Liz vanishes for a few mins, too, to take a shower.
Daimon says "Liz is hot and wet and thinking of me. How awesome."
Liz grabs some spare clothes out of the file cabinet, walks into the bathroom, tosses her old clothes out, shuts the door with a laugh, and starts the shower.
Daimon says "I swear, heaven is like a Taco. I'm just not sure how."
Liz pokes her head out of the bathroom, framed by a billowing cloud of steam. "What are you going on about now?"
Daimon is just babbling.
Liz says "Oh, okay."
Liz vanishes again.
Daimon lays back on the couch and babbles up to the air.
Daimon sings 'Maidens and Knights' by Crash Test Dummies up into the air.
Liz walks out of the shower, 'dressed' in a couple of towels. One big fluffy one around her middle, and one smaller one wrapped around her hair.
Daimon sits up and casts an admiring eye on Liz.
Liz rummages in her file cabinet, plucks out underwear. "Forgot something."
Daimon says "You don't need that. Trust me."
Liz laughs.
Liz says "Oh? And when was the last time you had a vessel runnng around without any support?"
Daimon says "1927."
Liz says "Bras have gotten much better since then."
Liz picks one she thinks will more-or-less go with her outfit, matching undies, and disappears back into the bathroom.
Daimon says "If I went running around in a bra, I would draw interesting looks."
Liz looks out. "Well, you're supposed to wear something over it."
Daimon says "Oh, so THAT'S how it works. I was wondering why I was getting such glares."
Liz laughs. "And were you working for Kobal even then?"
Daimon says "It's very possible."
Daimon says "It's also possible that I'm totally mad, and just do things for the randomness of the experience."
Liz shuts the door, and comes out a few minutes later, dressed in a knit cotton t-shirt and slacks. Her hair is still up.
Daimon says "That's no where near as fun as you were a few minutes ago."
Liz says "Mmmhmm. So I should walk around only in a couple of towels?"
Daimon gets up off the couch to walk over and put his arms around Liz. "Well, maybe not. It would be difficult to get anything done."
Liz smiles, then pulls a stool back into the bathroom, and starts brushing out her hair.
Daimon plops back down on the couch, and stretches out like a big old demon rug.
Daimon starts to hum "God shuffled his Feet".
Liz works on the hair for a little bit, including dexterous use of blowdryer.
Daimon turns over on the couch, and wiggles into a position where he can watch Liz through the open doorway.
Liz gets her hair about halfway done, then applies makeup (just a little), and finishes up the hair.
Daimon counts the tiles in the ceiling, and thinks up funny stories.
Liz then brushes her teeth. *smile*
Daimon knows he's stinky.
Liz bounces out of the bathroom.
Liz says "Okay."
Liz says "Bathroom's all yours."
Liz pulls clean towels out of a second file cabinet. "Please, go use it."
Daimon stands. "Well, my clothes are at my place, but I'll make do."
Daimon disappears into the land where stinkiness is fought with soap and hot water.
Daimon comes out of the bathroom after having many deep and meaningful bathroom thoughts.
Daimon is dressed, with wet hair.
You say "The phone starts ringing."
Liz says "You're welcome to borrow the blowdryer, Daimon."
Liz picks up the phone. "Blue Sky Air Charter, Elizabeth Bradley speaking."
Sephar's voice says, "Zebina?"
Liz says "Sephar, hi. How are you?"
Daimon does interesting things with a hairbrush, the blowdryer, and his hair. Somehow it reassembles itself into it's natural tousled look.
The voice says, "In a slightly awkward position, or at least, most of me is."
Liz says "What's wrong?"
Sephar's voice manages to sound somewhere between embarassed and morally disgusted. "One of their computers was booby-trapped. Most of me is stuck in it."
Liz says "Aren't you supposed to watch out for that sort of thing?"
Liz says "Do you know if they know you're there?"
Sephar says, tone highly indignant, "Certainly I was watching out for that sort of thing. It was very well-hidden. I don't know if they know I'm there yet, as most of them seem to be out of the office."
Sephar hesitates. "I might have been a touch careless while trying to track the Mafia connection."
Liz says "Okay, we'll be right over. Can you meet us there in another vessel?"
Liz says "Actually, jump into my cell. We'll need the rest of you to possibly bypass any alarms on their place."
There is a pause. Eventually, Sephar's voice says, "It'll have to be a small vessel. I've got a mouse there. Okay."
There is a crackling sound, and the cellphone briefly turns itself on, then off again.
Liz says "Okay, hang tight."
Liz says "Daimon, get a move on. We're going to go ruin the Game's day."
Daimon puts the hairdryer away. "Are you going to tell me what's going on?"
Liz says "Sephar's stuck in a Game computer."
Liz says "We have to get it out."
Daimon says "Slick."
Daimon walks over and slides on his coat.
Liz says "I'll drive."
Daimon hands the keys to Liz.
Liz grabs her coat, a couple of extra clips for the gun, and the permit. (And the gun, of course.)
Daimon gets a very interesting look on his face at the sight of the gun, but says nothing.
Liz zips out the the rentawreck, gets it started.
<
Liz yes!
Demiurge chuckles.
<
Liz says "OK, I make it there *very* quickly."
Sephar's voice pipes up from the phone. "It's their usual offices." It gives an address.
Daimon joins Liz in the rental car.
Daimon tries to think up something witty to say, and fails.
Liz does not quite breach the speed of sound (as getting stopped by a cop would be bad) but she
takes every possible shortcut on the way there.
You say "You get there fairly rapidly. It's a nice modern office-block, with a plate for _Focal's_
on the tenth floor."
Liz talks into her Cell. "Okay, Sephar, what kind of security do they have, and can you keep us
from getting caught on camera?"
Small whirring sounds come from the cellphone, then Sephar speaks. "They've got several
cameras, one in each room. I should be able to control the system that's running them, but
between that and the cellphone I won't have anything spare."
Sephar says, "Oh, and there are two people in there: one's a secretary and one's a filing clerk. I
don't know if they're humans or what."
Daimon lights up a cigarette while in the car, and (very happily) smokes his first smoke of the day.
Liz says "Okay, just take care of the Security cameras, and retake the phone if you need to give
instructions. What do we need to do with the camera?"
Liz says "Er, computer."
Sephar hesitates. "I'm not sure. Smashing it might work." It sounds extremely uneasy.
Liz says "Any other ideas?"
Daimon makes a point of looking as cool and calm as one can be.
The lights on the phone flash thoughtfully. "Um, not overwhelmingly. I think it has to be
Vaputech of some sort. It's trying to pull the rest of me in there too."
Liz says "Okay, we'll hurry. You blank the security."
Liz turns to Daimon. "Okay, Sephar's stuck in the computer, but there's enough of it left outside
to blank the security cameras. No evidence.
The phone replies, "Will do," and falls silent again.
Liz says "We need to go in and distract the humans while we do something with the computer.
Probably smash it."
Daimon says "Maybe. It depends on what the computer is, and what can be done to it from the
outside. Trust me, you aren't going to be able to smash a supercomputer."
Liz pokes through her jacket, pulls out a nametag, "Mavis Beacon" with the name of a completely
different courier service. She pulls her hair back into a ponytail, and tucks it down the back of her
jacket.
Daimon smokes another cigarette.
Liz says "Maybe we unplug it instead."
Liz says "Or push it out the window."
Daimon says "You aren't going to be able to push a supercomputer out a window, either. It's too
big."
Liz says "So maybe it's not a supercomputer."
Daimon grins. "Probably not. But it would be funny if it was."
Liz says "Come -on- Daimon we don't have a whole lot of time."
Liz says "How well do you know computers?"
Daimon says "Pretty good. I've had some passing experience with them."
Daimon says "Everyone needs a hobby. Other then drugs and sex, of course."
Liz says "Okay, you have a look at the computers. I'll keep the staff occupied."
Liz smiles and puts on her best, most clueless low-level peon face.
Daimon shrugs. "Okie. I'm still trying to think up that funny yet lighthearted story. Maybe it'll be
something funny about offing the Game."
