Young Writers Society

First and Last Name: Naomi Lisa Grafton
Nickname: Raven
Age: 34
Appearance: Raven haired and with big, blue eyes, Naomi is average height with a curvy figure. She keeps her hair long but usually wears it tied back. Naomi never wears jeans or any clothes that restrict her movement too much. Her make-up tends to be light and subtle.
Image:

Personality: Paranoid and quiet, Naomi doesn't make friends easily even amongst the SIS. She's always polite, cordial, some might even say warm but there's no personal level with Naomi. This is what makes her a poor candidate for seduction. She rarely does light conversation or dinner dates and when she does, it's because she's lost control for a moment and her emotions have got the better of her. Naomi tries very hard not to let that happen. However, if you're able to persuade her to have one drink with you, it might be possible to encourage a second and pretty soon she'll be wild, crazy and the most friendly, open person you could ever hope to meet. That is until she realises what's going on and withdraws into her shell once more.
Preferred Vehicle:

Style: Assassination.
Skills/Weapons/Other: Naomi isn't attached to any particular weapon, she takes whatever is needed for the job and uses her surroundings or hands when necessary. It's likely that she'll have a gun, her trusty flip knife, a cigarette lighter and a set of two hypodermic needles on her at all times. The hypodermic needles are secured in a small pouch normally used by diabetics (naturally she has a fake diabetes card also) which allows her to keep the drugs at a cool temperature. One would be filled with a knock-out drug and the other a lethal drug.
Up for love: Yes.
History: Her Mother and Father separated when she was five years old and strangely, it was her father who took custody of her. Naomi's mother was an emotional wreck, started hooking up with any man who would have her, got pregnant within a year and died of complications during the birth. This had some affect on Naomi but her father was very good at steeling her against the pain. He was a police officer at first and taught his little girl how to defend herself. He sent her to martial arts classes. Being a police officer wasn't enough for her dad though so he took up vigilante crime fighting. Naomi grew and matured and at sixteen she was popular, friendly, more than ready to go to college and on track for a career in forensics. But before all of that could happen, one evening her father left and didn't come home. His body was found outside a warehouse which was later discovered as a headquarters for money laundering. It was a friend of her father's, a fellow police officer who broke the news to her and put her in contact with her new guardian, a member of the SIS, close friend of her father's who'd agreed a long time ago to be her god-father. Naomi hadn't even known she had one. After that, it was a hop skip and a jump before she started training as an assassin and joined the SIS herself.
Code: 0012
Other: Naomi can speak good Chinese and almost fluent Russian. She's also a smoker.

First and Last Name: Tyler Sirus

Nickname: Sirius, Ty

Age: 29


Appearance

Personality: Ty is hard to get a clear read on, mostly he’s a snarker. He’ll be in the background, not doing much of anything, and just pops into to be snide remark, or just lighten the mood with some odd joke. Getting too involved isn’t his thing, and he just liked to defuse the tension. He also doesn’t like getting credit, it seems odd but he likes to stay under the radar, he doesn’t like being thought about or talked about. He’s still a good worker, though, his instinct to keep under the radar is what makes him good at his job.

Preferred Vehicle: He doesn’t really care. So long as it makes him faster, or safer, he’ll get in anything.

Style: Ty is mostly an extractor. He specializes in retrieving data, files, gadgets, whatever. He stays in the shadows, and will always run before he fights, he doesn’t want to leave any trace.

Skills/Weapons/Other: Ty is quick and light on his feet, he can run without making a sound. Part of his job is hacking as well, so it’s pretty good with that as well. He’s a great sniper, he finds the distant soothing and a lot easier to kill at. In semi-close range he’s a good shooter, but again he avoids it, preferring to just get them off his tail, and erase his tracks.

Up for love: I dislike the idea of claiming a relationship. What happens will happen.

