[X] My Assistant

[Koekepan]

It all depends upon the definition of "nearby", but a ten minute drive? Sure. There are bars aplenty in the SeaTac area, and hotels likewise (no surprise considering all the air traffic that still scoots in and out of there on a daily basis) and they are just a drive up the hill away. Of course, the view from Cedar Ridge View is partly of devastation's wreckage, but when did that ever stop broke young sararimen?

[pbangarth]

""" Well, it looks like there are new houses up on Cedar Ridge, and bars not too far away. Why don't we go and see if we can re-house Madel without setting off any alarms, and then go have a drink and meet your guy? """

[Bastard]

That sounds like a good plan, so the two head off to re-house Madel.

[pbangarth]

As they travel to the new subdivision, Blue considers potential obstacles. """ We will have to break in to whatever house we choose, so it might pay off to try to find a new home less covered by whatever security cameras, etc. might be installed. I'll think about how a spirit might help conceal us as we perform our skulking reno. """

[Koekepan]

It's pretty much what a knowledgeable observer of the area would expect:

A chunk of steep hillside overlooking the Kent valley and the volcanic landscaping that it involved, has been logged, terraced, supported by retaining walls and piles, and a housing development is being constructed. However, per the usual practice of developers in the region, phase 1 has already been sold and is inhabited by whomever found themselves with barely enough money to buy a chunk of property with a fancy-looking slice of kit-built home hownership perched on top. Phase 2, about three times the size of Phase 1, is not yet wired up but the houses are largely up, and there are lots of little SOLD markers to be found. A larger sign promises move-in dates starting on the first of April, so it's imminent. Phase 3 still has logging equipment parked among alders and douglas-firs taller than the houses.

[Beta]

sorry, wrong thread

[Bastard]

Discussing the choices with Blue, Karma asks about houses with garages. Many of them have a side entrance, with lower quality locks, and maybe that would be a good option. The new homeowner might not notice it as quickly, or may just keep it.

[pbangarth]

""" That's a great idea. Maybe even less likely to be watched or set with sensors. I think I'll summon another city spirit to make us harder to be detected as we sneak around. """

[ Spoiler ]

Summon F2 city spirit (keep the drain light while in the middle of things) keeping it astral for the time being
Target 2, Conjuring 5 + owl 2= 7dice: 6 successes
Resist Drain, target 2(L), CHA 4 + owl 2 = 6dice: 5 successes no Drain

[Koekepan]

Most of these houses have garages. Of course, there's a projection system that displays typical floorplans for prospective buyers, and the basic plan is: garage on the ground floor. The builders are laying grid power into the roads right from the start, so the wageslaves who live here can run their little electric transport bubbles straight from their garage into the garage of their employers, and nap on the way. Right next to the garage, connected by an internal door, is a kitchen area with a standard spot for mechanised food dispensing equipment, plus all the usual refrigeration stuff. This has a sort of open-plan run into a dining/entertainment area, connecting to a small half-bath, a door to the front and a door to the back. The front meets the road, while the back depends on whether it's the downhill side of the house or uphill. If it's downhill, then the back door is a sliding door onto a patio built onto the piles that hold the building firmly on the steep slope that forms the ground here, and if it's uphill then it goes into a sort of furnished basement that they coyly refer to as Dad's Cave, in the plans.

From the joint entertainment area a stairway leads up, with an option for replacement with an elevator for the disabled, installed by appointment with HuangBilt. Bedrooms and bathrooms and so on exist up there.

[Bastard]

Blue directs Karma to the development area and there they look for a house that would be easy to make the quick remodel.

[Koekepan]

There's a house on a sort of corner of a winding road. It has been built, and the fitting is still under way. The desperate duo could easily slip out, use a screwdriver to replace the lock and slip back in to the relative anonymity of the vehicle on a newly-constructed road.

It's new enough, and busy enough that there are no vagrants in sight, nor are there established squatters, nor easy access for the roaming inhabitants of the wreckage in the valley.

There are however some cheap plastic flyers fluttering in the breeze, that advertise an orkish rights movement. Apparently what chaps their respective hides today is that they want age-of-consent laws rewritten for metahuman subgroups, appropriate to biology. Age 10 for ork girls, is apparently their stated demand. That, and a strong requirement for universally accessible housing. How they intend to make housing and facilities simultaneously accessible to dwarves and trolls is not clearly delineated in this pamphlet.

[Bastard]

"""Do you want me to keep the car hot while you do the work, or do you want me to go with you?"""

[pbangarth]

"""Yeah, if you can hand me the tools necessary to replace the building's lock, I'll do it while you keep an eye out here. I'll have the spirit conceal us as long as I am outside the building. If I can do an outside lock, it will stay with us, otherwise it will disappear as soon as I step inside. """ Blue calls to the spirit.

::: Conceal us both, and the vehicle, as I move. :::

He takes the tools Karmakaze offers, and the lock and key, and heads over to the building they selected.

[Bastard]

Karma steps out of the car, finding a small tree to stand next to near by, giving herself a sliver of cover, but more importantly, allowing her a good vantage point over both ends of the road. Also, the new wired reflexes make it difficult to sit in the car doing nothing.

