lodtd log

[03:23] * Q-33_North is in her room, browsing the various boards, on the lookout for someone who might have experience with Cygnar's military codes and cyphers.
[03:25] <Ikiryo> According to most of what she's found, Cygnar is in the middle of Civil War so finding someone willing to talk about such codes might be tricky. There was a leadership dispute that left the previous king dead and the previous previous king in charge again.
[03:26] * Q-33_North sighs.  There still should be someone who could, at the very least, look the other way while she rummages around in their codebook, right?
[03:28] <Ikiryo> A lot of the Cygnaran military ended up going either super insular or trying to break free and go merc. A lot of the latter are dead.
[03:29] * Q-33_North digs deeper.  There has to be *someone*
[03:35] <Ikiryo> ...mercs seem her best option. A lot of the loyalists are dead but all of them can't be.
[03:35] * Q-33_North runs the scan for someone to properly help her.
[03:37] <Ikiryo> She might need to find a fixer of hers. She knows a few but any mercs about are hiding thier loyalities to the fallen crown.
[03:38] * Q-33_North checks to see who her best bet would be to contact for this.
[03:41] <Ikiryo1> She might need to find a fixer of hers. She knows a few but any mercs about are hiding thier loyalities to the fallen crown.
[03:45] * Q-33_North checks to see who her best bet would be to contact for this.
[03:54] <Ikiryo> For ex-military? Oh gods. Theodore Gitkicker, Attorney at Waaagh
[03:55] * Q-33_North calls him on her comms.
[03:58] <Ikiryo> An ork in an immaculate white suit, his hair-squig carefully groomed answers the phone. "Why I do declare, it's little Q-33! Such a pleasure to see ya again!" He gives a brilliantly white smile.
[04:00] <Ikiryo> He's a rather terrible lawyer but an excellent fixer.
[04:00] <Q-33_North> "Theo! Hey, how're you."
[04:02] <Ikiryo> "Well, the same old the same old. Being a humble Sigil Law-yer. I defended one of my clients a few hours ago."
[04:02] <Q-33_North> "How'd that go?"
[04:05] <Ikiryo> "Well, I've got a new head for me wall so I think I did pretty well for meself~"
[04:06] <Q-33_North> "Nice work.  Theo, quick question.  I need to speak to someone from Cygnar.  Someone who does codes.  Any ideas?"
[04:07] <Ikiryo> "Hmm...do you know a good necromancer? Most of those sorts have been droppin' off the map."
[04:09] <Q-33_North> "Not really. no."
[04:09] <Ikiryo> "Then we might be havin' an issue."
[04:10] <Q-33_North> "I was, yes, that's why I called an expert."
[04:11] <Ikiryo> He nods. "I'll see if I can find one who's genuine and not more crooked than a dog's hind leg. Gimme a moment love?"
[04:12] <Q-33_North> "Sure."
[04:14] <Ikiryo> He flips through a rolodex for a minutes or two. "Dead, Dead, Undead, Mad, Annoying...ah, here we go!"
[04:15] <Q-33_North> "Oh?"
[04:17] <Ikiryo> "Yeah, ah found ourselves a Cygnaran Ex-Pat who might know the codes you need."
[04:17] <Q-33_North> "Who?"
[04:20] <Ikiryo> "A Miss Starr. Ex-Cygnaran Sniper and Warcaster."
[04:20] <Q-33_North> "Works for me.  Contact info?"
[04:21] <Ikiryo> Contact details are sent to her.
[04:21] <Q-33_North> "Thanks Theo, don't decapitate your clients again. Signing off."
[04:22] <Ikiryo> "Good luck to you little lady."
[04:23] * Q-33_North disconnects, and then makes the call to her new contact.
[04:24] <Ikiryo> ...she doesn't get a video. Just text.
[04:24] <Ikiryo> [Yes?]
[04:25] <Q-33_North> [Hi, we haven't met, but I have part of a code I need looked at, it's. . . how to put this.  Important.  I have part of it down, but I uncovered that part of it is using a cypher from Cygnar.  A mutual contact mentioned you may be able to assist with that.]
[04:26] <Ikiryo> [That is not giving me much reason to trust you.]
[04:26] <Q-33_North> [What do you need, from me?]
[04:27] <Ikiryo> [The name of the mutual contact, for one]
[04:27] <Q-33_North> [Gitkicker, the Ork Lawyer]
[04:28] <Ikiryo> [Alright. That will buy you a meeting.] An address is sent of a steakhouse. [I'll meet you there]
[04:29] <Q-33_North> [Sure.  Any time I need to be there by?]
[04:29] * Q-33_North is already en route.
[04:29] <Ikiryo> [Give me warning and come alone. I'll also want a picture of you.]
[04:29] * Q-33_North sends one, along with an ETA.
[04:32] <Ikiryo> The bar, at least from the outside looks nice. A multi-story building has been renovated to give it a neo-western look. Lots of false wood and a big open patio out the front.
[04:32] <Ikiryo> There is people out the front letting people in. Waitresses and guards...all absolutely stunning. It's been getting a lot of attention by the upper class and non-upper class alike.
[04:33] * Q-33_North heads to whatever line there is, and waits in it.
[04:35] <Ikiryo> It's a good fifteen minutes of waiting before she's let in. It's just as stunning inside as out, lots of wood and keeping to the cygnaran theme. A surly looking elf waitress takes her to a side booth with good view of the door and lots of cover.
[04:37] * Q-33_North glances around nervously as she waits.
[04:41] <Ikiryo> The staff are all very attractive but Q-33 catches a hint of blades or guns hidden on each and every one of them and none of them look to have no athletic prowess.
[04:42] * Q-33_North definitely feels more nervous than she was previously.
[04:43] <Ikiryo> A woman soon joins her. She is a tall, athletic looking and stunningly pretty elf in a long white dress. Golden tresses flows down over tanned and freckled skin and her blue eyes shine like saphires. She's clearly quite fit, though suprisingly curvy for that...something shown off by the stylish dress.
[04:43] <Ikiryo> The dress is beautiful and pure white, looking at home in a trideo about cygnaran belles
[04:43] <Ikiryo> "Good day~"
[04:47] <Q-33_North> "Uh. Hello."
[04:48] <Ikiryo> "I'll be your server today. I'm Samantha Martinez, how can I help you?~"
[04:50] <Q-33_North> "I'm uh, actually waiting, for another party? UNless that's you and my paranoia is killing my ability to read the mood."
[04:51] <Ikiryo> "Oh, that's very dissapointing~" She gives a fraction of a nod.
[04:52] <Q-33_North> "Yeah, look, some stuff has happened recently to me, and it hasn't been fun, and anyway enough about that." She displays the passkey in question.
[04:55] <Ikiryo> "Interesting." She brings up the menu for Q-33. "I'll take a look at that if you'll take a look at this~"
[04:55] <Q-33_North> "Sure?" She skims it.
[04:58] <Ikiryo> It's all very expensive looking...but it also looks like real food, not soy or fake. Lots of meat dishes.
[04:58] <Ikiryo> "Hmm...some of this I recognise, a lot I don't."