Liz says "I'll go first. You show up after a min?"
Daimon says "Sure. I just need to get in, I guess."
Liz says "Just walk in. Sephar's got enough left outside to turn off the cameras."
Daimon says "Oh. Sure."
Daimon realizes he can't moon the cameras, then.
Liz says "Okay, let's go."
Daimon nods, and then buckles down to wait for a minute.
Liz gets out of the car, and sort of saunters inside.
Liz makes sure Daimon has the correct address on the 10th floor.
Liz takes the stairs, because elevators are for wimps.
Daimon,with much deliberation, finishes off his smoke and searches his pockets for a pack of
gum.
It's a typical office-block, with lifts at the far end of the lobby, and a service flight of stairs to one
side.
Liz walks (okay jogs, okay full Ofanite sprint) up to the 10th floor, composes herself, puts on a
bored expression, and walks into the hallway.
The nameplate for Focal's is nice and obvious, on a nice oak door. There's a small buzzer and
microphone bit by the door.
Liz hits the buzzer.
An elderly female voice says, "Focal's here. Can we help you?"
Liz says "Yeah. Arrow Express Couriers. I'm s'posed to pick up a package, delivery to Senator
Helms office."
There is a pause, and the ruffling of papers. "I don't have that on my records, madam. Who was
the package from?"
Liz whispers "Any names listed on the business documents for Focals?"
Liz whispers "Or who I would have talked to earlier."
You paged Liz with 'Main partner Michael Focals, Personal Assistant Maria Namar. The earlier
person didn't give a name.'.
Liz says "Office of Michael Focals. Alternate contact person is Maria Namar."
"Hm." There is the sound of more paper-rustling. "If you'll just come in, madam, I'll pass you over
to one of the assistants who can check it."
There is a buzz, and a click from the door at about lock level.
Liz says "Thanks, ma'am."
Liz walks in, and as she goes in, she sticks a wadded up business card in the lock so it can't click
back.
<
You say "Okay. Just let me roll for the building electronics."
<
You say "Liz is lucky, and the building security is not as yet set off. The door clicks shut."
Liz saunters in, looking over a contact list.
Inside, there's a friendly-looking elderly lady sitting behind a desk, in a room with three doors off
it, and some bookshelves, and some chairs.
Liz smiles brightly. "Hi." Her nametag is prominently displayed on her jacket.
The lady says, "Just a moment, please, madam. I'll buzz Ms Thaynes."
Liz says "Thanks. Sorry to bother you. I know there's a lot of confusion sometimes."
Liz opens her cell, dials a number (hopefully Sephar), and says, "Hi, Boss? Yeah, I'm at Focals.
They're having trouble finding the package. Could you give me the package number and restate
the location?"
Daimon saunters out of the rental car, and pulls his sunglasses out of his pocket. He KNOWS he's
cooler then you are.
She nods in a friendly way, and taps another button behind her desk. The door to the right opens,
and a healthy-looking young woman with short brown hair in a trouser-suit emerges. The young
woman politely waits for Zebina to finish her call.
Daimon wanders into the building, taking his time, and pushes the button on the elevator.
Daimon continues to look cool.
Sephar says, over the phone, "In their computer room. The one without connections to anything
else."
The people in the lobby regard Daimon with awe at his coolness, as the lift arrives.
Daimon snaps his gum, and climbs into the elevator, his finger stabbing the 10.
The lift carries Daimon swiftly to the tenth floor.
Daimon takes his amazingly cool time getting to the door.
Liz closes the phone and shrugs. "Weird. The confirmation number is 7324-A-32, and it's
supposed to come packed in anti-static media. Like a computer disk or something."
Daimon listens at the door.
You say "Daimon, alas, whatever's going on inside is too quiet to get through the door."
Liz says "It's okay, though. I have this special bag they gave me in the car. You stick
computerstuff in it."
Daimon gives Liz another minute to sweat.
Liz says "Never woulda figured Helms' crew for a big computer thing."
The young woman steps forward to offer her hand to Liz. "Good morning. I'm Virginia Thaynes.
I'm terribly sorry, but this must be some mistake. We haven't got any record of shipments going
out today."
<
You say "Will roll, please, Zebina."
Liz smiles, and attempts to be precisely a low level employee, not well educated, but perfectly
agreeable.
<
You say "You make it. No problems. Do you shake her hand?"
Liz looks a little tentative. Normally they don't shake the hand of the courier types.
Liz instead gives a sorta half bow and smiles brightly.
The young woman smiles in a cheerful way, hand still offered, then lets it fall.
<
She says, "I'm terribly sorry, you seem to have had a wasted journey."
Daimon opens the door. (Yeah? When was I supposed to come in? After a minute?)
Liz blows her savoir faire roll, oh well.
Both the old woman and the younger woman turn to the door as it opens.
Liz says "Yeah, well... *shrug* Happens."
Daimon looks cheery, yet confused.
Liz says "I dunno, I think our tracking system is all messed up."
Daimon says "Hey, is this CyberMedia?"
The older woman says, with a slight touch of ice, "No, sir, this is Focals Investments."
Daimon takes in the sights, and starts resonating for Needs like mad.
Daimon says "Are you sure? They told me it was right up here."
<
<
Liz asks the younger woman. "Anyways, sorry about the mixup. Listen, is there any way I could
get a glass of water? It's a long drive back."
Daimon pages: That's Older Woman, Younger Woman.
The younger woman says, dryly, "Absolutely sure, sir. As you may see from our plate on the
door. Now, if you don't mind..." She turns back to Liz. "Sure. Please, take a seat, I'll be right with
you."
Liz sits down.
Daimon attempts to fast talk. "No really, they told me it was right here. Now, why would
someone lie to me?"
You paged Daimon with 'Older woman: do office work, get rid of these nuisances, get grandkid
through college, deal with varicose veins.'.
You paged Daimon with 'Younger woman: get these idiots out of here, do filing, keep the place
quiet and under control, maintain Alliance (details on that uncertain but it's important).'.
Liz looks at Daimon, blinks.
Daimon looks at Liz and says, "Hey."
The younger woman says, blandly, "I have no idea, sir."
<
Liz says "Huh?"
Daimon puts on one of those 'She's kind of cute' looks.
The younger woman steps across to hold the door open for Daimon.
Liz looks a little startled.
Daimon says "It would be good for you if we left, wouldn't it?"
Daimon looks at the younger woman, and cooly snaps his gum.
The older woman says, "This is an office, sir, not some kind of cybernetics studio."
The younger woman shrugs. "I'm very sorry, sir, but I have some filing to do. I have no idea who
could have misdirected you."
Liz appears to be nervous. She stands up, and says to the younger woman. "Um, nevermind about
the water, okay? I'll just go."
Daimon says to the older woman, "Well, ya know, all these cybernetics studios are all fronted by
suits now a days. You never can tell."
The younger woman glances back to Liz, and nods. "Sure."
Liz brushes by Daimon and whispers '5 seconds' on her way out.
The older woman looks affronted, and shuffles papers together.
Liz gets out the door, turns the corner, and teleports to the back area of the office.
Daimon says "It's easy to make mistakes these days. It's not like it's William Gibson, ya know."
Daimon snaps his gum.
<
Liz or not.
<
You say "Roll for Per, Daimon."
<
Liz buggers it, and blows two more essence.
Daimon watches for other reactions.
Liz whispers "Ok, I'm invoking resonance to the shortest path to the computer room via teleport,
then I'm putting four essence into the next teleport."
<
The young woman's head comes up sharply. She blinks, smiles amiably, and offers her hand to
Daimon. "Better luck next time, Mr...?"
<
Daimon says "Smith."
Daimon does not shake her hand.
<
She nods politely, and holds the door for Daimon.
Daimon grins, nods at her, and exits the office.
Daimon picks up his two hooks.
The door closes behind Daimon.
Daimon stands in the hallway, trying to figure out what the heck he's supposed to do now.
It should be noted, perhaps, that the door did not click behind him as it might have.
<
The scenery changes round Liz. She finds herself standing in a small filing room, with a bolted
door in front of her, the bolt on her side.
