Charm City [IC] Options

[pbangarth]

Bongo chuckles at Tubesnake's muttering. "Brewster's going to have to pay you extra, Tubesnake, for fixing up his building."

[Koekepan]

"Awww, he doesn't have to. It's all good. Only difference is, if he pays, I do it to his plans. If he doesn't, I do what I like. So - didja say you wanted a bolt on the bedroom door? I could install a mirrored ceiling too, and a custom headboard for a bed with a mini-bar integrated behind panels. A music player, and custom hidden speakers in the walls and rails for velvet curtains for when you want to do some entertainin'."

Maybe Paul has Bongo all wrong. Still, a tradesman has to make his pitches where he finds them.

[pbangarth]

"Thanks, Tubesnake, but this place will be all business for me. And really, there would be very little privacy no matter how many curtains you put in. But a bolt on the door would be good."

Bongo looks around at present company. "It looks like Brewster has assembled a pretty large team. Any idea whether there is anyone else to come?"

[Koekepan]

Paul whistles quietly to himself while trekking back out to his van and starts pulling stock of algae-derived synthply panels. Cheaper than real wood by a wide margin, but every bit as strong. Slap paint on it, and nobody need ever know.

First job: cut some to match the fresh hole next to the front door, and craft a hidden cabinet that isn't a grade school attempt at an ashtray. Out comes the jobsite saw, and it whines high and loud as it cuts for a minute. Add a spring-loaded latch, a hidden hinge, and he heads back to the front door with his tools and an electro-setting glue tube.

[Seth]

There was a knock on the door. A small human looking girl stood there accompanied by a Transys Steed that apart from a nasty looking assault rifle bolted on it looked like it was being used to carry all the girls world possessions, which weren't many. The girl looked clean and quite pretty. Her long blue hair which looked 'natural' was well cared for. Probably the girl was a teenager. Hard to tell if she was actually that old. Her Urban Jumpsuit looked brand new and shiny as though it had just been bought. Perhaps worryingly she wasn't carrying any weapons, although maybe the Transys Steed made up for it.

"Hi" the girl said looking a little nervous "Brewster sent me. He said you needed a decker. Do you mind if I get off the street: it's scary here. Those Homeboyz were very helpful guiding me here, but I was a little worried. They were making all sorts of jokes which I didn't really get. At least I think they were jokes. I'm Angel 316 by the way. Nice to meet you"

Image and decription: https://www.rpol.net/gameinfo.php?gi=77757&...n&ci=378201

[ Spoiler ]

I wasn't sure how to roll die, so I just used a die roller I have access to https://www.rpol.net/usermodules/diceroller...date=1691167494. Let me know the 'proper' way (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Machinie spirit rank 3 with 1 service (do a diagnostics on the Transys Steed)
18:44, Today: Angel 316 rolled 4 successes using 13d6 with the Shadowrun 4th ed system with a target of 5 with rolls of 3,3,2,2,5,2,6,1,3,6,2,3,5. resist fading.
18:44, Today: Angel 316 rolled 1 success using 6d6 with the Shadowrun 4th ed system with a target of 5 with rolls of 4,4,3,3,2,6. resist compiling.
18:44, Today: Angel 316 rolled 2 successes using 11d6 with the Shadowrun 4th ed system with a target of 5 with rolls of 5,4,1,6,4,3,3,2,4,3,4. Compileing a force 3 machine spirit.

[ Spoiler ]

[Koekepan]

Paul peers around the doorjamb, impact driver in one hand, screw in the corner of his mouth. He's not much taller than her, but considerably broader. He gives her a brief once-over, eyes the Steed and nods affably. Around the screw he says: "Hiya. Welcome to the party, c'mon in, take a load off. I'm just fixing the place up. I'm Tubesnake, by the way. Ya want hot soycaf?"

He half-kicks, half-nudges the front door fully open and gives her and her wheelchair ample room to enter. Various bits and bobs including a toolbox sit around him, and he has one hand holding up a nice, neat, clean, square box into a cavity into the wall. His ballcap perches on the business end of a reciprocating saw in the end of the toolbox, but the rest is all flannel, jeans and boots.

And work gloves and goggles, because while safety might not come first it's a solid second.

[pbangarth]

Almost as if by magic, a knock comes at the door just after Bongo's question. He and Willie go to investigate, and Willie beams. "Angel! You're on the move. Come on in. Selina!" he shouts. "Come see. Angel is here with our gang."

"How ya doin'? You feelin' better after the escape?"

[Seth]

"Soycaf?" there was a look of displacement as Angel looked up the details on the Matrix "A non addictive and bitter beverage. Yes please I would like a 'hot soycaf' as long as the hot is within the limits of drinkability. I'm good to try anything not illegal and too fattening. " that last sounded as though she was copying something she'd heard. "'Take a load off'?" another moment of mild confusion followed by a "thank you Mr Tubesnake. I would like to sit down or lie down. Where would be suitable?"

