The Found Arcana - Eleventh Interlude - Seattle [IC] Options

[Gilga]

I replied to Edie, hoping she would not take advantage of it. "I was engaged to a lovely boy. I had my hopes and dreams, and it all shattered when his family pressured him to cancel the wedding. Feeling the pain of admitting it, I never mention Beaver because it is just a hole in my soul, but since Edie is vulnerable, I feel comfortable telling it. I think you have been lucky with Ron for all these years. I wanted nothing more than to have a meaningful relationship and a family. It still hurts to admit it, but this time, there is a beginning of acceptance in my tone.

[Tecumseh]

"Oh, you poor, poor soul!" Edie exclaims sympathetically to AM's story. "It's dreadful what people can do to one another, isn't it?" She gives AM a hug whether she likes it or not.

"We find our strength with others, whether that's family, or friends, or neighbors." She puts her arm around AM's shoulders (or tries to, as AM is now quite a bit taller than she was before) in a show of solidarity.

~~~

Hanging out with Bao a bit, it is confirmed that she does have a husband, whose name is Jason. Jason is from Taiwan and plays golf and tennis too. They're a young, athletic, and attractive couple that are rising in the corporate world. Together they have a young daughter, Lily, just a year old or so. If Bao is out golfing or running or playing tennis, it generally means that Jason is with their daughter, and vice versa. Lily is a cute little dumpling with a huge head of rich, black hair for a young child. The hair is also shockingly soft and luxurious. Bao says the secret is to shave the baby's head right when they're born, and the hair that regrows will be much finer than it would have been otherwise.

Lily is fascinated with Rachel. Lily's eyes follow Rachel whenever she's nearby.

~~~

Bobby goes to check on the squatters. Life is hard, as it always is in the alleyways, but the coming of spring makes this a little more manageable. The rain is still a concern, but at least April is no longer freezing cold outside.

"Does increase the ghoul attacks," admits Agnes, the older lady. "In the winter, they just scavenge the ones who freeze to death. Cleans up the streets, keeps the attacks on the living down, everyone wins. But in the spring, they start to hunt again."

[Thanee]

Rachel greets Bao's family in Mandarin. Not a native speaker by any means, but she is reasonably fluent. She does not remember, where she learned that, but she does know that Mandarin is also the main language spoken in Taiwan.

"Look at that little cutie. No wonder you look this good with those parents. You two must be very proud of your daughter! And rightfully so." She moves around a bit, as the little girl's eyes follow her every step. "She likes me, too, see?"

When they talk about sports, Rachel says: "I am still absolutely terrible at golf. I basically just started, but I will get there. Practice, practice, practice, right?"

[Tecumseh]

Bao and Jason are pleased to hear Rachel speak Mandarin. Jason also speaks Cantonese because the Canton Confederation is directly across the water from Taiwan.

"Same!" Bao says excitedly when Rachel tells her she starting to golf. "I just picked it up in the last month! I wanted to know what Jason was doing with his weekends..."

"The execs like to golf," Jason says. "I think it's silly, but it's how you get face time with the big wigs."

"I like the skirts," Bao says with a mischievous glint in her eye. "I buy a new one each time I go."

Jason rolls his eyes but smiles lovingly.

[Thanee]

"Yeah, I have seen that a bunch of the players fit that type. I guess, it's just the kind of activity these folks like. But it's always cool to see some younger players in the club as well. Otherwise, I tend to feel a little out of place there. As for the skirts, definitely have to agree with Bao on that one. Sorry, Jason! But, at least they are not that expensive, right?" Rachel smirks.

[Jack_Spade]

Bobby had taken his exit through the back garden - flying as a crow to visit the squatters, he once again wore a pair of flats hidden under a simple illusion.

