IC: Dawn of the Artifacts., In Character Thread. Options

[Mister Juan]

The new kid comes up to me, trying to do some small talk. I ain't quite sure where the hell she's trying to get at, but I guess not giving her some time might ruffle her feathers. Why is it that people always want to talk about “their feelings”? I've never talked about mine, and I feel mighty fine. Even sitting, I have to look a bit down to make eye contact, which is something a lot of people don't like. When you get stared at by unblinking pieces of chrome, hidden behind reflective polarized hardcasing... well... it gives the creeps to some people. Well, fuck em'. I can take a 10mm point blank in the eye and still see.“Actually, it's Dexter. Dexter Pope."

I'd give her a hand to shake, but I'm busy shuffling cards.

“You haven't seen me frustrated yet. I ain't the talkin' kind when I'm frustrated. And to be quite frank” I stop shuffling the deck and start dealing a hand a 5 card poker “there are so many thins wrong I ain't sure where to start.”

I rub the back of my neck. She stares at me for a few seconds. I finally put the cards down.

“Listen kid; I'm sure theres a bunch of things you know how to do. And you might even do 'em well. But you look like your fuckin' fourteen years old.”

I pick my cards again, and scan them real quick.

“Lemme tell you something tho. You look like you've got more manners than the other kid” I jerk my thumb over my shoulder toward the jap girl “so in my book, you've already got yourself some points."

[Karoline]

I'd been listening to the conversation as I fiddled with my commlink, and glance up when I am indicated. I guess I deserve that, but you... I pause in my thoughts for a moment Didn't do all that much. I wish I knew why I felt so bad around him at first. I don't feel it nearly as bad any more. I give a sigh Why does everything have to be so difficult. Was it really best to erase my memories?

I adjust in my seat, trying to get a bit more comfortable. The armor is comfortable as far as it goes, but maybe normal clothing would have been best for the trip after all. Oddly it is the stomach, front of the thighs, and chest that have the most padding, obviously purpose designed to be most comfortable when lying down on the stomach.

I guess I could at least try and be friendly, it wouldn't hurt to join in the cards at least. I sit there, watching the conversation and cards for a bit before putting my commlink on my 'belt', moving the gun from my lap, and moving towards the group, I give a small bow of my head and ask, remembering to switch to English Can I join as well? I try and think if I know any card games, but can't come up with any off hand... well, that is what commlinks are for.

[SincereAgape]

Sunday, April 8th. 0450Hours. Seattle, UCAS.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Ms. Johnson and the dwarf pilot known as Digits enter the plan. Digits walks through the cabin, towards the cockpit. As he walks by he winks at Dartha, and then leers at Vera's breasts, his eyes and head turn, still viewing them while he walks. He then pauses turns around and smiles at Dartha. Checking out her assests as well. He let's out a low whistle, and a chuckle before closing the door which leads to the cockpit.

Ms. Johnson finds a seat in the rear of the plane. A white synthleather chair, with a small table in front of her and a matching chair in front of and facing her. Her seat is a window seat. Turns to all of you.

"Good. Everyone is here. And on time. The flight will be taking off in 10 minutes. I hope everyone is getting acquainted with each other. Before we take off, please call me Jane. Our first stop will be Cairo. There we'll, refuel and pick up our hacker. Then move into Nigeria."

[Edited, added this description ] The engines of the jet begin to rev up. The loud humming noise and the sound of the heat begins to formulate from the aircraft. As Dexter deals the first hand, the plane begins to slowly move towards the runway.

[Kerenshara]

As soon as Ms. Johnson finishes speaking, Dartha turns to squarely face Dexter.

“Dexter. My apologies,” she says contritely, looking at him frankly.

She stares into Dexter’s eyes, entirely unfazed by the chrome. She’d never dream of putting something like that into her body, but that doesn’t mean she’s offended or frightened by obvious implants in others. Actually, given the current trends toward biological enhancement and highly subtle cybernetic implants, the sight of so much blatant chrome is inherently fascinating to her.

