At any time an invitation you can't decline.

[deadliestviper]

Who: B and the always illustrious Jim Moriarty.
What: Reminiscing about times past; discussing a couple of business proposals.
Where: London, any restaurant Jim likes.
When: Broad daylight, the best time for unsavory dealings.

"It's gonna be a great environment for my little girl to grow up in."

"As opposed to jetting around the world, killing human beings, and being paid vast sums of money?"

"Precisely."

That had been almost fourteen years ago but she remembered every word of the conversation, and every moment of indecision and worry and fear that led her to having it. She remembered everything about that day, in fact, each detail of the Two Pines Wedding Chapel and its congregation fresh in her mind. It had played through her consciousness like a movie on loop, each thundering bullet and dying scream strengthening her resolve.

But she'd done what she needed to be done. Her work was finished, and today, she paid no attention to the massacre. Just that conversation, the last really peaceful exchange she'd had with Bill. Pause the movie, right there.

Sipping at a cup of sweetened cafe au lait, Beatrix sat pensively, reflecting on her words. She'd gone through a hell of a lot for BB. Breaking Bill's heart, suffering his revenge, fighting out of a coma, cutting her way through each hateful killer who destroyed the safe little life she'd tried to build up for the little girl.

"All those people you killed to get to me... felt damn good, didn't they? Every single one of them."

Yes.

And she'd won. She'd somehow managed it, some twisted face of Providence smiled on her and had given her satisfaction and something far more precious than that. When she finally got to wrap her arms around her daughter, it didn't matter that the attempt at normalcy hadn't worked. It couldn't have; Bill was right about that much. Just as he was, she was a killer and would never be anything else no matter what mask she wore. He hadn't tried to hide it; although she was young, and although she may not have understood, Bill had always given his daughter the truth.

That legacy was one she'd tried to respect, and BB had grown up asking every question Beatrix could hope to answer and many more besides. Can I pick up the sword? When can I hold a real gun? Why did Daddy shoot you? Why did you kill Daddy, Mommy? You can kill people you love? Did you love Daddy? Do you love me? Is anyone going to kill me? And soon after, her little girl asked the one question she both dreaded and anticipated from the very beginning: Will you teach me?

There had been no use in denying it after that. BB couldn't be dissuaded and proved to be a quick study, practicing every skill and perfecting every move her mother could teach. She pleaded for more lessons, drank in the knowledge as thirstily as B herself had in her youth. And so she learned. There was no longer anything to shield her from, no danger of damaging her illusion of normality; there were only the few pieces of shit who had survived Beatrix's rampage to worry about.

No reason for B to hold back on the work she did. And thanks to Bill's phenomenal connections, she knew just the man who'd have business for her.

"Jim," she said, setting her cup down on the table and fixing him with a sweet smile. "Thanks for meeting me. I'm ready to talk."

Comments

[spider_in_westwood]

Jim wasn't dressing to intimidate today, no, he had finer suits for that. But this, a $4000 suit? Nah, this was just to impress. He liked dressing nice, especially in public. Turned heads, made him feel special, because that's what Jim Moriarty needed sometimes. An ego stroke. Besides, sitting across from someone like Beatrix, well, he had to look just as nice. She could make the most clashing outfit look wonderful, so it was only proper that he tried to keep up.

He had never seen her as second-rate simply because she was a woman. Oh no, he had dealt with powerful woman in the business before, and he was a believer that some men only became great because a woman stood behind them. B would be one of those women in time, of that he was sure. No, he had wrongly talked down to her because of the previous assassin and after working with her, he let that foul taste in his mouth perhaps stain his expectations of her. The difference was that she listened and got the job done without complaint. Hell, even a snark or two came from her the more he hired her, she had started to grow on him. Which is why he not only let her contact him, but perhaps gave her a bit of a discount for his services, and perhaps the reason he was trying to hire her on permanently now.

"I assure you, the pleasure is all mine." He reaches out and takes her hand, not meaning to shake it so much as kiss the back of her hand. She deserved just as much respect for the talent in her field as he did for the skills in his. "The company isn't to protect me from you. I simply want to make sure we're both safe as we enjoy our lunch, that's all." Jim looks to his man, who nods before moving to sit at a nearby table with one of his undercover men. "Can't be too safe, can we? There are eyes everywhere if you're not careful. However, that's not what we're here for. How can I be of assistance?"