[04:59] <Q-33_North> "An ongoing issue I'm finding." She orders some form of surf and turf, remembering that she hasn't actually eaten today, and it's evening.
[05:01] <Ikiryo> There is some very nice ones, including some very expensive ones with void fish.
[05:01] <Ikiryo> She smiles "Anyway, I'm Starr. Nice to meet you."
[05:02] * Q-33_North selects something in the middle of the road, she can treat herself, but she also doesn't want to draw attention via changed spending habits.  "Q-33 North."
[05:04] <Ikiryo> "According to my girls, heavily augmented and with some sort of very odd temperature readings. I won't pry."
[05:05] <Q-33_North> "I'd offer an explanation but I don't have one either, so."
[05:05] <Ikiryo> "Hmm...some of this looks like secret service codes."
[05:06] <Q-33_North> ". . . Oh?"
[05:08] <Ikiryo> She nods. "Not regular military at all." She frowns. "Still, I've got a few codebooks lying about for such things...if you are willing to pay."
[05:08] <Ikiryo> Q-33's food is delivered almost immediately. It smells utterly heavenly.
[05:08] <Q-33_North> "How much?"
[05:10] <Ikiryo> "Information. Worth a lot more these days than money."
[05:11] <Q-33_North> "Okay. On what?"
[22:44] * Reise pokes her head out of her bedroom as she dresses for work. "Hey, Uytana," she calls. "If I happen to pop back in through the walls without any clothes on--'through the walls' being the important part--then it's actually Khaira, not me. She looks like me now but refuses to manifest clothes, or whatever it is that weird ghosty things like her do."
[22:46] <Ikiryo> Uytana is sitting quietly on the couch. She's a very quiet housemate and doesn't cause much trouble...but then, she also doesn't DO much. "...what?"
[22:47] <Reise> "She rooted around in my head, possession-style, for a bit, then popped back out looking like me." She withdraws said head back into the bedroom and raises her voice to still be heard. "Dunno anything about weird ghosty metaphysics so I couldn't tell you why it happened, but it did, and you already know she's nuts so she'll probably try to spook you."
[22:52] <Ikiryo> Uytana sounds very, very confused. "Al...right? I...guess?"
[22:54] <Reise> "Forewarned is forearmed, right? Just giving you a heads-up." She exits the room fully dressed, in skinny jeans and a straining tank top over which she throws a denim jacket. "...Oh, hey, before I go--you ever run into anything about the quori? Back home or otherwise?"
[22:56] <Ikiryo> "Not personally." She shakes her head. "I've read a good amount about them in my studies but I've never encountered one."
[22:59] <Reise> "Well, studies are fine too. Apparently there's some deal with them surrounding one of our...associates, and Eden dumped a whole bunch of research on us the other day. Weird metaplanar beings, three kinds, can't fully show up here so they hitch rides in vessels, and so on." She shrugs. "Anything you feel like you need to add?"
[23:00] <Ikiryo> "They can possess the dead, as they have no hopes ore dreams any more. Well, dead bodies...not ghosts."
[23:00] <Reise> "...THAT'S creepy," she admits. "I don't remember Eden mentioning that, but to be fair to him, if he did, I probably forgot; he found a LOT of info."
[23:02] <Ikiryo> "It's something...well, it's mostly notable to necromancers." She sighs. "...oh, they also are utterly incapable of interacting with Divination or Chronomancy."
[23:03] <Reise> "So they can't be detected by seers or the like? Or your bossman?"
[23:05] <Ikiryo> "It's part of being made of thought and dreams. Thoughts and dreams only exist in the now, as a result they can't see into the past or the future." She nods
[23:07] <Reise> "So they can't use either style, but can they be influenced by them? If you know divination stuff, could you stare into your crystal ball or whatever and find one, or no?"
[23:09] <Ikiryo> "Only in the here and now. They'd not exist if I looked at five minutes ago...and I'd not be able to predict how they change the strands of fate for the future, so it gets a lot more uncertain if they are involved."
[23:17] <Reise> She shakes her head. "...This is why magic and I never got along. I can't handle the metaphysics. Thanks for the info, though; I'll pass it along. Didn't really expect it'd be easy to pick them out."
[23:18] <Ikiryo> "I didn't say that." She shakes her head. "It makes them actually rather easy, if you are smart."
[23:19] <Reise> "And that's why we have you on our team," she replies.
[23:22] <Ikiryo> She rolls her eyes but gives a small smile. "It's a trick my master taught me when dealing with illusions that only exist in the mind, rather than light reflection. What happens if you look just a few seconds in the past when looking over a group of people?"
[23:23] <Reise> "I'm going to guess 'Weird things,' 'cause I've never done it. Am I close?"
[23:24] <Ikiryo> "...I was going to say that 'Things that don't exist can't be seen'" She pouts
[23:26] <Reise> "I was close, then," she grins. "I figured that's where you were going to go, but didn't wanna chance being wrong. My poor little ego can't take that."
[23:28] <Ikiryo> "Of course." She sighs. "But yes, it's only good if you already suspect something is off...but they are not invincible to detection. You just need to look where there is odd amounts of nothing, rather than something."
[23:36] <Reise> She nods. "And *that* makes perfect sense. That's a pretty common thing we deal with as detectives."
[23:37] <Ikiryo> "Oh good. Umm...I'd also stay in a good mental state, if possible. People don't need to die to have no homes and dreams left." She frowns. "That's about all I have to say."
[23:41] <Reise> "Naturally. I hope to and dream of getting back to doing real work instead of prancing around in my underpants. But for now I have to go and do just that so I'll be back tonight. Don't wait up for me, honey," she grins again, swishing out the door.
[23:42] <Ikiryo> "H-Honey?" She looks very confused at that and blushes as Reise heads out...
[23:55] <Reise> En route to the studio, she brings up a small AR window and double-checks her standing mission orders for her investigation into Horizon. So far, she hasn't found anything except for those mystery crates a while ago; maybe it's time to try a different tack...
[23:56] <Ikiryo> They've got a lot of big social events in the near future.
[23:58] <Ikiryo> As well as the usual sorts of 'Look as us help the poor people' social aid.
[23:59] <Reise> Time to see if she'll be assigned to any of the coming events as eye candy. So far, her efforts to gently prod into 'Project Zabotnik' haven't yielded any fruit, so maybe playing the brainless bimbo at a black-tie affair would let her get close enough to hear things...
[00:03] <Ikiryo> There is three major ones in the next week...and she's got free choice on them. One for a local hospital, one for opening up free housing for the unimportant...sorry, poor. One for hosting an award show on scientific achievement in robotics.
[00:22] <Ikiryo> She thinks the Scientific Achievements one will have the most big management names...but the housing will have the most trideo names. Stars love that sort of thing.
[00:23] <Reise> She nibbles on her lower lip for a long minute, torn between the two...but since her mission parameters revolve around governmental influence, she signs her name up for the Nerd Award Show.
[00:26] <Ikiryo> Lots and lots of nerds are getting awards for all sorts of things and they want eye candy there for it.