“I’m not ordinarily one to ignore input from more experienced individuals, especially when that input might just keep something from biting me on the hoop later on. Would you be so kind as to share with us the list of things that are wrong? One place to start would be things we might be able to fix before takeoff. After that, I would like to hear about things that might get us killed when we land in Lagos. If you still have concerns at that point, maybe we can just start going through what’s left in whatever order they occur to you.” She sits back in her chair, completely attentive of the older man waiting for his response.

[Mister Juan]

Part of me can't really decide if its sarcasm, or genuine concern. Guess not everyone has my sense of humor. The jet starts to slowly creep out of the hangar; not a bad thing. I can't wait to get in the air... mostly because I can't wait to touch down. My knees are already starting to cringe.I can't help myself but crack half a smile at the kid's remarks.

“Things that might get us killed? How about fuckin' bullets for starters?”

I shake my head a bit, partly in disbelief.

“Kid, when I say many things were wrong, I meant with the world in general....”

Out the corner of my eye, I can see Hodder's shoulders bobbing up and down as he laughs quietly. At least, he seems to get the joke.

“But if you want one advice once we have boots on the ground; keep your eyes peeled, shut the fuck up and if anyone starts to shoot at anything, shoot in the same general direction.”

I look at my cards again. I hope these people can play a bit....

“Oh yea; I've got only one rule: don't touch my guns. Ever. They'll kill you before I can. And I ain't even fuckin kidding.”

[Kerenshara]

"You needn't worry about me touching your guns, Dexter," she says seriously "I don't use them. I always keep my eyes peeled and I speak when I feel the need."

She locks eyes with the man and says "I'll leave you to handle the bullets and bombs, but when the magic starts to fly, I hope you'll trust me to know what I'm doing," and holds his eyes, expecting an answer. "That's why I'm here. I'd tell you 'I'm not fourteen' but I don't think you'd be any more reassured by by real age." She gives Dexter a warm reassuring smile, but her eyes are still holding his intently.

[pbangarth]

Sunday, April 8th. 0500Hours. Seattle, UCAS.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Hodder finishes helping with the loading and embarks on the plane with Dexter. He wonders if Dexter noticed the extra solidity when he slapped Hodder on the back. Dexter seems to respect solidity.

On the plane, there is a new girl. "God, the hormones in this plane!" He opens himself to the astral as he usually does in a new situation, and sees what he can tell about the new comer, obviously a teammate. Why didn't Jane tell us there would be more of us? Do we have enough medicine?"

[ Spoiler ]

Assensing the newcomer, 8 dice ==> 4 hits

The interplay among the women is amazing. "What a catfight this is turning out to be. And with all the displaying, I better protect myself. There is jockeying for position and control here, for sure, and I don't want to be a pawn."

[ Spoiler ]

Increase WIL spell, sustained and countered by Heightened Concentration:
12 dice ==> 5 hits gives 4 (max) gain, WIL = 8
Drain 2P, resist 12 dice ==> 6 hits no drain
"I think I am getting the feel of how to cast this spell!"

Hodder sits back for a game of cards and the show that manifests itself around him.

"So, Jane, are there any other team members we don't know about? And do we have enough medicine for the extras as well?"

[Kerenshara]

When Holder opens himself to the Astral, he sees the young woman's blazing aura and almost instantly becomes aware of the powerful and intricate arcane device around her right wrist, pulsing and crackling with energy, some of it seeming to wreath her, more integrating itself into her aura and a thread integrating back into her body.

For Hodder:

[ Spoiler ]

You know she is in good health.
You know she is Awakened.
You know she is simultaneously angry and curious and focused, emotionally.
You know she is wearing a intricate and powerful bracelet under her jacket which includes a F3 Spellcasting Focus, a F3 Counterspelling Focus and a F3 Sustaining Focus, all active.
You know she is maintaining a Force 3 Health spell in the Sustaining Focus.
You know her MAGic score is a 6, as is her ESSense.

[Karoline]

Japanese:

[ Spoiler ]

"Didn't you hear her say that we'd be picking up a hacker in Ciaro?"

