Behind the Crown [IC], Behind the crown are shadows Options

[pbangarth]

""" If she is being held by those people, I think I might enjoy breaking her out. It seems I, maybe we, might become a thorn in their side. """

Trading a triple A corporate enemy for an extremist policlub enemy? Why not?

[Koekepan]

It's not a long drive to Nordicaf. It's a little stand with a tired asphalt parking lot around it. It looks as if it were built in 2000, and barely redecorated and rebranded since then. One side has a walk-up counter for whoever copes best with the Seattle weather, bicyclists and the like, and the other is drive-through. The stand has a sort of stylised norse high pitched roof, and a couple of stylised viking battle axe silhouettes in its branding. A little too on-the-nose? Maybe. But at least you know what you're getting.

It's not too busy right now, with customers sort of trickling through.

[pbangarth]

""" Looks like the walk up counter if we want to have a chat, right? """

[Bastard]

Karmakaze walks up to the counter with Blue.

"""Hello. Do you guys have a special? And do you have anyone here who was part of the old neighborhood watch?"""

[Koekepan]

Karmakaze's rather unsubtle approach produces a rapid succession of expressions on the person at the window: curiosity, followed by glad agreement, followed by wariness.

"""Uh, sure. Special today is herbal mocha with a shot of cool mint."""

There is no follow-up statement on the watch, but the barista takes a glance over her shoulder.

[pbangarth]

Blue tries to see who the server might be looking at over her shoulder.

[Koekepan]

Blue doesn't immediately see anything there; the other side of the little coffee shop from the walk-up are is the drive-through area, and while there is a car there, it doesn't look like anything special or memorable. Just some slot's ride to the saltmines.

Inside, the shop is packed with everything that the trade demands; water and electricity supplies lead to automated delivery systems, grinders, push-button arrangements for everything from espresso steam sources to cold brew drip management machinery. It's all arranged so that the barista can deliver the maximum enhanced water with a minimum of time and effort spent. Honestly, a halfway-decent software agent could run this show. The human is largely there for a combination of nostalgia and trouble-shooting.

While Blue contemplates these facts, the car's slot is served a disposable cup, and Karmakaze gets direct attention once more.

[pbangarth]

Bouncing around in the back of Blue's consciousness is the fact that he hasn't cast a spell or summoned a spirit in almost half a day. Back in the Biozu days he was an almost constant conduit of mana. It feels weird.

"""I'll go for one of those specials. Never had that before. """

[Bastard]

"""I will have the special as well. Mint chocolate sounds delicious."""

Karmakaze produces another one of her business cards and hands it to the barista.

"""I am a PI, and I am hoping someone who was on the watch previously might have information on a cold case we are working. I don't think the current guard is going to be very helpful."""

[Koekepan]

The barista starts with the specials. Apparently the herbal mocha involves lavender in addition to the mint, and this blend of scents is puzzling to the nose.

While doing this, the barista gives Karmakaze a few sidelong glances, and finally says: """Yeah, OK. Uh, whaddya wanna know? I mean, the old watch is done, right?"""

[Bastard]

"""Maybe. Or maybe that is temporary. PoliDemos is involved in some sketchy business that might get them removed from the area, depending on what we can find.

"""I suspect them in the disappearance of my subject. A young woman, about 5'4" human with shoulder length blonde curly hair, with a slim but curvy body. She may have been working as an escort.

"""Do you know of anyone like that, or where they would take someone of her profession? Some sort of jail or relocation?"""

[pbangarth]

Blue would like to call Billy at this point to see if he has come up with anything regarding their questions, but not here. Not while they are static.

+++ Man, I am running low on these burners again. +++

[Koekepan]

The barista frowns a little, while still pressing buttons and dispensing liquids into cups.

"""Careful with code like that, scan? Parrots have eyes and ears. B stock gets sold to wholesalers."""

After that gnomic response, the barista turns to the vehicle side of the kiosk and hands over a couple of cups. Then she turns back to Karmakaze and hands over two specials. Thin wisps of vapour rise from the mouthpieces.