[deadliestviper]

Impressing or intimidating, it's all the same where he's involved as far as B is concerned. If he'd wanted to he could've come in alone dressed in some unremarkable getup she wouldn't have recognized him in, and at times, he'd done just that. But she was hardly surprised by all the backup, the flattering suit, the grand entrance, the continental kiss to her proffered hand – Moriarty had always had a flair for the dramatic.

"Never thought they were," she laughed, watching the undercover thug follow Jim's signal. "And I appreciate the regard for my safety, but this stings. You don't think I'm enough? My ego, Jim." Easy conversation, despite the situation and despite the predator sitting not four feet from her. It strengthened their façade, set them in with the restaurant's other patrons, made them look all the more like two friends grabbing lunch together – and, she suspected, it was a novelty for him as well. It wasn't often that she'd seen anyone talk to him as an equal.

"Right. Getting down to business." A bright smile. "We've already talked over your proposal, you know my conditions. I know you won't fuck me over," he'd better not, "but I need all the details. No point in starting an arrangement and immediately disappointing you."

[spider_in_westwood]

Jim was an actor, he knew how to get the right reaction out of people with the correct display of humanity. Between the way he carried himself, his words and the clothing that complimented it, he's sure he could fool anyone. Hell, he had fooled a lot of people already, from convincing them he was just an actor, to a tourist, to even a homeless man. Moriarty had talent and he used it to his advantage. And right now, the advantage was making them blend in with all the other rich people around here.

"It would be difficult for even you to block a sniper's shot from a block away. I have my people protecting the place for a reason, for while we might deal in death, we certainly don't plan on meeting him personally anytime soon." He smiles as the waiter brings over a drink, thanking him before he took a menu from him, meaning to eat while he was out as well. To him, no one was an equal to him. God complex and everything, really, only Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes compared to him, only they could truly handle his genius. Everyone else was nothing but toys to him, and that included Sebastian and B.

"I've yet to break a contract without the other half breaking it first." Which was true, since usually the person he made a contract with somehow decided to betray Moriarty...that never did work out pleasant for them. He reaches for his portfolio, pulling out a document and holding it out to her. "That should outline everything for you."

[deadliestviper]

He wasn't an actor, he was a virtuoso. Slipping between identities was easy enough if you knew what you were doing, but Moriarty didn't just change his name and appearance. His transformations were so complete he registered as a different person entirely, and to use an old cliché, even his own mother probably wouldn't recognize him. That's one of the talents B approached him for in the first place. Hiding in plain sight was usually easy, but there had been times when she'd been recognized. Such situations were best nipped in the bud, especially now that she was assassinating for two.

"That's sweet of you. But why do you think I chose this table?" They're far from the front windows, their table in an awkward corner even the waitstaff seem to forget. Only when Jim's not there, of course; after walking in as if he owned the place he was a difficult figure to ignore.

Laying her own menu on the table, B takes the document and pores over it. Even the language somehow manages a supercilious tone and she sighs quietly as she reads. Knocking him down a peg is possible but hardly worth the effort and risk involved, but that hardly meant she was thrilled with his perception. Still, the contract is concise, detailed, lacking none of the stipulations she laid out for him, including the one about BB. Seems legitimate. Seems... fair.

"Okay," she says, looking up at him. "First thing: why are you offering a salary instead of paying my rate per job? If we stick to the job description you provided it'd be cheaper for you in the long run. Second, I want to reserve the right to refuse a target, no questions asked. Third, you've left something out. In the event of my death...?"

[spider_in_westwood]

Mum Moriarty might recognize him, considering he had been this way for a rather long time. But otherwise, he could fool anyone and everyone he wanted to. Hell, he's even caught Sebastian off-guard with his acting at times, which was the more surefire way he knew he could get away with anything. Hiding in plain sight wasn't an easy task to accomplish, but it could be done, which is why B's case had taken a bit of work, but it had been a good distraction.

"You can never be too safe, can you? There have been other instances where I've been attacked despite tables like this." Jim waves a waiter down, one who seems absolutely thrilled to serve them, which makes Jim only stare before he smiles and orders himself a bit to eat. He'll barely touch any of it once it arrives, but might as well pretend that he's going to eat. He can take it home to Sebastian anyway.

While Jim Moriarty might be considered absolutely insane, he was a businessman first and foremost. He knew how to write up contracts, he knew how to bind both parties and give them both what they desire. He's made sure her demands are clearly outlined that they're benefits to the both of them, hence him seemingly asking so 'little' despite her requests.

