality, she wanted to throttle Cressidia and her damned aide. At least until they answered her questions about why they were displeased with her work.

Calypso ran a hand through her purple hair as she made her way through the lobby. It was worn long on one side, but almost shaved on the other, revealing a heavy amount of cyberware. Her jaw, arms, and right leg were less cyberware and more full-on mechanical alterations, all the better to help her on missions. The merc had been stripped of her weapons upon entering the Poseidon Association's premises, two pistols, and an assault rifle. The guards didn't really think to check her upgrades, though, each elbow of her arms hiding powerful blades that could be extended in an instant. She was left in an outfit that bordered on scandalous but made it easy for her to move in. Teal and black panties, a fishnet stocking on her left leg, and a belt and garters she attached her pistols to graced her lower half. A jacket that matched her underwear covered a leather crop top, while a studded bracelet and chain adorned her left wrist.

Reaching the door, she hesitated a moment. Part of her, the cocky, annoyed part, wanted to just burst in, not announce herself. But she restrained that instinct, and pressed the buzzer, grinding her teeth the whole time. When she was told she could enter, she pushed the door open, shutting it behind her before she turned to face the businesswoman. Her eyes rather rudely, but with obvious appreciation, gave Cressidia the once over. Clearing her throat, she spoke at last. "You called. Miss Octavania? Is this about my last mission, or new business?" Her tone was mostly level, but when she mentioned her last mission, her voice changed slightly. There was a hint of annoyance and confusion in there, and almost a plea to have it cleared up then and there. Calypso herself didn't notice it, more out of denial than anything else.

 

[Lady Arachnia]

Cressidia straightened the collar of her blouse as the other woman entered the room and then sat up a little straighter in a very business-like posture. She gestured with an open hand towards one of the seats before her on the other side of her table to indicate that the mercenary should park her backside down on one of them. “Take a seat if you will please, Nova, we have the luxury of sitting down while we talk.” the woman said in a casual tone.

The corpo reached for a bottle of preem whiskey and then two glasses. She popped the cork and without asking she began to pour them both a generous measure and slid one over towards the toughened woman before sipping at her own liquid. “I did call, yes. Your last gig? I was sure my assistant had paid your fee and closed it months ago.” Cressidia completely sidestepped anything to do with the pause she’d put the other woman through, acting as though even bringing up that gig was nothing more than confusing.

Cressidia took another pause both to sip a little more at her whiskey and to gauge the other woman’s reactions. She was in no rush and she enjoyed dragging things out, drawing emotions from people, stuff she could analyze. Her eyes ones again looked over the other woman’s rather brash and stark attire, an outfit Cressidia would never in ten decades wear.

“I have called you here to discuss work, I have at least one and perhaps a few gigs that need clearing up, Nova, ones I have no interest in looking for new talent to take care of, gigs that you are going to take care of for me.” The corporate woman spoke very confidently, while she was offering out a job there was no hint of it being a question or consideration that Nova might turn the work down. She was confident that she wouldn’t.

 

[Felis-nyan]

Calypso watched the other woman carefully, analyzing her carefully. She recognized that while on the battlefield, she was the one with the upper hand between the two, her combat augmentations making her a literal weapon. But here, in this office? She was on the back-foot, completely outgunned. And she hated it, and was determined to stay as ahead of the game as she could. Sighing softly at invitation to sit, which she recognized as more of a polite command, she took the seat, crossing one of her legs over the other before resting her elbow on her knee, and her chin on her palm. She appeared entirely too casual, relaxed, but she wasn't the type who wait entirely on formality.

Watching as Cressidia poured the whiskey, Caly almost purred. She knew preem stuff when she saw it, and that whiskey was top-shelf stuff. Taking the glass when she was offered it, she didn't bother sipping at it. She wanted to feel the burn as it flowed down her throat, so she knocked it back in one quick swig. Placing the glass on the desk, she shifted her gaze to the corpo's, showing a hint of displeasure. "Your cylons took my guns. Do you not trust me? I feel kind of naked without a weapon, you know." She didn't mention the blades hidden in her elbows, or the fact that she was a living weapon in and of herself. Cressidia likely knew she was packing some sort of weapon in her augs.

Deciding to ignore the comment about her last gig, knowing now that it was part of the game the corpo was playing, she couldn't hide the flash of pained irritation that danced briefly in her eyes, but no doubt long enough for Cressidia to notice. Her hand also tightened on her mechanical jaw, this demonstrated by a slight twitching of her fingers.

