DD - Day 1, early evening
DD puts on her jacket, checks her gun - more for the simrig recording than out of need - and leaves the hotel as well.
That went well.
Out on the street, she checks for a cab in the vicinity, contacting a few can company nodes while walking towards downtown. She's switching through vision modes as she walks, and using the highest enhanced AR setting she can handle. This area is not that safe, and it's a far cry from the excesses of L.A.'s downtown.
Don't want to stay out here too long.
Then DD receives Dagda's message.
Pretty quick answer. Not surprising - he wants us to make haste.
DD sends Dagda her "runner ID", and continues to wait for a cab. Once back home she'll change, then hit the local nightlife.
Full Version: Sink, Hollywood, Sink
Dancer - day one, early evening
Kate receives Dagda's reply as her stuff is still in the spin cycle, and quickly sends him back the requested information. After her laundry is done, she drops her duffel at home, along with her gun and the vest, then heads out to hit the L.A. night clubs.
Kate receives Dagda's reply as her stuff is still in the spin cycle, and quickly sends him back the requested information. After her laundry is done, she drops her duffel at home, along with her gun and the vest, then heads out to hit the L.A. night clubs.
Dagda - Evening, Day one
Dagda gets his responses as he starts to slowly pack his gear into his duffle bag, his agent automatically adding Kate and DD to the system. He fires off a whole of team response
"The client has agreed to a the advance. Funds will come through shortly. Are we dividing, or keeping for expenses?"
Then trudges out to his car, programming in an address to a location near the building.
Dagda gets his responses as he starts to slowly pack his gear into his duffle bag, his agent automatically adding Kate and DD to the system. He fires off a whole of team response
"The client has agreed to a the advance. Funds will come through shortly. Are we dividing, or keeping for expenses?"
Then trudges out to his car, programming in an address to a location near the building.
DD - Day 1, early evening
Dividing or keeping for expenses...
DD purses her lips while considering this. Either option could end up being the worse choice for her. She doesn't expect too many expenses on her part, which would favor dividing, but that could cause some to skimp on their gear and preparation, which could cause the run to fail, or worse. Although some more spending money would be nice... She formulates a response, and mails it out to the rest of the team.
"I suggest dividing half, and keep the other half for expenses."
That done she focuses again on deciding what to wear this night.
Dividing or keeping for expenses...
DD purses her lips while considering this. Either option could end up being the worse choice for her. She doesn't expect too many expenses on her part, which would favor dividing, but that could cause some to skimp on their gear and preparation, which could cause the run to fail, or worse. Although some more spending money would be nice... She formulates a response, and mails it out to the rest of the team.
"I suggest dividing half, and keep the other half for expenses."
That done she focuses again on deciding what to wear this night.
Dancer - day one, early evening
Kate checks her commlink when it beeps, and sends a quick reply:
"Good work, Dagda. I suggest splitting it up. We're all more or less independent contractors, no one seems to be short of the gear they need to do their jobs, and we're handling the information-gathering part of the job ourselves instead of needing to pay hackers or info brokers for it."
"Hmm... might be able to get the simrig now," she thinks.
Kate checks her commlink when it beeps, and sends a quick reply:
"Good work, Dagda. I suggest splitting it up. We're all more or less independent contractors, no one seems to be short of the gear they need to do their jobs, and we're handling the information-gathering part of the job ourselves instead of needing to pay hackers or info brokers for it."
"Hmm... might be able to get the simrig now," she thinks.
DD - Day 1, early evening
DD holds up her semi-transparent Zoé SecondSkin bodysuit, wondering if that attire fits her plans for the evening. Maybe she should pick a more conventional dress?
Should I go out as a runner, or civilian? Hm...
DD holds up her semi-transparent Zoé SecondSkin bodysuit, wondering if that attire fits her plans for the evening. Maybe she should pick a more conventional dress?
Should I go out as a runner, or civilian? Hm...
Blackie's got a seat across the road from the Caduceus facility. He takes a drag of one of the innumerable cigarettes of the day, and blows a wide smoke ring towards the sunset. He flicks his bent aviation sunglasses down his nose, picked up at a pickpocket's market stall in Dubai and blinks a shot at the front of the cafe, making sure to catch the smoke ring and the hazy sunset in frame. As he raises the sunglasses back over his eyes he packages the digital image and launches it off into a data-stream to Dagda, to let him know where to meet.
Blackie lights another cigarette off the burning butt of the last one and takes a deep drag, snarling imperceptibly on the exhale. He's in a shit mood. His matrix legwork hadn't gone too well. He had no exploits in LA, and the matrix geography was completely foreign to him. It boggled him that it was harder to find out anything solid on Caduceus, yet it was simple to land the sexual preferences and personal fetishism of it's bigwigs. This town is ass-backwards.
Blackie drained his long black and took a look around. He was going to need drones, cameras and other sensors to exploit if he wanted to get some solid recon on this lab, and if he could spot them visually, it would give him a better chance of sniffing the things out. He sighed, remembering the pre-crash Matrix, which was often completely different to the layout of the actual city. Scowling at LA, he almost preferred that, as LA's matrix just re-affirmed Blackie's unfamiliarity with the city. But he knew that wasn't all that was annoying him.
He was hurting. He hadn't had psyche in too long and he was feeling dull and muddled. He couldn't concentrate on his data searches, and he was sure he had missed something. It was a catch-22, He didn't have the money for a hit, so he needed to work for a credstick, but it felt like the withdrawals were getting to his work, which could preclude the gaining of the cred and... drek. He shot off a message to the wannabe actress/college student/Piece of plastic working the register. Everyone has a story, but for once, Blackie just didn't care.
