<<8PM, Monday, October 20th, 2070, Downtown Los Angeles, The Divine Comedy>>

Night falls on the City of Broken Dreams, and Jake the bartender cleans up, in anticipation of the place opening properly. Standing behind the bar, he smiles, his people already moving around, ready to go. The girls are downstairs, getting ready for their first sets, his link to the club lets him keep an eye on them, and he fires off a quick text to the twins, Lara and Kara, to keep their eyes on everything, as there were new potential allies coming in, and they might not know how to behave. Not really waiting for an assent, his cybereyes refocus on the dance floor upstairs, and DJ Doomtrain setting up his own set for the night, simrig synths ready to turn his every emotion and movement into throbbing back beats for him to mix into and out of...on the floor itself, some of the bouncers are planning tonight's positions, one near the VIP stairs, one near the DJ, one near the bar, and one near the stairs up to the dancefloor seems to be the plan. His eyes flick over to Steve, the enormous cybered troll at the front door, with the shaved head and redone Smoothskin, who's already holding back a line of...according to the readout, 73 people, and the place doesn't open for another 30 minutes. Good. He runs a cursory diagnostic on the MAD scanner, and ID/RFID reader. All green. He makes a note to add some new IC to the system, as he's had hackers getting too cocky with it lately. Steve confirms the short list of people allowed to bring firearms inside tonight, and goes back to looking scary.

The Comedy had indeed become home to Jake, as it had been to Mei before, and still was for Calista when she wanted it. It was also their combined business, a fierce, boiling pot of LA cultures, and a quietly beating heart of shadowkind, where meetings could happen with privacy, and often over Mei's home cooking. Many of the people Jake and the girls had come to like came and went without concern for the club hours, for example, Jenna, one of the regulars of the dance floor, was already at the Paradise bar, sipping one of her drinks waiting for her lover.

He finished doing the inventory for the alcohol (and synthetics), and made sure there were only 4 admin accounts in the bar's wireless grid. Everything was ready. He voice messaged the front door speaker.

"Open the doors, Steve. We're ready for them a little early tonight."

<<8PM, Monday, October 20th, 2070, Downtown Los Angeles, The Divine Comedy>>

DD steps out of a cab at Jake's club, "The Divine Comedy", looking at the line in front of the entrance. Things seem to go well for the ork hacker's club this evening. Now, if the same could be said for her runner career…

In her opinion, it was rather unfair. There she went, to Seattle, the runner captial (outside L.A., of course) and made it on a big run, passing with flying colors, through the jaws of ICy death and all, and she couldn't brag about it in L.A.. Couldn't even publish the sim recordings - Seattle-based runners had those hang-ups about publicity, and the bunch of wetworkers she had been working up there would probably ice her for even planning such a stunt.

So, DD had gone back to L.A., richer by 40K and experience abroad, but with no P2.0 boost to speak of. And half the money she'd made had been used up quickly, for new programs, and upgrades to her commlink. Since then, she's been working the shadows lighter parts, doing spoofing jobs and data searches. It pays the bills, but this sort of jobs are anything but flashy and spectacular, and therefore not exactly helping her goal to become a famous runner.

Dancing in the Inferno helps with her popularity, and might even get her some small P2.0 boost depending on the audience, but it's not adding to her runner rep either. Still, it's better than nothing.

Tonight she's wearing her old Seattle outfit - long coat (but with some cooling elements), knee-high boots, short top and hot pants. Very retro, in her opinion, and with her predator at her hip it added some touch of danger to her looks. That disappeared at the entrance of course, along with the gun. A last check of her appearance - fiberoptic hair bright red today, duster hanging open, offering glimpses of her gun and skin -, a dose of eX popped - Jake doesn't like people taking drugs inside the club - and the young woman walks up to the entrance, greeting the bouncers in the sexiest voice her modulator and the eX in her blood could provide. They seemed to be opening early tonight.

Internally, she comms Jake through her implanted commlink. In her AR-enhanced view, she sees her agent, watching over her comm, float along her, in the form of neon-colored eastern Dragon the size of a snake, blocking spam adverts and sifting through a few proposals from people in the line.

