10:32 <banana> Peace reigns over Manchester, relatively speaking. 10:32 <VoxPVoxD> Goodwill toward men is at low ebb. 10:33 <banana> Nobody's handing over any swords, very few men are haunted by vengeful princesses. Bob Goreman's farm has been cleaned up to a significant extent - whatever his sorrows and their drowning, it's good for getting things done outdoors. 10:34 <banana> There's still a hole in the farmhouse out there witn an alien leg sticking out of it, but it's covered by a tarpaulin. The thing is actually in good working order - you could power it all the way up and start trying to pilot it somewhere, if you had three prehensile tentacles for the control-holes and didn't mind the cockpit flooding with chlorine. 10:35 <tom> Still more comfortable than an Abrams in midsummer Baghdad. 10:38 <banana> The hunters aren't there, right now. This is the first time Sourjack's called a meeting. 10:39 <hrolf> Rolf has been busy. Cleared out and sold off his Known Flats, he’s purchased a new hidden hole through a mate of a mate of a mate, unlikely to be traced back to him. He’s been off the street, getting deliveries of fresh parmos and pizzas and beers to his new place, not venturing outside at all. 10:39 <hrolf> Well, until now. 10:39 <banana> The invitations came in the usual inexplicable form. Rolf passes a series of turnings to GREETINGS ST, MR HUGHES AVE, YOUR PRESENCE REQUESTED BLVD and so on. Willie opens a memo she didn't remember leaving on her desk. 10:39 <Crion> There's a reason it's called a safehouse. Aster's been living off the grid, and thankfully he was smart enough to expand its amenities for two and move in backups of Sam's gaming systems. 10:39 <tom> He's been at the farm. He hasn't been answering his phone. Just working. Just clearing things out. Going out to Liam's grave. Normal dude stuff. If she hasn't been worried before, well, she can probably tell someone's wrong by now. Ah, fuck. 10:40 <tom> That's a problem for tomorrow Bob. 10:40 <VoxPVoxD> Oh for fuck's sake. 10:40 <Crion> If he has to pull the ripcord, everything's ready for them to walk down and alley and disappear...but not the way Benni intends. 10:40 <VoxPVoxD> The explanation is that Jack is a prick. 10:41 <banana> Agostina Badawi... feels she's being watched. Ever since fleeing successfully from Benni and then his star-cronies(?) she's had a feeling... but it comes to nothing, so far. The only weird thing going on is that when she goes out in the morning the raindrops form a patter that whispers words, words of a 10:30 team catchup at the greybox. 10:41 <Crion> *down an 10:43 <banana> Bob, upsettingly, gets a message through the Winter email network, which is supposed to be a special secure thing. It's just straight up an email from "kenar.krikosu@namelesshouse.htv", with a calender update attached. 10:44 <banana> Et cetera. But: who's the first one to arrive at the safehouse on their way to the appointed hour, and therefore the one who finds a demon in human form waiting patiently outside? 10:44 <Crion> Probably Aster, who likely just got a phonecall. 10:44 <banana> *calendar 10:45 <VoxPVoxD> Willie's there at 10:25. 10:45 <Crion> He always has been the most understanding about Jack's nonsense (after the initial dry run), which likely makes it less fun for him. 10:46 <banana> Well, Aster will recognise [α] T3rt!arY, leaning on the facade-wall of the greybox outer ruins, looking extremely grumpy in her unwashed hoodie. There's no obvious reason anyone outside the cell should know where this place is, though. 10:46 <Crion> Aster: "Well. This is a surprise." 10:47 <hrolf> A figure in an ill fitting pulled up hoodie saunters up to the entrance. The only part of his face that's visiible is a protubering beak-like pandemic mask with the union jack on it. 10:47 <Crion> "Perhaps not a welcome one." He's revving the mind-engine and trying to think of whether he can get by her and inside. 10:47 <VoxPVoxD> He masked! Good man. 10:47 <tom> He'll frown and check the email. What's the calendar say? Something about 'Candlemas', yeah? Something like that. 10:47 <tom> He's gotta sober up before he can head out, anyway. 10:48 <hrolf> He walks past the greybox's entrance casually, then double back after a quick look around. He hisses at the people milled outside: "Get inside!" 10:48 <banana> T3rt!arY: "What, for you? I'm the one who has to be out here in the cold to see whether anyone turns up." 10:48 <Crion> Aster: "'Has to be?'" 10:49 <banana> "The alphas command, I... accept." She looks at Rolf. "Inside what?" 10:49 <VoxPVoxD> Willie sidesteps the men a bit to wave. "T3rt!arY! To what do we owe the pleasure?" 10:50 <banana> T3rt!arY: "Cee, windows, system thirty-two, tracer-t." 10:50 <Crion> Aster, visibly displeased: "Jack." 10:50 <banana> "What?" 10:50 <hrolf> Rolf pulls his mask down. "Get inside the safehouse, ya daft ***s. Bennie's ****'s are on the prowl, yeah?" He takes his own advice and shoves past them, going in. 10:51 <Crion> Without clarifying: "We're heading inside. We're expecting company. You're invited in and I suggest you take it." 10:52 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "This is our offsite. It's sort of an abuse of local spacetime." 10:52 <VoxPVoxD> "Do come in." 10:52 <Crion> If she's a mole, or a trojan, or what-have-you in the parlance, better dealt with internally. 10:52 <Crion> Out here there's schlubs with telekinesis. 10:52 <banana> The young woman looks baffled, having apparently lost control of a conversation she expected to go quite differently. She steps inside after the hunters, making appropriate exclamatory noises at the vast cablespace between the Walls. 10:53 <Quaker> Badawi looks at the people outside the Greybox through her rifle’s scope. Her sleeping bag is leaning against the wall of an abandoned building a block away. There is a little camp stove boiling some water. 10:54 <tom> Bob's truck pulls into the greybox loading dock after a curt exchange with Haldane over Huntr. No way he's leaving anything on the street right now. 10:54 <Quaker> She did tell Benicio Atletico that this would end very, very badly for him. Oh well. She gathers her things and heads down the street. 10:54 <banana> T3rt!arY: "Frag me, this explains a lot. And through here you've got a.. bolthole, or..?" 10:54 <Crion> Aster: "A what?" 10:54 <Crion> "Ah. Bolthole." 10:54 <Crion> "Yes." 10:55 <banana> "Like, a priest's hole. For the catholics." 10:55 <banana> The interior of the safehouse is all converted into actual rooms now, although they rise only a third the full height of the exposed-concrete cube. Richard's humming somewhere in the kitchen. 10:56 <hrolf> Rolf pours himself the last cup of coffee in the pot, not bothering to clean or put the next batch in. He slumps into a chair and pulls back his hoodie. He's unshaven, and a splotchy white-black beard is beginning to take shape. There's circles under his eyes. 10:57 <Crion> Aster: "Well, you were told here to come here enigmatically for no reason in particular you understood without the information to correct evaluate the decision's pros and cons. In that, you have something in common with our workgroup's scrum protocol." 10:57 <Crion> He has taken off his coat and walked straight away to his area of practice in the cube. 10:57 <Crion> When he emerges he's in his flak jacket and carrying a highly-modified, highly-illegal firearm. 10:57 <banana> Haldane's voice: "Apparently there's a meeting? Please arrange yourselves as you like, I'll just finish reheating these snacks." 10:57 <tom> The sullen-looking man grunts as the others file in. Between him and Rolf, it's not immediately clear which of the two is the sulkier. He offers the other a half-grunt chuckle. "Are we allowed to hand out guest passes now?" 10:58 <Crion> Proper gun safety and all that. 10:58 <Crion> Aster: "Special considerations. Don't be an ass. I think Badawi's coming down from her perch." 10:59 <Quaker> Despite the tense situation, Badawi is feeling freer and happier than she has in a long time. There’s still the caroling to look forward to! She checked her arrangements for vans from Hattersley to the retirement home, hired caterers, and a backing band last night before she spent the night in a condemned building. She comes in whistling and puts her duffel bag on the table. 10:59 <hrolf> Rolf: "Fack if I know mate. I've been off comms for a bit, phone's shut off. Can't even check me facebook. The jack man did his reality bending shite to get me 'ere in the first place, or I'd off been 'oled up." 11:00 <Quaker> She’s forwarded her written accounts of the Benni incident and her trip to the reservoir to the rest of the cell over Huntr, but she hasn’t pressed anyone else for a reaction to either. 