-

It's a rather spacious apartment - in the sense that it had one of those modern open floorplans. The kitchen and living room spaces were merged together. To the left were two doors- one, presumably leading to Cade's bedroom. To the right, down a narrow hall, was another door attached to one side; flat against the wall was an ornate chest-drawer. On it is a little shrine in the form of a platter and a framed photograph, with offerings placed on the platter. Incense sits steeply pointed up in an ashy pot, unlit. His living room comprises of a long black couch, coffee table, TV table but no television set. Instead, a small radio sits propped on the TV table, next to a laser disc player and sound system. There are very little personal effects. The framed pictures on the wall are generic, and you get the sense they came with the apartment. There is a single framed photo on the TV table. Across from you are large windows looking out across Cantilados.

May I? He rests his briefcase on his couch. "Of course." From the looks of it, his house isn't very cluttered to begin with. You're welcome to explore and roll SHARP as you see fit. "Are there concerns that my residence has been compromised?" @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

He takes a general glance over the apartment from the entrance. Counts those two doors, the hall on the right, a third door, looks out the windows. The twelfth floor is quite high up, enough to only see other buildings and glimpses of the clouded sky between them. If Cade had taken off his shoes, he does so as well. 🎲49

-# bro flopped both house check and cade check. whatever

-# bros so full of ice water hes eeeppyyy

-# ITS ICE WATER BRO

There's not much to discern from a general glance. Mr. Kinoshita keeps his house very tidy, to a certain extent. Combined with the fact that there's very little to speak of in terms of sentimental items at all. That being said, you don't notice anything suspicious in the form of obvious cameras, wires, et cetera.

"I see." Well, that he is aware of. "I can give you an overview of what I know." So that you're more informed. Otherwise- "Are you at all interested in relaxing, Mister Wixom." It sounds like more of a genuine general question, rather than a sarcastic one. No bite. @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

"It's not my job to relax, Mr. Kinoshita. If somebody's life is at risk," he says mildly. "I may take a rest shift later on if somebody decides to rest now." "Please do," he says, eyes lingering briefly on the shrine before returning to Cade. Zachary is still wearing his coat, but he hangs the umbrella over a hook by the door, then faces Cade directly. He'll do a full search after the briefing. @li 🚭 five (kazik)

"I see." And that's that. Mr. Wixom's answer is thorough and incomplicated. In spite of Mr. Kinoshita's eccentricities, they seem to be both very straightforward people. Even when it depends. This is the most you will ever hear Mr. Kinoshita speak in one breath, and he is doing it for you, for your convenience. He stands right there, unmoving, still in his work suit, facing Zachary. "I apologize that I do not know more about the situation myself. To the extent in which I could help you complete your task more efficiently." "The truth is, the Cartel does not inform me in depth about my own assignments as they are dealt to me. This out of a desire to maintain a level of secrecy from me as an outside constituent This is to prevent any whistleblowing or conflict of interest that may arise by my prior knowledge of or relationship with individuals involved, " "The nature of this employment makes it so that I am, by extension, not acutely aware of whom may be conspiring against me through affiliation with my former employers." "So it is difficult for me to take more initiative in mitigating harm towards me." "It is likely that a job I took on behalf of the Cartel or Triad is a cause for my hit, by way of my completing one of their tasks." Shooting the messenger. "Though I have worked with them for nearly 10 years, so it would be impossible for me to discern any specific party's motive or involvement." @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

No real new information, other than the fact that Mr. Kinoshita presents himself as as only knowing what his level of clearance provides him. It's everything he had assumed, with typical precedence from syndicates. Still, he assesses the man's direct, straightforward gestures. 🎲36 He nods briskly. "Without knowing your opposition, a high level of precaution is warranted, then." "I presume you cannot tell us directly what your role was, in these jobs." @li 🚭 five (kazik)

-# bro is rolling like trash

-# bro is onto npthing

You can't read him. "Assassin." @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

"Who did you kill?" @li 🚭 five (kazik)

"I'm not at liberty to say." "Neither do I have permission to be privy to who sent me." "The order is 'washed' by the time it reaches me." @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

"Very well." He studies Kinoshita's neutral expression again, though his own is just as neutral. Two inanimate objects. 🎲55 He mentally runs through any possible parties that may be known to be enemies to both Triad and Cartel.

It's patently not a 'fake' or practiced neutral. Not a pokerface. It's his own face. As is yours.

