22:38 <banana> Rolf's money came through just as promised. Direct bank deposit... though he didn't give Seelie Count Rose's Wasp his details. That would have been foolish. 22:38 <banana> How then the deposit? Sourjack handled it, apparently. He does that- when someone's going to pay you, he intermediates, makes sure the money is clean and untraceable. HMRC has no idea about the £5000 when it comes to tax. 22:39 <banana> That means he's got the power here. If Liam Penberthy wants something more of him it has to be a fair deal, and if Bob Goreman wants something of Liam... actually, what does everyone want? 22:40 <hrolf> Rolf is having a pint of guinness, savouring the taste of tax free money. He's having it with a meat pie (meat indeterminate), and some sausages. 22:41 <tom> Bob would like to push some of Manchester's atrocious assault/murder numbers down. 22:41 <hrolf> What Rolf wants, as always, is more money. And to be free of vampiric entaglements. 22:41 <tom> Time to pull out the ole Goreman charm and make a complete fool of himself. 22:42 <banana> November 6, Saturday morning. Bob's seen diners kind of like this place in Kansas City. You've got time for a pint and the deal they call the Dog's Breakfast before Liam of Summer is due to arrive. 22:44 <tom> Cheery. He tries to ignore the decor. At least there isn't anything about fucking John Galt. 22:44 <banana> The clientele of the pub is its decor. They are encrusted upon the green baize and dangle from the dartboard. Anyone drinking this early in the day isn't going to stop. 22:44 <tom> ...He's curious enough to try the breakfast. 22:45 <tom> Yeah well, he's in good company then. Daydrinking's fun. 22:46 <tom> "How ya been, man," is what Rolf gets when the American in his stupid visor pulls up to the table. He looks just a little uncomfortable here. 22:46 <hrolf> Someone bumps into Rolf, snarls and snatches a bottle, ready to smash it and get into it. At the last second he stops and seems to recognize him. Rolf shakes his hand and they chit chat a bit about their last trip to Europe - meeting with a bunch of the right sort of lads at a Dynamo Kiev game in Ukraine, before he heads out into the street, singing a chant. 22:48 <hrolf> Rolf holds his hand flat and wiggles it noncomittally. "Eh. Good an' bad. Glad this fang business is done wif. But 'avin a devil of a team replacing me furniture - they're all out of beds at the ikea, and I'll be damned if I'm buying it second 'and. May 'ave to go to one of em fancy stores - what wif inflation and all, I may 'ave underestimated the cost of the damage your lad did to me flat." 22:49 <tom> "Oh yeah," he falls silent while the guy talks, slips into a seat. Doesn't take off his shades. "Okay h-hold on, he's not my boy." 22:50 <hrolf> "Lad at the Ikea shop said they're 'avin supply chain issues. And the bloody euros are gobblin up all the screws and drills and parts coming in from China!" 22:50 <tom> "I'm the bridge between worlds dude! I gotta keep 'em separated!" 22:50 <tom> "Yeah it's criminal, isn't it?" 22:51 <tom> "Can't imagine why they'd wanna punish this country," he glances over at the men at the bar. 22:51 <hrolf> Rolf slams his pint glass down on the table. "Too bloody right!" He looks at Bob askance. "So you're a bridge now, yeah? 'ope they do regular maintenance then." 22:51 <banana> What's criminal is what they've just dumped on the table in front of Bob. This is.. there's bacon, that's recognisable, and it's fused with the eggs in a sort of charcoal binding. Beans all over the shop, or at least watery ovals in orange. 22:51 <tom> "My girl tunes me up from time to time." 22:52 <banana> There are pieces of sausage, slices, in a white goop which could be sauce or excessively mashed potato. 