09-21-2023, 09:35 AM
(This post was last modified: 10-19-2023, 11:11 AM by dude_man. Edited 1 time in total.)
Previous parts: Part I, Part II, Part III
“I heard you were flying to Honolulu in a few days,” Caspian replied. “I’ve always wanted to visit Hawai’i.”
Xander froze. First of all, how did Caspian know about the contact with the Hahalua – who, for the record, seemed very keen on bringing Remi over to have face-to-face talks; Xander had mentioned that this was a good sign, though Remi seemed less impressed – and second of all, how did he know the two of them would be in Baltimore, at The Aviary, at this very moment?
Remi said nothing. He just eyed his old friend carefully. A long moment passed, before Remi spoke.
“You could have just called, you know.”
Caspian threw his head back and roared with laughter. “Where’s the fun in that, old boy?!”
Remi grinned. Xander let out the breath he didn’t realise he’d been holding.
“So.” Remi said. “Spill.”
Upon arrival at Thurgood Marshall Airport, both Remi and Xander strode with purpose through the gatesy. A short while after, they were intercepted by a black-suited fellow with an ice-blue tie, hustling to keep the pace with Remi’s abnormally long gait.
“Mister Musgrave-Smythe,” the man said, wheeling in front of Remi, forcing him to stop, while extending a hand. “Apologies for the ambush, but we’re aware you’re a very busy man these days and hoped to make an offer without taking up too much of your time.”
Remi glanced sideways at Xander, who of course, had known about this ahead of time. He’d mentioned that it might not be the wisest course of action, but that Remi might acknowledge the initiative. Xander did. It took some ‘testicular fortitude’ to interrupt Remi like this, if you knew his reputation.
“Wraiths,” Xander shrugged. “Your assistant was having trouble fitting them in, and they came to me via Antoine. I told them you do most of your own negotiation. Agents just dot the i’s and cross the t’s.”
Remi pursed his lips and nodded once, before resuming his walk, but at a (slightly) slower speed. “What’re you selling?” He said, eyeballing the man.
“I’m aware we have limited time here, so I’ll be brief. In Yellowknife, we have perhaps the best offensive line in the league, and slotting you in at right tackle would make that a certainty.” Remi’s eyebrow quirked, Xander knew he would want left tackle. “We can offer you a substantial financial package, though I don’t expect it to be the best offer you get. What we’re banking on is you wanting to be a major part of what might go down as the greatest offensive line in ISFL history.”
Prestige was always a good angle. Legacy and prestige were themes of Remi’s life after all. He was adopted by the illegitimate son of a British royal, who had risen to become King. His very name was a reference to his father’s legacy, for crying out loud.
Remi paused while he mulled over the man’s words.
“The money would need to be pretty good, especially if you’re asking me to take right tackle,” he said.
“Unfortunately, we have an incumbent at left tackle who won’t appreciate being moved. He’s aiming for the Hall of Fame, and might well have a shot now, after having a career year last season.”
“That is unfortunate. Can he not be persuaded to step aside for even one season?”
“I can speak with him and get back to you?”
“Do that. And put a number on the offer if you can. I’m weighing up every offer and appraising them fairly. Your candor is appreciated.” Remi said. He shook the man’s hand firmly, and handed him a card. “If I am unavailable, leave a message. My assistant will get back to you.”
The man turned to Xander, “Ah, right. Sorry, didn’t catch your name.”
Xander rolled his eyes slightly. “I’m not his assistant.”
“My apologies, I..." he trailed off, seeing Remi’s amusement.
“My assistant is called Tony, he’s not here right now. Xander here is my attorney.”
“Right. Tony. I’ll get back to you ... er, him. As soon as possible.”
The man hustled away, as Remi and Xander got into their car. “So..." Xander said. “Yellowknife, hm?”
“They offer something you cannot put a price to, Xander,” Remi said. “Though I can’t say for certain that this is the kind of immortality I want. If I accept, will I forever be the Pippen to someone else’s Jordan?”
Xander was only vaguely aware of the reference. “To be fair, Remi, you’re an offensive lineman. Not a position that is given a lot of fanfare traditionally.”
“Touché.”
