Food Fight!, IC - Dairy Dash Options

[tisoz]

It's a dark and stormy night, the acid rain coming down in sheets from clouds obscuring any light coming down from the gibbous moon or the few street lamps still in working order. The rain pelts the city, scouring the grease and oil from the roadway. As your eyes drift to the crumbling sidewalks and pock-marked plascrete, you realize what decades of the acidity can do to objects as hard as rock. You subconsciously pull your coat tighter around you wondering if you were really this hungry as you wait for the rain to let up so you can dash into the Stuffer Shack.

As you wait in the parking lot you notice the other vehicles parked there. A GMC Bulldog van, and your first thoughts are the perfect runner vehicle, a beat up Ford Americar, another nondescript runner vehicle, an aging, pink Mustang that looks half held together by faux gold accents and bumper stickers, and a couple of motorbikes likely ridden by true bikers or true idiots.

The roar of the torrential downpour on the vehicle roof lessens to individual thumps, then the thumps decrease in volume to patters and you decide this may be as good as it gets for a while and open your door to make a run for it.

[drips]

Sphinx was sitting on a bus bench outside the Stuffer Shack, rather gloomily staring off into space. Cold, drenched and hungry, his thoughts flickered to the past month. He'd fucked things up back in Libya, fucked them up real bad. His emotions had gotten in the way and he'd made a bad command decision and now... now half his team was dead and the rest were on the run. If only he hadn't seen them, those bastards from Tsunami. If only he hadn't let himself believe that it would be easy. If only... if only he were better.

Hearing the rain let up a little shook Sphinx out of his reverie. He stood up and quickly jogged to the Shack. He could think more later, right now he needed some food. And alcohol. Lots of alcohol.

[Xiuhaun]

Hugh Knuckles Mahoney finishes his cigar and puts it out under the heel of his boot. Looking to the sky, he grimaces over the coming rain, turns up his coat collar and proceeds to enter the 'Shack on a quest for food.

En route to Aisle 15 and a wonderful array of snack foods, Knuckles can't help but notice the attractive female sitting on the counter near the Shmoozies. Ditching his plan to acquire munchies, he heads over to the Schoozie machine and fills a cup with Cherry Heaven before proceeding to strike up a conversation with the gal sitting on the counter.

[Ears]

Rob parks his harley next to the other bikes, pulls out a pocket secretary, looks around, looks at the gadget, pockets it again and walking over to the entrance, he recalls for the seventh time what his friend christian had told him.
'I stumbled over the inventory listing for a wharehouse the shack's bought. ... A full wharehouse of them and you know, they don't throw stuff away if there's any chance of selling it. ... Here's a list of their stores closest to it, you can thank me later.'
Once inside the store, he takes a look around and then heads to the right, straight for the dust covered book displays (area L).
Here goes nothing, again. At least It's dry in here.

[drips]

Sphinx enters the 'Shack and quickly makes his way towards Area J. He'd decided on the way in to satisfy his hunger and thirst first, before looking for something to satisfy his thirst. Looking at the cold foods display, he tries to decide what will best sate his hunger while maintaining his health: Soychicken and something else (soymold by the looks of it), or krill and pre-processed processed soyveggies.

[Chance359]

Cameron Tinker Douglas slipped a plug into his datajack instantly felt his armored jacket become an extension of himself. With a blink, the small camera on the back of the collar was plastered on the lower right corner of his vision. A hiss of compressed gas and an empty wrist holster sprang forth from his left wrist. Tinker attached his Browning Ultra-Power and retracted the pistol to its concealed hiding spot.

All this wiring has made me hungry, guess its time to hit the Stuffer shack.

[tisoz]

John Stone looks out at the wind whipping the rain around and starts channeling the mana, attempting to bind the spirits of the very elements to his will. Everything seems to be going fine, then, it may have been a distraction caused by the flash of lightning or just a ripple in the resistance of the spirit plane, but Stone loses control of his Invoking and is rudely confronted by a disturbing spirit of the winds.

