May 30 17:37:16 107 PA - Surveillance and Slugs

From Chronicles

May 30 17:37:16 107 PA - Surveillance and Slugs

Kingsdale - Nightingale

Her attire perhaps a little more street-wear than one would be let in with were it later in the night, Celaeno makes her way slowly in the direction of the booth - though she pauses briefly to place an order as she goes. Her skirt swishing gently around her, a thumb moves mechanically to hook around something that's not there, the flash of a frown coming to her face as she slides into the booth. "Hallo there," she intones brightly, "Glad I didn't get you something, though I'm sure I can pick up the next round."

"Don't worry about it," Vixen replies to Cel as she slips into the booth. It's Monday evening and the two are settled at a booth a bit back from the front of the club. Vixen herself has a glass, half full and for now ignored as she considers the woman across from her. "Seen you before, though I've been a bit.. away for a while. So I don't remember all of why." But her shoulders roll as if such details matter little. "So you're interested in my little group. Sell yourself, since right now you're the commodity I'm looking to buy into." A light grin comes to her and she lifts her glass for a sip.

A long day at the office, or that's what Bridget looks like she's returning from. Between her clothes, the tired look, and the fact that she's headed for the bar and a drink... yeah, one of those days. She doesn't even use the energy to pick a drink and just waves a hand for the 'whatever the bartender feels like' special.

A sole eyebrow lifts as Celaeno's presented with the challenge, "Well, well, well," she opens - more a lead-in than a stammer. "That depends on what you're looking for - you'll have to bear with me for a few of the less-applicable bits. We do what we can, after all." Her hands moves up to the cord around her neck, untying it in the back as she slides the rather wicked-looking tooth unceremoniously toward Vixen. "Cut it out myself, though I of course can't claim sole responsibility for downing the dragon." A hand is waved, "Just as a decent starting point."

Vixen glances down towards the tooth as it's slid her way. "Not too shabby. Though I've got a whip peppered with lizard teeth. Didn't have to go far for that," she says. Not in a condescending way, but just matter of fact. Still, that sort of thing takes balls. Being able to fight is good. What've you got in the less shooting, more stealth or tech game? Or any other special qualities." She leans forward then, resting her chin on a propped up hand. "I'm all ears."

Bridget casts a glance around while she waits for her drink. A pair of familiar faces are spotted, but there's no waves or waggle of her drink when it shows up. She just takes a seat at the bar, and sips at the glass given her. Meanwhile, her eyes wander on by towards the dancefloor, but she doesn't completely change her attention. Bridget's all ears, too, or at least the one pointed towards Vixen and Celaeno's table.

Celaeno's head dips for a moment, "Yes, yes. As I said, you'll have to bear with me." Reaching once again for the necklace, she smiles as a waitress delivers her drink - a rather fruity number - and a large basket of assorted fried foodstuffs. "If you'd like some, by all means." She looks quite content with the assortment, taking a moment to take advantage of it all. "I've been known to tinker with things from time to time - piece little tidbits of this and that together, you know. And running those tricky little scramblers and the like." She gives a shrug, retreating behind her glass.

Bridget isn't very exciting at the moment, since she's just dropping eaves. A sip here, a mental note there, and maybe a little distracted a guy or two on the dancefloor that actually knows how to dance. Lots of mental notes and good old curiosity for right now. The drink didn't turn out too bad, so that adds to her smile around the glass, too.

"Can't say I do," Celaeno says, stretching behind her glass. "Not that I'm unwilling to try and pick it up as we go, but you know how it is." Sandwiching a bit of deep fried chicken between some fries, she promptly takes a few bites, chewing things over. "I like to think I'm pretty good at getting around without drawing too much unwanted attention," she says brightly, "Maybe pick up a few things, slip into a few places, you know. I'm surprised you haven't set up some sort of test, really." She smiles brightly.

"I've been considering that, but I figure I might as well get a few names and run it all at once," Vixen replies casually. "You don't have to know how to work the delicates. Most of the work when it comes to setting up security is installing. I've got a good base for the software and priming the hardware isn't that hard." Her shoulders roll and she adds, "So you can fight, you can sneak around and you can do basic work with gear.. that's good. Got anything else that'll make you a prime commodity? So far, I think you might just do. But it's always good to know what you have to work with."

So much for Mr. Shakinghisbutt. Bridget loses her smile, too, and glances towards the table the two are speaking at. Maybe she ought to interrupt a little... or maybe she shouldn't, but she gets the bug to, anyhow. She gulps down a big swallow and stands up to start walking towards the pair.

