u_can_have_it_4_a_song | Office Hours [Amelia]

His brow rises as he sits back, intrigued. "That... would be very interesting to watch." His lips curl into a wicked, elfin smile. "Entertain me, with the story of one man's fall."

Her face is calm, neutral as she picks up her glass and settles back into her seat. "It begins with small items of no consequence. A few misplaced coins, a new set of gloves, a scarf purchased for his wife - gift bag and all - missing with no discernible cause. Then, after two days of this unexpected mindlessness, his ring goes missing. How odd. The weight is a sensation he's so used to now that he can hardly believe he misplaced it. Did he even put it on that day? He'll rush home to find out, and be disappointed when his wife tells him she clearly recalls him pulling it on as he got out of bed that morning."

She pauses for a moment, swirling the contents of the glass thoughtfully. "After almost a week of this, he begins to think that, perhaps, someone has cursed him. Bad luck? Clumsy fingers? Something of the sort. He considers who he might ask for help sorting the matter on his way home at the end of the day. But before he can reach his home, his wife runs to meet him, completely hysterical. Everything of value in the house is gone. Every last piece, even from the safe. But how? How would someone have gotten past all of the security - or his wife for that matter? She admits to having stepped out for the afternoon to visit with a friend or go shopping, but what she's saying right now isn't fully registering. And then he steps inside - and he sees a familiar calling card on the adjacent wall. Suddenly, he realizes the truth of the matter. Suddenly, he wishes he had never crossed you."

Amelia meets Schön's gaze as she raises the glass to her lips and takes a small sip of its contents. "Will that suffice for a story?"

He nurses a sip or two of his own drink as he listens, lips pursed in thought. "Mm, do you mind if I play line editor for a moment? He doesn't have a wife; he entertains a succession of less lasting companions. But I heartily anticipate the rest."

She shrugs nonchalantly. "A minor detail that is easily replaced in any man's story," she quips. "But if the rest pleases you, I'll do my best to see it fulfilled. I will, however, require the assistance of someone more skilled with security systems. If you can introduce me to someone, I will take care of the rest."

This may not be as grand a masterpiece as something like the heists in Verity's world, but it's going to cause a hell of a lot less trouble and be much more up her alley. One target, one goal. This she can handle, she's going to make sure of that.

"Mm, don't tell his dates that," Schön murmurs into his glass. "The tale does indeed please me. It will take a day to arrange a meeting; you don't mind, I assume?"

She'll let that first comment go. If they don't know what they're getting themselves into, far be it from Amelia to tell them.

"Not at all. It will give me a chance to begin observing our 'friend' in public." Another small sip. "The more I know about his habits, the better this story will unfold."

"Then we have your next assignment, it seems. Now to your fee?"

"I'm unsure I can come up with an appropriate fee at this time," she says bluntly. "There are many more checks and balances to this job than the others. First, you're putting me in contact with someone for an education about security systems. Second, the disablement of these systems may include the purchase of a not insignificant amount of equipment for a not so small sum. Third, this will require a week or two of reconnaissance prior to the execution, which will also take place over approximately a week. Fourth, I will need to procure a place to store all the pilfered items. And last, I will likely need at least one accomplice to move all of said items."

She's certain he knows all of this already, but spelling it out for him helps them both. "I would suggest we create a budget for this and assess a fee for my services separately, taking into account your hand in getting this started through the introduction to the security specialist. The question comes down to how you would prefer we assess that fee."

He nods thoughtfully. "Let us say... five hundred ducats, for your initial budget. If expenses run high, you can let me know." Reaching into his jacket pocket, he comes out with a pouch that clinks with the familiar sound of gold. Placing it on the desk, he produces four more in turn. "Does that sound like something you can work with?"

Another name for gold coins. It seems silly, but Amelia's life has been funded by people's vanity, so she'll keep the thought to herself. The bag of coins is left alone for now. She can collect them on her way out.

