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Post by thesnackmonster on Nov 4, 2020 9:43:01 GMT -5
Breakfast at HQ was pretty uninspiring. Anyone got something to snack on around here?
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Post by Eversor on Nov 4, 2020 10:40:39 GMT -5
Not gonna lie, we should totally get some really kitsch souvenir for Cat. Get em something with googley eyes.
Oh....but like ask about rumors n stuff while you shop, so you aren't dilly-dallyin'
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hats
Acolotls
Posts: 39
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Post by hats on Nov 5, 2020 1:24:14 GMT -5
Following up with Crow's last known location sounds pretty useful! Maybe there's some sort of clues you can find there, or you can pick up on any sketchy situations he could have gotten caught up in.
Quayle's place is a cut above in style, and professionalism, and the lack of grime on at least some exposed surfaces. And there's Quayle in the flesh, covered head to toe in patched combat armor and whispering to a pair of eager runners.
Those fuckin' runners, man. Kids are bad enough, but kids who keep their mouths shut? Kids who know to stand back and watch and listen? Spooky.
You crank down the window and stick your head out. "Yo, how are you still not dead?"
Quayle looks up and instantly switches to full-on sales mode. "Shrike! Shrike, old friend, how good to see you. How did you like those incendiary rounds?"
"Peachy. Lit the place up like a, uh, a thing that burns really fast." You crack the door and slither out; Ox sighs and takes your place behind the wheel. "How you been?"
They reach out for a quick handshake; their glove leaves some sort of thick grease on your palm, which you immediately rub off on a passing runner's overalls. "Never better, never better!"
"Yeah?" You glance over the main display. Old-world shells, fresh-pressed junk rounds... grenades? Those are new. "Sure looks it. You had any big players roll through lately?"
The runner with the newly grease-anointed overalls slows down in her duties and angles an ear towards you. Just the tiniest bit.
Quayle's all smiles, all cheer. "None as important as you."
Yeah, you don't need fancy enhanced sensors to smell bullshit. And Overalls over there is not very good at hiding her interest--she's barely even pretending to wipe down that spot of counter. Maybe...Breakfast at HQ was pretty uninspiring. Anyone got something to snack on around here?
The dough fryer is here today. |
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Post by fuzzysocks on Nov 5, 2020 1:53:38 GMT -5
Do runners take orders? Can you pass Overalls there a {insert measure of currency} and tell her to get you a thing of fried dough, keep the change, so you can get more info from Quayle here privately?
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Post by Eversor on Nov 5, 2020 12:10:26 GMT -5
G...gasp....(D...do they have the powder sugar and syrup too?!?!)
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hats
Acolotls
Posts: 39
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Post by hats on Nov 5, 2020 18:13:09 GMT -5
G...gasp....(D...do they have the powder sugar and syrup too?!?!)
Do runners take orders? Can you pass Overalls there a {insert measure of currency} and tell her to get you a thing of fried dough, keep the change, so you can get more info from Quayle here privately?
"Right, here's what you're gonna do. You're gonna go find the fried dough booth. You're gonna buy three, and you're gonna bring 'em back here. And you get to keep the change." You drop a short stack of coins into her waiting hand. "Oh, shit, hang on--Ox, you want one?"
"No."
"Right, just three portions, then. Got it?" Overalls nods and darts off. You turn back to Quayle. "She new?"
"Yes. On loan from a mechanic down the way." They steeple their fingers. "Look, Shrike, I don't want to cause any bad blood here. You know I'm in favor of your little police actions, but not everyone else is. You understand, right?"
"Nope." You scoop up one of the grenades and fiddle idly with it. Quayle tenses. "Nope, can't say that I do."
They rub the bridge of their nose and sigh. "Just... ask."
Ha, now that's a level of subservience you could get used to. "Friend of mine's late for dinner. Average height, balding, old as fuck, angrier than a razorback in an outhouse. Seen him?"
"Yes."
Well, that was easy. "Great. Where and when?"
"Not until you offer me something, Shrike." Quayle's voice is back to their usual irritating chipper tones. "Handouts are bad for business. What's this worth to you?
Maaaan, why's everybody gotta want something? Can't they just recognize how awesome you are and do things outta the goodness of their hearts?
Well, let's see... you might have enough cash on hand... what else have you got...? |
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Post by Fish on Dec 4, 2020 22:23:54 GMT -5
something from your limited edition manga collection that you always keep on hand.
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Post by ten11 on Dec 7, 2020 20:30:43 GMT -5
Could you offer to send some more business their way?
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hats
Acolotls
Posts: 39
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Post by hats on Dec 9, 2020 22:44:28 GMT -5
Could you offer to send some more business their way?
"How 'bout this," you say, tossing the grenade back onto the counter. Quayle doesn't flinch, but his eyes track until it stops rolling. "We burn through .50 cal like a motherfucker, and they ain't exactly cranking those out like they used to. If you come across any in bulk, especially armor piercing, we'll be first in line."
