Topic: Flesh & Blood - A Night City Adventure Subject: Backpost
March 10th, Day 5 – Monday, Time is 12:30 PM PST – Mid-City, Edgerunner Enclave (China Town), Charlie’s Apartment X00050:2.Y00310:08.Z00410:15, South Night City Integrate. Weather Conditions: High City (Very Windy, 25 mph winds from the West.) | Midcity (Windy, 13mph winds from the West.) | Undercity (Slight Wind, 5mph gusts from the West.) Air Quality Index: High City = 0 | Midcity = 35 | Undercity = 65 (masks required)
“Hey can we talk?” Echo approaches Casino.
“Sure what’s up?” The pain in his arm is forgotten as paranoia sets in. Rising to his feet, the big solo swallows his concern over what the nomad beauty could possibly want to talk about—Is she leaving? Is she puttin' the stop on us?—as Echo heads out the apartment's front door into the hallway and then makes her way outside to stand on a landing in the bustling wind away from the rest of the group. Casino waits for what Echo has to say.
“I can’t stay here," Elizabeth begins strongly, "it’s too cramped. I need someplace away from the crowd in there.”
Oh, my god! She is leaving. Damn, damn! “Okay," Keith attempts to present a stoic front but fails as his eyes widen and uncontrolled emotion paints his rugged face, "so you're leaving then?”
Seeing the big solo’s eyes fly open in pain, Echo knows right away Casino has taken her desire to find a separate living area for the two of them wrong. Then again, thinking quickly back, in her nervousness she had not been very clear. “No, no I meant for you and me, and I was thinking here in the enclave if they have open housing and will let a Rolling State stay in an Edgerunner roost.” She tries to make the last bit humorous to calm the big guy down.
Looking around the landing and the bustle of the enclave, the big solo is unsure of their success, though relieved that she's not leaving and more than a little caught up in the moment. “I’m not sure, what do you mean; a monthly thing? Might be easier to rent a smaller place weekly, but I’ll talk to Charlie about a place for us, okay?”
Smiling up at the big solo the nomad says nothing more and without any pause grabs his head, pulling him down to her mouth and kissing him.
With the question of if they are to move forward with this almost overnight relationship now agreed upon, the two return to Charlie's apartment where the sight of the resting Vegas reminds Keith of his professional partnership and the way they've been living their lives practically joined at the hip. Echo's desire for the two of them—just Casino and Echo—living apart from the group may just throw a wrench in the way the two solos have been living.
“Echo,” Blossom says as though she just found a secret decoder ring in a box of cereal, “do you think your tribe has a madpack they’ll loan or sell us?”
"Let me see what I can do,” Moving into the back of the apartment, Echo makes a call. The image displayed on her agent is that of a scruffy, blonde man with a narrow face. Luke... perhaps the last friend she has amongst the El Lay. She has no idea where the tribe is right now or what they're doing. She can only hope that he answers. Instead, a message appears on her screen, the call ends. I'll call you back. Can't talk - Luke.
Casino plays through the request with the fixer, the complications of abandoning his long-time partner in favor of living with Echo, whom he's only known for less than a week, causing him no end of nervousness. “Charlie, can you get me a small place within the enclave, something between a Red Door Inn cubicle and a month-long lease apartment, priority on the apartment, by the end of the day?“ He really should have a discussion about their plans with Vegas before he goes off forgetting the man exists.
March 12th, Day 6 – Wednesday, Time is 01:30 PM PST – Mid-City, Edgerunner Enclave (China Town), Charlie’s Apartment X00050:2.Y00310:08.Z00410:15, South Night City Integrate. Weather Conditions: High City (Windy, Temperature: Moderate | High: 78°F (25.5°C) | Low: 69°F (20.5°C) | Wind Force: Strong | Wind Speed: 22 mph (35.4 kph) | Strong Wind: A steady wind with a 75% chance of extinguishing unprotected flames.) | Midcity (Windy, Temperature: Moderate | High: 87°F (30°C) | Low: 77°F (25°C) | Wind Force: Moderate | Wind Speed: 12 mph (19 kph) | Moderate Wind: A steady wind with a 50% chance of extinguishing unprotected flames.) | Undercity (Windy, Temperature: High | High: 98°F (36.6°C) | Low: 91°F (32.7°C) | Wind Force: Light | Wind Speed: 6 mph (9.6 kph)) Air Quality Index: High City = 0 | Midcity = 35 | Undercity = 70 (masks required)
With Charlie’s return from whatever is keeping him engaged all morning and Vegas’s offer of 500 credits to go towards grenades, Casino takes advantage of the wares the fixer has access to.
“OK, Charlie I’ll grab two of those illumination grenades, two WP grenades, two HEP grenades, two HEDP grenades, two flash bangs,” The solo allows for a slight pause as he mentally considers the catalog. “Next, let me get three each of those beanbag’s and splatshells, and lastly an EMP.”
