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

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, Christine's appartment, 2103

Christine bites her lower lip.

"Yes, I can... I think. He can't find out it's me, right?"

She takes the commlink Billiam hands here, and starts a few data searches. She is moving slowly, working the unfamiliar interface. After a few minutes, she has the first results - Franklin's adress, and a few notes dating back several decades, detailing his various appearances at social events. He looked older, but not old, thanks to surgery, until 5 years ago, when he must have underwent leonization.

[Play]

Seattle, Renton, Christine's appartment, 2103

Christine bites her lower lip.

"Yes, I can... I think. He can't find out it's me, right?"

She takes the commlink Billiam hands here, and starts a few data searches. She is moving slowly, working the unfamiliar interface. After a few minutes, she has the first results - Franklin's adress, and a few notes dating back several decades, detailing his various appearances at social events. He looked older, but not old, thanks to surgery, until 5 years ago, when he must have underwent leonization.

Billiam shakes his head. "Shouldn't, especially since you're looking on mine." He thinks to himself, "If he can, we've got bigger problems."

I lay down on the floor, my hands behind my head. "I'm going to look around a bit."

I remember Christine's description of the local area and inhabitants, and settle myself into a comfortable position. "I'll be back shortly."

Letting my body go, I drift onto the astral plane. With a final feel around the apartment, I leave the building. circling it a few times, I get my bearings, and see what there is to see. I make bigger and bigger concentric circles, just looking around for anything of note, or of interest, and to start getting familiar with the area.

I also take a close look at the Renton's Rest when I come across it.

When i'm ready to return to my body, I take a moment and just enjoy myself, and dart straight up at the speed of thought, high, high, high into the atmosphere. I don't try to leave it or go to a dangerous height, but to a dizzying astral height, with a view of the world below.

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, Astral Space, 2110

Billiam drifts up, and makes an astral sweep through Renton. Not many buildings are visibly warded, and the astral activity seems low. Not as many astral patrols - spirits and projecting mages - than he is used to from Denver. The local Lone Star HQ sticks out, with higher astral activity, and stronger wards. A number of corp buildings shine with astral wards as well, as do a few clubs - like "Renton's Rest", but nothing truly exceptional. He spots a number of spirits in the distance, flittering around a vehicle. The area gives off a fading background of violence - someone was killed there recently. And at the border to Salish there is a nature spirit patrolling. The astral space is a bit dimmed, not as vivid as other areas.

From up high, the world presents a strange sight in astral space... with life, like the oceans, shining brightly, and areas devoid of life looming in darkness, it does not ressemble the physical pictures.

[Play]

I zip back down at full speed, and to my body, taking my time to come back to the world. I listen before I open my eyes, in case there's something worth hearing.

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, Christine's appartment, 2135

The only sound Billiam hears is some muttering by Christine as she uses his commlink. When he opens his eyes he can see the woman is still focused on her task, and doesn't notice him having returned to his body right away. In this moment, Christine looks different. She doesn't look like a deer caught in the headlights of a car then, not like she wants to bolt but can't. The stare she gives the commlink - or what it displays to her - makes her look more competent, more in control, as if giving a child a lecture or lesson. The way she wrinkles her nose, and the slight pout of her lips, makes her look younger too. Billiam can see the teenager that defied her parents there, willing to take on the world.

When she steals a glance at Billiam, their eyes met, and she looses part of her composure again, back to the mundane waitress in awe of the mage in her room.

"Ah... you're awake, I mean, back in your body... I found his adress, and a number of pictures, and an article he wrote for the Renton Newsletter, 10 years ago. Err, do you need something to drink?"

Christine fidgets a bit, and hands over the commlink, then hovers closer, pointing out the data she found on the small tridscreen of hers that she hooked up to the commlink. Judging by the design, it's several years old, pre-crash most likely. She almost puts her hand on his shoulder to steady herself, but then pulls the hand back, and for a second looks torn between apologising for the invasion of his personal space, or acting as if it dod not happen.

The data she pulled together is pretty decent, and portrays a man that appears as a pillar of the local community - when he makes an appearance in public. His age is confirmed - old high school yearbook pictures prove that he would have to be 70 years old by now.

