Balancing the Books[Curry, Sabertooth]

It was another busy night in Copenhagen for William Curry. The foundation's Danish shipments had been getting attacked with alarming regularity, and his local contractors had been unable to provide a satisfactory resolution. As a businessman, at a certain point, it was simply a matter of protecting his assets. So he had taken it upon himself to deal with this issue.

A few days were spent staking out the docks, stalking between the shipping containers trying to find out whether this was a targeted attack or a frustrating coincidence. That was when he had uncovered the little den of Hollows. It was unlikely that they were the entirety of the issue, perhaps they weren't even involved, but they were in the right place at the right time. He would take them out, and maybe that would solve the problem or drag the real issue out into the light.

The hit was seamless, Curry's presence undetected until he was in the midst of them. The battle was a fierce one, furious fists and precision strikes doing a number on these weaker Hollows as he thinned out their numbers. It was only when the heavy hitters entered the fray that he needed to exert himself, and so the Fullbringer did. Blows were exchanged, enough to stir up a ruckus in the local area, but they could not compete with the President in Overtime.

There was an acute sense that he was not alone as the quiet set in again. The thrill of battle was winding down as his cybernetics did, the dull hum of the electronics creating a background note as he studied his environment again. Was this the real threat he sought or were his senses just a little too keen after all the action?

The voice was a surprise to Curry, calling out from the darkness where he had not thought to look. He had expected an ambush but not this kind of attack, so he was certainly guarded but not prepared for an offer to hit the table. Facing down the creature as they revealed themselves, there was certainly a sense of bewilderment to the man that he had not been assaulted already. She had his focus, but that did not stop him from checking his peripherals for even the slightest hint of danger.

"Most are mindless beasts. Dangerous and destructive, but single-minded. You see yourself as an exception?"

He remained tense as she gave him assurances, hardly planning on taking her at her word, and yet no attack came. At least, not yet.

"But I will hear your proposal, out of respect for your showing of the barest amount of common decency. You have garnered my attention for a moment, now do not waste my time. There will be no counter proposals."

It was important to show strength when brokering any deal. Noone dealt with the weak, they were not fit to make demands, and so the strong survived. His threat was not an empty one, though, and he had every intent on dispatching another Hollow tonight if they proved a threat to his investments.

Curry stood there and listened to the proposal, his breathing growing steadier as the adrenaline slowly faded from his system. It was an interesting proposition, for a Hollow to offer him their services, and not one he had immediately considered. It made the most sense, of course, but there was still a certain amount of surprise to be had in hearing it said out loud.

"A bold claim, that you wish to enter into my employ to some extent and deserve a bonus simply for suggesting the idea. You can certainly talk the talk, but I am yet to see if you can walk the walk. Your kind are not one I often deal with, and not one I have any inclination to trust, so maybe you can track down another Hollow or two in the local area but that is not something beyond my own capabilities. We stand here amidst a testament to my abilities, not yours."

His hands flexed, before pulling into balls once more. He was ready for another fight if this beast had a change of heart, even if he was on the back foot.

"So what will you do to prove your usefulness to me? Two Hollows are no small feat, but my cargo requires protection until morning, when they leave port."

Sniffing in the direction of the main containers would affirm that Curry was not transporting hollow bait or anything of the like. But there was still a particular resonance to it, something that perhaps might be interesting and was certainly not good. There was a reason why people paid money for his company to transport these items rather than arranging their own shipping, after all.

"You'll work the whole night then? That will be a satisfactory demonstration of your usefulness."

With bringer light, Curry launched himself backwards and up on top of some of the containers. Not far enough that he would have too much trouble conversing, but enough to give the hollow some space. He would humour the beast, and see if it would keep to its word after all.

"Your lunch break is at your feet already, should you choose to have it now. But I expect a full shift until the sun crosses the horizon."

"Then a stakeout it is."

Watching on from his elevated position, Curry kept a more vigilant eye on their surroundings as the beast ate below. He had not expected to have a companion in this duty, even one as peculiar and crude as this. Even when putting on her gory display though, he was not fazed. It was far from the messiest work that he had seen, and so his cold gaze passed over her with indifference.

Only when she was done did he offer her a single nod. The terms of their agreement had been accepted, the line drawn, so if she intended to cut and run then he would strike back remorselessly.

"Honest pay for honest work, remember. So will you strike out against the other hollows or wait for them to catch the scent?"