Doesn't anyone listen to anything?That said I have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing with these cards. Four of them are red though, and three of them have pictures on them. When my turn comes around I get rid of the black card, I'm sure having them all the same color is good for something. One has a 10 in the corner, another a Q, one a J, one a K, and one an A.

"So how do you play this game?" I finally ask. I wonder if his guns are really that special.

[Chrysalis]

Vera pourse herself another glass of whisky.

"Anyone else want a shot?"

She wondered how long they would survive in Lagos, at the moment there was a huge fight going on, and it was about the men being pawns.

Vera looks over her cards she has a two pair,a ten and an eight. In short trash.

She looks over at the Japanese girl, whose name at the moment eludes her.


Japanese:

[ Spoiler ]

"I heard that we would be picking up two people in Cairo. My guess is that she is one of them."

"In casual play, the right to deal a hand typically rotates among the players in this case it starts with Mr. Pope owning the cards. The next one to deal would be you.

One or more players are usually required to make forced bets, usually either an ante or a blind bet (sometimes both). The dealer shuffles the cards, the player one chair to his right cuts, and the dealer deals the appropriate number of cards to the players one at a time, beginning with the player to his left. Cards are dealt face-down.

After the initial deal, the first of what may be several betting rounds begins. Between rounds, the players' hands develop in some way, often by being dealt additional cards or replacing cards previously dealt. At the end of each round, all bets are gathered into the central pot.

At any time during a betting round, if one player bets and no opponents choose to call (match) the bet and instead fold, the hand ends immediately, the bettor is awarded the pot, no cards are required to be shown, and the next hand begins. This is what makes bluffing possible. Bluffing is a primary feature of poker, one that distinguishes it from other vying games and from other games that make use of poker hand rankings.

At the end of the last betting round, if more than one player remains, there is a showdown, in which the players reveal their previously hidden cards and evaluate their hands. The player with the best hand according to the poker variant being played wins the pot. A poker hand consists of five cards."

"This is the game in its most simplest form, in short you have to play against the other players. The cards are simply another, more simpler game. I'll send the two of you a list of poker hand rankings for you to look at."

"I take it this is a gentleman's game, so no using commlinks to count cards or AROs to mark cards? Mr. Pope as he owner of the cards what do you consider acceptable for betting? Tokens, like clothing or money?"

[Karoline]

Japanese:

[ Spoiler ]

She is one and hacker is two. So much for her being in Cairo though.

I glance over at the new girl, curious if she seems to be able to understand what we're saying or not. The information shows up on my commlink, and I access it quickly, reading over the hand list.

I'm glad I wasn't drinking anything, as I'm sure I would have choked when she mentioned using clothing to be on the game. I can feel the blood rushing to my face at the comment. I consider stopping it, but figure it is too late. I don't really want to risk money, as I still haven't figured out how much is alot yet. I know how much the food and stuff cost me, and I know how much I'm getting paid, and I saw a few things in the mall, but that is about it. Why isn't my memory kicking in at all for that...? I certainly don't plan on betting any of my clothing, as I'm not wearing quite as much as it looks like I am, and.. well.

So for the moment I just don't comment on the playing for tokens, hoping someone else will turn down the idea, or that I don't loose just too much money.

[Mister Juan]

Right about this fucking moment, I start wishing I had brought some chewing tobacco with me. Vere looks tipsy, Hodder looks giddy, the jap girl looks real damn confused, and that new kid is an inch from humping my leg like a crazy chiwawa. What a fukin' day... Right about now, I try to do my best to concentrate on the first hand of the game.

“Guess thats good to hear, kid.”

I really ain't feeling the small talk... but she doesn't seem like the kind to back off. Before I know it, people start chatting away in jap. At least, it sounds like japanese. Like I'd really know anyways. Not that I care a whole lot what they're saying. Probably exchanging muffin receipies... or maybe talking trash about makeup. You know... that girl stuff. I rub the five o'clock shadow thats already starting to grow back on my face. Vera goes about explaining the rules of the game, saving me the hassle of doing it. At least, she's sober enough to string whole sentences togheter. Maybe thats how she deals with stress. We've all got our ways of coping with the job. Some get shit faced. Others hook up with strangers. Guess the gal does both.

