[Thvor]

[spoiler]

It didn't take Sam long to recover from the trip to LA, physically at least. It had been a strange job and somewhat frustrating; he didn't like it when he wasn't able to get what he wanted. Once he was feeling better, he sent a message to Lyra, letting the strange kinesic from the Group know that he was back and offered to take her out for drinks to talk about some of the things he'd seen--and especially about how it seemed that she'd been right about his vocal influence. The chance that she might accept--and let him see her without the mask--was surprisingly exciting to him.

After that, he sent a message to Lt. Harris to see if he could get some lessons on how to use his cane more effectively. There had just been too many times where he'd felt pinned down and useless; annoying as it was, he had to acknowledge that he needed to get better.

Finally, he took a glance at Jo's social schedule to figure out which party he was going to be at that evening, and got dressed for a night out, where he'd find out from his friend what had been happening in Seattle while he'd been away.

[/spoiler]

To his pleasure, Lyra responded to Sam very quickly, and he soon found himself waiting at a table at the Bellevue Crab House, a fine bottle of wine at his elbow. Before he'd been waiting too long, a young lady in a sparkly black dress was brought to the table by the maitre d'. Her every movement spoke poise, assurance, and control--and Sam instantly recognized the total body control. Standing up to greet her, he brought his eyes to her face, which was, indeed, not hidden behind a mask. She was as attractive as he'd dared to hope, and looked to be about twenty--just a little younger than Sam himself.

The dinner was unlike any Sam had ever experienced before, as their conversation was not limited to what they could place in words. They both enjoyed it thoroughly, finally leaving several hours later. Sam had never been able to open up to anyone on the same level, and it appeared that this was a relatively new experience for Lyra as well.

Over the next few weeks, they continued to get together, sometimes going out, sometimes relaxing at Sam's place.

Meanwhile, Sam spent some time training with Lt. Harris, slowly getting better at using his cane as a weapon, and wandering the streets, listening to and interacting with people, often spinning truly ridiculous scenarios to see just how much he could get people to believe. He was truly enjoying himself.

After a while, Sam sent a message to his teammate. Hey, Con--they told us that they were going to take care of you. You back on your feet yet? Once you're feeling better, think you could give me some dancing lessons? I've never seen anyone move like you!

[HydroRaven]

After a particularly gruelling training day, Clementine decided to go check up on O'Connor's apartment like she had promised him she would. Not before taking her gear with her, the ork rode her bike to the address she had been given, parking a bit further away from the building and walking her way to O'Connor's place, just to get a better opportunity to see who was around.

First thing she realized was that the building was still standing, in the loosest sense of the term possible. She thought she was living in a dilapidated apartment, but this reminded her of the old saying "someone's always got it worse than you". Looking at the different people hanging around, she didn't see anyone specifically casing the place, which satisfied the ork. She returned to her bike, happy she had done her part.

On the walk back, however, she did meet a duo of people that vaguely matched O'Connor's description of who to look out for. They weren't specifically looking at a particular place, but walking around the neighbourhood, probably in a show of force or defiance.

<Your place is still standing and nobody's casing it, but you have a few chummers walking around your neighbourhood though> sent the ork, before getting on her bike and driving back home.

[Necrogigas]

On the walk back, however, she did meet a duo of people that vaguely matched O'Connor's description of who to look out for. They weren't specifically looking at a particular place, but walking around the neighbourhood, probably in a show of force or defiance.

<Your place is still standing and nobody's casing it, but you have a few chummers walking around your neighbourhood though> sent the ork, before getting on her bike and driving back home.

<"Thanks. Next round is on me.">

After a while, Sam sent a message to his teammate. Hey, Con--they told us that they were going to take care of you. You back on your feet yet? Once you're feeling better, think you could give me some dancing lessons? I've never seen anyone move like you!

A few days after being discharged, and settling back in at home O'Connor finally got around to replying to Sam, <"Sure, I can help you with that. I'll get back to you when I have some things set up.">

He figured he could use that abandoned warehouse near Darrel's shop. High chance of squatters or ghouls, but that just added to the fun. He hit up Darrel, <"Hey bud, I'm back up and running. I got a teammate looking to juke and weave like me. I figure we could use that warehouse down the block. Might make a day of it, who doesn't like getting drunk and shooting guns. I'm also gonna invite that sergeant we met. Yeah, he was an ass, but we both know we're going to be doing a lot of business with the guy. We should try to get in good with the guy."> After much bickering and griping, O'Connor got Darrel to see his point, <"Great, so you bring the bullets and I'll bring the booze and the drugs. You should probably bring a few cases of gel rounds. I'm not too sure what level my teammate's at already. I also need more stick-n-shock for Lightning of the Storm, and I'm looking for armor piercing ammo for Mira. Think you can get your hands on that? Oh, one more thing, any progress on that hunting rifle or machine gun?">

[spoiler=Ammo]

Item	Availability	Cost
Stick-n-Shock (Light Pistol) x30	5R	240¥
APDS (Assault Rifle) x160	16F	1,120¥

[/spoiler]

He put in his next call to Staff Sergeant Ulrich, <"Hey, it's O'Connor. Got any time in the near future to get turnt and shoot off a bunch of rounds?" After a bit of coordinating schedules, O'Connor sent a date and place to Sam.

