10:13 <banana> It's been a week since the Wolf-Mourners paid you a million pounds. The new hunter cell has taken a bit of time to relax, began updating their skills and gear, and they're investigating leads on new work. 10:14 <banana> That means people doing their thing alone or in groups, but you aren't totally out of touch. Richard Haldane has presented anyone who's been able to make it to the greybox over the weekend with... an App. 10:15 <Quaker> A fookin’ wot m8 10:15 <Crion> Aster probably stares at him like he's some kind of space alien. 10:15 <Crion> What kind of app. 10:15 <VoxPVoxD> Willie looks up belatedly from her phone. "Ooh!" 10:16 <tom> Bob, of course, already has it installed. Didn't even bother reading the EULA Richard so thoughtfully prepared! Just checked every box without looking like a complete sicko. 10:16 <Quaker> Badawi doesn’t want to offend Richard. “I don’t have…a….phone…” 10:16 <Quaker> “Sorry.” 10:17 <banana> Huntr is technically web-based, so it'll work on Google and Apple phones. There's not much to it, just a basic textual interface with three options: Secure Chat, Remote Checkin and Track List. 10:17 <hrolf> Rolf isn't sure he has enough space for another app. Might have to uninstall one - maybe voat? 10:18 <tom> Whatever it is, it seems to play just fine with the ODIN's own modules. 10:18 <banana> Bob knows what it is! He built the mechanical part of the backend. 10:19 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Oh this is fantastic!" 10:19 <hrolf> "Is it? Mission critical and opsec fings on the phone...I dunno, mate." 10:19 <tom> Shit, that's just finding the right adapters. You find a programmer that makes systems that work for Android and classified black sector tech. 10:20 <banana> The checkin opens your camera interface; point it at someone and after a moment it gives you a little notification that they're registered. Back at HQ, a set of gimbals positions the TrackCheck to face a streaming video monitor, presses buttons, and the audio/video that result are recorded, (Accessible through the Track List function). 10:20 <Quaker> Badawi: “Speaking of talking, who’s still on your one-on-one list, Richard?” 10:20 <Crion> Aster's lips are a thin line, but he'll install it. It might synergize well with the Tag module. 10:20 <banana> For anyone who's in the briefing room at the time it's amusing to see the bits whirring around when someone in the field pulls up an entity's details. 10:21 <tom> "We need every edge we can get," Bob answers, kind of picking at his fingernails at his seat. 10:22 <banana> When Badawi asked Haldane about the 1-on-1s, he answered: "You, Miss Badawi. I'd also like to get Mr. Hughes' thoughts on the monsters he's encountered at some point, and confirm my understanding of the data Mr. Aster's entered on vampires." You can help him fill in the wiki later. 10:23 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I'm looking into the Roth case, although I need another couple of days, I'm swamped at work." And busy tonight...! 10:23 <banana> The cell's leads, then: 10:26 <tom> Bob kicks his feet up onto his workstation and leans way back in his chair. "I still got my eye on option three. You're our biter expert.." He's raising his eyebrows and turning to Aster. "Get anything useful?" 10:26 <banana> • Local businessman James Roth has discreetly advertised for mercenaries capable of dealing with the supernatural. You could simply contact him and set up a meeting, although Sourjack advised that he was suspicious of this and would prefer to work for the Underground. 10:26 <banana> Roth should have plenty of money, though - he gets articles like this in the business news https://limits.thomascastiglione.com/media/roth-article.png 10:28 <banana> • Reveille, the lead singer of local band Waistcoat Colony, is a starchild who's looking for protection against some sort of supernatural attack. The band's next performance is https://limits.thomascastiglione.com/media/waistcoat-colony-poster.png but you have other ins; as Rolf knows, Benni Athletic's ex-wife is in that band. It might be the singer herself. 10:31 <banana> • The Wise & Solemn Court, vampires who dominate much of the night-city, are looking for some law-enforcement work to be done. The Carthian Constable needs some rogues hunted down. Aster has growing Court contacts, but hasn't yet succeeded in connecting with the right people to offer the cell's services. 10:31 <banana> • Some other vampires have less-violent work available - a missing-persons case. Unfortunately, the group looking to have some people found are probably the Victus Indomitus; helping them to any significant extent would not make the Court happy. 10:33 <Quaker> Badawi gathers her things. “Right. Me and Rolf will handle looking into the singer and the missing persons. I’ll be back for the one-on-one.” 10:33 <hrolf> "Reckon we should have a tete-a-tete with Benni about this." 10:34 <Quaker> “Lead on. We can take your new ride.” 10:34 <tom> "...You sure you're good for that?" Bob's kinda smiling nervously at Badawi. 10:34 <Crion> Aster, to Bob: "I put out some feelers. While I can indeed call a vampire up on the telephone, it's not actually a vampire who knows anything about this business." 10:35 <banana> That's the obvious place to start. The Athletic Outfit needs to know about Rolf's new team at some point, and you know how to contact them; the vampires might be less easy to find. 10:35 <tom> "I guess you can't just call up the Head Vampire, huh." 10:35 <banana> Speaking of which, here are the ways Aster has to contact some at the moment: 10:36 <Quaker> Badawi: “Am I good for what?” 10:36 <tom> Bob just beams back, looks from Badawi to Rolf: "Nevermind! Good luck, have fun." 10:37 <banana> He knows the location of Elysium; walking into it uninvited is only almost certainly suicide. He has an email address in which he can drop stuff to be read by the Delegates, the carthian council. In practice this seems to mean Suzie Cutsworth, their most junior member. He also has the direct lines of a few vampires who found him interesting when he was Introduced: 10:38 <banana> Ultim Vados of the Order of Dracula, Henry Registrar who handles their contracts and legalities, and.. a name he doesn't know. It's been slipped onto his list while he was woozy with the whole mental indoctrination thing they were doing. "Craig Dunlop, available for hookups and forgivenesses." 10:38 <Crion> All of those are right out, for one reason or another. Especially that last. 10:39 <hrolf> Rolf exits into the brisk and chilly Manchester air, beckoning Badawi to follow. Not much traffic around, and the area’s as silent as a graveyard. There’s a Deliveroo lad on a bicycle further up the street. Rolf points and shakes his head. “Bicycle lanes. Filthy bloody idea - which genius thought it’d be a good idea to pander to the wokes and minge up traffic, eh?” 10:39 <Crion> Frankly he'd rather ignore the vampire lead entirely, but if he does that, then Goreman or Wellesley will go stumbling into it and he'll have to explain to someone in the free trade hall at three in the morning why he wasn't on top of things. 10:39 <banana> In that case, worming your way into the right circles to be offered vampire work is going to require some research. Maybe pavement-pounding... 