<<Hi Jake. Opening early tonight I see. Need some help on the dance floor?>>

<<I wouldn't say no...should I put you on the clock, or do want to just fiddlefuck around?>>

Steve waves you in with a nod, and a ping to your PAN as a comment on your cover charge. "You are flagged for privileges tonight, miss. Your gun clears, and you have VIP. You also have an invite to the Purgatory bar, to speak to management." Letting you in swiftly, he continues to manage the swiftly assembling horde, and a couple of the more perceptive people in line start subscribing to your P2.0, hoping you're someone worth watching tonight...

Inside, the place is just starting to fill, Purgatory's booths still having a choice as to which you'd prefer, and Jake gives a wave from the bar as he pings your data footprint for your favorite drink..."How's things, hotness?"

<<8PM, Monday, October 20th, 2070, Downtown Los Angeles, The Divine Comedy>>

Pura slid out of her cab thanking the driver as she went. With her money as short as it was, relatively speaking since squatters and low life would think of her money problem's as mana from heaven, she had to find a big score. She couldn't just mooch off Sam, she'd already cost him a lot, and she had to pay off her own debts, even if he had gone a bit overboard, done was done and she needed a way to payback the money. There was always the possibility of taking out a legal loan and then just burning the Fake SIN, but she liked to think she was better than that. So here she was at the Divine Comedy, looking for work that Cleo had told her brother about, or at least mentioned was possible to find in the club. The elven girl sincerely hoped Cleo hadn't meant the stage.

Part of the problem was this whole P2.0 system that LA was using, being from Seattle she was totally unconnected to it, and that totally limited her options, she was sure she could charm an invite out of someone if she saw someone with one to give, but at a 10k minimum she didn't have exposure to people like that in LA yet. Maybe she could impress someone in the club. The Violet haired elf headed toward the door of the club. She was wearing a pair of black leggings tucked into calf-high leather boots with armor that protected her shins. For a top she was wearing a blousey forest green silk shirt with a low V in the front to show off her slightly limited curves. Covered by the folds of her shirt is a Predator, and tucked into her boot is a survival knife.

When you hit the front of the line, eight solid feet and change of bald troll stops you. "15 nuyen cover charge and step through the scanner. No guns." He doesn't seem so much of an ass, as just used to his job. He's wearing a black tee with the word "Security" on it in English, (Japanese, Mandarin and Spanish, too, if you look at it through AR), and tight jeans... and -huge- smooth chrome cyberarm and torso sheaths hint at enough muscle to ball up a gun and bounce it off the skull of anyone who argues. Your PAN is pinged for ID, and requested to confirm your payment, and he steps aside to let you through the scanner. He passes you a metal box, with a big 7 painted on it visibly. "Gun, then set the password. I've already put your ID on it, so no one else will get it. Welcome to the Divine Comedy." Stowing the box, you get to step into an alcove, stairs up, stairs down, and double doors. Heaven, Hell, or a place to wait between them? Your call...

<<8.01 PM, Monday, October 20th, 2070, Downtown Los Angeles, The Divine Comedy>>

<<Put me on the clock, Jake.>>

DD walks up to the bar, ordering a White Russian from Jake. Not exactly her favorite drink, but it brings back memories. SHe smiles at Ork, running her fingers through her mane of fiberoptics.

"Apart from that, bills are paid and I've got time to 'ave fun."

Or at least appear so in the books of the creditors...

"I am feeling a bit nostalgic tonight, though."

Leaning forward, DD's smile turns more genuine, not the usual slightly vapid smile she often wears.

"'ow about you? The club is looking good."

While she is talking, DD keeps scanning the crowd that's filtering in for famous or otherwise remarkable people. Her own PAN shows her profile as a dancer here, but she's got her e-card ready to send to "interesting" people looking her up, with her agent scanning the profiles of people pinging her.

Pura didn't even think about arguing,even if she felt like she could get the troll to allow her to if she really put the effort in. It wasn't worth it and would just mark her as a trouble maker and possibly put the nix on any chance of finding shadow work. She let the machine ping her fake id and okayed the cover charge. You had to play to be able to win afterall the Elven changeling thought. I'll go dancing later on, but the best chance of meeting someone, and being able to hear them, was in the bar or downstairs in the stripper part of the club, and she wouldn't touch the later with a 10 foot pole...though with troll strippers they might be that lo... ugh.