[00:32] <Reise> With an internal sigh she confirms her name on the to-go list and heads in to the "office."
[00:36] <Ikiryo> ...and finds out that the event has been overbooked by two models.
[00:37] <Reise> She mutters something incoherent and checks who else is on the list.
[00:39] <Ikiryo> Luna is not one of them. She has a note here saying that she can't stand nerds. Likely not written by her.
[00:43] <Reise> That earns a bit of a grin.
[00:45] <Ikiryo> There is several bits of eye candy, including a few from a rival agency.
[00:51] <Ikiryo> Tera IS one of them.
[00:56] <Ikiryo> All the others...are from a rival agency. So they've literally advertised for two roles...that are already filled.
[01:00] * Reise grumbles to herself...then decides to just attend anyway. She's already committed; it's their fault for screwing the booking scheme up, after all.
[01:01] <Ikiryo> As a model?
[01:11] <Ikiryo> The event is...oww, that is physically painful amounts of blue and orange contrast and pale white skin.
[01:12] <Ikiryo> The only things of any real colours outside those are the models, the suits and one or two unusual looking people.
[01:25] <Reise> As one of the models, Reise is wrapped up in a tight black sheath dress with a big square cut to the neck and no sleeves; the skirt terminates above her knees, and she wears black heels with it, with her lengthy blonde hair in its usual ponytail high on the back of her head. With her added height and the plunging neckline she tends to capture many gazes about twelve inches above her bellybutton.
[01:25] <Reise> Hell, some people even fawn over her ears; she doesn't even have them pierced, which is her own brand of exotic, she supposes. Still, it means nobody seems to pay her any mind as she floats among the assorted attendees, dignitaries, and other high-crust types, putting said ears to good use.
[01:33] <Ikiryo> So far it mostly seems pretty normal. A female nerd and some of the eye candy being harassed by nerds. A couple of the nerds are sitting on ther own, not talking to anyone and just sort of staring into the air.
[01:38] * Reise uses the cover of drinking from a glass of champagne to speak via sublingual mic with Eden. "Some real nonresponsive types here. Any chance you can monitor their comms, see if they're sending or receiving lots of stuff?"
[01:44] <Ikiryo> [From: Eden - Sure, I'll see what I can do]
[01:48] <Ikiryo> It's a few moments later...and one nerd getting punched by a girl here to see if she's won an award...when Reise hears from Eden again [Nothing going in, nothing going out.]
[01:49] <Reise> "Right," she murmurs into her glass again. "Keep me posted." Then it's time to mingle some more, ask some dumb questions, find out why the party-poopers aren't participating and just sitting there in a funk.
[01:51] <Ikiryo> [No, I mean nothing at all. None of them are brousing the matrix.]
[01:56] <Reise> ...That gets her to pause, though she covers the misstep with a cute little sneeze that she immediately hates herself for.
[01:57] <Ikiryo> [Yeah, not at all. It's...weird.]
[11:24] <Reise> "Then I guess we prepare for another one of these parties and bring some tech to tag them with. See what you can dig up on who these two actually are, what they're attached to." She finishes her glass of champagne and hands it back to a wandering waiter, then has to give an airheaded response to a semi-drunken proposition to head back to the restrooms for some "fun."
[11:26] <Ikiryo> [The zombies?]
[11:27] <Reise> "Yes, the zombies."
[11:30] <Ikiryo> A girl raises an eyebrow nearby at Reise's line about zombies, the girl who just punched a nerd. She is a tall, lean woman with long brown hair flowing down her back and a warm smile on her cocoa face. She's wearing a black dress that really doesn't work with her figure and clearly came off a production line.
[11:40] <Reise> Shit. Deflection motors engaged. "Hi~ I'm Reise Peace. Cute dress! How're you liking the party so far? It's been okay but there's been a lot of wandering hands. But have you tried the champagne? It's to die for!"
[11:44] <Ikiryo> She looks at her honestly pretty bad dress and blushes slightly. It's clearly designed for someone less lean than she is. "I don't drink alcohol..."
[11:46] <Reise> "Aww, why not? Don't like it? That's okay, it's not for everybody. How's the rest of the night for you? Oh, I know, I didn't catch your name!"
[11:48] <Ikiryo> "Not that I don't like it..." She pauses. "I'd demonstrate but I'd ruin my ugly dress." She smiles warmly. "I'm Han Val-Kala. I'm one of the contestants for this...but I don't think I'm going to win."
[11:51] <Reise> Her eyes grow wide. "Really? Wow, I had no idea! What's your thing for the entry? Why don't you think you'll win? I bet you'll win! You just need to think positive!"
[11:53] <Ikiryo> "...it's a study into the effects of thermographic mapping into agriculture...it's not very exciting."
[11:55] * Reise nods along with the vapid, brainless smile that goes with her hair color. "Fabulous, though! I bet it'd be really helpful to a lot of people! Why wouldn't something that helpful be a good contender?"
[12:00] <Ikiryo> "It's boring and it's based off existing research. It's dull." She shrugs. "That and the mind control leech they tried to shove in me shriveled up and died."
[12:03] <Reise> She blinks. "The whaaaaat?"
[12:04] <Ikiryo> She raises an eyebrow at Reise. "The same thing the 'Zombies' have in them."
[12:11] <Reise> "Well can you blame me? I mean they look like it, the only thing they're not doing is shambling around going 'Braaaaains' and stuff. They're all spaced out and everything!"
[12:12] <Ikiryo> "Right. I guess you wouldn't want to know about them nabbing people and shoving bugs in ears?"
[12:17] <Reise> Muscles bunch at the corners of her jaw for a moment. "Ew, that's disgusting! Why would anyone do that?"
[12:18] <Ikiryo> "Alright then. Be careful...I'm not sticking about to see if I win anything."
[12:20] * Reise loses the vapid smile and grabs Han's arm. "...Wait." She looks around, then nods her head toward a far corner of the room, giving her arm a tug to see if she'll follow.
[12:20] <Ikiryo> She does so, looking very confused
[12:23] <Reise> Once they're away from prying ears, she clenches her jaw again, then nods. "Alright. Who's nabbing people, and what exactly are these parasites?"
[12:25] <Ikiryo> "...that's a hell of a mannerism change."
[12:27] <Reise> "Let's just say I'm studying method acting."
[12:28] <Ikiryo> "Right...well, I don't know the former parts and I don't know a heap about the latter but htey appear to be some sort of telepathic slug. They put them in your ear and it slips inside...then it takes over your mind."
[12:30] <Reise> "Egh." She shudders, entirely unfeigned. "How'd you kill it?"
[12:30] <Ikiryo> "Umm...do you have any special sensors? You might want to check what my internal temperature reads as..."
[12:32] <Reise> "Not on me. Eden?"
[12:33] <Ikiryo> [She's...holy hell. 52C. Safe human body temperature is 37C, give or talk half a C.]
[12:35] * Reise whistles. "I'm sure you've heard all the 'You're so hot' jokes, so I'll spare you, but...I'm impressed. And curious."
[12:37] <Ikiryo> "I think they thought I was human." She shakes her head. "I'm a Gensai. Fire and Earth..."