History: Ty’s history was nothing special. He was a bit of a theatre nerd, had girl troubles, school problems, teenage rebellion. He was average. He got into a good college, he went on a scholarship from track, Ty could run. In general Ty was a strong athlete, he just was never much into anything else, he didn’t like the conflict in most sports. In his final year of college he was recruited into the M16, he was never told why, they just did, mostly because of plot and me not having a good idea.


Code: 0157

Fey O'Conner

"The Fox"

Age: 28

Appearance (Description): Brown hair, hazelish eyes, about 5'8"
Burns on her lower back from when she was very young, and a scar on her left jawbone.

Image (optional):

Personality: She's usually a very serious person, dedicated to her work, and leaving little time for much else. She does have a good sense of humor, just it's not often that she uses it, except for the occasional wisecrack. She takes her work very seriously, and does her job well. She like most spies learned from early on not to get attached to people or places, and comes off often as quite blunt and cold. Deep down she really is a caring person, but you're lucky if you get to see that side of her.

Preferred Vehicle:

Style: Reserved, kind of plot and stealth type person. A well though out plan is her go to MO.

Skills/Weapons/Other: An explosives expert. Well trained in martial arts and being gymnast gives her an advantage in hand to hand combat, and an extremely good shot, she prefers to use a gun more often then not, less mess, little contact, easier to carry.

Up for love: Why not

History: Her parents died in a fire when she was very young, she was in and our of foster homes for years until she was adopted by the O'Conners who worked for the government. She was on her way to becoming a professional gymnast when a muscle injury knocked her out of the game, after her recovery she was recruited by MI6 and has been working in the government ever since.

Code: 0011

Well, looks like we've got a full storybook! I'll post a character list in a while - should make things a little easier. Would everyone be okay with starting tomorrow? Thanks for joining.

A bit of "context" :


Map of the Third Cold War armies:



SIS logo:



UNFD logo:



REAF logo:



SDT logo:


Book Shop looks like this:

(It's in China.)

Discussion: topic72825.html

Short post to start us off - means that everyone will be able to post their arrival. Unless you want your character to already be there!

Isobel Reet.

Isobel stood behind the counter, her fingers rapping the worn wood with an erratic rhythm. Apart from that, she was still, but her fingers betrayed the tension in her body today. She'd been at the bookshop for two days now, looking over it and preparing the attic and cellar for the imminent arrival of the rest of her team-mates and their leader - who she knew only by the name Guv'nor.

She wasn't that nervous, really. Though the operation was an important one, Isobel liked to think that she was capable and had been on significant operations before. Besides, Isobel Reet was never nervous ... only tense. It was the waiting that got to her - she didn't know when anyone was going to arrive, who they are or what they looked like. She'd been waiting for 48 hours, and something told her that everything was going to start happening today. It couldn't come soon enough - serving people in a bookshop really grated on Isobel's nerves.

Sighing and managing to hide the shakiness in her breath, Reet lit a cigarette and took a long drag, revelling in her only vice. Many of her colleagues had kicked the habit years ago, but Isobel figured that being in the SIS was a dangerous job anyway, and she was likely to die far before her tar-coated lungs could cause it.

Straightening up, Isobel smiled at a customer who had just walked in and watched them browse the books near the counter. Still keeping a bland smile on her face, she stubbed out the cigarette and crept her hand towards the small desk drawer which held her derringer. But before she even pulled it open the customer put her book back and left the shop. As the bell on top of the door tinkled, Isobel looked at her stubbed out cigarette with regret.

I'd like to have my character already here, please. Hope this is okay

Sean Grimm:

Sean stepped out onto the small first-floor balcony and took a long hard swig from his second (make that third) beer of the day. In front of him, the busy streets were alive with activity. Crowds of tourists, shoppers, and market-traders walked up and down the square, brightly coloured rickshaws and motorcycles moved slowly along the evening traffic, and outdoor restaurants sent out plumes of smoke, dust and smells that tingled his nose.

