May 12 11:25:59 107 PA - Boys, Beers, and Business
From Chronicles
May 12 11:25:59 107 PA - Boys, Beers, and Business
Kingsdale - The Alibi
"There are plenty of places here that aren't on that level that need security. Small businesses, homes, communities," Vixen replies, shaking her head slightly. "Won't get us no multimillion credit contracts, but enough to make a good living if we can score some clients." She leans back a little and continues, "As to why I lean on the computer thing, it's a particular interest of mine. A specialty. Making or breaking. But if you're good in a fight and a generalist, that would work well, I think. Like I said, setting up physical and electronic security isn't easy for one person, though I've done some personal work of my own. So I've got experience with things like this. I'm just looking to make a buck and maybe find some other challenges that don't involve clashing with the Coalition or general heavy gunplay. Hard to enjoy profits if you get misted."
Ash nods, "Well I imagine not in the dregs anyways." He says to Vixen, "Yeah, I can fight... either with guns or hand to hand." He shrugs, "Can't grow up here and not learn that really." He grins amusedly, "But, that's an interesting premise. A security company." He considers, "Arranging security is easier than breaking in really. It's mostly about how much money someone's got to set up the initial defenses. Placing security camera's, protection programs, alarms." He nods, "Stuff like that I could do pretty easily."
Zeeva looks to the person at her table she just says something in Hebrew and then uses the language a bit before the person gets confused and toddles off. She then goes back to observing and gaining information about how people are interacting with each other. She sips her water and leans back so that she can extend her legs and cross them at her ankles.
"Won't be getting significant work out of the Dregs, most that can pay for stuff like this will have enough to get heavy duty professionals," Vixen replies to Ash. "What about your street skills? If you grew up here, you should have some. Any talent with procuring gear? Not stealing, but working with suppliers, the Black Market.. things like that."
Bridget steps into the club wearing a dark dress and a bright smile. Sure, it stopped raining right when she didn't need to be outside, but at least it stopped raining. She holds up her arms and does a little turn for the security people at the door, then walks towards the bar. They really don't need to worry about her sneaking in a weapon, unless the heels count.
"Sure sure." Ash says offhandedly, "I can find the dealers and the people selling stuff pretty readily. Sometimes I can even get a price break." He grins, "I am a product of my environment." He then takes another drink, "Lets see, if you want a full run down..." He thinks, "I'm good at haggling and trade, know the streets, can follow someone without being seen openly or from stealth, know how to use and repair computers, hell I even know math. I can drive a car or a hovercycle and can do so even when getting shot at. I'm good with all sorts of handguns, swords, and throwing knives. I'm an escape artist and veritable physical paragon, along with being able to work with electronics and a small time mechanic." He grins wryly, "And I'm fast, tough, and strong."
Zeeva smirks as she watches a group of women go up to dance. She slowly moves to make a few notes in her notebook while sipping her water here and there. She ponders something to eat though looking around to see if that is offered here or not.
Vixen nods her head to Ash and replies, "I think you'll do," she murmurs. "Though right now I'm still getting offices prepared and looking to get some initial contracts. I have the space in mind, I just have to have it remodeled a little and get some security installed before it's ready for use. Once it's ready, I'll let you know. And we'll see where this goes." She grins lightly and wonders. "You got any questions?"
Ash nods, "Of course I do." He answers before taking another small drink, "What's the pay looking like, is it based on a percentage of each job or what? A salary? An hourly wage?" He chuckles, "Then there's a whole lot of other questions, but most of those have to wait till you know more about how it's going to be set up." He looks over the dance floor again then looks back towards the bar and hmmms to himself before he looks back to Vixen. "What sort of time commitment are we looking at too?"
Zeeva tilts her head a bit as a group of men comes in and she watches them. She smirks to the conversation and listens to the slang mostly. While she tilts her head a bit at a few things and writes them down. Seems she's enjoying herself while watching people and their habits.
First stop is the bar, so that Bridget can order herself a mixed something or other. It's easier to let the bartender choose, and she never knows if she might find a new favorite. She looks down the bar as she waits for the mixing, then the dance floor, and around. A new face there, a pair of familiar ones there, and some of them are even together. Bridget almost waves to Ash and Vixen, but decides to just oggle. Her hand gets filled up by her drink, now, anyways.