[pbangarth]

Blue's eyes fog over at those cryptic comments. +++ What planet am I on? +++

[Bastard]

"""Copy."""

She hands the barista her card while saying, """Maybe I can find the answers I am looking for elsewhere, but maybe we can have lunch or drinks later."""

[Koekepan]

The barista looks taken aback for a moment; as convenient as they can be, cards are definitely an older way of doing things in this era of copied data, but with a swift motion she swipes it up and tucks it under her shirt, into her bra.

That can't be comfortable.

Anyway, she nods. """I'll link you later. Coffee OK?"""

[Bastard]

"""Yes. Thank you."""

[Koekepan]

The barista turns back to the next car in line, and gets back to work. Overhead, the clouds are clearing a bit and the wind is freshening. There's a smell of seaweed coming up from the direction of Elliott Bay, even stronger than the stinks of the intervening city. In this coastal city it's easy to remember that the change in the world brought a resurgence of natural growth.

[Bastard]

Karma finds a street side table to take their coffees to. The ocean breeze is a welcome change to the wet cement and smog aromatics of most of the city.

"""We might as well enjoy a 10 minute break, while we wait on some of our contacts to get back to us. Maybe we can put some more load on your decker friend? Maybe he can locate the poli police and jail locations."""

[pbangarth]

""" Once we are ready to leave, I can call Billy to see if he has anything on the items in your list I sent him. Maybe he can find out if there is a local chapter of our friendly, new policlub. We can also check out the Students of Justice, who might be working for Polidemos. Then there is the delivery service that could have done the actual snatch of Daisy.

"""Lots for us to look into. While we sip and think here, I'll summon a spirit to accompany us on our rounds."

[ Spoiler ]

Summon F2 city spirit. Target 2 + daytime 2 =4, 6 dice: 5 successes
Resist Drain. Target 4 (L), 4 dice: 2 successes ==> no Drain

""" I have one, with some services owed. """

::: Thank you for answering my call. Please stay nearby. :::

"""Once we can get to some place without witnesses, as the spirit has to come into our plane to affect things here, I can ask it to protect us and our vehicle from accidents. """

[Koekepan]

The spirit arrives in the form of old wrappers and trash blown on a slow-whirling eddy of air and spray and vapours. Its voice is the low roar and rumble of wind in the skyscrapers and distant traffic.

There is nothing back from Billy on his own, as of yet.

[pbangarth]

"""I feel like we should head away from here so I can contact Billy; to see if he has found anything related to your list we sent him. Maybe he will know of a local chapter of PoliDemos, or where the former watch was housed."""

Blue is itching for dusk to come. He's itching to know if Mitsuhama has called off the hunt. He's also itching to get on with the search for Daisy, as every passing hour makes finding her less likely. That's a lot of Itchy and very little Scratchy.

[Bastard]

"""Agreed. Let's contact Billy and set up a meet if needed."""

[pbangarth]

Once the two have left the vicinity of the coffee bar, Blue dials up Billy with the burner phone he has used last. Of course, this, yet another, phone will be tossed as soon as the conversation is over.

"""Hoy, Billy. """ Blue congratulates himself on using a street term. """ Got anything for me? """

[Koekepan]

Blue's cheery words die on his lips when he realises that his burner is not connecting. In fact, his burner is indicating that it is failing to connect to Billy's.

Not for lack of signal; it's happily trying to sell Blue on tasty pancakes nearby, it would love to upgrade Blue to a long-term contract complete with a virtual girlfriend who is compliant with various add-on devices for Blue's personal gratification, and by the way did Blue know that Melony Michelson is coming to town? ... but nothing from Billy. Not even an option to leave a message.

Is Billy dead? Possibly - but that wouldn't imply that his phone's account wouldn't work. Did his phone fall into Puget Sound, or the sewers by way of his toilet? Maybe - but again, the account should still be live.