Prologue: The Dog Days of Summer

[Gremlin]

Skye

Morning ritual taken care of and with freshly brushed hair, Skye rejoins the group not long before Pandora's arrival. Due to the heat, today she's wearing simple denim shorts, a black tank top and her usual Doc Martens. She sits down cross-legged on the floor out of the way of the others and starts tapping away on her pocket secretary while they wait.

[Juramenta]

{Headstone}

"Same seats, glad everyone could make it." Headstone says with a grin, taking a moment to look around the room at the crew.
He jumps straight into the plan, but pauses if anyone interjects.
"Alright, Pacman’s got Angel covered and will fill her in later, so we’re all set. I know it’s early for some of you, well, most of you," he smirks "but we’ve got an offer I think we should take."

"We’ve got a meet with a Johnson at 7 PM at the Eye of the Needle, that fancy spot up in the Space Needle. It’s not just a payday, it’s a trial run for future biz. The Johnson might be small fry, but if we deliver, he could connect us to some bigger fish.
Falstaff didn’t have much intel beyond the fact that we’re there for the Dashiell party. Chances are the run kicks off right after the meet."
Headstone looks around at the group, trying to read their reactions before continuing.

"Given the lack of info, Tears in the Rain suggested we stake out the place first. Skye’s already planning to check the astral. Now, we’ve all run together before, but every time the lineup changes, so does the dynamic. Until we’re synced up, we might be better off planning things out until everyone finds the role they are most comfortable in during each part of a run.

So here’s my take.
Sending all eight of us inside will raise eyebrows, so I say we split up, but nobody flies solo, except for Pandora. We need eyes on the ground inside and out, security, gang presence, surveillance, any red flags and whatever we can dig up on this Dashiell party.
We’re lucky to have two who can perceive astrally. Let’s use that to our advantage.

If Tears in the Rain covers the inside, Skye could handle the streets. Astral perception is tough, and it’s a lot to handle, so I suggest they each have someone watching their back. Same goes for Revs, who’s got enough on his plate with his drone army.

Stone Biter, how about you stick with Skye outside while I stay with Tears on the inside?" He asks, not taking into account that Skye might be planning to astrally project instead.

"I’d like Baby Blue with us inside as well. No one’s better at scouting out an escape route or catching the details that truly matter. I take her memory with the lay of the land over any blueprint any day of the week. The three of us can grab lunch at the restaurant to keep up appearances while we work.

Pacman could you focus on security or suspicious activity on the outside while moving with Skye and Bone Biter? Pretty much anything of note that is difficult to see directly from the sky. As Revs drones can scan the area from above. I’d like Angel with Revs, watching the screens and keeping an eye on things. She can help keep you two safe and catch anything you might miss.

Pandora, can you see what you can dig up about the Eye of the Needle and this Dashiell party? Anything you can find that might give us an edge?
So, we would have three on the inside, three on the streets, two covering the sky, and one on overwatch keeping us all safe.

That’s my suggestion, but I get it if you think I’m being overprotective, not letting anyone go at it alone. If I’m off the mark, don’t hesitate to tell this old Ork to shut his gator."
Headstone finishes, leaving the floor open for discussion. He’s ready to roll with whatever plan the crew will decide on, showing no sign of disagreement if they go in a different direction.

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

Pandora makes her way to her usual seat, using her cane to be sure not to trip over any unexpected objects. She listens to Headstone’s entire spiel, but, as always, it’s hard to tell if she’s listening because her two unseeing eyes seem to rove independently and continually, even when she’s facing someone.

When Headstone has finished and asks her to dig up information, Pandora gives a bright smile that lights up her whole face, causing her cheeks to dimple. “The Eye of the Needle?” she says a voice hurried by excitement. “I don’t need to look anything up to tell you about the Eye of the Needle. I’ve been there. Of course, things might have changed. It was a long time ago; I was only seven – just before I…” the decker pauses here, gathering herself in an unusual moment of emotion about the subject. “Just before I lost my sight.”

“I was so excited,” Pandora enthuses, her moment of weakness forgotten. “Mommy bought me this exquisite evening gown all in pink silk and satin with sparkling sequins and rhinestones. It had a matching tiara and pink sandals. Mommy even let me wear some of the jewelry that Grandma left me. The ones I was not allowed to touch until later ‘when I was a big girl.’ I felt like a princess.

“We rode up in the glass elevator, watching the city drop away beneath us, seeing the people become ants. We walked the observation deck too, waiting for our reservation. Christopher held my hand as we walked into the reception area. He was as polished and handsome as any trideo prince. His white gloves held mine as we walked carefully in, trying our very best not to leave footprints in the deep maroon pile carpet.