11:00 <banana> This may be the first time Bob's met T3rt!arY, and is for Badawi when she enters, although there's a certain sameness to the other clan members. She's perpetually sullen-looking, apparently of university student age, bundled up in heavy sweats. 11:00 <banana> "Your team has more access than we thought. I'm here to check out the signal endpoint, which we thought was going to be news to you..." 11:00 <banana> She's following Willie around vaguely, as the presumed leader of the hunters (from the gamers' point of view). 11:01 <Quaker> “Who’s this?” 11:01 <VoxPVoxD> Well, Willie leads her to the conference table. Leader or not, she does feel like it's her responsibility here. "This is T3rt!arY, from clan Alpha Strike, my gamer friends. It sounds like she got the same invitation we did for this meeting. I assume our benefactor will explain, or pointedly refuse to." 11:01 <Crion> Aster: "One of the gamers. Something called her here. I have a suspect in mind. She's trustworthy, as far as it goes; competent, as far as I've seen. Possibly be useful to have around." 11:02 <Crion> That might be the highest compliment Aster's paid to someone outside the cell, he realizes. 11:02 <Crion> Well, besides Samantha. 11:02 <tom> His eyes disappear behind his visor. He smiles. 11:03 <banana> T3rt!arY: "Yeah, call me, uh, Carrie." She nods to Aster. "But I want to get this straight, I'm here about the gadget you lent us, the one you've got parked in the workshop there..." 11:03 <Quaker> Badawi goes up to the person and pulls her into an embrace, lightly pounding her fist into the other woman’s back as a way of greeting. “Nice to meet you, mate. Sorry, what’s your name again? Tertiary?” She’s in a good mood! 11:03 <Crion> Aster: "Oh, I know." 11:04 <VoxPVoxD> "The TrackCheck." 11:04 <banana> She's pointing at the lab with the TrackCheck. "It's got three links, just like you'd expect from the shape. One of them is to a cache network, and this place... is the local cache." 11:04 <Crion> Blinks at the sudden invasion of the young woman's personal space. We're moving a bit quick with her. 11:04 <banana> "Hey, what-" 11:04 <banana> She goes stiff, not really engaging in the hug. 11:04 <Crion> Conversationally: "We're on the verge of war with a bunch of violent criminals. Tensions are a bit high." 11:04 <VoxPVoxD> Badawi's got grandmother energy. If she grows more powerful she'll start pinching cheeks. 11:05 <Quaker> She’ll move back to her regular chair. “No engineer talk, please. Just explain it like I’m me and Rolf is Rolf.” 11:06 <banana> Richard steps into the room conference room with a platter of premade but freshly-baked goods. 11:06 <banana> *the conference room 11:06 <banana> T3rt!arY: "Well, I'm at war with-" She looks around, looks at Haldane, at the walls and the wires in the walls. "Is this place safe?" 11:07 <tom> Bob rolls his eyes behind his visor. 11:07 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "It's safe for us. We don't know your requirements." 11:08 <hrolf> Rolf: "Safe enough unless you're at war with the jack fella. 'e's probably got eyes on us in 'ere." 11:08 <VoxPVoxD> How's Richard doing? 11:08 <banana> Richard Haldane: "It should be safe for anyone. All this connectivity is... looped around, something you can tap into. It doesn't connect into the interior space. Inside here is like a cyst in some bodily network." 11:08 <tom> "You're in the company of the five most dangerous humans in this entire city." 11:08 <tom> "It's fine." 11:09 <tom> He snags a pastry off Richard. "Thanks bro." 11:09 <banana> T3rt!arY: "Okay. Might be even more fine if I'd stayed outside." 11:09 <VoxPVoxD> Willie frowns. She's not that dangerous, really... 11:09 <banana> "Still, um, you lent us the thing in exchange for a report, so I've got it... are those pop tarts? I'd like one." 11:09 <Crion> To 'Carrie:' "Again, if our cars were tracked here, you'd stand a decent chance at least of being inconvenienced -- yes, go ahead." 11:10 <tom> Bob, unprompted: "I have neodymium magnet I pass over the undercarriage to snag any sweepers they might stick on my truck. Every time I come here." 11:11 <banana> Richard takes a seat on one side of the table. "Actually, if you're one of Willie's friends.. maybe stay out of sight for a moment? It's 10:29." 11:11 <banana> T3rt!arY: "Out of sight of... what?" She stares at Richard a bit too long. 11:11 <banana> "The projector." He gestures at it, lying dormant along one wall. Or actually, no, it's humming to life. 11:11 <Crion> Aster: "The arrival of our benefactor." 11:11 <VoxPVoxD> Willie points at the black and white phone for Carrie's benefit. 11:12 <hrolf> Rolf: "Mr Sour Jack." 11:12 <banana> The presumed demon frowns again and backs into one corner of the room. She's going to have a hell of a story for the next LAN party. 11:13 <banana> It happens again: light against the wall, growing brighter as the projector warms up, divided into a white and a black rectangle. They split again and again, dissolving endlessly into smaller chunks, patterns of black and white swirling across the screen, lacking meaning. 11:14 <banana> (But: Badawi recognises the feeling. This explicit lack of a signifier, the inability to connect referent and referee.. it's similar to what she experienced when Janissary enchanted her. There is information in the signal, it's just being kept from you.) 11:14 <Crion> Aster's using an ammo tool to quietly load extra magazines. 11:14 <VoxPVoxD> Willie's staring at the projection. 11:15 <tom> He's leaning back in the padded chair, reflected light dancing on the visor. 11:15 <banana> Bob gets a text message: <Clive here. Thanks for reaching out. I'm unoccupied this weekend, as long, of course, as it's after dark. Are you a visual or a verbal learner?> 11:16 <tom> <visual> 11:16 <banana> <I will bring some appropriate aids.> 11:16 <Quaker> Badawi is texting the Winter King. <hi looking forward to the event! just wanted to check in and see how the elders are doing> 11:17 <tom> "Killer" Clive gets the following: <🔫🔫🔫> 11:17 <banana> The signal stabilises, depicting something. A voice speaks from the image. "Thanks for coming, colleagues erstwhile and potential. And in case we don't speak again soon - Merry Christmas." 11:18 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Happy holidays, Jack." 11:18 <banana> Sourjack: "Oh, you've been hanging out with Americans." 11:19 <banana> "My fault, perhaps. It makes a good segue." 11:20 <Crion> Aster: "Good morning, Jack. Felicitations." 11:20 <banana> "Feliz Navidad, Mr Aster. Let's get right to the felicity: the earnings are good. You're doing well on this third job and we have reason to hope for a larger fee, pretty soon." 11:21 <Quaker> Badawi gets up to put the electric kettle on and puts some Ceylon tea in a mug. 11:21 <banana> Sourjack: "This raises questions. The pace of work. My role in things and yours. Before I lay it out, does anyone have urgent contributions to that topic?" 11:22 <banana> In the corner off to one side of the projected screen, T3rt!arY is watching in some fascination. She's near one of Richard's computers, and keeps glancing at it like it makes her itchy. 11:22 <tom> Bob shrugs. He keeps a close eye on the demon. No, not because she's a gamer girl. 11:22 <Crion> Aster: "I think we're all up to date on the most urgent of issues affecting us. I'd like to begin with the problem of Benni Athletic, if we could." 11:23 <banana> "Oh, I know Benni. It's a shame to give him attention, but go on." 11:23 <Crion> "If that's accounted for in your presentation design." 11:23 <Crion> "Well, we might simply have to kill him." 11:23 <hrolf> Rolf: "I 'ave concerns." 11:23 <Crion> "Or scare him very badly." 11:23 <Crion> "At the very least we cannot continue like this." 11:23 <Crion> "We're not operational." 11:24 <banana> Come to think of it, Rolf's introduction to the cell was a little different to the others. Benni recommended him to "An old friend of mine, name of Sourjack". 11:25 <hrolf> Rolf leans forward, hands on the table, scowling. "I'm an independent contractor. I've lost one of me clients. Didn't pay as well as you, of course, but good enough - plus I got me reputation to think of. I fink I've lost it due to 'asty words and actions on account of some of this cell. I'm owed." 11:26 <banana> Jack: "It's a risk, but I endorse it. The world would be better off without Atletico in it. I only urge you to take appropriate care, not to expose yourselves as individuals or a group. Hughes... do you really think yourself worse off, now that you've graduated from made man to self-made millionaire?" 