"Well," Vixen replies lightly, thoughtful a moment before she lays it out. "I'm thinking the pay will be bi-weekly, mostly. Numbers pending, but like I said, something you can live on. More if we get a strong income stream. Bonuses for big or dangerous jobs. As to commitment, I'm thinking that if I'm paying you to be on hand for solid work most days, I'll want you there to work. I don't mind if you need to take a few days off.. say if you need to do some side work so long as you give me a heads up so I can work around it. I made a lot of cred of that sort of stuff myself, so it isn't like I don't understand the allure when you're scraping to make it. But if you disappear for a week, I'll have to find someone to take up the slack. Hours will be flexible. When it comes to this sort of job, usually it doesn't matter just when you work so long as it gets done. Pending customer requirements, of course."
Ash nods, "Alright then, sounds like a plan. Sign me up for tentative scheduling at least until we know when and where things are going down, and call me if you need something that I can help with prior to then." He swirls the liquid in his drink around in it's glass for a few then asks, "Do you have any questions?"
Zeeva ponders a bit while watching another group. The water in her glass has gone down and she asks for a refill, though seems all she's having at the moment. She's not yet found a menu but one will turn up eventually she hopes. Though slowly she taps her pen on her pad for a moment and then write something.
Bridget sucks down a few sips as she watches the two at the table, but she doesn't sit still for long. A little liquid relaxation and curiosity, and she starts to walk towards Ash and Vixen. Nothing wrong with a friendly interruption, right? "Don't believe more than half of what he tells you..." She gives some grinning advice when she's in easy earshot.
"I asked all mine," Vixen replies to Ash. "Unless you have any secrets, enemies or other entanglements you want to let me know about." She pauses then, glancing towards Bridget as the woman approaches. Her brows lift and she wonders to the other woman, "This one?" Tilting her head towards Ash casually with the oblique question.
Ash looks over towards Bridget and smiles, "I see you've still got a nose." He jibes back at her with a grin before he looks back towards Vixen, "Hmmm not to my knowledge, other than some guy who shot me in the back and didn't even apologize for it. Don't even know his name." He says with a shrug, "Nothing serious. I've made a point to not get tangled up with any of the gangs so I'm a full time free agent." He then takes another drink from his glass and chuckles, "This is Bridget." He introduces the newcommer to Vixen, but it's only half an introduction of a sort.
Zeeva listens to the group that seems to be talking about security and watches the introductions. She moves to sip her water a bit more and makes more notes on her note book. Pondering the idea of knitting at the moment, she starts to doddle on her page for a moment.
"That one." Bridget nods to Vixen and tips her head to Ash in one sort of swirl with her head. "I see you still can't find yours, and we met. Sort of." She waggles her drink to the neon redhead as a wave. "Not interrupting anything -too- important, am I?"
"We just finished business," Vixen replies casually. She then lifts a hand towards herself casually. "Vixen is the name, by the way. A dabbler in this and that, but primarily computers, security systems and radio communications and mingling the three into effective means of keeping watch over your shit."
Ash chuckles as he leans back in his chair, relaxing as he looks between Bridget and Vixen. "She used to be queen of the air waves around here." He adds and then looks over to Vixen, "Why'd you stop doing the radio show anyways?" He asks curiously, "Lot of people liked to listen in on what you had to say." His tone curious as he asks the question.
Zeeva mmms softly as she sips her drink softly and then moves to ease into her seat a bit more. This might take a while as she looks onto another group of people around her. She listens to that conversation for slang words.
Bridget blinks and does a double-take before her grin gets larger. "Really? That was you? I used to listen all the time..." She'd ask why, but Ash is the speedy one and beats her to it. "So now you're doing a... something else?"
Vixen lifts a hand in casual wave off of her 'royal status'. "Wasn't working how I thought it would," she replies lightly. "So now I have a new project. A better one." She dips her head slightly to Bridget and adds, "Security services. Still working on getting it settled, but with time, it should prove interesting enough." She dips her head towards Ash. "He's my first recruit."
