10:11 <banana> Friday the 15th. A date of no significance. 10:13 <banana> Five monster hunters and a monster administrator have gathered in their safehouse for an all-hands. Richard Haldane's called a cell meeting for reports and next steps. Hopefully someone's brought doughnuts. 10:13 <VoxPVoxD> Willie made croissants! 10:14 <Crion> Mmmm. Excellent. 10:14 <tom> Bob is bouncing his knee nervously in his seat at the conference table. 10:15 <Crion> Are there jams? 10:15 <VoxPVoxD> No, these are pains au chocolats. 10:15 <banana> As well as classing up the place with dough treats, the briefing room in the greybox is starting to feel a little nicer. It still has exposed Wires along one wall, but the rest of the space is now roofed, lit with warm CFLs and has a bit of carpeting. Richard hums to himself as he knocks a sheaf of papers on the table to neaten up the corners. 10:15 <hrolf> Rolf is doomscrolling on his phone, brow furrowed. He stops occasionally to let out a disgusted sound, or a satisfied grunt. Anyone peering over his shoulder would see posts with words like “sharia no go zones” and “broken britain” interspersed with Daily Mail headline embeds. 10:16 <Crion> Well, they'll do. 10:16 <VoxPVoxD> That reminds Willie, something to pay more attention to: what is Richard's aesthetic? She wants to get him a gift but she's not sure what he'd like... 10:17 <tom> Richard will get a sheepish "Hey man," as he works closer to Bob. 10:17 <VoxPVoxD> She's got a bit of nervous energy this morning, but Richard's leading the meeting. She's got to remember that, and let him. 10:18 <VoxPVoxD> ...does he need to take this long, though...? 10:18 <banana> It's not always consistent. Today, he's wearing some cotton pants which go nicely with his glasses, and... a woolen sweater. There's a pattern on it. Looks a bit like the Hot Dog Stand theme from Windows 3.1 for Workgroups. 10:19 <Quaker> Badawi is sitting with her eyes closed. She seems far away, with her arms folded and one hand supporting her head. 10:19 <hrolf> "'ere, anyone 'eard of this before? Says that they have some kind of 'social credit' system in China...every fing you need to buy or do, you 'ave to go through the 'social credit' system first. If the guv'ment says your 'social credit' is too low, you're proper fucked." 10:19 <banana> Haldane intercepts any possible rely to Rolf: "Good morning, everyone. We've got a reasonable agenda today, so we might be able to push through. Is everyone ready to begin?" 10:20 <VoxPVoxD> Willie looks gratefully from Hughes to Haldane and nods. 10:20 <Crion> Aster wordlessly stands up halfway through Rolf's ask and gets more coffee. 10:20 <Quaker> Badawi makes a silent gesture of assent without opening her eyes. 10:20 <Crion> Aster: "Please continue. I'll just be a moment." 10:22 <tom> He'll give Wellesley a long look, eyebrows raised. Last chance to back out on taking sole credit. 10:23 <banana> Richard takes a seat. "Right. Our employer called in a few hours ago, giving his opinions on a couple of points. First off, we've got the outcomes of recent investigations." 10:24 <banana> "Mr. Hughes, Mrs. Badawi and Mr. Aster made contact with a star-child dilemma. Ms. Wellesley and Mr. Goreman have been following up another lead. Who'd like to go first?" 10:24 <hrolf> "I can go, if you like." 10:25 <VoxPVoxD> Willie nods. 10:25 <Crion> Aster still hasn't sat back down, so Rolf is free. 10:25 <banana> "Tell us about Reveille, please?" 10:26 <hrolf> “The starfuckers got some kind of…star puberty. Their fate creeping’ up on ‘em, like. ‘An if they refuse, they get a doppelganger or somefink like that that tries to do ‘em. We just got to guard the bint while it happens. The job should be fairly easy, milk run, and Benni’s got the funds to cover us plus backup in case we need it.” 10:28 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Who exactly is hiring us? Is it Reveille or Benni?" 10:29 <hrolf> "Technically it'd be her. But like I say, if 'er money's not good enough Benni'll cover the spread." 10:30 <Crion> Aster: "She has some sort of restraining order on him. There is an aspect of this job that is, tediously, interfering with a marriage spat that has gone to court order." 10:30 <Crion> "For that reason alone, I don't like it. But protection work is still work." 10:30 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Has anyone been in contact with her yet?" 10:30 <Crion> "Far more reasonable than rousting teens." 10:30 <tom> "What's his angle on this?" Bob leans back into the chair, supporting his head with his elbow propped up on the arm of the chair. 10:30 <hrolf> Rolf shrugs. "She's loaded in any case. Don't reckon it'll be an issue." 10:31 <hrolf> To Willie: "Not yet. Next on the todo list, like, dependin' on what we decide to take up." 10:31 <Crion> Aster: "I have not. I think it was proposed that she'd respond better to people who generally speak her language." 10:31 <banana> Richard: "I'll research psychic fate-traps and prepare a briefing... sounds like this is a significant possibility but not yet definite." 10:31 <banana> "What language would that be?" 10:31 <Crion> Aster: "English English." 10:31 <Quaker> Badawi: “Reveille is Benni’s ex-wife. Or estranged wife. And they grew up together and share this bond. It’s natural he feels possessive, and I imagine his sense of invulnerability and responsibility are magnified by his own powers and position of authority. But we don’t have to let him get involved any more than picking up the tab.” 10:32 <tom> "Oh it's one of those huh." 10:32 <VoxPVoxD> Willie nods. "As long as we're taking our orders from her and not him, that sounds fine." 10:32 <Quaker> “Oh, and I may have an opportunity to acquire some professional-grade information on Star Children. And possibly link up with some partners for the job.” 10:32 <Quaker> “It would need your approval, though.” 10:33 <banana> Richard: "Now that's something Grey Jack didn't mention. If we've got multiple ways in, that sounds great. What do you need the rest of the team to approve?" 10:33 <VoxPVoxD> Argh, she's imposing herself. Got to let Richard talk more. 10:34 <Crion> Aster: "I agree with Willie." 10:34 <banana> He doesn't seem to mind. 10:34 <banana> Maybe he should, for the sake of efficient meetings. 10:34 <VoxPVoxD> Once you've opened the door to feedback it doesn't close. Constructive crticism is an invasive species. 10:36 <banana> The administrator uncaps a pen to take notes on whatever Badawi's discovered. 10:37 <Quaker> “My contacts at the mage group called the Mysterium - out in Strangeways - they keep their own library on phenomena like this. Vampires, spirits, ghosts…and Star Children, apparently. They’ve agreed to make a swap for what information they possess, which I suspect is more detailed and systematic than even Benni could provide. They’ve also agreed to include the contact information for some allied mages from Liverpool - not 10:37 <Quaker> belonging to the Manchester lot, strictly speaking, but they seem friendly enough. They’d be interested in this kind of work - anthropological-like, for them. Idealists and researchers.” 10:37 <VoxPVoxD> "A chance to study the destiny-tormentor?" 10:38 <Quaker> “Their named price - for the Mysterium to give us their information and introduce us to Liverpool, I mean - is that leytide manipulator we took off the Cheiron boys. Seeing as it’s too specialized to really be worth much to your ordinary fence price, I figure it’s a good deal.” 10:38 <Crion> Aster has already committed to not mentioning the Roth Devices, as he's taken to calling them, at this meeting. There's no real decision to be made there. He'll test them in his spare time. 10:38 <hrolf> "What do they want wif it?" 10:39 <Quaker> “Oh, and the Mysterium said they hadn’t heard anything about those Cheiron fellows after we last saw them. So. I guess they’re nobody’s worry now.” 10:39 <hrolf> "As long as they're not going to blow up 'alf the city on accident.." 10:39 <Quaker> “The Mysterium? Look at it, break it apart, keep it in a vault. Same as usual.” 10:39 <Crion> Aster: "They're going to banish Meghan Markle from the royal family, Rolf. They're mages. What do you think they want with it?" 10:39 <VoxPVoxD> Willie smiles a bit. 10:40 <hrolf> Rolf is nonplussed. "Eh? She's already quit the family innit? Ungrateful as they come." 10:40 <Crion> He's still annoyed about being called a nonce. 10:41 <banana> Richard: "Information from wizards is likely to be useful. The jelly carpet isn't much good to us, so why not? Unless anyone has an intimation that we're doing the equivalent of.. spending ten thousand bitcoins on a pizza. Trading spices for beads." 10:41 <banana> During the discussion, Bob's receiving messages on his absurdly expensive U.S. government-funded wearable. FORT was not big on using the glasses for personal communications, but there's a lot they didn't like. 10:41 <banana> Mari says: <Hey B B. I'd like a favour tomorrow please?> 10:42 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "If Agostina is vouching for them, and that's all they're asking, I'm not opposed. If Reveille is willing to hire five strangers, she's probably willing to hire seven at the same price." 10:42 <tom> "I mean, that's black tech, isn't it? The Cheiron guys were using it to... well.." He pauses as the message comes through. "I mean, what if they could use it to do something stupid and dangerous?" 10:42 <Crion> Aster: "I take exception to the idea that a pizza honestly made isn't worth an arbitrary number of soon-to-be-completely Treasury-regulated child trafficker funny money." 