<<Caffeine again. Black as night and sweet as sin.>>
Blackie lights another cigarette off the burning butt of the last one and takes a deep drag, snarling imperceptibly on the exhale. He's in a shit mood. His matrix legwork hadn't gone too well. He had no exploits in LA, and the matrix geography was completely foreign to him. It boggled him that it was harder to find out anything solid on Caduceus, yet it was simple to land the sexual preferences and personal fetishism of it's bigwigs. This town is ass-backwards.
Blackie drained his long black and took a look around. He was going to need drones, cameras and other sensors to exploit if he wanted to get some solid recon on this lab, and if he could spot them visually, it would give him a better chance of sniffing the things out. He sighed, remembering the pre-crash Matrix, which was often completely different to the layout of the actual city. Scowling at LA, he almost preferred that, as LA's matrix just re-affirmed Blackie's unfamiliarity with the city. But he knew that wasn't all that was annoying him.
He was hurting. He hadn't had psyche in too long and he was feeling dull and muddled. He couldn't concentrate on his data searches, and he was sure he had missed something. It was a catch-22, He didn't have the money for a hit, so he needed to work for a credstick, but it felt like the withdrawals were getting to his work, which could preclude the gaining of the cred and... drek. He shot off a message to the wannabe actress/college student/Piece of plastic working the register. Everyone has a story, but for once, Blackie just didn't care.
<<Caffeine again. Black as night and sweet as sin.>>
Dancer - day one, evening
Kate walks the downtown strip of clubs and bars, noting how the area actually seems more alive at night. The streets are bustling with drunks, hookers, hustlers, party goers, and panhandlers.
Although she is only on the prowl for pleasure, she still gives off subtle signs to other watchers - the inhuman gracefulness, the occasional effortless weave around a stumbling drunk. Signs that scream danger to the urban predators who have learned to identify people who have been augmented.
Briefly, Kate wonders if she should have kept the denim vest. she normally wouldn't wear something like the skimpy cutoffs and bikini top outside of a club, or a beach party, but the hot, humid weather, and L.A.'s casual ambiance, make the attire seem natural to her.
Time to start hitting the dance spots...
Kate walks the downtown strip of clubs and bars, noting how the area actually seems more alive at night. The streets are bustling with drunks, hookers, hustlers, party goers, and panhandlers.
Although she is only on the prowl for pleasure, she still gives off subtle signs to other watchers - the inhuman gracefulness, the occasional effortless weave around a stumbling drunk. Signs that scream danger to the urban predators who have learned to identify people who have been augmented.
Briefly, Kate wonders if she should have kept the denim vest. she normally wouldn't wear something like the skimpy cutoffs and bikini top outside of a club, or a beach party, but the hot, humid weather, and L.A.'s casual ambiance, make the attire seem natural to her.
Time to start hitting the dance spots...
Dagda
Dagda is listening to the low thrum of the BMW's engine and tires as it glides towards the Caduceus facility when Blackie's message arrives. An instruction to his agent and the car, and he's parked in a dark alley near the cafe. He pauses to adjust his tie, collar and gloves, making sure the chameleon suit he's wearing under the crisp blazer is not visible and using the time to covertly survey the area from the mouth of the alley, knowing he is over dressed.
Looks clear.
He then walks into the cafe, ordering one of the all day breakfasts with no eggs and extra bacon, sliding into the seat opposite Blackie, shaking his hand mouthing an empty pleasantry as he sends a brief message via his trode net.
I know I look like a clown, but I've got my chameleon rig on under this get up. Being in that I don;t want to get arrested, options are limited. You've got two astral watchers around the building that should be fairly easy to dodge if we want to move in. I doubt that anyone magical is inside at this point. Buildings entrances as warded so I cannot 'carry' an active spell through. Thoughts?
Dagda is listening to the low thrum of the BMW's engine and tires as it glides towards the Caduceus facility when Blackie's message arrives. An instruction to his agent and the car, and he's parked in a dark alley near the cafe. He pauses to adjust his tie, collar and gloves, making sure the chameleon suit he's wearing under the crisp blazer is not visible and using the time to covertly survey the area from the mouth of the alley, knowing he is over dressed.
Looks clear.
He then walks into the cafe, ordering one of the all day breakfasts with no eggs and extra bacon, sliding into the seat opposite Blackie, shaking his hand mouthing an empty pleasantry as he sends a brief message via his trode net.
I know I look like a clown, but I've got my chameleon rig on under this get up. Being in that I don;t want to get arrested, options are limited. You've got two astral watchers around the building that should be fairly easy to dodge if we want to move in. I doubt that anyone magical is inside at this point. Buildings entrances as warded so I cannot 'carry' an active spell through. Thoughts?
QUOTE (Sir_Psycho @ May 27 2008, 03:11 AM) 
He shot off a message to the wannabe actress/college student/Piece of plastic working the register.
She responds pretty quickly. Translated from modern text shorthand (Hw R U QTY?):
"Hey cutie, what's going on in that head? I've been watching you just stand there for like, ever. You waiting for someone? A chick? Betcha she ain't worth it...if you're waiting this long, she's too slow for you. You look like you're from out of town..."
Blackie smiles to himself, and plans to heartily ignore her. The come on actually broke him out of his atrabilious mood a little. Why not play a little?
<< Sorry doll, I'm not your type. Too dangerous and too broke.>>
As Dagda approached, stern, and looking even more like an alabaster column in a tux and stern than usual, Blackie almost considered suggesting holding hands, for secure skinlink communication, of course, and to throw the waitress off with a gay vibe. He actually laughed the smoke out of his lungs.