Liz blinks. "This doesn't look right."
Liz checks around for a computer.
This looks like just a filing room. However, from one wall is the faint humming that suggests a
computer room beyond.
Daimon saunters around the hallway, trying to look lost (which isn't EXACTLY a stretch), yet
very cool.
Liz must have just missed.
Liz unbolts the door very carefully, and looks out.
The hallway is plush and well-appointed for Daimon: this must be an expensive building.
Liz says "Which way is the humming coming from? Right, left, or back wall?"
You say "Right wall, Liz."
Daimon enjoys the plush hallway!
Liz looks both ways, and then zooms to the next room.
Daimon attempts to think up Funny stuff.
There's a bland small corridor before Liz. She speeds down it, slipping into the ... yes, computer
room.
Liz pulls out her cell. "Sephar? Which computer?"
There are several computers along the walls, some with their screens showing archive information
or Reuters readouts. There's also a largish computer in the centre of the room, without any other
connections, the screen showing a constant ellipse.
The phone squawks, "The one in the middle without any links to it. I figured they had to have the
secure information there."
Liz says "All right."
Liz looks around. Power? Any network connections?
<
Liz makes her Electronics roll, at least.
Several power points in the wall, one of which you can track to the centre computer, and a couple
of network connection points you can identify.
<
Liz says "Okay, Sephar, I'm going to pull the power."
Liz says "Get ready to jump, or yell if it goes all pear shaped."
Sephar's voice says, nervously, "Be careful. Sure."
Liz starts pulling power points.
<
You say "Please roll Agility, Liz."
<
Liz is agility *goddess*
Daimon is starting to get nervous in the hallway.
You say "Cool. Liz narrowly avoids Vaputech Security."
Liz yank, yank, yank, yank.
There are loud crackling noises, as arcs of electricity leap from the power points to dance around
the room, narrowly missing the dodging Liz. High Power Wattage.
You say "Perception roll, please, both of you."
<
<
Liz yipes and dodges. "In the name of God!"
<
Daimon notices something.
Liz too.
You say "Wow. Daimon notices that someone has set off powerful Vapulan relics designed to do
violent electrical things just *there*. Liz notices Symphonic disturbance, probably guesses the
rest."
There's a shriek, as the young woman wrenches the door open, and gets a good view of Liz
yanking. Her left hand is going beneath her jacket.
Liz dodges again.
<
Liz hah!
Liz can't do anything else, but she dodges like the wind.
Liz calls into the cell, "Sephar, are you out?"
The young woman yells, "Stop that now, I'll shoot!" She yanks her gun from beneath her jacket,
raising it to aim.
Liz dodges behind the big Vaputech computer, natch. Let her shoot that.
Sephar's voice flutes from the phone, "Outoutout! Do you want me to download the data?!"
Liz says "Yes! Yes yes yes!"
<
Sephar bleeps, "Working, working... this may take a couple of minutes..."
Liz mutters, oh, fine.
Daimon is not feeling so great about this.
You say "Daimon, are you loitering near the Focals door?"
Daimon says "Yep."
Daimon loiters with the best of them.
You say "You can hear muffled noises from the other side. Something which the paranoid might
construe as the sounds of someone urgently phoning the police."
There's a crack as the woman fires her gun.
<
You say "Dodge, Liz."
Daimon pushes the door open.
<
Liz continues to dodge like the wind, although perhaps not enough.
You say "Liz, the bullet whacks into the computers behind you, but you manage to evade it. Just."
You say "Daimon, the elderly woman is jabbering into the phone that she wants the police. You
hear the sound of a gunshot from behind one of the doors to the right."
Daimon says "How big was the geas I got off of the old woman?"
Daimon jumps at the gunshot.
You say "About a 2."
Daimon says "Well, I use it. I geas her NOT to call the cops."
Daimon is gonna be further dissonant... ah well.
Sephar bleeps happily, and the burning computers whirr merrily. The younger woman circles to
get an angle on Zebina.
<
The older woman looks very unhappy, but puts the phone down. "Are you sure that it's not that
important?" she says to Daimon.
Daimon says "I'm quite positive. You don't need to do that. You can handle this problem."
The older woman says, slowly, "All right. Just this once."
Liz grabs a fire extinguisher, and tosses it at the younger woman.
Daimon smiles. "Thank you. You're a dear."
<
Liz nope.
Demiurge . o O ( It's true! Nobody in a movie _ever_ uses a fire extinguisher to put out fires, they
always throw them or club people with them!" )
<
Daimon . o O ( (Time to go rescue Liz.) )
Daimon starts to follow the path of disturbance.
Daimon pages: Hmmm... song of Form sounds good about now.
The younger woman ducks, and avoids both the fire extinguisher and another arc of electricity,
dodging round the corner of the Big Vaputech Thingy.
<
Daimon pages: With all the disturbance and whatnot.
You say "Roll a Dodge, Zeb."
Daimon pages: Form Ethereal - invisibility.
You paged Daimon with 'Sure. Roll.'.
<
Daimon pages: I push 2 essence behind it to help out my chances of it going off to a 10 or less.
Liz . o O (Thank God my Dodge+Agility is up around 11)
Long distance to Daimon: Demiurge nods.
<
<
Daimon pages: Captain stealthy will just cool his way over to the fight.
Another bullet whips through Zebina's sleeve, but fails to hit her.
You say "Perception roll, Liz."
<
Liz !
You say "Nah, you fail to perceive whatever it was."
The younger woman yells, "Surrender and I'll turn you over to the police, terrorist!"
Daimon pages: Okie, tell me when I get there, eh.
Liz says "How many more fire extinguishers?"
You say "Another one over by the wall, Liz."
Liz . o O (And, fortunately, Sephar is still on SecureCam duty)
Daimon giggles.
Liz grabs it, and instead of tossing it, she triggers it, spraying foam all over the place, especially
at the woman.
You paged Daimon with 'You probably walk in about now, to see Liz and the younger woman
playing ring-around-the-rosie round the central Big Computer, and loads of flashing electrical
arcs, and minor fires starting.'.
Daimon pages: Lemme wait for the fire extinguisher go off so I don't get caught in it.
You paged Daimon with 'Sure. ;)'.
<
Daimon pages: When the young woman is settled, I walk up behind her and grab her ass.
The woman squawks and splutters, but manages to avoid the worst of the foam. She aims again,
fury in her face.
<
<
Liz nyah!
Liz gives the woman another shot of foam.
You say "The woman's bullet cracks squarely into the fire extinguisher, which is what she was
aiming at."
Liz !
Liz tosses it!
You say "Hm. I suspect that the fire extinguisher explodes very messily."
Liz says "May I roll agility to toss the fire extinguisher before it goes boom?"
Daimon pages: I want to do random strange things to the young woman. Mostly in being a big
invisible distraction.
You say "Okay, Liz. :)"
Liz tosses in two of her last three essence.
<
Liz yes!
Liz chucked it at miss gun, of course.
<
The young woman dives for cover. The fire extinguisher hits the wall, and explodes in great gouts
of foam, with a very distinct bang. The Symphony is noisy.
Daimon . o O ( Cool. )
Liz says "Sephar, are you -done- yet?"
The young woman also yelps in an undignified manner, as though she tripped over something.
<
Daimon pages: I grab her again!
Sephar makes little beeping noises. "Just a few moments more, you aren't making things easier
with all this computer damage..."
Liz says "Fine."
Liz dives at the woman.
Liz wants to grab her gun.
<
<
The woman seems already hampered by something else. She struggles to get the gun pointed at
Liz, rolling around in the foam and electrical arcs.
You say "Make a Per roll, Liz."
<
Liz or not.
Daimon pages: I continue to make her life hard! Yeah! Cool!
Liz just wants her gun.
You say "Nah, just the two of you in the room."
<
Liz says "Oh wait, duh. Sephar's mouse is still in the room."
You say "Liz, you manage to wrench the gun from her hand, but she has a grip on your wrist. Her
eyes go wide for a moment, appraising, then she hisses. "Bitch!""