11:26 <hrolf> Rolf: "Money's money, and reputation's reputation. Word gets out that I turned on a client - not good for me, yeah? Would you 'ave 'ired someone that did that?" 11:27 <Crion> Aster: "That escaped unharmed from Benni Athletic?" 11:27 <banana> Jack: "For your role? No." 11:27 <Crion> "Certainly." 11:27 <tom> At 'Some of this cell', Bob snorts. 11:27 <tom> It turns into a long sigh. 11:28 <banana> Jack: "Perhaps I can short-circuit this question by addressing the question of hiring, who's paying whom, and so on." 11:28 <banana> Richard: "That sounds like a good idea." 11:30 <banana> The high-resolution grid of dots representing Sourjack twists and brightens in part. "The premise of our association was that I'd provide facilities and work, and you'd carry it out - the hands to my eyes and ears. As it's turned out, you've built your own contacts in the night-city, becoming more intimate and working faster than I'd envisaged." 11:31 <hrolf> Rolf: "Lost some contacts too." 11:32 <VoxPVoxD> Ooooh, hurry up! Hurry the hell up! The last thing Willie needed right now moodwise was a meeting led by the world's most circumspect cloud of voxels. 11:32 <banana> Sourjack: "I can compensate you with more of them. That's part of what I can still do: I have information, more than ever before. I have this facility, although of late the facility has a mind of its own." 11:32 <banana> Perhaps reading the room, he hurries on: 11:33 <banana> "Here's what I propose. After Christmas, let's all take a break - a bit of synchronised time off. While you're away, consider whether you'd like our relationship to change, some shared proposal. Then- return, and propose. Let's see if we can find a more sustainable settlement." 11:34 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Sustaining what?" 11:34 <Crion> Aster: "Profit, I assume." 11:35 <banana> Sourjack: "Yes. The division of labour and income, without burgeoning resentment." 11:35 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I apologise if I misunderstood, but what I heard was you describing a number of ways this project had spun out of your control, and then proposing we pitch a way to include you more." 11:36 <banana> Richard chuckles but tries to keep it quiet. He's not saying 'our employer' anymore, but seems worried about the idea of actually engaging. 11:37 <banana> Jack: "More or less, Lady Douro. Right now we have a contract, if verbal, which is paying me more than I estimated in a shorter period of time. I'd like you all to take the time to consider what you'd think fair." 11:38 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "What would you think fair?" 11:38 <tom> "The arrangement is working out fine for me," Bob adds, splaying his fingers on his gut. 11:39 <banana> Sourjack: "I can do more, if you like. I can hunt down facts and figures on the detail of tasks; I can communicate safely and rapidly. Or I can not. Find the work, describe it, take a cut as a very-silent partner. If you come back after Christmas and tell me it's working out well.. I'll not argue." 11:40 <VoxPVoxD> What if we come back and say we don't need to include you at all? 11:40 <VoxPVoxD> "Noted. I won't turn down a holiday." 11:40 <hrolf> Rolf: "Money's good for me. As long as the money keeps coming in I'm fine wif taking the occasional hit on the chin. No more own goals though." 11:40 <Crion> Aster: "Sounds good to me." 11:42 <tom> "Yeah." 11:44 <banana> Sourjack: "So mote it be." 11:44 <Quaker> Badawi stirs her tea. “Sounds like that’s decided on.” 11:44 <banana> Richard: "I have one question, but I'll defer if anyone had something relating to our current work." 11:46 <banana> "Nobody? Well.." He fiddles with his plate. "I'd just like to, well, were you referring to me as a facility? Or some technical adjunct thereof?" 11:47 <banana> Sourjack: "No more than any living human is, materially, a technical machine. A bus driver is necessary to the operation of the bus, Mr. Haldane." 11:47 <hrolf> Rolf: "I 'ave one - " he trails off as Haldane starts speaking. 11:48 <banana> Richard: "Thank you, you've certainly informed my holiday deliberations. Go on, Rolf." 11:49 <hrolf> Rolf: "Yeah, wif the Benni thing - entire reason I'm 'ere is cos 'e passed on this gig to me. So I figure Mr. Jack 'ere has some sort of connect with the lad - any chance you can talk 'im off our back? End it wifout any further bloodshed." 11:50 <Crion> Aster: "That would be best, I think. If it could be achieved and agreed to." 11:50 <banana> Sourjack: "It would be an interesting test of- what I'm working on. Yes. Early stages, but... interesting." 11:51 <banana> "I don't have any supernatural power to persuade, but I can perhaps... disrupt. The Atletico gang... if so tasked, I may be able to render them impotent." 11:52 <hrolf> Rolf: "In what way?" 11:53 <banana> Jack: "They are hierarchical street soldiers, loyal to orders. Secured by changing passcodes, shifting with the tides of crime. Let's see what happens when they have a failure to communicate." 11:54 <Crion> Aster: "Tower of Babel." 11:54 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "To be clear, this is you taking our side organisationally against the Athletic Outfit." 11:54 <Crion> "Humiliating, but not unmanning. Extremely disruptive. ...Might work." 11:54 <banana> The black-white dot pattern picture changes again, parts of it moving upward as others tension. 11:55 <banana> Jack: "Yes, Willie. Judge the results some time soon." 11:56 <tom> "They'd see that as an escalation, of course. No way they couldn't tell it was an attack. After a fashion." Bob chews gum, turns to Rolf: "Think he'd like that?" 11:56 <banana> "It will be definitively untraceable." 11:56 <tom> "Untraceable, hell. 'All our passwords stopped working after we pissed off the House.'" 11:56 <tom> "Benny's a dumb fuck, but nobody's that dumb." 11:57 <Crion> Aster: "We want him to know." 11:57 <hrolf> Rolf snorts. "Well, whatever. If 'e finds out its us, 'e was on our arse anyway. Nuffink changes. Might as well do it." 11:57 <Crion> "It's not a demonstration of power if he doesn't." 11:57 <tom> Bob shrugs. "Sure." 11:57 <Crion> "It's either this or get physical with his men." 11:57 <Crion> "I think this is by far the more prudent option to lead with." 11:58 <tom> "Not my circus man. Not my monkeys." 11:58 <tom> This is as close Bob gets to weighing in either way. 11:58 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I think this leaves the largest opening for rapproachment without violence." 11:59 <banana> Jack's representative greyscale grid moves. "Done, or it will be. Claim responsibility if you think it's best." 11:59 <banana> "Now, I'll leave you to Miss Morgan's measure and to later leisure." 11:59 <VoxPVoxD> "Thank you, Jack." 11:59 <tom> "Merry Christmas," Bob offers the departing Jack. 12:00 <banana> Richard's chair scrapes on the ground as he stands and walks to the projector; once people have offered their greetings, he unplugs it from the wall. 12:00 <VoxPVoxD> Is T3rt!arY still with us? 12:00 <banana> T3rt!arY (or Carrie?): "...What the fuck kind of animated gif are you taking orders from?" 12:00 <Crion> Aster: "A very capable one." 12:00 <Crion> "But to his own ends." 12:01 <banana> "You know, I thought my friends were weird. But I guess staying indoors on the computer is just normal now." 12:01 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "He's just the world's most unstoppable telemarketer. Sorry about the delay. What do you have for us, Carrie?" 12:01 <Crion> He glances around the room. Somewhere along the way, when he was paying less attention than he should have, he became the only person in here -- Haldane included -- with an ounce of goodwill towards the strange dandy on the other end of the line. 12:01 <Crion> Seems self-inflicted, of course. 12:02 <tom> The woman in the hoodie can probably feel Bob's laser-like gaze on her even behind his shades. He doesn't say anything, instead reaching into his jacket and setting his gun down on the table. 12:02 <banana> Carrie the demon: "Right, riiight..." She returns to the table and takes the seat at the head of it, why not. "Your soul-stealing camera... I guess we know basically everything about it now?" 12:02 <tom> "...I still don't think it's a good idea to bring people here. No offense ma'am." 12:03 <Crion> Aster: "You're not wrong. But I made a judgment call given specific circumstances." 12:03 <banana> "If you shoot me with that thing, I swear, I will bleed all over the carpet." 12:03 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "The gun, you mean, not the TrackCheck." 12:03 <tom> Bob's hands are nowhere near the gun. "I don't shoot women." 12:03 <VoxPVoxD> "Ignore him. What can you tell us about the device?" 