IC: Infection, Periclitor Veritas Options

[A Clockwork Lime]

"Touché." He flashes an equally devestating smile right back at her before plucking the toothpick back into his mouth.

"I always hate this part of a new team. I never know what to say. So I'll just get the basics out and we can go from there.

"The name's Ol' Scratch but most of my friends just call me Scratch, so feel free to do the same. Not that it's much of a nickname or anything, but still. Ah, let's see..." he reaches up and rubs the bristles under his chin as he tries to figure out what else to say. "I've been doing this kind of drek since the 40's. Might be getting a little slow as the Grim Reaper edges closer, but I promise you all I'll do my best to help make sure we all get out with our hides intact when the shit hits the fan. Uhm... hell, I can't think of anything else to say..."

While he was talking his eyes never left Silk's. It was almost as if he were gazing into her soul as he talked, ripping unspoken secrets from her very core. There was something about his facial expression that completely belied the tone of his words, but it's hard to say what it was.

Nevertheless, by the time he finished introducing himself he jerked his head to the side and looked Onna up and down again. He tilted his head a bit, apparently fighting to keep himself restrained from asking what he really wanted to know. Finally, he was able to ask, "So how about you, love. What's your story? I'm simply dying to know."

[Buddha72]

Onna struggles to keep track of the English bouncing around the table as she waits for the waitress. She points at the young elven woman Silk and simply says "I will have what she had please."

She jumps a little at Scratch's redirect. She takes a moment to compose her self. "I was not born here. I came here when I was young." Her English is forced and halting, as she picks each word. "This work is thing I must do. I am good at it." She blinks a few times, switching to Japanese. "This is my native tongue and one I know well. How many here can understand me? I prefer this to English but I can get by. Why is there something more you wanted to know?"

[Blitz]

:: Her smile switched from predatory towards Scratch, to warm and inviting to Onna as she responds. Her Japanese is peppered with a french accent for some reason, but is rather fluent. ::

"My aplogies for making this more difficult for you. I am comfortable in either language. I am sure than there are those of us here that can translate for you if it is a necessity."

:: Turning to the rest of the group, she addresses them as a whole. ::

"It seems our Japanese sister here is more comfortable in Japanese, are there any here who are not schooled in that language?"

[A Clockwork Lime]

Not willing to let his eyes leave Onna just yet, Scratch just raises a hand slightly off the table. "Don't understand a word."

[Fenris]

"I speak good enough to understand and talk, if need."

[Dashifen]

Father picks up when Silk finishes her question, "My Japanese is not the best, despite my heritage, but I'll get by. If anything confuses me, I'm too old to hope that it becomes clear with time -- I'll just ask for clarification! My name is Hitotchi Nakamura. I usually, however, prefer simply to be called Father. It's something of a nickname, I guess you could say. As I illuded to before, I've been decking since the term decking existed. Though, I will admit that this task gives me pause; I am not usually required to go on site, though I am willing to do so despite the risks. It seems our emplyer's net swings wide; I must admit that I don't believe I've ever met one of your kind before, sir" he finishes, turning to Shadow, hoping the Night One understands his Japanese.

[Blitz]

:: Minorly annoyed as his blatent gawking, she lets out a soft amused laugh. ::

"I have a feeling you're enjoying it none-the-less."

:: Switching to Japanese, she smiles knowingly at Onna. ::

"Watch out for the Satyr...I have a feeling he's interested in your tail."

:: She adds a playful wink at the girl. ::

[Shadow]

"Not to put a damper on the party but operationally I belive it would be best for us all to speak a language that everyone here can understand. Even if you aren't the best at English it is better than speaking a language only half of us can understand. So please, stick to english."

[Buddha72]

Onna nods. "I meant no insult and I apologize. Was there something more you wanted to know Scratch?"

[TinkerGnome]

Warpath grunts at Silk's statement. "It reminds me of my past too, I'm afraid. But my memories of it seem to be less pleasant than yours." He looks wistful for a few seconds but appears to cheer up. "No, the snow is definitely worse than the rain. Almost died during the last blizzard."

As the conversation shifts languages, he grins. The Japanese chip was still slotted from before, and it translated nearly perfectly, though he didn't add anything. Using the lingasofts always left him feeling disoriented afterwards, moreso if he used them to speak as well as listen for any length of time.

[Buddha72]

Onna suddenly turns a bright pink. "I must apologize again. My name is Onna. " She seems mortified at the lapse in manners.

[Dashifen]

Father bows to the Night Elf and says, "I was only commenting that I don't believe that I have ever met a Night Elf before. The honor is mine, sir."

Turning to Onna, "Would you prefer a translation, sister?" he says, using the diminutive that Silk earlier used.

[Buddha72]

"You show me too much respect Honored Elder. But I would be eternally grateful if I could trouble you with any confusion that may arise from my ignorance." Her face is grateful and still flush from embarassment.