<<Dagda.>> Blackie transmitted << I want recon entrance points. I'm not planning on insertion yet. My chameleon suit is in my satchel, if we need it. I'm going to call DD for Matrix support. I want to see if we can open up any exploits into nearby surveillance systems. I'd do it, but the woman is sharp, and despite appearances, I'll concede I trust she's a better hacker than I am.>>
Ghost, I'm almost talking corp.
Blackie locks DD's AID and fires off a message with a thought. <<Are you available to provide matrix support? I'll be spotting some drones for you to exploit. Think you can handle it? Also, I really want eyes within the facility, and I've been reading about these p2.0 me-feeds. As you're the team expert on social engineering, is it possible that we can subscribe to the working me-feeds of our men, or any other staff?>>
<< Sorry doll, I'm not your type. Too dangerous and too broke.>>
As Dagda approached, stern, and looking even more like an alabaster column in a tux and stern than usual, Blackie almost considered suggesting holding hands, for secure skinlink communication, of course, and to throw the waitress off with a gay vibe. He actually laughed the smoke out of his lungs.
<<Dagda.>> Blackie transmitted << I want recon entrance points. I'm not planning on insertion yet. My chameleon suit is in my satchel, if we need it. I'm going to call DD for Matrix support. I want to see if we can open up any exploits into nearby surveillance systems. I'd do it, but the woman is sharp, and despite appearances, I'll concede I trust she's a better hacker than I am.>>
Ghost, I'm almost talking corp.
Blackie locks DD's AID and fires off a message with a thought. <<Are you available to provide matrix support? I'll be spotting some drones for you to exploit. Think you can handle it? Also, I really want eyes within the facility, and I've been reading about these p2.0 me-feeds. As you're the team expert on social engineering, is it possible that we can subscribe to the working me-feeds of our men, or any other staff?>>
DD - Day 1, early evening
Ok... the SecondSkin really should go with the Predator, to accent the hip, and as Shadowrunner, gloves a re a must... with the opaque parts of the suit, and the boots, that should be enough of a contrast... but where to show it off? I need to check for runner bars...
DD's planning of the evening is interrupted by Blackie's message. She opens it while holding up her bodysuit.
Oh... work, and with broody & moody? No... hm... Dark and Light? No... hm... I need to work on nicknames... let's call their team up Black&White for now.
She answers the message, with a copy going to Dagda.
"Oh, of course I am available. I'll check their feeds. Do you need me on site, or is it a remote job?"
If it's on site I get to wear the runner outfit... even if that would probably make Blackie burst a few bloodvessels... hm... I'll need to be ready with the zoom in that case...
DD fires off a matrix search to check for open live feeds of the staff of the Caduceus facility.
Ok... the SecondSkin really should go with the Predator, to accent the hip, and as Shadowrunner, gloves a re a must... with the opaque parts of the suit, and the boots, that should be enough of a contrast... but where to show it off? I need to check for runner bars...
DD's planning of the evening is interrupted by Blackie's message. She opens it while holding up her bodysuit.
Oh... work, and with broody & moody? No... hm... Dark and Light? No... hm... I need to work on nicknames... let's call their team up Black&White for now.
She answers the message, with a copy going to Dagda.
"Oh, of course I am available. I'll check their feeds. Do you need me on site, or is it a remote job?"
If it's on site I get to wear the runner outfit... even if that would probably make Blackie burst a few bloodvessels... hm... I'll need to be ready with the zoom in that case...
DD fires off a matrix search to check for open live feeds of the staff of the Caduceus facility.
Dancer - day one, evening
As she prepares to hit the nightclubs, Kate pauses to wonder how Dagda and Blackie's scouting mission is going. Not really something she needs to worry about, but she decides to send a quick message out to Dagda and Blackie, just to show due dilligence.
"DD and I got done with our recording session early, so I'm available if you need some bodyguarding for your recon work. You said it was just going to be scouting the outside, so I doubt you need me, but if you do, I am about an hour away, over in Van Nuys." There. Now to enjoy the night life.
The first club that Kate goes in to is playing industrial music, and has grungy rivetheads mingling with more upscale cyberfetishists. Goldie would probably fit right in. She, on the other hand, is very underdressed for the metalhead crowd, while not fetishy enough for the cybergoths. Most people would slink out the door, but she decides to brazen it out, instead. She walks in with a bit of a faux rivetgirl strut, her emerald eyes flashing a smouldering challenge, and hits the dance floor.
A pale, raven-tressed goth girl in black synthleather is the first one to dance with her. She is trying to be sultry and domineering, but her innocent face and clunky high heels (making her a bit clumsy on the dance floor) both undermine the effect. Plus, she seems more like someone wearing a dominatrix costume to a Halloween party than the real thing. For starters, she doesn't seem to realize that the subs are the ones who wear the collars. Kate is still game, though, dancing and flirting with her for awhile.
Two beefy, crew-cut gearheads are the next ones to vie for her attention, but they wind up in a fistfight with each other. Damn it, she would have let them share! A feisty rivetgirl with flourescent beads woven into her dreadlocks tries to intimidate her, but gets flustered and beats a quick retreat when Kate hits on her.
Finally, she spots promising prey - a young ork rivethead, with what appear to be actual rivets going in two rows along his shaven head, a muscular youngster in a black muscle shirt and baggy military pants with combat boots. Yum.
He seems a bit nervous when she sits next to him and starts coming on to him. Aww... maybe not such a tough guy? It turns out he was with someone, as his girlfriend shows up.