[Green Eyed Monst...]

Here I was, thought John Stone, doing my normal meet preperations when that bolt of lightning hit so close to his hillside home I thought it was going to break loose from it's foundation. And now ther is a pissed looking spirit in my living room blowing crap all over the place! It'll take forever to clean this mess up. I might have to conjure up a little spirit just to put everything back...

[Green Eyed Monst...]

Stone jumped into his 3220 and sped off through the rain. What a night to be out. I remember I'm channeling and tap the powers of Guard and Magical Guard just in case. Hopefully, the guard will keep me out of any ordinary fender benders tonight. Then I thought better and decided to expend a service and have a spirit extend its Guard and Magical Guard.

The meet went off without incident, finally something went right, and as I start home something someone had said about grabbing something to eat sounds pretty good, maybe even rent a movie, those kiosks where you can get them at any Stuffer Shack and return them to any other Stuffer Shack are a great idea. After I pull into the Stuffer Shack parking lot and find a parking place, I cast Catalog and record the results into my pocket secretary, compare the list to the last time I updated it upon leaving home and find no surprises. I start to get out of the low slung sports car and realize I can barely raise myself from the seat. I Invoke and Channel another spirit, think about putting on the Rapid Transit helmet to keep dry, decide it would look silly and wish I had a Deflect or Barrier/Rain spell as I brave the rain and rush across the lot. All the good spaces are long gone, so I use movement power on myself to hasten the trip, and enter the Shack with a rush. The floor is a slip and fall artists heaven and the thought of easy nuyen floats through my mind, then the reality of trying to collect on the lawsuit and probably burning my lone good fake SIN makes the scam a no win one for me.

It must be a holiday or something to get all these people out in this weather, I think. Or a bunch of homeless in from their soaked cardboard huts. Better be careful. I wonder if the bikes are from riders seeking shelter from the storm or true bikers who ride in all weather?

I look around and see more than a couple of thoroughly soaked people, even wetter than me. I decide to head to Aisle 10 first to get a Use’N’Lose disposable plastic umbrella, if any are left. If not I'll look for a pancho or tablecloth because that rain didn't feel good running down my back and soaking into my armor. As he walks past the drink dispenser area he notices the cute girl sitting on the counter, probably resting her feet from those cruel looking stiletto pumps she's wearing and smiles and slowly shakes his head as the drenched guy seems to be trying to chat her up.

[BobRoberts]

Troy scuttles in out of the rain and shakes the worst of it from his coat. Stamps the rain off his shiny chrome legs. Loosens the straps on smogmask and lets it hang around his neck.

Stomach rumbles slightly as he saunters towards the foodstuffs in the back half of the shop. Loops past the breakfast foods and the baked goods, dismissing them as he goes by... nods a half familiar hello at Mr Nick. Hurries past the herbal teas to the Aztec food section... starts picking things up and looking at the packets.

Several idle thoughts rattle around his brain:

Nasty food. Quasi evil pyramid logos. Cheapish, nasty food. HUNGRY!
Busy in here tonight.
How spicy is meltdown? Will it hide the taste of krill based meat subsitute?
Half a dozen datajacks and crazy muttering. I don't wanna end up that way.

His stomach rumbles again, a little louder than before.

[tisoz]

Mr. Nick tries to be customer friendly to the latest arrival to track into his store. He looks around and sees 3 or 4 people still dripping and wonders how anyone could get so wet. He heads for the backroom and soon after leaving most everyone's line of sight, you hear his voice over the intercom calling for Johnny to come to the office and get a mop.

As Mr. Nick comes out of the back room carrying a couple of "Wet Floor" signs, a young man follows him out swinging into his jacket. Was that a shoulder holster you just glimpsed?