Finishing the rest of his drink Ash looks into his empty glass, "Who'd have thought that I'd one day go from being a criminal to stopping crimes?" He asks with a playful smile and an innocent blink of his wide dark eyes. Rising to his feet he asks, "Anyone want anything, heading to the bar for a reload."
Zeeva tilts her head a bit while moving to write something else on page she has before her. She then flips the page and starts to write something, she smiles to it and nods her head almost like having a conversation in her head for a moment.
"Just your seat." Bridget steps to slide past him to steal it. There are other chairs, but there's no reason to waste the one he preheated for her. Ash gets a wink and Vixen gets a question. "Security? Making or breaking? Or both? It can be fun, either way."
"Tequila, straight," Vixen tosses to Ash, considering him idly in the wake of his own self description. Then she turns her attention to Bridget, studying the woman. "Making. Though I know a thing or two about breaking. Occasionally companies hire specialists to test their security by attempting to crack it so they can close backdoors and tighten things up. Scoring a few jobs like that might be lucrative."
Ash heads over towards the bar, working his way through to get the attention of the bartender, he orders his usual and a bottle of tequila with a shot glass for Vixen then waits for them to arrive, which doesn't take long. He looks over towards Zeeva for a moment simply because someone with a notepad in a club sort of stands out. The d-bee raises an eyebrow and then slots his card to pay for the drinks in the bar before he meanders on around and then back towards the aforementioned table but he slows to peek over Zeeva's shoulder and see what she was writing on his way.
Zeeva's notepad seems to be full of notes, though if one doesn't read or speak Hebrew or Arabic it would be hard to understand the notes. Though as everyone is noted Ash is noted as well when he moves around her table for a moment. She would comment on the action but for the moment she just sits back and relaxes before sipping her water.
Bridget sits and sips a sip from her glass, eyes following Ash a moment. They slip back to Vixen and she nods. "Find all the holes so they can plug them. Or, even better, they can pay to find them -and- to plug them. Better for the finders and the pluggers that way."
Vixen nods her head and says, "That's the basic idea. Wouldn't mind getting a nice set up like that. But that comes after I get some facilities. Good quality counter surveillance gear doesn't come quick or all that cheap. And getting it in will take some doing, have to get some serious remodelers into the place to put in a few custom touches, but it won't take too long. THe place itself was already made for a group of troubleshooters that broke up a while ago."
Ash lifts a shoulder in a shrug and shoots Zeeva a noseless smile before he continues on his way back ground to the table Vixen and Bridget are at. He sets the bottle down, then the shotglass for said bottle before placing his own drinks down. He shoots Bridget a look as she stole his chair then pulls out a new one for himself but before he sits he looks out onto the dance floor with a thoughtful expression.
Zeeva tilts her head a bit as she matches the smile with a slow but gentle nod, as in being polite but watching as well. She then moves to note something in her note book. She ponders before trying to get another glass of water.
Bridget grins widely. "Not good to try and be a security business if you can't keep your own butt covered, right?" When Ash comes back, she just smiles sweetly. "Thanks for the chair."
"Might as well make sure no one can sneak in and snag your secrets," Vixen notes as Ash returns. "Though for the moment there shouldn't be too much to to keep secure. Of course, in general I do like to keep myself protected, so it's a bit of peace of mind. I've even got some tested set ups for hand held units." She pulls out a small handheld computer, which she shows. Touch screen, with a small pad on the side. "Simple interface, biometric lock, password. Works with encrypted radio signals. First set up was my place. Someone trips the sensors and I'll know about it instantly."
Ash taps fingertips on the back of the chair he pulled out and then decides to sit down after all with a faint sigh and a shrug. He reaches for one of his drinks and takes another sip as he just listens for the time being. "Trying to rig up my place for security would be an effort in futility. An amped up hamster could kick my door in." He grins wryly at that and shrugs. "My only concern is if places are really concerned with security, why wouldn't they just develop a security branch of their own business? Though, I guess it might work sorta for smaller businesses. Are you intended to provide on call security personel too? Like, if an alarm gets triggered people head over?"
Zeeva lets her head bounce with the beat a bit and takes a moment to think about the music. She tilts her head a bit and is trying to place it, as if she's heard any of this music before. She seems to get a kick out of what they've done with it notes. She smiles gently and takes down a few more notes as well.
