http://gryphon.sandwich.net/logs/talkyfaces.txt <@Brett> [Date: April 22nd. Time: 10:00 am. Location: Lobby of the Royal Suites, Hong Kong] <@Brett> [Following a long flight delay due to bad weather, you didn't get into Hong Kong with much more time than to get to the hotel last night. But now it's morning and time to track down the artifact. You remember, the jewelry with the funny stones? That thing, which is somewhere in this city. Probably. If nobody beat you to it yet.] <@Brett> [How do we do that? You tell me.] <@Brett> [Start] (... we send Monty, Sonia, to go make contacts with people who know things in a minisession and/or follow whoever kidnaps Alysha/Iris) (Urban tracking!) (Which jewelry piece is this, again?) <@Brett> ( I'm trying to figure that out. ) <@Brett> ( It's either the ring or the earring. The log I need (#63) isn't available to tell me which. ) <@Brett> ( found it. You're after the ring ) (Okay, good to know. And all we know is that it's somewhere in the city, right?) (Or do we know who probably has it? I think we know who probably has it...) <@Brett> ( You do know who has it. Sorta. Athena showed you an image. ) <@Brett> ( [Another image appears, of a spikey-haired Asian man. "The last is in the hands of this man." Sonia, Gordo and especially Shiho recognize him from the hotel in Dubai."] ) <@Brett> ( Where he was described as having a scar over his right eye ) <@Brett> ( So.... pretty distinctive guy to ask about :o ) (And named Istvan Than) <@Brett> ( nnnno ) <@Brett> ( Istvan Thane is another guy. ) <@Brett> ( Who rules Granbia ) <@Brett> ( And is also secretly Ares ) (Ah, too many converstaions happening on top of eachother.) <@Brett> ( IT has been a while ) * Montana is in the lobby, as described! He's all suited up, under those normal clothes + hat of his, and his eyes are a slightly-too-blue color thanks to the contacts he put in. May as well get used to it. (Which log is the Dubai hotel? Gordo saw the guy in a magazine? I remember nothign!) (And by put in, I mean Sonia helping him put them in because when it comes to contacts, Montana is still basically the worst.) <@Brett> ( $43 ) (Ahhh that dude crap. From #43, right?) <@Brett> ( #43 that is ) * Nigel is in the lobby, sitting down in a comfortable chair with his laptop out. He's dressed in a nice suit and is tapping intently at his keyboard. (Danke) * Shiho is wearing her usual black-on-black combo, hair in a long braid, looking pretty restless. Her eyes - which have contacts as brown as her eyes used to be - are dark underneath like she didn't get much sleep. <@Brett> [Alysha isn't there. You left her at Herman's remember?] * Gordo is wearing sunglasses inside because after poking himself in the eyes enough times (twice) he gave up and poking frustratedly at his tablet. * Montana smiles reassuringly at Shiho, then goes to look over his brother's shoulder. "Find anythin'?" * Shiho tries to smile back. It looks more like a grimace. She stops trying pretty quickly. (Anyway, about underworld tracking?) <@Brett> ( Go for it ) 2d6+9 * Dicesuke rolls 2d6+9 for Sonia and gets a natural 5 for a result of 14. 2d6+10 * Dicesuke rolls 2d6+10 for Nigel and gets a natural 9 for a result of 19. <@Brett> [Nigel and Sonia both search for information and end up colliding with each other. <@Brett> [Actually though...] (bonk) (bonk bonk) (Bork bork?) * Nigel looks back at Montana. "Yeah... Take a look at this." Nigel turns his laptop over so the screen is visible, showing a newspaper article about a dedication of a new library. The president of the country, John Wing is there as are a bunch of MiBs, one of whom is talking to the spiky haired boy. * Montana leans over. "A library, huh." He tries to read the caption; maybe it has the guy's name. * Gordo puts his tablet down. "Ya 'ave somethin then?" * Nigel nods. "Yeah.. looks like our boy was at a library dedication." Odd circles. 2d6+6 * Dicesuke rolls 2d6+6 for Sonia and gets a natural 5 for a result of 11. Is there a name? (I dunno! Is there?) <@Brett> ( Sure. "The John Wing Memorial Library." ) (:P) (The spiky haired guy's name.) <@Brett> ( Also you can give me politics rolls if you want. ) <@Brett> ( Oh. Not in the article, no. ) * Nigel shakes his head. "No." <@Brett> ( He's not exactly in the front row of the photograph ) (Straight mind roll is okay, right?) It doesn't seem that he is really the main focus of the article. (I can do straight mind) <@Brett> ( Sure ) 2d6+5 * Dicesuke rolls 2d6+5 for Shiho and gets a natural 10 for a result of 15. * Sonia jogs in from the outside, hair dyed a dark green and tied back behind her head. She looks at everyone hanging around the lobby like that was a good idea and hnhs before she walks over. * Montana says to Shiho, "Don't look like it." He smiles at Sonia. "Hey, darlin'." * Gordo tries to call up the library story. "Anybody else in there 'ave a name?" * Sonia looks slightly down at Montana, through her shades, and replies, "Our boy's an old hitman for the government. Before it was a government." 