[Shadowrun] Chapter 1 - An Unexpected Request

[Mysticsage]

"Fair enough," said Zephyr with a shrug, "but I would like to ask that you send Taku here with us. I'd rather not be the one carrying a cursed artifact of some vengeful spirit, since I'm the one who have to fix the mess, or handle your client's new pet ferret when it understandably pees itself from taking a ride with Sparky. Having a delivery boy directly from your chain of command will make things easier upon delivery. Less need for documentation in triplicate and the possibility of some nervous gunner shooting our heads of for his package. If you feel like you can spare him that is?" Zephyr was purposely maintaining eye contact with Shinji with his usual smirk. He knew full well that they all including Taku were in some form or another expendable. So he had no doubt that Shinji did not care one lick about the kid's well being. So there was no real reason to drag the teen into this, but he really did not want to care for a living animal. So why not push for an extra pair of hands to do any of the dirty work and let him take the blame when Sparky eventually got his car a mess.

[InhumanRonin]

Ignoring Roland's talk with Shinji Takumi continues to work on his whiskey until he hears the words blood mage. This could mean a huge payday if we manage to capture one but it wouldnt be easy. Takumi would have to work with Roland whom to this point hasnt seen eye to eye with but for this type of job he would turn a blind eye to that cause he could use the cash.  "Fine I will come along since you need a package boy not my favorite work but it is what it is right now." Takumi finishes of the glass of whiskey he had been working on and stands up. "Lets just hope this goes smoother then that mess earlier."

[Oath]

Shinji smirked at the accusations brought forth by Zephyr. "You wound me, Zephyr. Just because I'm Yakuza doesn't mean that i'm moving something suspicious. Firecracker here is just a courier I can count on. If nothing else, the man knows how to drive. It's hard to call this a job, more like a little errand before you head on your way, but if it really satisfies you, Takumi can go along."

Machiavelli watched from the background before stepping forward. "Firecracker, are we gonna get some drinks after this little errand? If so count me in for the ride. If nothing else we might see something funny on the way over."

A man in a suit came hurrying back into the room, handed Shinji a small package and scurried off back the way he came. Shinji then handed it to Roland with a smile. Alright Firecracker, the guy will be expecting you. I gave him a description of your car, so there shouldn't be any trouble. Will also send you the coords so you can get going. Thanks again for running this little errand.

[pringerbeam]

     Roland took his comlink out of his pocket and checked the text with the address.  "Alrighty, got the address."  He looked up at the others.  "OK guess its back in the car then kids.  Time to run this errand and then we can go get those drinks we talked about earlier."  He pocketed his comlink and headed out the door, making his way back out into the alley to the car.

[Mysticsage]

"And here I was hoping I'd tuck in early tonight so that I might be able to get those herbs dried properly." Said zephyr with a shrug "I really do hate the taste of that soy caffeine crap too." He would need to make sure that he didn't slip when helping Anders prepare reagents but this was important and he could wait till he reached the paper lantern to crash he had to make face here if he wanted to keep Mac and Sparky on his good side. If they felt like he wasn't pulling his wait he would have to go it on his own. It would be better to have a team for now. Even Taku represented an in even if it seemed temporary and tenuous to the people he would need to be calling favors from.

As Zephyr slipped into the car he couldn't help but think what had meant to be a break from the shadows while things cooled from his last big gig some time ago was quickly heating back up. He instinctively ran a hand across his face then partially out of exhaustion and partially expecting to feel the cool touch of porcelain. He missed the feeling of his mask at times like these and was sure that Kyoko was not to happy that his future work would have to be put on hold for the moment. Luckily he was still useful to her in less flashy ways. He was flexible in his skill set, and had a quick tongue still at her disposal if nothing else. Though his mind did flash to a certain detectives coat wondering what she was up to while he had taken this forced vacation. Probably being shipped around to who knows where so that the higher ups don't need to deal with her righteousness.

He couldn't stop a stupid grin from appearing on his face as he thought about her most likely fuming somewhere ready to beat her own captain's head in. Her cheeks always did flush a pretty pink when she was furious.

[InhumanRonin]

Takumi walks outside and hops back into Roland's car. Takumi was thinking to himself "Man I really should just stay and let the heat die down but if Roland wasnt lying about this blood mage then I can't pass this chance up." Takumi looks up with a small smirk starting to appear on his face "So where are we heading and what is the plan? I assume its as simple as delivering the package and getting back to Negi's?

