[IP] Panzerknacker Options

[Volker]

"Gesundheit?"

[Gilga]

Anna frowned "Fine... but do not underestimate the connection from helping someone. Let's see how it goes - perhaps we'd like a dog of our own to walk down the park?"

[SquirrelDude]

Slobber blinked, made a face and then said, "We do have a dog," while gesturing to Zelda. She happily barked.

"Though actually, that's a pretty wiz idea. Take Zelda out for a walk, she would like that." Zelda barked again. "While your out, go chat up Mrs. Spider with her dog and ask about whatever breed she has to break the ice. Then use your natural charm to get more information about Mr. Spider.

"You know, like a sane human who doesn't need to steal dogs to make friends."

[Gilga]

"You really would trust me with Zelda? What breed is she? How old is she, what is he favorite color... Does she have any children?"

[SquirrelDude]

"Trust you with her? Where would you run to if you screwed up?"

"She's a Tibetan Mastiff. She isn't very old, but we're not sure because she was rescued from some abusive owners. Her favorite color is obviously green. As for kids.."

Slobber looked Zelda in the eyes. She turned her head sarcastically.

"No kids."

Photo of Zelda dressed up when the team had Karaoke night.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/kOvOAi8.jpg[/img]

[Volker]

"Then let's do it!"

bnc quickly does some research on dog-related topics, creates a handy file with all the important data to impersonate someone who likes dogs, and forwards it to Anna.
Then she goes to her room to dress like a normal person.

[Gilga]

"Okay, I can work with that and with the trivia stuff of bnc. I'll switch into something for jogging and take her for a walk with bnc...
With that Anna left for her room and switched to tight running ware. The kind of stuff she would wear to the Gym. It was not long before the two of them left to the park.

[Jack_Spade]

The park turned out to be surprisingly well kept - the grass was green, the remaining leafs on the trees red and yellow. Various corp drones used the place to enjoy what passed for nature in the city during the few hours of free time they could eek out from their daily grind.

It didn't take long for the team to locate the girlfriend. She was just bending over to pick up a little present with an inside out shopping bag that her young Beagle had left for her in the short grass.
She looked tired and a short look in the astral revealed that she was probably fighting against a beginning cold.

[Gilga]

Anna walks Zelda down the park and then let her run free. She waits for the right moment and then comments "That is a good looking beagle, is he purebred?"

[Jack_Spade]

The woman looked up and smiled - even though it looked a bit strained:
"Oh no, Snoops came from a shelter - it's pure coincidence that his Beagle genes are coming forward so prominently."

She took a look at Zelda and her eyes became big: "Is that a real Fu dog?

[ Spoiler ]

An etiquette test please to keep the conversation going

[Gilga]

"Zelda is a Tibetan Mastiff, but we got her from the shelter as well... previous owners abused her but she is recovering. Terrible what some people are capable of... "

[ Spoiler ]

Ettiquete: 9d6t5 2

[Jack_Spade]

"Oh, how nice. It's not easy to keep a real pet nowadays, but Snoops is definitely worth the effort."
As if to underscore that sentence, the Beagle came bounding back to his owner and barked happily for some head scratches
The woman seemed to have warmed up to Anna, as she extended a hand and said: "I'm Annita by the way."

[Gilga]

"Bobbie, short for Roberta... Nice to meet you." she smiled. "He is so cute... can I stroke him?" Anna sat and stroke the beagle, briefly. "It is not easy with dogs... I wish I had more time for Zelda, but I am so busy with work, my girlfriend actually takes care of her most of the time. She is between jobs now."

[Jack_Spade]

"Ah, yeah, I know how that is. Between my job, Snoops and my boyfriend's weird shifts I barely find any time for anything anymore."
Anna noted that, Annita was quick to point out that she has a friend, but didn't seem to be put off by her.

[Gilga]

"Well, we need steal every precious moment we have because there aren't many."

[Jack_Spade]

"Too true. Speaking of which I think I should be going now or I won't speak my boyfriend not at all before he vanishes into his matrix games. Nice meeting you Roberta."
Annita said, clipping her leash back on Snoops.

[Gilga]

Anna grinned "He sounds just like my girlfriend - she submerges in there for hours." She hesitated for a second and then said " I know it is strange, but perhaps you'd like to meet sometime? We can get a cup of coffee while we walk the dogs."

[Jack_Spade]

"Oh, coffee. Yeah that would be nice. Yeah, a nice hot cup of soycaf." She sniffled a bit. "You know what, that sounds like an even better idea right now. There is a really nice place just down the street."

While you walked to the coffee bar, she asked: "What does your girlfriend do? I mean professionally."

[Gilga]

Anna seems happy to talk about her 'girlfriend' "Well... She is brilliant and wants to be a security spider. Problem is, she does not have the right connections to do so. She is originally from Europe you see, so things work differently there." She grimaced "Frankly, I just want her to have something to get off that sofa for. She spends most of the day in the matrix and it feels like she is in a different world. "

[Volker]

"Yeah, because someone has to get some food on the table when you do you art exhibitions and vernissages and drink wine with men double my age."
Even the most bnc-ish way to talk, a mocking, grumpy, insensitive style, just feels a bit different with the spell woven around her. The moment she enters the scene, one can feel her presence. What she said, appeared more like a friendly joke than an actual reproach. It somehow sounded casual, more teasy than angry. Something even made bnc smile - was it the spell or just the unusual reaction her appearance caused?

"I'm Ruth." bnc bites her tongue. She almost said "nice to meet you". This thing indeed does work like a drug. Careful, bnc, don't start liking people.
Still, she extended a hand and offered an awkward (yet somehow charming) smile.

[Jack_Spade]

"Oh, hallo. I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here too. I didn't mean to abduct your partner.
Nice to meet you Ruth. Are you two living around here?"
Annita replied

[Gilga]

Anna grinned apologetically at bnc mumbling "Sorry..." then she gave the two enough space to talk.

[Volker]

"Never mind, you can keep her, as long as you return her in time to prepare dinner.
Not quite. It takes us more than ten minutes, using public transport. Fifteen, more likely. Did I interrupt your conversation? I hope I didn't spoil her talking on and on about that finger nail painting channel or how gorgeous her ass looks in that new smartfibre dress I bought her last week..."
Again, a short ice-breaking smile appears on her lips. To underline her words, she grabs Anna's buttocks firmly, than casually lays a hand on her shoulder.
Jeez, this is weird. I can get used to that, though...

[Jack_Spade]

Annita seemed to be a bit intimidated by bnc's brash words, but recovered quickly with a smile that belayed her marketing background:
"Oh I see. I was just wondering if you recently moved here to get a job. Roberta told me you are currently looking for something. What is your field of expertise?
In our firm we are always on the lookout for matrix environment designers as well as AR-fashion creators."
The group reached the soycafe and Annita hustled inside with Snoops on her heels.
A large soy-latte with extra cream and syrup later she continues:
"I have to admit matrix stuff totally goes over my head. My boyfriend always tries to teach me these matrix tricks, but it always feels so condescending, so I only nod and say "uh-hu" every so often until he stops."

[Volker]

"You are?"
She lightens up. "I haven't dug deep into any field of expertise, but you'll see that I learn real quick. I'd consider myself as somewhat of a specialist in security. To be frank, back in Austria I learned a lot about the topic ... from the other perspective.
I mean, I think I could do environemnt design as well. I have some experience in clear and comprehensible layout, communication, project management, team coordination. But what I'm really pro at, is fending off people like me."

She grins. "What is your job, exactly?"