Gilbert Kinkaid Walker (veryperceptive) wrote,
@ 2012-11-27 13:09:00

AU Meme: Different Ethics
They'd started small -- for a given definition of 'small,' when you've got money and talent and a creepy connection or two -- but it hadn't taken long to grow. When you know the things someone wants to get or to keep, all you have to do is make a few offers and make a few threats -- and the threats always came through when necessary -- and it didn't take all that long before the Triangle was no longer a convergent war-zone of three different criminal syndicates. It was the private criminal turf of a prissy young blueblood with an antique cane ... and the person who made sure that even with his ridiculous countertenor giggling, GK got taken seriously.

GK was at his desk at the moment, rereading one of his mother's history books about the kind of places where organized crime had developed into the most reliable form of local law enforcement, of community organizing. She'd always taught him to do what he could giving back, after all.

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zoe_torres
2012-11-27 05:41 pm UTC (link)

Prissy young bluebood GK might be, but Zoe had seen GK in enough situations to follow his lead. She'd never be the brains of the outfit, but she was smart enough to know what worked. The gamble paid off, Mom was safe, and the Triangle was now working to pay them. If she'd known how easy it was, she'd have made a bid for it sooner.

She didn't have a desk, or an office, so she hung out in GK's between duties. Why he was always reading was a mystery to her. It wasn't an Evil Overlord blueprint, so what good would it be?

She flicked a crumpled piece of paper in his direction. It dropped just between GK's face and the open book.

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	veryperceptive 2012-11-27 05:45 pm UTC (link)
	He looks up with a grin. "Hey, I'm sorry nobody's done anything stupid yet today, but if you're that bored, we can think of something. Say, what would you think the Triangle's really lacking in terms of infrastructure?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-11-27 06:27 pm UTC (link)
	"A dictionary," says the enforcer whose first act of terrorism was to enforce safe passage for every kid to school. Not high on a crime syndicate's list of desirable activities, but bullies made her see red faster than a well placed shot. Kids can't earn if they can't learn, right? (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

veryperceptive
2012-11-27 06:47 pm UTC (link)

"So is that synechdochal reference for school and library expansion, or are you just making fun of my word choice?" He giggles. "And I'm totally not helping my case there by saying synechdochal. But anyway, school libraries could be a good pet project. Those are fun. The 'Supplemental Child Services' is going really well, for instance, thanks." Because when one could spot the abusers for sure, there were more efficient ways than waiting for word to get through the bureaucracy. Zoe didn't even have to go downstairs or cross the street.

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	zoe_torres 2012-11-27 07:01 pm UTC (link)
	"I was making fun about your word choice, but the school library is a good place to start." Whatever they were doing, it was working, and confusing the authorities. "I kicked a thief out a window the other night," six story fall, so sad, "and noticed the old lady's place was pretty cold. Landlords might be fun to tackle." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

veryperceptive
2012-11-27 07:13 pm UTC (link)

He clapped his hands together in a moment of cheerful inspiration. Seriously, he did. Really, seeing him in person, most people started to get confused why he was feared until they saw Zoe standing behind him.

"We could fold building inspection into an old-school protection racket! They bring their buildings up to safety code to avoid having a significant-pause 'accident.'"

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	zoe_torres 2012-11-27 07:47 pm UTC (link)
	Zoe brightened with anticipation. She so enjoyed causing those significant-pause accidents. "Yeah, that would work. No sense letting the places run down and depreciate so fast." See, she listened! "Pick out the worst and let's take a run at 'em." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

veryperceptive
2012-11-27 08:02 pm UTC (link)

"Precisely! We'll get on it. And for the first drop-in about it, I'd appreciate your wearing the warm gray suit. I just think this sort of thing calls for something besides jeans." But he'd never be stupid enough to ask her to wear a dress on the job. Not only was it impractical, it didn't even give the right style impression for the circumstance. The tailor'd done good work making the suit appropriate for movement.

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zoe_torres
2012-11-28 04:59 pm UTC (link)

And to hide the wrist mounted guns. They were her favorite weapons for the ease and element of surprise. Once she was dressed according to GK's requirements, no one would suspect she was packing anything more dangerous than a eyelash wand.

Until they looked into her eyes and saw the anger simmering under the surface. Jeans and shoulder holsters were comfortable for after hours work.

"I'll wear the suit," she agreed. "Tomorrow? Or drop in at close of business today? Last appointment of the day, give 'em the night to think it over."

