Wolfgang grinned at Julia's genuine expression upon seeing his gift.
"Azurite A6 is a unique element found on alien ruins. These ruins were uniquely found in Newcastle and the whole operation was secured by the BAF. But even so the IMG managed to get their nose into this... how sleazy of you. But for some reason I am not surprised." Wolfgang said annoyed before also adding. "Ms Morrow, our scientists have analyzed this material the past few months. I can assure you that as long as it remains in this case, it is totally safe. Did you ever think I would put your health in jeopardy?
When Julia finished her delirium, Wolfgang was unmoved, unimpressed. It was probably not the first time a similar scene had played out. The Hacker sighed before replying.
"Ms Morrow, I have heard rumors that you are not a very conservative person or a quiet one. Is it perhaps the sex tapes that led me into these conclusions, I don't know. What I know is that you are a beautiful woman, I cannot but admit that I am attracted to you." He paused for a moment. "But I am 49 years old, Julia. Why would you do something with such an older man when there are so many lads out there at your age? So I offered some things to add on what I lacked on a personal level... you seemed interested in information.. and as a woman I am sure you'd like to have the most rare necklace in Sirius...
He crossed his legs waiting to hear Julia's decision. She could at least act as a professional, he hoped.
Julia was just looking at him, keeping eye contact and waiting how he would continue this conversation that turned from interesting, as well as educational to really weird in less than 10 heartbeats. When he explains what his thoughts behind his words were, she can't help but shake her head lightly: "... see..." she starts, then reconsiders and starts again, making it a more diplomtic, less direct answer than it would have been in her first reply.
"... It must be a new experience to deal with women who actually have a will on their own still, is it?" she asks him, giving a nod towards the waitress that is walking by with empty eyes, or the dancers that are performing a strip tease dance at the stage to their right. "... I have to tell you, though, that I am not here to please your wishes. Or obey orders. Or be treated as a whore who gets payment or gifts and then 'performs'." she even says the last few words without making them an insult or a personal attack. It takes her some effort to make it sound rational, like a clarifying statement.
And then she smiles for a brief moment, and she takes her drink and sips fom it: "You know, seriously... you should never give a women who is not a prostitute the feeling she is one by treating her somewhat like one. It's not a way to make yourself seem attractive, to be honest." she replies, ending with a short smirk at the end and she likes the taste of the drink. "... let's try this again? Because... I was looking forward to more than the trip, three minutes of conversation, and a long trip again." she leans back, crossing her legs and looking at him with a short smile... "At least, I want to try this food." and she tries it, while she does not make any move to end the conversation even though this must have been felt as an insult.
The Hacker leaned back to his seat, all his interest evaporated.
"That's your decision Ms Morrow. But don't you ever try to lecture me about how I should treat women. I know exactly what your kind is and how it should be treated." Wolfang said with piercing eyes.
Eventually he moved his eyes back to his Hessian Standard and slowly poured some of it on his mouth. He then picked up the datapad and inserted it into a suitable hole on the side of the table. This activated a hologram with all the information the datapad contained within.
"So, what are we looking for here Ms Morrow? As far as I remember, Mr Henderson said that it contained information about the Sigma and Delta conflicts as well as information about the anonymous bank transactions which you wish to establish." Wolfgang said, trying to sound as neutral as possible.
Julia saw the stare and how it changed, and even though it might not be what Mr. Henderson had wished for when he sent her to have this conversation, she felt like having done the right thing even though the Lane Hacker would unlikely feel happy about this outcome. 'Wounded pride?' she thought to herself when he felt the need to tell her not to tell him how to treat women, and even insult her indirectly.
She does not comment more than the words: "I think, we have both made our red lines clear." and she puts up a brave smiles, nods when he makes clear where his red lines are and then nods again when he starts the business side of the meeting. She leans back - feeling somewhat relieved now that this personal part of the meeting seems cleared and she tries to keep herself from thinking of the man across the table as the misogynistic chauvinist that he doubtlessly is.
She is having her burger, and - as it is really good - she is enjoying it. Her fingers are sticky from the sauce, as she eats it in a not-so-civilised style using her hands instead of fork and knife. "Mmm... really good." she comments and leans forward after putting the plate to the side, not having eaten all of it yet. But she wants to come back to conversation and to the mission.
"Alright. Mr. Weisen. There is no need to be all frosty now. I am Julia. Call me Julia. And... I would like to assume that we came here with different assumptions and expectations. And as you will have noticed, I am not a trained diplomat either, so... yes." and there is some part missing here, and she does not know how to diplomatically re-approach him, so she simply adds the word: "Ehm - peace?" she asks him, offering him to cling glasses. Her drink is half-full, and she shrugs with a little smile that looks genuine enough.