[Ears]

When the latest newcomer comes in and stomps his legs, Rob glances over to the door, frowns then a smile forms on his face that quickly fades as he shakes his head and turns back to rifling through the old magazines.
Don't I know that guy? The race last month? Yup. Fast one, good one. Wait, he cost me 500. Shouldn't have bet against him. Well, not twice.

[tisoz]

The Japanese warrior wannabe in Aisle 1 looks like he has gathered his nerve and approaches the checkout counter and the cute elf girl working there with a nametag on her chest reading "Wanda".

"What's the other one's name?" the topknotted redhead asks.

Wanda's zoned out look doesn't change, but a skinny kid steps out of the corner of Area D and looks like he knows what the big guy, well, bigger than him, meant, and he doesn't care for it at all. Anyone who has ever seen a young crush knows the skinny kid has it bad for Wanda, but with those zits, Wanda is likely out of his league. Still, it looks like he is gathering his courage to defend her honor - even if he was too intimidated by her beauty to even let her know he existed.

In the drink section, the girl in the wet halter top is flashing her headlights and says, "Hey, big boy. Is that a blue bandage for your blue blood or gang colors?"

[BobRoberts]

Troy chuckles silently to himself at the poor pickup line.

He casts a casual eye over the guy from the back office as he walks past the aisle.

...did this place really spring for a security guard?

[Chance359]

Tinker moves on from finding the perfect box of red Maxiblast Sugar Bomb, over to the frozen foods (section K) looking for the best deal on pizzas and breakfast burritos.

[drips]

Sphinx finally grabs a krill sandwich and starts munching on it. After slowly savoring the first few bites he makes his way over to Area L, the book section.

Been hard up on new reading material lately, might as well see if they have anything good.

He offers a nod to the chummer already hanging around the manuscripts and then begins scanning the books.

[Xiuhaun]

Knuckles takes a sip from his cup before grinning and replying, "ESR, represent." He pauses momentarily before adding "What is a talented woman such as yourself doing out on a horribly wet night like this?"

[tisoz]

The Japanese samurai wannabe irritating Wanda tries another line as he points to the spike of hair on her head. "Horny?"

The girl looks past Knuckles as she hops down and says, "You're about to find out, tusker."

[tisoz]

The doors crash open and three people come rushing in from the rain. Only they happen to be brandishing weapons and screaming at the top of their lungs!

One rushes up and around the checkout counter, blasting away the cameras on his way, and coming to a stop behind the counter beside the lovely Wanda, who decides to take the opportunity and let out a never-ending scream at the top of her lungs.

The samurai wannabe takes the opportunity to draw a katana from the bag slung over his shoulder, hold it to the vulnerable Wanda's throat, and yell at the hysterical girl to, "Shut the Frag up!"

The second of the newcomers jumps on the display shelves of Aisle 1, using the lower shelves like steps, clambers to the top, throws back his head and lets out an animal howl.

The third newcomer comes running in on the heals of the others, makes as if to stop just past the samurai wannabe, but skids on the wet slippery floor and falls. The gun he is carrying goes off, Knuckles and the girl near him would both swear they felt it pass, but the newcomer manages to kill the blue Fizzygoo machine as it explodes and it's contents spray on her and Knuckles and drench their feet.

The shots are incredibly loud in the confined space and in the quiet that follows the dripping Fizzygoo seems loud. Even the sound of the electric lights seems loud.

Finally, the silence is broken by the shotgun toting man behind the counter. He screams, "I'm the Prince of the city and it's time to collect taxes! Empty your pockets, you drek eating slime and gimme everything ya got!"

The girl sporting the Fizzygoo says, "I'm here to collect taxes," as she whips out the SMG on the sling around her neck and shoulder from where her Jacket was hiding it.

The fallen robber is getting up, and the howling robber is climbing down and looking toward the Fizzygoo girl.

The young guy that came out of the back room whips back his jacket and clears his gun, then takes Mr. Nick by the elbow and tells him they are going to visit the safe.

