Sink, Hollywood, Sink, an experiment in running SR4 Options

[Sir_Psycho]

Blackie smiles, surprised by the bite in Dancer's vitriolic response.

While his new "team-mates" are talking, Blackie is cycling through data sheafs in his AR vision. When there is a break in conversation he begins relating some legwork.

"Here's what I've got so far. I dug around some data on Lawson Construction, an SK subsidiary who built the residential space that was converted into caduceus' pasadena facility. Lawson went under, but after some more digging I've got a floorplan for the site, although it's dated 2 years. I suppose DD could hack in and load a more recent blueprint, but we run the risk of hitting their system to early and raising some red flags.

I also foresaw DD's working of the personnel angle. Two most promising in terms of site access and leverage are Doc Franklin Yu and Doc Paul Harris. Paul Harris is married with children. The kids are untouchable. They're in a high security boarding school. He and his wife are profiled across the trix on "liason" nodes. Looking for other couples. Maybe DD and Carroway could take advantage of that particular predisposition. It would certainly put your advocacy of "social networking" and specific skillset to good use, DD."

Blackie hides the upturning of the corners of his mouth behind a cigarette drag, and continues.

As for Doctor Yu, he's single. No relatives to lean on that I could find. Although from digging through his social networking sites, where he gets quite a good rap, it seems, it looks like he has an avid interest in Golf, and he's going to an amateur tournament this weekend. Oh, and this might interest you Dancer, he's into "live performance art", perhaps this is a potential hook and line. And Dagda, I'm sure you could suit up and fit into the golf crowd aswell."

[Fuchs]

DD – Day 1, CRUSH! Bar Meeting

DD nods at Blackie when the man details his findings about the floorplans. Hacking into a system and stealing floorplans can tip off a corporation.

I wonder what the Russian thinks about that. Probably want to do the hacking early, so they’ve calmed down when we do the run – if we get detected.

Ah… „interpersonal angle“. So you stayed long enough at the party to notice.

DD looks the pictures over. Doc Paul Harris. And wife. She looks over to Carroway.

Shouldn’t be hard to get close to them.

„And what exactly do we do once we ’ave contact with the good doctor? General information search? Or do you ’ave specific plans already? Plant backdoors in ’is ’ome system? Get ’is access codes? Fill him with ’appy juice and ’ave Carroway change ’is mind?“

The russian will probably propose to take the wife hostage, if not for the secrecy needed… watch it, he’ll propose some „accident“.

DD leans back, studying the others. She’s of mixed mind about the „interpersonal angle“, but if it works… better than getting shot at.

At least it’ll give good footage.

[Sir_Psycho]

"I've been tortured more than enough to know that everyone has a point where they will sell out their mother. And these are labcoats. They'll faint at the sight of Dagda."

He resists making a stone cold pun.

If we're going to make this look like some sort of basic smash and grab heist or catburgling blood robbery, a kidnapping can only help throw the investigations in other directions, as well as giving us easy access to information about the site, including door codes, guard positions and physical security that might not be in the blueprints. Also, this is a secure medical research facility, I'm willing to bet we might need Harris and/or Yu for biometric data."

[Cthulhudreams]

Dagda

Dagda nods approvingly as Blackie runs through his findings to data, not seeming to mind that Blackie has been through the drawers of a collapsed corporation. "Good stuff, I think we can probably walk away from this with our intentions set by that, however I'm not keen on kidnappings. It's messy, the cops don't like it so they actually care, the perp sees you, though we can deal with that magically, and it has the possibility of going horribly wrong.

And hey, if it comes down to it, how you look now is no limitation on how big and scary you CAN look with a bit of effort. Unfortunately, while I do know how to control thoughts, can Carroway read minds?"

[Glyph]

Dancer - The Meet

Dancer nods laconically when mentions Dr. Yu's interest in "live performance art", but frowns thoughtfully as the conversation drifts to interrogations and kidnappings.

"I'm good at getting people to open up to me, especially when they want to impress me with how important they are. But now it sounds like you're planning on using me more as a lure. I guess that makes sense, since we're trying to do this job quickly, and we need a lot of very specific information. We just need to hash out how we're going to get the information - magic or drugs might work better than leaning on them - and how we're going to tie up the loose ends afterwards."