10:40 <Crion> Oh, e-mailing the council is probably fine. 10:40 <VoxPVoxD> Willie would never just blunder into vampire problems. She has a date tonight. 10:41 <Crion> We're just not getting Vados, Registrar, or this man who sounds distastefully like a Court fixer involved. 10:41 <Quaker> Badawi ties her scarf around her neck. “That’s right. They never should have listened to the car owners. Fucked up all the old streets to make room for cars. But you know how it is - whine enough and you get your way these days.” 10:41 <Quaker> “So how’s this Benni fellow? On the level?” 10:41 <tom> Bob's nightwalks are back for the first time in almost a decade. His path hasn't taken him down past the canal... yet. 10:42 <banana> There are a couple of different places to which Rolf could bring Agostina. Now that Freedom Day is past, there's no need for illegal barbershops; the Outfit has a place they hang out in Trafford called Meaningful Styles for Meaningful Guys. Usually just referred to as Styles. 10:42 <Crion> He can feel himself becoming 'the vampire guy' here and he doesn't like it one bit. 10:42 <banana> Then there are the dorms - a bunch of starchildren live together in this barracks-type layout right on the old docks. Benni likes to have people close by in case of Deals. 10:43 <banana> If you're looking for some leadership of the organisation (Benni or a close lieutenant) you're likely to find them at Styles, but if you wanted to pry around the ranks first or introduce Badawi to the rank and file the dorms would be the place to go. 10:44 <tom> Bob is casually fucking around with that degenerate Sten of his while they talk, unthreading the barrel in the vice and re-lubricating the damn thing for the third time. 10:45 <Crion> The e-mail to the council will be brief and professional; it will note the presence of the job offer from the Victus Indomitus but not give any details about it, because Aster has none, and was told not to take such business on pain of death or etcetera. Then it will present the very short resume of the cell he's currently working with and enquire about the open job that the court itself 10:45 <Crion> has. 10:45 <hrolf> Rolf, getting into his Range Rover, only half processes Badawi’s response - he takes the general tone of what she says to imply agreement. “‘s right! We could use more underpasses and flyover’s and the like, not these bleedin' bike lanes and bus lanes and what have you. Took me an age to get down to London the other day to collect me rent. Anyway - ‘op in. We're 'eadin to Benni’s.” 10:46 <VoxPVoxD> Willie knocks off work at 6, a mere hour after she lets the team go, so she can get ready for her date this evening. What are they doing? Drinks? Dinner? Willie would've proposed a coffee lunch date, and then drinks if Sergio shot that down, but she's more than happy to let him take the lead if the spirit moves him. 10:47 <tom> He's struggling with the plastic wrapping on a cheap-looking laser module for a little longer than he'd like the others to see, finally freeing it with a grunt and carefully dialing in some settings. Satisfied, Bob will turn back to the table and bolt the damn thing onto his gun. 10:47 <banana> Aster never gets a reply directly back from the council dropbox, but so far he's reliably had people reach out to him thereafter from no-reply addresses. Having presented his enquiry earlier, he's now got something to show Bob: a bite. 10:47 <banana> It's not Suzie who replies; he's intrigued larger fish. 10:48 <Crion> A 'bite.' Of course. Fangs very much. 10:48 <banana> Sergio was happy with the idea of dinner. A opportunity to deliver her sketch, and if they feel up to it they could catch a movie or take a walk. See how the evening goes. Though from the way he writes, Willie's not sure he's a spontaneous guy... 10:50 <banana> From: bbarrigan@cdeps.gov.vtr 10:50 <banana> Subject: Re: Your knowledge of internal affairs 10:52 <Crion> A dot gov subdomain. Really. Going to be a pain keeping that out of the spam filter. 10:55 <VoxPVoxD> That's fine. Not ideal, probably, but Willie is more than capable of supplying initiative. She's flush, so she proposes somewhere upscale, perhaps the Hawksmoor or 63 Degrees. 10:56 <Quaker> What’s on the Range Rover’s radio, by the way? Are the local radio stations known for specific things? 10:56 <hrolf> As they drive along, Rolf rolls down the window to hurl abuse at the Deliveroo cyclist as he passes dangerously close to him en route. “Get out the way, or get a fookin’ car!” The cyclist wobbles sharply to avoid a collision and crashes into the footpath. Rolf gives him a finger out the window and turns back to Badawi. He turns back to Badawi, making a face. “What a wanker. Anyway...Benni - e's pretty solid. Came 10:56 <hrolf> recommended by me mate Baz, who’s like me brother. ‘E had some good work for me before this gig, pay wasn’t as good of course but the jobs were fair easy.” 10:57 <VoxPVoxD> Willie likes this part of it. Any civil servant knows how to present a suite of options tilted so the decision-taker is most likely takes the decision you want... but if you ease up on the guidance, you can learn a lot about people without asking them directly. 10:58 <hrolf> The radio is playing some sort of podcast. The hosts appear to be talking about best practices for landlords on evicting tenants on rent control. 10:59 <Quaker> Badawi enjoys the sight of a subject of the Queen eating shit. And to imagine that cyclist was probably taught that he belonged to a great nation as a child…”These star children - is he one of them?” 11:01 <banana> The email contents: Please meet me and my associate to discuss the opportunity you've presented at your earliest convenience. If this works for you, we will be at the Nicholas Street Art Gallery from 1 PM. Alternatively, the Grosvenor Club any time after sundown. I've been given your photograph, so we should be able to find you. 11:01 <hrolf> "That's right. Mad lads. Dabble with magic and the like - we actually had a run in with a wizard of some sort on me first job with em." 11:02 <Crion> Aster responds in the affirmative, and that he will be bringing an associate of his own to the Art Gallery. Then he'll phone up Bob. 11:02 <tom> Bob's still at the greybox. When Aster left, he was using a punch to cold-form some sort of slug from the bar of an old gate. 11:02 <Quaker> Badawi wonders if any of the stations play American country music, which she likes. “A wizard like the Wolf-Mourners?” 11:05 <hrolf> From the radio: "...now the trick is to underdeliver services but not in a way that could be held actionable to the local council. Make sure to have a paper trail telling the tenant that you'll see to it, but delay-“ Rolf turns the volume down a little to speak more clearly. “Yeah, something similar like. Not sure if they were actually pals, but wouldn’t surprise me.” 11:06 <banana> Sergio Bonasera arrives at 63 Degrees just before Willie. She can actually see him inside being led to a table - then some sixth sense leads him to glance out at the lobby, grin, and turn back. 11:06 <Crion> Aster, when he has him on the line: "I'm to meet with someone from the Court at an Art Gallery this afternoon about the job offer. Would you like to tag along? 