<@Brett> [Day: Friday, April 15th. Time: 12:30 p.m. Location: An outdoor table at Lancelot Cafe, Paris, France] <@Brett> [Following a day of hanging out at a museum for some reason, you meet Alysha at lunch, at the same cafe she first took you to last time you were in Paris. Flights are scheduled for soon after, her going one direction and you going the other. But for now, food.] <@Brett> [Start] <@Brett> [Alysha munches on a crepe. She's wearing a sleeveless red top and white pants, and her hair's tied into a long ponytail at the neck. At this point it, nearly reaches her knees.] * Montana is there, eating what's basically an upside down apple tart. Those French, what will they think of next. He has a hat on his head and food in his mouth. * Gordo has a mostly uneaten pie in front of him as he's sorting through the pictures he took the previous day. * Shiho is eating a sweet crepe, sitting next to Alysha. She's wearing her usual dark-on-dark outfit, her long hair braided. <@Brett> [Alysha glances at Shiho in between crepe bites. "So..... What did you decide to do, Shiho?"] * Sonia is sitting with a hoodie pulled over her head. She doesn't seem all that interested in food. * Shiho says flatly, "I'm coming to Hong Kong." * Nigel is eating a large slice of chocolate cake. You can have chocolate cake for breakfast when you are in Paris. He is also drinking tea, and makes a slightly disappointed face every time he takes a sip. <@Brett> [Alysha looks relieved. "Glad to hear it. We need you."] * Sonia shrugs a little to herself, then says, "Anything else you have to tell us 'bout what we're actually doin'?" * Shiho picks at her crepe. <@Brett> [She shakes her head. "I don't know. You're looking for that man in the image Athena showed us. Beyond that, there wasn't anything Michael Rowlins found out about it before he died. The VA rep is in Jakarta right now, so he won't be in your way."] <@Brett> [She considers. "Aside from that, I guess I can tell you about Hong Kong. Pretty much everyone's bilingual in English and Cantonese. Most people have a combination Western personal name and Eastern surname, but not all. Nearly everyone's connected with a triad in one way or another, including the government and police -- don't count on them for help if you get in trouble. Aside from that...."] <@Brett> [She shrugs, and glances at Shiho.] Wasn't plannin' on relyin' on the cops anyway. * Shiho raises an eyebrow. "That about covers it." <@Brett> [Alysha grins. "Well, I may not be able to buy them out like I normally would."] * Montana swallows. "Guessin' we don't even got his name." <@Brett> [Alysha shakes her head again. "That's the thing about gods, they're not very good at relaying information."] I wouldn't trust any civilians either, even if they're not actually triad members. Makes it pretty difficult, if we can't ask any questions. Yeah. Any, uh, magic you can use to track it? <@Brett> [She smiles sadly. "Unfortunately, Alysha will never be able to use magic, remember?."] * Shiho shrugs at Montana. ... Somebody else we can get ta do it then? * Montana looks at Sonia. "Hey, you said you got a lead on that wizard, right?" <@Brett> [She glances at Gordo. "Maybe Ambal could. I'll ask him on my way back. * Nigel shrugs. "My magic is very limited. So I am of no help. Although, I also have some magic connections. I might be able to make some calls." * Sonia frowns and says, "Was asking anyone 'round. And, uh..." she trails off and glances at Montana, then half-shrugs. "My people aren't really jumping unless they have to, and I ain't gonna try and make 'em." Not on a long shot. * Montana nods. "Yeah. Just figured, magic an' all." * Sonia says, "Yeah, well, they..." and then trails off and shakes her head. "You know how it goes with other pros, sometimes." * Gordo shrugs. "Seemed like it might've been a good idea. What else we've got to try?" <@Brett> ( Gimme hearing rolls :D ) 2d6+7 * Dicesuke rolls 2d6+7 for Shiho and gets a natural 9 for a result of 16. 2d6+6 * Dicesuke rolls 2d6+6 for Sonia and gets a natural 8 for a result of 14. 2d6+5 * Dicesuke rolls 2d6+5 for Gordo and gets a natural 6 for a result of 11. 2d6+6 * Dicesuke rolls 2d6+6 for Montana and gets a natural 9 for a result of 15. (I forgot to open my char sheet) (I usually do that, too!) 2d6+7 * Dicesuke rolls 2d6+7 for Nigel and gets a natural 4 for a result of 11. <@Brett> [While Gordo and Nigel are absorbed in thought, everyone else (Alysha included) notices something: It's awfully quiet.] * Shiho stands suddenly and puts a hand to her sword. She looks around. <@Brett> [Alysha raises an eyebrow. "Uhh..." She glances at everyone.] * Gordo looks up at Shiho and then starts looking around himself. "What's gone on?" <@Brett> [As if to answer Gordo, all of the windows on the street explode suddenly, sending glass shards flying at you. Gimme defense rolls :D] (Can I forgo my defense roll to know exactly what is going on, because it's just glass and I'm covered in armor?) 