He's first purchase for the meet was legitimate goods, so he didn't have trouble tracking them down.

[spoiler=Non-restricted goods]

Item	Availability	Cost
Form Fitting Half Body Suit	7	900¥
Spar Clip (Colt M23)	2	5¥

[/spoiler]

He then hit up his dealer, Ortega, <"I got a grocery list of drek I need.">

[spoiler=Drugs]

Item	Availability	Cost
Zen x10	4R	50¥
Jazz x2	2R	150¥
Novacoke x8	2R	80¥

[/spoiler]

He finished up  his errand run with a purchase of 150¥ worth of beer and liquor. This was going to be fun. He wondered how Sam was going to act around the more rough and tumble sort.

On the day of the meet, O'Connor arrived a tad bit early and decided to case the warehouse, see if anything was living or nesting in the place. He didn't get to far into his investigation when the others arrived, "What's up? I'm still checking to see if we got any ghouls or squatters to deal with."

[Thvor]

Sam figured he knew Con well enough to know what to expect, so he intentionally dressed down for the occasion. He wasn't surprised that the place was an abandoned warehouse, but he was surprised to see three strangers waiting for him. At a second glance, he realized that one of the strangers was actually Con; just...blank. He knew that Con's tattoos had been a large part of the man's self identity, and that losing them could be a significant sore spot, so he ignored their disappearance and instead asked how they were going to do the training.

[Crossbow]

Darrel and Ulrich had no such compunctions.

"Jesus, bro, you look like a ghoul yourself, what the fuck happened?!"

"Y'know people that go to Cali are supposed to get tans, not bleached." added the dwarf, "Darko is gonna be pissed that you ruined his work."

[Crossbow]

"...You are a very smart man, Andrew, and would eventually find out if I was telling lies to you and I do not want that.  So it is now up to you.  My vote is to give US a chance, but what is yours?"

Andrew Crenshaw looked stunned at the out pouring of honesty and backstory, in his mind he was sure he was getting the 'it's not you, it's me' bit or, worse yet, the 'can't we just be friends' bit, so he was quite happy and excited when the speech didn't end either of those ways.

"Yelena, such a pretty name."  He smiled and continued, "You're right, I am a very smart man, but up to this point, not a very lucky one.  I have been waiting for the other shoe to drop this whole time, sure that it was going to squash me flat. I took a big chance making sure I stayed with you, I could have easily been out of a job.  Hell, I could have been killed, but I figured a guy like me doesn't get two chances at a girl like you so I held on with both hands and just braced for the hit."

"You are telling me the wrost you got is that you are a Russian Mobster?  Hey, that one's easy, I was just hoping you weren't married!"

"In other words, the vote is most certainly unanimous, I vote for us, you have your loyalties, I have mine.  Horizon has done a great deal for me and I owe them a lot, but we can make it work.  Maybe once Tommy and I get settled we can even help you find your sister.."

[Necrogigas]

O'Connor gave the the two a sour look, "Darko can kiss my hoop. He's a second rate tattoo artist, even by prison standards.  Plus, it ain't like we kept in touch since either of us got out. Anyhow I didn't asked to be barbecued by a spree killer mage."

He readied his assault rifle and set it to full auto, "Alright I'm gonna toss a brick in, see what it stirs up." He grabbed a broken brick nearby, wedged the door open slightly, "You guys ready?" He chucked the brick through and waited for any type of reaction from within.

[Mercy Merchant]

Snow smiles.  "And here I thought it was me getting lucky with you.  I guess we are both lucky.  I will try hard to keep you feeling lucky, but part of that will mean that we communicate with each other.  I would rather avoid waking up one morning to a note on the pillow next to me saying that you have found someone who understands you better.  Or gives better head or something.  I am afraid that my body is a bit...............constrained just now, but not for long, and then be ready."

She takes another sip of water.  "So, do you have any plans on where to live?  I know it is early days yet, but what do you think of living with me?  I currently share a nice apartment with another girl.  She is an escort, too, and we have agreed to not bring work home, but I do not know if this counts.  Or are you and Tommy going in together, and what would he think of me moving in?"  She blushes a bit but does not look away.  "I do not apologize for moving fast.  Life is short and people get hurt and die and I do not want to miss spending what time I can with you.  If you need more time before shacking up with me, I will respect that, but I will say that you could be missing some great sack time while you try to figure it all out."

[Crossbow]

Sammy sighed.  This was clearly going to be a lot harder than she thought and on top her ribs were still hurting from the car crash they had.  But she had to get this done now, before it got out of hand.  She walked to his room and knocked before opening the door.
"Look Marcus," she said, "I don't like this either, but if I want to keep paying for your school, I have to take those jobs.  I'd rather stay here and look for Debby, but that doesn't pay the bills either.  But I'll stay home for some time now, as it will take quite some time for some of the team to get back on their feet.  They were hurt a lot more than I was."