Liz shoots her.
You say "Roll."
<
Daimon . o O ( Woah. Guns going off in my face. Bad. )
You say "Your bullet takes her squarely wherever you were aiming."
Liz says "That would be the forehead."
Liz . o O (No witnesses)
The young woman's head is cracked back into the ground, small hole in the forehead, messy exit
wound in the back. Blood oozes out.
You say "Roll, Daimon."
<
Liz says "Does the symphony jangle?"
You say "No symphony jangle."
Liz says "Fine."
You say "Daimon, with great luck you avoid getting hit anywhere."
Daimon says "Huzzah. Now, do I get SICK. That's the question."
You say "The arcs of lightning are increasing, faster. The whole place is humming."
You say "Up to you, Daimon. ;)"
Liz empties the entire magazine into the woman.
Daimon reserves getting sick to later. He gets up and starts dragging Liz out of there. Of course
he's invisible, but hey.
Just as the gun's magazine clicks on empty, invisible hands grasp at Liz, hauling her towards the
exit.
Liz wipes her prints off the gun, and tosses it back into the room.
Sephar beeps, "Got it! I think. I think I have it. Do I have it? I think I've got it!" A mouse
scampers towards the exit.
Liz says "Stop for the mouse!"
Daimon leans down, scoops up the mouse, and shoves it into a pocket.
Liz finishes getting rid of the gun.
Daimon grabs Liz again, and starts to drag her out of there.
Liz goes willingly.
Liz says "Is there anyone out front?"
Liz says "Actually, the reason I'm asking is because if there is, I'm teleporting out."
Liz doesn't wish to be seen.
Daimon says "Can I make Liz invisible?"
You say "Okay. You catch sight of the elderly woman through the crack of the door, wringing
her hands."
Liz says "Invisible would be even better."
You say "No, Daimon: it only works on yourself."
Daimon says "Oog."
Liz says "Fine. I try to teleport."
<
Liz yes!
Daimon walks his invisible, mouse ridden self to the elevator, and hits the down.
You say "Liz gets lucky, and vanishes in yet another Symphonic tweedle to stand in the corridor."
Liz pants.
Liz says "That was way too much fun."
Sephar squeaks, from Daimon's pocket, "Building security are coming. I think we set off a few
fire alarms."
Daimon whispers to the mouse, "I figured as much. With any luck, I'll be invisible all the way
down the elevator. Just don't come out."
Sephar squeaks, "Sure. Want me to make the elevator go faster? Go real fast?"
Liz says "Just make sure they can't track us."
Sephar squeaks, "I'm working on the building security. I should be in the lobby cameras when we
get there, but I can't do anything about ordinary people."
<
Daimon whispers to the mouse, "Not so fast it squishes me, but fast to get me and fast to get out
would be nice."
Liz nods.
Liz says "Daimon, scout the lobby, okay?"
Liz says "If it's clear, let me know. Otherwise I'll just try and leave too fast for someone to get a
look."
The lift speeds up, perceptibly, then groans to a halt at the ground floor.
Daimon walks out of the lift, and takes a quick look around.
Some building-security types are piling into the other elevator. As he watches, it closes and begins
to head up. One of the desk clerks is busy talking urgently over the phone, the words, "fire
brigade" drifting across. Several bystanders.
Daimon whispers into the elevator, "Bystanders, people going up the other elevator. We're going
to have friends quickly."
Liz says "Okay, I'm going to play refugee."
Liz wipes any obvious blood off of herself, and then staggers out of the elevator, coughing.
Daimon follows Liz, mouse in pocket.
Liz shouts to the guard. "I think there's two more people trapped up there. In Focals."
Liz staggers outside, and sits on the steps to the building, breathing heavily.
Eyes turn to Liz as she staggers out. A couple of people come over, looking concerned and
helpful. The guard nods, and talks more hurriedly into the phone. One man fetches a glass of
water for Liz. "Here, drink this, young woman."
Liz sips the water. "Thanks."
Liz coughs a little more.
Liz smells smoky, of course.
Liz says to the other people, after a few coughs, "I just need some air."
Liz will wait until a bigger distraction comes along (like a fire brigade) and then disappear from
the front of the building.
People nod, and back off.
Daimon saunters out after Liz, cool as can be, and totally invisible.
A minute later, there is indeed a fire engine turning up, hee-hawing loudly. Firemen pile off,
carrying various implements. Fire alarms are going off all over the building by now.
Liz waits a moment longer, and then saunters off to her car.
Daimon follows Liz.
Liz gets in, wipes the smoke from her face, and then drives off, neat as you please. (Once
Daimon's in the car, at least.)
Daimon flops into the passenger seat, careful not to squish Mr. Mouse, and drops the Song of
Form.
Sephar squeaks, from Daimon's pocket, "Thanks, guys. Hey, I got some cool stuff!"
Liz says "Good. I hope that puts a serious dent in the Game's hobbies. And that 'woman' stays in
Trauma for the next six weeks."
Daimon picks up the mouse, and looks at him carefully.
Liz says "You okay, Sephar?"
Daimon says "I need to be sick soon. But my question is, what is the Alliance?"
The mouse squeaks, "I'm fine. I don't know about an Alliance, but I've got some contacts of
theirs, and I've got the names of some of the people they were laundering money for."
Liz says "The Alliance?"
Daimon says "I don't know. I picked it up off the demon. She needed to 'Preserve the Alliance'."
Liz says "Weird. When did you get that from her?"
Daimon says "When I picked up her Needs. It was one of those surfaces thought things."
Liz says "Was she looking at me? At you? Before things got Noisy? After?"
Daimon is looking at the Sephar-mouse with some interest. "When we were all in the office. I
took the time out to catch her eye. And then I picked up her Needs. She needed to 'preserve the
Alliance'. That's all I know, it's the first I've heard of it. I would assume there is one, considering
you blew up a Vaputech Relic. You know, I'm really gonna be ill.
Liz says "Roll down the window. Want me to stop?"
Daimon says "Yeah, I do."
The mouse squeaks, "I don't know about an alliance, I'm afraid. Er. Can I get out of your pocket
first?"
Liz stops.
Sephar scrambles for the safety of Liz.
Daimon pulls Sephar out of his pocket. He lurches out of the car, finds trash can or dumpster or
something, and heaves for a while.
Liz slides Sephar into one of her pockets.
Liz waits patiently, and is careful to clean herself off as much as possible, so she looks as
non-mussed as she can.
Daimon comes back to the car, very pale and shaking. He slides into the passenger seat and closes
the door. "Okay, we can go."
Liz nods. "Fasten your seat belt, please."
Daimon fastens his seat belt.
Liz calmly drives back to the hanger.
Daimon is silent through the ride back.
Liz is quiet as well. "Did you want to stop by your hotel so you can pick up some new clothes?"
Daimon says "Yeah, that would be cool. Maybe I should get everything and check out."
Daimon looks at Liz with a questioning sort of glance.
Daimon says "If... ah, not, it's not a big deal."
Liz blinks. "Are you sure?"
Daimon says "I was just thinking practicalities. If it's too weird, forget it."
Liz says "Well, it's kinda sudden. But sudden is good. I just. Well I haven't lived with anyone for
like 100 years, and even then I tended to sleep in my own cabin onboard."
Liz says "So yes/no/maybe/whynot?"
Daimon says "Okay, I'll get my stuff and check out. I'm just a little shaken right now."
Liz says "I'm gonna need more towels, though."
Daimon nods. "It's just easier to get things done this way."
Sephar stays silent, curled up in Liz's pocket.
Liz says "Sure."
Daimon says "Practicalities and all that."
Liz . o O (Daimon's probably going to find out why living with an Ofanite is generally considered
a bad idea, but that's for the future.)
Daimon falls silent for a bit.
Liz says "Besides, it's just until you leave town, and I leave town, so that'll be cool. It'll be a nice
change to have someone to come home to, or with, or something."
Liz babbles happily along, until she gets to the hotel. "Back in 10. I'm going to run up the street
for towels."