2d6+9 * Dicesuke rolls 2d6+9 for Shiho and gets a natural 9 for a result of 18. <@Brett> ( You can forgo your defense roll if you like, but I'm not sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on :P ) 2d6+6 * Dicesuke rolls 2d6+6 for Gordo and gets a natural 9 for a result of 15. 2d6+6 * Dicesuke rolls 2d6+6 for Montana and gets a natural 7 for a result of 13. (Shiho is protecting Alysha, please use the roll for that. ^^;) 2d6+6 * Dicesuke rolls 2d6+6 for Nigel and gets a natural 7 for a result of 13. (Yeah, Sonia doesn't care about glass, she cares about everything else.) <@Brett> [Quick reactions on all of your parts sees everyone huddle under the table except Alysha, who's slow to react, and Sonia, who's all like "enh." Luckily for Alysha, Shiho dives at her, knocking her off her chair and to the ground, narrowly keeping her from getting perforated. Luckly for Sonia, she's mostly made of metal, though her clothes and outer skin get shredded pretty well.] (I am full attacking the 'figure out what's going on' roll.) * Montana peeks out from behind his arms, which were shielding his face. * Gordo draws and loads his pistol while still behind the table. "Not what I ment." * Shiho gets up and draws her sword. "Stay down, boss!" <@Brett> [Alysha does as she's told, though barely does everyone get up before there's a rumbling, and then the buildings themselves start moving inwards, attempting to crush you in between them.] New plan, move instead! * Montana tries to pull Alysha out from under the table and run the fuck out of the way, carrying her if need be. (How big was the window that just broke? And how much of it is left?) * Shiho lets Montana get Alysha and tries to avoid getting squished. (All of the windows broke.) <@Brett> ( There are soem big broken windows though, it's mostly cafes, restaurants and storefronts on this street. ) (Yeah, but do we have a big, now empty plate glass window we could just step through or is it still full of glass shards?) * Sonia will, uh, get up and get out of the way? The description doesn't really allow for any action whatsoever. <@Brett> ( You could go through it if you think it'll be any better inside. ) (Wait... I thougt we were inside... *goes to reread the opening) (Ah, we had an outdoor table. I missed that.) ... So... this isn't actually happening. Right? <@Brett> [You run to the next intersection, just as the buildings slam closed behind you.] (Am I carrying Alysha, or is she good?) * Montana pulls his gun out from under his coat. "Any idea what the fuck?" he asks the resident experts of crazy: Alysha and Nigel. (Well, I might not be pulling a gun because Alysha, but the question still remains!) <@Brett> [Montana is carrying Alysha. Which is earning him some strange, even admiring looks from the passers by. Shiho they just give a wide berth, what with her having a drawn sword and all.]] (We have passers by again?) <@Brett> [And as you look back, the street you just ran down seems fine. No buildings smashed together, no broken glass anywhere. There is an angry waitress running at you screaming something, though.] * Shiho grunts and sheathes her sword. * Montana does NOT have a gun, then, but he does look bewildered at the... ah. Angry waitress. * Montana sets Alysha down. * Gordo puts his gun away. "Best pay for lunch." * Sonia sighs slightly. "So can you explain that little repeated bullshit that keeps happening too? That strange shadow dimension crap?" <@Brett> [Alysha nods slowly and walks over to the waitress, trying to calm her in French.] * Nigel nods to Montana. "It's probably the S-Type again. Probably trying to finish the job and kill Alysha now before she takes off again." ... By getting us arrested in Paris? * Shiho stays with Alysha. * Nigel shakes his head to Gordo. "Likely it intended to succeed at killing her back there." Then- how the fuck? Wasn't that an illusion just now? And shouldn't we be moving? <@Brett> [After some calming (and a very generous tip), the waitress is paid and heads back to the cafe, muttering under her breath. Alysha turns back to you. "Right.... Before anything, we need to deal with this once and for all."] * Montana is clearly listening. <@Brett> [Alysha