11:06 <banana> Willie's date looks a little younger than the age he gave, more plausibly 30 than 35. He's dark-skinned and obviously Italian, just about six feet, tailored too perfectly for it to be off-the-shelf. Silver cufflinks, no visible phone. 11:07 <hrolf> "So what about you, eh? What brought you to sunny England?" 11:09 <Quaker> Badawi looks out the window at the sky, which is approximately the same color as a battleship. “I know some of the local wizards. Same as the Wolf-Mourners, I mean. Though I think these fellows are from a different faction than Zeno and Carrey. Still a bit hazy, these fellows don’t like to share information if they can help it. In fact, I’ll introduce you to them once we’ve followed up these leads.” 11:09 <Crion> He will probably arrive at the museum while Bob is quickly hurrying out. 11:10 <banana> The Manchester Art Gallery has free admission, but there's still a front desk. Everything's got security these days.. and security doesn't like the look of Bob's duffel bag. "You'll have to leave that at the counter, sir." 11:10 <banana> There doesn't appear to be any kind of X-ray machine, so they don't know it has an illegal firearm inside. 11:10 <tom> It is SO much easier to do this at night. 11:10 <Quaker> As to his other question: “Just work. Had to leave the continent and come work for these local wizards after some disagreements with former employers.” 11:10 <tom> It's cool. I don't need my gun. I don't need my flares. 11:11 <Crion> Aster, outside, staring across the street or basically anywhere but at Bob: "Are you carrying what I think you're carrying in that bag?" 11:12 <hrolf> "Wizards...the bloodsuckers are vicious, but the wizards'll blow up reality out of sheer incompetence. Fookin prats. You want to watch yerself around them. We had cleanup crews dealing with their fuckups at the 'uman office...some of em came home in bits." 11:13 <banana> Meaningful Styles has quite a large shopfront, though the visible interior of the barber doesn't quite match it. That's because the back rooms are for organised crime. 11:13 <Crion> One of his purchases with the money from Sourjack has been a nondescript personal car and a tiny parking space -- garage or just street permit, depending -- for it near the lab. He's American. He likes to drive. 11:13 <VoxPVoxD> Willie's smile is bright and natural. She has a good feeling about this. Sergio sees the woman from the pictures, in a shimmery black dress with an autumnal orange-brown scarf-shawl thing draped over her bare shoulders, and a string of red pearls framing her neck. 11:13 <Crion> This means Bob has a trunk to quickly put the bag with a longarm in right quick. 11:13 <tom> Bob will apologize and dip out of the building with the bag. He returns without it, blushing at Aster and working his lips like he's about to start saying something, but doesn't. 11:14 <banana> Badawi and Hughes see.. barbers inside. Busy with various customers' face and head areas. The only one in the shop who Rolf recognises right now as a gang member is just a non-psychic flunky hanging out by the backrooms door, making sure nobody mistakes it for the toilet. 11:14 <Crion> "I will just give you the Glock if this is the alternative," he'll hiss, then straighten up and smile benignly but not particularly sincerely as they approach security a second time. 11:15 <Crion> Where are they supposed to meet? The cafe? One of the exhibits? 11:16 <tom> "Look man I'm still working out the kinks," He'll say, finally, after too long a pause. 11:17 <banana> B. Barrigan didn't give you a meeting spot. There's art to look at, I guess. 11:17 <Quaker> Badawi: “Sounds like they weren’t hard enough. This them?” She gets out of the Range Rover and waits for Rolf to go in. 11:17 <Crion> Aster opens his mouth, makes a gesture with his hand like he's about to launch into a speech, then just shakes his head, lowers his hand, and closes his mouth again. 11:17 <tom> Not off to a good start. 11:17 <tom> God damn it. 11:18 <banana> Sergio: "Good evening. Are you Willie to speak to as well as online?" He certainly doesn't sound disappointed. 11:18 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Yes, please. Are you still Sergio?" 11:18 <Crion> Aster: "Our meeting is with a B. Barrigan. Look, just...don't...say things." 11:18 <hrolf> “Aye.” Rolf opens the door, holding it open till Badawi joins him inside. The customers seem to be a bunch of wankers, getting the latest in hipster haircuts (rolf defines hipster as anything done by young urban people). He gives them a contemptuous look, turning to Badawi and making a jerking off motion. He walks up to the man guarding the backrooms, roughly bumping one of the employees out of the way. “All right then, 11:18 <hrolf> mate? We’re ‘ere to see the big man.” 11:19 <tom> Bob gives a sullen nod. Completely cowed. 11:19 <banana> Sergio: "Sergio Bonasera. Let's get this out of the way, it's current year and all.. is it OK if I pay?" 11:21 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I certainly won't object! Have you been here before? I haven't. But Grace Dent wrote a marvelous review and now that I'm in the area I simply must know..." 11:21 <Quaker> Badawi follows behind Rolf, bumping a young man out of the way and evincing a certain pride, a certain swagger. She sizes up what the fellows in chairs are packing. From what she can see, it’s a gun, a fist, a stick, and a dagger. 11:24 <tom> Well, no big deal. It's just after noon and he's pretty sure he can take an art gallery nerd with his flashlight if he has to. 11:24 <banana> Sergio: "Just once, with a mentor! It's been a few years.. did the review recommend anything in particular?" The servers have picked up that you're together, and you're both led invisibly to a table. 11:24 <Crion> Aster's again wearing what's quickly becoming is Vampire Coat -- the black coat he wears outside instead of his white labcoat. He wants to smoke but you can't do that indoors. 11:24 <Crion> Now it's just a matter of waiting. 11:25 <tom> The guards, mercifully, haven't picked up on the fact that Bob's sporting a full ballistic vest under his jacket. Fucking embarrassing, this whole situation. 11:26 <Quaker> Badawi points out the lad with the swagger stick to Rolf. “Do you think if he threw that, the rest of them would give chase?” 11:27 <Crion> Maybe they have and they've tripped a silent alarm. 11:28 <banana> A couple of the barbers vaguely recognise Rolf, but they're just employees and don't really know what goes on in the back. The lad at the door does. "You've got it," he responds. "Big boss isn't in, but Mister Chex should be around." 11:29 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Ah, the poultry is their specialty. 63 degrees is the temperature they cook it at. Kind of a sous vide thing, but not really. They use high-end convection ovens. I understand the filet is quite good if you're a red meat man, as well." 11:30 <hrolf> To Badawi: "Hah!" To the doorkeep: "Alright lad, show us to him then." 11:30 <Crion> When Aster realizes that Bob is wearing a kevlar vest, he simply stares at the ceiling for a moment rather than asking the man if he expected the vampires to bring guns. 11:31 <tom> Yes. 11:33 <banana> The back rooms at Styles are a bit smoky - tobacco and weed both drift through the air. The coatroom's largely empty, but in the next one over there are a few guys sitting around playing cards and keeping watch over a stack of crates that contain things you shouldn't have in a barbershop. 