10:43 <Quaker> “If we need it again, we may be able to trade for it back on a limited basis. And making this swap, and these introductions - it will mean more work from the mages.” 10:43 <tom> He fucks with the visor for a second. <yeah babe whatever you need> 10:43 <hrolf> "Don't knock it mate. Our Wozza's lad, Neil - 'e's a hacker or somefink. Bitcoin millionaire. An' him barely twenty." 10:44 <Quaker> “And pardon if this makes me sound like some kind of supremacist, but the mages seem the most…stable. Relatable. Mentally well-adjusted. Of all the gribblies we’ve heard of. I wouldn’t mind getting more work from fellow professionals.” 10:44 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Probably not best practice to fob things we don't understand off onto people who do... but it might be second best practice, until we have some way of understanding them ourselves." 10:44 <banana> Richard: "It sounds like we're all agreed on that point. So the actions - well, we'll get to that after catching up, but it seems like we want to make direct contact with the singer Reveille as well as trade for information." 10:45 <tom> "Sure, sure, it's just, we don't really know what it does, do we? What if they use it to make a portal to that... what was it called? The thing, the bad thing." 10:45 <Quaker> “The Idigam?” 10:45 <banana> "Ah, to your point, Mrs. Badawi - our employer's keeping an ear open for more wizard-work; he says he hears rumblings, but not yet anything concrete. Making this kind of contact should help, I'd hope." 10:45 <hrolf> "Probly best to check wif the mages before talking to Benni's bird. Come in hot with more info." 10:45 <Quaker> Badawi opens her eyes. “Yeah, about that…” 10:45 <tom> Snaps his fingers. "Idigam, yeah." 10:46 <banana> Mari: <Correct.> 10:46 <banana> Mari: <No, but seriously:> 10:46 <Crion> Aster: "If they're that interested in opening said portal and this device is the key to that, then they'll find some way to get it from us much more punitive than fair exchange." 10:47 <tom> "Alright, alright, I'd just feel bad if they got absolutely tore up by a spirit monster on our account." 10:47 <Quaker> “The mage I talked to about it seemed pretty skeptical about the whole thing, actually. Either he thought that they couldn’t summon it with just that leytide manipulator, or really control it if they did, something like that. Not that hard to believe that Cheiron is fumbling around out there not understanding what it’s doing. But they gave no impression of actually wanting to carry it out themselves.” 10:47 <banana> Mari: <For my exam tomorrow.. would you come with me to the uni? We could do breakfast or something. And then it would be really nice if you could be there when I come out.> 10:47 <Quaker> “Oh, Richard…” 10:48 <Quaker> “Did we ever learn anything from those phones and credit cards we took off the Cheiron personnel?” 10:48 <banana> Mari: <We've done all this study and I know it's going to be fine but it would just.. be nice.> 10:48 <banana> Richard: "Yes, it's a bit unfortunate but I can tell you they were both legally in the country and licensed to be doing whatever they were, in fact, doing." 10:49 <tom> Bob: <ill make breakfast. youll crush it> 10:49 <Quaker> “Did they have day jobs? Consulting employment? It might put us on the track of some of their fronts.” 10:49 <tom> Bob keeps fucking with his visor. 10:49 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "We have the brand off their lorry, if nothing else. Chiral." 10:50 <hrolf> "Any sign of em comin after us?" 10:50 <tom> <thats a yes> 10:50 <banana> Richard: "The whole thing's a day job, actually. This subsidiary, Chiral Service, operates as some sort of courier firm. I've got a local P.O. box as well as their main office in Newcastle." 10:50 <Crion> Aster shakes his head. Texting during meetings. 10:51 <tom> <theyre gettin heated at me gotta go> 10:51 <banana> "No revenge appears imminent. Perhaps it's just business." 10:51 <tom> He puts his hands on the table in a show off good faith. 10:51 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "A company that big is not going to make decisions like vengeance on a timetable shorter than fiscal quarters." 10:51 <Quaker> Badawi leans back in her chair. “Can we put a remote surveillance on the box? Rig the track-thing over it?” 10:52 <tom> Shit I'm missing a chance to beat the Cheiron drum over here. 10:52 <Crion> Aster: "That the mages can't find and disable? I doubt it." 10:53 <tom> "Cheiron doesn't do revenge. It's just business to them." 10:53 <Quaker> “No, no, on the front. The courier service. It’d be good to start building a catalogue of faces for the competition.” 10:53 <tom> "They'll drop us if it's profitable for them." 10:54 <Crion> Aster: "Oh. That should be simple enough. The GMP will probably already have insisted on one of the interminable surveillance networks in this country cover all the PO boxes." 10:57 <Quaker> Badawi: “Alright. Then that’s the Star Children thing for now. Would anyone like to accompany me to Liverpool when I go?” 10:57 <banana> Mari: <Thank you. I love you. This exam is three hours, so there should be plenty of time to do stuff, although I don't know what stuff.> 10:57 <Quaker> “Must be comfortable around wizards. And Liverpool.” 10:57 <banana> Richard: "Let's put a pin in that, Mrs. Badawi. The trip sounds like a good idea, but we have two or three more leads to catch up on." 10:57 <banana> "No progress yet on the teens, I understand?" 10:57 <tom> He risks the team's wrath: <love you> 10:58 <tom> "It can't be that hard to get some kids off our lawn." 10:59 <Crion> Aster: "They weren't even scheduled to meet until tonight. We could do something about it, but I'm inclined to make them wait a week." 10:59 <Crion> "It's not paying work." 10:59 <tom> "They seemed nice!" 10:59 <Crion> Aster: "No they did not." 10:59 <VoxPVoxD> Willie feels a bit like a schoolgirl waiting to be called on. 10:59 <Crion> "You simply cannot be trusted around women." 10:59 <tom> "Honestly, in terms of how nice you'd expect a vampire to be, they're like, what, upper seventy-five percent." 10:59 <tom> "Yeah, okay," 11:00 <banana> Richard: "This is Mr. Barrigan and Ms. Barrowsmith, or..?" 11:00 <Crion> Aster: "We're being extorted for favors by minor bureaucrats." 11:00 <tom> He shakes his head and sighs. 11:00 <banana> "Well, perhaps we should move on to the next status report." 11:00 <Crion> "There's nothing nice or pleasant about that." 11:00 <VoxPVoxD> Willie'd stick up for Bob, but that is exactly the wrong accusation for Willie specifically to defend Bob against. 11:00 <tom> Oh mean, yeah, it gets so much worse. 11:00 <tom> Man* 11:00 <Quaker> Badawi: “How creative do we want to be about these teens?” 11:01 <Crion> Aster: "I'd prefer to avoid putting anyone in the hospital. But we should be demonstrative." 11:01 <tom> "What are you suggesting, a spread of stunners followed by tear gas?" 11:01 <Crion> "Public health is the easiest lever to pull." 11:01 <tom> "Haha yeah no that makes more sense." 11:01 <hrolf> "Some of these young lads can be rough mind. Knives, brass knuckles, broken bottles.'s how i came up. So don't underestimate em." 11:01 <tom> "I do not want to throw hands with teenagers." 11:02 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "What kind of teenagers are we talking about? Hanging about in a graveyard? Are they yobbos? Goths?" 11:02 <Crion> Aster: "Goths." 11:02 <banana> Richard: "For what it's worth, our employer still thinks that work is likely to pay well.. should it become paying work. The Wise and Solemn Court have the two key characteristics: needlessly vast riches and a willingness to pay for coverups." 11:02 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Then I think violence is rather more dramatic than necessary." 11:02 <tom> Bob: "Oh, I volunteer. That's on the card." 11:02 <Crion> Aster: "Our employer also saw fit to send Bob and I into that meeting without telling us he got that information disreputably." 11:02 <Crion> "How happy do you think those vampires were to hear that?" 11:03 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Did they threaten you?" 11:03 <tom> "Oh haha we don't need to talk about that." 11:03 <Crion> "Yes. And offered to make us blood slaves." 11:03 <banana> Richard blinks worriedly. "When you say disreputable..." 11:03 <Crion> Aster: "We damn well do." 11:03 <Crion> Aster: "We were repeatedly accused of espionage." 11:03 <tom> "Yeah sure, I mean, I think they were just trying to bluff us, they knew we weren't down to clown." 11:04 <banana> Haldane: "Look, just so that this doesn't spiral out of control, let's.. I'm inserting an agenda item. Once we're done with status reports, let's talk about Greyjack and his information. There's clearly something to go into there." 11:04 <tom> "Sure." 11:04 <banana> "However, we do need to hear about last night." 11:04 <Crion> Aster: "Your faith in the good intentions of vampires is nothing short of inspiring." 11:04 <tom> Sharp intake of breath. 11:04 <Quaker> Badawi: “Look, it’s fine if Sourjack is getting his information by spying. But he should tell us that’s how he got it. A lead’s not a lead if you have to duck when you bring it up to the client.” 11:04 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I doubt we can get him to divulge his methods or sources, but we might be able to impose a certain threshold of certainty on what he brings us." 11:04 <tom> It gets so much worse. 11:04 <hrolf> "Vampires mate. Don't truck with them, is all I'll say. In for a penny, in for a pound, and you end up floating down the river wif all your blood gone." 11:05 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "So I've been making inroads with the local vampire community..." 