A New Start in Seattle (IC), The story of Billiam Options

[Fuchs]

A New Start in Seattle

Seattle, outskirts of the Redmond Barrens, 2000

Jacoby Newsom... no, Billiam now... stands on the dirty concrete, corroded by the acid rain common after the last volcano eruption, that made up an unofficial "bus stop" at the edge of Seattle. The last dirt and dust - mostly volcanic ash - thrown up by the turbines of the T-Bird that had landed earlier was finally settling again, and a light rain has set in. Behind him, the T-Bird is being serviced inside an old warehouse - a warehouse that is far less derelict inside than it looks from the outside. The end of a smuggler route from Denver to Seattle. The start of his new life.

To get him out of a sprawl that had suddenly become too hot, after a run that had turned too ugly, too bloody, that T-Bird Jammer had taken Billiam's last nuyen - at least the man thinks so. Magic is a wonderful gift. Raven would approve.

The city ahead of Billiam looks cold, it's lights half-hidden by the drizzling rain, the moon's light extinct by dark clouds. Suddenly, the cloud cover breaks, and Billiam catches a glimpse of a dark bird on an old crane nearby, staring at him, then cawing, and disappearing in the dark sky.

Raven approves.

[Play]

Nods to himself.

"S'oka Jacoby, get a move on," he thinks to himself.

"First things first. Nuyen and shelter."

I should have arranged a place with the smuggler, but I need to distance myself from connection with Denver. The T-bird crew is a loose end, but I'm just going to trust that even if they talk and a connection is made, Seattle is big enough is to get lost in. It sure feels big right now.

I start walking. In no particular direction. Not the best plan it the world, gotta start somewhere.

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, 2000

Billiam walks through the rain, leaving the better sections of the Redmond Barrens, and entering the worse sections of Renton, still suffering from the crash of 2064. But as Raven finds sustenance where others die, this offers opportunities to Billiam. Some of Renton's rich people are not just content with golf clubs and night clubs, but need their entertainment in a more discrete enviroment.

Billiam hears the Club before he turns a corner and sees it. A bar/nightclub, just a bit too clean, and too high-tech to be frequented by locals. A glowing AR sign announces "Renton's Rest", again, better quality than expected. And the two bouncers do look sharp and not on drugs. Caters to rich people slumming.

It smells like money.

[Play]

Turning a corner, Billiam sees the bar, and stops.

He looks up and down the street, looking to see how populated it is, not only looking for dangers like gangers, but taking inventory of bums, taxis, wanderers, etc. He uses the mag function of his contacts for a closer look at individuals as well as the club. This opportunity may very well do.
He also looks for (the equivilent of) an ATM near the club.

If there is no one close, he leans on the wall.

If he leans on the wall, he takes a moment and shifts his perception to the astral plane, looking for:
anyone else active in view
anything about the club, as far as wards, spirits, etc.
Basically for anyone that would notice him using magic.

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, 2015

There is no ATM in view, but anyone with enough money to enter the club has most likely wireless access to banks. No gangers or bums are visible near the club either - either paid, or scared off from the club' so the visitors can feel safe. Every few minutes, someone comes or leaves the club, usually with their collars up, and repsirators covering the lower halves of their faces.

[ Spoiler ]

Assensing "Renton's Rest" (9d6.hits(5)=3)

Billiam doesn't see any astral activity outside the club, but the club itself is warded - looks like the clientele does not like astral trespassers. Not very strong wards though, for Billiam's standards.

[Play]

Billiam takes notes the bouncers.

Are people coming and going in cabs, limo's, walking up? Is security visible in front of the club?

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, 2016

Most guests walk away on foot, entering waiting cabs at the next corner - not many seem to want to leave electronic records of entering a cab in front of the club.

[ Spoiler ]

Perception Test (defaulting) (4d6.hits(5)=2)

Billiam doesn't see any other security outside the club apart from the two bouncers. There are probably cameras, but he doesn't spot any. As he is wtaching the entrance, another man steps out, collar flipped up, and starts to wlak toward his side of the road. Unlike others who hurry this man is almost strolling. Expensive clothes too.