“Even that young, I knew the Eye was security conscious. Six uniformed guards stood along the walls between the hostess stand and the entrances to the restaurant and bar. I looked up at the towering metahuman who approached us. His immaculate tux did nothing to hide his well-muscled, obviously enhanced body. I had never seen a troll before – in books, on the trideo, yes, but never in person. I held my breath when he searched me for weapons. He even searched Cassiopeia, my favorite doll that Mommy had let me bring to keep me from getting bored.

“I guess he saw my incredulous expression because he crouched down and said, ‘Never assume someone is safe just because they are small.’ Somehow, that seemed a dire warning, and I memorized it, giving him a solemn, ‘I won’t, sir.’ Then he told Daddy that I was very brave.

“None of us carried anything, of course. The chauffeur kept a pistol in the car just in case, but I’d never seen anyone else carry a weapon except for Shiawase security. Anyway, once the troll decided we were clean, the hostess lead us to our table. It was huge. There were nearly twenty people already there – all grown-ups. Christopher and I were the only children, and at fifteen, Chris was almost an adult. I don’t know what the meeting was about. It was all boring grown-up talk – medicine and chemistry and marketing projections – things like that. I don’t even remember a single dish that was served. I was so busy trying to remember my lessons on which fork and which spoon was for what. Daddy let me have a sip of his sake, but it was awful. I fought really hard to choke it down and not spit it out on the table. I told him that it was spoiled, and all the adults laughed at me – even Christoper. I was really glad when Mommy asked the waitress to bring me a Marie Mercurial.”

“None of that mattered, though, because I spent the whole meal watching the city. The Eye of the Needle rotates, you know. If you pay attention, you can see the whole city – Mount Rainier, Puget Sound, the sea and the mountains. I watched the sunset over Seattle. I saw the stars peek out and the neon skyline twinkle all the way to the horizon. I think it’s the most vivid memory of my entire life. I can still replay the whole image in my mind like a trideo chip.

“Near the end, when the hostess was asking the man at the head of the table about dessert and coffee, some old couple came to our table. They turned to Mommy and Daddy and said, ‘Your little girl is very well-behaved. She has been so patient through the whole meal.’ I blurted out, ‘Of course I’m being good. We’re in public!’ The whole table laughed. I didn’t know why at the time. I was so mad. Everyone had laughed at me. Again. So, I spent the rest of the evening staring out at the stars, hoping to find a shooting star, so I could wish… I don’t even know what I wanted to wish. I just drank in the sky.”

Then Pandora falls silent, blushing, leaning her head forward, letting her hood cover most of her face, so no one can see her cheeks burning.

[archolewa]

Baby Blue

"Headstone, we're gonna stick out like rabid trolls," says Baby Blue. She shakes her head. "Gonna be real hard to get out if we get caught with contraband, and sounds like they check thoroughly. Couldn't get any less friendly short of asking us to meet at the local Lone Star precinct."

[Juramenta]

{Headstone}

"You’re right, Baby Blue. We’re gonna stand out like rabid trolls in a place like that. Carrying contraband is a no-go" Headstone admits, nodding thoughtfully.
"I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s exactly why they chose the location. We’re as much of an unknown to them as they are to us. Meeting in a spot where neither side can bring weapons is a safe way to do business. But that’s also why I want to know their door policy and whether they control the building or just a part of it. If they don’t own the whole place, odds are they’re not carrying either."

He pauses, considering the implications.

"Personally, I’m fine with stashing my weapons in a locker or keeping them somewhere safe. I never really feel disarmed. But these," he gestures to his spray cans, "are a different story. If I take them off, I’ve got to start a ritual within minutes to re-attune new ones, or we’re talking bad mojo. They’re legal, sure, but who knows what their policy is? Clothes are legal too, but not all clothes are equal in the eyes of the corps." hinting at clubs maintaining a dress code policy.

[archolewa]

Baby Blue

"No way a ritzy place like that's gonna let you bring spray paint in," says Baby Blue. "We're going twenty stories into the sky, in a glass needle without any gear to speak of. Should start charging a 'ridiculously dangerous meeting place' fee."

[Gremlin]

Skye

"Picking a public place like that with its own tight security is for Johnson's benefit," Skye comments. "I highly doubt there'll be any trouble inside unless we make it ourselves. Outside though, we can't be too cautious. I can keep an eye out for any astral threats or tails."

"I can take a quick scout around right now, but based on what Pandora just told us about their physical security I expect there will also be strong magical security as well. Barriers, at least one security mage, probably spirits, too. I won't try to go inside, but I can get an idea from the outside. It'll only take a few minutes. In the meantime, someone should check what kind of reservations Johnson made."