[pringerbeam]

     Roland began backing out of the alley once everyone entered the car.  Twisted around in his seat to keep an eye where he was driving he turned his head slightly to Takumi.  "Yup, easy job.  We go to the employer's place, get the package, and take it on its way. Then afterwards we all get to grab a quick nightcap at Zephyr's bar before getting some Zs."  He pulled out into the street and began driving off to their destination.  "At least, that is assuming we don't get shot on the way."  He looked over  to Zephyr.  "By the way bossman, on this job you ain't bossman.  I am the courier.  It's my job, my car, and my rules.  That means no peeking in the package and no questions for the employer.  You say you give your clients the full package deal?  Have any of those packages included ignorance and no questions?  Because in my line of work people don't hire someone to take secrets from point A to point B if they are nosy and while we may be working together for a while we wont be working together forever and I am going to need to still have a job once all this is settled.  Just because Shinji has the patience of a Buddha doesn't mean that the guys he works for do and questions like the ones you were asking him could at best get me blackballed and at worst wind up with everyone gunned down before we even have the package."

[Mysticsage]

Zephyr turned staring at him blankly eyes vacant for a moment still somewhat lost in his own imagination. When he finally realized he was being addressed directly it was already mid way through Sparky telling him to behave. "I held back my curiosity thank you. And if you want to take the helm by all means I know the proper etiquette, though I was not wrong with my questions ignorance is bliss and good for security in so long as things go smoothly and there are no unforeseen twists of fate. Like a routine stop by the knights or a particularly deep pot hole when carrying precious goods. Knowledge is what allows any job to work alongside lady luck versus being stuck to her whims and forced to suffer such consequences."

Zephyr sighed, "On jobs like this when going in blind there are means of judging the right methods from who has been brought together for the job, how much the Johnson is willing to pay, to the time span, and even the style and mannerisms of the Johnson' themselves. I was given none of those usual signals that makes for the right footwork. The Johnson is a personal contact of yours and taku is his subordinate so using your apparent skill or reputation is moot. You were the one who established payment so the Johnson was given the ability to assign value  so that is out as well. I also don't know any back end things between you and him so I can't trust the mannerisms and style of the Johnson either since like you said we just started with each other is out the window. Any professional gets that for a job done well some information must be given.

I did not ask anything above or beyond the norm considering that I as a runner was not given the usual avenues. You may be worried about the consequences. But I am not someone who works on blind faith alone my trust and loyalty is earned to do otherwise is a simple disservice and means that you probably just better sticking to the life of a wage slave. Because that's what it really is at that point just another mega corp, your corporation just doesn't have the usual office space.

Zephy paused then realizing that his stress from earlier and suddenly being thrown into things were getting the better of his cool demeanor. Sparky touched a nerve when questioning his professionalism even if he was not totally wrong on the subject. Zephyr liked the freedom provided by his normal work his ability to make judgements and get involved as more then just some lemming to be of more use then just some drone. That was often enough why he so rarely worked with people out on the field like this. Not to mention being interupted from a nice daydream. "But, like you said this is your job and I am perfectly willing to play by your rules on this. My job is to support you and make sure your head stays on your neck and that's what I'll do. You focus on getting the package where and when it needs to be. No more questions asked for the time being." He said finally pulling the lever to recline the seat back some into Mac's space. "I'm gonna take a quick nap wake me if you need something." Signaling the end of the conversation as he hit a button on his commlink to start playing some music to block out the other he closed his eyes. Before he was completely gone however, he looked over sparky reading his body language curious as to what he was thinking and wondered what the Yak had in his back pocket  before allowing himself to drift into the astral sense to get some much needed rest and return to his daydreaming in peace while the afterimage was still there.

[pringerbeam]

     Roland raised an eyebrow at Zephyr's response and thought to himself.  Hmmm must have hit a nerve... Good to know  He looked into the rear-view mirror to Machiavelli.  "Well then Mac since Mr Mojo is off to dreamland I guess it's time for everyone's favorite game: Better Know a Greenhorn.  I will get things started."  His eyes drifted to Takumi.  "So Chopstick, when did you get your tats, what did you do to get them, and what have you been doing in the clan before tonight?"

[InhumanRonin]

Takumi was caught off guard a little bit when Roland started asking about how he got involved with the Yakuza. Takumi cleared his throat and began to speak "Hmph well not that it is really your concern I will entertain you for a moment. First I guess it would make sense to start with when I got my tats I got the few on my arms when I joined on a couple years back nothing fancy just some kanji one of Strength,Honor and Brothers. I haven't figured out yet what type of sleeve designs I want to do so I will tie these in somehow. I started work on my chest tattoos last year these are going to take a lot of time and money to get done. As for what I have done to earn them nothing yet outside of working a front for some minor dealings and information gathering that is why I am here now to try and prove to them that I belong here, I want to move up from being a nobody and I cant do that just sitting around posing like I belong.