11:05 <Crion> Rolf's not wrong. Which is rare. 11:05 <VoxPVoxD> Willie stands up. In for a pound. 11:05 <tom> Nice segue, nice. 11:05 <Crion> Aster: "Oh Jesus fucking Christ." 11:05 <Quaker> Badawi nods. “Vampires are a bit above our paygrade at the moment. Can’t trust them, frankly.” 11:05 <Crion> He seems to visibly do some kind of mental calculation. "Wait a second." 11:05 <Crion> "Wait a second." 11:06 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "And I have a solid offer. A missing persons case." 11:06 <Crion> "Do I need to leave the room?" 11:06 <tom> Let's fucken goooo- 11:06 <Quaker> “This the, er…Victimus people? The nobility?” 11:06 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Well... I think we can speak in broad terms about what's on offer. But you should use your discretion. You know the relevant legal circumstances better than we do. It's your exposure." 11:07 <Crion> Aster, staring at Willie: "Maybe we don't exactly know who's offering the work." 11:07 <Crion> Christ fucking god dammit. 11:07 <banana> Richard winces. "Shall we talk about the details of this offer rather than peripherals to start?" 11:07 <Crion> "...Go ahead." 11:07 <Crion> He takes another big sip of coffee. 11:08 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Two vampires went missing almost 40 years ago, long presumed dead by their cohort. But lately there have been signs that they still live. Or exist. The blood stirs. There are psychic signals. Resonances in their bloodlines. Their friends are interested in answers." 11:09 <Crion> Aster: "...This sounds like actual work." 11:09 <Crion> "The sort of work we should be doing." 11:09 <VoxPVoxD> "They've been very forthcoming with information. Some very solid leads. Financials, areas I can press my government contacts..." 11:09 <Crion> "Have the...sponsors...agreed to our fee?" 11:09 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Money is not a problem." 11:10 <banana> Richard: "So this is another job offer from vampires, who we're not sure we trust, but one that's more concrete than the, er, teen-gated Constabulary job. Our employer had commentary on that, actually." 11:10 <Crion> Piss. Fuck. 11:10 <Quaker> Badawi: “What do you mean ‘went missing?’ They just…stopped showing up at the local haunts?” 11:10 <banana> "As you say, Willie, they've agreed to pay, but.." Richard frowns at his notes. 11:10 <tom> "Oh? What's Soyjak's take on this?" 11:11 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "They were assumed killed. Some sort of turf dispute. I'm not a local vampire historian." 11:11 <VoxPVoxD> Still talking over Richard!! 11:11 <Quaker> “Mm.” 11:11 <tom> Get his ass. 11:11 <hrolf> Rolf laughs at that. “Turf dispute. The trouble with vampires…you help one out, and this tees off their enemies, like. And then their enemies and their mates come around to your place with their fangs out, and well. I don’t need to finish this picture, I reckon.” 11:11 <Quaker> “And the people who turfed them? Still around?” 11:11 <banana> "Actually, let's leave that one. Greyjack thinks their money is good, and approves of this kind of work. He recommends we accept it as long as investigation is something the team can handle.. and as long as, in your judgement, it's not going to leave the undead unhappy." 11:12 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I think we would have to follow the lead farther to know what our exposure would be politically." 11:12 <VoxPVoxD> "A lot depends not just on the circumstances of their disappearance, but the circumstances of their re-emergence." 11:13 <hrolf> "Do you know the client? Is 'e with Aster's lot, or their blood enemies or somefink?" 11:13 <Quaker> Badawi draws herself in. “I don’t know. Easier ways to make money than put our necks in the middle of some blood feud. 40 years is nothing to these people.” 11:13 <Crion> Aster, after being silent a moment: "I think I'm covered on this one as long as I don't do fieldwork on it. I can't credibly beg off ignorance if you run into one of the WASC vampires and they physically see me out there, rather than chatting over an earpiece." 11:14 <Crion> "So Bob, get a Go Pro and stick it to your helmet, and we should be good." 11:15 <banana> Richard: "I think we need some level of buy-in from the team. If a couple of people are seriously opposed to a job, it's going to be difficult to work together with the efficacy that can be necessary when dealing with... well, vampires." 11:15 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I only met the clients once. I do know that my vampire contact has done work for the Night Mayor." 11:15 <VoxPVoxD> "There is some cover for flexibility." 11:16 <Quaker> Badawi: “I’m not ruling it out entirely. But with vampires…we have to make sure everything is completely by the book, yeah? Have absolutely all our angles covered. As much information as we can get on every aspect, and then we still take it cautiously.” 11:16 <tom> Bob gives Aster a thumbs up, but doesn't interrupt. 11:17 <Quaker> “How did you get a hold of them, anyway? I thought we didn’t have any ins with them. Or did they contact us?” 11:17 <Crion> Aster: "I am annoyed by the circumstances, but this is precisely the sort of work I envisoned doing as part of this group." 11:17 <Crion> "Especially compared to our other job offers. Which range from trivial to frankly insulting." 11:17 <Crion> "The Roth lead is just product testing for a greedy moron local businessman." 11:17 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I agree with Mr. Aster. I think that, while the point about risk is well-taken, this is exactly the sort of thing we should be doing." 11:18 <VoxPVoxD> "And so we should give it a full, fair shake." 11:18 <banana> Richard is not going to touch the 'how did they contact us' question. Willie and Bob will answer it, or, they won't. 11:18 <hrolf> "I'll take the easy money jobs over gettin involved wif bloodsuckers any day." 11:18 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I made contact with an affiliated vampire, who introduced us." 11:18 <tom> Willie swore to fall on her sword on this one, and Bob is inclined to let her. 11:19 <banana> Richard: "Is Roth's money easy?" 11:19 <Crion> "No." 11:19 <banana> "Damn." 11:19 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Roth's ask was very specific and bizarre." 11:19 <Crion> Aster sighs. "He wants us to product test a questionably-useful bit of field tech against supernatural creatures." 11:19 <Crion> "As if it were some simple thing to throw caltrops at a vampire." 11:20 <tom> "I mean it is." 11:20 <tom> "It's what happens afterward." 11:20 <Crion> Aster: "Thank you, Bob." 11:20 <Quaker> Did they bring the samples over? 11:20 <VoxPVoxD> Willie might split hairs about the difference between 'simple', and 'easy', but her mind is elsewhere. 11:20 <tom> He offers a mock salute and a chuckle. 11:20 <VoxPVoxD> Aster took the samples back to the lab. If he's got them, he's got them. 11:21 <Crion> Yes, Aster has the samples for everyone to look at. Presumably they still seem incredibly wrong in structure and geography here in the Greybox. 11:21 <Quaker> “What…uh…what do they…do?” 11:21 <banana> What you're all looking at are a pair of, as Aster abbreviated them, electronic caltrops. Balls with hooked spikes, and bits of PCB. The hooks are.. too complicated. 11:22 <banana> They seem purpose-designed to engage with things in illegal dimensions. 11:22 <Crion> Aster: "That is the 'work' that Roth has proposed: that we figure out what they do." 11:22 <hrolf> "Looks like a sex toy." 11:22 <Crion> "He doesn't know, and he insists it's not strange or concerning that he doesn't know." 11:22 <Quaker> “How did he get them, then?” 11:23 <Crion> "He won't say, and insists it's not suspicious or alarming that he won't say." 11:23 <VoxPVoxD> "He refused to say." 11:23 <Crion> "Roth is a profoundly aggravating individual, but we're getting a lot of that lately." 11:23 <VoxPVoxD> "It seemed almost like he had a script he was rigorously stuck to." 11:23 <VoxPVoxD> "Like when you work at a call center." 11:23 <banana> Richard: "Fascinating. It might not be much good as work, but wouldn't it be nice to learn what this is even about?" 11:24 <Crion> "Unlike a call center employee, however, he was condescending at every turn." 11:24 <tom> "For the record, randomly throwing pokeballs at whatever we find isn't, like, a job." 11:24 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "No fear of getting fired. At least not for that." 11:24 <VoxPVoxD> "We might do to look into his financials, too. See if we can find out if he's got any debts, any odd connections." 11:24 <Quaker> Badawi gingerly pokes at one of the wicked barbs. “I thought Roth was supposed to be squeaky clean. And now he’s not asking us to kill some monster that’s after him, but test some device he doesn’t understand?” 11:25 <Crion> Aster: "It isn't a job. But it is something we can do while doing a job." 11:25 <banana> Richard: "So we could. Although, ah, I did have instructions on this..." 11:25 <Crion> To Badawi: "Between this and the teen-rousting vampires, you can understand why I've been in a mood recently." 11:25 <VoxPVoxD> "I trust Roth less than I trust Jack. And Jack is not trustworthy." 11:25 <tom> "When I'm getting ripped in half by a hulk hogan vampire with a claymore I'll try to remember to tag him with one'a these then." 11:26 <Crion> To Richard: "Richard, you've been gesturing at wanting to say something for awhile and then deferring it. Let's actually hear it." 11:26 <tom> Fucking Carl. 11:26 <banana> He crumples up his current page of notes, sets it to the side, and takes a look at the next. "Our employer says... he doesn't trust Roth. This whole situation is a trap for somebody, possibly us, and he recommends against the work. But he won't, or can't, forbid it." 11:26 <banana> To Aster, he lies: "No, this was all for the moment." 