22:52 <hrolf> Rolf nudges Bob in the ribs. "Wossit like, eh? Shagging someone wif multiple legs?" He waggles his eyebrows. 22:52 <tom> Oh man, wow, that's horrible. Bob starts sectioning it into squares with his fork. 22:53 <tom> "Oh I don't wanna- you know- it's pretty cool." He rubs the back of his neck, blushing and turning away. 22:54 <tom> Quietly: "She's still nervous about the teeth. Not sure how to broach that one without sounding like a total freak." 22:54 <tom> "Hahaha," he starts off, abruptly switching lanes. "You get the money?" 22:54 <hrolf> Rolf continues to waggle. "Aren't spideys sposed to eat their lad after the shag?" 22:55 <tom> "That's what I thought! But she doesn't wanna bite me at all. Breaks my heart." 22:55 <tom> The first square of egg-fused bacon goes into his mouth. 22:56 <banana> This could be good workout food. The carbs and the protein are intimate. 22:56 <tom> C'mon man you've eaten worse. You were in the Army. 22:56 <banana> There's a too-brief beam of daylight in the Mancunian gloom as the door opens and someone crosses the sticky floor to the bar. Was that red hair? 22:57 <hrolf> Rolf spends a few seconds trying to get his fork into a particularly tough part of the meat (unidentified). After succeeding, he puts it into his mouth. Chewing it takes considerably more time. Mid chew: "yeahff i goff the money- bufff like i saidff- mmmm mmm- " he finally gives up and just swallows it whole - "wif inflation and the supply chain, I fink I'm entitled to more." 23:01 <tom> "Look, man," Bob taps his fingers on the table. "You probably know more about how elves work than I do. You know what happens when they fulfill a deal and you go back on it." 23:01 <tom> "I think we should all be happy that nobody got exploded into a pile of leaves." 23:01 <banana> Light and shadow move in odd ways in this establishment. Mostly shadow. Several of them seem to fall across your table, coalescing into a human figure; look up and you'll see Liam in the flesh. 23:01 <banana> He's holding a glass of clear cider; KEEP CALM AND DRINK is printed on the side. 23:02 <tom> Bob sighs: "Hey man." 23:02 <hrolf> Rolf looks up from his pie. "Ah, it's the young cunt in the flesh. Pull up a chair, son." 23:03 <banana> Liam does just that, since you've taken the benches. "You boyos are more hardcore than I had cause to believe. This place reeks." 23:03 <tom> Liam might be relieved to find out Bob's visible embarrassment at Rolf. The Human Office veteran likely doesn't notice. 23:03 <tom> "Yeah we're real scum." 23:03 <tom> "How ya been since Samhain, man?" 23:04 <tom> He taps a button on his visor while he talks. 23:05 <hrolf> Rolf gets to the point. "I was just sayin to Goreman 'ere - I may 'ave underestimated the damage to me flat, and I'm probably due more than the askin'. But-" he waves a fork in the air magnanimously " I'm gonna wave it, gratis. 'uman office discount." 23:06 <banana> Penberthy looks back and forth. He's not the only one in here with hair gel, but he has the most of it. "I can't object to that. You're telling me you were in the service too?" 23:07 <hrolf> Rolf nods. "Contractor. Odd jobs, not so odd jobs when the service couldn't get its 'ands dirty - you know the like." 23:08 <tom> Bob turns and Liam can probably catch a scowl briefly playing across his face beneath the mirrored lenses: "...Wait, too?" 23:08 <banana> Liam: "That's really something. They had me down as some bloody elite voyager - an astronaut of other worlds. Fucked me over worse than even your attempts at plumbing." 23:08 <tom> "Oh shit dude, oh fuck." 23:08 <banana> To Bob: "Shit indeed and fuck indeed." 23:09 <tom> His expression is more than a little pained: "How far'd'ya get before they scooped you up?" 23:09 <hrolf> Rolf: "Yeah I 'eard stories. What went down wif that 'edge hexpedition hexactly?" 