"Yeah, the feral ghouls are a problem. I could organize a bunch of tasers for you. Legal stuff, but packs enough punch to take a typical ghoul down. It's not much, but a whole lot better than nothing. Meanwhile, keep your eyes and ears open - now that my company has relocated, I no longer have as much direct contact to the streets as I used to. So any rumors and news are welcome - especially where the gang activities are concerned. Now that the Halloweeners are once again decimated.
I'll come by tomorrow again with a bunch of tasers and some ammo."

[Gilga]

I naturally don't touch people unless I need to shake their hand or something. Though I can hug Edie, I lean down so she can hug me and return the hug. It feels strange but not unpleasant; I am just not used to it. "Do you have a family?" I ask Edie, perhaps trying to change the subject. I'm maybe a bit nervous that my mom will be joining me in Seattle next month, and there are many preparations to do.

[Tecumseh]

"The ones I buy are expensive, tee hee," Bao says, not looking the least bit guilty about it.

"Hey, I put a lot of work into these legs! I deserve to show them off! And if it's good for our careers?" She shrugs innocently. It turns out that Bao is in Finance and Jason is in Sales.

~~~

Edie shakes her head sadly. "No, my parents are gone. Ron and I never had children. Well, he had one from his first marriage, but she doesn't come around anymore now that he's gone.

"I guess that's why I spend so much time mothering the neighborhood!" she says bravely, seemingly oblivious to her real reputation as a noisy nag.

~~~

The squatters look skeptical about tazers.

"Don't you have to be, like, real close?" asks Agnes. "Kinda too late at that point. I mean, maybe as a last resort, but you really should be running."

The squatters are up in Snohomish. The Halloweeners split their time between Downtown and Redmond, so the squatters don't know much about the gang or its culling.

"You should bring us Uzis!" another squatter suggested.

"Yeah, we could be a gang!" another agrees.

The first one mimes shooting in the air. "BRRRRT! I'll be the Pigeon King!"

They like this plan a lot better than the taser plan.

[Jack_Spade]

Bobby shook his head and counted down on his fingers:

"First: You guys hunker down in alleys, under bridges and abandoned buildings. Short sightlines and small engagement ranges. If they are too close to run away, they are close enough for a taser to the face.
Second: Small firearms pack less punch than those modern tasers. You'd need to hit two or three times to get the same stopping power - time that you don't have when engaging with a ghoul in close quarters
Third: Automatic weapons require permits that you certainly won't get. Tasers are completely unregulated. If you are picked up by KE you don't want to have an illegal weapon on you.
Fourth: Beside stopping power, tasers circumvent most over the counter armor and even work to some degree against materialized spirits. They also slow down whoever they hit.
Fifth: You are all untrained and hang around in groups. Handing out automatic weapons is a sure fire way to get a serious friendly fire accident.
Sixth:..."
At that his middle finger came up again: "...I'm not a weapons dealer, so frag off with that bulldreck. I'll be back tomorrow with the tasers."

[Gilga]

I consider a brief moment to tell Edie about my mother, but I am uncertain; I want more vulnerability. So I nod sympathetically. "That you do..." I say with a hint of a smile. I want to speak with Shir about running, but well... as Bobby broke into her apartment and I live with him I think better of it. "I have had enough politics, do you want herbal tea?" I ask Edie, on my way out home.

[Tecumseh]

The squatters blow raspberries at Bobby.

"Man, you're just like the rest," says the first, waving him away.

"Yeah, always telling us what's best for us," agrees the second.

"Coming in here, lecturing us on how to live."

"You're just The Man, man!"

"Unless you're out here with us 24/7, you wouldn't understand."

"Nah, man."