12:06 <banana> Carrie looks around, taking in the hunters. Motley, but effective, and far more plugged-in than perhaps Clan Alpha Strike had realised. "Well, it's a camera. Doesn't actually steal souls, just hashes them." 12:06 <hrolf> Rolf: "Wot, like potatoes?" 12:07 <banana> Carrie: "Like... URLs. In," she considers Rolf, "Internet Explorer. It's a lookup, right, for a remote service... the thing basically has two modes of operation." 12:08 <banana> "There are three connections. You can see the tines on it-" she makes a tripod gesture in midair. "One link to the victim, one to a remote location where they actually calculate your track, but that's an expensive operation. Maybe a manual process." 12:08 <banana> "So most people, most lookups, they're cached. This thing plugs into a network.. there might be many others. The hardware stacks, so you could package them." 12:09 <VoxPVoxD> "Most?" 12:09 <hrolf> Rolf wrinkles his brow, recalling some technobabble he'd learned from Waz's lad, working in some startup. "So it makes a call to like....a platform? Souls as a service?" 12:09 <banana> Carrie shrugs. "Everyone's got a first time." 12:09 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "What about when it updates?" 12:09 <tom> "Where's the location?" He leans forward, popping the bolt out the gun and taking it up in his hand to clean with a rag. "Davos? U.N. HQ in N.Y? ......a D.U.M.B under Denver airport?" 12:09 <VoxPVoxD> "Is that the same slow manual process?" 12:10 <hrolf> Rolf: "Did we ever run into someone where the camera fing lagged, or took a while? Or didn't show nuffink at all?" 12:10 <banana> Taking the questions in reverse order, she addresses Willie first. "There's a lag time. Davos would be interesting, but it's closer.. we think the main guy it connects to is in Paris." 12:11 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "We also got one error message." 12:11 <banana> "As for the soul.. it's just a unique key. The music, that really is the point. To compile this database of... appropriate selections for, I would guess, everyone in the world." 12:12 <hrolf> Rolf: "Wot was the error?" 12:12 <Crion> Aster is absorbing all of this. 12:12 <banana> "Actually," she pulls out a phone. "I can give you latitude and longitude." 12:13 <VoxPVoxD> "Willie shows Rolf how to pull up the error message on his phone. 12:14 <banana> "Right, there were three solutions to the ping equation.. buildings in Paris, Nantes and Calais. According to Bing Maps, they're all office blocks." 12:15 <Crion> Aster: "Hrm." 12:15 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Let me get those down... we can look into who rents and owns there." 12:15 <VoxPVoxD> Cheiron...? 12:15 <banana> Carrie: "The cache network, though, that's got nodes everywhere. It's just, you know-" she hesitates. How trustworthy are these people, really. 12:17 <VoxPVoxD> Hang on, do we still have those office papers on file? Willie gets up to cross-reference, smiling at Carrie as she passes. "I'll just be a moment. Do go on." 12:17 <banana> Look at where they work. That counts both for and against, and the guy who actually lives here... have they stumbled onto this, mortals caught up in the Great Game? Or dealt into it - who is 'Sourjack'? 12:19 <banana> Willie's proven herself, and some of the others helped. It's not a judgement call she should be making, but the clan does need allies. 12:19 <Crion> Whoever we are, we're looking for a bilateral agreement. 12:19 <banana> "Well, it's God's Internet, you know. The normal one." 12:20 <banana> Richard: "Holy wires? Do the pipes run between baptismal fonts?" 12:20 <hrolf> Rolf: "If it's God's why's 'e let Soros and Zuckerberg and the wokes take it over then? Is the great reset part of 'is plan?" 12:21 <Crion> We're losing the plot here a little bit. "The normal internet? Or the normal God?" 12:21 <tom> Bob: "I find it very hard to believe that the same internet I'm on is God's internet." 12:22 <tom> Every day we drift further from God's light... and that's a good thing? 12:22 <banana> T3rt!arY slumps a little now that she's not discussing technical matters. "Okay, this is a complicated topic." 12:22 <tom> It's kinda adorable. Nerd is overwhelmed. 12:23 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Stipulating that by God's Internet you mean the ordinary internet for mortals - we can set the metaphysics aside - what does this mean on a technical level? It's routing through the entire internet?" 12:23 <banana> "No, sorry, it's a private internet, like. I mean it's the one that God normally uses for, you know, evil. There's a one-way connection to the public internet... you should probably forget I said any of this." 12:24 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "So you're saying this object was built or subverted by God?" 12:24 <banana> "The point is just that there are these cache nodes, and usually what the camera does is look things up in those, and you just get local data. And we're surrounded by one of them." 12:24 <Crion> Aster is absolutely not forgetting anything she's saying. 12:25 <hrolf> Rolf: "So this safehouse belongs to God?" 12:25 <banana> Carrie: "This actual big room... I'm not so sure, actually. Might be the opposite." 12:25 <hrolf> "...is sourjack a fahckin angel then?" 12:26 <banana> Carrie: "I... don't know? I hope not, but something's going on there. At the very least, he must be in contact with angels, or... I don't know." 12:27 <banana> "How did you meet this guy?" 12:27 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "He met us." 12:27 <Crion> Aster: "Clandestinely. Annoyingly." 12:29 <Crion> Aster: "To be honest, he's behaved more like yourselves than like someone hunting something. He might simply be incredibly full of hubris and arrogance, and playing games he shouldn't in places he shouldn't be." 12:29 <tom> "Never in person." Bob finishes cleaning the bolt, pops it back into the weapon, twists the endcap back on, replaces the assemblage into his jacket. 12:29 <banana> "Oh, yeah, the arrogance I could feel through the wall." 12:29 <tom> "The deal's worked out pretty good so far." 12:30 <Crion> Aster: "You know what they say. Pride goeth before a windfall." 12:30 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "What does this mean for the device? We've started getting useful information from it - is it safe to use? What are the risks? What are the costs?" 12:32 <banana> Carrie: "Well, good luck with that." She addresses Willie: "It can't do anything to you. There's no on-device soul store, it's just a digital' signal to a cache node - or to France if the lookup fails - and the information that comes back is just a summary, maybe AI-generated, maybe not." 12:34 <banana> The mention of France reminds Willie. She's got the papers from Marc, way back when, out of the file cabinets... and there it is, an address matching the Calais office. Le Groupe Cheiron. 12:34 <VoxPVoxD> A-ha! 12:34 <banana> Carrie: "Although it feels oddly safe here, I'd better get home. The boys will be making a mess of things." 12:35 <banana> She pronounced digital' as digital-prime. 12:35 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Do you want a ride back?" 12:36 <Crion> Aster: "Mmm. Well. Don't be a stranger, beyond the necessary dictates of security protocols." 12:39 <tom> Bob: "We done here? I'm gonna go smoke in the loading bay real quick." And then he does. 12:42 <VoxPVoxD> Once Bob's gone: "The Calais office is Cheiron. I don't know about the others yet, but this is a big connection." 12:43 <banana> Bob's got a message from Mari. Her residency application came through! From Monday, she'll be working at the Royal Infirmary, or at least watching other doctors work. 12:43 <Crion> Aster: "I've been worried they haven't been poking around, since we jumped them on our first mission. Now I'm beginning to understand how that came to pass." 12:43 <tom> Bob's in the loading bay, a smoking cigarette in one hand and his phone in the other. 12:44 <banana> T3rt!arY declined Willie's offer, either out of politeness - it's clear the hunters have things to discuss - or because walking around the CBD occasionally is the only exercise any of the clan get. Richard sees her out, though he's a while returning. 12:45 <hrolf> Rolf eyes Richard beadily, then turns to Aster. "'ow's that then?" 12:46 <tom> He finishes his cigarette and curses himself. What Mari gets: <great hun!> 12:46 <VoxPVoxD> Willie watches them go. "We've got to follow up on that. If Jack can help us settle the Athletic thing and we can develop Agostina's leads... we are looking to unpick most of our issues before the holiday." 