11:27 <Quaker> “Ah.” 11:27 <banana> He hands over the notes he took on Sourjack's opinion of local businessman James Roth, which are basically what he just said. 11:29 <banana> "Well. We've gained a lot of information today. We need to sort it into action items." 11:30 <banana> Richard: "Unless we'd like to take a moment, first, to discuss our employer and his causes of information." 11:30 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Do we have much to discuss?" 11:30 <VoxPVoxD> "We have an enormous number of questions, of course. But any paths to answers?" 11:31 <Crion> Aster: "I'm fine deferring on the Roth job. In that circumstance, however, it's not safe to keep these things in here. So I'll keep them at the lab from now on." 11:32 <banana> Richard: "There's only one relevant thing he's told me. Greyjack notes-" he holds up more notes- "that he can seek out information to help with the performance of our jobs, and you should all feel free to ask him to learn particular things. Sometimes he won't be able to get at something, either because he doesn't have the contacts for it or because asking would give him away, but that should 11:32 <banana> be rare." 11:32 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Is there a catch?" 11:32 <banana> "Unfortunately, I'm specifically told that one thing he has failed to learn.. is the location of the Gardeners." 11:32 <Crion> Aster: "A useful asset to have." 11:36 <Quaker> Badawi grinds her teeth thinking. “Well…while we figure out what to do about Roth, we can ask around about the devices. Let’s not bring them into any friendly spaces, though. They seem…unfriendly. Can’t hurt to tell our contacts we have some hot danger that needs a looking at, though.” 11:36 <hrolf> "Could take em to the 'uman office for inspection." 11:36 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I have some contacts who might be able to take a look, but I'm very leery of bringing it to them. They regarded the TrackCheck with deep suspicion, and these are far more deeply suspicious." 11:37 <banana> The Human Office would definitely be interested in these. 11:38 <Quaker> “I can take one to Strangeways. Maybe they’ll barter for it if it turns out to be worth anything.” 11:38 <VoxPVoxD> How many did Roth give us? We can go back for more, obviously, but something to think about. 11:39 <Quaker> “Oh, speaking of…I had another idea regarding the mages.” 11:39 <Crion> Aster asked for enough to make a proper assay. 11:39 <banana> Richard: "Perhaps we should move on to actions after all. Our employer's information.. we'll have to bear in mind that it includes things people consider secret." 11:39 <banana> To Badawi: "Go on?" 11:40 <Quaker> “Well, information’s valuable on its own, yeah? That TrackCheck thing, it puts names and titles to faces, yeah?” 11:41 <banana> "That's right. I'm pleased to see people have begun uploading tracks - checks? - to the phone app." 11:41 <VoxPVoxD> Willie's eyebrows go up. This sounds like it might be a good idea. 11:41 <banana> Richard: "Although I must say, the entities captured in this group shot are terrifying even through the blurs and bad angles." 11:41 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "They were quite imposing up close." 11:42 <Quaker> “Right. Bring up the full list so far on the projector, will you? I figure we’re not the only ones who are interested in mapping out the nightlife’s organizational charts.” 11:42 <VoxPVoxD> Willie takes a deep breath. 11:42 <Quaker> “But we can shop it around to interested parties. And I figure the mages will eat it up. Regular magpies for knowledge.” 11:43 <VoxPVoxD> She did update the first entry, at least. "That's an interesting idea. But how do we price it?" 11:43 <banana> Richard does so, and the projector warms up as six photographs come into view. Barons, artists, local businessmen and Emily. 11:43 <tom> Bob takes a sip of coffee. 11:43 <VoxPVoxD> You know, that's a really good picture of Willie, all told. 11:43 <Crion> Aster: "We price it carefully. We're supposed to be a services provider, not a knowledge vendor." 11:43 <Crion> "It would be good to avoid traveling too far out of our lane." 11:43 <banana> The OCRed liner notes are interesting, if cryptic. One thing that becomes clearer to Badawi from viewing the list is that unfortunately the names aren't derived magically - that's just what the cell members have typed in. 11:44 <tom> Did the photo get Carl's sick sword? 11:44 <banana> Yes. 11:44 <tom> Hell yeah brother. 11:44 <Quaker> “They like to trade in kind. Useful information for useful information. It’d be a good idea to just keep accumulating it as a habit, to trade for leads or clues for other thing - hold on,” 11:44 <Crion> "It will become harder to do our actual job if all the clients know that we're cannibalizing every conversation we have with them to run back to the mages with more names and faces and relationship statuses." 11:44 <banana> It's nine feet long and the hilt looks to be made of black stone. 11:45 <VoxPVoxD> Willie's got the ones she took updated, at least. Sergio Bonasera, Local Businessman James Roth, Carl, Simpson Kirkpatrick, Fortunato, and Emily De La Warr. 11:45 <banana> Carl himself is about eight feet long (tall), so the sword only stands out.. a lot. 11:45 <VoxPVoxD> ...did she put 'Local Businessman' in? She must have. 11:45 <Crion> Aster notes the timeline. 11:45 <Crion> And doesn't say anything. 11:46 <Crion> It seems fairly clear who her in was, though. 11:46 <Crion> And... 11:46 <Quaker> “Why…” Badawi is looking at the others. “Uh…” 11:46 <Crion> He frowns and pinches his nose. 11:46 <tom> Bob ain't saying shit. 11:46 <Quaker> “How did you say they got in contact, again?” 11:47 <Crion> Aster: "She didn't." 11:47 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I didn't." 11:47 <Crion> "Because. Well." 11:47 <VoxPVoxD> "But now I can say: we matched on Bumble." 11:47 <Crion> He gestures at the screen." 11:47 <hrolf> "Wossat mean?" 11:47 <Quaker> “What is Bumble?” 11:47 <Crion> Aster: "It doesn't matter now." 11:48 <banana> Richard: "It's another phone app." 11:48 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "A dating app." 11:48 <Crion> "What matters is that the information is reliable, and--" 11:48 <VoxPVoxD> There comes a point where being coy is just delaying the inevitable. 11:48 <hrolf> Rolf: "-you what, mate?" 11:48 <banana> There's no judgement in Richard's voice, although Sergio is not his type. 11:48 <Quaker> “What? He contacted you on a dating app to set up a job meet?” 11:49 <Crion> Aster closes his eyes. 11:49 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "No. It was a date." 11:50 <VoxPVoxD> "I think he was looking for blood, or prospects. But I was able to spin his efforts to introduce me into an opportunity to make a business connection. Which they were prepared for, and took to very well." 11:50 <VoxPVoxD> "But yes. The information is good, and the job offer is valid, and the money is reliable. As Richard and Jack have both confirmed." 11:51 <Quaker> Badawi is feeling like she’s going insane. She tries to find the words, but only the beginning of words come out of her mouth. 11:51 <VoxPVoxD> Willie's being very matter-of-fact, which may not help. 11:51 <tom> Bob crosses his arms, suppressing something like a laugh. 11:51 <Crion> Oh come on. Two weeks ago, you'd have been shocked by the proposition that the beautiful aristo daughter of the Duke of Wellington wasn't fucking a vampire. 11:52 <Quaker> Am I overreacting? She knows she’s not very good at the empathy thing…did she miss something? 11:52 <VoxPVoxD> One might change the order of the second-last and third-last words. But only might. 11:52 <banana> Okay, look. It's not like Richard was able to confirm anything independently here, he's just the messenger. But there's so much second-hand embarassment potential that there's no way he's going to point that out. 11:52 <VoxPVoxD> In chess, that's called a 'pin'. 11:52 <tom> "It turns out Carl lives in my neighborhood." 11:53 <Crion> Aster: "Sorry, who? ...Oh. The sword." 11:53 <tom> "Yeah man. I'm going fucking insane over here." 11:54 <Crion> Aster: "Has anyone been going around the neighborhood killing people with a giant sword?" 11:54 <tom> "I'm thinking about cooking up some dragon's breath just for that sense of security." 11:54 <tom> "I think it'd have come up." 11:54 <Crion> He shrugs. "Then all else being equal, you should be fine." 11:54 <tom> "Yeah great." 11:54 <banana> The papers do have a lot of headlines about knife crime. 11:55 <Crion> I don't think even Crocodile Dundee would commit to that being a knoife. 11:55 <VoxPVoxD> Willie looks around. Are we... done...? 11:55 <banana> Richard: "I've been collating a list of actions arising from your reports." 11:56 <banana> "Actions, that is, to take." 11:56 <tom> That went well! Way better than Bob thought. 11:56 <Quaker> Badawi: “Ok, but…look, I don’t mean to insult your competence, Willie. I’ll trust you if you know you’re not compromised or haven’t been influenced by them - supernaturally, I mean. Same as Mr. Aster and Bob, when they met the WASC. But in the future, we have to be extremely careful about these people. They are not like us. We can’t just meet them casually.” 