The pixie featured elf heads into the bar deciding that if this was going to be a long night, she definitely wanted a drink. Pura glides smoothly through the building crowd like water moving around and through groups of patrons leaving dazed looks, and enchanted gazes behind her. She seemed to move in a cloud of her own personal glamour enchanting and awing those who caught sight of her.

"Hey there, have any wine? Or is it just mixed drinks and beer?" she asked the bar tender.

Jake drops an old-fashioned rocks glass on the bar, drops in five ice cubes, and retrieves some Gray Goose vodka, Kahlua and half-and-half cream, mixing it almost without looking as he smiles over the bar at DD.

"Still using that card. 'Data Services' my ass." He slides over the drink. "If I'm putting you on the clock, this is the only one." He wipes up. "Honestly? Nice. Calista's been out alot, but me and Mei are really getting close to setting a date, I think." He holds up his cyberhand, a gold loop built into the ring finger. "I can't wait. The girls downstairs might want to see you, you got surprisingly little trash talk when you left..."

He looks over at Pura, and unabashedly checks her out. "Yeah, I don't keep them behind the counter though, have a seat, I'll have some brought out. What would you like?" He checks out her profile, wondering if her skinjob indicates she's got some interest in the shadows...or just rich and into leaving men drooling.

'LA is THE city. Fame, Fortune, and, of course, Angels are up for the taking, if you know how. And I,' Ronnie thinks as he jogs down the street, grinning at people who recognize him, 'definitely know how.' He is travelling a little light today, only having his Government (loaded with S'n'S, of course. Wouldn't due to kill someone without pay...) under his mildly stylish Armored Jacket. Well, besides his clothes and the knife hidden at the small of his back... but those don't count, of course.

"Aww man..." He moans as he skids to a halt just outside the Divine Comedy. "There's way too much of a line tonight..." The elf sighs, then grins as he spots a fairly attractive young lady getting into line. He jogs over and slides into line right behind her. "Well hello there..."

"Anything from Tir Tairngire would do nicely, if not something local California vine yards are supoused to be quite good. Thank you." Pura tells Jake, sliding in to an offered seat. She unzips her jacket leaving it to hang open and show off her newly flawless skin. Her fake ID was licensed for all her ware, as odd as it was to think of herself having ware at all, and the accident was part of her fake SIN's history as well covering the gap in case any one was interested in offering a job and wanted to know about the gap in her fake resume.

"So is it true that bar tender's know everything thats going on?" Pura asks, turning on the charm. She was fairly certain that a bar tender would know in general if there was any shadow stuff going on in their bar...and would know who to talk to about it. This was a chance to get her foot in the door by making a good impression. She knew he was into her, and the elf used that, flirting lightly as she tried to pump the orc for information.

"I heard that this place is kind of shadowy...is that true?"

Jake grins. "This is definately the place to slip out of the bright and shiny, if that's what you're looking for. And bartenders? Yeah, we know everything about a little, and a little about everything." He runs a hand back through his hair. "You strike me as someone who might get paid to keep everyone's eyes on you. Am I anywhere near the mark here?"

Pura smiles encouragingly as Jake lets her know she was right about the shadows of the comedy, she wanted to keep him talking about them since it could turn into an opportunity for her to get in contact with others like herself, people looking for some work in the shadows away from L.A.'s golden sun.

"That is what I had heard about bar tenders, yes. Heard some other things about them to..." Pura says, flirtingly, glancing down and then grinning.

"I do like dealing with people yes, but I wouldn't say I like having all eyes on me like the girls do downstairs. I'm a people person but I like things to be a bit more discrete...intimate." the changeling says, letting the last word roll lightly across her tongue.

"You wouldn't happen to know anyone who could make use of such a person do you? I'd be rather greatful for the connection. I'm afraid I'm new in town and I don't even have one of those P2.0 things to help me get to know everyone."