Her eyes, though, narrowed as the corpo woman finally got to the point. So there was a gig on offer, maybe more than one. But as she rolled the woman's words in her head, considered her tone, she realized it wasn't an offer she was allowed to refuse. Her mouth opened slightly, almost as though she was going to fire off a smart-ass retort for the presumption, but she shut it for a moment and swallowed, almost like she was swallowing her pride. "Name what you want done, Ms. Octavania, and it shall be so. But I have a condition, if you will allow me to be so bold. I want to deal with you directly, not your gonk seceretary. Is...that ok?"

 

[Lady Arachnia]

Cressidia kept her straight back well practiced pose that she adopted when she spoke to most people. Not only was her outfit, expression and demeanour fitting to her environment it was also both her weapon and defense. A mask that she used to keep distance between herself and those around her. One that she could alter and shift to fit her goals. An expression and emotion only passed on to her face if she wanted it to, there were no subtle hints and slip ups that the vast majority of people couldn’t help but reveal, that Calypso couldn’t help but show.

“I took your weapons because you are far more appetizing when you are not covered in guns, Nova, I know you are quite capable without them so allow me the satisfaction of looking at you more clearly. Also I have noticed that you have an incredibly adorable face when you twitch and scowl with annoyance.” the corpo said rather plainly.

The woman noticed her employee try to be strict, try to gain a measure of command in this conversation but she was untrained, uncertain. She made demands and asked for permission after. “I will permit that, yes, you can deal with me directly. If this is going to be so though you will not be dealing with me here in my office for the most part. You can do the decent thing and take me out on a date. Yes, I believe that would work for both of us. Dinner perhaps, drinks, I’ve not yet decided. We have settled on that then. Now, as for the gig.”

Cressidia pulled out a data shard from one of her draws and handed it over towards the other woman on there. “A potential threat to my position here, somebody that doesn’t need to die, somebody that needs to get locked away for some heinous crime or another. You will set them up for a fall, whatever crime you decide to make them guilty of I do not care so long as they won’t be seeing the streets of Night City for at least ten years.”

 

[Felis-nyan]

Calypso's cheeks had just the faintest hint of a blush when Cressidia called her 'appetizing'. The mercenary was hardly inexperienced when it came to flirting, but she had kind of been ambushed, as it was a little less professional than she had come to expect from the corpo woman. And yet, it was also a way for her to steer and control the conversation, a fact the merc knew and recognized. But when she was called adorable, as well, Nova's eyes narrowed, as though she resented this compliment ery much indeed but knew better than dispute it. Perhaps she was worried that back-talking here would affect other parts of their business.

Still...She couldn't let it go, not completely. She was a fighter and a killer, not some pretty little thing. "Oh...If only you knew how many people I've zeroed for sayng crap like that, Ms. Octavania. If you were anyone else, I would at least rock your face for that. Don't forget, it was your choice to keep our arrangement loose and on a gig by gig basis. You haven't got me on a leash." She said, basically taunting the corpo's decision not to take measures to ensure her loyalty. Something like a cortex bomb would have meant that Calypso would have been far more reserved in how she addressed the other woman.

The merc was quickly side-tracked from trying to be a hardass, though, when Cressidia informed her the merc would be taking her on a date of some sort. Her eyes widened imperceptively, just enough to be noticeable, and she swallowed, a look of panic briefly flickering over her face as she pondered how she was going to be able to afford a venue the other woman would approve of. She'd already blown most of the eddies from her last couple of gigs, only keeping enough to live comfortably. She'd have to sell a couple of her pieces, she though, in order to pull this off. "SUre thing, Cressidia. I...I'd like that. Please give me a few days to make the arrangements." By which she meant, give her time to get the cash behind her, not that she would admit it.

Taking the data shard, Caly inserted into her cyberdeck. As she accesssed the information, she was already plotting how she'd go about this. She'd zero a high profile target, and then plant the weapon in this poor gonk's car. A tipoff to the authorities would see him put away for a long time. "Consder it done, Cressidia." Again, she used the corpo's first name. If they were to go on a date, she wsn't going to keep being so formal.

 

[Lady Arachnia]

“But I am not anybody else, Nova, and that is exactly the expression I wanted to see.” she stated with a coy smirk having led the woman on to give her the look that she had desired. The mercenary didn’t even realize just how much she was playing along to the script Cressidia had written in her mind for her for this conversation. Still, there was something about her, sure she looked absurd with her outfit compared to corpo attire but it definitely left little to the imagination and what was left to the imagination… well, the corpro had a good imagination. There was more depth to this other woman than most people likely knew, depth that Cressidia could peer in to, at least a little. She had her curious, had her intrigue.

The expressions that came from news of their impending date was like electric for the highly strung woman. Not only was she naturally astute at reading expressions but her cyberware enhanced that capability. She could see just how many beats per minute more the mercenary’s heart was thumping, the impulses that showed a brief panic and concern were a screaming siren, the slight widening of her eyes a painting. She read it all in a split second and gave the other woman a smile.