[ Spoiler ]

Perception Test (defaulting) (4d6.hits(5)=1)

As the man is getting closer to Billiam's position - and away from the field of view of the two bouncers, the raven shaman suddenly hears some loud sobbing outside coming from the side of the club. A glance reveals a figure huddled there, in the rain, next to the back entrance, shoulders trembling under a plastic hood/poncho combination.

[Play]

Billiam/Raven notices a touch of excitement, at the conflux of variables that the walking man and huddled figure represent.

He holds his position on the wall, and touches into astral perception again. If there is nothing magically active again, he resumes normal vision and zooms in on the huddled figure (keeping awareness of how close the man is)

[ Spoiler ]

1. How far am I from the club? I was figuring half a block or so?

2. WTF, I didn't buy Perception?? Oh well.

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, 2016

[ Spoiler ]

Assensing Test (9d6.hits(5)=3)

In the astral plane, both figures are lit up by their auras. The man is confident, and happy - although some hint of danger colors his impression. The other figure is a woman, and crying. Her aura shows desperation, and shame. She starts to shuffle off away from the main street and the corner Billiam is at just as the man is about to pass his position, now half a block away from the entrance. A zoom reveals a short skirt - much too short for the temperature outside, beneath the poncho. A closer view of the man reveals an expensive necklace.

[Play]

[ Spoiler ]

'lit up' like because they are alive, or 'lit up' because they are magically active?

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, 2016

Billiam spots the two mundanes, with opposite emotional states. Satisfaction in the male, despair in the woman... and they are moving away from each other... opportunity, or opportunities, are here and now.

[Play]

Billiam frowns slightly to himself and considers the likelihood of possibilities.

He chooses one.

He watches the man approach (assuming the man goes about his merry way) and lets him pass. Making sure the man does in fact continue on his merry way, Billiam waits several moments and then makes towards the shirt skirted girl.

While Raven is capable of direct attack, patience is often the path to greater value.

(If the man does something other than pass on by, B will respond accordingly.)

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, 2016


The just spares Billiam a glance, frowning, then walks a bit faster away, to a waiting cab. The shaman follows the woman now. She's walking slowly, with a slight limp, and still sobs from time to time, barely audible through the drizzling rain. Up close, and as she's moving, Billiam can see that her skirt is part of a waitress uniform - she's wearing pantyhose too, torn over her knee. She doesn't seem to have noticed Billiam yet, walking - limping - through a side alley.

[Play]

Billiam thoroughly look the alley ahead of me over for other occupants. Her aura seemed authentic, so Billiam isn't expecting a trap, but then, he's streetwise enough to always be expecting a trap.

If the coast is clear, or it's just a couple of bums, Billiam speaks out loud enough for the woman to hear, in a friendly enough tone, "Excuse me, my dear, but whatever seems to be the problem?"

I have my hands out at my sides so when/if she turns around she'll be able to see they are empty.

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, 2016


The woman almost jumps out of her skin when Billiam adresses her, turning around, stumbling over her leg, and steadies herself with a hand on the wall, her breathing speeding up and her eyes darting around for a second before eyeing Billiam. Her face is pretty, even beautiful, but currently marred by bruises, and her make up was ruined by rain - and tears.

"Who are you? What do you want?"

She's afraid, ready to bolt even though she doesn't expect to get away, not with her leg hurting.

[Play]

Billiam holds his hands out at his sides in that cliche safe gesture.

Not approaching any further, in a calm, straightforward, non-patronizing voice, Billiam says "My name is Will. I saw you were hurt, perhaps I can help. Plus, I'm new to town, and perhaps you can help me."

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, 2016

[ Spoiler ]

Charisma test (5d6.hits(5)=3)

Billiam manages to calm the woman down, and reassure her that he's no threat - no mean feat, given her emotional state, and given where they are. She somehow believes he can help her, even though she does not know how. She almsot starts to sob again, but pulls together.

"What do you want?"

For a moment, her eyes show her life - nothing is ever free. All she seems to be hopeing for is that Billiam doesn't ask for too much.