One other thing leaps out at Billiam - according to the data, and the earlier news articles Christine found in an old cache pre-crash - she explained it was where she and her friends used to dig around for dirt on their teachers at her highschool, a backup server of the local matrix that had not been online during the crash, having been replaced shortly before, and had been reused in the time afterward to run the school's lightning system, without wiping the memory cores - Stephen Franklin's money was old money. Trust fund, investments, that kind of thing. The second crash either spared him, or he found a new source of money. And the small bit about his villa being up for sale, after the crash, for a week or two, before the notice was pulled, indicated he had had at least some difficulties after the crash. Yet, he is still listed as "independently wealthy", and even had enough cash to get a leonization treatment a few years ago.

[Play]

"Water would be great, thanks"

I take the comm and review the information.

There's something suspicious about this guy, though there could be an easy explanation. Maybe I'm just hesitant to make a mark of this guy. Still, the path to him will open other opportunities.

I start running through options and possible plans.

"Why do you work at the Rest, as opposed to any other place, or profession?"

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, Christine's appartment, 2135

Christine's shoulders sag, and she turns to fetch some water - bottled, of course, not the stuff that comes out the tap. Her aura darkens again, and her voice sounds strained when she starts to talk, taking longer to fetch the water than needed - just to avoid looking at him.

"I don't have any degree, left high school when... It's the best paying job I can get. Waitressing elsewhere doesn't pay that much... and they don't push their staff that hard. I just want my son back..."

[Play]

I nod, confirming what I was already thinking.

I had been thinking of my usual snatch and grab, but I'm seeing a very large opportunity here. As I start mentally moving on that, I ask Christine some other questions that have been in my head.

"Tell me more about the Rest. What does it have ties to? Corporate? Criminal? Privately held?"

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, Christine's appartment, 2135

Christine gathers some resolve when the topic shifts.

"They are privately owned, from what I know. But some of the owners are... shady I think. We are told not to talk to them. And the gangs leave the club alone. We - that is the girls - suspect the mafia has a share in there. I don't know who owns it officially, maybe that lawyer, Mr. Henderson. He always gets free drinks and all there."

[Play]

"Have you seen security there other than bouncers? Anything present that would keep gangers away?"

"How many of the owners have you seen there, that you aren't supposed to talk to?"

"Does the lawyer act like he owns the place?"

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, Christine's appartment, 2135

Christine wrinkles her nose and forehead again, thinking hard.

"I remember half a dozen people that were presented to us as "owners", no names, just first names, and no one looked or acted like a banker or exec, but I wasn't close to them. Too rough though. The lawyer is usually very discrete, and always speaks for some time alone with the manager. He usually leaves the club quickly afterwards."

Christine thinks some more, and gets up to get herself some water.

"There are only bouncers, but they seem though. But I never heard of trouble with gangs."

[Play]

I smile and nod at all that. Funny how the closer you look at something, the more you see.

I switch topics again. "If and when you get your boy back, where would you -want- to live?" I emphasize the 'want', and wonder what role Christine was put in my path to take.

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, Christine's appartment, 2140

Christine's aura shows a slight confusion, then a mixture of hope, resignation and suspicion washes over it, replaced by almost defiant stubborness.

"Near the university. Once I have enough money, and my James back, I'll move there, get a job at a cafe, and get into matrix school. James will have good schooling, in an area with no trouble with gangs, or racists. We'll qualify for aid for single mothers as well."

The response sounds almost ingrained - she probably tells it to herself regularily, to keep going.

[Play]

Speaking straightforwardly into her suspicion, stubbornness, and hope, I say "So......you're interested in finding work that will help that happen, it sounds like."

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, Christine's appartment, 2140

Christine opens her mouth, then closes it. Her aura shows her indecision, slowly giving way to determination and resolve. When she speaks after a bit, her voice sounds firm.

"Yes. Yes, I want to."

[Play]

Seattle, Renton, Christine's appartment, 2140

Christine opens her mouth, then closes it. Her aura shows her indecision, slowly giving way to determination and resolve. When she speaks after a bit, her voice sounds firm.