A happy smile appeared on Angel's face as she saw Bongo "Mr Bongo! Yes thank you. I am very recovered. Although I am about to stop moving and 'take a load off'." Her Transys Steed moved over to the indicated place. "Mr Brewster didn't tell me very much about 'the job' other than to say 'it would be good for me', and 'you needed a Decker'."

[Koekepan]

Tubesnake quickly drives the screw into the box, fixing it to a stud, and then hustles over to his van. There he grabs a typical disposable cup, dispenses a dose and adds creamer before coming back, shutting the van on his way.

"Here ya go. Baltimore's functional fuel. Decker driver." While handing it over, he thinks a little, then dives into his tub of plastic fun, and pulls out one of the annelid crawlers. He flips the switch on it, and says: "Here ya go, you can play with this one, I just need it back when you're done."

[Seth]

Angel 316 took a careful sniff at the drink, and dipped the end of her finger in it, nearly spilling the drink as she took the finger out and shook it "Wow hot!". She looked quite pleased at not spilling it before licking the end of her finger and tried not to make a face. "Is there any mechanism for reducing the bitterness?" she asked curiously "I read that it's supposed to be 'as black as the Ace of Spades' but this looks quite pale in colour. "

"This is very pretty Mr Tubesnake" she put the drink down very carefully watching the liquid carefully so that she didn't cause a problem. She looked at it for a few moments obviously u before it began to move and walked onto her hand "Did you make it. It's lovely" Angel's voice was quite tired, she'd had a long day and done more walking than ... well ... forever

[ Spoiler ]

Sheesh... OK 1 success and 2 stun.
21:34, Today: Angel 316 rolled 5 successes using 11d6 with the Shadowrun 4th ed system with a target of 5 with rolls of 5,1,5,5,4,5,2,1,5,1,2. Compiling force 3 spirit for crawling.
21:35, Today: Angel 316 rolled 4 successes using 6d6 with the Shadowrun 4th ed system with a target of 5 with rolls of 4,5,6,2,5,6. Spirit resist.
21:35, Today: Angel 316 rolled 6 successes using 13d6 with the Shadowrun 4th ed system with a target of 5 with rolls of 6,1,3,4,4,5,6,6,5,4,3,1,6. Resist fading.

[Koekepan]

Tubesnake looks over his shoulder in between installing a hidden door on the new algaeply box. "Yeah, we can add sweetener, and the creamer makes it milder too - and pale. Check in that tool bucket and there's a tube of sugar next to the snack pail. Oh, the drone? Yeah, I make 'em. They help me inspect construction work. That model has a good set of sensors in its head so I can look for rot and vermin, plus the grippers."

[Seth]

"That's nice thank you. I'll see if I get used to it first" Angel 316 said and perched on the end of the couch, placing the drone back on a table where she could admire it "I am not very skilled at controlling drones" she commented.

"Do you mind if I explore the house's system. Brewster said it's not polite to do that kind of thing without asking. He was quite upset when I asked him was in the secret folder marked with a 'P', because I didn't understand it. He said when I grew up I would. I mean I didn't look at his secret accounts because he asked me not to. Is there anything I shouldn't look at here?" Angel was exploring the soycafe as she said this. Finally adding a little sugar from the tube

[Thanee]

Selina follows the commotion and nods towards the blue-haired girl. Pretty young, but if Brewster had selected her for the team, there would be a reason for it, obviously. And looks can deceive, as she very well knew.

"Hello and well met, Angel... three... sixteen? I'm Selina."

The blonde elf is fairly small, and like most elves quite attractive. She is dressed in a tight-fitting black bodysuit. And she definitely knows how to carry herself.

"Do those numbers stand for anything specific?" she asks.

[Seth]

"Hello Selina. That's right. Or just three one six. Or Angel. Mr Brewster said Angel three one six was too long for most people" Angel 316 greeted the mage

"Well there were three hundred and fifteen before me. According to the records I found. Only ten of us were successful experiment. The others suffered critical systems failure during our upbringing. So perhaps they weren't successful experiments after all. Two four one was my friend, but he failed four months ago. That's when I decided it was good idea to make sure the experiment ended, and hired Mr Brewster to extract me and shut down the facility. I think I'm the last Angel. I hope so. It's a little strange out here" Angel looked at the drink and took a sip. It was now cool enough and sweet enough

"Some things are nice. Some strange and some not nice. Are you a magician? I've not met a magician before"

[Koekepan]

Tubesnake chuckles while testing the spring-loaded door he's just installed on the box by the front door, and bringing out a can of white patchpaint.

"Feel free, if you can find one. Far as I know so far, there isn't one. If you c'n prove any different, let us all in on the secret. All I found was basic stuff; maglocks and the like. I was actually playing with the idea of making this place spider-ready, but I'm not sure how much cash we'd need to do that. I'd have to quote it up."