11:34 <banana> Rolf knows two of them as starchildren: Chex, Benni's lieutenant and a sensible guy, who might well be leading the gang if he wasn't lacking something when it comes to viciousness; and Bob (not that Bob), who's gormless but can shoot lightning bolts or something out of his head. 11:34 <banana> All three of them look up and stare at Badawi. Someone's about to say something rude. 11:35 <banana> At the gallery, Aster notices he's being watched. As is Bob, but less intently. They look like a couple - a huge guy with pince-nez and expensive clothing, a woman with one of those veiled hats and a fluffy black blouse. 11:36 <banana> The gallery building is old and its interior doesn't have natural light. 11:36 <hrolf> Rolf sizes up the room and holds up a hand in casual greeting. “Afternoon lads! Like the new digs, fuckin proper. The old place was dodgier than a late night kebab.” 11:36 <Crion> Aster will make level eye contact, then. Most Brits find that unnerving. The ones that don't are the ones you have to watch out for. 11:37 <tom> Bob doesn't really clock anything unusual until he sees Aster shift his stance. 11:37 <banana> Spotted, the two probable-vampires begin to cross toward you. The big guy's glasses glint as he tries to figure out what to make of Aaron Aster. For his part, Aster doesn't remember this guy being at the Old Trade Hall. 11:38 <banana> Chex: "Well.. dodgy is what we do, you know. Dodgy in the service of getting what we can out of this life." 11:38 <Crion> If they're out and about during the day, they're either lackies or...what? Incredibly powerful, or incredibly weak? Aster realizes he doesn't know the answer to that. 11:38 <banana> The Other Bob: "Who's the bint?" 11:39 <Quaker> Badawi: “These the Star Children? Must be, ‘cos I’m seeing a bunch of white dwarfs…” 11:39 <Crion> Is Bob visibly sulking? 11:39 <hrolf> "Now now lad, no need to get cheeky. This is Badawi, my colle-" he winces as Badawi opens her mouth. 11:40 <tom> He's recovered somewhat, and now is trying to sulk without Aster noticing. 11:41 <Crion> As long as that can be confused for looking vaguely like a hardcase, then he's doing fine. 11:41 <tom> He'll tap his visor a few times until he's switched over to thermal. These guys stand out from the background or no? 11:41 <tom> The ODIN is starting to light up.. 11:42 <Crion> Oh for fuck's sake. 11:43 <Crion> As long as it doesn't start making announcements like in Robocop... 11:43 <tom> He's turned off most of the notifications. Most of them. 11:44 <banana> The starchild Bob closes his mouth again. Chex looks Badawi up and down a bit, begins to rise.. then seems to see something that bothers him. "Ah.. any friend of Rolf's is probably.. you look like you know what's what." 11:44 <banana> He stays seated, and the others focus on their hands. 11:46 <banana> Sergio expresses that he does enjoy red meat, but will set that preference aside - it would be a shame to avoid the specialty. Appropriate wine is ordered. He reaches into his jacket and withdraws a plastic folder containing a page taken from a sketchbook, placing it on the table between them. "So... who is this intriguingly-drawn woman?" 11:46 <hrolf> Rolf unclenches a fist he didn’t know was clenched, and relaxes visible. Whew lad. The sound of snipping scissors and inane chatter from between barbers and barb-ees filters in through the awkward silence. “Yeah mate, she’s on the level. We’re working a job together actually - and had some questions for you lads.” 11:49 <VoxPVoxD> Once they're seated and they've been left alone with their menus — Willie orders their gin and tonic; what is Sergio drinking? — she asks: "Have you got it?" 11:49 <Quaker> Badawi nods. “That’s right. Like who’s going to give me a seat and a drink. Mind your manners, lads. Good to meet you. Hear you can do some impressive things with your imaginations.” 11:49 <tom> If Bob is called to defend himself later, he'll note with particular acidity that he doesn't get any brain implants. 11:50 <Crion> Nice try, but no one ever said the Wintergreen Process was surgical. Now please keep the glasses on mute. 11:51 <tom> The only loud notification left on is for when, well... it won't be an issue if everything goes well. 11:52 <tom> That's what the Huginn's for. 11:55 <VoxPVoxD> Willie grins as she looks down at the sketch, fingers tracing the whorls and curves. Very flattering, for a caricature. Very flattering indeed. She's slow to look up, and she regrets her hesitation. He has such lovely eyes. "Not as intriguing as the art might suggest, I'm afraid. I'm a civil servant. I moved to Manchester with the rest of my team when they relocated the bulk of DCS 11:55 <VoxPVoxD> administration to the north." 11:56 <banana> Chex: "Yeah, take a seat. I can imagine quite esoteric things. What's your interest in that, Badari?" He almost manages to pronounce it right. These three guys all come off as pretty uneducated, which of course is not the same thing as stupid. 11:58 <banana> By the time the vampires reach them, Bob knows exactly what they are. They introduce themselves, too: "Brutus Barrigan. And this is Letitia." 11:58 <banana> Letitia: "So I am." 11:58 <tom> He gives them a chin-nod, but he'll let Aster lead off. He's the contact, after all. Bob's just security. 11:58 <Crion> Aster nods. "I'm Aaron Aster. This is Bob." 11:58 <banana> The four of you drift quietly around the sides of the gallery. It's mostly paintings but there are some interesting blown-glass creations, sheets of it coloured and rolled-up to look like waves. 11:58 <tom> Unarmed security. Fuck. Fuck. 11:59 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "What about you? How does this mysterious man who paints better than he photographs and looks better than he paints end up all the way up here working on documentaries?" 11:59 <Quaker> Badawi: “Generally speaking, I’ve got a keen interest in esoteric things. I like to keep abreast of the esoteric situation in any given city I’m in. And I’m an expert in getting people esoteric materials they might not otherwise be able to acquire.” She hands Chex a business card with a phone number on it. “Give me a ring if you need to get something, or unload something. A man will take your message.” 11:59 <Crion> Aster finds the glass-sculpture more diverting than paintings, at least. 12:00 <banana> Barrigan: "I've heard your name, Aster. However, the context in which I heard it was services, medical or legal. I've been away recently, so perhaps my information is out of date?" 12:00 <Quaker> Badawi takes a seat on a milk crate. “But today we’re here about Waistcoat Colony. We hear Reveille needs a steady hand for something that’s been bothering her. You hear anything about that?” 12:02 <banana> Chex takes the card and doesn't look at it yet. He's still wary - of her and the question both. "Uh, I hadn't heard she needs help... wouldn't that be something for Benni? Specifically?" 12:03 <hrolf> "Not sure mate - is Benni's ex bint the singer, or one of the others?" 