2d6+7 * Dicesuke rolls 2d6+7 for Nigel and gets a natural 6 for a result of 13. * Gordo looks at Sonia... "That before the current goverment er before China?" * Shiho mutters, "I can't believe Wing is still president." * Sonia tilts her head as she looks at Gordo. 'Before the current government. Local gangs made worse. Nine Dragons." His name's... Liu. Charles. * Gordo sighs in releafe. Hong Kong's been run by the Nine Dragons for, what, the last twenty years? * Nigel tilts his head at Shiho's comment. "I thought Wing was heralded for bringing stability to the economy." * Shiho is keeping her voice relatively quiet to avoid anyone overhearing. * Sonia shrugs. "Don't know, wasn't really askin' 'bout a history lesson." * Nigel shrugs. "Though, admittedly, you would have a much better handle on Hong Kong politics than me." * Shiho snorts. "It's probably easier to keep things stable when you watched your boss run the city for the eight years previous. He knew exactly what he was getting into." * Shiho clarifies, "Wing worked under the previous president, Martin Bao." * Nigel nods. "I do recall that, yes." Nine Dragons are holding on pretty well, if no one else has managed to snag the presidency in twenty years. * Montana lets out a small "huh", then asks Sonia, "He still doin' jobs for them?" Rumor's he's gone silent. * Sonia rubs her neck. "For a guy that everyone knows, s'quite a trick." Damn. Ain't gonna make things easy. * Nigel nods. "So how do we find him?" 2d6+9 * Dicesuke rolls 2d6+9 for Sonia and gets a natural 12 for a result of 21. (well, that's a roll) <@Brett> ( Isn't that a crit? ) (*Sonia points out the window. "Oh, that' s the easy part.) (It looks like one to me.) (it sure bagel) <@Brett> ( Dangit Dicey, you're supposed to know these things ) (it says '12' <@Brett> ( But it doesn't say crit :X ) (AFK a moment or two) * Sonia thumbs out the door. "Old man who used to know him's within' kicking distance. Since gangs stick together, I figured I shouldn't knock alone." * Montana nods and straightens, stretching as he heads out the door to kick some old man. * Shiho shifts around a little. "If it makes any difference to whatever groups we're forming, I speak Cantonese. In case anyone switches to it to avoid us understanding them." I'm not sure if I've shared that before. * Nigel nods. "Good to know. I may have you teach me later, if you would be willing." Maybe. I don't use it much. (Back) * Nigel smiles and shrugs. "Practice would be good, then." <@Brett> ( Suddenly everyone you meet speaks Cantonese and Cantonese alone! ) * Montana looks over to Shiho. "Great. Why don'tcha come with us?" * Nigel nods. "I think maybe we should all just go, unless there is some reason to leave me and Gordo here." Other than us sticking out like sore thumbs. * Montana nods. * Nigel shrugs. "I don't think we will stick out any more than Montana and Sonia." <@Brett> [And shortly you arrive at the Laundromat! It's set into a building on a street side under a pedestrian walkway that crosses the street, meaning it's always shadowy in front. There's 8 washing machines and 8 dryers, a long bench for people to sit on, and a couple of vending machines. There's also a second room off the side, but it's marked staff only so you can't go in. Sorry.] * Gordo is still working out how to say "Your brother can turn almost but not quite invisable" without actually saying that when they arrive. <@Brett> [There's nobody in the main laundromat when you get there. Then again it's only about noon. Business probably doesn't pick up til later.] * Sonia is looking/hearing for an old man. * Montana has no idea who they are looking for, really! He just paces in and checks the place out. * Sonia comms, "Someone in back talkin' to themselves. Wanna knock?" <@Brett> [Montana discoveres a laundromat.] * Gordo shrugs, nods at Monty. * Nigel shrugs and rests his hand on a fancy high-tech crossbow that is now resting at his side. Then motions towards the door. "Go ahead." * Montana walks up to the door, then, and knocks. Because that is how he do. 2d6+6 * Dicesuke rolls 2d6+6 for Sonia and gets a natural 12 for a result of 18. (Man, what did you bribe this dicy with?) (possibly 'having the ability to automatically succeed at this roll' written on my charsheet) (Ah) (I'll have to try that.) <@Brett> [Shortly, a man opens the door. He's mid 50s, pretty well built, with short gry hair and a grey mustache that resembles a broom. He's wearing a tank top and a pair of pants, the left leg is cut off, revealing a bulky, old metal cybernetic leg, the kind they would have had years ago. He also uses a cane; seems the leg doesn't work so great.] (Going to take this, Sonia?) <@Brett> ["Yes?" He asks. "If it's about the leftmost washer, I swear I thought I fixed it."] * Sonia speaks up, past Montana, to say, "No. About old friends. Charles Liu. He's in trouble." <@Brett> [He huffs. "Charles, huh?"] Yeah. He's been stayin' low, but we need to find him. <@Brett> [He folds his arms. "And who do you work for?"] * Sonia says, flatly, "People. It's not really explainin' time, it's 'if he's lucky he's only gonna lose some of his stuff instead of his head' time." So help him be lucky. <@Brett> ["And why would I wanna do that?" He asks. "That little bastard. I taught him everything