Atlanta 2070, Hot time in the old town tonight Options

[ludomastro]

The ork seems impressed by the gesture. He says, A true pleasure.

The human adds, Indeed. Here is some additional information for your planning.

After a few moments with his comm, he places three credsticks on the table. I trust that certified sticks are acceptable?

[Redjack]

Book, seeing Tank take what to him is an uncharacteristically aggressive position in the negotiations, allows the man to continue taking the lead and remains the silent partner.

Tank scoops up the credsticks, deftly, more to clear them from the table than anything else. "I believe they will." He also accepts the data. Plenty of time to interrogate that later. "The final detail will be the delivery details..?"

[ludomastro]

Contact us at this number when you have the statue. It is a dead-letter drop - at least the electronic version of one. We will provide additional information at that time. You understand that if you are not sufficiently quiet, we will require a cooling off period.

[Redjack]

Book chooses this moment to interject, "No matter how quiet we are, it won't take long for an APB to go out on this statue... At that point all measure of physical, electronic and magical tracking will commence." He looks over the pair as he speaks, "It either needs to be placed behind a fairly large ward or moved out of the city fairly quickly... I understand you don't want us coming in hot with security forces in tow, but I assume you will take immediate possession in all other cases...?"

[ludomastro]

That will be acceptable. If there are security forces in tow as you put it, then you are on your own. I will make a call and see if a suitable ward can be created to hide the statue.

[Redjack]

Book started to offer to create a ward, for a fee, but reconsidered. Once a deal is done, never renegotiate more than once... and only renegotiate if the deal turns out to be different than what you negotiated for in the first place. In the end, he simply nods.

Tank, sensing the deal is done and a bargain well struck, looks to exit the scene. Somewhere there is a drink with my name on it. He thanks his hosts once again for the meal and excuses himself to the bathroom.

Book, finding himself alone, does the same.. especially since Dalton is his ride. Finding Dalton at the bar however is aggravating. A drink in his hand, the team's new negotiator plies his skill, "Sit. Have a drink. Let's celebrate."

"We have work. And our employer is still on site. We should move on."

Dalton considers the advice. Sound enough. He downs the drink and and heads for the door. As Eric crosses over and out, Dalton turns back to hit on the hostess. His goal is her LTG and a time to meet her for drinks or dinner.

[ludomastro]

Somehow, her million megawatt smile gets bigger and brighter. She gives Dalton her LTG and they agree that her next day off, they'll go out.

[Redjack]

Dalton exits the restaurant, a spring in his step and a smile on his face. As he climbs into the cruiser, Eric looks at him not quite sure what to make of it. When he starts whistling as they exit the parking lot Eric turns to him, "What in the world got into you?"

Dalton just smiles and keeps on driving.
-------------
During the drive, Eric pressures Dalton for the credsticks. They need to pay for summoning supplies and a hacker with those. He'd seen how Dalton lives and was equally concerned about the partying as he was Dalton getting rolled.

Both men return to the perspective dosses for the evening, Dalton swinging by a drive through liqueur joint to pick up something to celebrate with.
-------------
The next morning, Eric rises early and catches a cab. His destination is Moon & Stars. He spends time having tea with Bolo discussing a pair of new books that went on the market. Regrettably, they are both more expensive than he is willing to pay at the moment.

Late morning, he leaves with the binding materials wrapped in a large bag. The cab drops him a block from his apartment. He walks up the block and around the street till he is comfortable he is not being followed before going home.
-------------
Dalton awakes just before lunch, cursing the day's light as is his morning ritual. After a shower he checks his messages and finds one from Book.
<<@Tank [Book] When you get up and going, contact your fixer and feel out for a hacker. I'm getting magic supplies. We need to meet later and you need to take a trip to the museum...>>

Tank sits down and calls up Digger. Hey... Isn't Digger as hacker...?

[ludomastro]

Digger answers the phone. What can I do for you omae? Hacking? Me? I haven't done large scale decking for a while. I still have my deck from before the Crash but .... Look, I can get you somebody if that's what you need. How skilled of a hacker and how soon do you need him?

[Redjack]

Tank thinks for a moment.
<<@Digger [Tank] Someone on par with that girl Jazz would sure be nice... I guess we got a few days. The job has a two week window, though, including legwork.>>

[ludomastro]

<<@Tank[Tank] I'll see what I can do and I'll get back with you as soon as I can. No more than a couple of days.>>

[Redjack]

<<@Digger [Tank] We might also be looking for some IDs. Book mentioned something about it, just need to confirm the details with him. What's the lead time and cost for a couple of disposable IDs? We'll be going downtown and just don't want to leave any traces?>>

[ludomastro]

<<@Tank[Digger]Depends on what you want kid. A full fledged ID or one of the candy ones? If it's candy you're looking for, then talk to your future hacker. I'm sure he could whip something up.>>

[Redjack]

<<@Digger [Tank] Null sheen chummer. Over & out. >>

Dalton smiled a smile of self approval. I think I've earned my pay for the day. After shooting a note to Book that the contractor was in the works, but they would need to wait for there 'tickets to the museum' until then. He then set out in search of food.
-------------
Eric on the other hand had turned off his com and was busy with the first round of summoning. He already had three spirits bound, but none are spirits of earth. He needed the strongest of spirits. Those, who when manifested, drew their physical strength from the very Earth herself.