Daimon gets out of the car. "Okay, I'll toss all my stuff into bags."
Daimon waves to Liz, and enters the hotel.
Liz resonates on 'Towels, big soft fluffy ones."
<
Liz drats.
You say "And Liz fails to find a shop."
Liz says "Hmm. How about 'linens' instead."
Daimon goes up to his room.
Liz says "Or can I not do that?"
You say "Okay, though it's pushing it a little."
<
Liz says "Aha."
You say "Daimon, as you enter your room, you notice someone has left a banana lying on your
bed."
You say "Aha! Liz finds the Big Linen Shop."
Daimon grins a bit, and prods the banana with his toothbrush.
Liz says 'Hang on' to Sephar.
Liz zooms for the shop.
Daimon waits to see if the banana explodes or anything.
You say "The banana does not squirm. The brown spots on the side, however, rearrange
themselves into words. "GOOD WORK, KIDDO.""
Sephar squeaks, agreeably.
Liz goes to the shop, has to ask for the towels section (how embarassing).
Daimon grins hugely and happily. The banana disappears into a bag with the rest of the clothing
and toiletries. (You know, plastic bags you get stuff in at the store.)
Demiurge nods.
Liz buys another two sets of towels, and then one more set, just in case, and adds in another pair
of sheets for her fold out bed. And a couple of pillows.
Daimon goes downstairs to check out of the hotel. (This part always takes _forever_.)
Liz picks the fastest checkout line, one would hope.
You say "Liz actually manages to buy her stuff before Daimon manages to check out."
Liz pays, dumps the stuff in the back seat of the car, and drives back to the hotel, waits out front.
Daimon wanders out of the hotel, in time, looking one hell of alot happier then he did when he
went in. He climbs into the car, fishes around in a bag, and pulls out a banana - which he eats.
Liz says "Hey there."
Liz says "Where'd you get the banana?"
Daimon says "Hey. What's in all the bags?"
Daimon says "The banana is a product of wisdom."
Liz says "Um, three sets of towels, plus sheets and a couple of pillows."
Liz says "Product of wisdom?"
Liz blinks. "Is that like, more potassium or something?"
Daimon says "Very possibly. The Boss is pleased, thus I am pleased."
Daimon says "I'm feeling renewal of purpose."
Liz says "Oh."
Daimon says "And... a lack of the munchies, care of one banana."
Liz looks a tad nonplussed, but says, "Gotcha. Belt up?"
Daimon looks a little confused, but buckles up.
Daimon says "Something wrong?"
Liz heads for the hangar, does not ask for a bite of demonic banana.
Daimon eats the banana with a slightly less relish.
Liz says "No, not exactly. It's sort of weird. Y'know the feeling when you got when you walked
into my place, and saw 'Zebina' written on the envelope?"
Daimon says "Oh. Jeez, I'm sorry."
Liz says "The banana's sort of like that for me. Y'know. 'Higher Powers' and all that."
Liz says "No, don't be *sorry*."
Liz says "I just have to adjust a little. You're so nice, I sort of forget who your higher ups are.
Specially your Boss."
Daimon says "It's just, you know, getting a positive kick in the ass means something to me. I,
man, I feel stupid. I shouldn't have, well, 'Whipped out the banana'. Tell you what, I won't do it
again. Promise."
Liz nods. "Hey, kudos from above are great."
Liz says "I'm glad the deal's working out."
Daimon says "Me too. I thought I was going to get skewered, and I was thinking, 'Hey, it's worth
it.' I'm glad to see I'm not."
Liz pulls up next to the hangar. "Okay, everyone out."
Daimon piles out.
Daimon grabs bags.
Liz pulls out her stuff, locks the doors to the car, tosses Daimon the keys.
Daimon says "I was thinking, eventually, you'd put a round in my head just like that other
demon's, and I was thinking, but it's worth it, you know?"
Daimon takes the keys.
Liz unlocks the Hangar door, goes inside.
Liz blinks. "You were?"
Daimon follows Liz in. "Sure, eventually. Demons are demons, after all."
Liz says "Daimon, I wouldn't do that... well, I don't *plan* on doing that. Not unless something
goes horribly wrong."
Liz says "We have an agreement. Information and mutual aid. So long as that stands, I think
things should go pretty well."
Liz says "And I think we've both kept up the terms so far."
Daimon nods. "I was being a realist about things, though. And if someone offs me, I'd rather it
be you then, say, your Judgment pal."
Liz says "Um, thanks, I think."
Daimon says "I figure you'd do it quickly. Hey, you gonna take a shower?"
Liz locks the outer door, then opens up the office door. "Sephar, could you start dumping stuff
to the computer?"
Liz says "Go ahead. You got more stuff on you than I did."
Sephar squeaks, "Hey, I downloaded it to my account at the university. If you like, I can try and
reach it from here. You got an internet connection?"
Liz puts the new towels in the bathroom, and pulls the damp towels out and puts them in the
laundry service.
Liz says "Of course. Go right ahead."
Daimon follows Liz into the office, and dumps his bags on the couch. He routes through to get
change of clothing, toothbrush, hairbrush, deoderant, all that stuff. He takes the armload of stuff
into the bathroom.
Daimon says "I'll be in and out. I just didn't get real clean earlier."
Daimon walks over, gives Liz a quick kiss, and disappears into the bathroom.
The computer kicks into gear, and begins whirring. Sephar scrambles out of Liz's pocket, and
scuttles over to sit near it.
Liz ponders how she's going to write her next report.
Liz imagines the good stuff for 'Helped really mess up a Game office' and 'Killed the vessel of a
demon' will probably just about offset 'Living with a Lilim'. Maybe.
Daimon takes a decently long shower.
The computer keeps on whirring. Sephar occasionally squeaks.
Liz guesses it'll depend on what Sephar got for info.
Liz says "Things going okay, Sephar?"
Sephar squeaks, "Yup. Some of it's corrupt, but I got most of the relevant stuff, I think."
Liz says "Good."
Daimon eventually emerges from the shower, hair wet, but otherwise dry and clothed in fresh
clothing and brushed teeth.
Liz puts fresh sheets on the bed, folds it up into a couch again, and calls the laundry service to
come by later in the day, pick things up, and have them cleaned.
Daimon says "Um, where do you want me to put my stuff?"
Liz undresses down to her underwear, tosses her jeans and shirt into the laundry bag, and
regretfully hangs up her jacket, which she probably shouldn't wear in public for a few months.
Liz points to the end file cabinet. "There. Bottom drawer's empty. Top drawer I'll use for storing
the pillows and stuff."
Daimon nods, and moves his clothing from bags to the bottom drawer of the cabinet.
Liz says "That's the nice thing about computers. I managed to get rid of about four file cabinets
worth of paperwork about 5 years ago."
Daimon says "This is a little weird, but I'm certainly not going to complain."
Liz grins. "Looks more professional."
Daimon says "Certainly."
Liz says "If the laundry service comes by, just give them the bag."
Daimon nods, and looks at the computer. "Has he found anything yet?"
Liz disappears into the bathroom for a nice long shower. "Some stuff. There's a little corruption,
but Sephar says he has most of the relevant stuff."
On the computer screen comes up a blinking menu. (1) Current Fund Input. (2) Current Fund
output. (3) Private Email and Documents.
Liz proceeds to wash the smoke and dirt and last bits of blood away.
Daimon waits until Liz is in the shower to sit in the chair at the desk and look at the keyboard.
He takes a long look at the computer.
Daimon wants to look at 3.
Liz doesn't sweat what Daimon's up to, cause Sephar's there. How convenient!
To the press of (3) comes up another menu. (1) Email Folder from Bellmans Films, (2) Email
Folder from Sancuzzi Associates, (3) Email Folder from Tokoba Partners, (4) Other.
Daimon looks around for a notepad. On finding one and a pen, he sits back down and presses 1.
Liz has a long shower, then gets dressed (nicely, we're going to the opera) and made up, with
jewelry, and then writes a paper version of her report while Daimon and Sephar play with the
computer.