[Koekepan]

Blue moves into the building, and starts to wrestle with screws and placement. Things start out going swimmingly, and then he realises that the lock he brought isn't a perfect match for the hollow left by the one he's ripping out. In a perfect world he'd have a chisel or similar tool to cut out the interfering bits, but a flathead screwdriver tip and some profanity will help to chip away the cheap composite material making up the door's core.

Outdoors, Karmakaze takes advantage of the tree's cover to keep most of the drizzle off her head, and its trunk to cut the breeze which wants to take a shortcut right through her. It's like old times on a stakeout.

Things are quiet enough in this area that even fairly distant traffic is easy to hear, starting with the sub-bass rumble from I-5. But the rustle of rubber on a moist road and the soft squeak of brakes tells her that someone is moving around. A late househunter?

From his position, Blue can neither see nor hear anything but the whisper of the breeze through the construction site and the chipping away at the door. But at least he's not being drizzled upon.

[pbangarth]

Blue curses his carelessness when packing to leave his home forever. +++ Sure. Learn how to use a knife, and then don't bring one with you. +++ He carves the door as evenly and neatly as possible with what he has on hand, and then inserts the old lock. Screws go in next. Once it's in, it doesn't look too bad. Hopefully Madel will be able to suffuse the entire building after she has been here a while, and the old lock that will look out of place under close inspection will no longer be necessary.

+++ No idea how long it will take for her to be at home here. Can't wait around, though. Let's see if she responds. +++

Blue attempts to summon Madel, opting for the lowest Force possible. No point stretching her so early.

[ Spoiler ]

Summon F1 hearth spirit.
Target 2 (minimum) Conjuring 5 + Owl 2 = 7 dice: 7 successes
Resist Drain 2(L), CHA 4 + Owl 2 = 6 dice: 5 successes No Drain.

[Bastard]

Karma trusts Blue's ability on bringing spirits, but not being able to see it, makes it hard to believe it 100%. She keeps her position at the tree, but her hand is on the pistol as she looks for the source of the sound.

[Koekepan]

Karmakaze sees a vehicle slowly crawling down the steeply banked street, through the skeleton of new construction.

No, wait, it's a drone. A drone the size of a small car, typically used by security services. At a guess, it's patrolling on behalf of the construction company to identify and eject vagrants, squatters and other trouble-makers. She's not sure, in the lighting conditions, exactly which model it might be but there are half a dozen on the market at least. Many of them can also convey personnel, but that costs extra and seems unlikely. No telling where the rigger might be.

Blue listens intently, quiet as a hunting owl. Everything outside seems preternaturally quiet. Then, small impressions reach him. A whiff of lavender. The sound of a slipper scuffing on a floor. Is that the click of a FlayvrVayp button?

[pbangarth]

That's all Blue needs to know Madel has a chance. ::: There you go, Madel. I hope this new home heals you and becomes yours. Take care of whoever comes to live here. Maybe I'll come back sometime and have a visit. :::

He gathers up the tools and steps outside, messaging Karmakaze, <<<Successful.>>>. As soon as he is outside, he summons a city spirit to replace the one that left.

[ Spoiler ]

Summon F4 city spirit: target 4, Conjuring 5 + Owl 2 = 7 dice: 3 successes
Resist Drain target 4(M) CHA 4 + Owl 2 = 6 dice: 4 successes YES! No Drain!

[Bastard]

Karmakaze doesn't check the message. She is keeping a close eye on the drone.

As Blue approaches Karma points out the issue.

"""Hurry. There is a sec drone patrolling right there. We need to get out of here."""

[Koekepan]

As the drone moves down the street and into full view, Karmakaze can clearly read the HuangBilt Construction branding on it. It's a cinch that Jeremy Huang is charging big to secure the building site, and making a pretty penny off it. Is he moving into a security sideline? It wouldn't be his first business adventure, nor his second.

[pbangarth]

Rapidly assessing the situation, Blue commands the spirit, speaking as he does so to inform Karmakaze, and framing in his mind the images of himself, Karmakaze, and the vehicle, """::: Conceal my friend and me and our vehicle from all who would espy us.:::"""

Then he heads to the vehicle, ducking tree to tree, shrub to shrub, shadow to shadow.

[Koekepan]

The drone does change direction at the curve in the street, and cruises in the direction of Karmakaze's car. Presumably that's the most obvious anomaly. But there are no alarms, no sirens, no flashing lights nor blared warnings.

In particular, there's no sign of immediate interest in Blue and Karmakaze as such.

[pbangarth]

As nonchalantly as he can, Blue goes to the car and enters the passenger side front, glancing ahead, and then behind the car, as if looking for traffic. ::: Stay close. I may need you shortly. :::

[Koekepan]

At this opportune juncture, Blue's 'link chirps with a message. It's Billy.

<<<Hoi, I got a little news for you. Jeremy's kinda torqued off about his boys you gacked, but you're worth more to him, slid on a platter to Mitsu. If not, you're just better off as dead meat. You should give up easy. It'll hurt less and you'll live longer.>>>