A petite human woman, a slumming college girl it looks like, with a cute face, although she's trying to look tough. She has fiberoptic hair like DD's, only shorter, and white with blue highlights. She is wearing an outfit consisting mainly of metallic straps that criss-cross her tanned body. Yum. Kate wastes no time expanding her amorous efforts to include both of them.
As she prepares to hit the nightclubs, Kate pauses to wonder how Dagda and Blackie's scouting mission is going. Not really something she needs to worry about, but she decides to send a quick message out to Dagda and Blackie, just to show due dilligence.
"DD and I got done with our recording session early, so I'm available if you need some bodyguarding for your recon work. You said it was just going to be scouting the outside, so I doubt you need me, but if you do, I am about an hour away, over in Van Nuys." There. Now to enjoy the night life.
The first club that Kate goes in to is playing industrial music, and has grungy rivetheads mingling with more upscale cyberfetishists. Goldie would probably fit right in. She, on the other hand, is very underdressed for the metalhead crowd, while not fetishy enough for the cybergoths. Most people would slink out the door, but she decides to brazen it out, instead. She walks in with a bit of a faux rivetgirl strut, her emerald eyes flashing a smouldering challenge, and hits the dance floor.
A pale, raven-tressed goth girl in black synthleather is the first one to dance with her. She is trying to be sultry and domineering, but her innocent face and clunky high heels (making her a bit clumsy on the dance floor) both undermine the effect. Plus, she seems more like someone wearing a dominatrix costume to a Halloween party than the real thing. For starters, she doesn't seem to realize that the subs are the ones who wear the collars. Kate is still game, though, dancing and flirting with her for awhile.
Two beefy, crew-cut gearheads are the next ones to vie for her attention, but they wind up in a fistfight with each other. Damn it, she would have let them share! A feisty rivetgirl with flourescent beads woven into her dreadlocks tries to intimidate her, but gets flustered and beats a quick retreat when Kate hits on her.
Finally, she spots promising prey - a young ork rivethead, with what appear to be actual rivets going in two rows along his shaven head, a muscular youngster in a black muscle shirt and baggy military pants with combat boots. Yum.
He seems a bit nervous when she sits next to him and starts coming on to him. Aww... maybe not such a tough guy? It turns out he was with someone, as his girlfriend shows up.
A petite human woman, a slumming college girl it looks like, with a cute face, although she's trying to look tough. She has fiberoptic hair like DD's, only shorter, and white with blue highlights. She is wearing an outfit consisting mainly of metallic straps that criss-cross her tanned body. Yum. Kate wastes no time expanding her amorous efforts to include both of them.
DD - Day 1, early evening
The results of DD's matrix search come in. Or not-results in this case. No live feeds from the staff. DD pouts.
Would have been too perfect if we could get info that way...
She passes the info on to Blackie and Dagda.
The results of DD's matrix search come in. Or not-results in this case. No live feeds from the staff. DD pouts.
Would have been too perfect if we could get info that way...
She passes the info on to Blackie and Dagda.
QUOTE (Glyph @ May 29 2008, 10:30 PM)
Dancer - day one, evening
As she prepares to hit the nightclubs, Kate pauses to wonder how Dagda and Blackie's scouting mission is going. Not really something she needs to worry about, but she decides to send a quick message out to Dagda and Blackie, just to show due dilligence.
"DD and I got done with our recording session early, so I'm available if you need some bodyguarding for your recon work. You said it was just going to be scouting the outside, so I doubt you need me, but if you do, I am about an hour away, over in Van Nuys." There. Now to enjoy the night life.
The first club that Kate goes in to is playing industrial music, and has grungy rivetheads mingling with more upscale cyberfetishists. Goldie would probably fit right in. She, on the other hand, is very underdressed for the metalhead crowd, while not fetishy enough for the cybergoths. Most people would slink out the door, but she decides to brazen it out, instead. She walks in with a bit of a faux rivetgirl strut, her emerald eyes flashing a smouldering challenge, and hits the dance floor.
A pale, raven-tressed goth girl in black synthleather is the first one to dance with her. She is trying to be sultry and domineering, but her innocent face and clunky high heels (making her a bit clumsy on the dance floor) both undermine the effect. Plus, she seems more like someone wearing a dominatrix costume to a Halloween party than the real thing. For starters, she doesn't seem to realize that the subs are the ones who wear the collars. Kate is still game, though, dancing and flirting with her for awhile.
Two beefy, crew-cut gearheads are the next ones to vie for her attention, but they wind up in a fistfight with each other. Damn it, she would have let them share! A feisty rivetgirl with flourescent beads woven into her dreadlocks tries to intimidate her, but gets flustered and beats a quick retreat when Kate hits on her.
Finally, she spots promising prey - a young ork rivethead, with what appear to be actual rivets going in two rows along his shaven head, a muscular youngster in a black muscle shirt and baggy military pants with combat boots. Yum.
He seems a bit nervous when she sits next to him and starts coming on to him. Aww... maybe not such a tough guy? It turns out he was with someone, as his girlfriend shows up.
A petite human woman, a slumming college girl it looks like, with a cute face, although she's trying to look tough. She has fiberoptic hair like DD's, only shorter, and white with blue highlights. She is wearing an outfit consisting mainly of metallic straps that criss-cross her tanned body. Yum. Kate wastes no time expanding her amorous efforts to include both of them.
As she prepares to hit the nightclubs, Kate pauses to wonder how Dagda and Blackie's scouting mission is going. Not really something she needs to worry about, but she decides to send a quick message out to Dagda and Blackie, just to show due dilligence.
"DD and I got done with our recording session early, so I'm available if you need some bodyguarding for your recon work. You said it was just going to be scouting the outside, so I doubt you need me, but if you do, I am about an hour away, over in Van Nuys." There. Now to enjoy the night life.