Daimon writes the names of all of these people down. With Bellmans - Media, Sancuzzi - ??,
Tokoba - Tech, Other - ??.
Daimon tries to keep an eye on the time as well, since he has a lunch date.
The computer hums agreeably.
Daimon waits.
The computer blinks, "WHICH DO YOU WISH TO EXAMINE?"
Daimon . o O ( Quote from Woody Allen - Oh yes, baby. When the Supreme being gets knocked
off, _somebody's_ got to take the rap. )
Daimon presses 1 again/.
After a pause, a list of files comes up, with dates attached. Most are quite small. They all look like
separate email messages.
Daimon starts skimming the email quickly, starting with earliest to latest.
Daimon says "Sephar, can you get through this mail quickly, or multitask, or something?"
They are mostly brief messages setting up times for meetings, or confirming money transfers. The
ones _from_ Bellmans are all signed B-, while the ones from Focals are signed F-.
Sephar squeaks, "I'm doing the best I had. All the Bellmans stuff seems to be mostly the same.
Some of it is encoded."
Sephar adds, a touch offended, "And I always multitask."
Daimon takes note of this, and assumes that 'B-' means Bellmans, and 'F-' means Focals. "Come
on, kiddo. We break into servers all the time at home. It's just encryption. I bet it's nothing that
bad."
Daimon goes back up the menu, and looks at the next category, Sancuzzi.
The computer whirrs. Some of these email folders are longer, giving details, and some of the
details are about criminal operations in the neighbourhood. Several of the messages are in Italian,
the ones _from_ Sancuzzi.
Daimon swears, and wishes he could remember some Italian. He writes down next to Sancuzzi
- 'Fate? Game? Factions?'
Daimon says "Mafia. Isn't this entertaining. You ever feel like you're sinking in quagmire?"
Daimon tries to read the ones that are not in Italian.
Sephar squeaks, "Frequently."
Daimon says "Hey, maybe there's translation software on the net."
The ones not in Italian are fairly short, acknowledging receipt of money, and in some cases
confirming that they will provide services. The wording suggests that the "services" are killings.
Sephar mutters, "I'm saving it all on here."
Daimon swears. "Jesus H. Christ on a pogo stick. I'm liking this not at all."
Daimon decides, suddenly, with a flash of insight, that he rather likes Sephar.
Daimon goes back up the menu, and back down to Tokoba.
The computer whirrs some more. There are only a few emails here. From both sides in English,
they are brief, discussing the possible location of a meeting for the provision of future services and
negotiation.
Daimon thinks about smoking a cigarette, and doesn't, because the place might go up with a flash
of kerosene. He instead returns to the main menu and goes down to Other.
Liz finishes her ablutions, and walks out, dressed in only a towel again. "How's it going?"
Daimon looks up from the computer. "This is a real mess. I think this was a money laundering
operation. So if they're laundering money from these guys, who is at the Opera for them?"
Liz says "Nice. What was that about Mafia?"
The computer takes longer about this. Sephar mutters, "Most of this lot was corrupt. The
protection on this was _serious_, guys."
Daimon says "We have a name, Sancuzzi. All of the mail is in Italian. I think we tripped over
something big."
<
Daimon leans back in the chair, and looks at the computer through narrowed eyes.
The computer hums more. Sephar says, uncomfortably, "I've got two folders of graphics for this
one, people, and that's all. Could be some sort of script."
Daimon nods. "Can we see it?"
The computer blinks in answer, bringing up two files: one email _to_ the Focals computer, and
one _from_ it. The first is longer than the second.
Daimon reads the first file.
The first file assembles itself on the computer screen in a collection of elegant, harsh graphics.
Daimon would recognise it as digitised Hellscript.
Daimon reads the hellscript.
Focalor - you are to investigate the Opera House, where two Renegades of Dark
Humor are concealing themselves. They possess some manner of artifact, which is also to be
brought back with them. Should they have any local allies or angelic links, retrieve these also
or any information. Proof of this is required at the highest levels. - A. Attached file contains
relevant data.
Daimon writes all this down on the pad in Hellscript, and reads the relevant data.
Unfortunately, there is no attached file.
Sephar mutters. "Sorry. That bit got hit. There was a virus encoded."
Daimon says the common Kobalite euphanism, "Fuck me blind with a banana and a tube of
toothpaste."
Liz reads over Daimon's shoulder. "What does it say?"
Daimon says "It says... 'Focalor - you are to investigate the Opera House, where two Renegades
of Dark Humor are concealing themselves. Should they have any local allies or angelic links,
retrieve these also or any information. Proof of this is required at the highest levels. I assume it's
signed 'A', as in 'Asmodeus'."
Liz says "Hmm. Weird."
Liz | OOC You don't mention the artifact?
Daimon says "Well, now I know they're Renegades. They're better off being killed then being
captured by the Game. The Boss will take them apart, but it's better than what Azzie will do to
them."
Sephar whirrs. "Aren't you missing out a sentence there?"
Daimon | Nope.
Daimon says "Huh? Am I?"
The lights on the computer flash. "I counted four sentences, and you only said three."
Daimon says "Oh, there's something about some sort of artifact."
Liz blinks. "Artifact?"
Liz says "What kind of artifact?"
Daimon says "Dunno."
Daimon says "Just some sort of artifact."
Liz says "Hmm. When you got assigned did anything like that get mentioned?"
Daimon says "Nope. I was just told to bring them back, and embarrass the Game. Which I seem
to be doing nicely."
Liz says "Artifacts make me nervous. I was transporting an artifact when that damn Calabim blew
up the back half of my plane."
Daimon says "Hmmm. Well, I would assume that would explain the Prank, then."
Daimon says "Whatever the artifact is, they're going to set it off, probably at the end of the
Opera."
Liz says "That's just great."
Daimon says "No wonder they weren't Funny. They're renegade. Bozos."
Liz sighs, tosses the wet towels into the laundry bag, and starts dressing.
Daimon clearly does not approve of anyone who would even THINK of going Renegade from
the Boss.
Liz slides on underwear, then picks through her clothing for something really dressy, suitable for
an Opera opening.
Liz says "Coffee?"
Daimon says "Sure."
Daimon bends to task again at the computer keyboard.
The second file is also in Hellscript, though shorter than the first.
Dread Prince - we shall comply. Also beg leave to inform you that the studio
connection reports their progress ahead of schedule. Full report will follow later.
Focalor.
Liz puts some coffee on to brew, and goes into the closet to look at her actual dresses.
Daimon . o O ( Studio connection? Has got to be the violinist. )
Daimon writes this down also down on the pad - in Hellscript. "They have some sort of studio
connection which reports progress ahead of schedule."
Daimon bites his lip in typical Lilim fashion, looks up, and watches Liz look through dresses.
Liz is dressed in some sheer panties and a matching bra, the general idea being that visible lines
under a tight silk dress are a no-no.
Daimon makes some actually helpful comments about choosing dresses and underthings. He gets
up from the chair and sits on the corner of the desk.
Liz laughs. "Thanks."
Daimon says "No problem."
Liz winds up choosing a pale, creme colored dress and a matching pillbox hat with a half-veil.
Liz says "What's on the second note?"
Liz quietly makes a vow that if she's going to have demonic boyfriends, she should learn the basics
of helltongue.
Daimon says "The second note is about a contact called the 'studio connection' who has progress
'ahead of schedule'."
Liz says "That doesn't sound good at all. The mirrors? Or the violinist? Both?"
Daimon says "I'm assuming it's the violinist, actually. Although that's just a guess."
Liz says "Did the two Renegades you were talking with mention anything about either?"
Daimon says "Nope. But now I know they're renegade, so if angels want to kill them, be my
guest. It'll be better for them in the long run."
Daimon gets up off the desk and walks behind Liz. He gives her a small kiss on the neck. "You're
very beautiful, you know."
Liz blushes. "Thanks."
Liz hugs Daimon, who smells considerably better after a nice long shower and clean clothing.
Daimon says "It has nothing to do with Needs. I lo-I really like you. And I think you're beautiful,
especially without that dress."
