IC: Emerald City Nights, This Ain't no Oz... Options

[Sedna]

Kai and Glide arrive neck-and-neck and a bare edge away from out of control, almost crashing into the lamppost outside the pawnbroker's, sweat-soaked, drizzle-soaked, so close upon each other's trail that it's impossible to tell who had arrived a single step ahead of the other. Competitive though they are, neither really cares too much. Exhilarated, they're too busy catching their breath.

Finally, still halfway between laughing and sobbing for breath, Kai looks a question down the block toward Ming's, and when that doesn't work, asks, "Guess we oughta go check the place out, huh?"

"Guess so," says Glide.

Kai settles in to follow her lead ... after stepping into the questionable shelter of the overhanging eave long enough to wring out his coat (and to elicit a curse from the owner -- "Get the hell away from my store, you thieving little punk!"). Kai's proud of that coat, that he is. It's very durable, and keeps him real warm at night ... not that that's an issue, just now.

[Digital Heroin]

Merciless Ming's, the place is just perfect for a meet. Surveillence of any kind at a place like it, at least the permanent kind of surveillence, or anything overly sophisticated, is almost impossible. Why? Simple, the place is located halfway down a street that is used as an open air market. Keeping any kind of listening devices there would be fruitless, since the teaming masses of people alone generate too much background noise. Add in with that the catcalls of the vendors, and it's a suprise anyone can hear anything. Ming's itself has a pickup window that draws a crowd enough that most people, aside from the ocassional moving mountain of a troll, have to shove their way through to the open faced sit down interior. Oddly enough the decore is Southwestern, seeming out of place with the noodlehouse menu. But the whole market seems to have a temporary nature to it, as if no one expects to stay too long.

[Slipshade]

Glide had to laugh, "Well Mouse, looks like scouting this place is a bit of a bust. At least with all of the foot traffic we souldn't have to worry about a double cross. Just too many people for a shoot out. Lets have a look around really quick anyway. So we can let Johnson know the layout."

[Sedna]

"Yeah," says Kai. "Ya takes the front, an' I'll go 'round back?" Wonder if this place has a way up to the roof?

[Sedna]

The joys of back alleyways are not universal. Over and above the smell of frying noodles, this one's picked up the hidden scents of the marketplace: decay, rot, and oh frag, they was sellin' live chickens back there. Ground's a bit slippery, nothing Kai's not known before. Open-air front, gotta be a kitchen round back somewheres, owner-guy live here? maybe there's an apartment up top?

[Digital Heroin]

The back alley isn't as much of an alley, as a gap between the market and the buildings it is huddled between. It seems the area used to be a strip mall of some sort, before all the build-up. The mall itself is boarded up and looking dangerous. Ming's however, seems to be the only permanant structure aside from it. Around back there is a window from what looks like an old-drive through. Access to the roof doesn't seem overly obvious, but there's a dumpster that might be climbed, if a person is willing to brave the smell.

[Sedna]

Sures, Kai'll climb the dumpster. An' he'll scope out everything that's scopeable, like he knows Glide will, up front. Heck, if anything'd've gotten him curious 'bout this place, he'd've done that anyway. It's just who he is.

[Slipshade]

Finishing up her survailance Glide waits for Mouse to get re-appear. She spends the rest of her time skating around the block. It isn't long until Mouse's small frame comes riding out around the corner. With a gentle kick she glides up next to the boy.

"Let's get outta here. It's only 15 till, but J's probably starting to freak."

Not waiting for an answer the young orc girl starts down one of the side streets toward The Shore, gaining speed with every push of her toned legs.

[Thomas]

Feeling satisfied with the excellent krill and linguini from Uncle Vito’s, Steve wheeled in to a parking spot near The Shore.
As he strolled toward one of the sidewalk entrances he couldn’t help noticing Johnson, snappy dresser as always, had changed into yet another of those suits.
A guy could probably live on what he pays for all those…
As Steve approaches and casually sits across from the man, his eyes fix on a volleyball game that a group of young girls are playing to the blaring sounds of some thrash band on a boom box.
"Looks like the sun might come out."

[Sedna]

It's after that sudden brake on arrival at the Shore, with a protesting shriek of metal and a showering of sparks, that Kai asks: "Was we s'pposed t' hang low?"

[Glyph]

Walking into the Shore, Viper is not too surprised to see Johnson and Steve already there. In the beach-themed club, her gothic attire sticks out like a sore thumb, but judging by her smirk, as she glides over to the two men, she doesn't mind that at all. Inwardly, though, she is a bit miffed that the volleyball girls are stealing some of her "spotlight".

