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[5e IC] Deep in the Shadows of Texas -- Side thread: Sniffles

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rednblack

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« on: <02-08-16/1505:16> »
<<20 April, 2075 18:16 // Snyder's Hall, Dallas/Fort Worth>>

Sniffles covers his hole cards as Wayne, the young ork boy they've got serving drinks, comes around to get him a refill.  It's not that Sniffles is being paranoid, and Snyder is known for running a clean game, but some habits just stick with you, like the cowboy in the lime green stetson who can't help but stroke his goatee whenever he's flopped a pair.  Yeah, Sniffles will take his habits just fine, and leave the tells to the the amateurs.  Let's see, he tallies.  So the cowboy's got sevens, twos, or ladies, the woman in red's gonna fold, grandpa's going to follow her along, and the professor here, well, he just might make it interesting.  Sniffles nods his thanks to Wayne, and flips him a 2¥ chip.  The "professor" just make it interesting indeed.  A human man, mid-forties, very academic looking.  Awakened too, if Sniffles had to guess, and that made him even more interesting.  For one thing, he had a cyber hand, exquisitely made; in fact Sniffles wouldn't know it was off the shelf if he didn't have such a keen eye for such things, but the "skin" around it was too smooth, and when he grabbed his cards, the movements were still a little jerky. Maybe it's a new install? he wonders before folding.

Another thing about this guy, Sniffles didn't like the way he was being eyed.  Like he knew something.  Sniffles had heard that this way that he could see the matrix, and interact with it, how it came as natural to him as as seeing anything in the meat, he'd heard those finger-waggling types could sense it in you, if they looked close enough, and knew what to look for to begin with.  He didn't like that thought much.  Another round in betting, and the professor was playing it conservative, checking and then seeing.  The cowboy was clearly pleased with himself, and put down 150¥ in chips on the river.  And that's when the professor struck.  "I'll see the 150, and raise you 500," he said with a smile, pushing a small tower of black chips in the pot.  He could very well have the nut, if he'd been dealt two spades.  The cowboy was probably looking at trip-deuces right now, which was respectable, but far from the best potential hand.  But Sniffles would never know because the cowboy threw down his cards with a guffaw.  "You don't got it, do you?  You're just fucking with me, eh?  Ah, fraggit, I'll pay to find out next time."

Easy to read, and quick to fold.  I like this guy.

Sniffles spends the next two hours making a little progress at the table.  It's mostly the professor and him fleecing the other three players, though the lady in red comes up with three jacks in a hand of seven-card that sets him back some.  Even after that, he's still 678¥ up, when the pit boss comes around to collect him.  "Sir, your presence has been requested at one of the executive tables.  Would you like to come with me?"

Sniffles knows that it's not really a question, and he also knows exactly who's waiting for him at the executive table.  He gives his nose a wipe, tips the dealer, and let's the pit boss deal with transporting his chips while he walks to the back of the basement, through a set of double doors and past Bruno, who looks exceptionally displeased tonight.  Collections must be running low, and with playoffs about to start, Slim's gotta be leaning on him to come up with some nuyen fast.  He finds Slim at a corner table, with a seat empty and a place set out for him.  His chips are shortly deposited, which Slim takes an immediate interest in.  "Looks like a slow night.  Let's see, let's see," Slim says, putting the chips into two very unequal piles.  "This should get you through the rest of the night," Slim continues, pushing a small stack of blues and greens toward him.  "Come on, don't be sore.  I got your first hand," Slim says, putting down a 25¥ chip in front of Sniffles for a hand of blackjack.

Over AR, Slim begins messaging Sniffles as the cards come up.

<<@Sniffles [Slim] I got a little work I could maybe use a hand in later tonight, if you're free.  Maybe pay down this debt a little in something besides change.>>

Sniffles just gives a nod in the meatspace for Slim to continue.