"Yes. Yes, I want to."

I nod, and put on a more serious, somber look for several long moments, such the the silence is thick with the apprehension of something about to unfold. Then, with an eye for what would make an impactful trid scene, I start to speak to Christine.

"At noon tomorrow, our present agreement ends. Your end of our bargain will be complete and I will ask nothing else of you. That chapter will end. Two paths will then be open to you. The familiar path is that you will go about your life as you have been living it. We both know how that will predictable go, and you will get your boy back....or not."

I pause for that to sink in.

"Another path...." and I look like I'm choosing my words carefully, and I am, "Is for you to walk an unfamiliar direction. No more dangerous than the other, but with the likely possibility of great rewards. Partner with me in my endeavor, and I will commit to helping you get your son back, and safe from ever being taken away from you again."

I mean what I say, and have no intent to use her unfairly.

She will do what she will do.

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, Christine's appartment, 2141

Christine swallows dryly, then wets her lips with her tongue, her resolve shaken at first by Billiam's words. Then she recovers, and nods, asks "What do I need to do?"

The way her aura shines with hope, she's been at least unconsciously aware of the fact that her plan, her life was not working out as she hoped. Billiam offers her a chance at her dreams. And he's a mage - he can do magic.

[Play]

I nod meaningfully, as if indicating that the bargain has been sealed.

"I don't know yet. I won't promise that there will be no risk, but I promise to keep you away from direct danger, and physical conflict.
The extent to which you involve yourself is the extent that you can create a new life for yourself, where you won't have to scrape by, or grovel, ever again.

With the right plan, and the right mark, we can both start fresh, with the funds to live as we wish."

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, Christine's appartment, 2142

Christine looks intrigued by this. While her main focus clearly is the thought of getting her son back and escaping her current life, there's also an underlining hint that the sheer excitement of this new life Billiam speaks of attracts her. Her smile is meant as much as for herself as for him, as it seems.

Then she looks around her appartment, biting her lower lip, as she takes in her bed and the old couch, most likely not sure how she should ask where Billiam wants to sleep - mages get special treatment, everyone knows that. Judging from Christine's aura, she's still very impressed by meeting a real mage in the flesh, as others would be at meeting their favorite rock star.

[Play]

"We'll get started tomorrow. Tonight is for restful sleep." I move to a spot on the floor out of the way of foot traffic, and lay down. I'll be plenty comfortable enough. Nobody will be coming through the door, so I'll let myself rest.

Still, before I actually sleep, I will mentally conjure up a watcher spirit to watch over the room and me, while I sleep.

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, Christine's appartment, 2142

Christine looks aghast at Billiam taking a spot on the floor to rest, but then closes her mouth before saying anything - she may be thinking that sleeping on the floor is needed to work magic, some sort of geas, or whatever the trid portrayed as such. When nothing flashy happens after Billiam sat down, she looks almost disappointed for a second, then asks if he needs a blanket or cushion.

[Play]

"Thank you, no. I'm comfortable enough. I need to sleep. Do you work tomorrow?"

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, Christine's appartment, 2142

Christine blinks. When she answers it seems as the reality that she was magically healed, and the changes this bring, is still sinking in.

"Phil said I could take tomorrow off, to recover, so they don't expect me tomorrow."

[Play]

I close my eyes and relax, and relax, and relax.
Not a bad day, I think. I made it to Seattle, have a roof over my head, and have found an accomplice. A bird is made of many feathers...

I mentally pull together a watcher spirit, with the single command to sentry the room and wake me if any person besides the woman, or any awakened form enters the room.

Depending on what Christine is doing, I wait till she settles down, and long silent moment has passed, keeping my eyes closed.

"Are you looking forward to having an interesting life, Christine?" I ask the question quietly, more of a statement that she's about to start having one, though I'm curious to hear the tone of her response.

[Fuchs]

Seattle, Renton, Christine's appartment, 2155

Christine, who has taken a shower before heading to bed, takes some time to answer, but when she speaks, it's with a firm voice. She is sure of this.

"Yes, I would like that."