12:47 <banana> Hatch Starling's fairly busy, but he does get back to Badawi eventually. <I'm still interested in the etymology of 'elder'. Americans use 'elder care', but I don't think you're coming from the same place?> 12:47 <banana> <We're all up for a bit of wassail and yulesinging. Might want to make it the week before Christmas Day, as this new variant could lead to a lockdown of the home.> 12:47 <hrolf> Rolf: "What about the client then? Should we do a pre-emptive strike on the star fing? We know where it lives." 12:48 <banana> You even know roughly how much it masses, if anyone wants to calculate the water level versus the volume of liquid in the reservoir. 12:49 <Crion> Aster: "I think we should begin spec on that, yes. At the very least you and Bob should get both the Odins out of storage and ready to ride. Have a feeling we'll need all the firepower." 12:50 <banana> Requisitioning some new gear.. it's been a while since Rolf checked his old office email, since there wasn't a lot of progress on that front. But he still has access, if he wants to look at it. 12:51 <Quaker> AB: <ok. Just need a date and I’ll put things together> 12:52 <hrolf> Rolf: "I've been off grid completely for obvious reasons." He pulls out his phone, thumb hovering over the power button. "'aven't checked this fing out in ages - I spose I could, to get at the gear." 12:55 <banana> There's an email on his rhug@ government account, just a couple of days old - the first in quite some time. It's actually kind of odd. 12:55 <tom> The Huntr App beeps on Rolf's phone. <hey man you wanna come to elder splashing class> 12:55 <hrolf> Rolf furrows his brows and opens the email. 12:57 <banana> From: 2lt.m.dealer@defense.gov.uk 12:57 <banana> Subject: Your recent access - trying to track down the provenance of this supply dump 12:58 <Quaker> Badawi speaks for the first time in a while. “Actually, I have to go talk to the Hattersley kids today. I’ve made arrangements to have them sing christmas carols for the retirement home the changelings use.” 12:58 <banana> Much of it is boilerplate, but the meat of the thing is a request from a Lieutenant Dealer, of the Army, to please come in and explain what the hell is this store of strange equipment they've found in an office the Ministry of Defense has just taken over. It's all very mysterious, but Rolf's name is in an access registry... 12:58 <Quaker> “There’s free food and music, if anyone is interested.” 12:58 <Quaker> “So, I’m busy until tomorrow.” 12:58 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Oh, that sounds lovely." 12:59 <banana> Richard returns to the conference room, dusting his hands. "These are the Nightingale Society? They sound like nice... children. I'm a little alarmed by how each of them seems to be acquiring supernatural annotations in the wiki, though." 12:59 <hrolf> Rolf pulls down the Hunter notification and clicks the reply button: <always down fr wasting vampies but gt odd email may hv access to big weapons cache want 2 chk it out frst? - rolf> 13:00 <tom> <sure. should i bring my uniform or what> 13:00 <tom> <is this gonna be an official op> 13:00 <Quaker> “Yeah, it is.” 13:00 <Quaker> “Better they have us around to ask for help if they need it than let the night city raise them.” 13:01 <hrolf> <i thk they fnd out abt our hoodwnk last time but if we ply cards rght cld get some more rsky though - rolf> 13:01 <Quaker> To Bob: <Any progress on those patches. thanks> 13:01 <banana> Richard: "It's a good thing to be doing, and saves problems for a future generation of hunters." 13:01 <VoxPVoxD> Firmly: "I agree." 13:03 <Quaker> “Yeah. Well. Got to talk to them first. I tend to just piss people off when I open my mouth.” 13:03 <Crion> Aster rubs the bridge of his nose and replaces his glasses. "It's been a trying couple weeks, I think." 13:05 <Quaker> To Aster: “Are you coming? There’s Arabic food.” 13:05 <tom> Badawi can see Bob typing. Then stop. Then type some more. Then stop. Finally: <the birds hard> 13:05 <tom> <ill get it right> 13:05 <tom> <how long do i have> 13:05 <Crion> Aster: "I suppose I should, if only for safety in numbers." 13:05 <banana> According to the King under the Hill's latest, until the 21st. 13:05 <tom> Rolf's phone beeps: <ill bring my uniform> 13:05 <Crion> He's putting the gun away. He will, however, keep on the flak jacket, and simply wear a bulkier coat to hide it. 13:06 <Quaker> To Bob: <It’s fine, no problem. I have to get them coats first anyway. First few weeks of January okay?> 13:06 <tom> <yeah sure> 13:07 <tom> Bob grinds out his cigarette and leaves in his truck. 13:10 <Quaker> Badawi texts Amjad the date, for the caterers and band and van drivers (all cousins or children or spouses of mosquegoers he knows). 13:12 <Quaker> To Willie: “Can we take your car? It’ll be faster if you don’t have to wait for me to bike out there.” 13:12 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Of course!" 13:13 <banana> For once, you have an appointment with the Nightingale Society. The children... seem to react better when they're actually expecting someone, rather than having their space impinged on unexpectedly. 13:13 <banana> Supervision they might need, but the habit of self-reliance is hard to break. 13:13 <Crion> Is Aster going along on this leg? If so, he'll pile in the back of a car for the first time in awhile. 13:14 <Quaker> Once they’re in her car: “Do you know a good place to buy quality winter coats for children and teenagers? All I know is…Harrods. And Tesco.” 13:14 <VoxPVoxD> Well, Willie's happy to treat them like adults. She knows how to treat adults. 13:14 <VoxPVoxD> She has a lot of trouble with kids. 13:15 <banana> Speaking of cars.. that's another thing for Aster to follow up at some point. He's got the contact details of one "Drew Salmon", grey market importer who will apparently give friends of Sergio a Deal; he can reach out on his own, or have an introduction at some point if he prefers it. 13:15 <banana> Sergio did mention the catch, which is that Drew is also a vampire. 13:17 <banana> Rolf and Bob have an address to meet up, and they've both been there before.. the local Human Office branch on St. Peter's Square. If that's still what it is. 13:17 <tom> How's the damage to the exterior wall? 13:18 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Is there a Uniqlo in Manchester? I'd start there." 13:18 <banana> Repaired! And it still says H.M.H.O. above the front door, so there is some technical existence to the department, but you've all heard about the ructions. 13:18 <hrolf> Rolf sold off his rover in case of any tracking devices. Does Bob wanna drive? 13:19 <banana> Are the other three hunters going shopping before they meet the musical teens, or is that a later prospect? 13:19 <Crion> Well. Excellent. Something for when things have calmed down. 13:19 <Quaker> Later. She doesn’t even know who needs a coat. 13:21 <Quaker> Who is there to meet them from the Nightingales? 13:23 <Crion> It's probably been awhile since the kids have seen Aster. Either the graveyard or Samhain. He's doing that grimace thing older men uncomfortable with smiling think is a smile. 13:24 <VoxPVoxD> Ah, Papa makes that face all the time. 13:25 <banana> Most of the Nightingales are in their old gym today, entertaining each other with some improvised dance. Cameron Kingfisher isn't present, making it the first time you've encountered any of them without their ringleader; in her place the dance is being lead by Jock, the biggest and oldest of the teens. He's also got a nice new pair of shoes, so he really stands out. 13:25 <VoxPVoxD> Jock the teen wizard? 13:26 <Crion> Can't believe they still name children that. Or that they ever did. 13:26 <Quaker> Badawi will wait until they’re done, and sit on the first row of the bleachers. She really is excited to see them. 13:27 <Quaker> When her mind is in a million places like it’s been lately, she knows she has to let off some steam, somehow. 13:27 <banana> Allie waves at the three adults.. or at least at Badawi. The kids are pretty focused, but they break off their routines soon enough - it isn't really a coordinated performance, just an expressive way to pass the time. 13:27 <tom> Bob's there in his uniform, and he's barely even drunk! 13:27 <tom> Get it together, dog. 13:28 <Quaker> When they finish: “Hey kids! How’s it going? You out of school for Christmas yet?” 13:28 <Crion> It's not outdoors, so Aster won't smoke. He needs a cigarette, though. 13:28 <hrolf> Assuming they've arrived, Rolf is smoking a cig on the street. He looks up at the entrance, drops the cigarette and stubs it out. To Bob: "May 'ave to ditch that uniform I fink. Might be enough crap forgotten in the reshuffe that they've forgotten our little trick - and might make it worse by pretending to be one of the yank goons. MoD will 'ave tougher background checks than the Office." 