The Silver Beetle Blues: 1920s Gangster RP

[Red Mage Black]

Since the rest of the band wasn't out playing tonight, Ben pretty much got the message that he needed to make haste to the speakeasy. When your best customer and practically employer asks you to do a favor, you generally can't refuse. Besides, Art was his best customer and he couldn't refuse the man that paid for his valuable information. He might have just been a musician, but he made a lucrative business off of selling this stuff. Information was power, more so then money when it concerned those with so much more of the green stuff. Even better when the rich folks don't want this stuff getting out.

So, he strode through the bar, with his multipurpose violin and fiddle case. It was a little cumbersome, but he dealt with it. Tonight, he was wearing his snazzy dress suit. He walked up to the stage and took the nearest seat. Tonight, he was going to use both instruments. Though first for the happy tunes. He knew he should have checked in with Art first, but the man was nowhere to be found. Probably in his meeting room. So he unpacked his fiddle and bow and took position.

"Hello Silver Beetle patrons! As some of you might remember me, I'm Benny Harmons. For those of you that don't, I'm the guy that gets called in when other people just aren't good enough. This music may be a little old, but certainly something to drink to. So just sit back and enjoy the music and more importantly, your drinks." When he was done, he put the bow to the strings and started up with a more lively number.

[mauve]

Art was visibly stunned by Walter's news.

"You're kidding me!" he said. He composed himself quickly, picking his unlit cigarette up off the floor from when he dropped it in surprise.

"Well," he said after a moment. "That's, uh... That's some gift." He brushed an invisible speck of dust from his sleeves. "I like these friends of yours, Walter. Charitable folks. Of course, I assume they'll be wanting some favors in return." Art would need to get some more info on these "friends" if he could; try and figure out why they were so keen on helping him out. That would be a job for later, though. Right now he might as well not look a gift horse in the mouth. Even so.... It never hurts to be cautious.

"Okay Walt. Any small print items I should be aware of here before I go accepting this gift?" he asked. To be perfectly honest, his gang probably wouldn't use all the weapons themselves. Like hell he was going to turn this offer down, though. He could always turn around and sell them to someone else for a nice profit.


Behind Walter, the trio of gangsters continued to voice their opinions on Johann's "account problem." As usual, they were at odds. Sometimes Art wondered why he had made two people who disliked each others' methods so much as his second- and third-in-command, but he liked to have a variety of opinions when he made important choices. And Adin and Johann had no shortage of those.

"Aw, calm down, all three of you," Art said, waving a hand dismissively. "I told you I haven't made up my mind yet. And Eels, what have I told you about discussing your hobbies when I have guests?"

He smiled and returned focus to Walter.

"Okay Walt. When and where do I send the boys to pick up this gift?"



-------

Back in the Silver Beetle, a dark-haired man in a blue jacket watched the card tables. A smirk crossed his featues. Time to make a few bucks, he thought. No harm in that.

"Hey there," he greeted Jules. "Got room for one more at this table?"

[Geminex]

Johann turned away from Adin, nodding at Art's suggestion. The boss'd make the call, as always. Though later tonight he might mention to Adin that threats were best left to those who knew how to make them. Though perhaps not. He didn't want conflict, and as long as Adin left him to manage his own affairs, he didn't have a problem with him.

He turned as the boss spoke to the delivery boy again. This was... fascinating. Weapons were of little use to him, unnecessary at best, counterproductive at worst. But not everyone thought so, and on the streets more guns meant more power. Shock and Awe, gentlemen, Shock and Awe. The Thomsons were interesting enough on their own, and if word got onto the streets that that sort of quantity had just been gifted to their business, that would give him... leverage. Particularly with the customers that were still too small-time to really know how the business worked. But far more important were the heavy machine guns. Again, utterly impractical, but dammit, if people knew they had that kind of firepower, military firepower at their disposal, that would go a long way to changing peoples minds. He liked this news a lot, and was already considering how to maximise its potential.

[Krylo]

"Sorry, Boss," Eels said with a bit of a breathy hiss, the grin never leaving his face as he glanced at Walter, placing his knife back in his pocket.