11:56 <tom> "I was on security," Bob adds. 11:57 <banana> He could point out that they did influence him supernaturally. Would that help? 11:57 <tom> Probably not bro. 11:57 <Quaker> Badawi: “Good. At the very least, we should adopt a two-person rule when we meet them. So if they try to sway one of us, the other can step in. Or at least report it.” 11:57 <banana> Richard continues collating. 11:57 <tom> He chuckles. "Good idea." 11:58 <Crion> Aster: "That sounds rational to me." But he's still looking at Willie. 11:58 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I'm happy to commit to a buddy rule for any further field work." 11:59 <Quaker> Badawi nods. “Alright. Where are they operating out of, anyway? I thought they were driven out of Manchester.” 11:59 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "They're just across the river. A compound called Inchcape." 11:59 <Crion> Mmm. That's not what Badawi said. Aster doesn't press it though. 11:59 <VoxPVoxD> "The impression were given of the WASC as an unchallenged master of the domain. The reality is rather more complex." 12:00 <VoxPVoxD> "They made reference to a relationship with Mr. Vados, for instance." 12:00 <VoxPVoxD> "I believe Mr. Aster's noncompete was exploitive, like you would expect from employers who have a lot of leverage." 12:00 <Crion> Aster: "Unless and until the Court doesn't control commercial permitting in Greater Manchester, my position remains unchanged." 12:01 <Crion> "I have no baseline desire to expand the number of vampires I do business with anyhow." 12:01 <Quaker> “Agreed. Let’s try to keep that number as low as possible.” 12:01 <Quaker> “For all of us.” 12:02 <VoxPVoxD> "And for the moment, as Mr. Aster points out, they do. But if we reach a more stable position, you'll likely have scope to renegotiate. If only to avoid having to feed them leads on any jobs we do take." 12:02 <VoxPVoxD> "Which would reduce, rather than increase, our vampire overhead." 12:02 <Crion> Aster: "That is true." 12:03 <Quaker> Badawi: “Alright. Action lists?” 12:04 <banana> Richard: "There's quite a lot to do! Thankfully, we have five people to do it, and no hard deadlines." 12:05 <banana> He begins reading off a hastily scribbled list. 12:05 <banana> "One. Driving or persuading the Nightingale Society out of Gorton Cemetery. This will for, some reason, demonstrate to the Night Court that we can be trusted." 12:05 <banana> "Two. Trading the jellyplugs ley-thing to Strangeways wizards, for star-child information and deeper ties." 12:05 <banana> "Three. Similarly, we want to shop local businessman James Roth's caltrops around, see if anyone understands them. This is low priority, as the things are rather horrid." 12:05 <banana> "Four. Making direct contact with Reveille and Waistcoat Colony. We need to confirm the work, see if it's congenial and if she wants us doing it." 12:06 <Crion> Aster sighs. "I would note that we could take care of item one literally tonight. If we do not, we'll have to wait another week." 12:06 <banana> "Five. The- some vampires have offered to pay us to locate the missing Count and Countess Salford. We need to decide whether we're going to commit to that at this time. If we do, we'll then need to take some actual steps toward the goal." 12:06 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I can make time tonight, if we want to jump to their whip that quickly." 12:06 <banana> That seems like enough for now. Or, no, wait. 12:07 <VoxPVoxD> "When would you be going to Liverpool, Ms. Badawi?" 12:07 <Crion> Aster: "We should just commit to item two and remove it from the list. That's my vote, anyhow." 12:08 <banana> Richard picks up the last page of the notes he came in with. "And six - we forgot to talk this, but Mr. Hughes is working with Mr. Goreman to regain access to Office equipment. Our employer notes that he can provide you with some inside information on how they manage their DRM. But it can wait until we're not all engaged on, for example, item five." 12:08 <tom> "I can make time tonight, yeah. I need tomorrow free till the afternoon though." 12:08 <hrolf> "Oh, can he though? Nice one mate." 12:09 <banana> "Facilitation is a calling of its own." 12:09 <tom> "I'm not about to wild out with a Mjolnir or anything but some of my shit needs servicing." 12:09 <Crion> Aster: "Item three can pause indefinitely as far as I'm concerned. Certainly not a priority." 12:09 <hrolf> Rolf: "As for the action thingies...'ard no on getting mixed up wif vampire business, for me at least. Up for whatevah we fink is best for the rst. I can work on four if we so decide." 12:09 <Crion> "I'm fine with continuing pursuit of item four, but not committing to anything at this time." 12:10 <Crion> "I'd like to commit to item five, with the caveat that I only be involved in field work for it remotely." 12:10 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I agree with Mr. Aster." 12:10 <tom> "Same." 12:11 <Quaker> Badawi: “I can leave for Liverpool anytime. And help with the teens.” 12:11 <Crion> Aster: "It sounds like the general contours here are leading to a split between those of us interested in the vampire job and those of us who oppose it on strict underlying grounds. Perhaps we should split the team, at least until hard field action is required." 12:11 <banana> Richard's scribbling again. Willie on the cemetery kids - now Badawi too - yes to the carpet (Bob and Badawi, sounds like), no to the caltrops.. nobody's volunteered to meet the band, yet. But back to Five. 12:12 <Crion> "Aster, Wellesley, and Goreman on the missing vampires; Badawi and Rolf on the singer." 12:12 <VoxPVoxD> Oh, wow. Rolf gets first-named. Not even Bob got first-named. Mr. Aster must be very peeved. 12:12 <Quaker> “Is the missing persons job time-sensitive? It seems we should work on the live band members before the dead missing.” 12:12 <Crion> Aster: "Again, at least until we have to do a tactical deployment of some kind." 12:12 <banana> Richard: "That sounds like a reasonable division of labour in the medium term. For today, it sounds like Badawi and Goreman visiting wizards to trade, joined by Wellesley after work at the cemetery?" 12:13 <Crion> Honestly, Aster's forgotten Rolf's last name isn't Rolf. 12:13 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Sounds good." 12:13 <tom> "I'm down to meet more weirdos." 12:13 <Crion> Aster: "I'm fine going to the cemetary as well, if more hands are required or requested." 12:13 <Crion> "Hardly doing anything else." 12:13 <Quaker> Badawi: “That sounds fine. I’ve got one more thing to say after you’re finished, Richard.” 12:14 <banana> Richard: "Perhaps the whole team out at Gorton tonight? I'd love to join you, but this place would close up like a new piercing." 12:14 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Would you love to join us?" 12:15 <banana> "Love is a bit strong." 12:15 <Crion> That's an interesting image, but not one Aster feels is useful to pursue. 12:15 <banana> He nods to Badawi. "One last thing, then-" 12:16 <banana> "Mr. Hughes, you don't want to be involved with hunting for missing vampires - can we count on your participation if the job takes a turn such that it's we who are to make vampires go missing?" 12:17 <hrolf> Rolf: "If it comes down to pullin' a mate out of the cacky they got themselves into, well. Let no one say Rolfie Huges left a man behind. But for the record, let it also be remembered that 'e DID say it'll all end in tears." 12:18 <banana> "On the record it goes. The floor is yours, Mrs. Badawi." 12:20 <VoxPVoxD> Oh, he calls her Mrs. Interesting. 12:20 <banana> As far as Willie can remember (or as far as Agostina can remember), he didn't last week. 12:21 <banana> Has something changed? 12:21 <Quaker> She nods back. “Right. Look, we’re not a bunch of chatterers. We all have our pasts and presents. Relationships, private lives, all that. But like we’re finding out, all those can get threatened sooner or later. Leveraged against any of us. All of us, by extension. I’m not saying we need to get involved in each others’ lives. Not trying to make new girlfriends. But if any of us realize we’re in something dangerous, we 12:21 <Quaker> need to immediately alert the others, yeah? Keep whatever personal matters you like to yourself. But nothing life-threatening to you or your loved ones remains secret.” 12:21 <VoxPVoxD> Christ, Jack is such a shit. 12:21 <Crion> Aster: "Noted and agreed." 12:21 <tom> He taps his thumb on the table. "What, we weren't already doi- okay." 12:23 <tom> He raises his hand. "I am in something dangerous." 12:24 <Quaker> “Uh…go on.” 12:25 <tom> "I am on the run from the government of the United States. My girl is on the run from Cheiron and, like, alien abductors? Or something?" 12:26 <tom> "Does that count??" 12:26 <Crion> Aster: "Well...I think Badawi was speaking about something more direct and immediate." 12:26 <tom> "It feels pretty immediate to me man." 12:26 <Crion> "Are there specific MPs rustling the bushes in your neighborhood? We could do something about those." 12:26 <Crion> "Military policemen. Not members of Parliament." 12:27 <hrolf> Rolf: "Should of said the yanks were on your arse before I took you into the Office, mate. They could of picked you up and slammed you on the next flight across the pond, easy like." 12:27 <tom> "Alright, alright, I just thought I'd say so. Full disclosure Bob." 12:27 <banana> Richard, helpfully: "They're RMP over here." 12:27 <Quaker> Badawi clears her throat. “I did mean immediate threats. If you start seeing CIA agents or…aliens…let us know.” 12:27 <VoxPVoxD> Willie sighs. "I'm willing to submit to whatever security protocols the group deems appropriate. But I draw the line at any attempts to dictate or micromanage my social life. That is a red line for me." 12:27 <tom> "Yeah. Yeah, sorry Rolf." 12:27 <banana> "...like the R everything, really." 