"You really need to move, then, Ash. At least to somewhere where the locks are -useful-." Bridget can always spare a taunt for him, then thinks on the rest of what he said. "He does have a point with that, too. It'd be easier with them having their own people, and some of them probably don't want you seeing everything that they're trying to keep safe." She leans forward to look at the handheld. "Especially if you can watch everything from anywhere."
"We're not going after places like that," Vixen replies lightly. "We're going after those that just want to make sure if someone breaks into their place, they know about it. Though if we get real big, maybe we can do the whole full service thing too. Right now, I'm keeping it light, though. We've got a specific sort of customer we're going for. The sort that don't have the capital to keep security staff.. or who aren't that tight when it comes to security and those who don't have the money or the people to protect themselves." She then grins at Bridget and says, "We're not going to be watching their security. This is just an example of what they'd get to monitor their gear." She pats teh unit, then tucks it back into her coat.
"Yeah, I'll get right on that." Ash says to Bridget, "Just as soon as I can afford the rent someplace better." He shrugs and takes another drink before he looks over at the gizmo right before it gets tucked away. "Hell, can't even afford a second pistol what with the price of repairs these days. Pisses me off..."
Zeeva smiles a bit to the refill on the water before flipping through the book and then being asked by someone a question. She looks a bit perplexed as she tries to answer the question but with her accented voice she gives them just an answer that baffles the person asking it. Then seems to explain to Zeeva what she said was incorrect like something goofing up a slang term or something.
Bridget isn't all taunt, and reaches over to pat Ash's shoulder. "Everybody's got bills, but you're good enough to get the nice gigs and the big creds. You'll be living it up soon." Since they are talking business, and everybody has bills, she also tosses the smile to Vixen. "If you need any more help, he's not the only one that's broke. I'm always looking for something, and flexible is a good thing."
"Where are you living now?" Vixen asks Ash. She then looks to Bridget and wonders, "What can you do? Computers? Communications? Subterfuge? Tech work? I'm no charity, but if you've got skills I can use, then we can talk." She picks up the tequila then and lifts it to toss back the shot in a single go. A heavy breath released after, the shot glass slammed down firmly after.
Ash shrugs, "Where's cheap and in the dregs and instantly comes to mind?" Ash asks Vixen then he reaches over to goose Bridget with a quick pinch on the bottom as best he can with her sitting in his old chair. He takes a drink of his own and then sets the glass down and wrinkles his forehead in a frown, "Guess I should be taking off... got things to do and whatnot."
Zeeva's brow lifts on the listing of skills the woman is looking for. She ponders a bit before writing down something, trying to make sense of everything at the moment. She slides a finger against the page before writing another note, debating something. She looks over to the table and thinks.
"I can do a little of this," Bridget shrugs, "and a little of that. Lots of small things that don't always add up to be as big as I'd like. I've-" She stops with a squeak at the pinch and starts to give Ash an almost real harsh glare. That melts when he frowns. "Running off already? After that? Tease." There's tease from her, too, but pout in it.
"Cheapo isn't so bad. Lived there a few years myself," Vixen says with a light shrug. "Wasn't the best place, but put some work into it and it can be cozy enough. Of course, I had a lot of locks on my door. Mostly for my own sanity." The interplay prompts a light smirk and she notes to Bridget, "You'll have to be more specific than that." Finally, she notes to Ash, "I'll call you when there's word."
Ash looks at Bridget and shrugs, "Maybe I'm trying to make you chase me for once." He says with a grin before he looks at Vixen and nods, "Sure sure, I'm easy enough to get in touch with when I want to be found." He tips an imaginary hat to the two ladies at the table before he finishes his drink and rises to begin heading towards the door. Where, he acquires his pistols and whatnot from the locking barrel so he doesn't head out onto the streets unarmed.
Zeeva thinks and tilts her head watching the man leaving. She mmms gently before taking to moving her seat so she could sit up. She uncrosses her ankles to move her feet under her chair to be more alert.