[12:40] <Reise> "Aaahhh. I've heard of your folk. You're the first one I've actually met, though." She grins. "So you roasted their little parasite, no problem. I take it you got 'kidnapped' at some point, too?"
[12:40] <Ikiryo> She nods. "If I've actually been human..." She shivers. "I was just lucky I look rather human."
[12:42] <Reise> "I never would have guessed," she nods. "Can you tell me what the parasite looked like?"
[12:43] <Ikiryo> "It looked like a red, slimy slug. I...I didn't keep mine after I pulled it out of my head..." She looks queasy.
[12:49] <Reise> She shakes her head. "I didn't expect you to, and sorry I made you have to remember it, but...knowing the tools means narrowing down who's behind it." She smiles at Hana, then taps her chin. "Tell you what. If they try again, here's my contact info." She quietly hands her a physical card--with her Space Police information on it. "Or if you need anything else."
[12:50] <Ikiryo> "Right...should...should I just leave now?"
[12:54] <Reise> "I don't think there's any harm." She glances over her shoulder at the rest of the party. "I'll escort you out, how about?"
[12:54] <Ikiryo> She nods. "Right." She takes Reise's hand
[12:57] * Reise winks salaciously at her, then sashays toward the door.
[13:01] <Ikiryo> She flushes slightly and follows her. A hulking troll bouncer spots them and moves to block the doorway.
[13:05] <Reise> "'Scuse us," she says, waving a hand to get him to move out of the way. "My friend and I're going outside so she can have a smoke."
[13:06] <Ikiryo> "None of the brains leave." He shakes his head.
[13:08] <Reise> "Oh, so I don't have any brains, is that it? It's because I'm an eldarin, isn't it? Everyone thinks we're just porn stars! That's discrimination, buster, and I'm gonna make sure your bosses know you think eldarin are just a bunch of brainless sluts! We'll see how long they'll keep you on the job!"
[13:09] <Ikiryo> "None of the brains leave." He repeats, shaking his head again.
[13:11] <Reise> "Ugh, I hate it when they're *too* stupid," she mumbles in Hana's ear. "It's not leaving," she says to the troll, "it's going out for a smoke. Unless you want her to light up in your face."
[13:13] <Ikiryo> "None of the brains leave." He repeats a third time. Orders.
[13:13] <Ikiryo> *"Orders."
Session Start (CD_SupTG:#lodtdic): Thu Jul 28 09:08:37 2016 -0500
Session Start (CD_SupTG:#lodtdic): Thu Jul 28 15:52:37 2016 -0500
Session Start (CD_SupTG:#lodtdic): Thu Jul 28 16:22:53 2016 -0500
[22:06] <Ikiryo> (4:08:19 AM) Reise: "Oh, so I don't have any brains, is that it? It's because I'm an eldarin, isn't it? Everyone thinks we're just porn stars! That's discrimination, buster, and I'm gonna make sure your bosses know you think eldarin are just a bunch of brainless sluts! We'll see how long they'll keep you on the job!"
[22:06] <Ikiryo> (4:08:57 AM) Ikiryo: "None of the brains leave." He repeats, shaking his head again.
[22:06] <Ikiryo> (4:11:03 AM) Reise: "Ugh, I hate it when they're *too* stupid," she mumbles in Hana's ear. "It's not leaving," she says to the troll, "it's going out for a smoke. Unless you want her to light up in your face."
[22:06] <Ikiryo> (4:12:53 AM) Ikiryo: "None of the brains leave." He repeats a third time. Orders.
[22:06] <Ikiryo> (4:13:05 AM) Ikiryo: *"Orders."
[22:07] <Reise> "Well okay, who's the boss that gave you those orders?"
[22:07] <Ikiryo> "The boss."
[22:14] * Reise rolls her eyes with a huff. "This is getting nowhere," she grumbles. "C'mon." She tugs Hana's arm away from the door. [To: Eden - Were there any other ways out of this place? Got trolls posted at the doors to keep the "brains" in.]
[22:16] <Ikiryo> [From Eden - Mostly just the main doors, unless you want to try to slip through the kitchen. Won't be sneaky.]
[22:27] <Reise> [...I'm gonna try something stupid. I'll let you know how it goes.] She leads Hana to the restroom. "I'm going to try something stupid to get us both out of here. Wish me luck."
[22:29] <Ikiryo> "Best of luck?" She looks a bit confused.
[22:36] <Reise> She nods and takes a deep breath. Gods, it's been ages since she last needed to use this trick... She wraps an arm around Hana's waist and concentrates--just picture the destination, outside the walls, like there's just an open path between here and there...
[22:36] <Ikiryo> ...and then they are there in a rush of colour and the smell of spring.
[22:38] * Reise staggers away from Hana for a couple of steps. "Eugh...out of practice with that."
[22:41] <Ikiryo> Hana nearly falls over, looking a bit queasy. "That was...ugh..."
[22:49] <Reise> "It was," she nods, arching her back and stretching hard enough to have a handful of popping noises issue from her vertebrae. "But at least we're out?"
[22:50] <Ikiryo> She nods. "R-Right. That was..."
[22:53] <Reise> "It's a trick any eldarin could pull off, if they master it," she says. "Anyway, good luck. Need anything else? An escort to somewhere?"
[22:55] <Ikiryo> She shakes her head. "N-no. I think I can make my way back. Dammit...this has been terrible."
[22:56] <Reise> She raises an eyebrow. "Worse than being hauled away and having a brain slug dripped in your ear? Or is that folded in?"
[23:00] <Ikiryo> "Well, they shoved one in me. It just died...so it counts."
[23:01] <Reise> "Right. Well, good luck with avoiding a repeat performance. Last thing we want is for them to breed one that can stand your body temp, right?"
[23:10] <Ikiryo> She nods "I'm onyl...sort of...organic. I'm not sure they could. I really don't want to find out.
[23:10] <Ikiryo> "
[23:20] <Reise> "No, I'd kind of recommend against that, too. Tell you what--if you need me for anything, just give me a call."
[23:24] <Ikiryo> "Right...umm...how?"
[23:28] <Reise> "Here." She hands Hana a business card procured from...somewhere. Best not to wonder where it'd been hiding. "Either number on here will go straight to me, instead of the hassle of dealing with my agent."
[23:29] <Ikiryo> "...secret or fashion?" She raises an eyebrow
[23:29] * Reise winks. "Yep."
[23:32] <Ikiryo> She rolls her eyes and slips it into her purse. "...thanks."
[23:32] <Reise> "Sure. Take care."
[23:33] <Ikiryo> "Do you have any clue who would be doing this?"
[23:34] <Reise> "I have two ends of string, but the trick is going to be finding out if they're the same piece, or two separate problems. So yes, I have a clue, but I don't know if it's the right clue...or just me seeing what I want to see."
[23:40] <Ikiryo> "Do you enjoy speaking in riddles?" Hana sighs. "Maybe this is all a sign."
[23:41] <Reise> "More like I just don't have anything definitive to say." She shrugs. "And a sign of what, if I may ask?"