To an outsider, Sean would seem at ease with his situation, a young lad enjoying a few beers in the heart of China, but taking a closer look it became obvious that something was wrong. His face was expressionless, his eyes blank, and his body tense with nerves. It was a feeling Sean wasn’t used to - being nervous. He'd been killing people for over six years now, it was his job, his drug, his passion, but what he was required to do now, well...it was a whole different ball game...

After he drained his last beer bottle, he turned and walked back into the building, before descending the staircase and entering the bookshop through the back door. Almost immediately, he spotted Iz already behind the counter, her dark blue eyes staring intently at a stubbed cigarette. He’d only known her for two days but he could swear that she looked just as nervous as he was, but (like him) she'd never admit it.

“Alright, Iz?” he asked in a freindly tone as he approached her, before absent-mindedly pulling out a magazine from one of the racks behind the counter.

“Yeah,” she responded, lifting her head in acknowledgement. “The others should be arriving any moment now.”

Sean nodded and opened the magasine. He had no intention of actaully reading it, he just needed something to try and focus on.

Tanya Mu

It was difficult being in China again. Memories plagued her of her barren childhood, but she oddly found solace in hearing the briskness of her original Chinese language. Along with the unsettling feeling of nostalgia, she had to deal with her anxiety. The book story appeared absolutely normal to her, there was no sign of the british influence or the fact that it was to become a meeting place for the SIS. But that was how it should be, she had to remind herself.

With a quick look both ways accross the street, she ran right towards it, and tried to pretend she was just a normal person looking for some used books. But if anyone really paid attention, they would have seen the tenseness in her shoulders, and the way her bright blue eyes flicked about taking everything in. When she grabbed the door handle, she could feel her hands shaking. This was it. The beginning of a new mission.

Pulling the door open, she solemnly slid into the building, noting the two people standing at the counter. Both were not chinese. One was idly watching her, the other was looking intently at a magazine. She noticed the males eyes look up from the magazine curiously, but they soon fell back to what ever he was reading.

Tanya walked up to them, and peered at the girl, noting her features trying to piece them to the moderate descriptions she was given.

"I was wondering if you might have any James Bond books by Ian Flemming. I have been looking for Casino Royale or From Russia with Love in particular." Tanya asked, her words seemingly not even touched with her usual slight Chinese accent. She was trying to lay down enough clues as to who she was but not enough to make her suspicious if she was indeed wrong.

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~Incognito

Naomi Grafton; Just Arriving; 10:00 AM

It felt like a lifetime since Naomi had spent any considerable time in China. All those years ago, when she was just starting out. It made her feel vulnerable to think what a rookie she'd been; eager and idealistic. For anyone who knew her now, those weren't good words to describe Naomi Lisa Grafton. The Raven. The name suited her well, being an omen of death and all. A shame most people didn't see past the Raven hair and into its true meaning.

There was the shop. Naomi looked right, then left and right again before crossing the road. You never knew when a car might come speeding around the corner. She pushed the door open, listening to the bell tinkle before stepping through. Useful. Naomi was wearing some light cargo pants in an ash grey colour and a purple vest top. She also had a black jacket in the Chinese style with gold dragons running up the sides and a high neck, despite the heat. How else was she supposed to disguise the fact that she was packing? The silk was deceptively cool.

Two Brits at the counter, one male, one female. And a Chinese customer. How awkward. Naomi made her way over, taking slow, precise steps. She stopped about a meter away and stood with her legs a little apart, her hands seemingly relaxed at her sides.

"Yes, I think we do have that book," the woman was saying, her eyes flickering from the Chinese customer to Naomi and back again. A need for discretion.

"I am Raven, my uncle said you may have a job for me. Do you speak the language well?" Naomi asked in Chinese. She wondered if their superior would have arrived already. She wondered if he was watching her through a lens; neither of these two seemed to fit the part afterall. She waited for their response, an eyebrow cocked in query. When another minute passed and they had not replied, she shrugged. "I'm a little rusty myself," she admitted, this time in English. "I'm Raven, my uncle said you might have a job for me." She wondered if they were as tense as she felt and wished the civilian would go look for the book already.