She then offers a round of strip poker. Like I'm into kiddy porn or something. Maybe Hodder is... after all, kids are about his general height and build. I don't judge the man no less. Everyone's got their tastes. I guess.

“Toots” I start, adressing Vera “I'm sure you're fine under that dress, but I'd rather not take the risk of having yall seeing Mac here” I jab Hodder with my elbow “expose himself.”

[Kerenshara]

Dartha gives up and laughs delightedly at Dexter's comment. "Oh, he's going to be FUN!"

"Don't worry, Dexter, I'm sure those of you who plan to play can come up with something. I, on the other hand, am going to settle down for pre-mission prep if you all are just going to play cards." She starts out ammused but by the end she's completely serious.

"Is there anything any of you'd like to tell me before you start, or that you feel you need to know?"

[Chrysalis]

Vera giggles, "I am not going to get any further undressed, besides its not like I am wearing much. It was just a random thought. Anyways, I am going to focus on playing cards. Let's keep the game nice and clean then, we starts off with 50 nuyen and once the chips run out, you are out of the game. AR chips work for everyone?"

Vera deals out AR chips worth 50 nuyen for everyone but Dartha.

Vera disappears for a moment and comes back from the galley with two glasses and offers to pour Hodder and Dexter shots.

[Mister Juan]

I nod once as I grab the glass.

“Much appreciated.” It burns a bit as it goes down. Not the first time I had fire in my lungs. Probably won't be the last.

“So, kid, you got yourself a name or what?”

[Chrysalis]

Vera grins and swallows her shot before filling both glasses again "Yeah, my name is Vera. It's what my parents named me, so I decided to keep with that. My speciality when not pissing people off is medicine, I might even have a degree in some archive somewhere."

Vera tosses in some AR chips, betting a bit wild.

"Should I call you Mr Pope or do you have a first name, I can use?"

[Mister Juan]

"Toots, you can call me whatever you like".

I throw in some chips.

"Degree? You might want to hang unto that. Could be useful in a snow storm. Start a fire with it, or something."

[Karoline]

I simply listen to the conversation for now, throwing in a couple chips more than the others. I think this is a good hand... I guess I'll find out fairly soon. Glad we aren't using money or clothing, makes life easier. Maybe I can get back to my commlink at some point. Though, maybe I'll figure out why he rubbed me the wrong way when we first met... or why I felt like he did at least.

[Chrysalis]

Vera laughs, "I think I would need something a bit more to start a fire. Personally I find nothing wrong with a bit of gasoline. Anyways, the last snow storm I was in was in the Yukatan, two weeks of being buttoned up in a tent that wanted to slide off the cliff-face with every blast of wind was not fun."

"I think I'll call you Pope then. Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum! Habemus Papam! or something like that."

Vera clinks her glass against Pope's and drinks it dry. She coughs a bit wincing.

Vera throws some chips into the pot. "Another?"

[Kerenshara]

Dartha closely watches the interplay between the rest of the team and Ms. Johnson in the back. She discretely calls up her Augmented Reality interface in her contacts and begins subtly constructing a text message to her employer.

Jane,

I don't wish to disrupt the relaxation ritual of the others and they seem reticent to volunteer the information I was thinking would be most helpful in formulating initial plans for once we arrive in Lagos. As I understand, we are primarily to provide your security as you pursue your objectives as opposed to us operating primarily on our own. I know what it is that I can do and essentially what you need from me, but I'm unsure as to the others. Dexter has all the markings of a long service military man, but I'm not sure as to his specific experience or talents. Hodder would seem to be Awakened, but to what extent I do not know and as to any secondary mundane abilities, I'm sadly ignorant. Ms. Yamamoto seems to have an unnatural relationship with her rifle and was calmed by the ritual of its assembly, so it would seem she is our long gun; Does she have other talents I should be aware of? Vera seems to be something of a socialite and it sounds as if she was in charge of our medical supplies; Is she also a medical professional of some sort? And what can I expect of our sixth member who will be joining us in Cairo?