The first club that Kate goes in to is playing industrial music, and has grungy rivetheads mingling with more upscale cyberfetishists. Goldie would probably fit right in. She, on the other hand, is very underdressed for the metalhead crowd, while not fetishy enough for the cybergoths. Most people would slink out the door, but she decides to brazen it out, instead. She walks in with a bit of a faux rivetgirl strut, her emerald eyes flashing a smouldering challenge, and hits the dance floor.
A pale, raven-tressed goth girl in black synthleather is the first one to dance with her. She is trying to be sultry and domineering, but her innocent face and clunky high heels (making her a bit clumsy on the dance floor) both undermine the effect. Plus, she seems more like someone wearing a dominatrix costume to a Halloween party than the real thing. For starters, she doesn't seem to realize that the subs are the ones who wear the collars. Kate is still game, though, dancing and flirting with her for awhile.
Two beefy, crew-cut gearheads are the next ones to vie for her attention, but they wind up in a fistfight with each other. Damn it, she would have let them share! A feisty rivetgirl with flourescent beads woven into her dreadlocks tries to intimidate her, but gets flustered and beats a quick retreat when Kate hits on her.
Finally, she spots promising prey - a young ork rivethead, with what appear to be actual rivets going in two rows along his shaven head, a muscular youngster in a black muscle shirt and baggy military pants with combat boots. Yum.
He seems a bit nervous when she sits next to him and starts coming on to him. Aww... maybe not such a tough guy? It turns out he was with someone, as his girlfriend shows up.
A petite human woman, a slumming college girl it looks like, with a cute face, although she's trying to look tough. She has fiberoptic hair like DD's, only shorter, and white with blue highlights. She is wearing an outfit consisting mainly of metallic straps that criss-cross her tanned body. Yum. Kate wastes no time expanding her amorous efforts to include both of them.
The girl's name turns out to be Kiera, and her boyfriend is Bram. Now of course, there's not a male within a hundred miles that would turn down a three-way, his girlfriend seems a rather territorial at first. Still, Bram manages to keep peace long enough for the three of you to sit down with some drinks, and continue with flirting, casual conversation, and the possibility of something else.
[Can I get an Etiquette roll? First Impression applies, of course]
Kiera warms up a bit, as Kate begins leaving openings in the conversation for her. The reaction is immediate, as Kiera obviously enjoys talking about herself. Over the course of several drinks, Kate learns that Kiera is a medical student, that she has a high estimation of her academic progress, reacts poorly to stress (judging by her description of her activities in light of a recent exam; also, she is exhibiting signs of habitual Cram use), and is here tonight celebrating the end of said exam.
Bram quickly steers the conversation back towards Kate, asking if she needs a place to crash for the night, since the two of them happen to live nearby, and his car is parked outside (nobody walks in Los Angeles. Ever.) He also drops some innuendo in Or'Zet that, were he talking to a more prim woman, might get him slapped or worse. Kiera either doesn't speak Or'Zet (quite likely) or her Cram is starting to wear off (also quite likely).
Other happenings about the club:
- A fight breaks out in the parking lot between two unidentified gang members. Partygoers inside the club are notified electronically of the danger, and notified again when the fight is broken up by on-site security forces.
- Kate receives quite a few advertisement messages from clothing outlets.
- There is a dance competition this weekend, with registration ending tonight.
Bram quickly steers the conversation back towards Kate, asking if she needs a place to crash for the night, since the two of them happen to live nearby, and his car is parked outside (nobody walks in Los Angeles. Ever.) He also drops some innuendo in Or'Zet that, were he talking to a more prim woman, might get him slapped or worse. Kiera either doesn't speak Or'Zet (quite likely) or her Cram is starting to wear off (also quite likely).
Other happenings about the club:
- A fight breaks out in the parking lot between two unidentified gang members. Partygoers inside the club are notified electronically of the danger, and notified again when the fight is broken up by on-site security forces.
- Kate receives quite a few advertisement messages from clothing outlets.
- There is a dance competition this weekend, with registration ending tonight.
Dancer - day one, evening
Kate can see that the college girl requires delicate handling, but that a bit of ego stroking will get her far. She acts suitably impressed by Kiera's academic achievements, and congratulates her on getting through that exam.
She is gently kneading the other girl's shoulders as Bram makes his casual offer. She accepts with a warm smile. Kiera, enjoying the massage, is leaning back against Kate, almost purring. At Bram's not-so-subtle innuendo, her smile becomes more mischievous, and she gives him an arch, almost challenging look.
She checks her commlink before they head out, noting that there was a squabble between two gangers, and that she has been spammed with a lot of clothing ads. Hmmm... a dance contest. With a mental shrug, she registers for it. DD seemed to be veering away from the starving artist angle to a rising star angle, so some more exposure couldn't hurt her.
And then she is out the door with the young couple, where a night of debauchery awaits them.
Kate can see that the college girl requires delicate handling, but that a bit of ego stroking will get her far. She acts suitably impressed by Kiera's academic achievements, and congratulates her on getting through that exam.
She is gently kneading the other girl's shoulders as Bram makes his casual offer. She accepts with a warm smile. Kiera, enjoying the massage, is leaning back against Kate, almost purring. At Bram's not-so-subtle innuendo, her smile becomes more mischievous, and she gives him an arch, almost challenging look.
She checks her commlink before they head out, noting that there was a squabble between two gangers, and that she has been spammed with a lot of clothing ads. Hmmm... a dance contest. With a mental shrug, she registers for it. DD seemed to be veering away from the starving artist angle to a rising star angle, so some more exposure couldn't hurt her.