"Yes, we were expecting you," the woman said carefully. "My colleague here will show you the back rooms. And-" she turned to the Chinese woman, "I think we have the book in the back. If you go with them, my colleague will find it for you." Naomi nodded her ascent and guessed that the Chinese woman must be another agent then but decided to be careful until she was sure. Maybe there really was a book in the back that she wanted. It all seemed a little too unusual though, particularly when the shop's priority was not to act as an efficient book shop. Better to send a few customers away unsatisfied than to compromise their cover.

Tanya Mu

Another caucasian. This one being so called hired for a job. Tanya was moderately surprised to see how well she could speak chinese, though was moderately stumped to find how little the others knew. She had a little bit of doubt as to if she had the right place. But she didn't have much time to really think about it for she was swept into the back room along with the other woman.

Tanya noted that there wasnt as many books as she thought should be there for a book store. Yes, there was some boxes and shelfs but most of the rooms space was taken up with a somewhat orderly looking desk, some filing cabinets and some chairs lined up against the wall and in front of the desk. She noted the other doorways to the other rooms and a stair case leading up to the second floor. She was also very interested to note the lack of chinese decorations that she would have expected. The room seemed very drab though there was a sense of modern flare.

She had to do something so that she could be sure this was the right place and that she was with the right people.

"Uh, Ian Fleming, let me see," the boy said, heading towards the unorderly stack of books.

Tanya stepped forward, passing the new woman, slightly bumping into her shoulder. Tanya muttered her apologies, but added a quick sentence in Russian; "For the Motherland."

It was the first thing that came to mind, and instantly the woman seemed to recognize the sentence. Tanya locked eyes with her for a moment, searching to tell if she understood. Even if she did not know how to speak Russain, anyone in the SIS would recognize those Russian words, Tanya could be sure of. Tanya turned to look over and noticed the boy hesitating and looking at her carefully. She saw a small smile slipping accross his face.

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~Incognito

Fey O'Conner

Fey picked up a small root of ginger, looking over it carefully before putting it in the cloth bag that hung from the crook of her elbow. She had been in China a few weeks and was still amazed at how different it was from the small village in grown up in back in England. The biggest thing was all the people and the noise that came with them, the streets were always congested and it was nearly impossible to get around by car on the main streets. The market was full of color, far cry from damp dreary greyness of England. Paper lanterns hung everywhere, displaying of bright colored fruit lined the market paths, as well as rice stalls, fish, and meat. She finished the shopping relatively quickly, picking up a fresh pack of cigarettes for Reet on her way back to her bike.

The new arrivals were expected later that day, and Fey figured they might as well all get off to a good start and a nice meal. As she rode back to the bookstore she pushed back thoughts of the upcoming mission, and the world situation. For now there was nothing she could do, so she might as well focus on keeping her cover and meeting the rest of the team. The storefront came into view, and she swung her leg over the seat, hopping off and wheeling the bike into the small alleyway leading to the back of the building. Shouldering the tote bags, she fished her key out of her pocket letting herself in the back door. She hurt voices coming from the shop as she entered the kitchen. Reet, she figured talking to a customer. She put the grocery bags on the counter and began unpacking

Sean Grimm

Sean recognised the Russian immediately. His eyes whipped to the other woman, the one with the dragon jacket and saw that she seemed to recognise it too.

“Do you have ID?” he asked them, his voice low.

The two women swapped glances with one another.

“Sorry?” the one with the dragon jacket asked.

Sean took a step closer to them and lowered his voice even more. “If you wanna work here,” he eyed her, “or buy a book from here,” his eyes then moved to the Chinese girl, “then you're gonna have to show some ID.”

He scanned their faces to search for any clues to show him that they understood. All SIS agents were given special ID cards to present to their fellow agents on the day they'd meet, if these women didn’t have it, they weren’t SIS agents.

Several seconds passed before they both slowly dug deep into their pockets and pulled out a familiar silver ID card. It had the SIS logo as well as their pictures on it.