After she finishes speaking, Skye shifts from sitting cross-legged to a full lotus position and separates her spirit from her body. She doesn't leave the room yet though, instead manifesting her astral form to be visible in the material world. The ghostly Skye stands next to her physical body, waiting for the go ahead.

[Juramenta]

{Headstone}

’’I’ll always trust your judgment, Baby Blue. If you’re not on board, neither am I. Same goes for the rest of you. No paycheck is worth getting geeked over. If any of you don’t trust this setup, I’ll contact Fallstaff and either call it off or push for a change of venue.’’ Headstone’s tone is serious, showing he means every word.

As Skye mentions checking the reservations, he glances at Pandora, raising an eyebrow in question, silently asking if she’s up for the task.

[archolewa]

Baby Blue

Baby Blue shrugs. "Skye's probably right. I'm being excessively paranoid. Should stick to your original plan. Scope the place out. Then meet this Dashiell tonight."

[shaidar]

{Revs}

Revs shrugs "As a meeting place I think it's pretty safe, but it'll be interesting to know if they have private dining rooms for their clientele. If we're worried about something happening outside the restaurant then we leave one or two of us outside to keep watch. There are various bars up there so we should be able to have someone blend in."

He pauses for second before continuing "Those bombs in the news, they were hidden in household cans, so they might be very jumpy with your paint cans. As for my drones, I'm going to have to be a little careful how I deploy them, I'll need to blend in with the tourists."

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

Raising an eyebrow is a completely useless signal to get Pandora’s attention. She exhibits no sign that she knows Headstone is asking her a question. However, as the conversation goes on, the decker slowly raises her head again and pushes back her hood. Her cheeks remain a light rose, but the flaming crimson has melted away. She reaches up and runs her fingers around the datajack in her left temple, gently prying up the court-mandated jackstoppers that should set off alarms if tampered with.

“Sorry about that, Boss,” Pandora says as softly as if she were treading into a minefield. "How ’bout I try to get you something I little more useful, neh?” She lets out a harsh burst of air and just barely shakes her head, disgusted with herself. “What do you want me to skate for first, Boss – information on the Needle or the low-down on Dashiell?”

[CoyotesLuck]

{GM}
“Sorry about that, Boss,” Pandora says as softly as if she were treading into a minefield. "How ’bout I try to get you something I little more useful, neh?” She lets out a harsh burst of air and just barely shakes her head, disgusted with herself. “What do you want me to skate for first, Boss – information on the Needle or the low-down on Dashiell?”

PacMan taps his coffee mug so Pandora can "hear" the raised fingers, like a school kid wanting to claim the floor. "The needle should be fine for representatives to go in clean to negotiate and see what is even on the table. It is far too public for anything drastic. That said, knowing as much as reasonable about our host makes a drek-ton of sense."

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

Pandora nods, leaning back when Pacman makes it known he wants to speak. She nods again at his suggestion. As he finishes, she takes her reinforced backpack off the back of her chair, unzips it, and gently removes her cyberdeck, placing it on the table. She returns her pack to the back of her chair as she waits for others to comment and for Headstone to make a decision. Her fingers caress the deck like a beloved house pet. Her breathing slows. Her lips slide into a light smile.

[Stirling]

Tears in the Rain

"I have my prom dress ..." she says, (her 'fine clothing'), dressing up out of the usual ripped denims and faded leathers might mean she sticks out less, though dolled up Orks might be rarely seen.

She can astrally perceive, but would favour doing that on-site not from this far away. Going there early to scout the place seems a good idea once the basics of investigating the area are complete. (Has much changed since Pandora was last there a decade plus ago, Whose gangland territory it is in, What Skye notes).

[Juramenta]

{Headstone}

Headstone nods at Tears in agreement before shifting his attention back to Pandora.
’’Pacman’s right on the nuyen. Let’s start with the Needle’s door policies. We need to know who can walk in without problems and who might get flagged. Also, if you can dig up anything on the reservations Skye mentioned, that’ll give us a better idea of what we’re walking into. It’ll help with the scouting, too, if we know where to focus when inside.’’ he responds to her.

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

“You got it, boss,” Pandora says. “That much won’t take me 5 seconds. I’m just going to jack in here. No need for body-watch…”

Without waiting for an answer, Pandora’s left hand snicks one datacord from her deck into the databank on her left temple. Simultaneously, her right hand slides the other cord into the jack against the wall behind her. Though she’s only used the jack in this room twice before, having her seat in the same place, the closest one to it, the movements smack of muscle memory.