<<8.02 PM, Monday, October 20th, 2070, Downtown Los Angeles, The Divine Comedy>>

DD takes the drink, and takes a first sip from it, turning around and leaning against the bar.

"You married... I should look out for other signs of the apocalypse."

DD grins, to show she isn't serious. Then she takes a look at the striking elf next to them at the bar.

Ah, Silky Skin. Probably not the same brand as I got though. I wonder if she's got more 'ware in her.


"So, when am I up?"

While she's waiting on an answer DD looks the elf's profile over, her ear buds helping her to listen to the conversation.

Ah, a fellow Shadowrunner. Looker too, and could corner the elven market.

Jake, a bit taken, swallows deeply. "I might have to ask my fiancee, but I know she could find a place to fit you in..." to the fey elf...he tries to focus, but it's hard. Very. "You can tell me about yourself, and I can see who's looking for your particular services."

He intentionally focuses on DD. "That's up to the girls, you work out with them what slot you want..."

<<8.03 PM, Monday, October 20th, 2070, Downtown Los Angeles, The Divine Comedy>>

DD smirks at the effect the elf has on Jake. She briefly ponders if she should lay on the charm herself, but decides against it - Jake's fiancee might not find it that funny, you knewer knew.

"Oui, oui, chef. I'll go down and check myself in."

DD finishes her drink, nods at the elven face, and saunters down into the Inferno to check what slot is still open, grinning at the way Jake's words can be understood.

Ironic, how close a fixer can sound to a pimp...

<<8.01 PM, Monday, October 20th, 2070, Downtown Los Angeles, The Divine Comedy>>

After having done a few passes down the line, waving to regular customers and pauses to make a few discreet business offers far enough away from the door to avoid the wrath of security, Mia eventually joins the line dressed to impress in a shiny silver and blue number which is rather modest by LA standards.

As her turn at the scanner approaches she pulls off the matching coat and wraps it around her tazer.
"Not gonna frisk me are yah big guy?" She teases playfully, smiling at the door staff as she holds up the bundle. "I promise that's everything, unless lipstick is a no no?"

Her credstick, as if by magic, has already been pulled out ready for requests for the 15 nuyen door fee.

"I'm not looking for anything too friendly...just a chance to put my skills to good use." Pura says, easing up and wondering if she'd pushed him a bit too much with her glamour, it was a new thing, less than 6 months old and she was still getting used to how strongly it affected certain people, she made a mental note to never get Tailored Pheramones, the interaction with her glamour could make for a much...stronger reaction than she wanted.

"Well, as to my...skills, I'm very much a people person, you could say that its my focus." Pura says, sounding slightly less sultry and seductive and more business-like. "I'm pretty athletic, and I've only gotten a lot more so after putting myself back together after a car crash a couple months ago. I know my way around blades, especially swords; I also have a pretty good hand with pistols, and bows. Yea... I totally fell for that stereotypical elf drek." the violet haired changeling says giving Jake a slightly embarressed grin.

"When I was putting myself back together it took a lot of bioware to get everything going again, and that means I'm pretty much faster, stronger, and more agile than most people."

"Rumors get around, Mia. Jake wants nothing in here he wouldn't give his girl. You know what we mean." He doesn't push the issue, but lets her in, then turns his attentions on Ronnie.

"Hey Ronnie. Coming in to hang, or just a delivery?" Steve grins, waving him past the line.

Inside the bar, Jake nods to the new girl. "Yeah, alright, I've got your ID logged, give me your commcode, and I'll put you in my books, ask around for your rep, see if I can use you."

Ronnie grins at Steve and rotates on the spot quickly. "Hey Steve! You see my bag? no? That must mean I'm here to hang, eh?" He tosses his credstick to the troll and checks out Mia while he waits. "Got lucky locker number 13 waitin for me?"

Ronnie's face grows serious and he leans in close to Steve, as if ready to impart an important secret to him. "So, Steve... I have to ask. Who's hot and single in there tonight?"

<<8.01 PM, Monday, October 20th, 2070, Downtown Los Angeles, The Divine Comedy>>

The doorstaff get an impish grin in reply.

"'S cool, I know the rules and I stick to them. That's why you get me and not one of the trigger happy street punks."