23:11 <banana> Liam: "Well, the plan - the plan was to set up a beachhead, dig hardpoints for artillery, get a foothold no goblin can outmatch. As one of the better divers in the service I was to scout for such a site, and I did me best, and that's the best I have to say of it." 23:11 <banana> The message from Huntr comes through at this point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWAocz81YuM 23:11 <banana> "The cunning to stoke his own anger -- the purposelessness to dissipate it." 23:12 <tom> Bob seems crestfallen: "Oh, well... I guess I'll have to tell the ole C.O. to shelve the plans then." 23:12 <tom> He extends a hand. "Corporal William Goreman, Task Force Valkyrie." 23:13 <banana> Liam seems more interested in Bob than the last time they met. "Don't tell me you've got white nationalists even in the United States." 23:13 <banana> He shakes genially enough. 23:13 <hrolf> Rolf: "What happened to the rest of your team?" 23:14 <tom> Bob takes it in stride. "We're like the Human Office but stupider." 23:14 <banana> Penberthy: "I'm more concerned with the survivor. Seems you've got papers, Mr. Hughes, with my counterpart's address and bank details." 23:15 <banana> "And as you say we were in the same line of work. I'll pay fair. Could do you a service or two if that's what you need." 23:15 <tom> It's taking a second for the trackcheck to boot up on his visor. He goes back for a few more mouthfulls of the egg mess. Catches some beans this time. 23:16 <hrolf> Rolf: "You can 'elp me move the new furniture into me flat and we'll call it even. Your papers are probly there to." 23:16 <banana> Liam: "Ahh, heavy shit. That's not so bad. I do need to get back into shape, so. Set me a time and a place?" 23:17 <tom> He goes back for a few more mouthfulls of the egg mess. Catches some beans this time. 23:17 <hrolf> A thought strikes him. "You know, I could probly 'elp you wif that 'orrible cunt. I could get me back rent back from 'im." 23:17 <tom> "I'll help too. Make it even." 23:17 <tom> "Yeah uh," Bob wipes his mouth with a napkin. 23:18 <tom> "Yeah uh I was hoping you'd uh, tell us what you're gonna do, about that." 23:18 <tom> Clearly nervous. 23:18 <banana> Penberthy drains his cider and leans back. "Well, it's clear there's an answer you want to hear, mate. Or one you don't." 23:19 <banana> He gets his phone out to exchange contacts with Rolf. Probably a better approach than accosting an armed guy in the middle of the night. 23:19 <hrolf> "'s obvious innit?" He slides a hand across his throat. "Me mates can 'elp, we got a good few body disposal places. Coppers stays out of it cos we got the contacts, and I got a get out of jail free card wif the government." 23:19 <tom> He shakes his head, smiles, goes for his cider. There's little rivulets of frosted dew up the side of the bottle. 23:20 <tom> "Is he a prick, at least? Like a real evil little freak?" 23:20 <hrolf> "Got some mates 'igh up in the military brass too from back in Norn Ireland. If we land in the cacky, I just gotta give em a call. Could come in 'andy if they come after us for our equipment run, eh Goreman?" 23:21 <banana> Liam: "Interesting. Sounds like a real sweet setup, and I'd be happy to meet some of those fellows. Goreman, corporal - you want to see this as fighting a monster? Office shit, or Task Force shit?" 23:21 <tom> Bob, quietly horrified: "That's a great idea, man." 23:21 <banana> "I take it you'd not be too interested in an idea like I leave him alive but hurt so bad he knows he's not the real one. Not a real boy at all." 23:22 <banana> To Rolf: "Did I get your address down right? Let me know when you'd like the moving job done and I'll be in." 23:22 <hrolf> Rolf: "Naahhh mate, best make it clean. No loose ends. Can't live a life with loose ends." 23:22 <tom> "You gotta- you gotta appreciate where I'm coming from man." He raises his hands apologetically: "Rolf you are not helping me here man." 23:23 <tom> "Uuugh." He rubs his eyes under his visor. 