The topic of who may be an enemy of the Triad and Cartel is a tricky subject. After all, people like Mr. Kinoshita exist so that the syndicates may dispose of who they like without any implication. A friend of the Cartel could be after Mr. Kinoshita. It could be the Cartel's 'fault.' Mr. Kinoshita is none the wiser. And he does not seem particularly scared by the potentiality of his own mortality. What are you trying to look for in his expression? @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

Anything at all. Well, even nothing is something. Nothing is familiar, almost. Kinoshita doesn't appear to be lying. Of course, a job is a job. They both knew that. Zachary is quiet for a moment. He begins to walk around the room they were currently in, his footsteps as slow and methodical as his survey of every imperfection in the wall, every outlet and the underside of every surface. "The 'special job' we accompany you for tomorrow. Is it a hit?" @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

"Yes." It's not so much that there is nothing to his expression as there is a something that no one can quite understand. Maybe that's familiar, too. The placid look in the mirror. He looks distant, like he's staring past you through your skull — yet at the same time, his gaze is anything but penetrating or intense. His eyes look glossed-over. "I do not expect you all to participate, but I understand you are bound to me." So we both have no choice in the matter. He understands that at this point, asking to separate the group may just be more pointless than not. And he doesn't care much either way. "It shouldn't take long." He just watches you go around obligingly. ... "You are not squeamish by any chance."

The apartment seems like a modern build. You check to see if anything had been peeled and pasted over - anything hollow on the inside, anything obvious upon a keen but precursory glance. There are some laser discs in their sleeves that are lined up in the TV stand shelf. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, one of the album covers read. The door farther across from his presumed bedroom door is closed shut, but just barely bulges outwards. @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

"Is it wise for you to carry on. As an assassin. Before the threat to you is neutralized?" he asks, only sparing a mild glance up from the laser disks. @li 🚭 five (kazik)

"I'm unable to change the commitment I've already made regardless." For the sake of the future. He figures Zachary isn't squeamish, but sometimes it's better to ask. "You will, unless you wait somewhere off to the side." "It will probably be O.K." Like an impromptu weekend plan. "Do you think your colleagues may intervene." @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

"We'll be with you at all times." No waiting off to the side. "I wouldn't know," he says. "And if you fail your task because of our presence. What happens to you." He turns the album cover over. "Are you Mr. Lawrence?" @li 🚭 five (kazik)

"I see." He figures this is non-negotiable. He doesn't really feel the urge to argue for things, anyway. "You all are not close," he guesses. "I won't fail." "I don't see myself in other people." "Perhaps he's someone I aspire to be like." @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

-# wait arte is like stupid

"Do we seem close?" he asks. "Mm." He puts the album back. "Then what do you see yourself," he says. "In." @li 🚭 five (kazik)

"I guess it's hard to say." "Nothing comes to mind." "Maybe a ghost." "Or a slinky." @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

He looks at Kinoshita for a beat and a half. "I can see it," he says. "How do you plan to carry it out? The hit." @li 🚭 five (kazik)

"Thank you." Whatever that means. "I guess it depends." "Shooting usually works." @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

"You're welcome," he replies. Whatever that means. "Many things do." Depend, as well as work. "What kind of gun?" @li 🚭 five (kazik)

"I have an umbrella," "That shoots tranquilizer darts." Impractical, but. "Like a spy." "And a Beretta 92." @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

“I see. Mine’s regular.” He tips his head to one side at one on the hook by the door. “So you’re in close.” Not a snipe. @li 🚭 five (kazik)

"Regular is good too." You could try his if you want. "I'm only decent at that." @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

“What’s your plan?” he asks. @li 🚭 five (kazik)

In terms of the hit, or the hit on him, or life in general? "I'll probably approach them and then shoot them with whatever makes sense." He makes it sound like there's wiggle room. "If they're armed, I'll disengage first." "I suppose I have to account for you all, though." "I'm not very good at contingency plans. I'm a spontaneous person." @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

“I see,” he also says. So not much of one, a plan. Zachary gives a slight eyebrow raise. Cade’s been operating successful this whole time without one, apparently. Though that could just be survivorship bias. “…Who is your target?” @li 🚭 five (kazik)

A plan is never fool-proof. The only way to remedy that is with a plan B. And plan C. And plan D. And plan E. Cade's strengths have always been in his flexibility, so he's found that mapping out all outcomes is usually a boring waste of time and energy. There is a chance that his carelessness may cost him his life one day. He does not particularly care to live, in the same way he does not particularly care to die. So in a way, he's waiting to see when he will slip up. "Another executive of some local company." "It could be a personal vendetta." Of the one who requested the hit. Of course. @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

"Mm." He hums. "I presume you've done your research." "Tell us where you'll be, then. We'll plan around your movements." @li 🚭 five (kazik)

"Or do our best to." Considering.

Debatable. Depends on which kind of research. He seems to be thinking, maybe actually planning something in his head. "North Cantilados Pacific Freight." He looks up. "I will walk up to them. There won't be much of a need to sneak an attack. They will be under the belief that someone else is meeting them for some other sort of pretense." "There are pillars and cargo scaffolding in the warehouse to utilize to close by but unseen. If it is not too much trouble, I'd like it if you all could remain concealed. That way, you may have access to me, but can avoid any undue escalation should things be tolerable myself." "Overall, however, I trust your judgement." @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

He watches Kinoshita as he thinks. "Is this pretense set up by you, too?" Zachary takes out a ballpoint pen and small notebook from the inside pocket of his coat and begins jotting down notes. And then tucks them away again. “I’ll look up an aerial later. Do you have a home PC?” @li 🚭 five (kazik)