12:28 <Quaker> “Not that I am unsympathetic. For the record, I am on the shitlist for the Ascending Ones, commonly known as Alchemists. But the mages help me out with that, so…” 12:29 <hrolf> "We should be fine as long as you're not actually dating the bloodsucker, haha." 12:29 <Quaker> “Not telling you who to date, Wellesley. Just mean that if a vampire moves in next door and starts to drink your blood, let us know.” 12:30 <tom> Stone-faced. 12:30 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "That's fair. So in that spirit, I did date the vampire, and I may yet again. He has drunk my blood. I haven't observed any inducement to behaviour I wouldn't have otherwise undertaken, but I don't have Mr. Goreman's reticle." 12:31 <hrolf> Hmmm. 12:32 <Quaker> “I…” 12:32 <hrolf> Rolf makes a particularly gormless-stunned face. 12:32 <Crion> Before this goes any further: "I think we can leave it there for now. Wellesley, a word?" 12:33 <Crion> "In private." 12:33 <Quaker> Badawi closes her eyes and breathes. Counting to ten. 12:33 <VoxPVoxD> Willie doesn't acknowledge Aster immediately. Badawi deserves a moment. 12:33 <Quaker> She very, very carefully puts down her Garfield mug on the table. 12:34 <Quaker> And then she throws it across the room. 12:35 <banana> Richard: "If we're done- thanks much, everybody. In two weeks we've made real progress. One of- shit!" 12:35 <VoxPVoxD> Here we go. 12:35 <Quaker> “Okay. I am bringing this leytide manipulator to the mages.” 12:35 <banana> He's got to check whether any coffee got in the Walls. 12:35 <Crion> Aster grimaces. 12:36 <tom> Okay, now it's officially funny. 12:36 <Quaker> She stands up. “Please do not….make any….rash…decisions without the input of your partners. In the future. Thank you. I am sure we will talk more about this later.” 12:36 <hrolf> Rolf: "Jayysus. Look, marm. All due respect, like. You say its your social life but - Gettin involved with a client, espescially a vampire client, espescially a vampire client that's fahckin, already feasted on you. We're 'sposed to be professionals here, right? You just think about that." 12:37 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Your advice is well-taken, Mr. Hughes. And I want to make a commitment to clarity going forward." 12:38 <tom> He's not heartless! He strongly considers saying something in her defense. But that'd just mean now he's getting yelled at too. 12:38 <VoxPVoxD> Also, he promised. 12:38 <VoxPVoxD> This is exactly the situation that promise was for. 12:39 <VoxPVoxD> Now she turns to Aster. "Yes, of course." 12:39 <Crion> Aster is old enough and lame enough to do the, "Step into my office," line about his workstation corner of the Greybox. 12:40 <banana> It is in a different room now. The lab/workshop is totally separated from the briefing room, the latter of which even has a roof over it. 12:40 <Quaker> To the others: “Alright, let’s get this thing loaded into the Range Rover.” 12:40 <banana> (The workshop, on the other hand, is still open to the many currently pointless metres of extra height that make the box a box.) 12:40 <VoxPVoxD> Not the first office Willie's been asked to step into. Not even the first time someone's done this bit in an open plan... thuogh this isn't one anymore. 12:40 <Crion> When they're there: "He has to drink less. This Sergio fellow. Last week I thought you had COVID but now, of course, it's obvious what that was." 12:41 <Crion> "This is a workplace issue. This scheme will not function with you reduced to such a state on a regular basis." 12:41 <banana> Richard wishes the departing trio good luck with wizards, but he's got to get this cleaning done. He'll leave Aster and Willie alone for now. 12:43 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Yes, I think you're right. After that first meeting, it's been very careful. But there may be more to do... my blood has certain qualities which may be exploitable. Perhaps a situation where a vampire who bites me catches fire, or something. Do you think it would be possible to arrange some kind of meeting with Vados, the blood-scientist? Do you think that such an exchange could 12:43 <VoxPVoxD> be safe and productive?" 12:43 <Crion> Aster: "Yes, I do. Especially now that you've made the introductions that you've made." 12:43 <tom> Bob will kind of grimace apologetically at Agostina as they step out of earshot from the others. "If it makes a difference I met the guy." 12:44 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Good. Something to put on the calendar. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Aster. And your discretion." 12:44 <VoxPVoxD> "That went rather better than I feared it might have." 12:44 <Crion> Aster: "Obviously, as your Sergio yet...well. Rhetorically lives. It's not something you need to worry about at the moment. But I thnk he will be intrigued enough to make an opening on his calendar." 12:44 <banana> Badawi can give Rolf directions to Strangeways. That leaves Bob in the back with the sparkplug carpet - it doesn't move its own power, but it looks like it should. 12:45 <tom> He pets it gently, like a cat. 12:45 <banana> The thing is like if a portuguese man-o'-war had an internal combustion engine instead of amoebal colonies inside. 12:45 <hrolf> Rolf: "That so? Nice fella? Didn't bite your 'ead off on the first meeting?" 12:45 <Crion> To that last: "Mmmm. Don't get me wrong; I still find all this horribly irresponsible. But you showed good judgment taking Bob in with you -- I suspect he was a larger part of this than you've let on, yes?" 12:45 <Quaker> Badawi: “Later.” 12:45 <Crion> Aster: "We just need to come up with some way to scan or test for latent vampire mind control." 12:46 <Crion> "Which, if it were an easy problem, VASCU would have already solved it." 12:46 <banana> Did Willie have time to take her phone off silent yet? 12:46 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Yes, he was quite vital. Unflappable and valourous. Exactly what you'd hope the virtues of such a clownish man to be." 12:46 <tom> "Nah, but he did cut right through my Huginn to make sure I'd 'keep her safe'." 12:46 <VoxPVoxD> "And I quite agree that that is a priority." 12:46 <hrolf> "What a charmer. Alright, 'ere we are. Hup." 12:47 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Do let me know. At some point I might trouble you for a deeper education on the vampires. I had my primer in Milan, of course, but I was carefully sequestered from undead work. Having seen how they fell over me because of my heritage, I understand why." 12:47 <hrolf> A few grunts, some heaving and its in the backseat. “Mind it doesn’t scratch the leather please.” 12:47 <tom> "It ain't sharp." 12:47 <Crion> Aster: "Most of my knowledge is from technical work and is to do with specific hands-on cases, rather than broad-scope, high level teachings. But I'll see what I can do." 12:48 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Thank you." Now she turns her phone on. "Is there anything else?" 12:48 <Crion> "There is not. See you tonight, if you come out to the cemetary." 12:50 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I'll let the group know if I won't be." 12:50 <hrolf> A few minutes later and they’re driving along. Rolf lets out a breath. “Phwoar. I kept saying we shouldn’t be fahckin around with vampires, and she’s lit'rly shaggin one eh! Bloody mental!” 12:50 <VoxPVoxD> And she's on her way out. 12:50 <tom> "I can't say shit, man." 12:50 <tom> "The dude with the fucking claymore is the Baron of fuckin' Eccles!" 12:51 <hrolf> "Why, are you shaggin' 'im?" 12:51 <banana> Just who's shagging who around here? 12:51 <banana> HM Prison Manchester isn't far at all. Is there anything Badawi needs to tell her colleagues about wizards? 12:51 <tom> "No, but I'm having second thoughts about my nightwalks." 12:52 <VoxPVoxD> Then she stops and remembers she had a reason to stick around too. "Mr. Haldane? Do you have a moment?" 12:53 <Quaker> Badawi looks up as they come in sight of the hulking building. “The mages are perfectly polite and professional. Just be the same to them until you can pick up if any given one likes you on a personal level. We’ll be talking to Octocat. Friendly and knowledgeable, eager to learn and trade. Just be nice. Neither of us are looking to get one over on the other.” 12:54 <tom> "Sure, sure. You said they don't like being flashy anyway." He sounds disappointed. 12:54 <banana> Richard's dealt with the mug situation. He has a moment. And there are plenty of chairs around here to collapse into. "Meetings are more difficult than I imagined. I must remember to apologise to Szakacs for some unkind thoughts I've had." 12:55 <Quaker> “Not these ones.” 12:55 <banana> Willie also has texts. None of them are from Sergio. It is the daytime.. maybe she doesn't have to call him a coward yet... then again, he had hours last night after she left. 12:56 <hrolf> Rolf brings the car to a halt, slamming on the brakes instead of coming to a smooth stop as usual. Driver and passengers lurch forward as it stops. “Sorry- sorry! Right then, let’s get this thing out and go see these wizards, eh?” 12:56 <VoxPVoxD> Look, it's complicated. He gets three days before she thinks he's a coward. Five before she says so. 12:56 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Szakacs?" 12:56 <banana> There is one interesting one from an unknown number. <Hello WILLIE WELLSLEY. Delicious sweets-mistress. Do you still like to party?> 12:56 <VoxPVoxD> Is it at least a local number? 12:57 <banana> Richard: "My former manager. Knowledgeable, tyrannous. Like a blue dragon, I suppose." 12:57 <banana> The numbe ris local. 