She shrugs, then pays her fee and heads directly to the bar - making sure to wave at the occasional client or potential client she spots on her way. At a mere five foot three the journey from door to bar is something of an obsticle course, but eventually she makes it and slips into the gap left by a man buying his ladyfriend an over the top cocktail of some kind.

"Don't suppose you have any brandy in?" She wonders. "Or better yet, word of someone in need of some fireworks."

Mei strides over to the bar where Jake is holding court, balancing a pair of wine bottles- one atop the other- atop her little finger. She's wearing a set of polished Doc Martin boots, a set of urban camo fatigue pants, a snug tank top with a double-shoulder harness over it holding a pair of Manhunters. "You called for some wine han'some? she says as she allows the bottles to tip, the one on top dropping smoothly into her hand. Her face is round, aNd an exotic and surprisingly alluring blend of Chinese and orcish features, framed by straight, blue-black hair.

Steve hands over box #13, and grins. "Saw a really hot number come through here earlier, I think she's still at the bar buttering up Jake. Might want to sneak in a word before..." he looks back at the bar. "...well damn, Mei's spotted her now. You might lose her to an ork sandwich if you don't hurry, bud."

With that, Jake looks over from all the way at the bar. "I Heard That!" Steve grins. "New ears are just as sharp as the old ones. Get on in, squirt, you're holding up the line." He steps to let Ronnie enter, and goes back to the line of folks wanting in.

At the bar, Jake pulls Mei close for a kiss, and gestures towards Pura. "We've got a new kid in the establishment, love. She's interested in alot of our...more profitable hobbies." As he says it, he slides Mia a shot of brandy. "Nothing in that department so far, but the night is young. Things going well in the biz?"

<<8.01 PM, Monday, October 20th, 2070, Downtown Los Angeles, The Divine Comedy>>
Fusion scoops the shot up with practised ease and takes a eager sip, spinning on the seat to get a better view of the patrons.

"Made a killing on a shipment of nitroglycerin the other day, studio wanted unpredictable and spectacular. Business good in club land? Crowd outside seemed pretty eager to have a good night, although they'll have to wait a while now if they're after anything stronger than a drink. Because I sure as hell think I deserve a little break after a long hard day in the lab."

"Yeah, the new Renraku nexus I picked up after the Seattle trip let me set up some great AR in here, and leave enough processing power to support my hobbies as well." He pours another shot. "Look, I don't confront anyone what they do in their spare time, but me and Mei own this place legal. The Star or the Public Eye come in here over your racket, we lose our livelihood and our home, so I have to be a little strict. Plus, you let strippers dose up, and it ruins their lives. All those tits down there are on friends of mine. Speaking of which..."

He looks at Mei. "You just missed DD. She's back in town, and going to see if she can get a set from one of the girls downstairs, you should say 'Hi'."

He looks over the wine bottles she brought up, and picks the better of the two, showing it to Pura. "How's this?"

<<8.04 PM, Monday, October 20th, 2070, Downtown Los Angeles, The Divine Comedy>>

DD enters into the Inferno, looking the club over - both visually and scanning the AR info, looking for the Ladies handling the schedule.

The Inferno is dark, playing on haunted colors, muted greens, browns, shadowy grays...And the seats form concentric half rings around the stage, where at the moment, Julie Darkstar is performing, an tall Jamaican ork woman with the attention of the audience at the moment, her ample, firm endowments fully exposed and being gently lashed by her own beaded braids...on the AR overlay, you can see a link to her profile, her club message drop, and a virtual tip jar...

Looking around, you find the twins over by the stage entrance, Lara and Kara, who wave you over. "Dee Dee!" Lara hugs you tight. "You're back! Did the Seattle idea work? Tell us everything!" Kara smiles, and takes your hand. "Come on backstage, everyone's going to want to know you're back!"

<<8.01 PM, Monday, October 20th, 2070, Downtown Los Angeles, The Divine Comedy>>

"Which is why I've moving on to a pre-orders only thing, rather than selling on site. Less risk for everyone that way, unless the boss objects. Which I sincerely hope he doesn't...."

She swirls the brandy around in the glass, then knocks it back in a single gulp.