She turns towards Blackie.

"Anything more specific on the good doctor's tastes, such as a favorite establishment, or method of contacting entertainers?"

[Cthulhudreams]

Dagda

Dagda interjects briefly "If you think you can do it 'manually' without assistance, thats probably preferred. If someone has to mind rape him, then he will know all about it. If he coughs it up of his own free will, that is obviously better." before shutting up and letting Kate question Blackie.

[Fuchs]

DD - Day 1, CRUSH! Bar meeting

DD keeps nodding while the others talk.

The torture explains his mood. Unless he means the torture of not being understood by his peers, or similar angsty stuff.

DD looks Blackie over more closely, trying to spot hints of his past like scars.

Too bad we can't do flashbacks... although he might have some footage we could use... but I doubt he'd go for it, unless it was a documentary.

"If the 'eadware is set up right, one can 'ack through a skinlink into it during the act. It's easier if the target likes to plug in a simsense signal feed from 'is partner, one can get access to 'is 'eadware through that, and use the feed as cover."

"Target" should sound professional enough.

"Do you 'ave any experience with this technique, Mister Blackie? We could partner up. Or you could team up with Kate, if the golfing doctor is open-minded in his appreciation for live performance art."

DD hides her grin with a big cheery and hopefully innocently-looking smile, curious how Blackie will react to that proposal.

His reaction alone should be good for a humor shot.

[Tobias]

Carroway – Day 1, CRUSH bar
Carroway watches the conversation flow at the question about his abilities he shakes his head slightly.

“Not directly but it depends on how hard you want to push him on it. I have a few spells which will make him ‘uncomfortable’ they leave no scars and the signature will be gone after a couple of hours. But if we can get the info out of him without it may be better. I’ll be back in a second need to pick up my body it should be here now.�

He disappears in a blink of an eye and comes walking through the door seconds later. Sitting back down where he was he nods to the rest, before lighting up a cigarette.

[Sir_Psycho]

"Honestly DD with your discerning tastes I thought you would have recognised that I have neither the looks or the panache suited the task, and spend most of my time behind the camera", and then, with an acerbic flick of the eyebrow, "but with my experience in filmic mediums, and the pictures on your e-cards... perhaps you've been centre stage before?"

[Fuchs]

DD - Day 1, CRUSH! Bar meeting

"Flattering, Mister Blackie, but alas, not the case. But if you're that interested, there are a few private recordings. You might like them - authentic, real, almost a documentary."

DD smiles sweetly.

"But don't sell yourself short, 'oney. Some people really go for the dark and brooding with strong principles type. And you are the camera, right? That would be a draw for the exhibitionists. And the angles one would get for undercover documentaries..."

"Below the Belt by Blackie" - an insider's look at L.A.'s adult sim industry.

DD internally giggles at the thought of Blackie doing such a documentary.

"But back to the business at 'and. So, we get close to those doctors and gather more information, then see 'ow best to proceed? Or should we wait with the personal contacts until we know more from conventional sources?"

[Sir_Psycho]

Refraining from his cat and mouse (or rather, cat and cat) mutual antagonization with the french one, Blackie rubs his gloves together and looks about the table. "well, we have a big group, I think our information gaining power is more distributed if we keep our specialties in mind and apply ourselves to all the angles. DD, If we co-operate in our data searching, our aptitudes with computers will probably yield most of the electronic intel that we'll need. Any agents possessed by the group can also supplement and do the general, laborious searches. Dagda and Carroway, I will gladly leave any arcane considerations to, and will try to involve myself as little as is needed in that respect. Dancer, an important role for you will be working the personnel angle, and this is something I imagine Carroway and DD have aptitudes in aswell. Also, Dancer, Perhaps, if your climbing is as proficient as your dancing, we could scout for some unconvential entrances to the facility?"

Blackie looks about the table, slightly unacustomed to telling people what to do. "Anyway, this way we all have two jobs to take care of, with at least one partner to lighten the load".

[Glyph]

Dancer - The Meet

Dancer is still facing Blackie, but answers Dagda's question first.