he knows, but when Wing offed Bao, oh, he was all too happy to switch sides. And me? I barely get out alive." He bangs his cybernetic leg with his cane. "Took a bullet for that sumbitch Wing, too. Think he was grateful? Of course not. I don't get a dime. They just throw me out. I had to buy this old piece <@Brett> of crap out of my own pocket, and it doesn't even work right anymore."] <@Brett> [He grins. "I'll bet ya didn't know that, yeah? Wing killed Bao. Made it look like an accident."] * Gordo tries and fails to not look surprised. It would have been more of a surprise if Bao had -actually- died of natural causes. * Nigel looks down at the leg. "I bet we can manage to fix that up for you, if you are willing to help." <@Brett> ["Yeah?" He looks at Nigel. "You got that kind of money just 'lying around', huh? No, look, I don't need to know who you're working for. The real question is why you want Liu dead."] * Nigel shrugs. "Why do you care? You just said you hated the bloke." * Sonia tilts her head slightly, then says, "Yeah, old cyber's not that hard to manage. But it ain't us who want him dead." It's more like he's gonna be collateral damage, and the other people lookin' for him wouldn't have even bothered askin' you. <@Brett> ["Son, I'm an old man. I've been in the business long enough to know you've got to cover your bases, and I'm not in the mood for a doublecross."] * Sonia rubs her neck. "Smart. But other people woulda wondered who you were talkin' to a minute ago. Probably woulda kicked the door down." She crouches down to take a closer look at the leg and see how bad off it is. 2d6+7 * Dicesuke rolls 2d6+7 for Sonia and gets a natural 6 for a result of 13. * Shiho says lightly, "I wouldn't mind seeing him dead. You ever hear about Gordon and Annette Li? Gave their two kids actual fucking Chinese names, whole family murdered in their own damn house? About a decade ago." * Montana looks at Shiho with something almost like concern, then goes back to watching Sonia check out the dude's leg. * Gordo turns around to watch the front. * Sonia shrugs a little and looks up at Montana before saying, "Not a hard fix with the parts. Life with no money." Yeah? Could definitely do somethin' about that. <@Brett> ["Yeah, I heard of 'em. What about 'em?"] (Hey... I may need to bail here in the next 15-20 minutes because I'm nearly passing out.) * Shiho smiles, a wide stretch of her mouth with a lot of teeth and no humor. "I was friends with those kids, and I have a lead that says Liu was the one behind the hit." * Nigel turns to Shiho and sighs, frowning. * Sonia shrugs slightly and stands up. I have no reason to cross you, and likely a good reason to cross him. Even if it wasn't him, I won't cry myself to sleep if he dies. You can help us fuck over the man who fucked you over, and we'll do you a good turn besides, or we can leave. But I'll thank you not to waste our time. <@Brett> [He nods. "Yeah, same here. One of the first jobs he did under Wing. Apparently Gordon was backing Wing's political rival. He sent Liu to take care of him. Or so I'm told."] * Shiho nods. <@Brett> [The old man (whose name nobody ever asked) folds his arms again, considering. "If I do this, you'll get my leg fixed? And keep quiet about where you heard the info? I don't need more troubles than I've got."] Grandfather, I don't even know your name. I won't say a word. * Sonia nods slightly and folds her arm. "I can handle the leg. 'll just need to grab some pieces from around the way." <@Brett> ["Long. Lawerence Long. And I'll trust you, because frankly I don't have much to lose. Laundromat doesn't exactly bring in big money, even with the... erm... side business."] * Shiho bows. "Thank you." * Nigel nods. "Thanks." * Montana looks at Sonia. "How long'll it take, you thinkin'?" <@Brett> [He grabs his cellphone and starts punching fake buttons. "So I don't know where he is these days. He moves around a lot. Working in Wing's shadow, though rumor says he's the one really pulling the strings."] You know me. I'm fast. * Sonia half-bows her head, touches the side of it, and then jogs out of the room. <@Brett> ["But I do know who can take you to him." He pushes a button, and the image of a long-haired Indian woman appears. "Ice, they call her. She works with him. Drives for him. Rumor says she sleeps with him, too, but couldn't tell you for sure. But she's also big in the underground race league."] <@Brett> ["So you find the races, you'll find her. You find her, you'll find your way to Charles."] * Sonia stops halfway out of the room and turns her head around to look at him in disbelief. 'Kak, isit?' <@Brett> ["Beg your pardon?"] * Sonia looks to the screen, then throws up her hands in disbelief before she walks out of the room. 'Rumor's probably wrong. She wouldn't want to get herself dirty.' <@Brett> ( Welp, we can end when you guys are ready ) * Montana watches Sonia leave. "Small world." (I'm good if people need to Z!) (Sure. SOrry I didn't do much this week.) (Sounds good. I've almost fallen asleep like 2 or 3 times already) (goodnight) * Nigel (TwistedRid@173-21-245-53.client.mchsi.com) Quit (Quit: Leaving) <@Brett> [end]