Caspian groaned a little, but complied. “The short explanation is that I heard from Dre that you were going to be here.”
“And the long one?”
“How long is the drive to the hotel?”
“Long enough.”
And so he began. So far as Xander knew, Caspian Crawforde-Kingsley and Remi had not seen each other since before Remi left Japan. They had spoken on calls, of course, and had a near-miss in Tijuana a while ago, but Caspian avoided travelling to the United States. Something about ‘the indignity of US customs’. Though Xander suspected Caspian had attempted to pull the wrong strings once, and had to wait a while for the backlash to die down.
His tale was meandering, as was his wont. What Xander did glean from it, though, was that Caspian was in the USA on business. With Trevor Solomon, among other names he recognised. It transpired that they, too, were searching for Leilani.
“This is serendipitous, old friend.” Remi said, when Caspian was done talking.
“Oh?”
“Indeed. My searches for Leilani on this side of the Atlantic have yielded... mixed results. It appears that our respective searches led us, ultimately, to the same man.”
“Dre. Of course.” Caspian said. “I’m sure Soulman would appreciate any help you can provide in forging an [i]arrangement[/].” That last word came loaded with so much implication, Xander would have sworn the brief pause that preceded it was pregnant with octuplets.
“I’m sure he would.” Remi said. “But I am in a reasonably high-profile position right now. I must be careful.”
“Careful of what? You’re merely facilitating a meeting between two businessmen, who happen to be your associates.” Caspian shrugged.
Remi glanced surreptitiously at Xander, who in turn, nodded almost imperceptibly.
“I’ll consider it.”
“Great! Then I’ll see you in first class on the..." Caspian paused while he checked the airplane tickets he pulled from his inner jacket pocket. “Seven Forty-Eight to Oahu tomorrow.”
He patted Remi on the shoulder as he clambered out of the car.
“Well,” Remi said. “Things just got very interesting.”
Xander noted a slight grin on his face. “Remi, tell me if this is a stupid question but..." He paused, rubbing the back of his neck, nervously. “How the hell are you going to find Leilani in Hawai’i?”
“Xander, Xander, Xander..." Remi chuckled. “Leilani is Hawai’ian. Can’t you tell by the name?”
“I heard you were flying to Honolulu in a few days,” Caspian replied. “I’ve always wanted to visit Hawai’i.”
Xander froze. First of all, how did Caspian know about the contact with the Hahalua – who, for the record, seemed very keen on bringing Remi over to have face-to-face talks; Xander had mentioned that this was a good sign, though Remi seemed less impressed – and second of all, how did he know the two of them would be in Baltimore, at The Aviary, at this very moment?
Remi said nothing. He just eyed his old friend carefully. A long moment passed, before Remi spoke.
“You could have just called, you know.”
Caspian threw his head back and roared with laughter. “Where’s the fun in that, old boy?!”
Remi grinned. Xander let out the breath he didn’t realise he’d been holding.
“So.” Remi said. “Spill.”
* * * * *
The Previous DayUpon arrival at Thurgood Marshall Airport, both Remi and Xander strode with purpose through the gatesy. A short while after, they were intercepted by a black-suited fellow with an ice-blue tie, hustling to keep the pace with Remi’s abnormally long gait.
“Mister Musgrave-Smythe,” the man said, wheeling in front of Remi, forcing him to stop, while extending a hand. “Apologies for the ambush, but we’re aware you’re a very busy man these days and hoped to make an offer without taking up too much of your time.”
Remi glanced sideways at Xander, who of course, had known about this ahead of time. He’d mentioned that it might not be the wisest course of action, but that Remi might acknowledge the initiative. Xander did. It took some ‘testicular fortitude’ to interrupt Remi like this, if you knew his reputation.
“Wraiths,” Xander shrugged. “Your assistant was having trouble fitting them in, and they came to me via Antoine. I told them you do most of your own negotiation. Agents just dot the i’s and cross the t’s.”
Remi pursed his lips and nodded once, before resuming his walk, but at a (slightly) slower speed. “What’re you selling?” He said, eyeballing the man.