"A Renrku huh? Hotspot or Retailer? I was thinking of saving up for a MCT Sentinel myself."

Mia glances over at Pura and tips her empty glass.

"New in town? Or just your first time in this fine establishment?"

Ronnie quickly deposits his "Governator" in the box and sets it to his normal password before stowing the box and hurrying over to the bar. "Hey Jake, how's business? OO... Nice wine." He grins and winks at Pura. "Mind sharing the bottle, sweetheart? Swap some stories perhaps? You can start by telling me you're single and available, and we'll go from there."

Without pausing, he turns to Mei and grins. "Mei, darling, are you ready to leave Jake and run away with me?"

Without pausing, he turns to Mei and grins.

Mei smiles sweetly at Ronnie. "When you bulk up 'nuff so Mei no kill you inside a week!" she grins then sashays off down to the Inferno. Pausing at the top of the stairs she calls out, "You come up an; eat lata! Mei cooking!" then heads down in search of Jake's friend.

Ronnie laughs and shakes his head "What a woman... Jake, you scored a winner there." He grins again and turns back to Pura. "Darlin', I just had me heart broken... please! Comfort me! I'm at your mercy, fair... umm... You know, I don't believe I got your name, hun." He finishes, raising his eyebrow expectantly.

Pura smiles at the Ork woman who brought up the bottles, from the byplay she was someone important in the bar...actually from the conversation between Jake and the other woman she and Jake were actually the owners of the place, and that meant making a good impression was critical.

I've done a good job with Jake I think, but I don't want to push it since Mei could get turned off, the changeling thought to herself.

"Thats great Jake, I think this one well do very nicely."

When the woman Jake had been talking to about bringing stuff into the club turned to ask her questions Pura smiled at her. "Both actually. I just moved out from Seattle a week ago, ask me anything about the rain capital of the world and I could tell you whatever you wanted to know. I'm afraid it'll take a while to get to know this place."

"I'm Tamalyn, what's your name?" she asks, indicating the elf that had just shown up in addition to the dealer.

Ronnie glances around suspiciously, then leans in close and whispers to her, "Tamalyn, eh? gorgeous name for a gorgeous gal. I, my dear lady, am the one, the only, Definition of Poetry in Motion. You can call me Dancer... or Love. Your call." He winks at her, then reaches over and takes the bottle of wine from Jake, grabs a couple of nearby glasses and pours a glass for each of them as he says, "Now, my dear Tamalyn, about that drink... To new friends." He lifts his glass in a salute to her.

<8PM, Monday, October 20th, 2070, Downtown Los Angeles, The Divine Comedy>>

Easy left Purgatory after a fine meal and headed to the front entrance of "The Divine Comedy. A good start for the night.

Looks like they were opening early tonight. "Luck be a Lady tonight", he thought. The game was small stakes but should cover his meal and the rent. Better would be a gig. It had been too long and his cred balance could certainly use the help. Especially after he had cleaned up for tonight. "Being neither fish nor fowl and no rep doesn't help Easy land a gig." Still the only thing he did better than counter magic was cards and pitching. Any run could use some one who could counter magic and provide a Mask or an Invisibility spell. Hopefully the word was good about this possible gig.

He smoothed the sleeve of his long coat and moved to get in line. A glance in a window had shown him that his dark hair was still pulled back in a ponytail, his silver shades looked good and he had nothing between his teeth. He lit a nicostick and pulled a long drag. He'd left his piece at "home". No use checking it and not carrying said some thing about a runner. Runner. For some it was just playing roulette with their lives. Others didn't have a choice. Which one was he? He took another drag. "Lets see what tonight will deal."

Pura laughs at Dancer's antics, wrapping herself tighter in her glamour. "Love huh...has that ever actually worked for you? Not to burst your bubble mister poetry, but...I don't quite think we're friends yet. I'd rate your technique a 5 though...maybe if you step it up a bit love."

"Persistence pays...yes?" she jokes, switching to the musical, rolling language of Sperethiel, wanting to see if the other elf could follow it. She watches him expectantly as she raises the glass of Tir wine to her lips.