13:28 <tom> In any case, William Goreman's there in his cap and fatigues, chewing some minty gum while he waits for the red-faced Briton in his Range Rover. 13:29 <tom> "Ah, shit." 13:29 <tom> "I don't have any other ins, dog. What am I gonna say, I'm your 'bloke'?" 13:29 <tom> "I'm just a guy, man." 13:30 <hrolf> Rolf: "I'm an independent contractor, just a dumb thug innit. You're a weapons specialist. They asked about a weapon. I don't know nuffink about em. Need you as an expert innit?" 13:30 <banana> Jock - the teen wizard, you think - packs up a boombox as some of the yonger kids come over to greet Mrs. Badawi. "We don't go to school," says one boy scornfully. 13:30 <banana> Bertie follows up hastily: "That's a bluff, ma'am, we usually do. He's just trying to sound cool." 13:30 <tom> "Who knows weapons better than the Army?" 13:30 <banana> Allie: "No Mr. Cat today?" 13:31 <tom> "I don't have to say I'm in the *Task Force*" 13:31 <hrolf> Rolf thinks about it. "Alright, fair's fair. Don't mention your previous visit 'ere though unless we really 'ave to. Ready..?" 13:31 <banana> The former Human Office building has unlocked front doors, and the front lobby is still there, but nobody's waiting inside today. 13:31 <tom> "Always." He clenches and unclenches his hands into fists. 13:32 <Quaker> Badawi smiles. “No Mr. Cat. He’s busy with his job. You know Miss Willie, don’t you? And Mr. Aster?” 13:32 <Crion> Aster: "Kids." 13:32 <VoxPVoxD> "Good afternoon!" 13:32 <Crion> The forced grin is mostly gone, which is good. It's not like he's frowning. 13:33 <hrolf> Rolf steps inside, looking around with trepidation. No visitors, but any staff around? 13:34 <tom> The slouch is gone. Bob's wearing the skin of a man who has long practiced the art of hiding his drinking around his commanding officer. 13:34 <tom> He fits his cap on over his close-cropped hair. 13:34 <banana> Behind the desk... a stroke of luck: the same receptionist as last time, who recognises the both of you and doesn't seem inclined to bother anyone. He doesn't ask your serial number today, just keeps playing some kind of gameboy. 13:35 <tom> Institutional rot has its upsides. On my upcoming TED Talk: 13:36 <hrolf> Rolf: "Wotcher mate. How's fings in the Office these days? 'eard a lot of fings been changing." 13:36 <tom> "They're repealing the Black Acts," Bob offers by way of explanation. 13:37 <banana> Receptionist: "Christ, don't tell me about change... it's memo after memo from the stakeholders. Bringing in fresh blood, reaffirming our values, et bloody cetera." 13:37 <banana> "Are you in from the field? We don't see much of that anymore." 13:38 <hrolf> Rolf: "Everyfings going to the dogs these days innit? This used to be a great country..." He trails off. "Yeah mate. I'm looking for a Maj. Dealer. Any idea where to?" 13:39 <banana> Receptionist: "Oh, the uh.. Army guys have set up shop in the ground floor offices. Just down there and into the open plan." 13:40 <banana> Teens ask Willie and Badawi questions; Aster less so, although someone wants to know whether he can sing. After a minute, Jock comes off the makeshift dancefloor to the bleachers. 13:40 <hrolf> Rolf: "What're they like, between you and me?" 13:40 <Quaker> *Can* Aster sing? 13:40 <banana> Teen Wizard: "Hello. Cameron says you're our patrons now, in more ways than one." 13:42 <VoxPVoxD> Willie's very eager to hear the answer to that as well. 13:42 <Quaker> Badawi: “More ways than one? I’ve got the renovation proposal, and your’e always welcome to talk to me whenever you like, but I think that’s it for now…and I’m certainly not your patron.” 13:43 <Quaker> “Isn’t that like…someone who commissions a work of art?” 13:43 <Crion> Aster has sung in the past. But that's very different. 13:44 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I prefer to think of us as benefactors. Like Mrs. Badawi says, patron implies a commitment to produce." 13:44 <banana> Jock: "It was probably a mean joke. That's Cam. How are you doing? Want to see some of today's show?" 13:44 <Crion> Aster: "Ah. Certainly." 13:46 <banana> The Human Office receptionist is convinced that Rolf and Bob are themselves army men or something, so he thinks you're asking what these particular Army guys are like. "I don't think they were properly briefed, to tell you the truth. They don't seem to understand what we do here, and they're just sort of selling everything off and taking over programmes.. it'll all end in tears." 13:46 <Quaker> Badawi: “Sure, I can stick around. But we wanted to ask you all about something. I know you’ve all been working so hard on your choir performances. How’d you like to cheer some people up with songs? Just got to be yourselves.” 13:46 <tom> Bob: "Yeah, been there." 13:47 <Quaker> “Free food and all that, too. The good stuff, too. Kebab and cobbler for dessert. No hotel buffets.” 13:47 <tom> He works his shoulders. "Well, let's give them the sitrep." 13:47 <Quaker> “And I’m going to be playing, too.” 13:47 <hrolf> Rolf nods sympathetically. "Always the way mate, always the way. It's those bloody wets ruining fings...'ad to give em somefing after we won Brexit, and they sacrified the Office." He sighs. 13:47 <banana> Jock: "The club, I mean the Society, aims to entertain all. Are you talking about some kind of actual performance?" 13:48 <banana> Bertie: "It's King Underhill again, right?" 13:48 <banana> Jock: "..why are you informed." 13:48 <banana> Bertie: "Ancient pact made on the steppes." 13:48 <Quaker> “Yeah. Nothing too formal. You all too old and crusty to cheer up some very friendly older folks? They haven’t gotten to get out very much. “ 13:49 <Quaker> “Bertie, you remember Kylie? It’s the place she stays at.” 13:49 <Quaker> “I thought they’d like to hear some carols, and you’d like to sing some.” 13:49 <banana> Some girl: "Will yodel for food." 13:50 <Quaker> “And I really need to blow off some steam, so you’ll get something good when I go on. Got a backing band and everything.” 13:50 <banana> Jock: "It sounds like fine, but I'm kind of wary of this.. big occasion, production, thing? We're not a band, you know." 13:51 <Crion> Oh, this should be good. 13:51 <Quaker> “All you’ve got to do is sing O Holy Night. Or whatever you like.” 13:51 <VoxPVoxD> Kylie's a bit of an odd name for someone in a nursing home. "No one's going to be writing a nasty review. It's just about having a nice time being kind to people." 13:51 <Quaker> “Well, keep in mind they are old people, like me. I don’t know how much avant-garde they can handle.” 13:52 <banana> Just about managing to take in Rolf's description of the Army as 'wets', the bored receptionist sympathises again and directs you deeper into the bulding. 13:52 <tom> Aw, fuck, do we have to go through the creepy scanner again? 13:52 <banana> This is the same corridor that leads ultimately to the back warehouse, but all the doors have been flung open, and inside the revealed office space there are bunch of workstations and soldiers - half as many men as computers, all uniformed. 13:52 <hrolf> Rolf trundles off with Bob in tow. Do they see any signs of disrepair, or disassembly or things of that sort along the way? Is the Office being stripmined? 13:53 <banana> Some of them are typing and others are poring over printouts, conversing in puzzled tones. 13:53 <tom> The hairs on the Corporal's neck stand up as he remembers. 13:53 <hrolf> If no one's approaching them, Rolf will just walk up to the closest army man. 13:53 <banana> The scanning room is intact - but further back, at the end of the corridor. 13:53 <tom> He follows, giving the rolling doors of the scanner a wide berth. 13:54 <banana> Private: "Afternoon..." He looks Rolf up and down, coming up with ???. "Sir." 13:54 <banana> Another man straightens up from where he was hunched over a keyboard. "Your business?" 13:55 <hrolf> Rolf nods at the private. "At ease. Lookin for a Maj. Dealer?" 13:56 <banana> Dealer - the guy who just sat up - says: "Second Lieutenant only. Do you have orders here?" 13:57 <hrolf> Rolf: "Yeah - I got your email. I'm Rolf Hughes." 13:57 <banana> Jock: "I guess it's fine if you don't want too much toff traditionalism stuff. We know the kind of music they have on the radio, although that's plenty of Christmassy stuff." 13:57 <banana> "How do you feel about singing to old folks for kebab?" He's addressing the room more generally. 