Contact Ideas, Non Canon and less Common Options

[ElFenrir]

The Desperate Housewife


The Desperate Housewife thrives on gossip. And she's willing to sell out ANYONE for the right 'price' be it money, or, well, something to 'spice up' her boring married life. The Desperate Housewife tends to hold a grudge, though. Don't do the wrong thing or you might end up with a rather tarnished reputation. Still, though, if there is someone you need to know about in a neighborhood, or someTHING you need to know about, or something you want to find out about a target that might not be too high-profile...the Desperate Housewife probably knows and is more than happy to make them look bad. They tend to know the comings and goings about anyone that's somewhat nearby them. This lady is the master of the suburban areas like the street snitch is the master of his domain. Bonus points if the Desperate Housewife works in a dead-end wageslave job as a receptionist. No one is safe.

(Skills including things like Fashion Knowledge, Gossip(Suburban), Other People's Work Schedules, Other Peoples General Private Lives, Etiquette(either Corporate or Fashion), Con, Negotations(Bargain), and possibly Unarmed Combat(Hair-Pulling) or Thrown Weapons(Shoes).)

[Kyoto Kid]

...and Trid Programmes (Game Shows, Soap Operas, or sleazy Daytime Talk Shows)

[Method]

Eldritch Westphal and Mr. Kingsley:
Eldritch Westphal is a loquacious mortuary owner with amazing moral flexibility and a talent for faking empathy. A middle-aged dwarf, his constant companion is Mr Kingsley, a massive troll mortician that is awkwardly packed into an outmoded suit. Kingsley is as taciturn as Westphal is verbose and an air of creepiness hangs all about both of them. Westphal dabbles here and there in various illicit transactions such as grave robbery and organ legging, and can be very helpful in disposing of troublesome bodies, for the right price...

“Death is so tragic really. But alas, it is the debt we all must pay… Fortunately for you, my friend I’m running a handsome two-for-one special this month! Step right this way and my associate, Mr. Kingsley, will unburden you of that poor fellow’s mortal coil…�

[martindv]

Is he supposed to remind me of ... Horus(?) in America Gods?

[Method]

No... I've never read "American Gods", but oddly enough they are loosely based on Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar from "Neverwhere" also by Neil Gaiman. Where did you draw the parallel?

[Kanada Ten]

The Pretty Girl Scout

With an uncanny eye, he can spot a pretty girl - even under the layers of dirt smeared on her face. A natural sense for which smile which brighten with age, which bodies bud sooner, which biting of lips indicates a docile young child. He knows the neighborhoods, knows the troubles, knows the tribes, knows the time to arrive in his shiny black car - how much muscle to bring, or how little. And he knows how much money each prize is worth, both to her parents and to his clients.

"I'll give you two-hundred nuyen for her, and another fifty for her brother. Boys are always more trouble, you know."

"You're crazy, she's worth five hundred, and the boy will be good muscle once he's broke."

"They would only starve if I left them in that drekhole. Here, they have a chance; here they can be a star. I give them that chance. Do you hear them complain?"

[Riley37]

[Whipstitch]

I don't think that's really true at all. Imagine the kind of dirt a guy like that might be able to cough up on some of his clients with the right motivation. He's also exactly the kind of sleazeball who'd be up on all the latest vices and he very well could be the go to guy if you ever need to find out where some missing corp brat cutie may have disappeared to.

Also, I don't feel like bothering to write up anything fancy... but building superintendents and landlords of apartment buildings and small arcologies can make great contacts. Even the ones that are just glorified janitors likely have the keys, biometric scans or excuses needed to get just about anywhere in the building they supervise and they may even know things like where some of their tenants work and whether there's been any complaints by residents about unusual behavior in their neighborhood. And if nothing else they just might be able to let you lay low in a vacant apartment for a few days if shit hits the fan and you need to plan your next move. They're not the kind of contact I'd likely start a PC with, but I'd consider greasing their palms or otherwise cultivating a friendly relationship if given a chance once in play.

[kanislatrans]

appliance repair man-(my job)

everyone (well everyone with a middle +lifestyle) has appliances and they all break. Who do you call when your refrigerator quits and turns the soymilk into soy yoghurt or your washer decides to stop going round and round? the repair guy thats who.
its a tough job . you have to be part salesman and part miracle worker to keep people happy. Tech skills at a minimum of 2 in a broad spectrum. electronics,plumbing, mechanics. social skills a must. Because people love to talk to the repair guy. you don't realize how many lonely people there are till you are crawling around on a customers kitchen floor while they tell you their family history. how their niece is into drugs and uncle dave once got picked up for soliciting a hooker. looking for the layout of the jenkins estate? he may not know where the hidden safe is but he can probably let you know that he has to call ahead so they can lock the hellhounds in the garage. nice bit of info there.