<<@Sniffles [Slim] The Cara-Sir Paladins/Vancouver Clippers game is tomorrow night, and one of my competitors has been taking more than his fair share of the pie.  I'd like for you frag up his algorithms and just generally make placing a bet with the guy unworkable.  Also, if you can find his client list, I'd like to be able to offer services to those find upstanding citizens who can't through this particular competitor.  Last, if you can get the commcodes, or better yet, some tracking on any of his bookies, I'm prepared to knock a fair chunk of debt off your ledger.  What do you say?>>
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« Reply #1 on: <02-08-16/1940:46> »
The professor has been picking on the cowboy pretty mercilessly after that hand.  Sniffles has been avoiding hands for the most part with the professor.  No reason to mess with another shark when there are so many fish in the sea.  Grandpa is sitting in the 2 seat with the professor to his left in the 4 seat, just to Sniffles' right.  On his left the cowboy sits in the 7 seat and the woman in red on the dealers right in the 9 seat.
HORSE keeps you on your toes though.  The cowboy has the button and it's Razz this round.  The Lady gets a 3, Grandpa has a jack, the Prof gets a King, Sniffles sees an 8 and the Cowboy gets another deuce.  Hrm, bracketed and out of position.  Not so good.  Then he looks down and sees an ace and a deuce in his hand. Well that changes things.
The Prof is the bring-in, Sniffles calls, and the Cowboy raises.  Of course he does.  This gets the Lady and Grandpa to sit out.  The Prof actually thinks about this for a moment.  His target is in a good spot, but also ripe for picking, and Razz is a high variance game.  He taps his cyber hand causally while Sniffles is rolling a chip through his chrome.  "Call." he says simply and tosses the ¥25 chip in the pot.  This actually puts Sniffles in a bad spot.  He's got a reasonably hidden good hand at this point, but skill to the right and luck to the left.  Still, he wouldn't be here if he didn't gamble, and silently tosses his own green chip into the pot.
"Pot's right." says the dealer and flips a 7 for the Professor, a lucky 5 for Sniffles and another 5 for the Cowboy.  And true to form the Prof checks second street, and for pot control Sniffles does the same.  And the Cowboy comes out firing!  Well this should shut the Prof down, leave the 'boy for me this time.  But he doesn't, he flats the bet.  Sniffles starts to wonder if the Prof is using some finger-waggling to do something here as he's in a raise-or-fold spot there.  Not wanting to inflate the pot on second street, Sniffles flats as well.  Third street is garbage all around and everyone checks. Fourth street gets a little interesting when Sniffles pairs his 8 and the Cowboy gets a 4.  But everyone checks to 5th street.  The Prof is looking at K 7 3 6 5, Sniffles shows 8 6 3 8 4, and the Cowboy has 2 5 8 4 10.  Sniffles is actually really good shape with a A2346 hand, only one hand better but both of them can actually have it.  The Prof checks, and Sniffles opens for the first time in the hand with one card to come hoping to just take down the pot now.  But the Cowboy calls.  The Prof stares hard at Sniffles.  He's not sure if it's for the cards or for poaching on his fish.  Sniffles gives the man a little shrug and he finally folds.  The river is face down, and Sniffles makes a show of looking at it.  His face kept passive but obviously anxious to see the card before he puts out a bet.  The cowboy doesn't even look at his hole card and insta-raises.  The river brought another trey for Sniffles, which would normally be bad.  But in this case it's the final 3 in the deck as the Lady and Prof both had one.  With an inward smile Sniffles knows he has the stone cold nuts and re-raises the Cowboy.  "Well fuck me boy.  What could you have?  I'm 6 high over here and you're sitting on at least on pair!  You've gotta be bluffing," he says as he caps the pot.  With another small shrug Sniffles calls and shows the better 6 high hand.
That hand would have left him broke if it had ended the other way as he rakes ¥650 just as the boss comes over and taps his shoulder.
Sniffles lets out a large sneeze, and says "I guess that'll close me out.  Pleasure gentleman and lady."  Wiping his nose with his ever-present handkerchief.

Walking past Bruno with a nod and a frown for the dwarf's dour look, he heads in to see Slim.

[. . .]
He finds Slim at a corner table, with a seat empty and a place set out for him.  His chips are shortly deposited, which Slim takes an immediate interest in.  "Looks like a slow night.  Let's see, let's see," Slim says, putting the chips into two very unequal piles.  "This should get you through the rest of the night," Slim continues, pushing a small stack of blues and greens toward him.  "Come on, don't be sore.  I got your first hand," Slim says, putting down a 25¥ chip in front of Sniffles for a hand of blackjack.

Over AR, Slim begins messaging Sniffles as the cards come up.

<<@Sniffles [Slim] I got a little work I could maybe use a hand in later tonight, if you're free.  Maybe pay down this debt a little in something besides change.>>

Sniffles just gives a nod in the meatspace for Slim to continue.

<<@Sniffles [Slim] The Cara-Sir Paladins/Vancouver Clippers game is tomorrow night, and one of my competitors has been taking more than his fair share of the pie.  I'd like for you frag up his algorithms and just generally make placing a bet with the guy unworkable.  Also, if you can find his client list, I'd like to be able to offer services to those find upstanding citizens who can't through this particular competitor.  Last, if you can get the commcodes, or better yet, some tracking on any of his bookies, I'm prepared to knock a fair chunk of debt off your ledger.  What do you say?>>

Sniffles takes puts his chips infront of him at the blackjack table and lets the ¥25 ride for a round while he reviews the message from Slim.  He nods as he starts thinking about the implications and possibilities.

