13:36 <tom> It's colder in the loading bay than the rest of the greybox; Bob's in his jacket, smoking idly on the steps up to the loading dock when the buzzer whines and the garage door comes up. 13:37 <Crion> Aster backs the van into the loading bay, parks, steps out and lights a cigarette just outside the door. "Afternoon." 13:39 <tom> He's got his hands in his coat pockets, doing his best to look surly. "Hey man." He gestures over to a heavy-duty jack with his cigarette. "Whadda we got, looks like a transit custom?" 13:40 <tom> He grins. "You want a new paintjob, yeah, while we're at it? I've got the wizard smoking a bong all planned out." 13:41 <Crion> "Yes. Slightly used, I think from 2016." 13:41 <tom> He frames the side of the van in his fingers. 13:41 <Crion> Aster: "No, I think we'll stick with the Aster Biologics branding, thank you very much. Should offer that to Badawi." 13:42 <tom> He hops up off the steps. "Suit yourself. I'm guessing you don't want a smoke launcher or a gun mount either." 13:43 <Crion> Aster: "Ha. A bit ostentatious, here in the land of James Bond. If you can't fit it behind the headlights, it's not proper armament." 13:43 <tom> He's over to the van's hood, feeling delicately up under the lip for the catch. Pop, up it goes on the little support leg. "...I keep telling people, don't forget to pop your smokes, bro, they never listen..." He's mumbling to himself. 13:45 <tom> He feels around for connectors. "Alright so we got a pretty standard duratorq four cylinder... we'll be swapping that out for the Ecoblue, yeah? It'll be quieter, better output." 13:46 <Crion> Aster: "If that's what you recommend. I grew up in the city; cars aren't my strong suit. Especially not these euro models." 13:46 <tom> "What'r'ya thinking, we take out the bench seats, get some more floorspace?" 13:47 <Crion> "One thing to emphasize is I prefer performance over saving the planet. If that means we have to get a bit illegal about emissions or standards, so be it." 13:49 <tom> "Yeah, yeah, I'll rip out the catty... fuck around in the E.V. settings... should be doable. I'm not sure we're in outrunning-Fortunato territory." 13:49 <tom> "But we'll get a good ramming speed if nothin' else." 13:50 <tom> "...You think we'd crumple around Carl like a cartoon character if we hit him?" 13:50 <Crion> Aster: "We don't need to be. I would like to raise the undercarriage clearance but that might mean fucking with more things than we can fuck with without a lift. 13:50 <Crion> " 13:50 <Crion> Aster: "Indubitably." 13:51 <tom> He drops his cigarette onto the floor and grinds it out before going back into the hood with a spanner to disconnect the valves. 13:51 <tom> He heads back over to the far side of the loading bay and comes back pushing a wheeled pneumatic crane. 13:53 <tom> He spins the handle to let out the pressure; the crane droops its chain down into the engine block. "Yeah, yeah, after we're done with the engine we'll give it some freeboard." 13:53 <tom> "It's still not gonna be streetracing material, sad to say." 13:54 <Crion> Aster: "All the better. Not sure what they do to streetracers over here. Probably tie their limbs to horses." 13:54 <tom> "Probably send Rolf after 'em." 13:55 <tom> Bob takes off his jacket, slings it over the loading dock railing, rolls up his sleeves, and disappears back under the hood with the crane's chain. Muffled: "You feeling okay after those laser burns, champ?" 13:55 <tom> "Not sure why everyone hates you so damn much." 13:57 <tom> He's struggling to loop the chain around the bottom of the engine. Grunts, curses: "I'm getting a little freaked out how many hits you guys are taking. Shit, if Badawi didn't have that like, homeopathic medicine or whatever... I saw the laser burns on her clothes, okay? Looked like a bad hit." 13:59 <Crion> Aster, with some minor irritation: "I'm doing just fine, sport. We just had bad luck on our sequencing, that's all. We're getting extremely lucky that the vampires don't want to actually kill us and that the beam guys leave us bodily intact instead of with a bullet tumbling through our bodies." 13:59 <tom> "I'm so sad I didn't get to keep one." 14:00 <Crion> Aster: "Well, there is going to be a next time. But we need the mages to vet them first." 14:01 <tom> Bob climbs back out of the engine and rattles the chain with a satisfied grunt before noting the oil smeared over his shirt with a soft cry of anguish. 14:02 <tom> "I wants me a ray gun." 14:03 <tom> He swaggers back over to the crane and spins the handle. The chain goes taut. 14:03 <tom> "A second raygun, I mean." 14:03 <Crion> Aster: "Personally, I'd settle for something more useful than a Glock 19, if we're going to be getting into street shootouts like this. I can't use the Talon module on every little one of these creatures." 