"And I apologize to you as well," he said, removing his hat and bowing his head slightly. He straightened once more and placed the hat on his head. "I assure you, dear sir, that you have nothing to fear from the likes of me. I work, exclusively for Mr. MacCauley. His friends, are my friends, and I would never, ever, hurt a friend."

Though Eels words were as friendly as possible, there was something about his inflections, the movement of his body, that said his leash was only held so long as the man, and his associates, remained friends of Arthur MacCauley.

"I will excuse myself," Eels half-said/half-whispered with a short bow, and a wry grin, his teeth poking out a bit from the corned of his mouth. "Before I further disturb you fine gentleman. I am afraid matters of... socialization," he hissed out the s, like some kind of snake, "are beyond the purview of my abilities."

Reaching behind him, Eels placed a hand on the door, and gave one more short bow toward Arthur, waiting for a signal that it was, indeed, acceptable for him to re-enter the club. He would leave once he received it, or stay if that was what Mr. MacCauley wished. "With your leave, of course, sir," he said, with the same breathy hiss that he generally used when speaking.

[rapter200]

Walter smiled, when someone like Arthur was happy it meant that he would be happy. “Well, to tell you the truth there is no small print. They want you to know they appreciate you and what you do. I am assuming that they will be asking for favors in the future though. They never tell me about thing like that. So if I were you I would expect a call in a decade or so asking for a favor, political or otherwise. When it comes to people that rich they always make their plans for power grabs years in advance.”

With all that said Walt lit his lucky strike and took a long drag. When he exhaled he continued talking. “The shipment is coming into port two days from now during the cover of night. They will be using a covered ford truck so as to not catch any attention. They will stop in-front of the Silver Beetle, you should have one of your men out their waiting for them. They will ask you for directions to a certain port acting as if lost, your man will give him the directions they need. Then they shipment will be delivered wherever you tell em to go.” He took another drag from the cigarette.

“Make sure your man is out there, that is extremely important. They will deliver the goods wherever they are told.” he then turned to Eels “Don't worry about me good sir. I have nothing to worry about from Arthur's employees.”

Walter was done talking, he didn't like being around Arthur's goons for to long. Arthur himself was a respectable man but everyone else in the room seemed to have something off about them. He was glad to see Eels excuse himself, though he waited for Arthur's permission to leave. Walter had no idea where Arthur got these monsters, the Colt hidden under his Jacket gave him some comfort, but then again who knew if a bullet could pierce that Eels. Bah a bullet can pierce any man.

[Geminex]

Johann raised a finger politely. "I would... interject here, if I could. You desire secrecy, and this is... understandable. You are helping a powerful man, throwing in your lots with him, a very wise thing indeed. However, powerful men have... powerful enemies, and it would be most regrettable were they to learn of your cooperation and seek... retaliation. Your course is logical.
What you have failed to consider, though, is that these weapons are going to be making, literally, quite an impact. A shift in the balance of power of this... magnitude will not stay secret for long. I am responsible for... public relations in our firm, and I would advise us to proceed differently. Instead of secrecy, why not use misdirection? You say that many of these weapons are of military origin? Then let us make this public.
Not too public, mind you, but if people on the street see Arthur Mcauley (or one of his lieutenants) meeting with a military Colonel in the dead of night, shake hands, receive the keys to a truck and the next morning word gets out that Arthur Mcauley is now very well armed, they will draw conclusions that are... extremely favorable to both us and you. We will supply the uniform, and either I or Adin will come to meet your representative. This would be acceptable?"

[mauve]

In the main hall of the Silver Beetle, a disgruntled couple pushed past Fifi as they entered the building.

"You'd think someone important had died, the way the police had the street blocked off," complained one of them, a young woman who looked to be in her early 20's. "Can't they do anything efficiently? I mean, some of us have places to be! Now we're late. Roy and Betts are probably already gone."

Her partner, a man in a battered driving jacket, shrugged.

"It looked like a car was on fire. The fire department should have been handling it. What were the police intending to do, blow the flames out like a birthday candle?"The girl laughed at his response, and they made their way to the bar.

"Scuse me, mister," the young man said, edging past Nein. They took a seat at the bar next to him.

"Well, I don't know," the girl continued. "All I can say is that it had better have been something pretty darn important to clog up traffic like that. I hate being late."