“Good, you do want to take me on a date, do you not? For more than just business?” the woman queried, waiting to read the reactions that came next. “Also, manners, Nova, manners. I permit you to use my first name while we are on our date but here you will have respect, we are not punks and slags, we are professionals.”

 

[Felis-nyan]

Calypso all but could have growled when she was informed her responses were playing to the corpo's tune. Even trying to put her foot down, be a hardass, Cressidia was predicting every reaction she made and the merc hated it. Her right hand, which rested on the desk, actually curled the fingers inward, making a half fist, showcasing just how frustrated Caly was. Still, when her answer came, she took some effort to keep her voice cool, as though nothing was wrong. "Is that so, Ms. Octavania? Am I a puppet, to dance to your tune? Funny, I don't see any strings...If you weren't so damned pretty and hadn't just asked me out on a date..." She trailed off, not finishing what she would have done if this hadn't been the case.

Then that question came, as though she didn't want to take the corpo on a date. Her eyes widened again, and another flash of panic ran through her body, her heartbeat becoming a little erratic. "Of course I do, Ms. Octavania. What girl wouldn't? You're stunning, powerful and successful. I even don't mind the fact you control every conversation we have. It's a small cost to say I'm dating the prettiest corp in Night City, no?" She said, her smirk back on her lips at that last bit. She was quite smug that Cressidia has asked her out, even if it seemed like the corpo woman would be the one calling the shots in their relationship, at least for now. "How does Bleu sound? This weekend?" She continued, naming the fanciest restaurant she knew of. It was Monday now, so that gave her a bit of time to sell guns she needed to to pay for thedate.

 

[Lady Arachnia]

"Don't you?" Cressidia answered in response to the mercenary not seeing the strings. "Interesting. Regardless I am that pretty and I did do just do that." She finished her words with a quick sip of her drink and shifted her position again to get comfortable once more. Here eyes were drawn to a flashing on her desk and she quickly leant in to tap away at her screen.

The corpo settled back on the other woman and drank in those expressions and subtle changes. "Oh, Nova, you listed my best traits and threw in some compliments too, very sweet. But who indeed wouldn't want to take me on a date?" Cressidia drummed fingertips against her desk as she thought. "This weekend, yes. So long as you have completed the gig by then, otherwise don't waste my time and focus in closing it. You will pick me up? No, no I'll meet you there."

 

[Felis-nyan]

Caly smiled slightly at Cressidia as the other woman called her sweet. The compliment was slight little thing, thrown out there almost negligibly, but the amethyst-haired woman drank it in like that preem whiskey from before. It was just about the first compliment the corpo had given her, certainly the first that she didn't think had been trying to manipulate her, although she could be wrong about that. Rising from her seat as she recognized the dismissal, her pale purple eyes taking in Cress's face as she stood. "Consider it done, Ms. Octavania. And see you at Bleu on Saturday night." She said, keeping her voice as firm as possible, like she was in control here. Turning sharply on her heel, she strode from the room, retrieved her guns from the cylons and headed out from the Poseidon Headquarters.

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About two days later, if Cressidia had been at all paying attention to her feeds, which Calypso knew she would be, she would have seen that a top executive of the Arasaka mega that was responsible for overseeing their branch of operations that competed with Poseidon had been found dead, killed execution style and dumped in the waters of Night City. The death happened Wednesday night, and would no doubt hurt Arasaka's ability to compete with Poseidon.

Thursday afternoon, a second news bulletin went out. The CEO of a second rival mega had been arrested, the murder weapon used to kill the Arasaka executive found under the seat of his Rayfield. Despite his protests that he had never seen the gun before, his prints were on the weapon and there weren't any others present. The common consensus was that he was going away for a very long time, and although if Arasaka were to retaliate, he likely wouldn't survive his incarceration.

Friday, Calypso met with a buyer for three of her preem pieces. They fetched easily enough to pay for three or four courses at Bleu, plus drinks, and leave her some change.

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It was now Saturday evening. Calypso had arrived at Bleu about an hour early, scoped the joint out for any danger, seeing who she was bringing here, before returning to her car and getting changed. She now wore a purple mini-dress, whose color matched her hair exactly. It was just long enough to conceal the pistol she wore in a thigh holster, next to two small knives. The dress left little to the imagination up top, with her breasts proudly on display. More than one waiter and several waitresses had all but fallen over themselves ogling her. She carried a purse that matched the dress, although it only carried a second pistol, a stick of purple lipstick and a mini bottle of perfume. As she sat there, her seat was position so she had a full view of the only entrance, so that she could see the exact moment Cressidia arrived.