14:05 <tom> He shrugs. "Sure, I mean, can't be too hard. You got a caliber in mind? I've been thinking about upgunning from .22." 14:06 <tom> The engine twists on the chain as Bob carefully cranes it away from the van. 14:07 <Crion> Aster: "It's going to be difficult to find anything but NATO 5.56 that isn't pistol caliber." 14:07 <tom> Bob hrms. "You know," 14:07 <tom> "Maybe," 14:08 <tom> "No... unless?" 14:08 <tom> He claps. "An FNC." 14:08 <Crion> Aster: "The cable news channel?" 14:08 <Crion> "Oh." 14:09 <Crion> "The gun Pacino used in Heat, right?" 14:10 <tom> His eyes gleam over the rims of his stupid visor. "It's perfect. I've even got some FAL bodies I can use... well, a friend's got 'em... but I bet I can trade Badawi's SVD for one." 14:11 <tom> "I mean it won't be a real FNC, that'd mean, taking out the bolt and re-threading it as a rotary, but I can rechamber it and swap out the barrel." 14:11 <tom> "Fucking FN. Always making shit harder than it's gotta be." 14:11 <Crion> Aster: "A 'real' FNC was likely also made before modern optics and probably doesn't have a useful rail system." 14:12 <tom> The crane droops to deposit the engine on the loading bay floor. Bob's over looping the chain around its replacement. "Yeah, yeah, you gotta source your own optics though, that shit's a real pain here, maybe Badawi's people can help, I dunno, I don't think she likes me very much so I haven't been asking for anything recently." 14:13 <tom> Just a mile a minute, always. 14:14 <Crion> Aster: "She's always standoffish. Did you two get in a fight?" 14:16 <tom> He takes a brief break after he finishes levering up the new engine, which appears to be mostly plastic over an oblong chrome block. "It was my fault, for real. It turns out she's not a Muslim." 14:16 <tom> "Anyway it's fine, I'll figure out how to fix that one too." 14:16 <Crion> Aster: "Jesus Christ, Bob." 14:17 <Crion> It's said more in awed amusement than reproach. 14:17 <tom> Bob shakes his head and plants his butt on the hood of the van. He's wringing his hands through an oily cloth. "Yeah man, that convo went hard." 14:18 <Crion> Aster: "The FNC should probably have a fold-out stock. I think Pacino's didn't, but the pattern usually does." 14:18 <Crion> "Since we cannot open carry in this country." 14:18 <tom> "Yeah. I can't get it much smaller than that though, if you lose any barrel length past sixteen inches you may as well stick with the Glock." 14:19 <tom> "I think I got her point of view though. She didn't sign up to be on a... well, you know, a Fireteam." 14:19 <tom> "So this is all very insane." 14:20 <tom> Bob pushes himself off the hood and goes to push the crane back over. 14:21 <Crion> Aster: "My sympathies in that area are limited in that area. She is not under contract; she can leave any time. She won't, though, because the money is simply too good." 14:21 <Crion> -in that area 14:23 <tom> "The money is good," he repeats as he watches the new motor descend. "Did you see the news yesterday?" 14:23 <tom> "I'm honestly a little surprised I haven't already been dumped in the Irwell." 14:24 <Crion> Aster: "I've been sleeping yesterday off. What's it saying?" 14:24 <tom> "Boogaloo boys come to the UK." 14:25 <tom> "They're already telling people to watch out for Hawaiian shirts." 14:25 <Crion> Aster: "That's unique." 14:25 <tom> "Sky News is saying it's a cover up for immigrant gangs." 14:25 <tom> "The chans are convinced it's a false flag, naturally." 14:25 <Crion> Aster: "Ah, illegal aliens." 14:27 <tom> "Anyway I'm sure this is the beginning of the end. If they got even one video out, and there were a lot of folks with cell phones out... well, there's only one service with the Mark II D.E.W's, and ha... ah, well, it's like you said yeah, making yourself sad over nothing you can do..." 14:28 <tom> He rubs the back of his neck as he checks the connections on the new engine. "I changed your oil while I was at it." 14:32 <Crion> Aster: "Unnecessary, but appreciated." 14:35 <tom> Bob hauls himself into the van and starts up the engine experimentally. After it's purring he gives Aster a thumbs up and cuts it off before getting out to button up the hood. "How's Willie holding up with the whole... vampire thing...?" 14:35 <Crion> Aster: "There are three or four different subsections of vampire thing you could be talking about, with that woman." 14:36 <tom> "It's not fuckin' fair, man," he chuckles. "None of the vampires I talked to are sending me fruit-related dms." 14:36 <Crion> "But I thought you were this group's Willie-whisperer." 14:36 <tom> "Pfft," he throws his hands. "You're the one that gets to meet the Draculas with her." 14:37 <Crion> Aster: "That's simply because I have a professional relationship with them that I jealously guard." 14:39 <tom> "How do they rate, between the vinicule over in Inchcape and the nerds in downtown?" 