And then she is out the door with the young couple, where a night of debauchery awaits them.
DD - Day 1, early evening
I'll have to get to another location even if it is a remote job, safer, and the clip will look less like a sitcom with a shoestring budget and just one room for the scenes. Hm... where to, to safely hack...
DD fires out a matrix search for a "shadowy club", and starts to slip into her "SecondSkin" "almost transparent" armor clothes. She prepares her Predator, but unless it's an on site job, she doesn't plan to carry it - unless she finds a club to hack from where guns are expected.
I'll have to get to another location even if it is a remote job, safer, and the clip will look less like a sitcom with a shoestring budget and just one room for the scenes. Hm... where to, to safely hack...
DD fires out a matrix search for a "shadowy club", and starts to slip into her "SecondSkin" "almost transparent" armor clothes. She prepares her Predator, but unless it's an on site job, she doesn't plan to carry it - unless she finds a club to hack from where guns are expected.
[ Spoiler ]
DD's search goes rather well, pulling up a fairly comprehensive list of "Shadowy" clubs in the area. The most suitable appears to be Black Steel, as it is fairly close, has a no-gun policy that is strictly enforced, and their AR is simply to die for. Also, the L.A. gossip feeds seem to believe that there are at least two high-profile Runners clubbing there tonight.
Dancer, meanwhile, has a pleasant, if not restful (haha) evening with Kiera and Bram. Kiera, as it turns out, gets her second wind (or another dose of Cram) when they get back home, and is rather...active...to say the least. Bram is not to be outdone, and in the end the whole thing goes on much longer than anyone had anticipated, and the two of them finally fall asleep with the feeble rays of the morning sun cast over them.
Dancer, meanwhile, has a pleasant, if not restful (haha) evening with Kiera and Bram. Kiera, as it turns out, gets her second wind (or another dose of Cram) when they get back home, and is rather...active...to say the least. Bram is not to be outdone, and in the end the whole thing goes on much longer than anyone had anticipated, and the two of them finally fall asleep with the feeble rays of the morning sun cast over them.
DD - Day 1, early evening
Ah... that's a good spot. Black Steel. Cameo appearances of stars should help with ratings.
While waiting on an answer from Blackie and/or Dagda, DD finishes dressing in her Second Skin suit, pulling on short boots and her shock gloves - going completely unarmed would be un-runner like, in her opinion. And, oh, yeah, not that safe either.
Donning her goggles, and making sure her curves and hair color are set right for her runner persona, she poses in front of the mirror in her room before covering up with a coat, slipping her goggles in her pocket, setting her hair color to blonde, and leaving the hotel. She'll stash the coat in a locker somewhere on the way, and change her hair to green again before reaching Black Steel.
Ah... that's a good spot. Black Steel. Cameo appearances of stars should help with ratings.
While waiting on an answer from Blackie and/or Dagda, DD finishes dressing in her Second Skin suit, pulling on short boots and her shock gloves - going completely unarmed would be un-runner like, in her opinion. And, oh, yeah, not that safe either.
Donning her goggles, and making sure her curves and hair color are set right for her runner persona, she poses in front of the mirror in her room before covering up with a coat, slipping her goggles in her pocket, setting her hair color to blonde, and leaving the hotel. She'll stash the coat in a locker somewhere on the way, and change her hair to green again before reaching Black Steel.
Dancer - day two, very early morning
Kate smiles fondly at the entwined couple sleeping on the bed, wishing she had time to linger with them. But she needs to slink out of there if she wants some sleep before her second dance set later in the morning. While her screwy magical metabolism freaks her out sometimes, she is glad for it now - a few hours of slumber will do for her what eight hours would do for a normal person.
She leaves them a cheerful message and her commcode, then makes her way back to her place in the pale dawn light. The restless tension she felt earlier has been expended by the night's vigorous activity, and she falls asleep almost as soon as she has curled up on her futon.
Kate smiles fondly at the entwined couple sleeping on the bed, wishing she had time to linger with them. But she needs to slink out of there if she wants some sleep before her second dance set later in the morning. While her screwy magical metabolism freaks her out sometimes, she is glad for it now - a few hours of slumber will do for her what eight hours would do for a normal person.
She leaves them a cheerful message and her commcode, then makes her way back to her place in the pale dawn light. The restless tension she felt earlier has been expended by the night's vigorous activity, and she falls asleep almost as soon as she has curled up on her futon.
<< DD, I'm going for a dip. I'm going to survey our sewer access and see if a bottom-up infiltration looks viable. If you can grab me some local sewer maps I'll correlate them with the map information I've got. Matrix cover will also be appreciated.
Dagda, I need astral overwatch. Do spot checks and then buzz me with the information and go-aheads. I don't want to run into anything. >>
Blackie drained his coffee and lit another cigarette, waiting for reply.
Dagda, I need astral overwatch. Do spot checks and then buzz me with the information and go-aheads. I don't want to run into anything. >>
Blackie drained his coffee and lit another cigarette, waiting for reply.
DD - Day 1, early evening, Black Steel
Ah, specialist lingo. We might need some hyperlink notes for the teenage crowd for those.
DD, with changed curves and haircolor, and without the cloak, takes in the scene at Black Steel, looking for a good spot to sit down and go hot in VR to get the maps Blackie demanded. She's a bit diastracted by the club's interiour.
Sitting down in a spot, she goes full VR, and searches the matrix for the sewer maps.
I sure hope they don't come with full-sensory add-ons. Smelling the stuff Blackie will be smelling soon is bad. Although that would be a nice bonus track for the clip... I'll have to ask Blackie to record the stench... he should agree that it'll add realism and grit to the clip...