[23:41] <Ikiryo> She gives a wry smile. "That I'm a terrible druid. I'm off at a scientific convention and nearly get mind controlled."
[23:42] <Reise> "I am just having all sorts of luck with druids and other naturey folk."
[23:44] <Ikiryo> "...oh?"
[23:46] * Reise shakes her head. "Never mind, I'm just venting. Nothing says druids can't be interested in science, right? And 'nearly' mind controlled isn't the same as 'was' mind controlled, so as far as I'm concerned you've still got a perfect record."
[23:49] <Ikiryo> "I'd like to think most people have a perfect record." She rummages through her purse, looking for something.
[23:51] <Reise> She shrugs. "There're a lot of spheres out there," she says, with a touch of philosophical whimsy.
[23:54] <Ikiryo> "Ah, here we go." She draws out a small booklet. "I nabbed this from the room they were shoving bugs in ears in."
[23:59] <Reise> One eyebrow goes up. "Oh, really? May I?"
[00:00] <Ikiryo> "Sure. This is really outside my area of expertise, I know thermographic technology and thermal power, not mind control."
[00:01] <Reise> "I don't really know it either, but anything's better than nothing." She holds out a hand and takes the booklet, giving it a look-see.
[00:02] <Ikiryo> It opens with a bright picture of a person with swirly eyes and a comic sans subtitle. 'So you are now a mind controlled slave: Tips to adjusting to your new life!'
[00:04] <Reise> "...Is this...is this parody?"
[00:06] <Ikiryo> "I picked it up in the room. It's real, as best as I can tell."
[00:14] <Reise> "..." She turns it over, then shakes her head, blonde hair swishing. "Alright. Thanks. I'll...take a look when I can afford to feel stupid."
[00:17] <Ikiryo> "Sorry I don't have more than that...I was busy pretending to be..." Her eyes glaze and her mouth half opens as all sense of brain or free will vanishes from the girl.
[00:20] <Reise> She smirks. "No, this is more than I had, which is pretty much an infinity percent increase. It's great."
[00:22] <Ikiryo> "Technically zero to zero point one is infinity percent, I guess." She smiles as she un-looks like a zombie.
[00:23] <Reise> "Progress is progress, no matter how slight it seems. Who knows, maybe this'll be the key to crack the whole thing."
[00:24] <Ikiryo> "The clue being 'The people behind this have middle management'?" She rolls her eyes.
[00:29] <Reise> "Maybe they were dumb enough to include authoring credits." She shrugs. "Anyway, I'll get on this."
[00:30] <Ikiryo> Hana nods. "Thanks again."
[10:48] * Annandra has left Q-33 by her own for a bit; she figures if the Quori haven't killed her yet, she'll be okay for a little bit while she hunts down Dione at her usual temple.
[10:54] <Ikiryo> The temple is silent and immacuately clean, as always.
[10:54] * Annandra steps in carefully, looking around. She's sure it's going to be really hard to miss Dione as she heads into it.
[11:10] <Ikiryo> The titanic beauty is kneeling peacefully in the middle of the room, seemingly at prayer or meditating.
[11:12] * Annandra approaches carefully, standing patiently. She does clear her throat, not rudely, but just to let Dione know someone's there... though dione probably knows already. is she being rude? Annandra doesn't think she is, so maybe. She's never sure sometimes.
[11:13] <Ikiryo> "Hello little one~
[11:16] * Annandra smiles a bit, inclining her head. "Dione. I was hoping you might be able to help me with some knowledge."
[11:18] <Ikiryo> "Help you? No, I cannot do that. I can, however, guide you." She stands up, opening her eyes and smiling down at Annandra. "I can walk the path with you but you must take the first steps."
[11:19] * Annandra chuckles. "Fair enough," she says. "One of my friends is being targetted, apparently, by the Quori." SHe says the name without fear.
[11:19] <Ikiryo> "Interesting."
[11:21] <Annandra> "We know a little about them already," she says, scratching her shoulder a bit. The new skin's still not fully settled in. "They sound like pretty powerful sadists; we know they won't be able to influence us directly, probably, and that theyf ind it really hard to influence the warp or people who are very well infused with it, which makes me a bit safer against them."
[11:24] <Ikiryo> "Those are...close." She nods.
[11:26] * Annandra nods. "And, like I said, sadists. Khaira's afraid of them, quite a lot, which makes them more powerful against us. She told me i should't say their name, 'cause it might attract their attention," she says. "But I'm thinking fear is their strength. They want us to be afraid of them, what they can do to us."
[11:28] <Ikiryo> She shakes her head. "No...they were never sadists." She sounds sad for a moment.
[11:29] * Annandra quirks her head to the side, frowning. "Oh?" She asks. "What were they, then?"
[11:31] <Ikiryo> She frowns and shakes her head. "It's not relevent any more. Now they are hateful."
[11:34] <Annandra> She nods, frowning a bit. "Mmm. History's usually relevant; more relevant than people might think, anyway. My uncle taught me that. Still, if you're sure." She shrugs. "We know they have three main sources of servitors--blues, rockseer elves, avatars." She trails off a bit, thinking.
[11:35] <Ikiryo> "Hollow puppets all." She nods
[11:37] <Annandra> "I do know that the first two bleed. They're living creatures. THat's important," she says. "And that's... close to what we've got so far," she says. "It all started with some sort of symbol that Q-33 couldn't transmit digitally, though, or at least putting us on this track did," she says. "Oh, wait, and they can hack reality with their minds apparently."
[11:37] <Annandra> "It's not magic, though?"
[11:39] <Ikiryo> "Ah, yes. I remember that trick...it's a long ago one." She closes her eyes for a moment and the stone under Annandra's feet becomes green grass.
[11:40] * Annandra blinks a few times, looking down and quirking her head to the side. "... You can do the... we were told it was called block something computing?"
[11:41] <Ikiryo> "Block Transfer Computations is a newer name for it, yes."
[11:42] * Annandra nods a few times. "Can you guide me as to how to... deal with it, I suppose?" She asks. "It's a little out of my training and context."
[11:43] <Ikiryo> "I could, if you had a lifetime spare. Most mortals take thirty or fourty years to learn the basics."
[11:46] <Annandra> "I'm actually pretty sure old age has about the same grip on me as most other forms of death at this point, but I might take you up on that, but I feel like right now just sort of..." She frowns. "How do we defend against it, basiclaly, is what's needed most right now.
[11:46] <Ikiryo> "You cannot stop it...but the results are just as natural as any other effect."
[11:48] <Annandra> She nods. "So deal with the effects, basically. I'd rather be proactive about it, but you can't control the enemy."
[11:51] <Ikiryo> "Indeed. The results of it are bound to the laws of reality as much as any other." She gestures to the grass. "This grass, for instance, needs light and water just as much as any other."
[11:52] * Annandra nods again, kneeling to look at it with a frown, something about that resonating with her. "So if you wanted to keep it, you'd need to take care of it," she mutters.
[11:54] <Ikiryo> "That is correct, yes~"
[11:55] <Annandra> "Hmm." She pauses for a moment, her visible eye going distant. "For some reason I was pondering getting a garden, but I don't know anything about plants."