Bridget's pout falls away with Ash's grin, and she has her own when calls out after him. "I'll let you have a big head start, then, so you might have a chance." Her glass gets waggled to him, too, and then she's sipping from it while she turns back to Vixen. "Sorry... Where was I? Oh, I've done some computer stuff, but not alot. Walked into a place or two I shouldn't have, but that was more by getting invited by mistake. I guess I'm more a ...people person?"
Vixen nods slightly towards Ash, then focuses on Bridget. Considering her a moment before she wonders, "Invited by mistake, huh? Maybe you ought to elaborate on that a little. A people person could be useful, but it would help if you had a few more practical skills. Combat.. driving. It might be useful to have a solid vehicle that could carry a good handful of people. Just in case a road trip were in order now and then. MIght have to do work outside of KIngsdale from time to time."
Zeeva watches the man leaving before looking back to her notebook and writes something. She mutters something like she has to talk to Maya soon about something. Sipping her water she sets it down before looking to the other two ladies and try to understand them as well.
"I can shoot straight. Just came off some freshening up at the range, even..." Bridget's bit of boasting then falls to a sigh. "but I'm stuck walking, for now. Had to sell my cycle when things got really bad. It was about to fall apart, I think, anyways. I just didn't tell him that." A wink, a sip, and she elaborates. "I've gotten pretty good at fibbing when I need to, and had enough odd jobs that I can fit in someplace. Can't fool the tech so well, but as long as there's someone who has to push the button..."
Vixen considers Bridget casually, then murmurs, "I'll think about it. I'm trying to keep things tight, since just starting out the less people I have to pay, the more there is to build the business. But I'll keep you in mind. Might be helpful to have someone that can work social matters well. I'm decent at it most times."
Zeeva moves to stand before putting her things back into her backpack. She slowly stretches before heading out and going back home.
Bridget nods and settles back into her chair. "Thanks. Even thinking about it is something, and if I have to, I can always just be the girl that shoots things." She shrugs with some resignation. "That's pretty much what I've had to do for most things."
"You gotta work your skills if you want to be more than just a gun monkey," Vixen notes. "Me, I can shoot decent too. But I only do it when I have to. Not something I want to get trapped into doing all the time because sooner or later, someone is going to shoot faster and straighter than you. Then, well.. that's it." She shakes her head. "Not how I'm going out for damn sure."
"Not exactly how I plan to go, either." Bridget smirks over her drink. "It's those unplanned endings you always have to worry about, though. I'm trying to get into something better before I get stuck in a rut, but getting shot at pays well, most of the time."
"Yeah, I know enough about that. That's what got me the comfortable money I have now," Vixen replies. "I could probably live a long time on it just doing the occasional bit of casual work. But I think I'm getting stir crazy. Too used to fighting to live. Without that I don't know what to do with myself."
Bridget's smirk firms up and she nods again. "Yeah, fighting to live sucks, but it keeps you busy. Getting bored from not having to do it sounds nice, though, if you've got the credits to sit back and relax. Guess it's not all that great?"
Vixen shrugs. "Maybe some people can live like that," she replies. "Me, I can't. I think I see now why most rick people are fucked in the head. All that free time messes with you. They must need to do stupid shit just to break out of the boredom. And I ain't even really rich. Just comfortable." She smirks faintly.
"Maybe, but comfortable sounds good to me." After polishing off her drink, Bridget admits, "I'm not starving, but running around hunting for work, or running around trying not to get hunted by work gets old real quick. Too much time seems better than none."
"You just wait until you get where I am, then we can talk about how you're feeling," Vixen says. She smirks a little, then rises up from her chair. "Me, I have to go do some paperwork for tomorrow. Another rule.." She points a finger towards Bridget's drink. "Don't drink too much unless you're in your place. Makes you a target. Only let down your guard when you're as safe as you can get."
Bridget laughs and waggles her empty glass before setting it down. "I hope I get there, then we'll have lots more to talk about. Don't need to worry about the 'too much.' One drink won't kill me, and I don't go for the floor, usually. Never know when something might come up and you need to be able to walk."
Vixen nods her head towards Bridget, then lifts a hand in a casual parting motion. "Stay loose, chick," she murmurs before walking off. Headed for the door, to get her variety of weapons back before she goes out on her way.