"The jenkins place? oh,yeah. they've got one of those MTC stackable units. things go through high limit thermostats like there's no tomorrow. had a damn hard time getting the side panel off last time I was there on account of the crates in the basement. The crates? Not sure what was in them but they had Tir shipping labels on them."

[youngtusk87]

Corporate Warmage

That one kid who was too into videogames and action movies when he was Awakened, joined the Army, went to school and learned about Business. He knows how to shoot a fireball in one hand and an SMG in the other. On top of that, he's the head of the Arcane Department of an elite private security contractor. Resourceful, Intelligent, and always down for a Fight. Lucky for you, your party's Mage had Intermediate Arcane Algebra class with him.

"As long as I got a Beretta, i'm down for whatever."


Master Gunsmith

Thirty years in the service. Combat. Medals of distinction. He was fatally wounded in a Helicopter accident and Medically Discharged. Ever since he's only ever worked on firearms while living off of a retirement check. He's a miracle worker with his hands, using his almost adept-abilities to modify and enhance contemporary firearms. He makes the most accurate guns, most reliable magazines, and most precise ammunition. From High-Capacity Magazines to Match-Grade rifle barrells, to bullets infused with magical properties, the retired Sargeant can make any gun better than it already is. Just don't ask for a reciept.

"I like to keep this, *Click-Click* for close encounters."


Celebrity

When you're in the spot light all the time, it can difficult to attain certain substances and execute certain actions without it leaking all over the Matrix. So instead, he has you do those things for him. Everything comes at a price, of course, so for threatening his rival's agents on occassion, he gives you access to the VIP clubs and hot spot hang outs. Oh yeah, and he's currently dating the daughter of the President of Waynen Software Inc.

"Hey did you get that stuff I asked for?"

[Fortune]

[Critias]

Yeah. I think someone got a little carried away.

[Siege]

[Whipstitch]

Honestly, if you really wanted to you could likely take wood from an ancient and secluded banyan tree from the heart of India and craft it into radical reagent toilet paper. I just wouldn't expect miracles. Or even the softness of Charmin, for that matter.

[Jeremiah Legacy]

Food Delivery Person

"Thirty minutes or it's free!" He knows his delivery area like the back of his hand. He knows the quickest routes, the shortest lights, even the "roads" not put on the maps. And mostly, he can get into anywhere. Corporate boardrooms, military bases, gang headquarters; everybody lets him through.

Temporary Labor Manager

Not everything should be done by a corp man. When they need some quick (legal) work done cheaply, they call him. He knows who needs the extra help in construction, inventory, and food services ... and he can get you in there too.

And if your runners really want to befriend some dirtbags ...

Pedophile Service Coordinator

One sick puppy, he finds the vulnerable kiddies and matches them up with the perverts looking for some underage action. He's got cops on the take, knows child psychology, has a ring of safehouses and how to keep things quiet, and best of all, a list of clients who know it's in their best interest to not get on his bad side.

[Sponge]

Astronomer
If you need to remotely scout out something specific in orbit, be it a satellite, shuttle, a lunar installation, or even Zurich Orbital, this guy can probably get some time on a high-power telescope (visible light or otherwise) somewhere for you. He also has the lowdown on regular orbital flights (public and private), who's got what hardware in orbit, upcoming sunspot activity, and so on.

[Kanada Ten]

Cyberware Model

His body has been sculpted to the whims of contemporary beauty, smoothed and tanned and toned to that look of momentary perfection. His gender reduced to a shape, a gait and stance. His face, that confidant, cool glare slotted to stone. But how his chrome shines, how perfectly, how fluidly it functions. Nothing you can do will match his ware, no modifications, no tweaking or add-on will give you the grace and style of his mechanical pieces. For while they mold the cyber to match your body, they carve his body to meld with the chrome.

"Beauty is a philosophy. One I live and die by - even kill by, if needed."

"Touch me again and I'll demonstrate the full lethality of this implant suite; the sim recording of which my employer will use as a product teaser. Do you want to become a product teaser?"

[Kanada Ten]

Unless you're rich enough to hire an ass-kicking magical nanny who is a cross between Marry Poppins and the T-800 (or, alternately, between Maria von Trap and Elric of Melniboné) there is nothing that you can do to stop him short of killing him or sending him to prison.

Governess

Part joyful caregiver, part ass-kicking bodyguard, the Governess combines cutting edge know, active and even linguasofts with proven instruction techniques in her quest to raise the perfect child; and with dozens of personalities to choose from, you'll never be dissatisfied with her or your child ever again. Her former life as a combat commando is all but forgotten as a dull gleam in her eyes masked under the pleasant smile and pedicured manners of this pricey, but indispensable, guardian of your children.