13:57 <banana> Bertie: "People usually yell at a kebab, or when it's on the way out." 13:58 <tom> Bob gives Lieutenant Dealer a stiff salute. "Sir." 13:58 <banana> Bertie to Willie: "Sorry, Miss." 13:58 <Crion> Aster lacks the context for that one. 13:58 <Crion> He gets the feeling he's not particularly missing much. 13:58 <Quaker> Badawi, who had no idea what that meant, smiles. 13:58 <VoxPVoxD> Willie's expression is mildly disapproving, as expected. 13:59 <banana> There's caution among the Nightingales. This isn't necessarily outside their wheelhouse, but it isn't something they've done before. Who's feeling persuasive? 13:59 <banana> Badawi gets another message. This new phone really is helping her to keep in touch with people. 14:00 <banana> <Ah, hello again. You tripped this setup last week, but things were so dicey back then... it wasn't a good idea to get in touch. I'm sorry about toeing the Order line :(> 14:02 <banana> Lieutenant Dealer: "Mr. Hughes.. I'm tentatively pleased to see you. There are some things I need to understand and you may have answers. Are you working with..." He looks at Bob, in an American uniform. 14:03 <hrolf> Rolf nods. "This is Corporal Goreman." 14:03 <tom> "Corporal William Goreman, U.S. Army." He goes for a clean handshake with the Lieutenant. 14:05 <tom> "Not here in an official capacity, you understand... but Washington knows which way the winds are blowing." 14:06 <banana> Dealer: "I wish someone would tell us so we don't have to stand and sniff. Come through to what I'll charitably describe as my office." 14:06 <hrolf> Rolf: "Lead on, sir." He follows the man in. 14:07 <banana> He leads you to another room as the rest of the soldiers continue their data processing work. "The previous occupant of this space was apparently four foot tall. I've got in chairs from other rooms the spooks left empty, but I can't do much about the size of the minibar or-" he gestures at a truly tiny laptop, maybe 9" screen. 14:08 <hrolf> Rolf nods sympathetically. "'ad to make do in the Office, sir. Always the way. Budgets kept shrinking - all the way down to zero now, I 'ear." 14:10 <Quaker> Badawi takes out her sketchbook and hands it to Willie. “Maybe this’ll help them listen to you.” 14:10 <Quaker> “It’s what Bob and I are making for patches for the club.” 14:10 <tom> He shrugs at the miniaturized setup. It takes all kinds: "Your C.O. give you the rundown, then?" 14:10 <banana> Dealer: "Well, there's a little available for decomissioning... but any documentation the department kept appears to have been predecomissioned. Tell me about this armoury." 14:11 <tom> "It's a lot to take in at once." 14:11 <Quaker> **It’s rectangular on the sides and bottom, with the top curving into an arch. The borders are embellished with an alternating white and gold geometric pattern, and inside is a background of deep navy blue, though she’s shaded some azure and even indigo into places, while stars of white and turquoise gleam across the space.** 14:11 <banana> Dealer: "Where are its stewards and their records? Why do we have swords?" 14:11 <Quaker> Three stylized nightingales, colored buff, are lighting on a golden tree, whose branches curl up into the sky and bloom with pink flowers. Each nightingale is crowned with a corona of thin rays, and above everything sit a sun and moon in each upper corner, smiling down with victorian-esque faces. 14:12 <Crion> Huh. 14:12 <tom> "That's a no, it sounds like." 14:12 <hrolf> Rolf: "Well, basically. How do I say this." 14:12 <tom> "You may want to sit down, sir." He takes his cap in his hand. 14:12 <banana> The kids keep moving around, and some are watching over your shoulders. Allie: "That's very pretty. You're a designer as well as a singer, Mrs.?" 14:13 <Quaker> “Agostina.” 14:13 <banana> Lieutenant Dealer sits in the large chair at the too-small desk. "Hit me, as long as you aren't IRA or ISIS." 14:13 <tom> The expression on the Corporal's face is grim. He takes off his visor. 14:14 <tom> "You are about to wish we were." 14:14 <hrolf> Rolf: "The Office's remit was to investigate all kinds of - wot's the word- esoteria, like. New energy weapons, random knick knacks wif interesting metallic prop'ties, ex-Soviet nonstandard deviational armory scraps....if we found anyfing that looked odd or unusual in the field, we brought it in. 99% of the time it was some kind of scam wif some Kazakh scumbag trying to sell you 'orseshit, pardon me French." 14:15 <tom> Bob's eyes slide over to Rolf. He doesn't say anything. 14:15 <tom> Ah. 14:15 <Quaker> “Not as nice as Miss Willie, though. You know, it was all her idea for us to help out rent this place.” 14:16 <banana> Dealer: "Uh huh. A kind of Department of the Supposedly Paranormal. We've picked up that much from the labels on things.. mostly the quarters assigned to field agents, seemingly long-gone." 14:16 <Quaker> “She’s a good egg.” 14:16 <VoxPVoxD> Willie takes the sketchbook and looks down at the drawing. "Right. Mrs. Badawi's been working hard on designing this. Our friend Bob is working hard on getting them made for everybody, because they thought it'd be nice. That's the spirit we're coming to you in. We aren't trying to put you on the spot, you shouldn't force yourselves to see it as a gig. It's just a nice time. We know the 14:16 <VoxPVoxD> residents would appreciate the company." 14:16 <VoxPVoxD> "And everybody likes free food." 14:16 <banana> Bertie looks like he wants to make a joke about egg quality, but there's only so much waggery the others will put up with while trying to decide on something that's actually kind of important. 14:17 <hrolf> Rolf: "Right. Your taxpayer money at work, innit?" He shrugs. "It's a living. Well, it was. Mattered more during the cold war when we fought the russkis would be developing all kinds of crap under the radar. Then the enemy turned out to be the mozzies - don't fink Afghan goatherders were going to invent anyfing, so the junk - and the budgets - began to dry up, like." 14:18 <tom> Bob is about to rise to the defense of the noble Khyber Pass artisan gunsmith when good sense brings him back to silence. 14:20 <banana> Dealer: "So these grenades with Norse runes on them, bazookas full of wires, they're post-soviet experimental tech? And... our own counterparts to it? I'm not sure that makes sense." 14:22 <hrolf> Rolf: "Not just ex-soviet, just an example. Fahckin....bazaar salesmen trying to convince you it's Thor's hammer and 'orseshit like that. We got paid by commission, so we just brung in whatever junk we found to be honest." 14:24 <tom> ... 14:26 <banana> The lieutenant opens the tiny laptop, revealing a tiny keyboard. "Junk it may be, but it does something. All the databases on here have been cleared out. But there are filenames. hole-staffing.mdb, bloodlines.accdb, ProfaneRituals.xlsx." 14:26 <banana> He raises his hands with an expression of mild despair. "What is a hole in this context?" 14:27 <tom> Sounds like a prison. 14:28 <hrolf> Rolf bursts out laughing. "We entered joke names in the ledger sometimes. In jokes, or references to shagging. Hole staffing..." He winks. 14:29 <banana> Jock: "I think we should do it. It'll be fun, and some people like to show off even for a bunch of olds." Some people look dubious, but he continues. "There is this sense that... right, how do I put it..." 14:31 <Quaker> To Octocat: AB: <being on the outside forever gets old quick> 14:33 <banana> Jock: "Benefaction or no, Cameron said - and I agree - we don't really want to be a 'project', so not, like, a team you send out to do things.. but if it's, like, you've heard of something that might be fun, and want to tell us about it, thank you?" 14:35 <tom> Bob's eyes are burning a hole in the back of the gammon's head as he replaces his visor and lets him take the lead on whatever madcap scheme this is becoming. 14:36 <banana> Octocat: <There's the common-humanity case and and there's the case that if we try to ditch you in your hours of need, it hurts us next time we need something. I've argued both to Jazimiers (the Curator) and only the second seemed to cut through at all.> 14:36 <Quaker> “Like I told Cameron, I really don’t have any interest in directing you. Neither do Miss Willie or Mr. Aster. It’s just an invitation between friends.” 14:36 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I quite agree. We're not looking for Baker Street Irregulars. We just want to be part of the community." 14:36 <Crion> Aster: "Thirded." 14:39 <Quaker> “There was once someone I very much admire, who said that ‘alms and benevolence are an ostentation of riches and power to humiliate the humble.’ She meant that because she used to go to these charity parties where rich people had fun raising money for the poor. I don’t mean for you to owe us anything. It’s just justice. And looking out for each other.” 