23:23 <banana> Penberthy: "Let's sort out the repayment thing and then you can argue me around to your way of thinking if you like." 23:23 <hrolf> Rolf rattles off the address to his flat in London. "I'll be goin up to the city this week. I'll give you a call when I'm on me way." 23:23 <banana> "And if you can, of course." 23:23 <tom> He takes a moment to really look at Liam. I mean really look, like Mari taught him. 23:23 <banana> (To Rolf: "Cheers.") 23:23 <tom> What's his damage? 23:24 <banana> Liam puts his phone away and watches Bob, curious. The air sharpens, clarifies... you see a man. Right now, only a man. 23:25 <tom> ...Huh. 23:25 <tom> Weird. Well, not weird. Which is why it's weird. 23:26 <banana> "Are you a man with less disapprobation toward dangling threads?" 23:26 <tom> "What?" 23:27 <tom> He turns to look at Rolf. "What?" 23:27 <banana> Liam: "Loose ends." 23:27 <tom> "Oh yeah ahah." 23:27 <banana> He was less articulate when drunk at a party. 23:27 <tom> "It is hard enough for me to get the vernacular when talking to vampires from eighteen sixty okay." 23:28 <tom> "Don't throw any words with more than like... three syllables." 23:28 <hrolf> "Goreman 'ere loves drama. 'e lives for it. Best fing you an say for im is that 'e's not shagging a vampire." 23:28 <tom> He's somehow managed to finish the Dog's Breakfast. 23:28 <hrolf> Rolf: "'is entire life IS loose ends." 23:29 <tom> "Not as many as you'd think," he cocks his head, sets down his fork, smiles. 23:29 <banana> Liam: "Well. You wouldn't want to get your dick caught in the fangs." 23:29 <tom> "Naw dude, you gotta have trust she'll be gentle. That's why it's h- look." 23:29 <tom> "Look, we're all trying to keep it level here." 23:30 <tom> "We can talk later about... you know, what you gotta do. I'm not heartless, but, I'm tryin' to push some of the numbers down a peg and we can't just have folks rolling in and capping people." 23:30 <tom> "I mean you were in the service. You know." 23:31 <hrolf> Rolf: "The service capped people - and fings - all the bloody time! You should of seen Belfast mate." 23:31 <banana> Liam: "I have some sympathy for that, Bob. You two- you work together? Ex-Office work, keeping the bloody dregs of the other side from spilling onto the streets?" 23:31 <banana> "Which as Hughes says can involve shoving them back into the sewer with one booted foot." 23:31 <tom> "That's the plan," he taps his fingers. "Mixed success so far." 23:31 <banana> "How do you go about it, the freelancing?" 23:32 <banana> "Or.. you're working for some entity in particular?" 23:33 <tom> "We're taking contracts. Million pounds a pop." Bob smirks. It fades: "If you're worried, no, I'm not working for Willie Wonka on the other side." 23:33 <tom> "Mari told me the score. " 23:33 <banana> Liam raises his glass again, but it's empty. Might be time for another. He sniffs at the residue. 23:33 <banana> "You can't be too sure about these things." 23:33 <tom> Bob gets up to get the man a new drink, and one for himself. 23:34 <banana> Liam shakes his head. "I think understand what the man wants... but he's not very convincing." This to Rolf. 23:35 <hrolf> Rolf: "Yeah 'es a weird one. 'e's done the 'ard work before but now 'e's goin soft for some reason. Can't figure it out." 23:36 <banana> Liam: "You know your own business - I won't make the mistake again of assuming otherwise. But try to make sure you can trust a man if you're in this work together." 23:36 <hrolf> "specially now that we're doin' grey contract work for the night city. We 'ave to get our 'ands dirty, yeah? The boss is a bit sus but the pay's pretty good." 23:36 <banana> "Pay... salves many wounds." 