"Now then, the qualifications. Item one: a cheery disposition. I am never cross. Item two: rosy cheeks. Obviously. Item three: play games, all sorts. Well, I'm sure the children will find my games extremely diverting. Item four: you must be kind. I am kind, but extremely firm."

[stevebugge]

This one is a little less generic, came up in our game the other day. Probably is a buddy of Mad Abdul of Abdul's cab service (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

Crazy Larry of Crazy Larry's Pawn & Exchange

First off the chances that this guy's name is actually "Larry" is pretty low, a Dwarf of Iranian heritage with limited English skills but a knack for tech and weaponry 'Larry' runs his pawn shop in one of Boston's worst areas. Mostly loaded with average pawnshop items, 'Larry' keeps an arsenal of heavier weapons secreted away behind hidden panels and will do all sorts of custom work if asked, assuming someone vouched for you so he'll admit the existance of the 'Good Stuff' at all. Larry is very enthusiastic about weapons in particular, and is more that willing to stage demonstrations in a lot of cases.

"FNHAR, is Niiice, let me show you"

[Lionhearted]

How come all Arabian contacts have crazy in their contact description?

[stevebugge]

How come all Arabian contacts have crazy in their contact description?

In my case the stereotype is very heavily influenced by my Branch Manager's behavior

[Tai-Pan]

Blackjack dealer: One part shrink, one part accountant, add some customer service skills serve in one hour doses. Hears assorted tidbits of information knows all the regulars habits average bet, cigarette brand alcohol preference and tolerance, which of his/her co-worker's the cheap slot sitting on third base is banging.

Craps dealer: See above with better math skills and an arrogance about them knowing they can out manage the pit bosses and out deal every blackjack dealer in the house.

Pit Boss: Burned out blackjack dealer, better knowledge of player habits but doesn't care any more been in the casino business most of their life just got sick of the grind of busting their ass for tips. beware the burned out craps dealer.

[Angelone]

Governess

Part joyful caregiver, part ass-kicking bodyguard, the Governess combines cutting edge know, active and even linguasofts with proven instruction techniques in her quest to raise the perfect child; and with dozens of personalities to choose from, you'll never be dissatisfied with her or your child ever again. Her former life as a combat commando is all but forgotten as a dull gleam in her eyes masked under the pleasant smile and pedicured manners of this pricey, but indispensable, guardian of your children.

"Now then, the qualifications. Item one: a cheery disposition. I am never cross. Item two: rosy cheeks. Obviously. Item three: play games, all sorts. Well, I'm sure the children will find my games extremely diverting. Item four: you must be kind. I am kind, but extremely firm."

Reminds me of the nanny from hell from the anime Black Lagoon. Been thinking of bringing this up in a game and you just convinced me.

[Prospero]

Spam King

If it involves sleaze, fraud, guns, or cheap food and soybeer, the Spam King has probably written a viral ad for it and unleashed it on an unsuspecting populace. Though you might curse his name every time you walk through a spam zone or clean out the message filter on your comm, the Spam King has a lot of contacts all over the sprawl who pay him to advertise various of their products. He's happy to introduce you for a small fee... Also, he's quite good at messing with hardware and (especially) coding software. For a hefty chunk of cred, he just might have a custom-coded Agent program lying around somewhere with your name on it. After all, that new Kong-Wal Mart spam has managed to spoof it's way past your filters four times this week - just imagine what his *complex* programs can do...

[Rajaat99]

Sports Athlete
A baseball player, an urban brawler, a football player, these guys need friends too.

Pet Shop Owner
Where do you buy some food for your unlicensed hellhound?

Florist
Know where your enemies are sending flowers, so you can kidnap their loved ones.

Pig Farm Owner
"You're always gonna have problems lifting a body in one piece. Apparently the best thing to do is cut up a corpse into six pieces and pile it all together." "And when you got your six pieces, you gotta get rid of them, because it's no good leaving it in the deep freeze for your mum to discover, now is it? Then I hear the best thing to do is feed them to pigs. You got to starve the pigs for a few days, then the sight of a chopped-up body will look like curry to a pisshead. You gotta shave the heads of your victims, and pull the teeth out for the sake of the piggies' digestion. You could do this afterwards, of course, but you don't want to go sievin' through pig shit, now do you? They will go through bone like butter. You need at least sixteen pigs to finish the job in one sitting, so be wary of any man who keeps a pig farm. They will go through a body that weighs 200 pounds in about eight minutes. That means that a single pig can consume two pounds of uncooked flesh every minute. Hence the expression, "as greedy as a pig"".