12:03 <Crion> Aster: "I wouldn't call forensic laboratory services legal or medical, but they do gesture in the right direction. Currently I provide those services to a task-oriented problem-solving private concern that handles work in Manchester on contract that can't or won't be handled in-house." 12:06 <banana> Sergio perks up at Willie's compliments. "To be honest with you, I didn't have to go far. I was born just the other side of the Mersey, though I subsequently spent some time being hauled around the world." His accent makes sense now; there's an occasional Sicilian inflection to certain words, but it's not the kind of gloss you get from a native speaker who learned English later. Presumably 12:06 <banana> his parents are the immigrants. 12:06 <banana> "Film wasn't my original passion, but it's fascinating stuff. Taking the real world, the technically-interesting parts of capturing it, and then turning that into a story, a way to get some message out.. this is a stumbled-upon second career for me, serendipitous." 12:07 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "What was your first career?" 12:13 <banana> Chex: "Yeah, that's her. Mary Morgan.. 'Reveille' now. And you know how Benni is when it comes to the ex." He's reluctant to elaborate. This is going to take some work. 12:14 <Quaker> Badawi looks at Rolf: “I’ve got an idea. How about we treat your friends to lunch, on us. How’s a Wigan kebab sound?” 12:15 <hrolf> "A...what?" Fahckin foreigners. "But I could do with a parmo if you lads are in." 12:16 <banana> Letitia the vampire makes interested noises about task-oriented problem-solving private concerns. "So that's why you're in a position to do... wetwork." 12:17 <Quaker> Badawi good-naturedly claps Rolf on the shoulder. “C’mon, you’re telling me you’ve not had a Wigan kebab?” She looks at the Star Children. “Lads, tell him what he’s missing. Good fucking northern food!” 12:18 <banana> Letitia to Bob: "Do you solve problems, Mister...?" 12:18 <tom> "Goreman, ma'am." 12:19 <tom> "And yeah," he adds, an afterthought. 12:19 <banana> Barrigan: "What I don't understand is why you'd know anything about the Constable's work, or that of the Invictus. Who's making these offers, Aster?" 12:20 <banana> "It wasn't anyone authorised." 12:20 <hrolf> "Come on lads...what's the word on the street with the ex, eh?" 12:21 <tom> Bob will meet her stare from behind his Huginn. The ODIN is making a fuss about the two vampires standing less than two meters away, but he ignores it. 12:21 <banana> Chex and the boys aren't initially amenable to answering that. Benni, they make it clear, is still kind of hung up on Mary - they may not be together, but the crime lord could be well pissed if they talk about his former wife. But you know what? That's no reason not to go out for a kebab. 12:21 <banana> The five of you troop out through the barbershop and down the street to the place Badawi's suggested. Is it any good? 12:22 <Crion> Aster, noncommitally: "Company information sources and fruits thereof are protected under binding disclosure agreements. My agreement with the Mayor specified that I was to come to your organization first to vet and clear any relevant work in Manchester; it had nothing in it about divulging proprietary intellectual property." 12:22 <Quaker> It’s dead sound. Badawi happily orders a mountain of food, one wigan kebab and one smack barm pey wet. 12:23 <hrolf> The kebabs turn out to be pretty foul, and despite the wheedling, they don't seem very forthcoming. Rolf tries a different tack. He gives the visibly brown kebab vendor a dirty look, and putting a friendly arm around Chex, walks/pushes him into a side alley. 12:23 <Quaker> Who says British food is no good? Especially with some vinegar on it…. 12:25 <banana> Brutus Barrigan has his large meaty hands together behind his back as he gazes at a Renaissance scene - the Holy Mother and Child in some sort of bathtub. "I can't say I care much about invented property rights, but if you're talking about secrets? The Council has secrets. Secrets you've somehow learned, in on which you are offering to butt." 12:25 <banana> "We do need work done. Your informant is good. What kind of trust-building exercise do you think might be appropriate? I have my own opinions." 12:25 <tom> Bob is prepared to grab Aaron, wedge his eyes shut, and crash through displays until they're clear into daylight if that's what it takes. Hopefully that's not what it takes. 12:25 <hrolf> "Now here's the thing lad. I've been working pretty hard for you and the big man the past few months, put me life on the line a few times." He leans in to Chex's face, turning his head and flashing a not-so-friendly smile. "So I would APPRECIATE not being given the run around on something as basic as this, eh?" 12:27 <Quaker> Badawi hangs back for a moment while Rolf does his thing. “Say, could I get some some chips with that? Plenty of gravy and vinegar, too. Thanks, mate. Here’s for you.” She slips the vendor two tenners more than what they owe. 12:27 <banana> Rolf's never seen Chex do the flashier psychic stuff - floating knives, stopping hearts, etc - and the lieutenant doesn't do anything to him now, either. Frankly, he's a harder man, and he's got 20 years of veterancy on this guy, smuggler or no. 12:28 <tom> Bob scans the two for weapons while they and Aster chitchat. 12:29 <banana> While Badawi feeds the others - who're quite happy to be left out of it, he coughs it up. Kind of. "Fuck, man, I'm not trying to hold out on you. It's true Mrs. M- that is, Mary, it's true she's been offering to splash cash around.. the band's doing well, I guess. They aren't bad. But this isn't our business, yours or mine." 12:29 <banana> "Do you want that gyro or not?" 12:31 <banana> Questioning Chex a bit about the band's finances, he's not totally familiar but they do have some kind of label deal. A million pounds.. should be affordable, assuming that Reveille is able to spend the group's money as a whole. 12:31 <Quaker> Badawi walks over to Chex. Somehow she’s got a can of Vimto. “Speaking of business.” 12:31 <Quaker> “I hear you boys are in the rare merchandise game.” 12:31 <Quaker> “And getting it to the right people.” 12:32 <Crion> Aster, staring limply at some smudges on the wall: "I've never been particularly good at job interviews, and you'll understand if I bristle at the idea of completing homework in order to earn the privilege of providing a service in exchange for a fair market payment. Or perhaps you won't, in which case I can only offer my apologies, and ask what you have in mind. Given the demand our 12:32 <Crion> services are in, however, a high degree of preclearance may simply mean we do business elsewhere." 12:32 <banana> Sergio talks to Willie about his jobs and hers. Apparently, he first studied fine art, and spent some time trying to break into political cartooning! "The trouble with that work is that it's more about the politics than the cartooning. Matt still has a job, you know? The man is a living caption, but it's the kind of caption the Murdoch press appreciates." 12:34 <banana> Letitia: "What is this man saying, Brutus? You have a way with assholes." 12:34 <tom> Bob chuckles, shakes his head. 12:34 <tom> She gets it. 12:36 <banana> Barrigan: "I won't do the whole 'Look at this asshole' routine, but stop me if I'm wrong - you're telling us you aren't willing to make some gesture of trust." 