14:39 <banana> Some of the kids aren't interested in the dynamics of patronage and are just hanging out with each other or going back to playing songs on their phones. Jock is, though. "We have a lot of communities, and in some ways none at all. There's this overlap which creates a weird space." 14:40 <banana> He lowers his voice. "Is it true that the cemetery you got us to leave.. that the reason we had to go is... the walking dead?" 14:41 <Crion> Aster contemplates what the honest answer here actually is. 'Yes, but in absolutely none of the ways you think'? 14:41 <Quaker> Badawi turns to Aster. “I haven’t hid anything from them. If they ask, I answer.” 14:42 <VoxPVoxD> Willie glances in Agostina and Aaron's direction before saying, "Yes. It's complicated and dreary. Local politics basically. But local undead politics." 14:42 <tom> The Corporal's dour expression seems to mesh with what the Lieutenant expects. He's watching Hughes gravely. 14:42 <Crion> Aster: "Then yyyyyyeeesss, but they were more leaping dead. Running dead; biting dead. Not zombies." 14:42 <Crion> "Pouncing dead." 14:42 <VoxPVoxD> "Preening dead." 14:42 <Crion> "Lots of swooping." 14:43 <Quaker> “I told Cameron to call me if she ever found vampires around here snooping or trying to talk to you, so I’ll tell you the same thing now.” 14:43 <tom> Bob taps his visor. The Huntr app lights up on the others' phones: BG <rolf is looting the ho armory lmao> 14:43 <tom> <👌> 14:43 <banana> Dealer: "Okay... well, 'profane rituals' is more straightforward since this stuff was believed quasi-supernatural." 14:44 <Quaker> What is a ho armory? An armory for hoes? 14:44 <hrolf> Rolf: "I fink that one was a reference to a stag party in Estonia or summat." 14:44 <banana> "None of the information, I appreciate it, but none of your information really helps me dispose of the equipment. Hmm." 14:44 <VoxPVoxD> Willie checks her phone, expressionless, and then puts it back. 14:44 <tom> <also whats the hole anyone know> 14:44 <tom> <asking for a friend> 14:44 <banana> "The guns are just guns. Goggles and battery sets, bullets with batteries in them... it's hardly useful for regulars." 14:44 <VoxPVoxD> More beeps. Fine. 14:46 <Quaker> To Octocat: <dont want you to answer specifically but do you or your Order know why certain people wake up from slumber> 14:47 <banana> Jock: "Yeah, I think, vampires apparently being real, we're all inclined to take your advice on that one." 14:48 <hrolf> Rolf: "Well, I could take it off your 'ands and to the junkyard if you want. I'm workin with Cpl Goreman 'ere - probably best to run it by the Yank specialists to make sure it's not toxic or dangerous before scrapping." 14:49 <VoxPVoxD> She stares at her phone for a minute before typing <human office parlance for beaufort's dyke, which is an nic dating back to the last ice age, geologically at least> 14:50 <banana> Dealer: "As long as it's transferred properly. We'll need receipts and some kind of armoured transportation - there are whole racks of explosives." 14:50 <banana> He seems to have totally accepted that Bob is a representative of The Americans, although that doesn't quite yet you the ability to walk out with a cardboard box full of weaponry. 14:50 <banana> *get 14:51 <banana> Jock: "Let me fess up... guys. Not sure who you are exactly as a group, although I know you're not Manchester Pest Control. Anyway: I don't know any carols." 14:51 <VoxPVoxD> <it's in the straits of moyle> 14:51 <banana> Allie: "I do!" 14:51 <tom> <whats a nic> 14:52 <VoxPVoxD> <natural infernal cavity> 14:52 <Quaker> Badawi looks around at the younger members of the Nightingales and claps her hands. “Who has a favorite carol?” 14:52 <VoxPVoxD> <Hellmouth> 14:52 <tom> Bob makes a face. 14:52 <tom> <do i have permission to get mad about this> 14:53 <VoxPVoxD> Rather than answer, Willie makes a disgusted face and pockets her phone again. 14:53 <Quaker> Then, while the chattering rises, she speaks to Jock. “We are Hunters. I assume that’s a yes to the proposed renovations?” 14:55 <banana> Jock: "I'm going to punt to Cam on the renovations because she is a control freak, and also just a freak." The tone of voice is more affectionate than the words. "Carols will be nice though." He waits a moment, until there aren't any other kids nearby. 14:55 <banana> "Hunters... aren't the same thing as Banishers... right?" 14:55 <hrolf> Rolf: "Sure fing, we'll let the Yanks know and I can drop by wif em in a bit." 14:56 <banana> Lieutenant Dealer: "You're really doing us a favour. This whole situation is rotten, you know? It feels like a coverup, except that my team are just.. cleanup for the coverup." 14:56 <tom> "It does feel that way." 14:57 <banana> "I suppose if I was the Minister sitting on, what, forty years of attempts to seriously engage with the paranormal... I wouldn't want to brag about it either." 14:57 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "No, certainly not." 14:57 <tom> "Hughes, I think we're done here for now. Mind if we step outside?" Bob's eyes are closed. 14:57 <Quaker> “No. Our Nameless House exists to…” She trails off. 14:58 <hrolf> Rolf: "It's an embarassment. Opposition'd 'ave a field day wif it - if they didn't 'ave their ands tied up in it too." To Bob: "Yeah, let's go." 14:59 <Quaker> She shakes her head. “Help you, among other things. Jock, have you got a suitable coat for the cold? I need to go through the Nightingales and get a coat for anyone who hasn’t got one.” 14:59 <banana> Between them, the younger kids admit to knowing Good King Wenceslas, Come All Ye Faithful, The First Noel and several more. 14:59 <tom> When they're safely outside, Bob exhales a stream of vapour and replaces his cap. He makes it a few steps out before stopping and managing his breathing. "Were you planning that the whole time, or did you come up with that on the fly?" 14:59 <tom> "Let's be clear: Cool as hell. Nice score." 15:00 <hrolf> Rolf: "Wasn't planning to initially. But you saw what it was like in there. Party's over. Government's scrapped the Office and given up on policing the night, innit? Someone ought to take up that duty." 15:01 <banana> Jock spreads his hands. "Presents will make people suspicious, and also happy, and they'll be warm. If you really want.. how many of us can afford nice clothes on our own? Probably only me." 15:02 <tom> Bob: "Uh huh. What's 'The Hole', Hughes?" 15:03 <Quaker> Badawi: “Then they’ll be warm and happy.” 15:03 <hrolf> Rolf: "Some hellhole fing." 15:04 <tom> "Some 'Hellhole Thing'. Okay. Let's unpack that." 15:04 <Quaker> “Get me their sizes, at least. Don’t want you all swimming around in some great oversized jackets.” 15:04 <Quaker> “If your parents ask…tell them it came from the Eva Peron Foundation.” She laughs. 15:05 <tom> "People are gonna die if we don't bother to tell anyone what's up before the new crew roll in to take over. You know that, right?" 15:05 <banana> Beaufort's Dyke contains well over a million tons of munitions even before you get to the supernatural crap that comes out of it, so please be careful when unpacking it. 15:06 <tom> "Those poor bastards back there-" He jerks a thumb over his shoulder. "-They're about to hand that office over to a U.S. Army unit under Task Force: Valkyrie." 15:06 <tom> "Those are my people that are about to roll in to find we cleaned out the armory, and maybe they don't even get those files because you just told the Lieutenant 'The Hole' was a euphamism." 15:08 <tom> euphemism* 15:08 <hrolf> Rolf's face hardens. "If you fink I'm going to take a lecture from you, you fought wrong. That place 'as been understaffed for years, and we're still here innit? If it's bothering your conscience, send someone the files - but we keep the gear. You fahckin yanks 'ave more than enough money to buy more." 15:09 <tom> Bob inhales. With an utterly beatific expression: "You will take this lecture, or you will take a bullet." 15:10 <hrolf> Rolf straightens from his usual slump and looks Bob in the eye. "I don't respond well to threats mate. You want to think about what you say to me, yeah?" 15:10 <tom> "This is what me thinking about what I say looks like after you blew that dumb kid's head off." 15:10 <tom> "Which, I remind, I didn't say fuck about." 15:11 <tom> "I could walk back to the Greybox without you and no one would say a word. You think about that." 15:13 <hrolf> Rolf: "Big assumption that you're the one that'd get back in one piece, lad. If you don't want to grab the gear, fahck off and don't do it. But don't ever fahcking threaten me again, because a fist to the fahckin face might fahcking offend. I'm takin a taxi." Rolf walks off. 15:13 <tom> He shakes his head. "I'll start making room for an armory."