[Play]

Billiam doesn't change his posture.

He nods and smiles slightly as she pulls herself together.

"Nothing you'll regret. I'm no danger to you."

He continues, "Mostly your knowledge of the area....""

He drops his hands down and looks to her limping leg. "First things first. We should get you somewhere safe." He looks back to meet her gaze.

"Do we have a deal?"

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, 2016

It's due to an equal amount of resignation and hope that the woman nods, sounding like someone who has nothing left to lose.

"Deal."

She wipes her eyes, smearing her makeup over her forehead, and sniffles, then continues.

"I live nearby... not far."

She starts to limp on, towards one of the poorer sections of Renton. "Not far" turns into several blocks, then a click. She's taking a few shortcuts, obviously familiar with the area. Soon, gang tags showing a skull and chain cover the walls.

[Play]

I was going to cast heal on her, but she seems happy enough to walk. Women are tough, I remind myself.

I walk by her side, keeping a look out. As soon as I see gang sign I raise a protective web of spell defense. "Who does the skull and chain belong to?"

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, 2016

The woman turns her head, then realizes what Billiam means.

"The deadheads. The local gang. They won't make any trouble, not in this rain, not at this time. Should be slotting their chips around now."

The woman continues toward a tall appartment building. The house is not in the best state of repair, but the windows are mostly whole, and the doors have working maglocks - old fashioned they may be. A faded sign announces "Forest Appartment Complex", sporting several bullet holes and stains.
She enters a code, opening the door, and then walks to the elevator, checking if it is working. A bit later Billiam enters her appartment - one and a half rooms, small bathroom with a shower instead of a bath, and a kitchen corner. The walls and the floor show the sign of neglect that happens when AR overlays remove all incentive to clean too much, but it doesn't smell at least. According to the name on the door bell, she's called Christine Anderson. A few toys - toddler toys - are gathering dust in a corner.
Christine all but falls on her couch/bed, and drags out a battered medkit. She grabs some ointment, then looks at Billiam.

"Do you have some pills against the pain?"

[Play]

Billiam makes a casual circle of the place, seeing what there is to see.

She asks for pills, and he moves towards her, and pulls a chair or foot rest over to sit and face her, body language indicating attention towards the leg.

"No. Better than pills." Billiam turns to meet her gaze.

"Two questions first." He holds up one finger and asks, "Whose are those?" moving the single digit towards the toys in the corner.

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, 2016

Christine tenses up at the question. Her mouth opens, then closes. She looks down, away from Billiam, and starts speaking in a low voice.

"Those belong to James. My son."

The woman's eyes get misty, and she wipes them with the back of her hand. There are no signs that a kid lives in the appartment, other than the dusty toys. She shows Billiam a picture of a young human boy, about 5 years old.

"They said I get him back if I can keep a job. If I stay clean."

Christine closes her eyes, pressing her jaws together. Her right eyebrow is faintly twitching. She continues to talk, half to herself, half to Billiam. As it turns out, "they" are the childcare services, or her parents. As she explains, over the next few minutes, she had James with 16, after an affair with another teenager - an Ork. Her parents disapproved - disapproved very much, and Christine ran away from home. James was taken from her and placed in a foster home. Before or after she started taking drugs and chips remains unclear - she jumps back and forth when telling the story. Christine accumulated a string of arrests, a few sentences, but says she's been clean since a year, since she was released.

"I just need to hold down a job for a year, to prove I have a steady income, and a stable life... I've been saving my money, to get a better home..."

Her bruises look like the result of a beating - but not from an "expert" at it. Too randomly placed, not like someone had been trying to cause maximum damage or pain, or to teach a lesson without lasting damage.

[Play]

Billiam listens patiently and takes that all in.

He nods when she is done and holds up two fingers. Then points to the leg, and bruises. "Question number two. What exactly caused all this?"

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, 2035

Christine looks even more vulnerable as she answers.

"Mr. Franklin, a regular guest at the club, got drunk... and got angry at me."

She sounds not more desperate than angry herself - she seems more concerned about losing her job than getting beaten.

"Just a few more months in the club, and I have enough money to move..."