The man took off his hat and laid it on the bar.

"Eh, probably someone dropped a cigarette on the floor. People are stupid. Looked like it had been burning for a while, though. Hope nobody got hurt."

-------

Art's smile disappeared as Johann spoke up. He didn't like being interrupted, and he didn't like people making decisions for him. But losing his temper now might cost him the shipment.

He turned his attention to Eels as the man left the room. He gave him a nod. Art liked having the guy around when he was conducting business deals-- his presence was usually enough to persuade people to see things Art's way. Walter wasn't someone Art ever needed to worry about, though.

"Yeah, go ahead." Art said to Eels. "Oh, and keep an eye on things out there, will you?"

He turned back to Walter.

"I'll accept the gift. Tell your client I said thanks."

He stood from his chair and extended a hand to Walter. Details could be worked out later. For now, best to just accept the shipment.

"Well, you were right about this being good news. Hey, drinks are on the house if you want anything." Art the Charming Host had returned.

[rapter200]

Walter had ignored Johann, he was speaking directly to Arthur himself anyone else and it would be an insult to Arthur himself. He was right about his choice to, the ever-present smile that Arthur had on his face disappeared after Johann had interrupted. In that short moment of time Arthur had shown him the relationship between Johann and himself. A dog must not upset the one who feeds him. Of course in the world they lived in they were all dogs, some more important than others. Walter was sure that the German would get an earful from Arthur later, he hoped that Arthur would go easy on him, Johann was just trying to help.

“Well then that I will do” He said while extending his hand and shaking Arthur's hand firmly a great big smile on his face. “I think I will be taking your offer up on that, I will be drinking tonight. Drinking a lot. Now if you'll excuse me I think I have a date with a certain glass.”

Walter finished off his cigarette and ashed it out on a nearby ashtray. He then left through the door Eels had left through and walked up to a barstool. “Hey bartender, Arthur says drinks are on the house tonight. I plan to take him up on that offer. So start me off on some of your hardest stuff and then I don't know your choice I guess. But make sure I don't go dry.” Walter said, hoping that would be the last coherent thing he would be saying tonight. It was time to let loose.

[krogothwolf]

James was half tempted tp grab the couple and shake them down when they rudely entered the speakeasy, but their conversation made him stop. If the cops were out on the street, the boss would need to know. He'd probably need more information then what he could get out of the man though. He figured he should send someone out that's at least trustworthy and somewhat decent enough to get some information.

Scanning the bar he picked out Jeremy and walked over to him and put his massive hand on his shoulder before leaning down to whisper into the little man's ear.

"Heard a couple complainin' 'bout cops blockin' off the street and a car burnin'." James said quietly to Jeremy, "Can ya go check out what's goin' on topside? If the cop's are nosin' around the Boss'll want ta know, he doesn't like surprises. I'd go myself but someone's gotta watch the door."

He kept an eye on the couple that came in though, encase they were needed in th future.

[Bard The 5th LW]

Things wer about to get interesting. Some poor schmuck was about to lose a couple of bucks to Jules, and Jeremy finally gets to see what it looks like from a third person point of view. Jeremy always knew that Jules cheated in some form or another. But that kind of added to the fun of gambling with her a bit. She had to let people win on occasion to make it slightly less obvious, so it added to the risk. Although he still generally steered away from a table when she was at it, aside from when he felt lucky.

Then he felt James hands grip his shoulder. He was about to say that he was only watching, but James had already started talking about something different.

"Heard a couple complainin' 'bout cops blockin' off the street and a car burnin'." James said quietly to Jeremy, "Can ya go check out what's goin' on topside? If the cop's are nosin' around the Boss'll want ta know, he doesn't like surprises. I'd go myself but someone's gotta watch the door."

"Uh, sure thing pal," he said. It wasn't really his job to do it, but he supposed he could go in and out before he missed anything. It would turn more heads anyways if Eels were sent out to handle it anyways he supposed. But the rum runner wouldn't draw the eyes of many.

Trying to remain inconspicuous, Jeremy made his way to the door out of the cellar that was the Silver Beetle and made his way upstairs. Silently, Jeremy walked out of the door of the speakeasy and up to the surface of Chicago, where he examined the scene outside, praying that it was nothing too serious.