12:37 <Crion> Aster: "I'm telling you I'm on my third 'gesture of trust' with your organization in two weeks and I'm getting a bit concerned that I'm going to be running errands for literally every single one of you the first time we meet." 12:38 <VoxPVoxD> As the entrees come, Willie watches him eat, trying to steer the conversation towards what he does with his spare time. Hobbies? Friends? How are his table manners? 12:38 <Crion> Aster: "But, as I said, name what you have in mind." 12:39 <tom> Bob hangs back a bit from the conversation and casually watches it unfold, with an eye to how the two vampires carry themselves. 12:39 <banana> Bob spots the knife by Letitia's side. She's got little leg-slits down the sides of her blouse, often expose skin; occasionally expose a long sheath. 12:39 <tom> God this is going to be a problem. 12:41 <banana> Sergio asks Willie questions, but if she keeps the topic on him.. well, who doesn't like to talk about himself? The evening blurs a little. His hobbies apart from art include kettlebells, birdwatching, Call of Duty. He knows some 'rather high-class individuals, or so they'd put it about' who he thinks she'd enjoy meeting. It's kind of hard to look away from his face to focus on hands. 12:42 <banana> The meal was very good, probably. Sergio isn't in a hurry to go home. Maybe Willie isn't either? "Let's take a walk," he suggests. 12:42 <VoxPVoxD> "I'd be delighted." No trace of vacancy in her voice. She really would. 12:44 <banana> Chex: "The Athletic Outfit frequently deals in merchandise. Got any favourite brands?" 12:44 <VoxPVoxD> Everything dirty and bad and stressful about the move, the work, the night... it's all so far away right now. This is the sense of comfort and withness she's been missing. It's like slipping into a warm bath. 12:47 <Quaker> Badawi’s gums ache, suddenly. “You lads seem sharp. But - no offense meant - still looking for that big opportunity.” 12:47 <banana> Bonasera's very attentive. He sticks close to Willie as they stroll along the canal, moon now high in the sky. Since the old factories shut down, the stars are usually pretty visible over Manchester. "What a pleasant evening. This is better than staying up late getting the right sound cues for a voiceover of the Night Mayor's sponsorships." 12:47 <VoxPVoxD> Are those carers still being forced to meet the same needs on fewer hours? Are all her friends still at the opposite end of the country, living their merry lives without her? Did she rip her own hand open to kill cartoon characters? Did a crazy American man make her a shotgun? Did that really happen to Badawi's jaw? Is Rolf even real? Honestly... who cares? She snuggles close to him. "Mmm. 12:47 <VoxPVoxD> Very much so." 12:48 <Quaker> She looks Chex in the eye. “Like walking the Rua Brilhante to the Sunset House.” 12:50 <Quaker> The supernaturals have their old, terrible secrets. And mortals do, too. It’s not a name that you walk away from entirely unchanged. 12:51 <tom> Bob's not agitated, per se. He's clearly not too pleased with how Aster's handling this, but the rule here seems to be that the people with actual powers get to talk. 12:53 <banana> Sergio's led them, without really leading, behind a stand of trees. The urban environment is just metres away, but for a moment it's you and the water and a modern safety fence. Nobody's going to be falling into the canal. "Time has made a mockery of us once again. May I call you this week? For the purpose of arranging a date?" 12:53 <Crion> If we're going to have to do work for free just to get the privilege of maybe doing actual work in the future, Aster certainly isn't going to happily accept it with a smile. 12:53 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "In fact, I insist." 12:54 <tom> Bob's already smiling! He's talking to vampires! Holy shit! 12:55 <banana> Sergio beams and makes a little delighted gesture with his hands. He casts caution to the night and leans in. 12:55 <VoxPVoxD> Mmmmmmm. 12:58 <banana> Willie remembers: pleasure. Lust, but sleepy. Warm arms and a gentle mouth. There's a new contact in her phone, and a photo of the two of them, arms around each other's shoulders. Sergio's face is turned toward her in the shot, but Willie's is clear, flushed. 13:00 <banana> Barrigan draws the hunters and the other vampire into a corner of the gallery, where there are padded seats and a pillar which mostly blocks the view of others. No art over here, just a fire conditioner. 13:00 <VoxPVoxD> Honestly, if you look at the 'what' and not the 'how'... far from her worst first date. Very far indeed. 13:00 <tom> Bob will go where he's led, as long as where he's being led to isn't a tarp taped to the floor out of the view of the security cameras. 13:01 <Crion> Aster will follow expressionlessly. 13:02 <banana> Brutus: "I'm going to give you a few options, none of which you will like. You're an independent-minded man and you want to treat with peers, trading services in kind. That's a sentiment we can appreciate and a reasonable desire. But we are not peers." 13:03 <Crion> Aster will wait patiently and let the man do his whole speech. 13:04 <tom> Bob's looking at him like bro please don't say anything throat-ripping worthy. 13:04 <banana> "First of all, I'm willing to erase your memory of this meeting and of the work we're talking about. That's an option - forget about it." 13:06 <tom> He raises his eyebrows at that, but doesn't say anything. 13:06 <Crion> It's a silly, non-serious non-starter. Erasing Aster and Bob's memories just means they'll find out about it for the first time the next time they go to work. Let's hear option number two. 13:07 <banana> "If not that, I'll next offer you - both - a simple bond. One.. drink of what I or Letitia provide and you'll find us affecting, impressive, unpleasant to displease. That would render you trustworthy, but not a slave." 13:07 <tom> Fellas... is drinking another man's blood gay? 13:07 <banana> Brutus: "The third option is that you do something for us, something useful. Something which proves we're in this together." 13:08 <Crion> Aster: "We'll select the third option." 13:08 <banana> Brutus: "Many people aren't offered that one." 13:08 <tom> He chuckle-snorts: "Yeah." 13:09 <Crion> He's been getting that a lot from a lot of very, very self-impressed corpses. 13:09 <banana> Letitia: "I have a task in mind which would achieve, uh, synergy. If these guys are able to work for us on an ongoing basis, it'll be a start, right." 13:09 <banana> Barrigan: "Yeah?" 13:09 <Crion> Aster looks to Letitia, still in listening mode. 13:09 <banana> Letitia: "The Gorton Vault. Our little infestation." 13:10 <tom> Oh, here we go. 13:10 <tom> Bob's excited! 13:10 <Crion> Aster thought he heard 'Gorgon' for a moment there, which would have been cause for healthy concern. But no, Gorton. 13:11 <banana> At the kebab shop, Badawi mentions opportunities and costs. Certain roads and houses. The one called Frocto says, "Yeah, our growth's kind of stalled now that the competition is back-" 13:11 <banana> But Chex waves him to silence. His ruddy face pales a little. 13:12 <banana> The starchild leader stares at Badawi again, this time with his eyes rolling back in his head for a moment. 