23:36 <banana> He stands. "I'll just be at the pisser a moment." 23:37 <tom> He's back with a trio of drinks just as Liam's getting up. 23:37 <tom> "Cheers." 23:37 <hrolf> Rolf nods. "I'll be 'ere." 23:38 <banana> Liam nods in thanks as he heads to the toilets/alley (all the same around here, really). 23:39 <tom> Bob sits down at the table, takes a drink from his cider, scowls. 23:39 <tom> ...And falls silent. 23:40 <banana> The nice thing is that Rolf and the guy are getting along better than he expected. 23:40 <banana> It's enough to have some effect on your faith in humanity. 23:41 <hrolf> Rolf is immersed in the football on the telly. The league's off for the international break, and this one is a bit shit - a friendly between Romania and Luxembourg. 23:41 <hrolf> Rolf is immersed in the football on the telly. The league's off for the international break, and this one is a bit shit - a friendly between Romania and Luxembourg. 23:41 <tom> "How many kids you murder, bro?" 23:42 <tom> Bob's hand is on the table, white-knuckled. 23:42 <hrolf> Rolf: "Cor what a shite gam- wossat, Goreman?" 23:42 <tom> "I bet you never even thought about it." 23:42 <hrolf> "Thought about wot?" 23:42 <tom> "You talk about Ireland a lot." 23:43 <hrolf> Rolf: "'s right. Did a stint there back in the day." 23:45 <tom> "Don't tell me Soyjak's money is better than Le Groupe's. They're hiring all sorts of rapists and murderers these days." 23:45 <tom> "You'd go far." 23:46 <hrolf> Rolf shifts his chair back away from the table slightly. He looks around. "Don't know 'oo that is. Listen mate - I fink that little rat did somefing to you- 'e's off an' disappeared." 23:48 <tom> "You know. Cheiron." 23:48 <tom> Bob stops to think, though. 23:49 <tom> Realizing that Rolf is right just makes it worse. 23:49 <tom> "Nghhhh." 23:49 <tom> He stops, rubs his eyes. 23:49 <tom> "Fuuuuck." 23:49 <tom> "Oh man I hate you so much right now dog. Oh wow." 23:54 <hrolf> This is going to escalate - but Rolf's been in these kinds of situations before. He leans back, smiling and catches a mate's eye - 'arry the 'atchet - a seff afrikaner that did some work back in southern africa and namibia in the 80s. Rolf looks at him, then tilts his head at Bob, and then looks back at him - and there's an Understanding. 23:55 <banana> Harry's the first to shift. Figures in wifebeaters detach themselves from the walls and furniture. There are grunts of communication. 23:56 <banana> The bartender - a shaved man with a scarf in maroon, blue and yellow - vaults over his own bar and smahes the edge of the glass he was cleaning on the tap to leave a jagged stub in his hand. 23:59 <tom> Bob's silent again. His eyes flash. 23:59 <banana> The barely-audible jukebox clunks to the end of a track and everyone moves. 00:01 <tom> It's already over. He only has one shot, now. 00:01 <tom> Bob goes over the table at him. 00:02 <banana> Bob's fast as hell... but he's no longer on the good drugs. There's a big guy here already, no real threat, but he gets in the way. Someone else is coming up, and of course there's Rolf himself... 00:02 <tom> The bottles and plates fly every which way. 00:03 <banana> One of them's got a bit of sailor's rope which he cracks like a whip. Porcelain shatters underfoot. 00:03 <tom> "GET THE FUCK OFF ME PORKY!" 00:03 <hrolf> Bob is fast, but Rolf has Experience. And Mates. He smashes his pint glass over Bob's head as he lunges, anticipating his move. And then Bob's pinned back by multiple pairs of muscular, tattooed arms. 00:03 <banana> Englishman: "You first gerrof. Holdim!" 00:04 <tom> "HOW ARE YOU EVEN ALIVE YOU STUPID FUCK! HOWS SHE DEAD AND YOU'RE ALIVE!" 00:05 <tom> He's completely lost in the scramble. 