Sean nodded, a satisfied expression on his face, before digging into his pocket and presenting his own ID card to the two of them.

“Welcome aboard,” he smiled.

George Leyton: the Guv'nor

It was around mid-afternoon when I'd stepped off of a frieght train in China ready to go meet my new team. Something always struck me about upcoming occasions which involved people I'd not worked with before. It had always reminded me of the rookie days in SIS when I was the new guy. Then again, these people weren't rookies. They were Pros. If they weren't, then their chances in a bookshop four hundred miles inside REAF territory would be slim, not to mention the threats they'd cause the others.

I jumped in a taxi and hesitantly ordered the cab driver to drop me around three hundred yards north of the book shop outside a small Noodle outlet. It wasn't that I was being paranoid, but merely because I knew as a matter of fact that I had been followed. Something about my Western looks and British-cut suit had obviously caught the attention of three, medium-built triads. Riches lie in the west was a line often repeated by young Asians in slums. It would've been a sour judgement to 'deal' with my followers, so instead of making a scene, I quickly slipped down an alleyway, jumped up a bamboo stick hanging from a wired pylon above my head and pulled myself up to a second floor window. The triads ran past in pursuit, but naturally, never thought to look up.

I took the interior stairs down to street level and paced my way to the book shop where I noticed a familiar face. It was Isobel Reet's. I hadn't met her before, but having studied the new team's files for a few days before leaving an SIS outpost in Belgium meant that I could spot them as if I'd known them for decades. I pushed open the front door, my tweed-blue suit catching itself but breaking away with a yank. I walked up to the girl, who was staring at me, quite clearly curious of intrigued.

"Good afternoon, Miss Reet. My name is George Leyton, but I believe I'm know to people as the Guv'nor," I smiled. "Is anyone else home?"

Isobel Reet.

It was frustrating having to keep cover and mind the shop. Reet wouldn't have particularly minded, but she knew that something was happening next door - Sean had entered there with two 'customers' and so far none of them had come back out. The likelihood was that they were part of the team and were simply settling in, but as Reet considered the other possibilities she found herself straining to catch any sound from behind the doorway.

Breaking her concentration, a man walked into the shop. Reet had to hide a small smile as his blue suit was briefly caught on the door - she'd never understood men who wore suits in hot countries, but then he seemed so serious that she couldn't imagine him wearing anything else. He strode up to the counter and spoke. "Good afternoon, Miss Reet. My name is George Leyton, but I believe I'm know to people as the Guv'nor," I smiled. "Is anyone else home?"

Without moving too fast, Isobel looked the man up and down. He fit the part, that was for sure. His tweed suit and steady manner were a dead cert for the guv'nor Isobel had constructed in her head. He knew her name, as well, which was another point in his favour. Isobel smiled lazily and rested her hand obviously on the drawer that held her derringer. "ID, please." she said curtly. The man drew out a small card - Reet saw the flash of an SIS sign and let herself relax a little.

"George Leyton. Finally." She extended her hand and smiled briefly whilst they shook. "Sean Grimm and Fey O'Connor are here, sir. Possibly two other agents as well - either that or two customers who are taking a very long time to order."

Sean Grimm:

“So, I’m guessing that woman behind the counter is another agent?” asked the Chinese girl, putting her ID back inside her pocket. “Is anyone else here yet?”

“Fey O’Connor,” Sean responded, pointing towards the half-open kitchen door at the end of the storeroom. “She’s probably cooking or something...”

Suddenly, Iz popped her head inside the storeroom and eyed Sean pointedly before her suspicious gaze fell on the two women standing beside him.

“They’re agents,” Sean assured her.

“Oh, good, I was getting worried,” she breathed, sighing with relief before giving the two women a lazy smile. Her eyes then fell back to Sean. “The Guv’nor’s here...”

Sean could feel his nerves return, but he quickly dismissed them.

“He wants to meet you all,” Iz continued.

Sean nodded by way of response.

“You three go ahead,” he said to the two women. “I’ll go and get Fey.”