Jake laughs a little as that pickup freight train hits a brick wall. "Too fast, Ronnie...always too fast. You got a smile out of her, and a chat, but you didn't slow it down to get into her head. Drop it down to cruising speed, and use your head instead of your speed." He pours the pair another glass, and grins at Mei's curves as she heads away.

With that, he sets the other bottle behind the bar, and looks over at Mia. "Shadows have been kind of quiet lately, Mitsuhama's done cleaning up after that explosion at their offices back before I took my Seattle trip I'd guess...you didn't supply the boom for that one, did you?"

<<8.04 PM, Monday, October 20th, 2070, Downtown Los Angeles, The Divine Comedy, Inferno>>

DD smiles at the twins, and passes through the crowd to the backstage area. Out of habit she scans the crowd as well, for possible big tippers, and bad apples.

"Seattle's too cold, and too rainy to stay, despite the business opportunities. And the rain can give you a peeling down to the bones if you're not careful."

DD chats with the waiting girls, telling some anecdotes about Seattle but avoiding any really sensitive subjects - like that assassination - while scanning through the dancer list, looking for a free slot, and pondering what kind of music and AR enhancement she wants to pick for her performance.

As you scan the list, Julie comes in through the back curtain, wearing nothing but her thong and a frown. "I sweah to Jah I ain't neva gon do my haih like dis 'gin..." She looks at the curve of her breast, little welts causing her to wince as she touches them. "Done caught a lashin' off dese damn tings..." She sits down, and starts to put her top back on, then strapping her comm to the inside of her wrist before giving the tiny clasps a command to unlock, and starts pulling them out.

Lara grins. "She looks like she might have a slot to share, Dee Dee."

Ronnie grins and replies in Italian "I do not know what you just said, but I have never wished I had learned a language quite as much as I do now, my dear." He waves his hand towards Jake idly and switches back to English. "Speed is my Life, Jake! Move fast, never stop, and you'll never have any regrets. Speaking of never stopping... Business has been getting a little slow. Got anything fun for me to do? Or maybe any information on Jess?"

<<8.05 PM, Monday, October 20th, 2070, Downtown Los Angeles, The Divine Comedy, Inferno>>

So much for tough orks...

DD winces in sympathy at Julie's bruises, but doesn't voice her thought. Instead she asks the ork dancer if she needs a replacement for her next slot.



Good thing I got fiberoptic hair...

"Nothing on Jess yet, I can start asking around a little more aggressively, if you like." He starts to serve a beautiful girl, elf build, huge rack, and what appear to be natural butterfly wings, wearing a bellyshirt and skirt. She leans in over the bar and gives him a hot kiss.

"Tell Mei I said thanks to both of you for the amazing night, and I can't wait to come back. Be good, Big Boy..." She is making little attempt to conceal her pleasure as she heads out.

Jake just smiles as she leaves. He turns back to Ronnie and grins. "Yeah, sure thing Speedy, whatever you say..."

"I'd appreciate it, Jake." Ronnie starts to say as the elf with wings leans across the bar. He actually stops talking for a moment, checks her out, and turns to Jake with a completely serious look on his face. "Jake, I don't know if I've told you this before, but you are my hero. Teach me your ways, oh wise guru!"

"The secret is in the aura, bud. Money means nothing, looks mean nothing. What matters is the ability to hold a woman's attention, make her want to hear what you have to say, then say something she actually needs to hear." He nods to Pura. "Take this lovely girl for example. I know pickup tricks, you came in hard and fast, and your looks and some fast talk got this lovely young woman's attention." He nods to her. "Now, what happened is, she actually asked your name, and you committed a cardinal sin. You got cheesy. Which is fine if you want to end up a friend. But...if you're looking to make something last, you might try..."

He sets down everything, and smiles softly at her. "I'm not good at lines, so I'm going to be blunt. You caught my eye when you sat down, and your smile's been addictive ever since. I've been aroused and entranced, and I have to say you're not likely to leave my imagination for weeks. Do you think I could get to know you and convince myself that you're not too good for me, and someone I could keep around?"



He leans back. "Something like that."