"I am good at getting people to open up to me, but honestly, it takes more than one quick meeting to get meaningful information out of them. Getting someone to brag about the top-secret project they're working on, or slipping a bug in the place while they're over getting drinks, yeah. But getting detailed information on their security? On the one-week timetable we're trying to do this in? Nope. If the hackers can get some good information, and just need a few blanks filled in, then it might be possible again."

She replies to Blackie after his repartee with DD is over, and he addresses the group again.

"I'll be able to work this guy, no mistake. I just need to know whether you need me as bait, a distraction while someone else snoops around, or part of the kidnapping, where I could possibly play an 'innocent' victim caught up in it." She smiles wryly at the mention of climbing. "I could get some gecko gloves if I needed to, but honestly, I scouted out the place earlier, and it's not some isolated compound or a factory in a Z-zone. It's smack dab in the middle of a residential district, with apartment buildings looking down at it, and traffic from the highway off-ramp zipping through. Climbing the wall and busting in a window would not be a stealthy approach at all. Externally, though, the building isn't much. They've gone for the shabby look, so most of the nasty stuff will be hidden, and inside the building."

She looks between Blackie and DD. "Sooo... what do you media-savvy types suggest to get the good doctor's attention? Does his favorite night spot have an amateur night? Is there a spot where 'entertainers' hook up with clients? Do I need to get a job in a club, or have you guys shoot a demo tape of me?"

[Sir_Psycho]

"I have no idea what exactly is possible for you to squeeze from Franklin before he gets wise. I wouldn't mind getting some biometric data from him in case we need it to access some secure areas, and also any help we can get to get me or DD security or admin access on site will be important. We all scratch eachothers backs.

As for Yu. Me and DD should probably do some more thorough trix searches on him. Analyse his profiles and maybe sniff his comm a little. Then we can compose a demo tape, do a little fiddling and make sure that your profile is forwarded straight to him. DD will probably have more.

Also, before we continue, I didn't want to be the one to bring it up, but are we going to discuss the pay at all? I'm thinking some sort of part-up-front arrangement? Personally, I'd like to eat throughout the next week. Who's for charming our party patron into throwing us a bone?"

[Glyph]

Dancer - The Meet

Dancer shrugs. "Back in Seattle, getting 10-20% of the payout up front was almost standard procedure. Not sure how it works here - everything's so strange - but I don't think giving each of us 2K - that's a tenth of the minimum possible payout - would be out of line, especially for work that will tie up our time for a week, maybe more."

[Fuchs]

DD - Day 1, CRUSH! Bar Meeting

"More money's always nice, and if me and Carroway are going to be posing as a swinger couple for the doctor and 'is wife, then we'll 'ave expenses as well."

Unless the couple plans to skip right to the bedroom.

"But..." DD raises a hand.

"... if I 'ave understood correctly, Kate is going to pose as an escort to get close to 'er target? The golfer? If so, we should make sure we're not catching the attention of the groups that run such services 'ere in L.A.. If they mistake 'er for competition that could lead to serious trouble. And if the doctor is a regular john..."

DD trails off, hoping the seriousness of her tone and expression conveys her concern. She remembers the business practises of those services from New Orleans, and she doubts they are more open for competition, preceived or real, at the west coast.

Blackie would get his gritty shocking news, provided he can get alive feed out as long as he lasts.

[Glyph]

Dancer - The Meet

Dancer interjects, "Entertainer, not escort... although I'm aware the lines can blur between the two, and the guys running the sex trade don't care about the distinction. And yeah, don't want to deal with those bottom-feeding little bloodsuckers. They're like cockroaches, kill one batch and another batch shows up. But anyways, you're right. Usually they're like gangs, give them a cut and they're fine, only I'm not sure how it works here. Might be best for me to work for some club he likes going to, where the management already works with them."

[Sir_Psycho]

"I didn't foresee that. Imagined Dancer is just playing your average woman interested in Yu and his... profile credentials. Nothing indicated he ever paid directly for what he got, he seems like the more social, do-it-yourself type.

But, speaking of money, Who's going to speak to our Johnson? I didn't make the best impression.

Also, should some-one get the bill, I feel we should wrap up here. We're on a schedule, and we do all have general ideas of our objectives leading up to the run?"

[Fuchs]

DD - Day 1, CRUSH! Bar Meeting

Ah. Not a client then, just an average single male.

DD nods at Kate.