<<@Slim [Sniffles] Well, it keeps me off yer damn couch.  So yeah, I'm down for that.  Plus it sounds fun.  Depending of course on which competitor you're talking about and how much of the debt we can clean up.  How about we cover this month's marker and take off twelve five, less than five percent of what this job will net you, leaving me stuck a cool hundred and I think we have a deal.  You know, plus all the winnings you end up keeping that I make here.>>
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rednblack

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« Reply #2 on: <02-10-16/1225:27> »
<<@Slim [Sniffles] Well, it keeps me off yer damn couch.  So yeah, I'm down for that.  Plus it sounds fun.  Depending of course on which competitor you're talking about and how much of the debt we can clean up.  How about we cover this month's marker and take off twelve five, less than five percent of what this job will net you, leaving me stuck a cool hundred and I think we have a deal.  You know, plus all the winnings you end up keeping that I make here.>>

Sniffles has 100¥ sitting on the next hand, and he's dealt a 2 6.  Could be worse.  He taps the table as another message from Slim pops in.

<<@Sniffles [Slim] If you get the client list, we'll call it an even 100 you owe me.  I'll call 1,000¥ for every commcoded bookie you get, and 3,000¥ if you can get real-time leads on their location if they're in my turf.  Wiz?>>

Sniffles gets hit with a 3 and Slim holds at 14.  Sniffles gets another 6 bringing him to 17, and then a face card finally comes up on the dealer's 12.  Bound to happen sooner or later. 
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« Reply #3 on: <02-10-16/1314:40> »
Sniffles does the math on it.  If the bookie list is of decent size and any of them are on Slim's turf this could work out just fine.

<<@Slim [Sniffles] Wiz.  We've got a deal.  Who's style do you need cramped?>>

The large Amerind sees the face card hit the dealer and can't keep the smile off his face.  He pulls in ¥150 and lets the other ¥50 ride.  "House can't win 'em all can they?" With a nudge for Slim, knowing that in the long run, the house *does* always win, unless someone like him comes in and shakes up the board!
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rednblack

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« Reply #4 on: <02-10-16/1700:14> »
<<@Sniffles [Slim] Names Mr. House.  Mid-level, operates out of Irving and does some low class joints out in Arlington, but I don't care drek about that.  Lately he's been sending his guys into Dallas proper, though and between the Dixie mafia and the yaks, I don't need anymore competition.  He's not connected with any of the big boys, so he's fair game as far as I'm concerned.  I'm sending a pin for the main casino in Wise.  G'luck>>
<<Incoming Pin: Location.ARO>>


"I guess you have somewhere to be, eh?" Slim says, scooping up Sniffles' chips.  "Don't worry, I'll cash these out for you."
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« Reply #5 on: <02-10-16/1757:53> »
Sniffles frowns at the thought of having to travel out to Decatur, his dreads turning a light purple.  He snatches a green 25¥ chip out of the stack as Slim starts to gather his chips.  "For the cab fare home, omae.  Last I heard you didn't want me crashing on yer couch anymore."  He stands and wipes his nose again, then adjusts his duster, his dreads returning to their steel grey color.  He shuffles the green chip through his nimble chrome fingers before pocketing it and heading to the cashier.  He literally needed to cash in the chip to get home.

On the way he started looking up information on one Mr. House and the main casino that Slim sent him.
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« Reply #6 on: <02-17-16/1801:48> »
On the way home from Slim's Sniffles spends the auto-cab ride snooping about on Mr. House and his casino.
<<House.dossier>>
* Buisness Holdings
    * Several casinos across CAS.
        * DFW
        * Jacksonville FL
        * Montgomery AL
    * Dixie Mafia Protection in FL and AL
        * DFW appears to be un-affiliated
    * Runs Street betting
    * Word-of-mouth physical locations
    * Invite only hidden Matrix Hosts
* Personal
    * Brash and a Braggart
        * Professional enough to keep nose "clean"
    * House in DFW
    * Condo in Montgomery

>> Scan for House Casino...
    No hosts found.
>> Search DFW Public Net for House Casino...
    No hidden hosts found on DFW Public Net.
>> Search DFW Local Net for House Casino...
    Host found.  Rating 4.  No other data.
>> Scan found host...
    Rating 4; A: 5, S: 4, D: 6, F: 7.  No other data.