"Not directly, but who knows where things get moved around to. Lot of J's these days like to set up a middle man just so they get the right look for the recordings, but that works fine with me. Keeps the Stars further away."

Mia rolls her eyes at Dancers routine, then motioning for another brandy she adds "Maybe the local legend hit on the receptionist there and the building fell down from the embarrasment!"

"I don't speak...was that Italian?" Pura asks curiously, then she shrugs she did well enough with Sperethiel, English, and Japanese. "I asked if you thought persistence pays off..." the changeling asks, trailing off as a new elf showed up and gave Jake a kiss.

The younger changeling eyed the apparently older one speculatively before she waltzed off, wondering about the girls wings. She doubted they were functional, but from the sound of things Jake had gotten to do an up close inspection. "Hmm...I like mine better, her's seem like they would get in the way. Still, I wonder why her wings are physical, and mine are just tattoos." Pura asked, mostly just thinking out loud. She had a pair of perfectly detailed irradescent wings on her back looking like they were just waiting to burst forth from her skin, but that was all they were markings, not actualy wings.

"The other secret is tailoring your approach. A girl likes to think she's special and that you wouldn't be saying the exact same thing to every other girl in the place....or her 80 year old grandmother. Elves excepted of course, my mother could have passed for my twin, and she was 42 when I was born."



"See Dancer? That was loads better than yours...didn't quite work, but at least it got closer to the mark, I'd give it a 7, maybe an 8 and you'd get almost any girl with it. For me though it takes a 10."

"Heh, you're amazing, babe, but I have my hands quite pleasantly full as it is with Mei, and her little "plugins". We met the butterfly at the clothing store, and before I had pried my eyes off a leather jacket, she had managed to invite the girl back here for a little...um...home cooking." He grins widely. "I'll take an 8 too. 8 works." He chuckles under his breath, and gets back to work, sliding Mia another brandy...

Ronnie smiles and shrugs, taking a sip from his wine before replying. "Surprisingly enough, it has worked a time or two. Granted, when it does, I usually walk away after a bit. Fangirls and mindless lookers just don't do it for me, ya know?" He laughs. "No challenge there. You, on the other hand..." He grins. "I suppose I should start over." He clears his throat. "Hi, my name's Ronnie. I couldn't help but notice you as I entered the club, and I just had to come over to meet you. May I buy you a drink?"

He smiles, then glances over to Mia and grins. "You wound me so! so heartless... Hoi! I have a bit o' business for you, if you're in the mood to listen..."

"Good enough Jake. Out of curiosity, did she tell you anything about her wings? I surged after a car accident, and I have something...similair. Just curious though since my wings are just, well, tattoos is what they are closest too. Its crazy how it all works though, I mean how come the mana is enough for her wings to be real and mine not? All so random really."

"See, you can learn Ronnie, and the wine will definitely help." Pura says, holding her empty glass out for a refill. It would need to be the only refill though or she was going to get tipsy, and that was no good, she could certainly hold her alcohol but that didn't mean it wouldn't impair her a bit if she got too deep into her cups.

Julie checks her tip account. "Tree hunned and fohty two nuyen... I tink I call it a night, laud. Go get inna warm bat an foget da day..." She smiles, her short, capped tusks doing little to detract from her looks... "Jah, you take my slots fo da night, girlie girl. I gonna go soak an a bubble bat." Pulling on a blouse and shorts, she laces her shoes up and heads out.

"According to her, they're real, organic, and "natural", if you've a mind to call them that. No real flight or gliding ability, and fragile, but sensitive. She had to stay on top the whole time, not that I minded..." He leans back against the drink shelves. "She might have been lying, implants...but who do I care? Fake arms and fake eyes work for me. Got -no- problem with anything fake on a chick, long as it does the job. They look pretty, guess they're functional enough."

"If looking pretty is the point I guess they are functional. Not what I meant by functional, but that doesn't actually matter much so long as she is happy with them." Pura says with a shrug, in her lilting slightly almost musical english.

"You wouldn't hear much about me if you were looking around for a rep. Like I said, my brother Sam is bringing me into things. He's been dealing in the shadier parts of the city for the last 10 years. He is nice and set up, you've probably heard of him, Digital Sam."