00:05 <hrolf> Rolf: "Someone slipped the lad some aggro drugs! Don't urt 'im too much- oo's dead? What're you talkin about son?" 00:05 <banana> With Rolf out of his chair and the table gone flying it's unlikely Bob's going to get to him now. Multiple guys keep laying hands on him, so that as he breaks free from one the next is ready. They're actually trying not to hurt him... but they aren't very good at it. 00:06 <hrolf> Bob is pinned down on the floor now. Rolf looms over him sympathetically. "Don't struggle too much, lad- oi, Wozza! Get us some rope, hey?" 00:07 <banana> Warren's always reliable with a rope. Sometimes he makes jokes about the missus and the bedroom, but people are nice enough to laugh and move on. 00:08 <tom> With his face pressed down into the sticky floor: "I'm gonna- I'm fuckin'- I'm gonna-" 00:08 <hrolf> Rolf slams a fist into his palm. "When I see that fahckin ginger cunt again-" 00:09 <hrolf> "Anyone see where 'e went? The ginger that was wif us?" 00:09 <banana> A couple of the lads volunteer to take a look and rush outside; they aren't all needed now that Bob is in a hold. 00:09 <banana> The Dog's Bollocks becomes relatively sedate, apart from the wriggling. 00:10 <hrolf> Rolf directs - "Alright tie 'im to the chair over there. Some of you keep an 'old on him still, yeah? 'e's a tough lad." He rubs his hands. "Now what 'e needs to get it out of his system...is some food." 00:10 <hrolf> "Garcon! Get me the foulest, oilest, most disgustin fackin parmo you can find." 00:12 <hrolf> He leans down next to Bob. "Don't you worry lad. Once you puke the rage out you'll be feelin a lot better." 00:12 <banana> Bartender: "It's Garson." He'll comply, as long as Rolf's paying for it. 00:12 <tom> Face down, muffled by multiple sweaty bodies: "You are the worst person on this entire fucking island." 00:14 <hrolf> "'s right. And don't you fahckin forget it." 00:14 <banana> Rolf's got people to chat to while he waits. Mates generally know to stay out of his business, but an incident like this has people curious. How does he explain the situation? 00:16 <hrolf> "...yeah, mate we were doin a fing. Investigatin, like. New drug onna street, they say it enrages a lad up good. Fit and fightin and angry for a proper dustup, they says. Fought the ICF could use some for the next scrum wif the millwall lads...only this dealer goes and slips it inna this poor lads pint!..looks like it worked, anyhow..." 00:18 <banana> The fire will fade from Bob's veins as his hatred is redirected to its proper course - purged, one might say. This isn't a travail he'll easily forget (and nor is it the thing he'd most like to). Still, rationality resumes. 00:19 <tom> "Man," he says into the floor. "This is what I fucking get for giving a shit." 00:19 <tom> "Fucking Liam." 00:19 <banana> Finally, the pub door opens to let in a bit of fresh air; Smitty and Dez-o are there, dragging Liam by the wrists, except he's changed his clothes. 00:19 <banana> Penberthy: "Hughes you bastard- I knew it was a trap all along. I wasn't going to come in and your football freaks didn't get the drop on me - I simply didn't want to make a scene." 00:19 <banana> "But you know you can't hold me, and you know there will be consequences for this." 00:19 <hrolf> "'e's a dead man. I don't care about what your fahckin elf court says. 'e's a dead man." 00:19 <hrolf> "Oh." 00:20 <tom> "Hey man," says Bob, getting up off the floor- if Rolf will call off his goons. 00:20 <banana> Liam Penberthy: "Close that door, hard men, and there will be nobody to see what I do to you." 00:21 <tom> "You ran from Rolf once already, you fucking prick. I'm not scared of your stupid shit." 00:21 <hrolf> Bob is free to move. Liam, is not. "That so, eh? You weren't soundin so tough when you were in 'ere earlier." 