14:40 <tom> "We talking like, making people into chairs kinda sick shit, or what?" 14:40 <Crion> "Self-absorbed, but thankfully mainly self-involved." 14:41 <Crion> Aster: "They're very much into self-improvement, from what I gather. They're trying to get rid of their vampiric weaknesses. Luckily, this is very difficult and only moderately successful at best." 14:41 <tom> "That's a relief," Bob nods, sliding over the heavy carjack. He hooks in the frame and starts pumping the handle. "Hey, it's good you're here. Can you take me to the hospital if this thing gives and I get instantly crushed?" 14:42 <Crion> Aster: "Certainly." 14:42 <tom> "...I guess if it's too bad just throw me at the trade hall as a blood donor." 14:42 <Crion> "I'll not be party to yet another doomed attempt to impress Suzie Cutsworth." 14:43 <tom> Bob gets on his back and slides under the van with a wrench. Echoing slightly: "Aw." 14:43 <tom> "...I think she likes me." 14:44 <tom> "Or wait, maybe it's Letitia who likes me. I think we've swung out with Agatha after that last one, sad to say." 14:44 <tom> "...How much more freeboard you want?" 14:45 <Crion> Aster: "That's probably fine." 14:45 <tom> "I just wanna hear her describe like, a gramophone, seriously she talks like she's in Downton Abbey." 14:46 <Crion> "Statistically some people on this island have to." 14:47 <tom> Bob slides back out from under the van and grabs a new set of tools before plunging back in. "You think you can work me in on security the next time you meet the Draculas? I'm building a personal brand." 14:47 <tom> "I promise I'll be good." 14:47 <Crion> Aster: "You cannot hit on the women." 14:47 <Crion> "I am serious about this." 14:47 <tom> "Real stunners?" 14:48 <tom> He curses and throws his weight into the wrench. "Christ, it's like they hammered these on." 14:48 <Crion> Aster: "I make no guarantee of such, because I've not observed you make any distinction." 14:48 <tom> "All women are queens." 14:49 <Crion> Aster: "Not in this country." 14:49 <tom> Bob groans. "I solemnly swear I will not hit on a Dracula." 14:50 <tom> "Willie said they weren't afraid of fire, anyway." 14:50 <tom> "That's like half of what I do right there." 14:50 <Crion> Aster: "I think that's a local environmental effect." 14:50 <Crion> "Their place of power seems to have quite the number of features." 14:51 <Crion> "If vampires had actually figured out perfect psychological resistance to fire, we'd be in deep trouble." 14:51 <tom> "And you took Willie there?" 14:51 <tom> "...I mean, okay, can't be worse than Inchcape." 14:52 <Crion> "Oh, I suspect there can be. But yes, of course I did. I had guarantees of security thanks to my Court membership and Willie has a blood condition, you see. These vampires study blood conditions. That's literally all they do or care about." 14:53 <tom> "Did they like, ah, 'draw' some?" Bob sounds worried. 14:54 <tom> The back axle comes down a bit with each clanking sound as Bob pulls the wrench with all his might. 14:55 <Crion> Aster: "Yes. With proper medical equipment." 14:56 <Crion> "And a proper medical amount." 14:58 <tom> He sighs in relief, apparently done with the rear axle. He slides over to start on the front. "The secure storage is gonna down here, by the way. All up in the guts. It'll be a pain in the ass to get to." 14:58 <Crion> Aster: "That's fine. Hopefully it's too inconvenient to try cutting into from below. Certainly looks that way from where I'm standing." 14:59 <tom> "Yeah. There's no way to fully proof it, but if they gotta spend fifteen minutes drilling into it, we can be on their asses anyway." 15:00 <tom> Bob: "So what's her blood disease, then? Is hell a disease?" 15:00 <tom> "Can you like, scientifically isolate evil?" 15:01 <Crion> Aster: "I think Satan and his family would object to that framing." 15:02 <tom> "Who is, I guess, real, like Dracula?" 15:02 <Crion> "Their early theory -- and this is before they've done too much work on it -- is that the presence of Satan in the blood is similar to a sort of supernatural RFID application, as found in vaccines. Their claim, not mine." 15:03 <tom> Thoughts of fine draculas swirl in the man's head. He pushes the thought down with some reluctance. "Oh man, oh no, did the Cabal get me?" 15:03 <tom> "Wait, what the fuck am I talking about, I already have a chip." 15:04 <tom> He's kneading the patch of skin between his shoulder and neck as he pushes himself out from under the van to retrieve another set of tools. 15:05 <Crion> "But yes, if you can clear it with Willie, I have no objections. Just the previously-stated requirement." 15:09 <tom> Bob gets up from under the van, beaming as he lets the catch off the jack and sinks the van back down onto its raised axles. He goes for a rag and wipes his face. "Shit, it's only fair I go. Almost blew her up on the farm last week, gotta work in some more security time before she gets the impression I feel bad about it."