"Someone get the bill"? Is that a ploy to get a free lunch? There is no such thing as a free lunch. But he's right about the advance. Hmm.

The woman ponders the question for a second.

The russian. He's got the attitude and the corpspeak-savvy to get an advance.

"Dagda seems best qualified to explain our monetary needs to our contact."

And to squeeze blood from stone. Can mages do that for real, anyway?

DD leans forward, propping her elbows on the table, and looks around, taking all other runners in.

Zoom in, and get them all... including the hint of Kate's perfume. Yep, going to do nicely with some background music, something not too dramatic, just a hint of things to come...

"So we're clear - I'll probe the system for security data, and work on getting close to that doctor and 'is wife with Carroway, posing as an interested couple?"

DD glances at Carroway.

[Sir_Psycho]

"Oh, DD, perhaps if you've got nothing on, we can leave together so we can discuss and share information on our particular hacking skillsets and gear? It might be beneficial to share some trade secrets, and maybe even some open-source code, as well as concerting our efforts"

In either case, "I'll be outside, taking a breath of something that doesn't smell like sports journalism" and as he shudders, he pulls another cigarette from his pack and leaves.

[Tobias]

Carroway – Day 1, CRUSH! Bar

Carroway takes a drag from his cigarette and blows the smoke up and away from the group while flicking through the information given. He looks over DD as she mentions him,

“How do you want to approach them? If its over the ‘trix its probably better that you do it rather than me as I’m not that ‘trix savy.�

Looking over at Dagda,

“So how are you feeling about the magical security on site?�

[Fuchs]

DD - Day 1, CRUSH! Bar Meeting

"Once we're finished 'ere, of course..." DD trails off as Blackie leaves.

That man really needs his cigarettes, and not just for the dark, angsty image...

DD turns to Carroway, smiling brightly.

"Oh, 'ow we contact them is up to their preferences. But I think we need to compare notes, so to speak, and coordinate. They might grow suspicious if we don't look and act like a couple. But we can go over the kind of annoying habits lovers tend to tolerate in their partners after the meeting."

[Cthulhudreams]

Dagda

"As I said, I'll pick up the tab. As for explaining the need for upfront costs, can do that, but I'm not a Harvard trained business negotiator by any measure. That said, this should be open and shut.

The magical security is pretty intense, especially if you want to infiltrate the facility, which is what made me lean towards a smash and grab. They obviously feel that magical threats are the headliner for for the facility and have gone for warding to prevent people walking in with sustained spells, making illusions much more difficult, and they have astral watchers on site, apparently 24/7 too, which complicates issues, because that means there is one more mages on duty."

[Glyph]

Dancer - The Meet

Dancer smiles. "Ah. Just someone with a mild kink, looking for people with an exhibitionist side to complement it. I should be able to handle that, and it simplifies things a lot."

She is a bit disconcerted when Blackie leaves, seemingly in a hurry to get out of the bar - they still hadn't ironed out everyone's next steps, especially hers. At least the others don't follow him out right away.

She thanks Dagda when he offers to pick up the tab, a bit surprised. She's used to men paying her way, but usually fellow runners don't go for such gestures.

As Carroway and Dagda discuss the magical security, she hesitantly turns to DD. "Ah, just one question. Are we going the subtle route as far as working these people, or will we need disguises? And I know you already have hacking, and approaching that couple, on your plate, but do you think you might be able to help me? Some kind of demo or something that would get the doctor interested? I figure I'll start on this as soon as I can, see him a few times and get him interested before I start working him for information."

[Fuchs]

DD - Day 1, CRUSH! Bar Meeting

"A demo clip? Dance vid? Shouldn't be a problem. Do you want Trid, or Simsense? It won't be of professional quality, but you'll be probably going for the "gifted amateur" impression anyway I assume. We can plug the clips into your profile."

DD nods, thinking about some quick scenes, and possible music.

That'll be good footage. Orxploitation? Or something french?

"What kind of style do you want?"

[Glyph]

Dancer - The Meet

Dancer ponders. "Sim would be best, since it's full-sensory, and probably trance or pop, something light that has a good beat to dance to. Then we need to figure out what I'll wear, or not wear, and how far the demo should go. But you're the media savvy one, so I'll leave myself in your capable hands."