[tisoz]

John Stone turned toward the commotion like every other person in the store, but unlike every person in the store his dual natured astral vision easily saw the city spirit hovering on the astral near the howling guy's shoulder.

If that isn't enough, out of the corner of your eye you notice 3 elementals heading your way on the astral plane from over toward the messy drink area. Looks like a pair of fire, and an earth. How nice, burned and buried.

[Ears]

Rob returns the nod from the black elf, pulls some magazines that got stuck between two displays free and starts to smile.
"Yes! #267, #268 and most of #190." He starts to read and is so immersed that he completely misses most of the action in the store.
The shots that slay the drink machines followed by the second howl from the ganger finally wake him.
An automatic, howls, something about taxes? Well, I'll better start paying.
Letting go of the old magazines, Rob's right dives under his jacket and reappears holding a big pistols that fires two shots at the howling ganger, who manages to dodge once but not twice and takes a solid hit to the chest while a big water filter in the shelf next to him disintegrates and showers the area with small plastic pieces.
"Gotcha!"

[Xiuhaun]

Knuckles would never hit a woman for a verbal slight... "Tusker..." it just hung in the air. As Zany moved to reveal her SMG, however, the situation changed.

I'd never hit an unarmed woman...

The red flowed from behind his eyes as Zany made her second mistake: she spoke.

"I'm here to collect taxes."

Knuckles' instincts took over at the sight of the weapon. Immediately, its aim was redirected by his left arm as it moved up and out, drink still in hand. As red sticky liquid took to the air, the SMG began to fire, pumping round after round into the air and wall behind Knuckles. His right arm then unleased a devistating blow, backed by all the rage that had welled up inside him. Zany topples like a house of cards on a windy day.

Knuckles snorts "Tusker?" then spits on the fallen girl. A howling roar is heard from the front of the store, and Knuckles directs his attention to the bloodthirsty howl.

As sudden as the events occurred, Knuckles notices he is standing in a messy store, but cannot seem to remember why he is here, or why he is covered in such tasty goo.

[drips]

Sphinx's brain kicked into overdrive as the gangers began terrorizing the store.

Follow protocol. First establish a base, then launch a counter attack.

He focused all his attention on the racks in front of him and began to bind mana to his will. But... nothing appeared. All he got for his efforts was a headache. Suddenly Sphinx felt very, very vulnerable. He quickly dived behind the magazine rack and began planning his next move.

Screw protocol, I need to wipe them out. Fast.

[Green Eyed Monst...]

John Stone goes to meet the elementals, hoping to find their summoner.

I prepare to defend myself. Spirits to me! Please Confuse all who attack me.

I hear shots going off from every part of the store as 2 of the elementals attack. The first one comes in low and I side step it, then spin and kick out at it with my sqeeky, wet shoe. It connects, but my satisfaction is short lived as the other fire elemental buzzes me from aboze. I throw a hand up to block it and then punch as hard and quick as I can and feel the blow land well on the spirit, but it hardly seems to notice.

They are trying to coordinate their attack now. They are ripping and biting at me, but I'm managing to avoid their attacks, but at the same time, my attacks are largely ineffective. I do manage to tag the one I landed the kick on earlier. This must look interesting to any observers.

I focus a bit more on the one I've hurt the most as they continue their attack and manage to hit it repeatedly, however, I am pretty much just holding the other one off at this point. But my tactic seems to work and the first fire elemental to attack me is starting to show some signs of being hurt.

[tisoz]

As Stone fights astral observers would notice a couple more spirits join the fracas.

One of them asks the attacking elementals, "If a fire elemental boarded an eastbound suborbital at 0900 that was traveling at 2000 kph, and a water elemental boarded a westbound ballistic flight at 0945 traveling at 3500 kph, at what time could we expect a steam bath?"

The other spirit, looking like a puffy cloud is busy making dizzying circles around what could pass for the elementals heads.