"That seems a good plan for the budget," she agrees. "But what of my fee? How would you prefer it assessed? By hours worked? By number and difficulty of items stolen? I highly doubt one can put a price on the man's embarrassment and shame after the fact."

A name for specific gold coins. Sometimes one country's gold spends better than another.

"Mm, fair question," he murmurs, tapping a fingertip against his lips in thought. "Let us go by the number and difficulty of items obtained." He doesn't consider it stealing if the breach of contract makes the man his rightful prey, and all his holdings forfeit. "That seems simplest to quantify."

Everything is far more complicated than it should be, if anyone were to ask Amelia. They're not, though, which is probably for the best. Only complicated things like indoor plumbing and coffee machines really get her total approval right now.

"The easiest and least valuable items - such as small items from his person - I'm willing to part with for two per gold coin. More difficult items pilfered from his person I'll ask for at least one gold piece each, two if it requires more than one pass to get it, and no less than 5 for the gold ring. I reserve the right to up the fee for the ring if it proves to be more difficult than a quick snatch and grab." This all depends on the man's handling of the ring. Does he touch it constantly? Does he ever take it off? Will she need to buy a cheap, fake magical ring to replace on his finger to pull this off? All of these things need to be considered.

"As for the art, I'll ask for at least two gold pieces each, with the fee increasing depending on size and difficulty to take from the man's home. I will consider keeping my rates lower if we can negotiate a small finder's fee. That is assuming, of course, if you plan to resell any of the pieces of art I bring to you. If not, then I will want a higher fee upfront."

She pauses thoughtfully for a moment before adding, "If you'd like to set a standard number of each type of items for me to obtain before I begin my work, this would likely be the best time to do so. I can try to recall the number of works I saw in his home when I was last there, if that will help at all."

Schön listens, considering her terms as she lays them out. Once she's done, he has some questions and counteroffers to make. To wit, "for the small items removed from his person, to what degree would the challenge of obtaining them be affected if I asked you to wear silk gloves for the taking, and to wrap the items in silk once they're taken?"

"I do think I'll be selling his artworks on--seeing them in other homes will sting him more, I think. I'm amenable to, say, five percent? As for a standard number, I will simply say I want him stripped of as much that he values as is possible. Let the losses consume him."

"Silk gloves?" That's an odd request. "It would depend on the type of silk. If the fabric were to be slick in any way, it would make the thefts much more difficult. Doable, but I would raise my fee, if that were the case." Because it will require extra time and effort if that's what Schön wants.

"Five percent is agreeable to me. And I will be certain to strip every last piece of artwork that I can possibly find from his home." The ruthlessness of the theft almost makes her wish this was a smash and grab kind of job. Almost, but not quite.

"The texture isn't at issue--commission a pair that suits you, if you feel the need, for it's a preference I am likely to have often. I imagine you can think of a tailor who would appreciate the business."

"Excellent. Shall we say, then, a base of one ducat and the finder's fee per artwork, modified for any large or cumbersome pieces that pose a greater challenge?"

She nods. "I have a tailor who would be happy to make something for me. I'll see that this is done." And taken from the budget, of course.

"So long as I have discretion in determining what is cumbersome, then I agree." She raises her glass to offer it for another tap to seal the deal. "We are in accord."

He nods as well.

"Discretion within reason. Not that I expect it, but this is not carte blanche to declare pieces unwieldy." If she'd still like to seal that, he'll clink glass to glass. If she'd like to rebut, he'll wait.

"I would never dare to do such a thing." And she's completely honest about that. Her glass is clinked with his gently and she takes a sip to seal the deal.

"I'll begin my observations on the morrow. You'll let me know when the meeting with the specialist has been arranged?"

"I will. Expect an appointment for the morrow or the day after."

"Wonderful. I look forward to to the appointment."

Carefully, she finishes off the remaining liquid in her glass. "Thank you for the drink - it was very lovely."

He finishes his as well, and rises to see her to the door. "You are welcome. Go well, Ms. Ronsam, and with care."

Office Hours [Amelia]

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And here we have evidence as to why Amelia is not to be crossed

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