[Shadow]

"None taken," Shadow replies with a nod of his head. "My handle is Shadow, I think that will do for now. It is a pleasure to meet you all as well, it is nice to be working with obvious profesionals. As for being a Night One," he shrugs his shoulders, "it is no different for me, then it is for you to be human.

[A Clockwork Lime]

Hearing all the slant-eye babbling going on, Scratch takes a quick mental note to ask Carducci if she can get her hands on a linguasoft pronto.

[Dashifen]

[Blitz]

:: As the waitress leaves them to their discussion, Silk resumes a modicum of professionalism, though she thoroughly enjoyed the casual banter. ::

"Im know as Silk. I'm adept at social situations and can speak English, Sperethial, and Japanese fluently. I also have a very good command of Latin, but I doubt that will be useful in our current assignment."

"I'm also a competent mage. I pride myself on my abilities as I've met few mages with a more intimate understanding of mana and the astral space that shares this world with us. I am as talented at spell slinging as I am at summoning though my combat prowess is limited to that with a magical bend. I've never even fired a pistol."

[Fenris]

Koogi, I think...

"My name is Ayohuhisdi, or Ayo, for those that don't speak Cheyenne. I'm an expert marksmen with pistols and rifles, and Leopard has granted me the gifts to pierce the veils of mana, and sense the twistings of mana that shamans and mages use to perform their acts. I can walk unseen, when necessary.

I will state now that I have little concern for the 'innocents' that assist the corporations in perverting Nature like this, and I always shoot to kill."

[TinkerGnome]

The large samurai grunted. "They call me Warpath though God only knows why. One of those stupid things that someone says and it sticks." He grumbled on, "Anyway, I'm a pistol and assault rifle fighter with a little bit of everything else thrown in. I can handle heavy weapons and most tech, if there's a need, and demolitions as well."

"I prefer to get jobs done quietly, but that never seems to work out," he added with a grin.

[grendel]

The tall elf hasn't moved since he first stepped into the room, and has said nothing since asking the single question of the Johnson. Uninterested in actually eating dinner, he waits for conversation to turn to the inevitable.

"I am Grendel. I provide transportation, communication, surveillance, and support firepower. When we are in a secure location, I will promulgate comm frequencies, encryption, and tac signs as necessary."

The rigger pauses, briefly considering whether or not to continue. In the end, discretion wins out. His files on Shadow and WarPath were already complete, he would simply add the details of the new team members in as they became available.

[Digital Heroin]

Immortal had stayed silent throughout the breifing, and the negotiations. It wasn't that he wasn't inclined towards a little haggling, it was that he was weighing implications. He'd been on bug hunts before, and he'd walked out scarred. Seemed the bastard things hated him for some reason. He had half a mind to pocket the hundred kay and walk, but he had a reputation of never backing down from a job. Wouldn't want to sully that rep.

Since he's eating for free, he orders a thick blue rare steak, and lobster. He adds to the order a Canadian Club and water, and informs the waitress to have another ready. When he's made his order, Immortal finally regards his peers.

`They call me Immortal, on account of I can't seem to be killed. Been on one or two of these hunts in the past, and I'll tell you they get nasty. Still, the cred ain't nothing to frown at, so consider me your bait. Damned bugs love me to death, usually theirs.`

He produces a hand wrapped cigarillo from his pocket, and a beat up lighter. Putting flame to the cigarillo, he takes a drag.

`I've got ordinance and a guy who can get me more. Just give the word and I'll put a call in.`

[A Clockwork Lime]

[Shadow]

"Once we have the money secured, I suggest we exchange contact information and meet at a secure location. If no one has a suggestion for one, I have a place that will do, it isn't fancy, but it is secure. By the way, I will be the entry specialist. I can bypass most maglocks and security systems. Stealth and guile are my thing. I can also handle myself in combat, either with a pistol or an SMG. Immortal, I am going to need you ordinance guy though, 'cause my standard load isn't going to be appropriate for this run."

As he finishes the last part the door opens and in walks the waitress. She sits a stand down beside the table and places a massive tray on it. Two other waiters come in and fill the tray with the ordered food. One by one they pass out the ordered food and wine. Shadow smiles as he pours himself a glass of wine. He sips it appreciatively and inhales the smell. "Nothing like good wine."

[Grey]

Thirty minutes later, Miss Young returns carrying a large metal case in each arm. She hefts them up onto the table and smiles.

"There you are. If you need anything or have anything to report, contact me at the number on this chip. On the chip you will also find a map of the location."

She turns then and takes her leave.

[TinkerGnome]

Warpath ignored the cases for a while, more intent on finishing the large mound of half-raw meat in front of him. Mentally, he tried to figure out what he was going to do with the money. What he didn't need to use in prep for the op needed to go somewhere safe that it could be wired to his grandmother in case of his demise.

The whole deal reeked of death, of course. And he could only hope that it wasn't his.