As the connections snap into place, Pandora’s whole body relaxes. The smile on her face broadens like a castaway coming home. Her fingers begin to move on the deck’s keyboard with a speed and surety stronger than any career corporate secretary.

Without stopping her typing, Pandora says, “Dress code is high end corp plus. Men are required to wear coat and tie – women dresses or skirts.” The left side of her lip curls up while her left nostril flare and pulls lower. “Hose are recommended, but not required. The featured images all have coat and tails, bow ties, and evening gowns.”

“The Dashiell reservation was made just that way – Dashiell, no first name or initial given. It’s for a small, private dining room and dedicated single server. The reservation calls for seating for twelve….” Her eyes flutter a moment and then widen. “Reservation was paid for with certified credstick over the Matrix. You don’t want to know how much this cost our would-be host. I could live a year on it, I think. I can try to backtrace the payment to the location the stick was slotted. It would be a little easier than trying to trace the call itself. But that’s still pretty rough skating for what is likely a public terminal or a burner phone.”

“Oh, and without a last name, there are sixty-seven Dashiell’s listed in the Greater Seattle Public Data Net. Without first name, gender, address, or at least rough age, I can’t narrow that down. And that’s not counting any Dashiell willing to pay to be unlisted, and if ours is throwing money like this around, he definitely can afford to do that - unless, of course, the nuyen he's spending ain't his.”

“Anything more on either’s going to take skating further into the Arctic. And probably into the wells that rarely see sun. You want me to take a deeper look into either one? And you want me to do it here, or my room, or have me head back home where I have all the fancy accessories.”

[CoyotesLuck]

{GM}

Without stopping her typing, Pandora says, “Dress code is high end corp plus. Men are required to wear coat and tie – women dresses or skirts.” The left side of her lip curls up while her left nostril flare and pulls lower. “Hose are recommended, but not required. The featured images all have coat and tails, bow ties, and evening gowns.”

<snip>

“Anything more on either’s going to take skating further into the Arctic. And probably into the wells that rarely see sun. You want me to take a deeper look into either one? And you want me to do it here, or my room, or have me head back home where I have all the fancy accessories.”

{Pacman}
"The eye is about as secure a meet as you can get while also keeping things neutral. Dress nice, check any weapons at the door, and trust that the eye will not let someone blow their good reputation." Pacman swirls the last of his coffee and takes a sip. "We know they have money and flair. We know they covered their tracks well enough to not be dangerously stupid. I am thinking we should make sure we all have something to wear tonight and have our assorted toys ready and waiting here for whatever party comes after."

[Juramenta]

{Headstone}

’’So efficient,’’ Headstone hums in a complimentary tone, observing both runners as they work their magic.

As he listens to Pandora’s details, he lets out a thoughtful sigh.
He takes a moment to contemplate their next best move. ’’I’ll chip in for whoever needs a brand-new suit. I’ll keep all weapons safe for those going in.’’ making it clear that he won’t be joining the others inside this time.

’’A good deal is great, but securing more contracts down the line is even better.’’ His stance is clear, valuing the potential for long-term gains over squeezing out every nuyen from this one deal.
’’But before we get to the actual negotiations, let’s keep our focus on staking out the place while considering our options.
Bone Biter, how about we switch places? I bet you look smashing in a suit, my chummer. I’d still like Tears in the Rain to scan the inside, and we definitely need Baby Blue’s sharp eyes in there as well.’’ He shifts his gaze to Baby Blue, seeking her confirmation that she’s still on board.

’’Hopefully, Skye comes back with some good news, but unless anything changes, I think we can stick to the original plan. If everyone’s still on board, that is.’’ Headstone looks around the room, trying to gauge the team’s vibe on the matter.

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

Still jacked in, Pandora says, “Or rent… you can rent tuxedos and evening gowns and the like… A good option if you’re not going to do this again. If you are, financially, you’re better off buying.”

The decker falls silent for a moment, concentrating on her work. “Ummm… it might reassure everyone a little bit. Shadow gossip says they take really good care of checked items. They don’t ask for permits, and they give back everything they take in.”

“In both norm review sites and several local shadow gripe sites, their rep is clean. I don’t see a single filed complaint, and their BBB file is clean, too. A few complaints about access or implicit speciesism… But even those are few and far between.”

Pandora pauses again. “I can’t tell you much about magical defenses. But there is one complaint by a registered mage that he was not permitted to search the Astral plane while there… There is a second from a man saying that he is dual natured and was, therefore, not able to attend a private dining date due to barriers they would not let down. No name on that one. No clarification on what sort of paracritter he is, so… Take it with a grain of salt.”

“You want me to dig around for shadowtalk about Dashiell, Boss?”

[Juramenta]

{Headstone}

''If you can, please" he responds.