Ah, specialist lingo. We might need some hyperlink notes for the teenage crowd for those.
DD, with changed curves and haircolor, and without the cloak, takes in the scene at Black Steel, looking for a good spot to sit down and go hot in VR to get the maps Blackie demanded. She's a bit diastracted by the club's interiour.
Sitting down in a spot, she goes full VR, and searches the matrix for the sewer maps.
I sure hope they don't come with full-sensory add-ons. Smelling the stuff Blackie will be smelling soon is bad. Although that would be a nice bonus track for the clip... I'll have to ask Blackie to record the stench... he should agree that it'll add realism and grit to the clip...
Dagda
Dagda snorts at Blackies suggestion
<< Atleast I don't have to swim. I can certainly do that for you. >> then he focuses for just a moment
then relaxes in the chair and rubbing his temple for a moment.
<<I'd like to introduce you to someone. Some feel she is a reflect on gaia's nature, I feel that he is merely a reflection of a Skritok's connection to earth, but either way, they will protect and guide you, and if you need further assistance, just simply ask them.>>
At that point an deep, earthy voice of indeterminate nature and sex echoes through Blackie's mind. "I am here to provide you with insight and deceive your enemies." and simultaneously a figure strongly reminiscent of Dagda in physique and nature, but wearing a set of utilitarian grey overalls materialises in the third seat. Strangely the waitress appears not to notice. The andogenous figure gives Blackie a sly wink.
Dagda snorts at Blackies suggestion
<< Atleast I don't have to swim. I can certainly do that for you. >> then he focuses for just a moment
[ Spoiler ]
then relaxes in the chair and rubbing his temple for a moment.
<<I'd like to introduce you to someone. Some feel she is a reflect on gaia's nature, I feel that he is merely a reflection of a Skritok's connection to earth, but either way, they will protect and guide you, and if you need further assistance, just simply ask them.>>
At that point an deep, earthy voice of indeterminate nature and sex echoes through Blackie's mind. "I am here to provide you with insight and deceive your enemies." and simultaneously a figure strongly reminiscent of Dagda in physique and nature, but wearing a set of utilitarian grey overalls materialises in the third seat. Strangely the waitress appears not to notice. The andogenous figure gives Blackie a sly wink.
DD
LA's VR iconography is...different, for sure. Leaving your physical body behind, you load your persona and leave the comfort of your PAN. The club's VR is nearly as active as the club itself. On the surface are the virtual clubbers, people logging in from various "sister clubs" linked to this one. But DD can see more...shadows in the background, moving about, talking, exchanging...something. She knows that if she wanted to she could focus her vision, and bring those shadows into the light of her vision, but she doesn't have the time, or the interest, and little good every comes of sticking your nose into such things.
Bouncing around the LA matrix, she passes by drones, matrix Agents forever searching the matrix for juicy gossip, and boring, workhorse programs that keep the city going. Faster than most people can think, she shuffles through thousands of city records and maps until she find what she's looking for: a section of sewer tunnels running beneath the target building.
LA's VR iconography is...different, for sure. Leaving your physical body behind, you load your persona and leave the comfort of your PAN. The club's VR is nearly as active as the club itself. On the surface are the virtual clubbers, people logging in from various "sister clubs" linked to this one. But DD can see more...shadows in the background, moving about, talking, exchanging...something. She knows that if she wanted to she could focus her vision, and bring those shadows into the light of her vision, but she doesn't have the time, or the interest, and little good every comes of sticking your nose into such things.
Bouncing around the LA matrix, she passes by drones, matrix Agents forever searching the matrix for juicy gossip, and boring, workhorse programs that keep the city going. Faster than most people can think, she shuffles through thousands of city records and maps until she find what she's looking for: a section of sewer tunnels running beneath the target building.
DD - Day 1, early evening, LA Matrix
Jackpot!
After bouncing around the LA matrix for a bit, DD finds what she's looking for: A section of sewer tunnels running beneath the target building. Grinning gleefully, she copies them, then routes a call to Blackie's comm, her icon appearing next to him in his AR-enhanced view. She hands the maps over with an exagerated flourish, and then pokes her head around, hands crossed behind her back, pondering how best to ask the man if he could record the smell of the sewers for the clip.
"Say... you do 'ave a simrig, don't you?"
DD smiles innocently.
I just have to phrase it like it's news, or journalism. Grit and chip-truth, and dirty and all. It'll be ideal bait for the wanna-be hardcore youth audience who want to get a whiff of the dangerous Shadows.
Jackpot!
After bouncing around the LA matrix for a bit, DD finds what she's looking for: A section of sewer tunnels running beneath the target building. Grinning gleefully, she copies them, then routes a call to Blackie's comm, her icon appearing next to him in his AR-enhanced view. She hands the maps over with an exagerated flourish, and then pokes her head around, hands crossed behind her back, pondering how best to ask the man if he could record the smell of the sewers for the clip.
"Say... you do 'ave a simrig, don't you?"
DD smiles innocently.
I just have to phrase it like it's news, or journalism. Grit and chip-truth, and dirty and all. It'll be ideal bait for the wanna-be hardcore youth audience who want to get a whiff of the dangerous Shadows.
<< Appreciated. >> Shot Blackie, as he compiled the map of the Caduceus medical testing facility with the underlying sewer system. << You get the big three senses, but what I feel stays with me. >>
"Exhibitionists", Blackie muttered as crawled into the manhole. To tell the truth, he had been recording sight, smell and sound since he woke this morning. He had a deal with his hacker pal in Seoul and all of his raw recording was saved for later selection and editing, but that was it. Descending the grimy ladder to the sewer beneath, he could already feel the stench crawling up his synthetic olfactory organs.