scratches her head and gestures at Montana. "Don't suppose you know some particularly powerful psychics?"] * Montana frowns at Alysha. "Just you. Ma'am." <@Brett> [She frowns. "If only."] What, you were the only psychic in the world in, uh, your world? (it's too bad Monty can't just ring Shiggy across Ard's head.) (Or Rei. Rei would be perfect for counter trolling.) <@Brett> [Alysha shakes her head. "The only one I trust."] Yeah? We ain't got many other options. (Rei'd be excellent, what with that astral, but it's probably better to fight a Shiggy with a Shiggy.) * Sonia gestures around. "You got all this knowledge 'bout another world, should think about usin' it." <@Brett> ["We got some. Just ones I'd rather not use."] That Sebastian guy's got some woman with telekinesis, but I don't think she's about to help us out. <@Brett> [Alysha blinks a few times, then looks at Montana.] ... Oh, you are shitting me, we are *not* calling her up. Whoever those people you're talkin' about are have got to be better. * Sonia sighs, then says, "Well, if none of you are any good at this, then I'll just fucking make more noise and see if I can get an answer sooner..." * Nigel nods. "I'll make some calls. We'll see if I can turn up anything. I've done some work for some pretty strange clients before. * Gordo shrugs. "Thisn't something tha NIgel's crash course in the worlds actually crazy covered." <@Brett> ["Our other options are a wizard nobody can find, a psychic who's batshit insane, a demon contractor or a deal with the fae. I think that makes Julienne Stone a pretty attractive option Did you forget the part about that statue or the egg or them nearly killin' us multiple times? This ain't like Tilda, ma'am. <@Brett> ["She didn't come from nowhere. She's got a past. Maybe she's got something we can use as leverage." She sighs and gestures at the cafe. "Like Sonia said, we don't have many options."] ... I'm not thinking tryn' ta blackmail her's gonna endear us ta her heart ta save our lives, but yer the boss. * Nigel shrugs. "We've done crazier things." <@Brett> [She glances at Gordo. "You have a better idea?"] * Sonia frowns. "This is fucking ridiculous. You spend months tryin' to earn our trust, then we just go try and trap this woman who we couldn't stop from doin' anything she wants." (How long until our flights?) <@Brett> ( X amount of hours! :D ) Notta one. I don't know any psychics who arn't at least passivly trying to get me killed deader than British Aerospace. (So infinite time?) <@Brett> ["We could try the fae. I don't know what they'd ask for, but it'll be pricey. Dealing with the fae always is."] <@Brett> ( Say like 2-3 hours. ) * Nigel shrugs. "It's true. But at least they wouldn't be predisposed towards fucking us over." <@Brett> ( Not that they can't be reschuled. ) How'd we get ahold of one? They got a phone number? <@Brett> ["I know a fairy. She's not bound to the fae realms anymore, but I'm sure she has connections. And I bet Nigel knows a few. Or at least, people who do." She looks to Nigel for confimation.] * Sonia exhales upwards and leaves the talking to the others, focusing on running her sonics to try and detect if anyone wants to screw with them. * Shiho just keeps an eye out. * Nigel nods. "Sure. I've done work for a couple fairies in the past." * Nigel shrugs. "I' (stupid keyboard) * Nigel shrugs. "I can make some calls." <@Brett> [Alysha frowns, folding her arms. "I'm not sure I like this. I don't know much about the fae, but I know that once they have you in their power, you're bound to it until you can repay your debt."] Ain't nothin' to like in any scenario, is there? <@Brett> [She shakes her head. "A wizard could do it. Probably. But it'd have to be a strong one. Stronger than Ambal. Stronger than Karin."] * Nigel scratches his head. "Hm... Maybe we can work out a deal with one. I mean... I've done work for fae and other supernaturals before. Sometimes they need things recovered. If we can get the deal set up ahead of time, we can just do an even exchange." * Montana shrugs, hooking his hands in his pockets. He lacks wizard knowledge, psychic knowledge, fae knowledge, and any connections thereof beyond what everyone else knows. <@Brett> [She glances at Nigel. "Maybe, but we don't have a lot of time. Do you think you could do it?"] * Nigel shrugs. "I can try." <@Brett> [Alysha nods slowly. "Alright. See what you can come up with."] * Nigel nods. <@Brett> ( Should we end? ) (Sure) (I'm okay with that) (I guess so? We really arn't getting anywhere.) (We don't have the tools TO Get anywhere.) <@Brett> [Aight, end]