<@Brett> [Date: Tuesday, April 5th. Time: 10:00 a.m. Location: Cape Town, South Africa] <@Brett> [Two days after OMG Pirates!!, the U.S.S. Abercrombie pulls into Cape Town, partially to turn in the captives, partially because some damage to the ship was discovered and they had to repair it. And it doesn't hurt to resupply as long as they're here.] <@Brett> [Start] <@Brett> [Alysha's already on deck, talking to Captain Burns, who's eying the kid near her: the 9-year old Nigel shot with a crossbow. His shoulder's been bandaged. he'll survived, though he doesn't look too happy.] <@Brett> ["We've got some time anyhow, right?" Alysha asks. The Captain responds, "Yeah, it'll probably take the better half of the day to fix."] <@Brett> [Alysha grins at him. "Might as well enjoy ourselves then."] <@Brett> [Nearly forgot to mention, the skies are overcast today. The weather is a little chilly, but not cold. Alysha's wearing black track pants, a black shirt with a modestly low front (not that there's much to display), and a white windbreaker. Her hair's tied back into a single ponytail, long enough that it almost reaches her waist.] <@Brett> ( Important to establish how Alysha looks, always. Also give me mind rolls, you pepples. ) * Sonia looks out on the deck and chuckles a little grimly at Alysha's comment, but doesn't say anything to her. The weather doesn't seem to be concerning her. 2d6+5 Sonia rolls 2D6+5: 3 3 +5 = 11 2d6+5 Gordo rolls 2D6+5: 1 1 +5 = 7 <@Brett> ( Oh you poor bastards ) 2d6+6 Shiho rolls 2D6+6: 6 4 +6 = 16 2d6+4 Montana rolls 2D6+4: 5 3 +4 = 12 2d6+7 Nigel rolls 2D6+7: 3 6 +7 = 16 <@Brett> [The captain's wearing his captain outfit, as usual. And the kid is dressed unimpressively in the same brown slacks and beige t-shirt he was wearing when he boarded the ship. Hey, not like they keep clothes for 9-year-olds around.] * Montana climbs the stairs up to deck, putting his hat on his head as he hits the sun. He's still got some light bandaged, but they're mostly hidden by his clothes. "Mornin'," he says, generally. * Gordo follows shortly after and walks over to the captain. "I know a wee bit about welding and engines, even if I've never worked on anything the size of yer ship." <@Brett> [Sonia might not say anything to Alysha, but Alysha comes over to bug her anyhow, dragging the kid with her. "Morning, Sonia! How's it feel to be back?"] * Shiho walks upstairs, looking a little tired and dressed in a deep red shirt and black slacks. Her hair is tied back in a long braid, and the highlights have grown out enough that she has definite roots showing. She opens her mouth as she looks towards Alysha, then stops and frowns. "Boss." * Nigel tilts his head at Alysha and hmms... then shrugs. * Montana turns to see Shiho. "Mornin'. Y'alright?" he asks, as Shiho generally doesn't look tired at all. <@Brett> [Alysha glances over her shoulder. And over the top of the kid's head. She is holding his hand, but he doesn't look happy about it. "Morning, Shiho. What's up?"] * Shiho says to Montana, "I'm okay, just slept poorly." She looks back to Alysha. "What is up with your hair?" <@Brett> [Alysha blinks, grabbing her ponytail and looking at it. "I dunno. Usually I like to wear it loose, but today I felt like tying it back. Why, should I have gone for pigtails instead?"] * Nigel shakes his head. "No... it's just that... it's growing extraordinarily quickly." It wasn't even shoulder length when I met you four months ago. I can't believe I didn't notice before now. <@Brett> ["Oh." Alysha smiles. Not a grin, really. It seems a bit sad to be one. "Yeah, it does that."] * Gordo rubs the area around his mouth. "Never went for cosmetic genemodding meself." * Sonia glances over at everyone being weird about hair, then looks back out with a half-shrug to herself. Her big metal case is down near her feet. * Nigel tilts his head. "Why?..." <@Brett> [She sighs, and says nothing for a bit. Then: "Look, I'll tell you about it later if you really want to know." Then she looks up at Sonia and grins. "Right now I've got an appointment to keep."] * Sonia tilts her head, not looking at her as she says, "You need a ride?" <@Brett> [Alysha nods. "I've already arranged for a car to be delivered. We need to go to the airport."] * Montana furrows his brow. "What for?" * Sonia nods slightly, still not looking at her. "Gotten." <@Brett> [She grins wider, holding up the kids hand. She practically