12:57 <tom> Bob will carry the 'Leytide Manipulator.' 12:57 <tom> Fuck! I need to start lifting again! God damn it! 12:57 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Do you play Dungeons and Dragons?" 12:57 <banana> Bob narrowly avoids getting impaled by its sparklugs as the car stops, but carrying it is the easy part. 12:57 <VoxPVoxD> I mean spiritually, of course he does. But does he literally? 12:58 <Quaker> Badawi will walk ahead of the magic carpet. Who’s in to greet them? 12:58 <banana> The three hunters are going to look very weird - just the three of them together, but also walking into what is hypothetically a prison officer training office carrying this thing. The door opens to Badawi's code, and there's nobody immediately inside, but as they make their way down the halls to the computer lab, a couple of people give them strange looks. In fact... 12:59 <banana> Richard: "No, but I've read the Monster Manual. Great stuff." 12:59 <VoxPVoxD> Willie texts: <who is this> 13:00 <VoxPVoxD> "Yes, it's quite exciting to have all that lore at one's fingertips, I imagine. And you've been tasked with maintaining ours, in a sense. Volo Haldane. You seemed to have a bit of information I'd omitted from the topline brief, for instance. The names and ranks of the missing vampires, for instance." 13:00 <VoxPVoxD> "You also seemed to have a note on the funding." 13:00 <VoxPVoxD> "Might I ask?" 13:01 <VoxPVoxD> <who is this> she texts while letting Richard collect his thoughts. 13:02 <banana> An old woman in the open doorway of an office comments on the thing Bob's got. "Why in the Lord's name do you have a manashaper made of engine parts?" Badawi recognises her, but they haven't spoken before. She's tall, grey-haired and blue-eyed, wearing chiffon. 13:03 <tom> "'Cause I jacked it off a Cheiron field team at gunpoint, ma'am." 13:03 <VoxPVoxD> Bob you have got to find a different way to put that. 13:03 <tom> "More specifically," he nods at Badawi. 13:04 <hrolf> "How dangerous are these fings anyway? Or valuable." 13:04 <banana> Mage: "Sounds like a familiar name. Banishers?" 13:04 <Quaker> Badawi clears her throat. “Came across it on an assignment helping the Wolf-Mourners police spirit, ma’am. Octocat indicated he would be interested in a fair trade for some information.” 13:05 <banana> To Rolf: "Depends entirely on what it shapes. I'd love to take a look at this one, if Octocat hadn't got to you first." 13:05 <banana> "...I'll join you. My name is Closure." 13:05 <Quaker> “Poachers, hunters, and killers, ma’am. Of exotic things and people.” 13:06 <Quaker> As they walk: “Have you heard of the idigam, Miss Closure? This one was actually involved in trying to summon one.” 13:06 <tom> He puts out his hand. "Bob. Nice to meet you, Clo." 13:07 <hrolf> Rolf says nothing, but looks around. Anything of interest? 13:07 <banana> Bob's hand is shaken lightly. Closure is quite frail-looking, but she trots along straight-backed like the world doesn't weigh anything. 13:09 <banana> Clo (Bob has spoken, so mote it be): "Then it should be in a very tightly locked box. Sorry to ask, but are you sleepwalkers?" 13:09 <tom> He'll heft the dang thing and keep going. It's not really heavy, just awkward. Keeps trying to slide off his shoulder. 13:10 <tom> "Just insomnia." 13:10 <banana> Rolf sees office-park aesthetics - rooms full of computers and architectural drafting machines. Most of them empty, and not all of the computers are plugged in. You're coming to a lab that's occupied, however. 13:10 <banana> Richard gives Willie a shrug. "I'd rather tell you this now than pass it on as our employer intended." 13:11 <Quaker> “No. We were there when Carrey had her accident. Can’t help but feel a bit guilty, but she didn’t tell us before she…” 13:11 <tom> Bob's visor isn't boxing anything weird, is it? They always had trouble with otherwise biologically-normal ENE's. 13:12 <banana> He unfolds the crumpled paper from before. "Sourjack was in contact, as I said earlier... he believes he could have negotiated a better deal with -" has Aster left the building? Maybe not. " - our new clients. I've been exhorted to exhort you in turn - pick up jobs, but let him do the final selling." 13:13 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "How does he propose to let us let him do that?" 13:14 <Crion> Aster is at least a room away and not actively trying to eavesdrop on conversations that might compromise him. 13:14 <banana> Richard: "I suppose you'd just let him know about the job and he'd.. communicate with them. Probably morse code in a shower of rain or something. He has great faith in his ability to tailor persuasive approaches." 13:14 <banana> "May I be honest with you, Willie?" 13:14 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I hope so." 13:15 <banana> "I don't think it would be best for all seven of us to put Jack in charge of the signoffs and make him client-facing." 13:16 <VoxPVoxD> Willie nods. "I think we can very easily form a consensus around that as a team." 13:16 <VoxPVoxD> "I thought you did well today, also." 13:16 <VoxPVoxD> More gently: "And yesterday." 13:16 <banana> "It's not like he could lie to us. The vampires would know how much they're spending, and they tend to bring it up, as in 'for a million pounds we expect better, yadda yadda'... but even so." 13:17 <banana> Another SMS: <This is Sumiya Veera Venkata T. We met, for T :)> 13:17 <Crion> Aster steps out of his lab, carrying his case full of ??? instruments, wearing his black coat now instead of his lab coat. "I'm heading to the graveyard to do some early reconaissance. You're welcome to join me, Richard and-or Willie. I know you're going to say no, Richard, but I figured that I would ask." 13:18 <VoxPVoxD> Oooh. <sumi! what a Singular Pleasure. tell me more> 13:18 <VoxPVoxD> Willie, to Aster: "I would, but I have to get back to work. I'm already running a bit late." 13:18 <Crion> Aster: "Fair enough." 13:18 <Crion> Aster will excuse himself. 13:20 <banana> Clo: "I've heard of Carrey. Not surprised to hear she's messed up somehow." She shakes her head gloomily as you enter the main lab. There are wizards here, or so Bob's target reticles believe... but for that, he has to turn up the sensitivity high enough that it thinks Badawi is a wizard too, with Rolf the only friendly in the room. 13:21 <banana> Octocat's around this time, and he oohs and aahs over the carpet. Eventually, he gets around to: "Right.. hello. You two. You're from Luisa's new enterprise?" 13:21 <tom> It's not clear what the damn thing is sensing, of course. The filter for this setting is a virtually unintelligible series of acronyms. Something about gait analysis?? 13:21 <tom> He clicks through the setting and hits Clo with the trackcheck. 13:21 <hrolf> Rolf is very friendly. Ask 'im about anything - footie, birds, food, extrajudicial executions and he's always up for a chat. 13:22 <banana> The other mages in the room are a lot more suspicious, or less carpet-interested. Octocat has to do some fast talking to persuade them that it's ok for "Scabuzzo"'s people to be here, and bring everyone into his office. Closure follows, to which he does not object; they haven't said a word to each other but seem comfortable with the other's presence. 13:23 <tom> Octocat's next to get a quick snapshot. No attention is paid toward making him appear photogenic. 13:23 <hrolf> "Luisa? 'o's that, then?" 13:23 <banana> Richard says: "Yes. Well." He looks down, up, etcetera. 13:24 <banana> "I'm glad it worked out. Looks like both of you are still alive?" 13:24 <tom> Bob concludes that Badawi must just really enjoy making idiots stumble over her name. Luisa is perfectly nice! 13:27 <banana> Closure - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff0v5IfxBAg 13:27 <banana> “She learns their ways and means. They learn to love the lash.” 13:27 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "It does. It was a big risk. And it was not my intention to meet socially with a vampire or to make professional contact with Vie in that manner." Or that manor. "I was quite overwhelmed. And I think, going forward, it will be much easier to loop the entire group in, so that the brave few need not shoulder the burden on my behalf." 13:27 <Quaker> “Right. Introductions. This is Bob Goreman and Rolf Hughes. This is Octocat. Miss Closure, who we met.” 13:29 <banana> Octocat - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j53z6RfFb7U 13:29 <banana> “What if essential workers were the first to get the vaccine? One must imagine Sisyphus promoted.” 13:29 <banana> Closure: "We've worked together, of course. You have amazingly capable minions, Octocat." 13:30 <banana> Octocat: "A friend, and my friend's minions." The weedy man behind the computer desk grins up at Bob and Rolf. "Which is a term of art around here." 13:30 <tom> "Oh, do tell." 13:30 <hrolf> "Like the little yellow fellas?" 13:31 <Quaker> “Coworkers and equals of friends.” 13:32 <banana> Octocat: "Everyone's equal in a trade. I believe the deal was-" he glances at Closure, who loves to a corner and folds her arms, watching benevolently. 13:32 <VoxPVoxD> She won't embarrass Richard further if he doesn't have anything else to say. 13:33 <tom> Bob gently the squeezes the rolled-up gel carpet. 13:34 <banana> "This is a ley-tide manipulator which some thaumotech amateurs were using to wedge open the gauntlet. In exchange for the object, we've got a precis on the nature of a Starchild for you, and arranged an introduction to the Liverpool assemblies." 13:35 <Quaker> “Sounds like what we agreed to.” 13:35 <Quaker> “We’ve got some extras to throw in, if you’re interested. Maybe see what it’s worth?” 