13:13 <banana> Chex: "Uh. So you're with.. someone, and you're looking to do Mary's work? Maybe you guys actually could." 13:15 <VoxPVoxD> The next day Willie wakes up feeling worse than she has since university. How many drinks did she have? But beneath the dizziness and the headache and the fatigue and the chills is the lingering memory of warmth, comfort, peace... she quite likes this Sergio Bonasera, and it takes a concerted effort of will not to text him immediately upon waking. 13:15 <banana> "Maybe. Have your people ever dealt with, uh, the chances and byways of hostile fate?" 13:16 <Quaker> Badawi smiles. “Maybe. And maybe if you tell us what Mary and all of this is about, you might meet some people.” 13:17 <banana> "Well, there's really one thing it has to be." The Other Bob shuffles, Frocto looks miserable. Chex: "She's trying to get outta her Calling." 13:17 <hrolf> "Her what now" 13:18 <banana> "It's like, fucking second puberty but from beyond the stars." 13:18 <hrolf> "'ave you 'ad yours then?" 13:19 <VoxPVoxD> She does spend the morning while waiting for the coffee to grind (one of her favourite smells) looking through old pictures of her to send to him, as an inducement to further meetings... but honestly he deserves a fresh look, and she's just not up to that right now. Hopefully she feels better later today, when the light is good. She sinks her head back into the pillow, grateful she doesn't 13:19 <VoxPVoxD> have to work today. 13:19 <banana> All at once: Chex: "Yes." Other Bob: "Yes." Frocto: "No." 13:20 <banana> Chex: "We've got.." he considers. How much does Rolf know about this stuff, and how much should he know? The guy's trustworthy when it comes to a fight, but he isn't one of them. 13:20 <banana> "It's like having a destiny laid out for you. But an unachievable one, generally. Like you *should* be someone amazing, but that doesn't mean you *could* be. So you can either go for it, somehow, or.. fight it off. That means consequences." 13:22 <hrolf> "So what's her's then? Becoming a famous rocknrolla?" 13:22 <banana> Barrigan considers Letitia's proposal. He speaks more and more forcefully, but you don't know if he's actually in charge. After a moment, she goes on: "There's a cemetery in the east of the city." 13:22 <Quaker> Badawi cracks open her Vimto. 13:23 <banana> "This place is important to us! Useful! But the place is being, er... utilised for an alternate purpose... by teens." 13:23 <Crion> Well, Aster was previously interested. 13:23 <Crion> Now he lets a soft sigh escape, but remains attentive. 13:24 <banana> Chex: "I'd guess it's something else, or there wouldn't be a problem. If she wants to become famous the wrong way.. Cosmos is gonna come at her like a brick in a sock." 13:24 <banana> "We've been avoiding talking to the boss about this, but yeah.. I guess we've gotta go see Benni." 13:24 <VoxPVoxD> She's still feeling so out of sorts by noon that she makes a negroni to drink as she reheats some of the celeriac and apple soup. She needs to sit down immediately. What has happened to her tolerance? 13:24 <Quaker> Badawi: “Why’ve you been avoiding it? Does he not know?” 13:25 <tom> Bob's had enough: "Wait, you want us to clear out some goths?" 13:25 <tom> Now he's visibly sulking. 13:26 <hrolf> "Got a big fall comin' eh? Ziggy played guitar and all that." 13:26 <banana> Letitia: "There are so many of them. Dozens of the damn kids acting out.. plays and shit. They do it mostly in the evening, but even if can come out, what are we going to do? Murder them? Scare them and get mistaken for part of their flock?" 13:27 <banana> Barrigan: "Heh." 13:27 <banana> "Yeah, if you could get the god-damn larpers to stay away from Gorton.. sure. Sure, we'll overlook the espionage and send you to Mr. Damani with a recommendation for well-paying work." 13:27 <Crion> Aster: "What are the parameters of 'drive them off.' Out of the cemetary entirely? Out of a specific plot?" 13:28 <Crion> Aster: "Are there nearby places we should avoid driving them off to?" 13:29 <tom> Bob: "We might be able to talk this one out. I have contacts." 13:30 <Crion> Aster nods. 13:31 <banana> Letitia: "Uhh, I guess if you can make sure they won't be using the area around the memorial in the north, that's fine.. where the wall of names is and the circular flowerbed." 13:31 <Crion> He could still use an answer, especially to his third question. No sense in going through all of this if these two clowns are going to drag them back in next month with, "Now the teens are in our nightclub!" 13:31 <banana> Barrigan: "I don't give a crap where they go apart from elsewhere. Doing whatever kids these days do." 13:31 <Crion> Fair enough. 13:32 <Crion> Aster: "We have to report back to the workgroup and run it up the chain. But it's certainly something we could handle." 13:32 <tom> "I was really hoping you guys would have something I could use a flamethrower on. C'mon.." 13:32 <tom> "But yeah." 13:34 <Crion> Aster: "I will reply to the address from which you e-mailed me with the group's response, unless there's a better way to contact you." 13:34 <banana> Barrigan: "Please do not use a flamethrower." 13:34 <tom> "Oh yeah, no, wrong tool for the job definitely." 13:35 <tom> "Have you guys seen Blade II? Something like that." 13:35 <Crion> Aster gives Bob a look. 13:35 <tom> He shuts up, stifling a laugh. 13:36 <banana> Barrigan: "I'll send you another email with a contact number. Aster, Goreman.. this is menial crap which requires some degree of creativity and discretion. Do it and, by the Night Mayor's grace, we'll move you from column A to column B, overlooking the espionage question for now. Is that good with you?" 13:36 <tom> He nods graciously. 13:36 <Crion> Aster: "Yes." 13:36 <VoxPVoxD> While she eats she spends a lot of time looking at that photo. She hasn't looked that happy in a picture since her Bumble profile pic. And him... ungh. This is good. This is paydirt. But what on earth has she caught? Some dreadful bug. She almost wants to go get a covid test. 13:37 <VoxPVoxD> She swipes over to Huntr. She definitely had the thought to get his track before the date... but did she remember? She can't remember if she remembered. She just remembers his arms, his lips, the sound of his voice... 13:37 <Crion> "We'll be in touch," Aster says, and moves to leave. 13:38 <tom> Bob gives the two vampires his three-fingered scout's salute and turns. 13:39 <tom> He'll wait until they can see daylight before talking. "I think that went well, yeah?" 13:39 <banana> Chex will send the others back to the barbershop. He offers to drive Hughes and Badawi to Benni's place, or they can follow behind in the range rover. The last thing he says is an answer to Badawi's question: "She wouldn't want him to know. And he'll know she didn't want him to know she didn't." 13:40 <Crion> Aster: "What a pair of clowns." 13:40 <Crion> Aster: "But yes, I thought so." 13:41 <tom> "Clowns that can crush concrete. Did you clock that knife she had? Almost the size of a machete." 13:42 <hrolf> Rolf decides to follow them in his car. If things turn sour, better to have your own getaway. 