pulls him off his feet, and looks disgruntled at that. "Him."] <@Brett> [Alysha turns back to Sonia. "Great! There's just one problem though...."] <@Brett> [And as if on cue, one of those tiny little cars that's just barely big enough for two people drives onto the pier. A high-pitched horn beeps, and a black man gets out and waves up at the ship.] <@Brett> [Alysha grins sheepishly. "It's all that was available on such short notice."] * Shiho narrows her eyes. "You are not going alone." <@Brett> [Alysha nods. "Of course not. Sonia's coming."] Well, figurin' Sonia's *drive*, but uh. (s/Sonia's/Sonia'd) * Gordo blinks. "You can't fit three people in that." (Sorry, 4. Forgot about the driver.) You could put the kid in the trunk, I suppose. * Sonia picks up her suitcase and says, "I'll try and make it quick. You all have a time. Watch your pockets." <@Brett> [Alysha nods. "Yeah, we won't be long. Enjoy the city! They're mostly English speakers, and the food's good, so you should have a nice time." She pauses. "Oh, but Nigel..."] <@Brett> [She turns to him. "If you have a moment, see if you can dig up any information about that cult of yours, will you? I don't like the idea of them having one of the stones. Especially since Sebastian and his goons are probably trying to find them too."] * Nigel nods. "Sure, Miss Johnson." <@Brett> [Alysha grins. "Awesome! Be back soon, guys!" She turns to Sonia. "Shall we?"] Stay safe. <@Brett> [Alysha grins. "Don't worry, MMO has virtually no presence in Africa, especially this far South, and I doubt we'll see any action from Zukunft, either."] * Sonia nods and heads down to the car. She says, idly, "Yeah, but you all have had some business down here at least once or twice, yah?" * Montana tips his hat to the leaving ladies. "Y'all take care." <@Brett> [Alysha follows, dragging the kid along. "Me? No. I learned the languages, but this is the first time I ever...." Her voice fades off in the distance!] <@Brett> ( #mc5-2 ! ) * Montana waits for them to drop out of earshot before he turns to Shiho. "Sonia's more'n capable. She'll be fine." <@Brett> ( As Alysha reaches the bottom of the pier, she's kidnapped by ninjas ) * Gordo walks to the ships railing. "I've to see how they're going to fit in that wee car." (In bikinis? Fuck those guys.) * Montana snickers. <@Brett> ( There's been other ninjas in past MCs though :x ) My deep faith in Sonia's competance is sadly tempered by my equally deep faith in the boss's ability to get herself in trouble. * Nigel nods. "She is particularly talented at that." Sometimes I think someone has literally cursed her. * Gordo looks at Monty. "Ye want to look into finding another car, fer the inevitable?" * Montana shrugs with a grin. "I ain't an *expert* at hot-wirin' or nothin', but sure. Might as well take a look while we check out the city." Sure as hell don't wanna stay on this boat. Mind if I come with you? <@Brett> [Alysha totally would have given you guys an overview of South Africa, had she thought of it. * Montana smiles at Shiho. "Not at all." * Gordo nods. "If there's nothing fer me ta do here, I'm game." <@Brett> ( You can clean the plumbing o/~ ) (Sorry, my name's Gordo, not Mario.) * Montana gives Gordo one thumb up before heading off the ship. Gotta get off in case it sinks! <@Brett> ( The boat explodes and Montana dives off in the nick of time. ) * Nigel shrugs. "I am supposed to do research, but I will come along until I can do so." (Hell yeah!) * Shiho leaves the ship. Freedom! <@Brett> ( Sorry for the rest of you, though ) * Nigel also leaves. * Montana says to Shiho as they leave, "Speakin' of hair, looks like yours've been growin' out some, too." <@Brett> [The captain waves as you leave the boat, not commenting if he heard anything. You arrive on the pier, which is pretty large, what with Cape Town being pretty large. Beyond it you can see a busy street, though, which slopes upward, disappearing into Table Mountain in the distance.] * Montana picks a random direction! Not really. He picks a direction that'll probably head to shops and food and such. Maybe a market? It's not like they don't have piles of spending cash and generally no time to spend it. * Gordo follows Monty into the city. * Shiho smooths a hand over her head as if she can feel her natural roots showing. "Yeah, I haven't had time to get them touched up, and I can't do them myself. I've tried, and it doesn't end