13:35 <banana> Clo: "One piece of information I'd like is whether you've attempted to make use of the thing." 13:36 <Quaker> Badawi shakes her head. “Nobody we work with is interested in summoning an idigam. And we try to stabilize things, not the opposite.” 13:37 <banana> Richard doesn't have much else to say, although he seems to be generally positive on the whole thing. Maybe upsetting each other at 2 in the morning is how you make friends. 13:37 <VoxPVoxD> Willie's made significant use of that technique in the past. 13:37 <VoxPVoxD> Still! Home again, home again. 13:38 <banana> Sumi, on the other hand, is on a roll. <I will happilt tell you more. In fact, I'll reveal my hidden agenda, of which Mari has probably already accused me.> 13:39 <banana> <On the night before 1st Nov we are going to perform the ceremonies of Samhain. The first part of this is a PARTY> 13:40 <banana> Sumi: <There's another way to look at a semi public party inviting a bunch of people with weird powers and that is a SECURITY THREAT> 13:41 <banana> Closure: "Very sensible. What kind of work do you do again?" 13:41 <banana> Octocat: "Um." 13:42 <banana> Badawi thinks he'll probably back them up if they don't want to answer. 13:42 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: <are you looking for people to work the party? are you looking in a formal capacity or as a Favour> 13:44 <banana> Sumi: <Yeah, if I have it right you & bob & others are doing freelance work. Nothing usually goes wrong at these things but it's my group's role...'s.. to make sure of that. If we gave you a stipend could you round up a few people to come as apparent party guests but with like.. the ability to BUST OUT and stop problems?> 13:45 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: <I can put it to the group. our base rate is one million pounds> 13:45 <Quaker> “This and that, ma’am. We specialize in sensitive requests, tasks, retrievals. For interested parties of a nonstandard nature, who are possessed of sufficient resources.” 13:45 <banana> Sumi: <lol (laughing out loud).> 13:45 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: <what is the Emotional Character of your textual laughter> 13:47 <banana> Closure: "Being possessed of a nonstandard nature sounds uncomfortable." 13:48 <banana> Octocat: "Such is life, or otherwise. I'm going to call someone in to box that thing up for study and bring up your dossier. Are you three the group who'd be meeting the Free Council?" 13:48 <tom> At Octocat: "Your info on the starkids had better be longer than one page." 13:48 <tom> "The what?" 13:48 <tom> Was that one on Badawi's chart? 13:49 <banana> Willie gets a selfie next. Sumiya doing the Doctor Evil pose with her little finger to her lips. 13:49 <Quaker> “The Liverpool mages. No, I think it will be me and another one of our partners. Why?” 13:50 <banana> <I do not have One Million Pounds. Whoever you can round up wound be paid in party invitations and like, a thousand each for doing a few hours security work. Sorry, yeah?> 13:51 <VoxPVoxD> She's cute. <at that rate you might be down to me and goreman. but I will put it to the group either way> 13:51 <banana> Octocat: "OK, just let me know in advance who's going. Their security is kind of lax compared to the sweep you get for coming in a place like this, but they like to check... personal connections." 13:52 <Quaker> Badawi: “Meaning what, exactly?” 13:52 <tom> Bob will happily offload the Leytide Manipulator if someone prompts him to make the trade. 13:52 <banana> Octocat, attempting to be mysterious: "I mean that they examine certain... sympathies. They measure, as it were, the measure of a man." 13:53 <tom> "Cool." 13:53 <banana> Closure nods gravely. 13:53 <banana> "Or a woman." 13:53 <Quaker> “Thought you spoke English, Octocat.” 13:54 <banana> He slumps. "They'll cast magic spells to make sure you aren't working for the Seers or something." 13:55 <Quaker> “Oh. No. Well, not anymore. And it wasn’t *for* the Seers.” She remembers to turn to Closure. “The Wolf-Mourners, ma’am. And their…complicated associations with rival organizations.” 13:56 <Quaker> “Not that we approve, obviously. But we understand the need to police the local spirit ecosystem.” 13:57 <VoxPVoxD> Willie adds: <I may also be able to bring a vampire. but that is very much Up in the Air at the moment> 13:57 <banana> Closure: "Mmm. A compromise. A seriously compromising compromise. Actually- you're going to meet Freistadters? They don't support the Wolf-Mourners. But they won't hold it against you if you do." 13:58 <banana> Sumi: <Would you believe they won't be the only one?> 13:58 <banana> <We got some weird friends these days. 'Thesenights'. But thank you WW> 13:58 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: <I'll be in touch! or Robert will> 13:58 <banana> <RSVP by Tuesday pls> 13:58 <Quaker> “Very good. Oh, right.” She turns back to Octocat. “Bonus round.” 13:59 <Quaker> “You know the Victus Indomitus?” 13:59 <banana> Octocat: "No?" 13:59 <banana> Closure: "Yes." 14:00 <banana> She... walks behind his desk and pushes his swivel chair out of the way. Just straight up stands at the desk like it's hers now. 14:00 <banana> Octocat makes a squeaking noise in complaint, but gets out of the chair to save his dignity. 14:00 <Quaker> Then she’ll turn back to Closure. “Know them well, ma’am? On a personal basis?” 14:00 <banana> Clo: "Professional. We watch those people, and people like them, because of the harm they can do." 14:01 <banana> Octocat really looks like he wants to complain at the turn this has taken, but he's distracted by the door opening. There's another mage there with a wheeled trolley and a thick leather folder. 14:02 <tom> Bob is trying his best to stifle a laugh. Completely out-alpha'd. 14:02 <banana> Badawi knows the bearded newcomer as Vivi, who may be Octocat's boss - he's certainly high up in the organisation. Octocat goes out to greet him and closes the door on the four of you. It's soundproof! 14:03 <banana> The only thing you hear him tell Vivi to explain this is, "Guardian business." 14:03 <tom> Bob hits him with the trackcheck. Double-taps, in fact. 14:03 <Quaker> “Ah. Well, we’ve got names and faces for their senior leadership in the area, and the location of at least one gathering place. If you’ve got them under surveillance, you probably already know all that. But we’ve been alerted that they’re looking to hire someone to find a pair of their members who have been missing for a considerable period of time, dating back to the 1980s. Disappeared in some kind of intra-vampire 14:03 <Quaker> conflict.” 14:03 <Quaker> “Hey, Vivi.” 14:05 <banana> Vivi waves before he's cut off by the closing door, looking amused. Clo ignores that and listens intently. 14:05 <Quaker> “The Gardners. Or Gardiners.” 14:06 <banana> "Yes, we know where and roughly who they are. This resurfacing thing.. that's new. That's dangerous." 14:06 <banana> "Valuable, I guess - I'll let Octocat know to add to your credit. Hmm." 14:06 <banana> Vivi - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckMvj1piK58 14:06 <banana> “Every piece of knowledge has a consequence. Sometimes these consequences occur in prison.” 14:07 <banana> Closure: "Gardener doesn't mean anything to me. Do you know if they had titles?" 14:07 <Quaker> “Just wanted to keep you abreast of things from our end. Don’t like sticking our nose in vampire business without asking the sane ones first.” 14:08 <Quaker> “We can find that out pretty easily.” 14:08 <tom> "Count and countess Salford, ma'am." 14:08 <Quaker> “In fact, if you had a list of specific information you’d like…” 14:08 <banana> "Feck. Elders, then? From the old days?" 14:08 <banana> "I really can't recommend you get involved with this." 14:08 <tom> "That's my impression. They had some kind of 'cut the tall trees' thing." 14:09 <tom> "You remember it?" Bob flashes a smile. 14:10 <banana> Closure: "Since we're on Mysterium territory, here's an equivalent exchange." 14:11 <banana> "The vampires of this city had a revolution, forty or fifty years ago. The details have been successfully obscured, but the old regime were real monsters. Blood-tyrants who preyed on their own. Every one of them was said to be powerful enough to rule by force and terror." 14:12 <banana> "If you want more information... you're idiots. But many would disagree with me." 14:13 <banana> "Might as well open the door, though. This isn't the kind of secret we keep around here." 14:13 <Quaker> “Actually, we would love more information about vampires. As in, how better to protect ourselves from them….?” 14:13 <Quaker> “Also, you wouldn’t happen to know…? Where the Salfords are…?” 14:14 <tom> Shooters shoot. 14:14 <banana> Closure drifts around the desk and out of the hotseat, shaking her head- but smiling. It's not her job to stop you from doing this, she just doesn't condone it. 14:15 <banana> "To be safe: stay away. As will I. So I don't." 14:15 <Quaker> “You know, you could tell us, and we could tell them, and you could rig a few thousand pounds of explosives to be waiting for the elders when they show up…” 14:15 <banana> "If you want to pay someone to scry on vampires.. you've already got a meeting with the Freistadter Assemblies." 14:16 <tom> "Hey I don't know if it's a good idea to suggest that about people who can like, read minds and stuff." 14:16 <Quaker> “Well, they can’t mind-read an email.” 14:17 <Quaker> “Anyway. Thank you for the advice, ma’am. It’s probably very good.” 14:17 <banana> The door opens. The trolley (and the sparkplug carpet) are gone, but Octocat's got the leather dossier for you, and an 'I wasn't eavesdropping' expression. 14:20 <tom> "Thanks for your time, Clo."