 

[Lady Arachnia]

As the mercenary stood up and turned Cressidia watched her, happy that she could understand the message and knew that it was time for her to move on and leave her office. It didn’t take her long to leave and when she did Cressidia finally gave out a deep sigh and settled back into her chair in a more comfortable position that nobody who ever entered the office saw her in. There were no eyes on her now, the mask could slip slightly and so she downed what was left of her drink. What an interesting evening. She had arranged a gig she truly wanted completing and as well she’d managed to get some personal pleasure out of the whole interaction.

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Saturday came and Cressidia had already had word about her mark being sent away and not only that but some extra breathing room for expansion with Arasaka taking a hit too. Whether she was happy or not about that she was still undecided. Still, it had been efficient at least.

When the executive arrived at Bleu’s she did so in an expensive hover car after having a glass of expensive fizz on the way. She was wearing a dark blue silk dress that contoured perfectly to encapsulate every part of her figure. Silver trim was visible on the hemm and embroidered to form a number of captivating patterns. The dress was worth more than most people’s houses. Her hair was no longer tied up but instead hung down one side of her head leaving the other shaved side still exposed. Her makeup was applied in a manner that looked sas though she’;d had professional help. It was simple enough with deep blue lipstick, feint purple eye shadow, black eyeliner that ended in long flicks The heels she wore now were definitely not sensible but she walked perfectly in them.

She entered the restaurant with an air of importance. Whether you knew her or recognized the quality and value of her outfit or not it was apparent to all that this woman mattered, that she commanded respect. Her movements were confident and meant to portray just that. After giving her name she would be directed towards and led to Calypso’s table. It wouldn’t take her long to close the distance over towards her. As she did she’d flash a slight smile towards the mercenary and stood by her chair as though waiting for something.

 

[Felis-nyan]

Calypso sighed softly. She was nervous, she had to admit, sitting there waiting for Cressidia. She was very curious to find out how the corpo woman had taken her handling of the gig which she had assigned to her, to see whether her creativity in an attempt to please her date had been well received. She just couldn't be sure, given the long wait between even getting in touch with her again after the first gig.

When a slight hush fell over the crowded, five-star restaurant, Calypso looked up from the table. Sure enough, there was Cressida. Strutting through Bleu like she owned the placed. Her confidence was astounding, and that outfit... Just wow. The mercenary's heartbeat was quite rapid by the time Cressidia reached her table, as she quickly got to her feet. Her chair had been pushed back from the table just for this purpose, and she moved casually behind Cressidia, a hand going around her waist almost with a hint of fear of being rejected. She guided the other woman, who in the absurdly tall heels was a good bit taller than Caly, towards her chair as she used her other hand to pull it out from the table. The whole time, her touch was feather-light, like she knew she was on thin ice.

"You look simply ravishing, Cressidia. That dress is stunning...although it would look better on the floor of my apartment." She smirked slightly, getting a little bit of her swagger back as she flirted. It probably wasn't as refined or cultured as Cressidia was used too, but it was the kind of line one would expect from someone in Calypso's line of work. "How are you this evening? Have you been enjoying the news lately? I hear it's been rather interesting." She had enough tact to lower her voice, here, and only say this when the waitress that had lead Cressidia to the table had moved away.

 

[Lady Arachnia]

Cressidia didn’t reject the hand as it snaked it’s way around her hips and she lowered herself down onto the chair that was pushed forwards for her. Good, she had done as expected and had the most basic of manners at the very least. She gave no signs that she was glad that the woman had pulled her chair out for her but she also made no comment against it which likely said something.

“Thank you” she said at first before carrying on. “I am sure it would, I expect it would be the closest thing to a decoration in the apartment… well with any kind of taste at least.” The corpo responded easily. Her eyes quickly went around the room then, scanning over who she saw there and if there was anybody of note. There wasn’t it would seem.

“I am as well as ever and yes, I have been paying attention to the news though I am not sure that I would say I am enjoying it. I do not enjoy surprises, I like to know all of the pieces on the board, all of the cards in my hand. Now I admit our shares have risen and our prospects have broadened over the past few days thanks to a certain other firm’s temporary complications. That same firm however are not stupid enough to believe that my dear incarcerated friend was capable or foolish enough to commit such an execution. Their very capable security forces are now doing their own investigations as to what happened and who, ultimately, is behind it.

As the waitress came back Cressidia turned towards her and spoke before she had the chance to. “A bottle of Château Marleux with two glasses, if you please”. The waitress was attentive and immediately tapped the order into a small pad that she carried. The young woman then placed a menu down before each of them and quickly left.