Liz says "I'll make sure to tell the others about the Renegades. I'm sure they'll appreciate it. It'll
give Pat a new hobby."
Daimon leans down and gives Liz a slow kiss on her lips, careful not to mess anything up, and
stands back a little. "Well, Pat needs something to do. He might even act a little less hostile with
a new hobby."
Liz kisses back, and, after, smiles. "No doubt."
Liz says "Pat could use a little happiness."
Daimon says "Everyone could use a little happiness. Except us bad guys."
Liz kisses Daimon again. "Even you bad guys. And so far you're not so bad. You helped out a lot
in that computer room. My Hero."
Liz hopes Sephar has its eyes closed, or something.
Daimon gives Liz another squeeze, then lets her go so she can get dressed. "I'm no hero. I'm just
a nuisance. You're the one who killed the bad guy."
The computer is just whirring away quietly.
Daimon returns to sitting in the chair behind the desk, and checks the time.
Liz says "Well, Traumatized her. And I was sort of sorry to do it. She was nice. At least in the
outer offices. Probably not so nice in reality."
Liz says "Mostly I want to be able to get through the next few days without her showing up and
saying 'there's the Angel that blew up the Computer', which would be pretty bad."
Daimon says "Feh. All demons are nice on the outside. They don't care about you, really."
Daimon stops, pauses, and can't believe he said that. Then he lets it go.
Daimon says "That would be pretty bad. With any luck, she'll be in Trauma for a while. If you
want, I can give a little tug on the hook, and see if she's shown up on Earth every once in a
while."
Liz blinks. "You got her in a geas?"
Daimon says "A little one."
Liz says "Wow. I didn't hear it at all. Some trick."
Liz says "If you could have a tug when we get to the opera, I'd appreciate it, but not if it's
troublesome."
Daimon says "It's pretty quick, and really, it's not much of a hook. Just something small. And I
can tug it at the opera, sure."
Liz says "I doubt they'll be bringing their receptionist along."
Daimon says "Focals was dragging along some sort of 'Secretary'."
Liz says "Hmm."
Liz says "Did you get any needs off the older woman?"
Daimon says "She was purely human. She worried about grandchildren and varicose veins. You
can really tell alot about someone from their Needs."
Liz pads around the apartment, pulling some stockings out of her 'clothing' file cabinet, getting
matching shoes for the dress, tucking her gun, permit, and extra clips into a matching purse.
Daimon watches Liz with interest.
Liz says "Sephar, is there anything on the computer about the other Focals 'employees'? Or Focal
itself?"
Liz says "If I'm going to go mess with a big, bad Bal, I'd like to know more."
Sephar squeaks, "I've got some basic staff names, but that's all. I wasn't really concentrating on
those files."
Daimon says "Good hair. Probably very arrogant. Nicely dressed, probably an expensive suit.
Attractive vessel. Those are the hallmarks of a Balseraph."
Liz says "Okay. Hmm. You might want to try to cross reference those names with known Game
demons, though."
Liz says "Daimon, remind me again? You saw a Bal, the Calabite, and a Habbalite of some sort?"
Liz says "And a Djinn driver?"
Liz says "And of course the Demon at the office."
Liz says "Quite a little crowd."
Daimon says "I actually didn't see anyone. I inferred from some witness accounts. I'm fairly
positive of a Bal, someone with lots of sexual magnitude, and a driver."
Liz says "Hmm. Okay."
Liz supposes Pat doesn't have much info either.
Liz says "This is annoying."
Daimon says "That's why I'm _afraid_ that his secretary is a Sister. A Game Sister is much more
dangerous then, well, me. Do you have sunglasses?"
Liz says "Sure."
Daimon says "Take them, and if you spot these people, wear them."
Liz says "Vuarnet style, or aviator?"
Liz says "Oh, okay."
Daimon says "Makes no difference, just mask your eyes."
Liz digs around, pulls out a pair of cat-eye style sunglasses, with white frames. "Here."
The computer whirrs some more. "Sorry, I seem to have missed any staff listings while I was
grabbing info. They weren't the protected files, see."
Daimon says "No, I have a pair. These are to protect you."
Daimon says "I don't need you geased into stabbing me over and over again - or anyone else for
that matter."
Liz finishes assembling her outfit. It looks a little bit like Sean Young in 'Bladerunner', sort of
retro 40s. Only in creme, not black.
Liz says "Really? Ugh. Okay."
Liz says "I'll make sure to tell the others, too."
Daimon grins. "You're beautiful and fashionably conscious. You're fantastic."
Liz says "Yeah, well, when you fly to Paris a lot, you might as well shop."
Daimon says "My apartment - where I normally live - is in LA, so I'm a little out of my normal
fashionable equipment."
Liz smiles. "Do you have anything that's reasonable for attending an opera in your bag?"
Liz would hate to think someone sent out to investigate an Opera wouldn't bring Opera clothing.
Daimon looks around in his stuff. "Nope, not at all. I didn't buy a suit."
Liz says "Hmm. Maybe we can rent you a tux."
Daimon gets a huge grin. "Wow. How very James Bond."
Demiurge | OOC : laughs.
Daimon | OOC I get essence! Woo!
Daimon takes a moment out to imagine himself, dashing in a tux, taking out the evil Gamesters.
Daimon decides this is a GOOD plan.
Liz says "Okay, Sephar. Hmm. What else."
Liz says "Oh, I know."
Daimon says "Well, I still have a lunch date."
Liz sits down in front of the computer, and pulls up the financial records, inbound and outbound.
Daimon takes a look at the time.
Liz says "Oh, right. I completely forgot."
Daimon says "And we still haven't talked to Tweedledee and Tweedledum."
Liz nods.
Liz says "I have to meet Pat & co at the opera."
Daimon wonders if it's possible to email the Boss.
Liz says "You go and do lunch, maybe rent a tux? I'll go to the opera. Meet back here around six,
and dress for the 8:00 curtain?"
Daimon says "I don't know if it's worth it to talk to them, actually. They'll be paranoid, and they
may do something rash, like kill me."
Daimon nods. "I can do that."
Liz says "Or would you rather meet around 2, try and find Tweedledee & dum, and then back
here at 6 to dress?"
Daimon says "I think we should meet at two."
Liz says "Okay. Let's meet at the opera house then."
Daimon says "Just to be on the safe side. That leaves almost no time to get the tux, but we'll do
our best."
Liz nods.
Liz says "You take the car. I'll take a cab."
Daimon says "Okay. That I can do."
Liz lets Daimon go, and asks Sephar to play the financial transactions, inbound and outbound,
while she dresses.
Daimon says "I think your angel friends - except Sephar here - would be happier if I wasn't around
to talk to them. But I'll see you at two."
Liz decides to go business-professional for the afternoon, and wear the dress at night.
Daimon gives Liz one last major round of smoochies.
Liz gets very distracted for one major round of kissing. *wow*
Daimon is happy to distract Liz, and hopes to distract Liz more when the Opera is over.
Sephar begins flashing up the fund transfers. There are regular amounts in from the Italian source,
and a couple from the Japanese source, and regular large ones in from Bellmans. Money goes
_out_ to various good financial investments, then is rerouted back to the Italian and Japanese
sources, mainly, and some other minor places.
Demiurge says "Liz, this pattern looks awfully like organised laundering of money."
Liz says "Hmm."
Liz watches for a bit. "Okay, there's the Italians.. I wonder if the Japanese stuff is Yakuza..."
Liz says "Sephar, please get a copy of the whole thing coded up into a ball. I'd like to get this
mailed off to the Organization as soon as I can."
Liz wonders how much money we're talking about, here?
Daimon looks at the screen and sighs. "Every once in a while, I'm embarrassed to be a me."
The money seems to run into the hundreds of thousands, if not quite the millions yet.
Liz smiles at Daimon. "Just remember, there are options. Now have a good lunch."
Sephar beeps cheerfully. "Sure. Can I copy to Jean too?"
Liz says "Of course. And if Daimon wants a copy, we'll arrange something for him too. Although
I'd rather not have email for Kobal originating on my machine."