Talking about the business part would be a lot easier when there is no ice-age. She realizes that. And her experience with slimy smugglers and shady traffickers in the Borderworld tells her to not burn a bridge if not totally necessary. Sh would hand him the data stick that contains the data for the secret transactions, so that money could be wired towards the Zoner Omicrons to assist them with the regional conflict against the Core, while keeping the IMG's involvement hidden.
"There is nothing wrong my dear, do not worry. I simply expected you'd be a more.. practical person. Seeing an opportunity and grabbing it by the balls." Wolfang said ironically, while digesting every single spasm in Julia's face.
"That and of course those tapes you wanted to delete about a year ago." Wolfgang said in a very normal manner. A few moments later he finished his beer.
"Now can I have your stick Ms Morrow? I have finished my drink and we didn't even start talking business."
"You can't stop, can you?" she asks him after his 'by the balls' comment with a short shaking of her head which makes her dark hair move from side to side and causes her to tie it into a pony tail as a consequences and then he mentions those tapes and she leans back, crossing her arms in front of her body, looking him in his eyes:
"Define... 'tapes' that I wanted to delete." she asks him, handing over the data stick by almost carelessly pushing it over the table so it slides towards him and he would have to catch it, or it might slide off the table. She actually seems to be more interested in the tapes that he mentioned than in the simple courier service that Henderson sent her here for.
Wolfgang is genuinely delighted. The pitiful man finally had his little revenge.
"You know those videos in which you were not found in a very respectful position. But please don't take me wrong, I have nothing against of what you did. Your performance was outstanding."
The Deceiver said while grinning before his was caught off-guard, his face twisted in terror while trying to catch the data stick. In the end, he was successful. He inspected the data stick for a moment murmuring the word 'primitive' in Rheinland language and then, without a word, he untapped the stick and inserted it in a side of their table.
"Okay so where do we begin? Information about the Sigma and Delta conflicts or the anonymous bank transactions? Please show me around me, Ms Morrow." Wolfgang said gesturing Julia to navigate the data files which were projected in a hologram above their table.
Julia is looking at him and when he seems to delighted, she can't help but smile for a short moment before she understands what kind of stuff he is actually talking about: "Oh..." she answers then and nods:
"Whatever you hold in your... possession, you can keep it. I assume..." she is thinking visibly hard about what it could be. "The most embarrassing videos that exist of me would be some of these Falkland parties... hmmm... or... hhmmm..." her eyes narrow when she thinks what could be on these tapes he is playing with. These parties on Falkland sometimes went pretty overboard. Oh, and the Freeport 11 ones. She throws her hair back, then looks at him directly:
"... if I think about it again... ye, make them disappear. Who knows, perhaps I have to write an application at any point in the future..." she changes her opinion and leans back, smirking: "... hey, wouldn't have thought that this meeting could produce something pleasant and useful, actually." and she seems really surprised.
She laughs when he is terrified of dropping the data stick and she follows him making the data files appear on the table, which she actually finds pretty cool. "Nifty... as hell..." she admits and then she points at the data files about Delta. "... that's the recon data, mainly about what the Freeport needs and what frequencies actually work. The antenna was damaged, so it is sometimes a little difficult, and of course they are constantly fixing things and changing things... it's haymhem to do long range communication safely, reliably and securely." she sighs.
"So... a way of safe commnication would be appreciated. I do not know what options you have there, but Mr. Henderson seems to be convinced that there is no one better suited than the Lane Hackers, and he recommended you personally." she flatters him a little, trying out a few ways of getting along better with him.
The Hacker is surprised to hear Julia's response. What's wrong with this girl? He thought, while he was trying to understand why her moral codes made her reject him but those codes suddenly disappeared when she told him to keep the tapes.
"Thank you Ms Morrow, I'll treasure your tapes, have no doubt about that."
And then again. She laughs with his attempt to catch the data stick only to flatter him moments later. He ultimately chooses to ignore this inconsistent woman.
"Your Coordinator said that he has information for us about the Delta and Sigma conflict. Not that you want us to fix your cables or secure your comms. So where is it?" Wolfgang demanded in a gentle manner.
Julia was thinking about how this man could get everything so terribly wrong. Right at the moment when he answered her, telling her that he would 'treasure' the tapes, she looks at him with a facial expression of surprise:
"Ehm... trea-sure?" she asks him... "... that's actually not what I asked for." she laughs and shakes her head: "... I want the tapes to... disappear. Become... non-existent. Not... put into a box like a treasure to be taken out and used whenever convenient or when you want to look at your treasures!" she is somewhat amused by the fact that they are seemingly talking different things - and not for the first time. "... Oh dear..." she sighs in an exaggerated, yet funny way with a wide smirk. Communication can be a real challenge sometimes, she realizes.
"Let's..." she keeps on the first topic of the tapes... "... let's finish one thing, alright?" and she does not get into the Delta conflict before settling the other topic first.
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