[pbangarth]

Bongo picked up on the girl's fatigue. "Hey, all. Some of us have found a place to call our own in this place. Newcomers still need to do so. I think some could use a bit of rest after travelling here, so how about we take a break for a few hours, find a free room, and just chill, take a nap, that sort of thing.

"I don't know if we are all that Brewster has pulled together, but I suspect once we are all here, he will start finding us work. How about we all meet at 5 pm and talk about supper?"

[sunnyside]

The group of gangers have been conspicuously trying to focus on their game, but they have been drifting over towards 711 as the day goes on and things get stranger. Apparently a full shop operating is kicking off at the place, and now there's the wheelchair.

The Ork gangers stand over by the bike, speaking in low enough voices they couldn't be heard, except for Fiona who is right there. The skinny one says.

"Kind of a basic bike. But I like this cat thing on it. Sort of like a bust-a-move but a lot better done. I like the lady too, maybe nice as a neighbor."

Another says "You saw her for a couple seconds. Same as most of the rest. But this is our turf, and we're supposed to be keeping an eye on the place. Maybe the cut is drek, but I still don't want to have to explain why a bunch of fragging chipheads ran off with their gear or cat drones or whatever. They keep eying this stuff."

The Skinny one replies "Well, tell them to move all their stuff out back, especially if they're going to have visible weapons and drek. You know those bitches over at Saint Francis Academy would make trouble if they wander over here. "

The other thinks a second and replies. "Look, I'm not in this to sound like a worried bitch myself to a bunch of smugglers or runners or whatever. They can deal with their own damn business, so long as their place isn't getting busted into. Just keep your eyes open so folks remember this is Homeboyz turf and in case anybody wants to do some biz. "

[Seth]

"A little rest would be nice" Angel 315 agreed "Walking was very hard. I need to practice more, but perhaps not so much at once. I think the Eigenvector calculation is quite complex. Biological systems are quite hard to model. So many semi-independant variables. Still while a little suboptimal, I think the current upgrade path for my organic components is working"

"I'm looking forward to being useful again. What kind of 'work' do you think Mr Brewster will offer? If it's anything like getting me out then it will be violent. I'm not very good with violent. But I'm sure there is more to work than just being violent"

[Thanee]

"So, I'm a drone now..." Fiona related the rest of the conversation to Selina, who suddenly starts to giggle for no apparent reason.

When the others look at her, she just shakes her head. "Sorry, guys! Fiona just told me what the gangers out front are talking about. Maybe I should go and move my bike, they seem a bit worried, if it is parked out there."

"Angel, they also mentioned your ride, and they seem not too thrilled about the visible weapon on it. So, better to move it somewhere out of sight."

The elf then heads to the front door.

[pbangarth]

Willie responds to Angel, "Don't worry kid. If you recall, I can handle the violent end of things. You can do the sneaky electro-hacking stuff if I recall. We got a pretty diverse group here, so it might be we get all kinds of work." Willie thinks he used the word 'diverse' correctly.

Bongo follows Selena outside. If greetings/clearing-things-up are required, that's his job.

[Koekepan]

Tubesnake hears this, and nods to himself. He goes to his tub of fun and hauls out one of the shankworms, hitting the power button to activate it while he does so. Then, while he tells it to stroll down to the van, he leans on the doorjamb to see how things go with Selena and Bongo.

After all, he does have a couple of other options tucked away in the van, but people don't need to worry about those yet.

[pbangarth]

When Bongo steps out of the house he sees the gaggle of gangers nearby. He walks over to them at an easy pace, as if he were an old acquaintance. "Good day, men. My name's Bongo Slade. Brewster said you would keep things under control around here. I see you are right on the job. Thanks. Is there anything we should be on the lookout for?"

[Seth]

"Oh I see" Angel said at the comment on the gun "Mr Brewster said I had to be careful and there's only me. I'll take it off we go out again. No problem at all"

"The Homeboyzs were kind of nice and kind of scary. I think they were teasing me." she nodded seriously at the 'you can do the electro-hacking stuff' "I'll try. Which is a good room for me, or should I just sleep in the Steed. It's surprisingly comfortable in there"

[sunnyside]

The gangers are already fairly close to the door.

The slender one gives a smile, aimed more at Selena than Bongo, but the one who speaks seems to always wear a casual toothy scowl.

" I'm Angelo, this is Slim, and the guys watching our backs are Bogey and Bandit

Your associate pays because it's our turf and he's smart enough to understand that. We keep things under control because that's what we do. But we ain't your super or no small claims court.

Now I'm sure your tough and all even with your basic rides, but sometimes a chip head ain't scared of nothin if you leave your shit just sitting around.
"

[Thanee]

"That's cool! It's good to know that we can expect you having things under control here."

"I just arrived, actually, and still needed to figure out where the parking is. But surely you can show me where to properly leave the bike, right?" Selina replies.

"Until then, my friend here has been keeping an eye on it."