Liz says "I have a tape backup on this thing (Marc is so into backups) so feel free to use that."
Daimon mutters something to himself in helltongue. "No, I'll find somewhere else to email the
Boss. Dunno where, though, but maybe there's one of those cybercafes around."
Liz assumes she's hooked into the airport's network, which is probably nice and fast.
Liz says "When you need the data, Daimon, just ask Sephar for a tape."
The screen flashes in agreement, and the modem lights burn.
Liz says "Mind if I use the word processor while you're downloading?"
Daimon says "Okie. The Boss will be hightly interested in all this. And probably in ways to make
it funny. I dunno, I'm an entertainer, not Chow Yun-Fat."
Daimon imagines himself for a moment, in a suit, sporting guns and offing people like Hard
Boiled. For a moment, it's cool, and then the thought of all that death makes him faintly sick. He
pushes the thought away.
Liz writes up a short report, detailing what happened with the Game office, why she and Daimon
went there, what happened, who she 'killed', and a quick overview of what Sephar managed to
get out. She also asks for people to keep an eye out in case she's showing up in police reports or
other public 'Wanted' lists, although she shouldn't be, and adds in the final section of her report
that she has formed a liaison with Daimon, that it seems to be going fairly well (with one
exception: he was holding out about the artifact, which means he may be witholding more info)
and that she's having him stay over at least until the Opera business is done with.
Sephar beeps. "All right, uploaded this stuff. Did Daimon want a copy?"
Daimon says "Yeah."
Daimon looks at his watch.
Liz adds in the part about him getting sick after the shooting (unusual, she thinks) and that she'd
like permission to release chunks about the Mafia connections to the Media to possibly muddy
the waters a bit.
Liz finishes by telling them the plan, and giving all the details about the involved demons. She also
mentions that Pat's making her nervious, and asks if anyone's heard of the Game in an 'Alliance'
of some sort that would be unusual. Oh, and the computer is Vaputech.
Liz types this all out at some inhuman speed (150wpm or faster), encodes her message and the
big databall that Sephar put together, and sends it off.
Liz says "See you later, Daimon. Be careful. Call me on the cell if you need me."
Daimon nods.
Daimon says "Okay, take care of yourself."
Liz tosses Daimon his tape.
Sephar pipes up, "Luck."
Daimon picks up his coat. He takes the tape and it disappears into a pocket.
Daimon waves at Liz and Sephar, and disappears to smoke and drive.
Liz dresses while the whole mess downloads. "What do you think, Sephar?"
Daimon pages: Does this qualify as a good time to summon the Boss? Do I have time?
Liz wishes Sarah was around to talk to.
Daimon pages: And is there a better way to send this information off to him?
Daimon pages: This sounds like, 'It's getting to important to not report' time.
Long distance to Daimon: Demiurge hms. Thinks.
Sephar hums thoughtfully. "I think we did the right thing in sending it off fast. I'm just wondering
what they'll do when they suspect we have it."
Daimon pages: I want to get the message - and no begging or whining for backup, nothing like
that, just information - without creating a big disturbance.
You paged Daimon with 'There is a Kobal-Tether in DC, if you want to go out of your way. You
could try sending it down via the Seneschal there. (There are Tethers for most Superiors
_somewhere_ in or round DC.)'.
Liz says "Hopefully they didn't get a good enough look to track us down easily. Once the demon
comes out of Trauma we might be in trouble, but we should be okay until then. If we're not on
any security records."
Liz says "I imagine they'll be pretty mad, though."
Daimon pages: How much time before I have to pick up Tania and take her to lunch?
Liz says "Any listings for other Renegades in the files? Besides the two Kobalites?"
Sephar's mouse twitches. The computer says, "I cleared the cameras. How good a look did the
receptionist get at you and Daimon?"
Long distance to Daimon: Demiurge thinks about an hour.
Liz says "Pretty good, but Daimon mostly distracted her from looking at me. The other one, the
demon, was the one who mostly dealt with me."
Liz says "Daimon might be in trouble, though."
Daimon pages: Is that enough time? Can I find the tether in that time?
Liz says "He probably shouldn't appear on 'Leno' in the next few weeks."
Daimon pages: I wonder if I can bother the Boss for something useful, like a Balseraph. :)
Liz says "Once the demon gets out of Trauma, all bets are off. I should probably spend the next
few months flying."
You paged Daimon with 'You can just find the Tether, if you do it fast, but you won't have much
time there.'.
Liz says "I suppose it depends."
Daimon pages: Okay, I will find the tether, toss the tape to the Seneschal, write a quick note, and
skedaddle.
Sephar hums more. "All right. Fair enough. Still, if we can sort out Focals..." It pauses. "Zebina,
have you any hopes about, you know, Daimon not having to go back down there?"
Liz says "Hopes? I suppose. I don't know."
Long distance to Daimon: Demiurge nods. The Seneschal, an Impudite mime (it's a street-theatre
mime area) takes it, and gestures thanks.
Demiurge greets Hitherby.
Liz says "I was pretty happy when he came and tried to help. And he seems, I don't know. Brave,
and not interested in hurting others."
Sephar bleeps. "He doesn't _act_ the way that you expect of most demons."
Liz says "But he didn't tell us about the artifact, which is a pretty huge omission if you ask me.
And he seemed pretty happy... no really happy about his banana message from his Boss."
Liz says "It would be really, really great if he wound up not going back down there. I just don't
think he's redemption material at this point. He doesn't even believe in God. Very odd."
Liz says "I should be a practical sort and hope that he'll wind up not reneging on our deal, and
that, if I'm very lucky, we'll come out of this on good terms. Maybe a few years down the line we
can talk 'Redemption'."
Sephar is silent a while. The mouse scratches itself. Eventually, the computer says, "It could all
be a lie, you know. I don't know, though. Still, the accepted line is that demons can Redeem. Even
as angels can Fall."
Liz says "Or maybe his Boss will be so happy that he gets a promotion and doesn't see the point
of working with us. I don't know."
Daimon pages: I resist the urge to make mime jokes. I do write a quick note saying that I've
located the Renegades, the Game, the local demons, the local angels, the money laundering thing,
the Mafia, VapuTech, a weird violinist, things exploding, and hey, btw, it's Funny but I'm WAY
OVER MY HEAD. I need a briefing, because I think I'm going to get wacked, one way or
another. Thanks.
Liz laughs. "Yeah. 'I Don't Know'. Well. 'By his deeds we shall know him.'
Daimon pages: He doesn't bother to mention Liz, or falling in love with her.
Long distance to Daimon: Demiurge nods. ;)
Liz says "Let's see what his Deeds are, and we'll cope from there. On the whole, I'm pretty happy
with him so far. He's sweet, and reasonably thoughtful, and very handy. And, to be honest, he's
-great- in bed. It's nice."
The computer runs up and down a scale of beeps, and says, plaintively, "The laws of science are
a great deal more logical."
Daimon pages: He thanks the Seneschal, and tells him that he hopes he doesn't get stuck in an
imaginary box. Then he zooms off to deal with Tania and pick her brains.
Liz pats the monitor. "Yeah. It's easier to pull the plug on a Vapula computer than find a Demon
to Redeem."
Sephar bleeps, "You have the flow of it."
Long distance to Daimon: Demiurge nods.
Liz says "I should talk to Chephirah about it. And maybe I can find one of Novalis' crowd. They
know more about Redemption than almost anyone."
Liz finishes dressing, in skirt and blouse and a matching blazer. She transfers the handgun to a
shoulder holster under the blazer, and sighs. "I need to get to the Opera House. Want to mouse
along?"
Sephar twitches its nose, then the mouse scurries across to Liz.
Liz says "If you could keep an eye on my computer? I'd like to know if I get any email back from
the Organization."
Liz says "And maybe make a couple of more tapes, too, just in case."
Liz loads another tape into the drive for Sephar to make while she's out.
Sephar beeps, from the computer. "Sure. I'll do what I can."
Liz says "Thanks."
Liz slides the mouse into her purse, and heads out for the taxi stand.
---