[pringerbeam]

     Roland frowned slightly at Takumi's response.  "Well first of all, if you are in my car then it IS my concern.  Clearly you want to ride with the big boys otherwise you would not have got in this car in the first place and that means you have to start acting like one.  I need to know what exactly you are capable of doing.  I don't mean if you can shoot straight or not, anyone can do that with enough practice.  I need to know whether or not you got the chops to throw down when a fight is on and bail when the flames are licking your ass hair.  Honestly with what I have seen of your work so far I am not that impressed.  You know you are lucky as shit that you got to keep all your fingers after fucking up your first big job right?  By getting in this car for this errand you have signed yourself up to work MY job and that means that if the shit goes down I need to be able to know whether you are going to be more useful as a spare gun or as a makeshift speed bump for the guys chasing us."  The slight frown on Roland's face turned into a little smirk before he continued.  "Don't you worry though, if you stick with me you might be able to learn a thing or two.  Now moving on to round two.  Have you killed anyone yet and if so how did you do it?"

[InhumanRonin]

Takumi was a little flustered by some of Roland's comments but there was some merit behind pieces of it.  "Look I dont have to prove myself to you but you do have a point if we are going to have to have some sort of trust going here. As for my fingers though that isnt for you to be the judge of if I fuck up then I will accept my punishment." Takumi took a deep breathe trying to calm himself a bit before he did or said something he might regret. Recomposing himself a bit Takumi carried on with the conversation. "Ok I realize things havent gone as well all have planned to this point but I if something happens on this job or whatever other work we may get involved in after this I am fairly confident I can handle myself in either a shootout or a fist fight." Takumi started to smirk a little bit himself and let out a small chuckle. "I don't know if sticking around with you will be good for my health with what i have seen you do so far but you have something alot of people dont and that is unpredictability and that could prove quite valuable for me to learn. Now to your question to keep it short no I havent killed anyone yet but I have roughed up a number of rowdy customers and taken some good licks as well along the way." 

[pringerbeam]

     Roland breathed deeply before speaking.  "Look Chopstick, you say you can handle yourself in a fight but your words don't match with your actions.  Now like I said, its not about whether or not you can shoot straight or take a punch.  It's about whether or not you won't hesitate to kill when the time comes and your hesitance to properly brutalize those junkies back at the meth lab is not a mark in your favor.  Getting down and bloody is a far cry from roughing up some guy that's late on his protection money."  Roland brightened up though before continuing.  "Don't you worry though, all this can be fixed.  We just need to get you a taste of blood in a nice and safe run so that you don't go and crack when the pressure is on.  Try to not take offense at any of this by the way.  I'm looking out for you on these kinds of things.  Look, you don't seem like you have any chrome on you and you don't have the magic touch like Mr Mojo here."  Roland nodded to Zephyr with this last statement.  "So surviving the big game is going to take more than a good heart and courage or whatever might be rattling around in your head.  If you don't have an edge, you are going to be enjoying an early dirt nap and if you are just a normal guy like you or me, that edge is usually a cold blade between the ribs of anyone that stands in the way of the job.  Speaking of which, I know the clan isn't too big on cyber but they don't mind bio-implants.  You should probably look into getting some."  Roland raised up his right arm and with a thought deployed his spur.  "You have no idea how many times this thing has saved my life.  You can't lose a weapon that's part of your body.  Words to live by if you ask me." Roland withdrew his spur and returned his hand to the steering wheel.  "Well that's it for me.  You got any questions Mac?"

[InhumanRonin]

Takumi could see that Roland was a bit disappointed in his answers but it also seemed like they might be getting to some degree on the same page. "Look back at the lab was a bit of misunderstanding I thought we had agreed upon just beating those guys down and send the message that way. Next time something goes down I will just have to show you more of what I have to offer. I am glad you have my back seems how we have gotten off on the wrong foot to start. As for cyber I just have your basic eye and ear implants nothing fancy. Takumi was intrigued by the implant on Roland's hand. "That isnt a bad philosophy to have I guess. So what exactly is that on your hand just a grappling hook or something more?

[pringerbeam]

     Roland disengaged his hand and let it flop around a bit.  "This?  Great investment is what it is.  You never know when you might find yourself in need of a grappling gun you know?  So I went and upgraded so that would never need to worry about forgetting one.  And in a pinch you can punch someone from across the room with it.  Which goes back to my point.  You got to weaponize your shit.  I personally am thinking of getting the other arm lopped off for something with a bit more bite.  Need to overhaul what I have already too...  Kinda hesitant though.  Got some good memories with this bit of chrome...  Whoops!"  Roland braked hard and began to pull a u-turn.  "Just passed the address...  My bad.  I would say: 'you know how nostalgia is' but I honestly don't know if you have anything to be nostalgic about...  Now lets see what we have here." Roland pulled to the curb in front of the address and looked around flipping through night and thermal vision while doing so.

Perception roll
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Rolled 6d6 : 2, 6, 3, 6, 3, 5, total 25

Sorry, realized i made a kinda fucked up sentence that I had to edit