The summoning went ok. It didn't sap his strength, no matter how furiously it resisted, but he did not get the number of services he wanted. The binding was considerably tougher. The spirit was not pleased with being bound to his will. When it was done, he was more exasperated than exhausted, but he took a short nap anyway.
-------------
Dalton, left to his own devices, grew quickly bored with the afternoon. He considered finding his way to the Fire Cracker. He even drove by, but he was expecting Book's call and he needed a clear head for whatever they are planning. Which brings me to the point that I don't know what the hell the plan is...

Finally, not finding Book online and realizing that resisting the urge to go drink was gnawing at him, he went someplace to take his mind off a drink... He went to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and began to walk.

[ludomastro]

The next afternoon, Dalton gets a call from Digger.

Kid, you got some time to bring that bookworm over with you? I have someone who can help you with your matrix issues. He's just ... Digger seems to be hesitant - very much unlike himself. He's just different.

[Redjack]

Dalton was enjoying the warm April day, reading Propertius when Book finally returned his calls. Seemed they wouldn't be meeting today after all. Without a hacker, Book wanted to take an easy evening.

Looking around, Dalton felt as though he had stepped outside the world. The clean, almost serene atmosphere of the Atlanta Botanical Gardens almost made him forget the outside world and the dirt in it. Sitting there, reading poetry, he almost felt as though he had stepped into a sappy movie.
-------------
Book spent the night studying. It had been a few months since his last big gig. Everything since then had barely kept the bills paid. Snake was prodding him. There are secrets here. Secrets to be learned and hidden away.
-------------
Given the last few nights of partying, Dalton found his way home without a third night repeat. He still awoke the next morning cursing the sun. I need a beer.
-------------
Book awoke early the next morning and spent it wrangling with another spirit of earth. When done, he went back to bed. His head was throbbing from the contest of wills.
-------------
Dalton was in route to the Fire Cracker when the call came in.
<<@Digger [Tank] Sure. Where and when? >>
He'd never know Digger to not be full-speed ahead... What the hell does Digger consider 'different'?

[ludomastro]

Tonight as long as you've got time; otherwise, day after tomorrow.

[Redjack]

Itching for some action Dalton replies:
<<@Digger [Tank] Tonight will be good for us. Where? >>

[ludomastro]

The Cube. 1900.

[Redjack]

Tank turns on GridGuide©, sends a quick note to Book outlining the call from Digger and begins a Matrix search for information about The Cube.

[Redjack]

After a few exchange messages to coordinate, Tank picks up Book. The shaman would have preferred to wait a little while longer, but was growing increasing concerned about the adapt's drinking when he had nothing else to occupy his time. The duo spent some time in the mall observing people and the latest fashions in the stores. Once they left the mall, Book took a moment to update their clothes..

They arrive at The Cube half an our early and mingle their way into the bar. As they look for Digger, Tank remarks to Book, "Couple of years ago this was the place to be."

[ludomastro]

The club is dimly lit - just the way most clubs are. The band playing in the back is made up of three orks and a troll and, according to the playbill, they are known as Can of Headache. The music is loud and those in the club seem to like it. A few AR windows near the bar are playing highlights from the current season of combat biking and there seems to be a Tlachtli game from somewhere - Aztlan maybe?

Two young elf girls, no more than 20 years old slide over to Tank and ask him for his number and if he wants something to drink. The cuter of the two looks at Book and asks, You wanna come with?

[Redjack]

Looking around the club and recognizing Can of Headache Book replies, "I think it may be again..." Problem was that Book preferred a much more mellow music, "Though perhaps not for me."

Tank on the other hand was right at home. He enjoys the fast beat of the thrash metal, the dim lighting and plenty of drinking. As they slide into a booth, Tank is smiling; Happy to be in his element.

The arrival of the beautiful young elf girls before they even get drinks is frosting on the cake to Tank. Now this.. This is living... Tank wonders to himself why in the world he doesn't spend more time at The Cube. I gotta put this to the top of my list. With a smile he replies to the pretty sylvan beauty, "That and a whole lot more." He reaches into AR and slides a card to her persona with one of his drop numbers from the Atlanta Prime shadow-proxy. "They call me Tank, but you", he says reaching out to gently touch her chin, "can call me anytime."

Book is not so easily seduced, though just. He smiles at the advances of the young maiden, torn between his rational mind rejecting that simply trendy clothing made this much difference and the carnal side of him ready to be unleashed to ravage her right there on the table. The more they are repressed, the stronger they become... With a bit of an unsure smile he answers them with, "Where to?" as he assenses them.

[ludomastro]

Book looses focus on the first girl. He is left with the impression that she is not what she but has no idea exactly what she is. The second is as mundane as they come. She appears to have some cyber near, or perhaps in, her eyes.

The first one smiles at him and says, Over to the bar and then to our booth. We were thinking of hitting another club after here. I hear that there is a rave near here too. She says the word rave as if it were something that she isn't familiar with.

The second, with puppy-dog eyes and hands on her hips, says It's more fun with more people.

[Redjack]

As Book mulls over the girl's words, Tank continues to smile like the cat that's about to eat a canary. "Let's get this party-"

"I think we have some business to attend to first." Book interjects.

[bTank[/b] is not ready to give up yet. "We have nearly half an hour... and these ladies are definitely more delightful company than waiting alone."

Intrigued by the aura of the first girl, Book allows himself to be talked into something he would normally turn down.I hate a secret that is not mine. Snake nudges him in agreement. Secrets are their province. "That is true, but we do have an appointment."

Tank turns to the first, "Lead on to your booth, but he's right. We will have to hang around here for a while... but I think I can make it up to you."