[Slipshade]

Glide shrugs off Kai's comment. "Hey with Viper here hanging low ain't gonna happen. She's gonna stand out way more than either of us chum. Lets go talk ta the others and see what J wants to do now."

[Bastard]

Johnson Sits there calmly sipping from his Power Jack and Coke with Soy. Soy is the cranberry of the 21st century, sneaking its way into every type of food and drink.

As the team arrives, Johnson greets them, standing for each of his comrads.

"You all want to grab a bite to eat? We may not get a chance again."

[Sedna]

"You payin'?" asks Kai practically, settling himself into the chair next to Johnson and kicking up his skateboard. He's already spotted the dozen-odd untended drinks, half-finished meals, and the tip that someone's left behind -- that one makes his fingers twitch a little, but (meeting Viper's eyes as she walks in and reading her expression only too well), he decides against acting on any of them.

For now.

[Thomas]

“Thank you, no. I have recently broken my fast, however, please indulge yourselves – as you say, we may not get a chance again.”
Steve notices Glide’s far-off expression, and wonders what could be on her mind. He also wonders how effective half a Tranq patch would be at calming the ever energetic Kai.
He smiles slightly as he pulls out the pocket sec, inserts the E memory and wakes it.

[Glyph]

Viper raises an eyebrow. "What do you mean 'may not get another chance'? I thought this place we were meeting at was a food joint?" She shrugs. "Well, I could always use a tide-me-over, anyways." When the waitress comes over, she enthusiastically orders a garden burger, fries, and a chocolate shake. How she keeps her figure is a mystery... she must have a really high metabolism.

[Bastard]

"You never know what the job will may entail."

[Sedna]

Or else it's just that Viper knows what it means, having Kai sitting between her and Johnson. "Cuttin' t' the chase," he says, "place's open-air cut-out inna streetmart. Not even a decent rooftop."

Glide smiles. "What he means is ..."

And she tells them what the layout of the place is like. She must have done it well. She's only interrupted by Kai once. Well, maybe twice.

[Thomas]

Mr. Johnson, perhaps you would like to attend the meet alone? You do have some communications gear, and perhaps some method of recording the meet? We might not be able to provide direct cover but we should be near enough to ensure that you make it to the hospital instead of the organ-leggers.
Or maybe several of us should go, but I insist that at least one of us remain outside.
Steve then makes another entry in the pocket sec and looks at each of the others in turn.

[Bastard]

"Thats a good idea. Do we have com gear, so who ever is outside can communicate with whos inside? This is an odd place for a meet, but then again, its not like we are a marquee shadowrun team, yet."

[Glyph]

Viper looks at them. "Well, I gotta be there, 'cause I'm the only one who can scan things astrally. But you guys, Hermes has already pretty much told these people what we all look like, so anyone staying outside better remember that."

[Sedna]

"What, so ya j'st wants the guy that's outside t' keep an eye on things?" Kai asks, tossing back the last of the Power Jack just as Johnson realises it's no longer in front of him. "Geez, what kinds o' stuff ya expectin' t' go down anyways?"

[Bastard]

Damn, I got to remember to keep my hand on my drinks around him. "Well, I still would like someone watching my back. I highly doubt its a set up to get us, but you never know who the Johnson is. Maybe he is getting set up, and we are simply pawns. You never know."

[Sedna]

"Geez, lighten up, will ya? If it's jest' matter o' lookin' out for guns 'n stuff, I'm your guy. 'sides, d'ruther stay out an' watch an' move than sit 'round agin talkin' 'bout how t' talk t' people. An' messages -- hey, there's Liddy!"

Fidgeting, with the coat mostly covering the jumpsuit, Kai looks just like every other street rat hanging around the place; including the one he's just waved toward. "Liddy's cool. I kin stay outside an' Liddy kin letcha know if somethin's goin' down."

[Thomas]

Steve moves to restrain the overenthusiastic Kai.
Humm.. maybe a WHOLE Tranq patch?
“Look Kai – There ain’t no friends in this business – there’s your Team and there’s everybody else. One or more of those everybodys wants to stop you, maybe even kill you – real guns, real dead.”
OOC: Assuming a City spirit isn’t having fun with Steve yet, he will continue – in a calmer tone.
“You want to bring someone else in on the job – you need to discuss it with your Team.”