00:21 <banana> The first thing Bob notices when he gets up has got to be the collar of bone. Finger-bone spikes forming a ring all around his neck and up the back of the head. 00:21 <tom> He slaps a fat man on the shoulder as he gets up. "You know, I was actually trying to save you from Rolfie here beating the absolute stuffing out of you." 00:22 <tom> "Stuffing, blood, straw, who cares." 00:22 <tom> "That's what I fuckin' get, huh?" 00:22 <banana> It's connected to the rest of the changeling's exoskeleton, which looks a bit like skeletal power armour. None of the wrapping bones are very thick, but they look strong, and together they form a full-body cage. Liam's actually hovering within it, a few centimetres off the ground, which only bone touches. 00:22 <banana> Good hygiene in the circumstances. 00:23 <banana> Liam: "What, excuse me, the fuck are you talking about?" 00:24 <tom> "Fuck!" 00:24 <tom> Bob kicks a shattered beer bottle. 00:24 <tom> "He got us again!" 00:24 <tom> "I can even see his fuckin' mask! No wonder." 00:24 <hrolf> Rolf: "What?" 00:25 <tom> Bob exhales a long string of cold vapour. "Twins, Rolf." 00:25 <tom> "Your boys got the wrong one." 00:25 <banana> Liam: "Goreman, when we met, you struck me as a sane man. Your involvement in this affair led me to- ah, fuck." 00:25 <banana> "He didn't change the password. I thought I still had my fucking email." 00:25 <tom> "I have had it up to here with being trolled by fairies bro!" 00:26 <hrolf> Rolf looks around at the assembled crowd. No need to be too public about this. "Oh right twins. Er- let 'im go lads. Wrong ginger - let's take this outside, eh?" He leads them towards the exit. 00:26 <tom> "No offense," he says to the fattest, ugliest patron still leering over his shoulder. 00:26 <banana> "None taken, mate. We'll put cleaning up the sick on your tab." 00:26 <tom> Bob wipes his chin. "Thanks." 00:27 <hrolf> Once outside - "How the fahck did the other cunt find out about the meetup?" 00:27 <banana> The streets of Manchester seem blessedly clean today. 00:28 <banana> Noisy, even a bit smoggy; you're not far from the center of town and there's a lot of traffic in the Gay Village. But there's light, few clouds, no parmos. 00:28 <tom> "Your fetch sucks ass dude. I hate to say it but he really blows." 00:28 <banana> Liam: "What do you think I've been telling you mate." 00:28 <tom> "I'm... still.... not convinced.... murdering him is the right answer." 00:28 <tom> "But now I do kinda want a piece of him." 00:29 <hrolf> "I am. 'e's fahckin dead. I'm going to rip 'im to fahcking shreds." 00:29 <banana> "You may be a man after my own heart after all. Did the Wasp get you your blood money?" 00:29 <hrolf> Rolf: "Yeah. But now we got a security issue too, yeah? 'ow did 'e find out we were meetin you 'ere?" 00:30 <banana> Liam: "I'm thinking Vodafone. It's.. do you know how much shit I have linked to that email? I didn't think he was in the account." 00:30 <banana> "But if that's what it is, I've done you wrong." 00:31 <tom> "I think we're all lucky he didn't just leave us at the table with a bomb or something." 00:31 <tom> "He just... does shitty pranks?" 00:31 <hrolf> "Well, 'e sort of did? I think 'e was trying to get us to kill each other?" 00:31 <banana> Liam: "Not pranks. I would not use the term prank." 00:32 <banana> "The thing finds joy in pain. Most preferably mine, but it likes to spread the bad word as far around as possible." 00:32 <hrolf> "What's 'is deal? Is he workin for the elves?" 00:32 <banana> "If it's been in my email.. that's how it followed me up here. God damn." 00:32 <tom> "You should probably get a new email bro. It's not even hard." 00:32 <tom> "I hate to say it but you kinda fucked me on this one." 00:33 <tom> "They made me eat like... fucking ipecac." 