They wander off, waving for Bobby to go away and leave them be. Agnes seems interested in a taser though.

~~~

"Oh!" Edit exclaims, surprised by the invitation.

"I don't know anything about herbal teas. You'll have to teach me! Do you have anything extra we can add to it?" Edie giggles mischeviously.

[Gilga]

"Come, I'll show you," I say and grab her hand. I give her a small tour of our hydroponic farm with youthful glee. We grow all our veggies here, . I automate most of the process, but nothing like fresh produce exists. " I cut leaves for tea, Mint and Lemongrass, and Aloysia and serve them with cookies. I make the mixture, let it sit in the hot water, and pour us glasses. " There is sugar if you like, and we can add Eral grey if you need a stronger taste." I hold the steaming glass and enjoy the steam as I sip the cup of tea. Perhaps the best thing I learned in magic education - well aside for well - magic. Who would have thought that with all the addictive mind-altering drugs, I'd stick with herbal tea?

I make small talk but do not get into more personal things. I don't normally speak much about my past and feel exposed enough.

[Tecumseh]

Edie intently studies the interior of the house, vacuuming up all the details to store away in her memory.

Edie makes a bit of a face at the first sip of tea, then adds quite a bit of sugar. She seems content with the results.

AM tries to avoid personal topics but Edie will not be deterred. "So what's your relationship with Robert?" she asks quietly so that nobody can overhear. "You can tell me."

[Gilga]

Bobby is family. I smile, thinking about all he has done for me. Do you like cats?

[Jack_Spade]

Bobby sighed and turned to Agnes: "Are they always so enthusiastic to alienate anyone trying to help? I'll come by tomorrow and bring you the gear.
I'll add some laser sights and some extra ammo so you can train."

[Tecumseh]

"We're all flawed," Agnes answers Bobby. "You don't get to be where we are without making some bad life decisions along the way. It's not just bad luck."

She nods to the two men leaving.

"They still have their pride. They use it as a life preserver, to keep themselves afloat in the storm. If that means biting the hand that feeds them, they will.

"Me? I've got no pride. It's a luxury I can't afford. If some of the tender-hearted souls want to pass out a sack lunch so they can go to sleep in their Bellevue mansions and feel good about themselves... well then that's just fine by me.

"But don't you be a tourist, neh? A bungee boss who bounces in, orders us all around, then bounces out. Be better than that."

[Thanee]

"You cannot ever have enough nice outfits, am I right? Well, to be honest, I only got one set at the moment. Maybe I should get at least a second one, for some change. It is a pretty fun sport, though, and I also like that you are outside in nature. We are so blessed, that we can live in a nice neighborhood, where you do not just see old concrete walls all around."

[Jack_Spade]

Bobby shrugged: "I'm not your boss - if you want automatics, I'm not stopping you from getting them. I'm not handing out charity either. I'm investing in you guys as a private detective. You have my commlink number - and a commlink. I support you, you support me. If your friends prefer to not do that, I won't bother them - simple as that."

[ Spoiler ]

Bobby will buy four Defiance Ex shockers w/ lasersights for a total of 375¥ + 20 shots each for a total of 475¥ for 1900¥ total.

Hopefully improving the connection rating a bit.

[Tecumseh]

"They'll probably help," Agnes tells Bobby. "It's just that they need a bit more diplomacy." She looks at him, skeptical if Bobby can provide that.

~~~

When AM asks if Edie likes cats, she gets weepy again.

"Oh, I'm sorry, it's not your fault," she says. "It's just that Ron had a tabby cat named Abbey. A silly thing that would lay outside in the rain, or flop over in the middle of the street when a car was coming. But Ron was so devoted to her..."