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	veryperceptive 2012-11-28 05:46 pm UTC (link)
	"Closing time today sounds perfect. Besides...there's other stuff I need to talk to you about tomorrow." He looked at Zoe intently for a minute. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-11-28 05:53 pm UTC (link)
	"Okay. What stuff?" What had she forgotten? Planning wasn't her area. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	veryperceptive 2012-11-28 05:58 pm UTC (link)
	"I've acquired some new information, and while it normally wouldn't be our business, since he's not in the triangle and I've got no problems with how he manages his investments." The waify-blond mob boss bites his lip. "...I think we should hash some things out. Tomorrow. Or... maybe over some post-intimidation pastries tonight." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-11-28 06:00 pm UTC (link)
	"We can do it now, unless you have another appointment. Like you said, I'm bored and there's no one to shoot yet." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	veryperceptive 2012-11-28 06:03 pm UTC (link)
	Another pause, and then. "Okay. I'm counting on you to have the entire conversation, and then get on with the first item on the drop-in list this evening, before you do anything about this." A breath. "So, there's this guy. I've been reading up on him ever since I saw him in person. Oliver Queen." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-11-28 06:08 pm UTC (link)
	She didn't say anything for a minute. Or two. Possibly three. "And?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

veryperceptive
2012-11-28 06:13 pm UTC (link)

"Stacking his Wants up against the records, there's a lot of information. There's nothing that would indicate he'd be worth the trouble of dealing with; even as an aging pensioner -- if billionaires had pensions, you know what i meant -- he's pretty untouchable by all but the most risky stuff we could possibly do. Nothing to indicate that it's worth it except he screwed someone that -- don't take this the wrong way -- I love. So, I'm going to just ask now, Zoe: what do you want to do about the original Green Arrow?"

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zoe_torres
2012-11-28 06:25 pm UTC (link)

She chewed that over while fingering the barrel of the sidearm she wore for accessorizing her everyday wear.

A word she'd learned from her best friend.

"Two ways to hurt a billionaire," she finally said. "Take away his money or his family. He should be paying the bill for all the improvements down here. It wouldn't have got this bad again if he'd Done His Job. Family is easier."

She wouldn't hurt an innocent person. Didn't mean she wouldn't use other forms of persuasion to get her way.

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	veryperceptive 2012-11-28 06:37 pm UTC (link)
	He smiles just slightly. "Family is easier, though we can always put up a few shells to get in on his usual largesse to the populace, too. There are Mormons with fewer kids. We could run game to alienate them somehow?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-11-28 06:40 pm UTC (link)
	She smiled slowly. "Alienate them. Bring them over. Get his money any way we can, and recruit his kids to our way of doing things. Maybe get their hands dirty on purpose. Let him sort it out." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	veryperceptive 2012-11-28 07:00 pm UTC (link)
	"It'd be a long job. Maybe start by having one of the daughters approached about help for St. Maggie's?" St. Margaret's Clinic was the means by which their organization saw to the medical screenings and care for the Triangles working girls. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-11-28 07:32 pm UTC (link)
	"We have time for it. Getting them involved is a good start." She made a 'yeah, yeah' face. "Not my style, but maybe you're rubbing off on me." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	veryperceptive 2012-11-28 07:34 pm UTC (link)
	GK smiles. "I'm a terrible influence. But women's health issues is always a great way to snag the right brand of rich girls." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

zoe_torres
2012-11-28 08:29 pm UTC (link)

Zoe nearly rolled her eyes at 'women's health issues', but she knew it was a personality conflict. Girly wasn't something she could be accused of in any sense of the word.

"Do we start our own charity ball circuit or send out requests for donations? You're the one fell out of the money tree. How do rich people go about getting money out of each other if it's not at gun point?"

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	veryperceptive 2012-11-28 10:12 pm UTC (link)
	"Much as I would love to critique outfits at yet another one of those parties, and already having a hot chick to bring, that's not the way to play this one. Something more targeted. I'll send one of the doctors to canvass her directly, for a start." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-11-29 06:59 am UTC (link)
	She nodded. He always made sense, even when he was denying her flamingo red lipstick. "If we don't see any real progress, I can always shoot him." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	veryperceptive 2012-11-29 03:56 pm UTC (link)
	"Yes. I appreciate your being into doing it the safer way first, though." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-11-29 04:20 pm UTC (link)
	"We work too hard here to blow it off. Don't look so surprised. I can be reasonable." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	veryperceptive 2012-11-29 04:50 pm UTC (link)
	"I know you can. I just know we've all got our, y'know... stuff." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-11-29 07:35 pm UTC (link)
	"Not like he can hide or anything. He's too famous. He'll always be there, and in the meantime, we'll start taking away his kids and his money. That'll do for now." (Reply to this)(Parent)

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