[12:00] <Ikiryo> "No one knows anything to start."
[19:59] * Annandra nods, scratching her head a bit. "Mmm. You mind if I invite my friend over, the target? Might be able to guide her along her path some. She's a little freaked out over all this, I think, and you've been great at being a calming influence for me."
[20:04] <Ikiryo> She smiles warmly. "You are free to do as you wish~"
[20:07] * Annandra chuckles a bit, and sends a message to Q-33. [Hey, want to come to my location? I'm with a friend who can help... sorta. She's Closed Fist, so it's an indirect sort of help, but I like her.]
[20:14] <Q-33_North> [I. . . sure?]
[20:15] <Annandra> [Trust me, she's good people,] Annandra replies, with the address. [And I don't mean that in a crazy way.]
[20:16] * Q-33_North shows up, soon enough.  Her cyber arm thrums with energy though, ready to activate her energy blade.
[20:17] * Annandra waves. "Q-33, this is Dione. Dione, this is Q-33."
[20:17] <Q-33_North> "Uh, Hi."
[20:22] <Ikiryo> Dione turns out to be a massive woman, easily twice Q-33's height if not a bit more. Stunningly pretty with tanned skin and pure white hair that flows down to just above the floor. She's dressed in a simple white robe that does surpisingly little to hide her appearance. She offers a warm smile to Q-33. "...you keep very interesting friends."
[20:23] <Annandra> "I try to live in interesting times," Annandra says.
[20:24] <Q-33_North> "I guess? What's. . . Is this an intervention? For what?"
[20:25] <Annandra> "Mmm? No, not really, but Dione's good people, like I said. I know you're a little freaked out over this Quori stuff, and she's always managed to help get me calmed down when I'm freaking out about stuff."
[20:27] <Q-33_North> "I. . . yes brain ghosts are probably coming to haunt my brain, that's. . . spooky."
[20:30] <Ikiryo> "They are not ghosts. Ghosts are part of the natural order. These poor children are outside it, unwilling to become part of the world again." She shakes her head.
[20:31] <Q-33_North> "Yeah but it's a good shorthand for weird immaterial things."
[20:31] <Annandra> "I mean, kinda, but then you're lumping in daemons, angels, ghosts, quori... there's lots of weird immaterial things and lots of different ways to fight each, y'know?"
[20:32] <Annandra> "But no, I get it, I guess." She rubs her soulstone a bit, thinking. "But yeah, I just came by to Dione today to bounce ideas off of her."
[20:32] <Q-33_North> "Yeah and I really don't interact with those.  I do computers."
[20:33] <Annandra> "YOu interact with Khaira fairly regularly, and I know I'm not immaterial... most of hte time... but I'm sorta daemon-ish..."
[20:34] <Q-33_North> "You know what I mean."
[20:35] <Annandra> "Yeah, sorry." She rubs the back of her neck.
[20:39] <Annandra> "But, well, yeah," she continues, coughing a bit. "Oh, and I learned, uh, that learning BTC is probably out of the question; couple of decades just to get the basics on average, so the best way to handle that is to just... take it as it comes."
[20:39] <Ikiryo> "Sorry is not required. Now...how may I guide you on your path?"
[20:41] <Q-33_North> "I don't know, is there a way I can set a thing up to keep them off my ship?"
[20:42] <Ikiryo> "Oh...that will not be an issue. That ship is one they cannot touch." She smiles
[20:43] <Q-33_North> ". . . have you. . . seen the Serpent?"
[20:43] * Annandra quirks an eyebrow. "Well that's fucking ominous," she mutters.
[20:46] <Ikiryo> "I have seen much in my time. I have seen it's like."
[20:48] <Q-33_North> "Yeah but. . . how do you know where I live? Did we meet before?"
[20:51] <Ikiryo> "This is my first meeting with Q-33, no. However, you carry the world and your loved ones with you like armour."
[20:52] <Q-33_North> ". . . Is that like, from the astral projection thing?"
[20:55] <Ikiryo> "Astral projection only shows what is already there." She nods. "Your path is long...and will not be without pain, I fear."
[20:56] <Annandra> "Is any path worth walking, though?"
[20:56] <Q-33_North> "Oooookay."
[20:58] <Ikiryo> "Yes but her path has already been painful...and not one she's walked alone. The Puppeteer has walked it with her, hunting her as she hunts it."
[20:59] * Q-33_North glances around nervously.  "Do we uh,  Know, what that is?"
[20:59] * Annandra frowns. "The Puppeteer...." she murmurs. "Didn't Khaira say something about how that's another name or something for the Quori?" She muses. "And they're dream-eaters and deal with minds, hmm..."
[21:03] <Q-33_North> "Maybe but that's the name for a singular entity."
[21:04] <Annandra> "I mean, if it is, it narrows it down, doesn't it? It's not *the* Quori, maybe, it's *a* Quori?"
[21:05] <Ikiryo> The titan smiles warmly.
[21:05] * Annandra glances at Dione and nods slightly. "The Puppeteer. I feel like the Quori, they probably had names once, but I bet most writings and stuff about them nowadays will use titles..." She mutters a bit, thinking and frowning.
[21:06] <Q-33_North> "I don't know?"
[21:07] <Annandra> "No one knows anything to start," she says with a soft chuckle. "But I think..." She starts pacing. "I think we're on a good path to find something. We should talk to Reise's cute friend, Eden, and... hmm. Maybe some other people... The Puppeteer, the Puppeteer..."
[21:20] <Ikiryo> "Annandra likes to quote other people's statements to make her sound wise~" The titan smiles a little wickedly.
[21:21] <Q-33_North> ". . . yeah probably."
[21:21] * Annandra spreads her hands innocently. "I'm an expert at on-site procurement, what can I say?"
[21:32] <Q-33_North> "I mean, sure? If that's what you want to go with?"
[21:33] <Annandra> "It's true though! I mean, sure, it's a fancy term for 'loot anything that's useful and use it yourself', but."
[21:35] <Q-33_North> "Whatever helps you sleep."
[21:37] <Annandra> "Not a lot does that, to be honest."
Session Start (CD_SupTG:#LODTDIC): Wed Aug 10 08:15:45 2016 -0500
[20:18] * Reise sends out another message to the group. [Got some things I need to run past you guys in person. The usual spot in a couple hours?]
[20:20] <Annandra> [I'll be there!]
[20:21] <Q-33_North> [Yeah, sure, I can make it]
[20:22] <Ikiryo> The tavern is moderately busy but the silver haired girl can easily get them a private table, like usual.
[20:24] * Annandra is there right on time; she's dressed in her casual set this time, tank top and BDU pants.
[20:27] * Q-33_North shows up, predictably late, having taken a circuitious route to arrive.
[20:31] * Reise is out of her armor, as usual for their attendance there. She's dressed fairly conservatively, in a tight red turtleneck and khaki slacks, and waves as people start to arrive.
[20:32] <Ikiryo> A red haired angel is sitting beside her in short shorts and a white tank top.
[20:33] * Annandra waves at Neciel as she sits down. "Hey."