She dabs her eyes with a tissue and collects herself. "I suppose I married into cats," she concludes.

~~~

Bao and Jason seem to agree that life is pretty good. They do seem to have a certain bubble around them and they are somewhat ignorant about what goes on outside of it. If it isn't related to work, or Lily, or golf/tennis then they don't pay it much mind. The plight of metahumanity in the Sixth World? Let them eat cake.

[Gilga]

I spot Trouble eying us suspiciously and send happy thoughts their way. I never decided if spirits have genders; many seem to have, but what does it mean if they are not biological like us? Trouble has my entire memory, so females seem natural. I also see him as an embodiment of Iktomi, which I picture as male. Well... if I am the mother, then Iktomi is... I should decide if I want to give the cat spirit human form. A form that would allow for more accessible communication with metahumans after I am gone.

Edie's grief touches me, and I nod with sympathy. "Well, it is going to be similar if anyone ever marries me..." I say. It all looks pretty fresh with Ron; how long ago did it happen? I inquire politely.

[Jack_Spade]

"They'll probably help," Agnes tells Bobby. "It's just that they need a bit more diplomacy." She looks at him, skeptical if Bobby can provide that.

"Diplomacy isn't my strong suite - loyalty is. I'll be back with the gear."

Bobby headed down to Weapons World to spend some hard earned cash on legal self defense gear. He made sure that each packet was contained in a small, seal-able plastic container, to keep it safe from bad weather.

About two hours later, he returned, handing Agnes the equipment and showing her with his own, personal taser, how to handle the weapon:

"... and no matter what happens, don't touch the wires once you shot. Eject them and fire again. Tell me if you need more ammo, but don't waste it either."

[Tecumseh]

"Good," Agnes says of the taser with an approving look, "I got a feud with a devil rat that I'm squaring to settle. Only thing I hate more than a mean rooster is a uppity devil rat."

She doesn't take much instruction; the taser seems to come naturally to her.

"Grew up on a farm, I did," Agnes nods. "Right here in Snohomish. Could peg a squirrel out of a tree at a hundred paces before I turned 8. Adult paces too, mind you, not those of a child. Pa got me a shotgun for my sweet 16. I like those. I like the weight of them. They feel substantial. Comforting. And if you run out of ammo, you hit 'em with the stock!"

~~~

"Oh it was last year," Edie explains. "Or is it two now? It feels so remote and so fresh at the same time. Like I can remember it as if it were yesterday, but it feels like a lifetime ago..." She trails off, turning to her herbal tea for comfort.

"It was my first marriage but his second. Twenty years... wish it had been thirty."

[Gilga]

I am so sorry, Edie... You must be very lonely. I say softly.

[Jack_Spade]

Bobby refrained from asking how she had ended on the street - losing a farm wasn't an uncommon occurrence.

"Take care then, I'll drop by in a few days." With that, Bobby went away, stopping by the office to check in on things as well as on Cutty an getting a bit of a workout in.

[Tecumseh]

@AM
"That's why I pour all my heart into the neighborhood!" Edie tells AM. "You're the family I choose!

"I pour my heart and soul into the Highlands! And I don't know if anyone appreciates it. Everyone's so busy with their jobs or their golf or their kids." AM notes a little extra acidity on that last part. "They just come home and think that everything takes care of itself. Well it doesn't. I take care of it."

AM can tell that Edie is fishing for a compliment, or at least validation.

~~~

@Raven
"So what's your job like?" Bao asks Rachel. "What do you do all day? Is it exciting?"

~~~

@Bobby
Bobby goes to Cutty's. When he arrives, Cutty is working with some street kids. They're younger, maybe 8 or 10 years old. They stand near some heavy punching bags while Cutty demonstrates proper technique for jabs, hooks, and uppercuts. He also emphasizes head movement and footwork. Cutty gets down on one knee so he can show the kids things at their level. Bobby notes a high degree of care and patience; Cutty never gets frustrated and continues to pour time and energy into even the least athletic kids. Cutty seems to be a natural teacher.

Bobby fits in a workout while Cutty watches over the kids. When the kids are done and everyone is sweaty and tired, Cutty gives them a gift: little 250ml cartons of milk. Cutty even has a small carton of soy milk for the child who is lactose intolerant. It's a rare luxury in Redmond - you'd be hard-pressed to find milk sold anywhere within Redmond's borders, so it must have come from somewhere else - and the kids are quite excited. Cutty has them drink the milk before they leave. They're welcome to wash up in the bathrooms if they don't have running water at home.

Cutty approaches Bobby when it's done.

"Post-workout nutrition," he explains about the milk. "It'll get them about half their daily protein needs. Eh, maybe less than half for the orks and trolls. Plus it encourages them to keep coming back. If that's the price of keeping them off the streets, then it's a bargain."