"Ahh the truth", his voice echoed down the tunnel, "Breathe it in, Blackie."
<< Dagda, if things get hairy, do you have any spirits on call? >> As the encrypted message slid off back up to Dagda, Blackie hit the bottom of the ladder, and flicked his Colt American L36 into his hand and thumbed the safety off. His cyber-eyes responded quickly to the ambient light and the sewer flooded into his vision.
"Exhibitionists", Blackie muttered as crawled into the manhole. To tell the truth, he had been recording sight, smell and sound since he woke this morning. He had a deal with his hacker pal in Seoul and all of his raw recording was saved for later selection and editing, but that was it. Descending the grimy ladder to the sewer beneath, he could already feel the stench crawling up his synthetic olfactory organs.
"Ahh the truth", his voice echoed down the tunnel, "Breathe it in, Blackie."
<< Dagda, if things get hairy, do you have any spirits on call? >> As the encrypted message slid off back up to Dagda, Blackie hit the bottom of the ladder, and flicked his Colt American L36 into his hand and thumbed the safety off. His cyber-eyes responded quickly to the ambient light and the sewer flooded into his vision.
DD - Day 1, early evening, LA Matrix
Ew... is that a dead rat? And the pistol, a...
DD runs a short search operation.
... Colt American L36 looks a bit small. Maybe we can edit a heavier model in... or we go the "slick british agent" look. Hmm...
Trailing behind Blackie as a floating icon - basically, a greenskinned, greenhaired stylized DD - DD keeps scanning for hidden nodes while taking in the surroundings. She barely resists the temptation to start some "We're here in the sewers of L.A., following Blackie as he braves the dangers of the underground, mutant critters, diseases and the spirits of the people dead in the quake..." commentary.
<<Oh, 'oney... before we get too far in and can't talk that freely anymore... when you take your shower after this, can you record it too? From the back works if you're feeling shy.>>
With that, DD flits ahead a few meters, checking for sensor nodes.
Ew... is that a dead rat? And the pistol, a...
DD runs a short search operation.
... Colt American L36 looks a bit small. Maybe we can edit a heavier model in... or we go the "slick british agent" look. Hmm...
Trailing behind Blackie as a floating icon - basically, a greenskinned, greenhaired stylized DD - DD keeps scanning for hidden nodes while taking in the surroundings. She barely resists the temptation to start some "We're here in the sewers of L.A., following Blackie as he braves the dangers of the underground, mutant critters, diseases and the spirits of the people dead in the quake..." commentary.
<<Oh, 'oney... before we get too far in and can't talk that freely anymore... when you take your shower after this, can you record it too? From the back works if you're feeling shy.>>
With that, DD flits ahead a few meters, checking for sensor nodes.
Dagda
Dagda remains in the Cafe leisurely finishing his all day breakfast with all you can eat hashbrowns, not really paying attention, Mhrmpf, should get these more often, when Blackie's message snaps him back to the problem at hand.
<< No. Just the one with you. But I'm on call. I'll get to my car and then meet you down stairs.>>
Dagda hastily wolfs down a few more hash browns, picks up the tab and walks back to the beemer, slumping into the corner of the back seat and directing it to drive around in circles a few blocks around here, checking Blackie's position one more time, then slowly sliding out of his.
Dagda - a few moments later
Unusally, Dagda relatively enjoys the cramped feeling of the gaiasphere squeezing around him. Reminds him of a mineshaft back home. He randomly flits through the sewers at a million miles and hour, wooshing past whatever is down there, slowly closing in on his spirit via telepathy in a series of not quite random walks. Eventually he, in astral space, finds Blackie and relays a message via telepathy with the spirit
"Okay guv, I've got your back."
Dagda remains in the Cafe leisurely finishing his all day breakfast with all you can eat hashbrowns, not really paying attention, Mhrmpf, should get these more often, when Blackie's message snaps him back to the problem at hand.
<< No. Just the one with you. But I'm on call. I'll get to my car and then meet you down stairs.>>
Dagda hastily wolfs down a few more hash browns, picks up the tab and walks back to the beemer, slumping into the corner of the back seat and directing it to drive around in circles a few blocks around here, checking Blackie's position one more time, then slowly sliding out of his.
Dagda - a few moments later
Unusally, Dagda relatively enjoys the cramped feeling of the gaiasphere squeezing around him. Reminds him of a mineshaft back home. He randomly flits through the sewers at a million miles and hour, wooshing past whatever is down there, slowly closing in on his spirit via telepathy in a series of not quite random walks. Eventually he, in astral space, finds Blackie and relays a message via telepathy with the spirit
"Okay guv, I've got your back."
Navigating the sewer with an overlay of the above-ground map, Blackie locates the area underneath the building. After a period of probing around, he finds an area where there was once an access panel into the building. It has since been bricked over, but the bricks are old and brittle. A strong troll could probably crack through, and the same could be said for a force bolt, or even some acid or a chisel and a couple of hours.
DD - Day 1, early evening, LA Matrix
DD keeps following Blackie, her icon "floating" around in AR space, using Blackie's commlink as a transmitter as long as the signal holds up. In the absence of other cameras and feeds she can use, she asks Blackie if he could send her a feed of his 'ware, so she can see through his eyes.
DD keeps following Blackie, her icon "floating" around in AR space, using Blackie's commlink as a transmitter as long as the signal holds up. In the absence of other cameras and feeds she can use, she asks Blackie if he could send her a feed of his 'ware, so she can see through his eyes.
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