[20:33] <Ikiryo> Neciel nods back and smiles. "Hi."
[20:35] * Q-33_North sits down.  "Hello again, I guess."
[20:36] <Reise> "Okay," she says, as the others sit. "I asked Neciel to show up 'cause I found some stuff out doing my *actual* work that I want you all to be aware of. Aware of," she emphasizes, looking at Annandra, "not 'wanting to give a try.'"
[20:37] <Annandra> "What?" She says, blinking.
[20:38] <Reise> "Oh, nothing. I'm certainly not remembering someone here becoming the thrall of a particular body-warping dryad."
[20:39] <Annandra> "That was part of my plan the entire time?" She offers awkwardly. "... I'm capable of making good decisions..."
[20:40] <Q-33_North> "Nobody said you weren't.  It was, however heavily implied."
[20:40] <Ikiryo> Neciel shrugs. "I can't honestly comment."
[20:42] <Reise> "Anyway. The topic is more mind control, because we haven't seen enough of it."
[20:44] * Q-33_North is already massaging her temples.
[20:44] <Annandra> "Right, okay."
[20:44] <Reise> She draws an AR window on the surface of the table, and feeds it an image of the party she had attended. "Currently, person or persons unknown are abducting younger, up-and-coming scientists, and implanting them with question biotechnology that renders them in a passive, nearly catatonic state.
[20:44] <Reise> "To cut out the clinical bullshit, they're pretty much like zombies, just without the hungering for brains and shambling walk. While I was there, they did *nothing.* Not even browse the matrix."
[20:45] <Ikiryo> Neciel raises an eyebrow. "Well, until you mentioned that I was just expecting it to be nerds."
[20:46] <Q-33_North> ". . . Do we know where they're being abducted to?"
[20:46] * Annandra quirks an eyebrow, peering at the image with a frown. "Well, that's no good..."
[20:47] <Reise> "I know, right?" She flicks the window, and a hand-drawn picture of a finger-length, reddish worm transitions to be the next image. "These are the things. I don't know what they're called, but they're the vector for the zombie state. They enter through the ear, and presumably...hell, I dunno, eat the brain or something."
[20:48] <Reise> "The reason I said it's mind control, though, is this." One more flick, and one more image: a pamphlet of sorts, titled "So Now You're a Mind-Controlled Slave: Tips to Adjusting to Your New Life!" It's got a picture of a person with swirls for eyes and an otherwise vapid expression.
[20:49] <Q-33_North> ". . . someone actually printed this.  Someone. Actually printed this."
[20:49] <Annandra> "I've seen worse propaganda, to be fair" she says. "Got a copy?"
[20:49] <Ikiryo> Neciel facepalms. "It's like sensitivity training, all over again."
[20:49] <Reise> "I ran in to a person who'd been subjected to this, but they turned out to be immune to the process. For confidentiality, I'll not say exactly how, but suffice it to say it may be key to undoing the process." She glances at the cyborg. "Yes. Someone did. And finding out *who* is going to be one of the vectors to stopping this from happening."
[20:50] <Reise> "And yes, I do have a copy, but I didn't bring it here."
[20:51] <Q-33_North> "So what's the plan, exactly?"
[20:53] <Reise> "Investigation, mostly." She shrugs. "I have three avenues. We, if you guys decide to help out--you don't have to, but I wanted to make you aware. First is the pamphlet. Second are the bugs. Find out what they are, where they come from, all that. Third is the random kidnappings, and mentally-altered scientists and stuff. People reporting friends, family, coworkers that are acting weird."
[20:56] <Annandra> "I guess I'm not allowed to volunteer for the bughunt?"
[20:56] <Q-33_North> "Well we could throw you at the bugs and put a tracking device on you, that'd get us where everyone's going."
[20:57] <Annandra> "... You really don't trust me to handle myself, do you guys..."
[20:58] <Q-33_North> "Finding trouble is a way of handling yourself."
[20:59] <Annandra> "..." She frowns a bit more, but doesn't say anything.
[21:00] <Ikiryo> "In my work, we call this an Iris-type. Someone who acts light a lightning rod for mind control."
[21:00] <Ikiryo> Neciel smiles
[21:01] <Annandra> "I'm not a lightning rod," she mutters. "It's happened ONCE. If I was some sort of lightning rod, don't you think I'd be listening to the voices in my head more? I mean, they're trying to mind control me all the time..."
[21:02] <Q-33_North> "Splits your focus though, which isn't good."
[21:04] <Annandra> "It doesn't split my focus any more than anyone else who has voices in their head," she says. "I'm still fully capable of doing my job in a professional manner. One moment of weakness doesn't mean I'm useless..."
[21:05] <Ikiryo> Neciel smiles. "Well, we could test if it's once off."
[21:07] <Annandra> "So I can help with the bughunt?"
[21:07] <Ikiryo> "I was thinking something less dangerous...and I was mostly joking."
[21:08] <Reise> "Sure. You find out what they are and where they come from, see if you can't find out who's collecting them. Note that this doesn't imply *or* require you physically getting close to any."
[21:10] <Q-33_North> "I can probably search the net for anything like the pamphlet, or I can talk to our new reporter friend about patterns in missing persons.  Or both, I guess."
[21:10] <Annandra> "I'm not exactly capable of astral projection, though I'm decent at hacking," she says. "I do my best work on-site, though. I'll see what I can find and I won't get caught."
[21:12] <Q-33_North> "Meanwhile I don't want to gamble on the idea that brainworms don't interface with cyberbrains.  I have enough problems with my memory, thanks."
[21:14] <Annandra> "Honestly, fi they're Quori-based, given what we know of the bastards, if any of us here are good against their bullshit it's going to be my little wrap-cracked head."
[21:15] <Reise> She nods. "...And, guys...thanks. This isn't your fight, so I appreciate the help, probably more than you know."
[21:15] <Ikiryo> Neciel chuckles. "I think this literally IS my job."
[21:17] * Annandra shrugs. "Hey, I'm a registered mercenary. That means I have a code of honor to fight for what I"m paid for." She gives a wry smile. "It's going on your tab, don't worry." From her tone, she's teasing.
[21:17] <Q-33_North> "I mean, I think stuff like this is kind of the reason we're still in touch."
[21:20] <Annandra> "... Oh. I thought we were still in touch 'cause we were, um, friends? Isn't that what we said earlier when I had my freakout?"
[21:22] <Q-33_North> "There can be more than one reason for things."
[21:22] <Annandra> "Oh, okay. Just,w ith how you said that, I thought you were saying that was the... main reason, I guess?"
[21:24] <Ikiryo> Neciel chuckles.
[21:25] <Reise> "If we didn't count you as a friend, we probably wouldn't give you this much of a hard time," she says dryly.
[21:26] * Q-33_North absently fires a message off to her new reporter friend [Hey, you know anything about disappearing scientists or otherwise academic focused individuals? Beyond the usual I mean.]
[21:27] <Ikiryo> [You'll want to narrow it down a bit.]
[21:27] <Q-33_North> ". . . Who was hosting the party?"