00:33 <hrolf> "It's a parmo. 's good for you." 00:33 <tom> "I'll take your word for it." 00:34 <banana> Liam: "No, I know, I know. I owe ya. Just one more - could you explain the nature of a fetch to Hughes here while we find an internet cafe? I need to delete... everything." 00:34 <tom> "...So if this prick's so bad," he's turning to Liam. "Why haven't you and your whole Summer crew rolled in and turned him to paste?" 00:35 <hrolf> Rolf: "We need like, a safeword. Next time we run into you so's we know its you and not 'im." 00:35 <tom> "He basically knows the score. Straw and bottlecaps and zipper parts, yeah." 00:35 <banana> "It's my quest. Initiation." He's on Google Maps, searching for a LAN center. 00:36 <hrolf> "Right, but do they work for the elves or do they do their own fing? Your bird's fetch - she said she basically stays at 'ome and doesn't go around spreadin evil right?" 00:36 <tom> "She is not a fetch." 00:36 <tom> "Mari is the original." 00:36 <tom> He seems a little defensive. 00:36 <hrolf> "'s what I mean - her copy." 00:36 <tom> "Oh, yeah.. yeah... sorry." 00:37 <banana> "Some of them -" if you walk with him, Liam will respond. "They all do their own thing, though it's wrong in one way or another. An inadequate copy, 'cos the Gentry don't understand." 00:37 <tom> He screws his finger into his ear and it comes out with a bit of floor grime. "All better." 00:37 <banana> "Some of the bastards are malign enough to work directly with Hunters. My twin will be that sort, if he grows strong enough." 00:37 <tom> He walks. 00:37 <tom> "Alright, look, I'll level with you: he sucks real bad. I gotta give you that." 00:37 <tom> "How's about this:" 00:38 <tom> "We can roll in and have a chat with the fucker." Bob nods. "If you still want to dust him after that, he's all yours." 00:38 <hrolf> "If you don't bleedin whack 'im, I will. Fair warning." 00:39 <tom> "I'm kinda trying to save up my sympathy points for dudes who don't try to get my ass beat." 00:39 <banana> Liam eyes Bob up and down. "Seems it succeeded to an extent." 00:39 <banana> "You'll have to forgive me the It and so on. Wouldn't help to think of it as human." 00:39 <tom> "Oh no doubt." 00:40 <tom> "They called my girl an 'it' too." 00:40 <tom> "Makes it easier." 00:40 <hrolf> "'ow do we track this fing?" 00:40 <banana> Liam: "Do you know what it's like to have a man with your face going around using everything he knows about you to ruin your life?" 00:41 <tom> "Yeah; he's me." 00:41 <hrolf> Rolf stops in his tracks. "'ang on a mo - I gave this fing me Lahndan flat's address!" 00:41 <tom> Bob lights a cigarette. 00:41 <banana> "Well." You've come to a K-Fe-Comm. "It still uses money, and it needs somewhere to lair. That's why I wanted to ask- you what." 00:41 <banana> "Oh man, Hughes. Whatever harms you have done me we are truly fair and square. I have led evil into your life." 00:42 <tom> "I like you more than the other Liam already." 00:42 <hrolf> "'old on - I can make a quick call to Baz and the lads - lay a trap for 'im at me flat if 'e shows his face there." Rolf snaps a picture of Liam, and then makes a call. 00:42 <tom> "Can't fucking believe I didn't clock that." 00:42 <tom> "Holy shit." 00:44 <banana> The entrance to the LAN cafe is a set of dark stairs heading straight from street level to a basement. Liam stops before it and bows a little from the waist. "We really shouldn't talk about this shit on the pavement, but if you want me to work with you and get to the thing your way... I'll do it. Mine isn't working." 00:44 <banana> "Not the first time I've had executive-level issues. D'you know we were both in the Office, Hughes?" 00:45 <hrolf> "Yeah it was mentioned. You were the 'edge hexpedition right? What 'appened?" 00:45 <banana> Liam: "We successfully entered the 'edge."