"Oh, so your telling me the only time I can expect to see you is when your gutter-trash runner buddies got their asses shot up?  Gee, don't do me any favors, sis."  The big ork kid was laying in his bed when she came in, but when she came in he gets up as he speaks, grabbing a pair of boots and a jacket along with his school pack.

[Crossbow]

O'Connor gave the the two a sour look, "Darko can kiss my hoop. He's a second rate tattoo artist, even by prison standards.  Plus, it ain't like we kept in touch since either of us got out. Anyhow I didn't asked to be barbecued by a spree killer mage."

He readied his assault rifle and set it to full auto, "Alright I'm gonna toss a brick in, see what it stirs up." He grabbed a broken brick nearby, wedged the door open slightly, "You guys ready?" He chucked the brick through and waited for any type of reaction from within.

The response to the clattering brick is not what O'Conner was hoping for, a half awake "Wuzzat?"  Inside is a bit of a squatter nest/shooter's alley with a half dozen wretched souls either in the midst of or sleeping off some brainbender.

[Crossbow]

Snow smiles.  "And here I thought it was me getting lucky with you.  I guess we are both lucky.  I will try hard to keep you feeling lucky, but part of that will mean that we communicate with each other.  I would rather avoid waking up one morning to a note on the pillow next to me saying that you have found someone who understands you better.  Or gives better head or something.  I am afraid that my body is a bit...............constrained just now, but not for long, and then be ready."

She takes another sip of water.  "So, do you have any plans on where to live?  I know it is early days yet, but what do you think of living with me?  I currently share a nice apartment with another girl.  She is an escort, too, and we have agreed to not bring work home, but I do not know if this counts.  Or are you and Tommy going in together, and what would he think of me moving in?"  She blushes a bit but does not look away.  "I do not apologize for moving fast.  Life is short and people get hurt and die and I do not want to miss spending what time I can with you.  If you need more time before shacking up with me, I will respect that, but I will say that you could be missing some great sack time while you try to figure it all out."

Crenshaw turns about four shades of red, then says, "Tommy found us a place, and I think they are going to keep us on a short leash for bit while we work out the kinks on this LMG thing.  I haven't even seen the place yet, but I am sure we can at least set aside a dresser drawer for each other."

[Necrogigas]

The look of disappointment was completely evident on O'Connor's face. He sullenly kicked the door wide open, letting the light of day into the warehouse. He leveled his rifle at the group as he advanced into the building, "Time for you all to scram. You got to the count of ten to get going or become target practice. One..."

Darrel pulled out a shotgun as he entered behind O'Connor. He didn't point it at the squatters, but held it lazily. He seemed rather bored by it all, like this had played out dozens off times before. It had, O'Connor wasn't a subtle person when it came to...anything really. Ulrich entered as well, though he didn't draw a weapon. He did keep his hand on the pistol at his hip however, just in case. He kept a closer eye on O'Connor and Darrel than he did the squatters. He was still testing the waters as it were with the two.

[farothel]

"Oh, so your telling me the only time I can expect to see you is when your gutter-trash runner buddies got their asses shot up?  Gee, don't do me any favors, sis."  The big ork kid was laying in his bed when she came in, but when she came in he gets up as he speaks, grabbing a pair of boots and a jacket along with his school pack.

"That's not what I'm saying," Sammy replied, "besides, if I worked for a big corporation, or still in the trid industry, I would have been gone for much longer periods.  Like when I was filming my last movie, we were on location up north for three full weeks.  Now go to school and we'll talk about it this evening.  But I want you back here right after school."

[Mercy Merchant]

Snow smiles.  "A small dresser is about all I need, besides some space in the bed.  I can leave most of my clothes with Pixie.  After all, I am still paying rent there.  And I would want to chip in to help you guys if I am going to be moving in.  Say, do you or Tommy have skills in Cyber Combat or Electronic Warfare?  Or know someone who does?  I would like to get some work in on those while I am recovering.  And I want to improve my Firewall and perhaps at least one software upgrade for armoring my 'link.  I have a contact that might be able to help, but I thought I would ask."

[Thvor]

[spoiler]

Darrel pulled out a shotgun as he entered behind O'Connor. He didn't point it at the squatters, but held it lazily. He seemed rather bored by it all, like this had played out dozens off times before. It had, O'Connor wasn't a subtle person when it came to...anything really. Ulrich entered as well, though he didn't draw a weapon. He did keep his hand on the pistol at his hip however, just in case. He kept a closer eye on O'Connor and Darrel than he did the squatters. He was still testing the waters as it were with the two.

[/spoiler]

Sam was pleased to note that the other two men weren't as gun-crazy as Con. Still, not knowing what to expect from the warehouse's current residents, he spread out to one side, back to the wall, cane ready. He did keep his gun hidden in its holster, but it was reassuring to know that it was near.