well." <@Brett> [Food's aplenty! Actually it's not so different from being in a large American or European city, albeit with the signs of poverty showing a bit more. Nonetheless, the crew has plenty of options, from Italian to Chinese to Middle Eastern to local flair. There's even a MacDougal's 3 blocks from the pier.] * Montana shakes his head. "Y'should get Sonia t'help out. She'd probably be happy to, and she's pretty damn good at dying hair." 0. (How did that happen? I do not actually say zero.) Yeah? I'll ask her later. (HE DOES NOT 0) Yup. Can see about gettin' some dye while we're out. Where do ye go for a thing like that? The super? * Montana laughs. "Wherever." Some street vendors catch his eye. "'m kinda hungry, anyone game?" Sounds good. Sure. <@Brett> ( This session is now about hair ) * Montana heads over to get a gatsby, then! South African sandwiches ftw! He'll even pay for it. (long beautiful hair) (We will spend the entire session talking about food, hair, and boyfriends. Later Nigel and Montana will get matching jewelery.) (I'm prettier.) (I don't think that's true.) (You can think that. But you'd be wrong.) (Pretty is not the adjective I would use for Montana) (montana's a monster) (He's your brother, you've got westermarck effect preventing you from seeing it. :P) * Nigel shrugs and heads over. <@Brett> [You pass the pretzel vendor and get to the gatsby seller. What's a gatsby? I dunno, but it's probably pretty great.] (It's a South African sandwich, really. Apparently they like putting fries on it. I can't see how this is bad.) <@Brett> ( some of the food I've seen doing research for this session looks delicious. ) (Right?!) * Montana walks on up and gets a gatsby with masala steak and fries in it, stumbling through the ingredients a bit, as he's not really sure what's what until it's explained to him. <@Brett> [Achievement unlocked! "The Great Gatsby"] * Gordo goes for the chicken himself and it still comes out spicier than he was expecting. (Is there at least a green light?) * Shiho gets the same thing as Montana and seems to be enjoying it. * Nigel looks over the options and then also gets a gatsby, because it's funny. (...and we are now what preyed on Gatsby) (I have not had enough to drink yet for that to be true!) <@Brett> ( there's traffic lights, those are green. ) (Also, I would trust Sonia behind the wheel of a car waaay more than anybody in that book.) * Montana is eating quite happily and has gone back to meandering through the crowded streets, borrowing the occasional watch or wallet from the better-to-do as a touch of exercise. (Oh man, yes.) <@Brett> [The port district seems to be a nice one for shopping and food, though perhaps not the most attractive district in the city.] ("Gatsby turned out all right at the end; it is what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams that temporarily closed out my interest in the abortive sorrows and short-winded elations of men.") * Shiho eyes any clothing and accessories she sees. (Just to explain my very nerdy joke) (Oh hey, Cape town has an aviation museum.) * Nigel munches on his sandwich and looks at the stands... specifically the jewelery stands. (Or, at least had one a few hundred years ago) <@Brett> [Nigel sees no silver jewelry inlaid with secret magic stones.] <@Brett> ( Probably still does ) * Montana palms a bracelet from the edge of one of said jewelry stands, then says to Shiho, "Y'know you've probably got the whole day. You could actually go shoppin' for some of the stuff you've been eyeing." * Gordo pulls out his datapad thing and pokes at while eating with his other hand. "Hah, they've an aviation museum. Wonder if they've got anything worth seeing." He pokes at their site. You think anyone takes euros? * Montana grins. "I'm thinkin' plastic works anywhere." And barring that, could hit up the money exchange. (You'd be surprised! But somehow I figure you have cards that don't care about foreign currency charges.) (Serious, given the amount of travel we do?) * Shiho brightens. "True enough." She heads over to a jewelry stall just ahead, and therefore unlikely to have been robbed by Montana yet. * Montana puts his hands in his pockets (not where the bracelet is, incidentally) and heads over to look at what Shiho's checking curiously. <@Brett> ( South Africa, while still considered third world, is the most advanced and richest nation in Africa. Plastic works fine :P ) * Nigel shrugs and heads over to Shiho. "There is some pretty nice stuff here." * Shiho nods as she looks over the jewelry. "I love designer brands, but I'm always worried I'm going to mess up whatever I buy. I lost a Gucci coat to a firefight once." * Gordo taps away at his datapad, not finding much past the last 70 years or so of military cast offs. Really? That's a shame. But it ain't like you can't ever get another one. * Shiho picks up a gold cuff, gives it a skeptical look, and starts bargaining with the stall owner for it. * Montana glances at the cuff. (Is it real gold in Montana's estimation, Brett?) * Nigel nods. "My suits are designer... I mean... you probably realized, but it's really the only thing I spend money on." (AFK for a moment.) <@Brett> ( Partially ) <@Brett> ( Probably real gold coating another alloy ) (Right.) * Montana leans over and says quietly in Shiho's ear, "'s plated." And then he turns to Nigel and raises his voice: "Why's that? Run outta books to buy?" * Nigel shakes his head. "The books I have aren't very easy to buy..." * Shiho scowls and says, "That's outageous, this is obviously only plated gold," and names an even lower price. * Montana blinks, then asks suddenly, "Why *do* you only ever wear suits, Nigel?" * Nigel shrugs. "Might as well be dressed nicely when I die." Well. That's fuckin' morbid. Wonder you ain't dead yet. (Back) (Welcome back!) * Nigel shakes his head. "It was a joke, Montana." Sorry, the whole British straight face thing makes it hard to tell when you're makin' a joke or just bein' an asshole. Seriously, why? * Shiho finally agrees to a price and pays for it, then snaps the band shut over her wrist with a cheerful smile. "Awesome. Anyway, so I -could- buy another coat, but I didn't really feel like spending another," Shiho names a price that is $6000 adjusted for future inflation, "for something I'd probably just ruin with bullet holes again." <@Brett> ( Shiho recieves a gold friendship bracelet ) * Montana gets his attention split to Shiho and says, "Yeah, that makes sense. Sounds like knock offs are the best course 'a action." (She bought it for herself. Shiho is very fond of herself.) Ugh, knock offs. No thank you. * Montana laughs. * Nigel nods at Shiho and then turns to Montana and shrugs. "I guess I just got used to it while teaching, and it's a good look for me, and people tend to respect well-dressed individuals. Besides, I do a fair amount of talking with a variety of people in my line of work and it helps to be well-dressed for that." * Montana looks Nigel over. "Yeeeeah, I bet cultists respond really well to the suit." * Nigel shrugs and raises his eyebrow. "I don't really give a fuck how the cultists respond to my clothes. Just how they respond to a crossbow bolt through their head." <@Brett> ( Sorry guys, games over. Alysha got killed off camera ) * Gordo mutters about the best response being not dealing with cultists in the first place. (Darn.) * Montana snorts and turns to Shiho. "Where to, ma'am?" he asks. (Ah well!) (Maaaan) (I ROLLED A 3) (Fracking escort missions) Anywhere's fine with me. (Can we go back to the savepoint?) * Montana picks a random direction and heads that way, then! * Gordo stands, pockets his datapad and trashes the remnants of his sandwich before following. * Nigel heads off with the group. * Montana comments cheerfully, "Gotta admit, I don't know heads or tails of this city." So if we're gonna get mugged, I might need protectin'. I've a map, but I'd like to run screaming for the ship and not have it be the bosses's fault fer a change. Coincedentally, I make a living protecting people. *Really?* I had no idea! You protect us while we run screamin' for the ship. Gordo needs the exercise. * Nigel nods. "And I make a living fighting the occult, so I suppose if we run into a supernatural mugger, I have you covered. Although, I must admit, I am not particularly well prepared for dealing with African supernaturals." That's better than our usual at least! Man, you remember that time with the statue? The one with the crown of flowers - that thing was fuckin' *heavy* - and we were trying to load it onto the chopper before that squad caught up? Only every other time a cargo ramp gets stuck. Good thing they couldn't hit the side of a barn if'n they were standing inside. (Is anyone/everyone wearing comms, or alternately does Sonia have Montana's phone number?) (You have my phone number. *waggles eyebrows* Er, seriously, you do.) (I'd assume we brought the comms with us. Nobody trusts the boss out of line of sight.) (Nigel is likely wearing a comm) (Also a reasonable assumption!) <@Brett> ( Sonia dials and gets Tilda. AWKWARD ) (DUDE SHE DID NOT TAKE MY PHONE.) <@Brett> ( You might have given the wrong number! ) <@Brett> ( and besides, how do you know for sure? :) ) (Excessively unlikely!) (I know for sure because I'm not stupid; I check. XP) * Sonia comes across comms at the same time Montana's phone rings, although the voice is extremely flat, possibly even 'robotic' in its nature. ~Sonic in danger and disabled. Comms engaged.