"Money is not an issue. Never has been nor will it be. Besides, you won't be freelance anymore, no point in paying you per job if you'll be on my payroll. Unless you feel more comfortable with it, the salary should be enough to keep you and your daughter well provided for." He makes a face at the second part, sipping at his water, "How about I get a question for every target you refuse? One single question."

He pauses at the last part, thinking it over for a moment before he smiles up to her. "Yes, in the event of your death. That's still up for negotiations. What would you like?"

[deadliestviper]

"No, you never can. You're right about that." Flashing the waiter a flirty smile, B hurriedly folds back the contract to order off the menu. Unlike Jim she will eat, even though she ordered the first thing she saw. No point in letting a lunch meeting go to waste.

As soon as the server scurries off she drops the cheeriness, looking back at the contract solemnly. "The money's not an issue for me either. This is more than enough for us. Very generous." She sips at her coffee, considering the deal. "I guess 'Why?' is one single question, isn't it. Fine. Just make them count."

And now the hard part, the part that's kept her out of the game all these years. She meets Moriarty's eyes, deadly serious as she names her terms. "If I do this, I want my daughter's safety to be ensured. If I die, she'll be placed under safe guardianship. Her education will continue, and she'll receive my salary until she turns eighteen. I want her under your protection, tutelage, and support. And I want her immunity from any crime you or I've committed."

[spider_in_westwood]

Definitely not, especially when the place was a rather expensive one that took weeks to get into for a meal. Yet it had a table reserved for Moriarty. How quaint.

"Is it too much? Do you need me to lessen it? I am simply thinking about you and what your daughter might need in time. I would rather have you taken care of permanently rather than asking for raises all the time." He takes a sip of his own drink, smiling. "Of course. You think I wouldn't?"

Jim meets her eyes, listening to what she has to say for a moment. He starts processing almost immediately - what sort of monetary loss would this be in the long run? Well, she did kill Bill and all his associates...

"Hm. Safety, I can do. We need to agree upon a guardian, however, as I am certainly not one who can take care of her, I am sure we will both agree on that. She will received half of your salary until she is eighteen, that should be more than enough to sustain her." Jim pauses, starting to think the last part over. "However, I will only grant her immunity up until she's sixteen. At that point, she will either continue working with me and be responsible for any of her actions in my company or she can leave and cut off all ties to the underworld. I will still keep an eye on her and make sure she continues receiving your salary until she is considered an adult legally."

[deadliestviper]

Just another set of people Jim has firmly wrapped around his little finger. Nothing so unusual about that; he may even manage it with B.

"Don't trouble yourself, it's perfectly fine." She rolls her eyes a bit at his offer to cut it down. BB deserves to continue living the easy life her father and mother had built for her. "I know you would.

"Of course," she agrees. "For some reason I've got a feeling you're not quite the parental type." She has little doubt that if she left BB in Jim's care, something tragic would happen. Appointing a guardian will take some thought, though; apart from Hattori Hanzo, who's getting on in years and running a mediocre sushi restaurant in Okinawa, she's got few allies and friends left these days. The last part, though... the last part makes B cross her arms, arching an eyebrow. "If you spend two years financially supporting her, she'll hardly have cut all ties, aye?"

[spider_in_westwood]

That's because Jim was good at what he did, and what he did was manipulate and get what he wanted out of them. Everyone had a price, and he was the man who was willing to pay it most of the time. And that's how Moriarty had his web.

"I'll make sure that is amended then." He knew that her daughter deserved the very best, but he really didn't know if one could live on just half that salary once her mother died. Not that he planned for her to, he was just thinking ahead of the game, that's all.

"Not at all. I'll be honest, always thought of adopting one and raising it accostumed to the world already. Just to see what happens. Sebastian says subjecting it to experiments would be rather inhumane but...isn't that what I'm good at?" Jim chuckles to himself, sipping at his drink. He wouldn't hurt BB - when he drew up contracts, he stuck to them. Her daughter would be safe, he wouldn't do a thing to her. But it'd have to be a guardian they both agree on. "You act like I'll be delivering a check to her personally. A private bank account with direct deposit from an anonymous benefactor. And once she hits 18, if she doesn't want it anymore, all she has to do is head to the bank and close the account. She'll be done. No contact unless she wants it."