[21:31] <Reise> "My mission targets Horizon. They were a sponsor for it; the event itself was a Nerd Prom for scientific achievement in robotics."
[21:31] <Reise> She fiddles with the AR window, and pulls up a snapshot of the one or two knackered scientists she'd seen at the place.
[21:32] <Q-33_North> [Specifically anyone who may have gone missing or started acting strangely after a Horizon event, or anyone in any of the social circles of these ones.]
[21:33] <Ikiryo> [Oh, NOW we are talking. I'll pull up the file.]
[21:33] <Q-33_North> [Oh boy]
[21:37] <Ikiryo> [Hmm...yeah, I've got a bit that might be good here.]
[21:38] <Q-33_North> [Oh?]
[21:39] <Ikiryo> [Well, I'm not spilling over a place it could be intercepted~]
[21:39] <Q-33_North> [I can come back to the ship, or you can come here, up to you.]
[21:41] <Ikiryo> [Sure, where are you?]
[21:41] * Q-33_North fires the address to her.
[21:42] <Ikiryo> [Be there soon]
[21:47] <Reise> Unknowing, Reise passes the time by ordering a drink for herself and Neciel and swapping old work stories with her.
[21:48] <Q-33_North> "Information incoming."
[21:48] * Annandra nods. She's been quiet htis whole time. Thinking.
[21:50] <Ikiryo> Neciel laughs at Reise's most recent story.
[21:51] <Ikiryo> A familiar tall, black haired woman in a thee-piece suit and coat enters the tavern, making her way to the table.
[21:52] * Reise quirks an eyebrow at the new arrival.
[21:53] <Reise> "Oh, I remember you!" she says suddenly.
[21:54] <Ikiryo> She raises an eyebrow. "Didn't recognise me without a few extra kilos here and there?~"
[21:54] <Annandra> "I don't think we've met, but if these two trust you so will I."
[21:55] <Q-33_North> "She's staying with me, for now, because I maybe accidentally burned her old apartment, by mistake."
[21:55] <Reise> The blonde staaaares at Q-33 for a moment, then shakes her head. "Not even gonna ask."
[21:56] <Ikiryo> "I did some quick recon on that a few days ago. Someone burned it to the ground a few hours after I bugged out." She nods to Q-33
[21:57] <Q-33_North> "Look, I have a ship, and I'm the only person on it, and it's a pretty big ship."
[21:58] <Annandra> "I probably have teh shittiest house out of all of us."
[22:00] <Ikiryo> She sits down and orders a dirty martini. "Alright, so think you all wanted some info?" She takes a breath, like she's sucking on broken glass...as the room seems to take on a grainy, dim colour with lots of use of negative space.
[22:01] <Q-33_North> "Sounds right to me."
[22:01] * Annandra frowns, looking around a bit. "Yeah, uh, we did."
[22:04] <Ikiryo> The angel frowns, looking about the city outside the nearby window. Her city, dark and beautiful...
[22:06] * Reise leans forward in her seat, reaching up and pushing away what little overhead light there is, her eyes hooding in shadow. "Lay it on us, toots."
[22:07] <Ikiryo> "Horizon...there is some bad things going on with them. People go for a visit, they don't get seen again." She sips her cocktail, frowning.
[22:08] <Ikiryo> Gwyn frowns at the group, raising an eyebrow. She seems about the only person nearby with any sense of colour. She shrugs and gets back to serving drinks.
[22:12] <Q-33_North> ". . . You mean, more than usual for a corporation?"
[22:13] <Ikiryo> "It's been goin' on for a while, yeah...but recently things have been gettin' weird." She takes another sip of her cocktail.
[22:15] <Ikiryo> "A lot of up and comin' scientific minds have been vanishing around them. No one knows how...at least until now it seems."
[22:17] <Reise> "Well, 'how' is still the question. I know it's going on...unless you know," she adds, voice carrying a note of challenge.
[22:18] <Q-33_North> "Well I mean you know how, it's the brainworms."
[22:18] <Ikiryo> "I know plenty~" She sucks in another breath like it's passing over rusty nails.
[22:19] <Q-33_North> "And?"
[22:20] <Ikiryo> "It's cooincided a lot with Horizon ships making trips off-sigil a few days later. I can't prove they are connected...but they line up each time~"
[22:21] <Reise> "Trips, eh? You wouldn't *also* happen ta know what for?"
[22:21] <Ikiryo> The girl pauses...and draws an ofuda from her coat. "Oh piss off spirits!" All of a sudden, colour returns and people feel much less inclinded to talk about whores.
[22:21] <Ikiryo> She grumps. "The stupid things followed me, it seems."
[22:22] * Reise coughs gently, the light swinging back into position. "Is *that* what that was? Man, I've dealt with some weird things, but every five minutes on Sigil something surprises me."
[22:23] * Annandra blinks a few times, as if getting back into herself. "... Well, that was wierd," she says.
[22:24] <Ikiryo> "Spirits. They like doing this to me for some reason." She sips her drink and pulls a face. "Urg." She orders an apple juice to replace it.
[22:24] <Q-33_North> "Yeah, happens."
[22:24] * Annandra takes a napkin to wipe the blood off of her brow while she's at it. Damn soulstone leaking. "Man, the disembodied are awful for that. Let me tell you sometime about the voices in my head..."
[22:25] <Annandra> "Err. Or maybe not. I don't want you to think I'm crazy. 'cause they're actual demons in my brain. Not just a mental illness. Or I ugess not a mental illness at all if they're actually there? It is sorta an affliction though, I guess..." She trails off, holding a bloodied napkin and thinking.
[22:25] <Annandra> "Man, life is strange."
[22:26] <Ikiryo> "Anyway, as I was saying before and being needlessly complicated about. There is some links between vanishing people and Horizon ships leaving Sigil a few days afterwards. I don't know where they are going, sadly."
[22:27] <Annandra> "Bet you we can find out, though," she says.
[22:27] <Q-33_North> "So. . . we have to get someone on one of the ships."
[22:28] <Annandra> "And hack their navigational systems to figure out where they're heading, that's my thought."
[22:29] <Reise> "..." She sighs quietly, and rubs her forehead. "Bet I can find out."
[22:29] <Ikiryo> She shrugs. "If you find out, I'd love to publish the story. What's the worst they can do? Burn down my house again?~"
[22:30] * Annandra frowns at Reise. "I wouldn't want you to risk your... stuff for it. I mean, I'm not linked to Horizon at all, so if they catch me waht's the worst they'll do?"
[22:30] <Annandra> "If they kill me I'll just come back, so I guess they might, like, throw me into a vat of acid and then shoot it out into the warp, which would really suck, I guess."
[22:31] <Reise> "I *work* for them, in case you forgot."
[22:31] <Annandra> "Well, right, but you have that whole thing, right? So you probably don't want to risk losing it?"
[22:31] <Reise> "There's a nonzero chance I'll get tapped to go on one of those 'expeditions.'"
[22:31] <Q-33_North> "Well there we go."
[22:31] * Annandra frowns.
[22:32] <Annandra> "I... well, fair enough, I guess."
[22:33] <Q-33_North> "Do we need to get more than one person on board?"