~ Small pause, then a high shrill unrecognized voice, ~Monty, where are you?~ * Montana blinks, and he hits the comms even as he checks who's calling. ~In the city, six blocks out of port. Where the fuck are *you*?~ (Caller ID match Sonia?) <@Brett> ( To be fair, she probably would have just copied his SIM card. ) (No.) * Gordo starts looking around for a car or truck big enough to carry 4. ~Highway! Was looking for Sonic, not Legs. She was disabled immediately.~ <@Brett> [Gordo spots a roomy model that's probably ten years old.] * Montana furrows his brow, and he hits accept on his phone, putting it to his ear. "Who is this?" he asks over it. ~I'm Alleen. Sonia's car. Normally we don't get to talk but since now we have to...~ * Nigel tilts his head and then pulls out his laptop and quickly fires it up... trying to find a way to track down the signal. * Sonia is now known as Aileen * Gordo taps Monty on the shoulder and points at the elderly car. ~A'ight. Alleen. Where on the highway are we talkin'? I think Gordo might've found somethin'...~ * Montana hangs up the phone - whatever, he has comms - and runs over to the car, checking the door since maybe they could be lucky enough that it's unlocked. <@Brett> [Nope, not that lucky!] 2d6+10 Nigel rolls 2D6+10: 5 2 +10 = 17 * Aileen giggles slightly, vibratory, then gives a location. ~I'm not being chased. Most of the attackers were in masks, but one wasn't.~ <@Brett> ( In the middle of a big city with a high crime rate? Who's gonna do that :P ) (Well, it's a clunker, so. ^^) * Montana makes with breaking into a car, then, working to wedge the door open and hit the unlock button It's rather like breaking into anything else, only it has wheels. 2d6+10 Montana rolls 2D6+10: 2 2 +10 = 14 <@Brett> ( Minor point: It is broad daylight on a busy street. Just saying ) (Yeah, that's why he has to do it quickly, someone shield me by just standing around please.) ~So what should I do, Monty? I could try and tail them, but I'm a shiny little thing, you know.~ ~Sonia hurt? How about the other girl, Alysha?~ <@Brett> [Despite that abysmal roll, Montana succeeds due to his through-the-roof score. The door pops open, without even an alarm going off. ~Not dead, don't know, didn't see.~ * Shiho keeps an eye out for anyone noticing Montana's totally legal entry to this car. <@Brett> [Some people are giving curious glances your way, but nobody's pulled out a cell phone yet. * Montana slides in, hitting the unlock for the rest of the car, and closes the driver side door before he makes with makes with hotwiring a car. ~Fuck. Yeah, tail 'em but don't risk gettin' caught. We'll catch up with you soon as we can. Busy hotwirin' this thing now...~ * Nigel heads in a direction. "She's this way." ~Sonia didn't register hurt, but something disabled her.~ (scratch that) * Nigel gets in the car. "I have her location." * Montana frowns. ~Like an EMP or somethin'?~ (Aw, so much for me trying to snag Nigel!) * Aileen makes another vibratory noise and seems brighter. ~I'll do it, Monty. Yeah, maybe something like that?~ (Sorry paying attention to a lot of things) 2d6+10 Montana rolls 2D6+10: 3 4 +10 = 17 ~Wild it didn't disable you, too.~ * Gordo gets in as well. ~It was on contact. She was busy throwing me open.~ * Shiho gets in the back. * Nigel points in a direction. "Head that way." <@Brett> [Montana hotwires the old thing without much effort. This car even has a fin on the roof. How 90s.] (SHARK CAR) ~Well, glad you're okay, at least.~ * Aileen giggles slightly and says, ~Nice you're thinking of me, Monty.~ * Montana glances back at Nigel and nods, then guns it in the indicated direction. ~Seems Nigel knows where you guys are. We're on our way.~ <@Brett> [And so the cavalry heads to the rescue! END]