Charlie explains that they'll need to go collect the boom booms later that evening but he'll arrange the meet. After all of the shopping is taken care of, Casino and Echo split to pick up the remaining two skill chips that he ordered; working the arrangements through Cred Stick once again. These haven't been paid for yet so the solo calls in some of his favors (OOC: Giri) to cover the bill. The SMG REF chip level 3 and Ambidexarity REF chip are quickly inserted as soon as he has his hands on them, taking up all four of his open slots.
Happy as all hell, the big solo and Echo add a quick supply run of their own within the enclave searching for a waist-rigged grenade pouch harness that will hold eight total grenades, four on each side. The search is long and the results aren't as nova as he would have liked. He's able to get four double-pack grenade pouches that slide onto a belt for 15c apiece totaling 60c. With the day's outings resolved, the evening consists of more relaxed time with Echo and the rest of the team in Charlie's apartment. However it was during this time and Vegas’s next words that brought Casino to the realization he had said nothing to him about Echo and he looking for a crash pad and that his agreement was needed as to their next job.
“Speaking of friends, it would be nice to get a place with my partner Casino, that we could call home, when we are between jobs, as long as we don’t get killed in the process. Therefore, I cast my vote, for what it is worth, to make a run with Ghlahn’s gig, to pick up some quick cash, plus work out the kinks of our working together as a team, before we devote our attention to solving the mystery that the madpack reader can unlock, so I can avenge Jeannette’s death, with the help of anyone who wants to go and help me to balance the scales in her memory!”
A brief look to Echo and a nod of her head and Casino gave his and the nomad’s vote.
“Yeah count us into Ghlahn’s gig, sounds like a good way to make some change while we work on this Jennette’s death and the Yakuza gig”
Catching Vegas’s eye he motions for his partner to join him outside the apartment for the unbelievable first time alone just the two of them since getting him out of his captivity. As Vegas was clear and the apartment door closed Casino gave the Frank Sinatra a good hug.
“Glad your still alive brother, was on edge thinking you were dead then finding out you were being held was even worse. Sorry it’s taken me this long to get my head out of my ass and truly welcome you home.”
Letting go he stood back.
(Add Vegas Reply)
“Yeah I hear ya. Now that your back you going to take back over as group leader? I’m so cool in dropping back as number 2, though you might have a harder time with Charlie letting you take over. We were sharing the lead, so to speak, with me in charge on ops and him in charge at home and getting us jobs, however even getting there was not an easy feat for both of us”
(Add Vegas Reply)
“Cool, Cool, you know I’ll back your play no matter what you decide. If you decide you don’t want to take it back then I’ll keep sharing it with Charlie. Ahh something else I wanted to let you know ~A brief pause~ Somewhere through that kid run me and Echo became an item, IDK what you want to call it, but we are going for the BF/GF thingi and looking to get a cube or apt together here in this enclave to be close to Charlie for any runs he comes up with. However I talked it over with her, and we want you with us for the friendship and yeah, not gonna lie, to help cut the cost. Fucking things are expensive. Please tell me you’ll crash, even if its on a couch. If so I promise to find you damn good couch. What do you say?”
(Add Vegas Reply)
March 13th, Day 7 – Thursday, Time is 12:30 PM PST – Mid-City, Edgerunner Enclave (China Town), Charlie’s Apartment X00050:2.Y00310:08.Z00410:15, South Night City Integrate. Weather Conditions: High City (Windy, Temperature: Very Strong | High: 85°F (29.4°C) | Low: 72°F (22.2°C) | Wind Force: Very Strong | Wind Speed: 35 mph (56.3 kph) | Very Strong Wind: Strong gusts of wind that impose a -4 penalty on Awareness checks and certain ranged weapon attacks. Such gusts automatically extinguish unprotected flames. Flying vehicles struggle with a -2 penalty. | Midcity (Windy, Temperature: Very Hot | High: 98°F (36.6°C) - | Low: 83°F (28°C) | Wind Force: Strong | Wind Speed: 22 mph (35 kph) | Strong Wind: A steady wind with a 75% chance of extinguishing unprotected flames.) | Undercity (Windy, Temperature: Very High | High: 115°F (46.1°C) | Low: 101°F (38.3°C) | Wind Force: Light | Wind Speed: 9 mph (14.5 kph)) Air Quality Index: High City = 0 | Midcity = 15 | Undercity = 95 (masks required)
The options for the afternoon are wide open. Patriot is supposed to meet up with everyone at a dive called the Black Piranha around six that evening so everyone can catch a decent bite to eat and get to know him. Aside from that appointment, there’s nothing on the docket. Looking around Charlie’s apartment feeling much better then he had for days Casino is still curious about this new Patriot person.
“So," he asks, "anyone got any more info on this Patriot guy?”…………………..
Posted on 2021-03-29 at 22:47:56.
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