"I have a job for you." the man said to the small group of people in the office, but particularly speaking to their leader. The slim girl smoothed fiery red hair back from a pale forehead with a pale hand.
The redhead smiled. "Well, obviously you do, otherwise, we wouldn't be here right now." This small comment gained a few scattered chuckles from the rest of her team. "Whether we do it or not depends on how much payout there is to go around."
The man, his black hair streaked with gray, smiled back. "There is plenty, so rest assured."
Satisfied with the man's honesty, the girl began pressing for more information. "What do you need us to take, exactly?" she asked, and several members of the group leaned forward in their chairs to hear what followed. The man leaned forward as well, to give his small audience a better presentation.
"I want you to take a man's sanity."
The redhead thought for a moment. "Why call us? This isn't exactly our field of expertise." she said.
The man showed his teeth in a sinister smile. "I did my research, and apparently he is in your business as well. A... Forger, as you would call it."
The girl laughed, vivid green eyes twinkling joyfully. "Well, you sure did your homework. What did this man do to you, anyway?"
The man's joyful personality vanished into thin air. He leaned close to the girl, so close that she could smell the mint-flavored gum in his breath. "He cheated me out of my money. NOBODY cheats me out of my money." He returned to his original position. "So, can you do it?"
"Well, it's possible, just extremely difficult. A lot of the plan I have forming will rely on luck. It might not even work."
"Then we'll just have to take that chance then, won't we?"
The girl laughed again. "I like your style. We'll see what we can do. But first, I would at least like to know the name of my employer."
The man extended his hand. "Antonio Woodward. But please, call me Tony."
The redhead took the hand. "I'm Amor. Amor Anderson. And this is my team."
"Benjamin, on point." she said, indicating a young man leaning against the corner. He had raven-colored hair, giving him a sleek look.
"Dennis, our Architect." Amor continued, gesturing toward a thin boy with small glasses and short brown hair.
"And Apollo, the Forger." she finished, pointing at another man with black spiked hair dyed with streaks of bright blue.
"Only four?" Tony asked.
Amor chuckled again. "Trust me, four will be more than enough."
"Well then, I have one last condition for you. I come along as well."
Amor was mildly surprised, but confident that she could talk her new employer out of this radical new idea. After all, if they lost the employer, they lost their paychecks. "With all due respect, sir, you have no idea what you're up against."
"I did my homework, remember?"
"No amount of homework can replace years of experience in this business. Please sir, for your own good."
Tony decided to exercise his new power. "Either I come along or I'll find another team to do the job."
Amor was hesitant. No job was just as bad as no boss. They would have to take their chances. "Of course, sir."
The rest of the group watched carefully, unaccustomed to hearing their leader back down from anything. But they had faith that she would have a backup plan.
Tony spoke again. "So what are you planning to do? Tamper with the dream machine mechanism or something? I'm not a professional in this business, remember?"
Amor laughed. "You're going to have to dream bigger than THAT."