13:42 <tom> He rubs the back of his neck. "I might know some people who can help with rowdy goth kids." 13:42 <Crion> "I would call myself moderately to mildly annoyed to, while you are off with your seasonal courts and Rolf loiters in tracksuits with the gifted and talented, be stuck in the company of the sort of men who give long involved speeches about how" an insulting accent here "we are not peers and then go on to explicate their problem, which is that they lack the social and mental fortitude to 13:42 <Crion> deal with 30-50 bored teens." 13:42 <banana> The Huntr tracklist has a photo, an OCRed text snippet and audio file. Haldane apologised for "not being much of a programmer, or I'd run these things against a youtube database. We'll have to make do with what Bob's rig picks up." 13:43 <banana> When Willie or anyone else checks it, there's a single entry. Sergio Bonasera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=107dADrIVBk 13:43 <banana> "New blood in the old order -- he's landed on his feet and the whole night will know it. Commission a cover if the coup eventuates." 13:43 <hrolf> The villa's pretty nice. Any decorations or things that stand out? 13:43 <tom> "Bro I dunno if you really wanna swap problems with me but I hear you. I mean how hard can it be to move some teens?." He thinks about it. "Oh, oh I think I get it." 13:44 <tom> "This is some sort of weird vampire test, isn't it?" 13:44 <tom> "They do that, right." 13:44 <banana> At this point it's not clear they do anything else. 13:45 <Crion> Aster: "It's not some special vampire ritual or test. It's schmoozing. It's pay for play. We're doing nothing more profound than bribing a customs official at the airport." 13:46 <VoxPVoxD> ... 13:46 <tom> "Okay? And that's a problem?" Bob seems confused. 13:46 <tom> "I spent the weekend on the starting island from Riven, bro, you are not gonna make these people play by our rules." 13:47 <banana> Benni's bungalow is just a nice clean place on the outside, but the interior's rich. None of his furniture is from IKEA. Marble countertops, coordinated rooms, very large television; two fast cars in the garage. 13:47 <VoxPVoxD> Now Willie Googles 'symptoms anaemia'. 13:47 <banana> Athletic himself has his feet up on the sofa, yelling at the football in HD. 13:47 <Crion> Aster: "I don't know what that means. And we are playing by their rules. Assuming the rest of the group wants to go along with it, we'll go scare those teens. But that doesn't mean I have to like it. Or mystify it in a way to make it sound like anything more profound than what it is." 13:48 <Quaker> Badawi will let Chex and Rolf make the introductions. 13:48 <VoxPVoxD> ...... 13:48 <tom> "Yeah well, we can all roll in the costs when they pay us. At least that's a guarantee." 13:48 <Crion> Aster: "And unlike Barrigan's very clear assumption, he is not the only game in town. We do not need his work." 13:48 <tom> "After, this crap. I mean." 13:49 <VoxPVoxD> .................................. 13:49 <Crion> Aster will drive Bob back to the Greybox, and make sure he remembers his duffel. 13:49 <tom> "Like I said, maybe we don't have to scare 'em. I can reach out, some feelers, see if there's anyone I can talk to." 13:49 <banana> You don't need his work. And Sourjack's information, however he gathered it, is clearly something the Court is dismayed to see out in the wild. But, also per Sourjack, they are incredibly wealthy. 13:49 <tom> There is no risk of him forgetting his gun at the desk. Good god, no. 13:50 <tom> ....Next time he'll wear a longer coat. 13:50 <hrolf> Rolf salutes as he walks in, checking the soles of his boots first to make sure there's no dirt to drag onto the carpet. He throws a salute as he walks in. "Alright then, boss? Watching the derby eh?" 13:50 <Crion> Then he'll write up a brief after-action report, which he hasn't done since Philadelphia, summarizing the afternoon, and he'll send it out to the group. 13:52 <banana> Benni's head gleams over the top of the sofa. "The promise of Southgate.. it vanishes like a mirage, mate. No Gareth can save us." 13:53 <tom> Bob will read the report after a few minutes spent dreading how bad Aster embarrasses him over the gun. 13:53 <tom> Then he'll get back to work. 13:53 <banana> Chex: "Hughes and a visitor, here with some info, Benni." 13:54 <hrolf> "It's that bloody Rashford lad, and the other...we ain't going to win again until we get a culturally compatible team. Look at the Italians." 13:54 <Crion> The report does not mention the gun. 13:55 <VoxPVoxD> You want to know the worst thing? 13:55 <Quaker> Didn’t stop you losing in ’86. 13:55 <VoxPVoxD> Still not Willie's worst first date. 13:56 <hrolf> Rolf nods. "You remember that lead you passed me boss? Madam Badawi here's working with me on a few jobs, here and there." 13:57 <banana> Benni turns around, or squirms around. He's still sit-kneeling on the large and expensive sofa. "...Badawi, is it. I haven't heard your name before." 13:57 <banana> The crimelord is a little pudgy-faced, and younger than Badawi herself, but he's got that air of menace they get once they're used to being able to order someone killed. She's familiar. 14:07 <tom> Back at the flat, Bob is learning to cook. 14:08 <banana> It'll be a nice surprise for Mari when she gets home... but she isn't here to supervise. 14:08 <Quaker> Badawi: “No, you haven’t. I’m arrived from the continent. Rolf and I share a partner in some concerns. But not all my concerns. Chex can tell you who I work for. And whether I can help you with some personal problems.” 14:09 <tom> Everything's going real nice... real nice, until he's checking the phone for what to do next and losing the fact that the pan's handle is reaching out into the kitchenspace... and then suddenly the hot oil is airborne. "OH Shi-AH!" 14:10 <Quaker> “It may be a bit strange, and your impulse on discovering I know your business may be anger. But you work in a strange business, and have a strange life, don’t you? Things just happen like this. Your dear friend has a problem. And I can help you, and you can afford my help.” 14:10 <banana> Chex: "The uh, lodges, right.. you've mentioned the connection, boss." The underling gestures at the coffee table, containing the remains of Benni's lunch - two pizza boxes. 14:11 <tom> So he's getting another scolding when Mari comes home. He takes it with a smile on his face. God damn, he's hopeless. 14:11 <VoxPVoxD> Bob is quite lovable, really. 14:11 <Quaker> Badawi will fix Chex with a stare until he remembers the name. 14:11 <VoxPVoxD> In the same way as a dog who is smart enough to realise isn't yet housebroken, but wants to be. 14:12 <banana> Chex: "Rua Brilliante." 14:12 <banana> Benni: "Is that.. so." 14:12 <banana> The starchild stands up. Crumbs levitate off his shirt, grease stains ripping themselves away and floating as little blobs in the air, leaving him clean(?). 14:13 <Crion> The report does mention, approvingly, that Bob seemed to unsettle Barrigan with his flamethrower comments -- putting them in the larger context of a very disapproving profile sketch of the vampire. But after that, Aster's off work and headed back to the apartment. 14:13 <banana> "So my old friend's opportunity worked out for you, Rolf. I guess we have some things to talk about." 14:14 <hrolf> "Not bad so far. Jobs've been easy - this one felt a bit personal for you, like, so I thought it best to come to you to clear it first."