He's about half way home when he finally finds the host and gets some actual data about it.  It's been a while since he's had that much trouble finding something on the Matrix.  Must be the pressure from Slim distracting him.  House seems like a piece of work.  Running on the shady side of things from the look of it.  Slim might not be a saint, but most of it is on the up and up.  Got no problems relocating some of these clients to some better customer service.

Not wanting to get ripped off by the auto-cab, Sniffles just played some matrix poker for the rest of the ride home.  He racked up some points on a host not owned by Slim so he had a chance of seeing those profits one day.

The cab dropped him off in front of his storage-unit-come-doss, and sniffles rolls up the front door long enough to step in then closes it immediately once more.  Locking from the inside and checking his make-shift security feeds.  The semi-translucent plastic over a section of the ceiling is all the natural "light" that comes in, but it's more than enough for him to see by.  He goes over and turns on his heater and plants himself in the dilapidated old recliner that takes up almost 1/3rd of the space in the unit.  Settling in, he adjusts the heater to keep him warm even though it's in the mid 20s already.  He's really much more comfortable in 30+ weather, but he's adjusted.  The big electric heater reflects a cone of heat to where ever he settles in the small space.  He has thought about trying to get a more general heating solution for the unit, but it's so drafty there isn't much point.  Localized heat really is his best bet.  A few times he's thought about getting a giant version of one of those ceramic heat bulbs they use for lizard tanks over his bed, but never bothered to make it work.

Comfortable with the heater and the chair, Sniffles drops off into VR to start doing some real research on House.  Floating through the matrix he starts on the public grid looking for any more details, but most of those were covered on his ride home.  He starts looking for more information on the local DFW grid as well as the Jackson and Montgomery grids.  He's not poking into any private sources, so this is all on the up and up as far ask GOD is concerned, but he's still watching his back out of habit.  As he's digging through the various data flows he starts to find streams to pull and weave together.  It's slow and laborious work, but he starts to pull the weave a fabric that creates a much more intricate picture of Mr. House's world.  The tapestry of flowing data shows strong connections to the Dixie Mafia in Jackson and Montgomery but none stream through DFW.  He can't be completely sure, however it appears that Mr. House has chosen to operate in the DFW more independently.  Wether it's because his business isn't large enough out here to warrant more attention from the bigger players, or if it's because he's just purchasing a small protection fee from DM or the Yaks he can't be sure.  Things look pretty clear on this side.

From there he decides to work on getting some back-up for this run.  A Sprite would be super handy.  He begins to compile one, and it's tenuous at best.  The bits of code don't really want to work together, even with the Resonance pushed through to compliment them.  The little bits of code bobble about in front of him as he attempts to register the icon with GOD.  He spends hours, at one point literally, hammering at the code to get it to conform to the protocols needed all to no avail.  At the end the Sprite dissipates and returns to the Resonance.  Exhausted and now sore from working with the Resonance so much, Sniffles gives up for the night.

He doesn't need much sleep, and he recovers quickly.  Three hours later, he's fully rested and recovered from the work the previous day.  He stretches and an AR window lets him know that its half past six in the morning.  He's got a little over twelve hours until the game starts.  He uses his chemical toilet and takes a quick sand shower to wash away the grit and grime from the day before.  One advantage to being cold blooded was he didn't sweat and staying clean was a lot easier.  With the amount of time left he decides to risk trying to register another sprite.  This time the code fits together like glue, and when he compiles this one the Resonance surges through and he's got a solid base to work with.  A Navajo doll-like icon jumps about in front of him.  Full of energy and ready to get to work.  <<Easy there little one.  We aren't quite ready yet.  Lets make it so the Matrix can cope with all that you are and not try to eject you.>> Sniffles says to the little icon with a smile.  For five hours he manipulates the protocols in the little doll until finally it appears as a normal, if small, persona in the Matrix.  <<There you are little one.  Now you'll be accepted as a normal piece o
f code running on these systems.  Lets take a bit of a rest before we get to work.  We are running out of time.>>


The stress of working with the Resonance caused the large Amerind's eyes to bruise and nose to bleed.  The blood mixes with the usual mucus as he wipes it away.  He stumbles over to his bed and sets his living persona to reboot in 60 min as he takes a nap.

The short sleep did him wonders and he is ready to go at just after noon.  He calls another auto-cab and heads to the address that Slim gave him the day before.  He's not familiar with the neighborhood at all, and so he starts to pull up what kinds of businesses are around there as the cab takes him to his destination.
« Last Edit: <02-17-16/1804:43> by Zweiblumen »
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