-# mb for late. OK I BED NOW. ILL BE BACK FOR MORE WHEN I WAKE

"No." He thinks some more. "The cleanup will be a little tedious because I will not be dumping the body into the ocean," he warns ahead of time. A rare amount of consideration. "I don't." Have a PC. @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

He watches Kinoshita silently for another moment. “Are you in control of that variable?” The question doesn’t sound like criticism. So that explains ‘get dirty’. Zachary nods, quiet for now. “Do you have photos, then? Of the location?” @li 🚭 five (kazik)

"I have things I am not allowed to do." "Otherwise I can do as I like." "I don't keep photos of the places where I kill people." Since that would be incriminating, haha. But still, he steps over to the TV stand and opens a drawer, handing Zachary a transparent folder. There are some photos printed out of the location. @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

“Then who do they think they’re meeting?” he asks. He accepts the folder and walks over to the coffee table, then kneels, places the folder down, and begins spreading out the images. @li 🚭 five (kazik)

"They are probably under the pretense that they're meeting a supplier or colleague." Someone familiar, someone trust worthy, et cetera, you already know how it is. "Unclear whether that person is real and sold them out, or if the excuse is a lie." That's none of his business, typically. He holds his hands behind his back, standing over Zachary's shoulder. @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

“Very well,” he says. He spreads his fingertips over a few of the images, then brings out his notepad once more and begins sketching out a top-down aerial in block-shapes and confident lines. “When were these taken?” @li 🚭 five (kazik)

Phenomenal work for approximations. "Google sources them at 1993." "The warehouse hasn't gone under renovations since." "Are you formulating a plan?" @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

It’s functional. The way he marks doors is reminiscent of an architectural blueprint. -# The company that was founded in September this year? /J “Very well,” he agrees. His lips move quietly for a moment. “Yes.” “One of us needs stay by each entrance. Here and here. The other three will be positioned behind pillars.” He points at spots on the page, one hand using the pen on the notepad, the other putting a finger to a matching photo. He doesn’t turn his head to the side, but his eyes flick to his eye corners to address Kinoshita. “Mr. Kinoshita.” @li 🚭 five (kazik)

-# i donno anything bruh...

"You are a good artist." He watches the finger and pen point to so-and-so. No comment. No acknowledgement. No agreement. But he's listening. He looks back at him. Go on. @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

“Thank you. I nearly went to architecture school,” he says. The pen rests upon the notepad, just over an x he had marked. “Why kill people?” @li 🚭 five (kazik)

"Why the change?" he says. From architecture school to something else. Why kill people? "I'm not bothered by it." He's good at it. @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

“I enlisted.” Zachary nods. The pen shifts to a place closer to the center of the warehouse on the notebook and hovers a circle. The pen marks a note to the side of the box. A quick arrow. “I don’t like killers,” he says. @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

"I see." His eyes trace the pen as the arrow is born. "Do you dislike me, then?" @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

“It doesn’t matter.” It doesn’t. The pen stills. He’s being forthright. He always is, but Kinoshita would understand. “I will do what I can to protect you either way.” Still knelt, he turns over his shoulder to look up at Kinoshita, in the eye. “Is there anything else you haven’t told us?” @li 🚭 five (kazik)

He tilts his head slightly. It must matter. If it didn't, you wouldn't have told him that you disliked killers. That's already an unnecessary action. Your opinions are irrelevant. It could instill unease in your client. Fortunately, Cade is not the sort to feel any kind of way about anything. "I see. Thank you." He makes no other remark on that subject, though mentally, he notes that perhaps Mr. Wixom would not like to 'make nice.' "..." He looks up at the cieling thoughtfully. "I've told you everything that I know to the best of my ability." "I want to go to the carnival after tomorrow." @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

Not with regard to action, no. Zachary watches him perfectly neutrally. Then tilts his head the same way, just a couple degrees. “You’re welcome,” he says, then turns back to the schematic. “The carnival,” he repeats. “For rides? Games?” He scribbles a few labeled circles. Then rips out the paper to draw the location once more on a clean sheet. “Do you have additional arms? We aren’t equipped with long range.” @li 🚭 five (kazik)

Well, sometimes you just have to say things because you feel like it. He nods his head. Rides and games. "And snacks." Of course. "No." "I'm sorry." @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)

Isn’t that artsy? He copies the previous schematic almost exactly, but with changes to the positioning of three circles around specific pillars. There’s a circle outside the warehouse. “We should arrive early to set up.” Maybe he does want to try Kinoshita’s umbrella. “I’m a good shot. Perhaps you could lend me your tranquilizer.” @li 🚭 five (kazik)

-# BAD FUCKING IDEA IF I HAVE TO ROLL FOR THIS. HE DOESNT HAVE THE SC MECHANICS TO BACK THAT UP 💀 💀 💀 💀 💀 💀 💀 💀 💀

-#

"OK." You should try his umbrella. "I can." You'd like it. @arte | z.w. (long. THREAD BREAK)