I would like to be able to know in what areas I am not going to need to provide assistance or coverage to my fellow team members, as well as areas where they may offer special support. Finally, if I am to provide for your magical security, it would be helpful to know what abilities, if any, you posses in terms of defending yourself.

Is there anything else I should be aware of to ensure my ability to perform my duties? I am currently reading all available information I could acquire on our destination and the people there prior to our hasty departure.

[pbangarth]

Hodder throws his hand in in disgust. This game never was his forte. Oh, well, a few nuyen out is no problem. However, these sharks will take him for a lot more if he isn't careful. His newfound wisdom takes over, and he cuts his losses.

"Sorry folks, but I seem to be a little tired and not up to this ... play. Carry on without me."

He stands up and looks out a window to see the first gi\limmer of sunshine over the horizon, now that they are above the clouds. The shimmering blue fire fades from his eyes. "Oh yeah. Forgot about flying high to meet the dawn."

He looks around and sees Jane staring off into space, as if reading something. He wanders over and sits with her. "This is strange. I sit with a beautiful woman and I feel as if I have come somewhere safe."

He waits till she acknowledges his presence and asks, "When do you plan to brief us? If you are going to wait for the 'card' game to finish, I could use a nap. I was up all night."

[Kerenshara]

Dartha watches as Hodder bows out of the card game and makes his way over to Ms. Johnson. She hears him ask about a full briefing and feels a sense of relief that she's apparently not the only person who either missed an important memo or cares about mission specifics once they land in Lagos.

"Oh, good. At least one member of this group -besides me- has something useful between their ears. I guess that moves him up another notch on my priority list; A smart ally is a lot more valuable than a dumb follower."

[SincereAgape]

Ms. Johnson looks up from the current new article she is reading on her AR display. She receives an incoming text from Dartha and then takes a moment to respond.

<<Text @Dartha. Your assessment on each individual is correct. They each have their areas of expertise and knowledge on how to survive in the Shadow world. As for your role, I am relying on your arcane ability to help protect us from awakened threats. From what I have heard, your socerecy ability is very high, thus if we are to encounter any type of spirits, mundane, or other magic users, your talents will be more then useful. I also know that you have an ability to socialize and pursade others with your ablities, I ask that you leave the negotionations to Mr. Hodder and Vera. Mr. Hodder is a hunter of antiquities, and Vera has knowledge and contacts of the culture of Lagos. You are our ace in the hole in terms of being a social liason.

As for my abilities, I am able to defend myself when push comes to shove, but I am no where near as fielded in the areas of combat as the majority of our other team members.

The last team member who will be joining us in Cairo is our electronics expert. He is also a hacker.">>Hodder comes to sit beside her. She looks at him, and notices the man's charisma and calming influence. She feels relaxed around him. She responds to his question.

"I have briefed you on what I know. Like yourself, I am foreign to the city of Lagos. I do have a few contacts in the city who will assist us with setting up shop, but they are contacts provided to me through a third party. Our first priority will be finding lodgeing, a safe house, and adequate transportation. From there our search for Lockwood shall begin.

I suggest you do get some rest Mr. Hodder. It is a ten hour flight from here to Cairo. "

Digits patches into everyone's commlink. The flight is about to take off. The airplane rumbles, before accelerating. From there it's the plane inclines towards the sky. It feels like a mini-rollar coaster ride.

[pbangarth]

Hodder smiles at Jane. "Thank you. I will get some rest, soon. There is however, one important piece of information on which you haven't briefed us, yet. Could you please tell me what you can about the object we plan to retrieve? The more we know, the more likely we are to recognize it and to treat it appropriately."

[Kerenshara]

"Well, this should be interesting. I wonder if she'll bother to give us any useful information. I need to take Hodder aside at some point and find out what it is that he 'specializes' in."

Datha listens intently for Ms. Johnson's reply.