Quayle strokes their chin. "...doable."
"Yeah?"
"Yes. But I'm not committing without a more concrete agreement."
"I'll run it by the boss as soon as I'm back home. We'll get something all signed and notarized and shit." Gods, Cat is gonna rip your head off for this. Here's hoping it's just metaphorical ripping. "So? We good?"
They keep stroking their chin, deep in thought. There's a pull at their lips. A downward pull.
something from your limited edition manga collection that you always keep on hand. "And, hey, I'll throw in, uh.... one sec." You dart back to the 4x4 still idling in the street and hop up on the rail. "'Scuse me," you say, and before Ox can protest you're sprawled out over her lap and digging through the glove compartment. No, not Rage Ride... not BioDevil: Hell Lancer X... ah, there we go. You slide back down; Ox doesn't move to help or hinder.
"Here. First volume of Ninjas of Persephone." You hold out the near-pristine tome, then yank it back. "Are your hands clean?"
They peel off one glove and present a burn-mottled, but clean, hand. "Free of grease, covered in blood."
Pfft, what a wanker. Maybe the edgelord would've preferred BioDevil after all. Oh well! You hand over the manga. "Shit's real good. Collector's item, too."
They take a cursory glance before tucking it away inside their armor. "We have a deal."
"Great. Where's my guy at?"
Quayle leans in. "He stopped by last night, just before closing, and bought two boxes of .357. Then he asked a great many personal and business questions, none of which I answered. Eventually he stormed off and then... had a chat with two of the Mayor's finest."
Aw piss. "They took him?"
"No," Quayle says, their salesperson smile coming back at last. "An actual chat. They conversed. And then he walked off with them, not a trace of threat or coercion in the air."
Aw piss! "Where'd they go?"
"I had a runner tail them to the old water company building, five or six blocks down, but I'm afraid that's all the time we have. There's been a change in the weather." They're looking past you, not at you. "If you'll excuse me...?"
You whirl on the spot. Quayle steps back out of your peripheral vision and vanishes.
Peace officers. Blackshirts. The mayor's attack dogs. Call 'em whatever you want, but they're armed and armored and twitchy as hell. Four of 'em stomping their way through the mud, shoppers hustling to get out of the way.
And in front of them is Overalls. And she points at you. And then she takes a big bite out of a fried dough cake.
That little shit.
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Post by Eversor on Dec 10, 2020 1:33:47 GMT -5
>I mean.....I feel like we are obligated to tell them, that in fact, they are a little shit.
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Post by ten11 on Dec 10, 2020 3:00:46 GMT -5
They're on foot? Hop back into the car and just floor it.
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hats
Acolotls
Posts: 39
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Post by hats on Dec 14, 2020 2:48:11 GMT -5
>I mean.....I feel like we are obligated to tell them, that in fact, they are a little shit.
The gods gave you two hands for a reason, and each's got its own middle finger. Quayle and Overalls both get a bird flipped their way as you charge back to the 4x4. Backstabbing cowardly shitheel cash-grubbing assfaced... shitheel... trashlegs. Yeah. That sums 'em up. They're on foot? Hop back into the car and just floor it.
Ox kicks open the driver's side door and you scramble in. She "helps" you over to the passenger seat hard enough that you pick up a couple fresh bruises. Those'd better be the worst injuries you get today...
"Go!" you shout, though it's entirely unnecessary (Ox is already flooring it) and way too loud (she's, like, two feet away).
Flooring it right down the road. Right at the blackshirts--Overalls is already gone, blending back in with the other pedestrians. Three of the cops throw themselves out of the way and into the mud.
The fourth doesn't. He hip-fires his tacticool matte black AR. Just enough time for one three-round burst.
There's a trio of spangs as bullets hit the front armor. And then a thump that barely rocks the 4x4. And then you're past, with three PO'ed grunts picking themselves up out of the muck and one, uh, not doing that.
"Mayor's pricks took Crow to the water building." You grind your molars. "He might've turned."
"I heard." Ox speeds away from the market, taking arbitrary turns, just getting some distance. "What's the plan?"
Good question. Gotta account for Crow one way or another--diplomacy? Sneak in? Just blow the building to shit and be done with it? And you're still supposed to rendezvous with what's-his-name, Johnson--where the hell is he?
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Post by ten11 on Dec 15, 2020 18:00:11 GMT -5
Find Johnson before trying to deal with Crow, you could use his help. Does your organization have any usual rendezvous locations around here?
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Post by PuntRocket on Dec 22, 2020 1:43:00 GMT -5
Get out quick, ditch the vehicle in a safe zone, and try to sneak back into town.
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Post by Fish on Dec 22, 2020 13:14:52 GMT -5
You def need to find Johnson, who knows what this mystery agent can bring to the table.
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