“I’m aware we have limited time here, so I’ll be brief. In Yellowknife, we have perhaps the best offensive line in the league, and slotting you in at right tackle would make that a certainty.” Remi’s eyebrow quirked, Xander knew he would want left tackle. “We can offer you a substantial financial package, though I don’t expect it to be the best offer you get. What we’re banking on is you wanting to be a major part of what might go down as the greatest offensive line in ISFL history.”
Prestige was always a good angle. Legacy and prestige were themes of Remi’s life after all. He was adopted by the illegitimate son of a British royal, who had risen to become King. His very name was a reference to his father’s legacy, for crying out loud.
Remi paused while he mulled over the man’s words.
“The money would need to be pretty good, especially if you’re asking me to take right tackle,” he said.
“Unfortunately, we have an incumbent at left tackle who won’t appreciate being moved. He’s aiming for the Hall of Fame, and might well have a shot now, after having a career year last season.”
“That is unfortunate. Can he not be persuaded to step aside for even one season?”
“I can speak with him and get back to you?”
“Do that. And put a number on the offer if you can. I’m weighing up every offer and appraising them fairly. Your candor is appreciated.” Remi said. He shook the man’s hand firmly, and handed him a card. “If I am unavailable, leave a message. My assistant will get back to you.”
The man turned to Xander, “Ah, right. Sorry, didn’t catch your name.”
Xander rolled his eyes slightly. “I’m not his assistant.”
“My apologies, I..." he trailed off, seeing Remi’s amusement.
“My assistant is called Tony, he’s not here right now. Xander here is my attorney.”
“Right. Tony. I’ll get back to you ... er, him. As soon as possible.”
The man hustled away, as Remi and Xander got into their car. “So..." Xander said. “Yellowknife, hm?”
“They offer something you cannot put a price to, Xander,” Remi said. “Though I can’t say for certain that this is the kind of immortality I want. If I accept, will I forever be the Pippen to someone else’s Jordan?”
Xander was only vaguely aware of the reference. “To be fair, Remi, you’re an offensive lineman. Not a position that is given a lot of fanfare traditionally.”
“Touché.”
* * * * *
Caspian groaned a little, but complied. “The short explanation is that I heard from Dre that you were going to be here.”
“And the long one?”
“How long is the drive to the hotel?”
“Long enough.”
And so he began. So far as Xander knew, Caspian Crawforde-Kingsley and Remi had not seen each other since before Remi left Japan. They had spoken on calls, of course, and had a near-miss in Tijuana a while ago, but Caspian avoided travelling to the United States. Something about ‘the indignity of US customs’. Though Xander suspected Caspian had attempted to pull the wrong strings once, and had to wait a while for the backlash to die down.
His tale was meandering, as was his wont. What Xander did glean from it, though, was that Caspian was in the USA on business. With Trevor Solomon, among other names he recognised. It transpired that they, too, were searching for Leilani.
“This is serendipitous, old friend.” Remi said, when Caspian was done talking.
“Oh?”
“Indeed. My searches for Leilani on this side of the Atlantic have yielded... mixed results. It appears that our respective searches led us, ultimately, to the same man.”
“Dre. Of course.” Caspian said. “I’m sure Soulman would appreciate any help you can provide in forging an [i]arrangement[/].” That last word came loaded with so much implication, Xander would have sworn the brief pause that preceded it was pregnant with octuplets.
“I’m sure he would.” Remi said. “But I am in a reasonably high-profile position right now. I must be careful.”
“Careful of what? You’re merely facilitating a meeting between two businessmen, who happen to be your associates.” Caspian shrugged.
Remi glanced surreptitiously at Xander, who in turn, nodded almost imperceptibly.
“I’ll consider it.”
“Great! Then I’ll see you in first class on the..." Caspian paused while he checked the airplane tickets he pulled from his inner jacket pocket. “Seven Forty-Eight to Oahu tomorrow.”
He patted Remi on the shoulder as he clambered out of the car.
“Well,” Remi said. “Things just got very interesting.”
Xander noted a slight grin on his face. “Remi, tell me if this is a stupid question but..." He paused, rubbing the back of his neck, nervously. “How the hell are you going to find Leilani in Hawai’i?”
“Xander, Xander, Xander..." Remi chuckled. “Leilani is Hawai’ian. Can’t you tell by the name?”
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