"Oh, there's always more, always more. I'm a deep poor of unending delight." The drink tilts up, and the fried-sandwich is finished as Celaeno's eyes twinkle, watching Vixen carefully, a sole glance toward Bridget before she continues, "But you know how it goes. There's always a matter of that awkward first month where you're finding it all out - and I'd hate to ruin the surprises."

Vixen smirks faintly at that and notes, "I don't like surprises usually. But I'll let you off the hook for now. Questions on your end?" Vixen's eyes flick towards Bridget as Cel marks her, the young woman's lips quirking downward for a moment. But the moment passes quickly. "Go on and ask away," she prompts, looking back to Cel.

Bridget is all smiles as she arrives at the table and conversation. Her drink is waggled to both of them before she takes another sip. "Hey, there. I'm not interrupting anything, right?" Just like she wasn't the last time Vixen was interviewing someone.

"Surprises are only bad when they're bad surprises. And I'm absolutely wonderful, so there you have it." Celaeno's smile sits for a moment as she turns to Bridget, giving a prolonged finger-tip wave, "Not sure I've got too many for the moment. So long as everything's on the up and up, I'm happy. And I'm not particularly worried about what could happen if it weren't." Eyeing her glass mournfully for a moment, she slides the food-basket toward Bridget, "Deep fried onion slices?"

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised you've shown up," Vixen notes to Bridget, glancing towards her again. Though whether or not that's a good thing remains unsaid. "Go ahead," she replies, nodding her head towards Cel's side. Then she looks towards nodded at woman. "It's legit. I just like being discreet. Solid Eye Services, a little security start up. Mostly dealing in low cost security systems for people that don't have the credits to lay down on some hundred thousand credit monstrosity. Branching out if the basics work out well. I won't be making you rich right off, but you never know what might happen. A little personal security work, on sight work for functions.. this that and the other. Offices are being renovated. Potential clients looked for."

"Thanks." Bridget snitches a slice from the basket and takes a bite as she steps towards the Cel side of the table. "So, you thought I'd show up? Why's that?" She quirks a brow at Vixen and pulls out a chair with her foot to sit down.

Celaeno kicks back into a full recline after making room. "Not quite as exciting as an anonymous flyer demanding discretion and secrecy would generally imply, but it could develop into something worthwhile."

Vixen smirks faintly. "Maybe so, but I'm not really looking to get things too exciting. At least, not yet. Terms are simple. I'll be paying you to be available for work. No problem if you need to take a day or few out to do some 'daring heroics', but if you need a week or more, best have a good reason." And the quotes are in her tone. "I'm flexible.. and I know how it is with that sort of thing. Don't mean I'm going to keep paying you, though. This is going to be a fairly small group. For now, anyway. Me, you and one other guy that seems like he'll be useful so far. And my boy, but he's part of the package with me."

Bridget keeps her brow up but doesn't ask again. She can let Vixen get the whole shpiel out, or most of it. However long it takes her to finish that slice, snitch another one from Celaeno's basket, and wash it all down with the last of her drink.

"Who said anything about heroics?" Celaeno's eyelashes flutter. "But that's all right. I'm sure everything will work out perfectly fine, and be absolutely wonderful. You want a name to call when you need some help, that's fine, that's fine. I can do that."

"It'll be a job. Steady pay and steady work once things get off the ground. Not a nine to five. Might be some periods of not too much work and some days of a hell of a lot of work. But it events out," Vixen replies. "So long as when I call, you come, there's nothing to worry about. And if you ever have to not be available, you let me know. Preferably with some notice, so I can plan around it. If all that sounds good, consider yourself on the payroll.. once everything is in place."

Celaeno considers as she watches Vixen, a final shrug. "All right, I'll give it a go. If there are any irreconcilable concerns, I'll take my leave and let you get on with whatever work you might have - no interference or anything to the contrary. That sound fine?"

"Sounds standard to me," Vixen replies. "Don't much like busybodies. So long as we do business and don't trip over one another, I got no worries," she murmurs. "Of course, I'm always open to suggestions when it comes tow hat we do. But for now, I'm looking to keep things pretty simple. That way, we can test the waters and see what's what."

With sudden energy, Celaeno nods merrily, moving to stand up, "Sounds absolutely wonderful - I'm glad that everything is so amenable and understanding. I look forward to hearing from you at a later date once you've got it all underway, hmm? If there's nothing else, I can leave you two to talk."

Vixen nods and lifts her glass in a casual waggle. "Enjoy the night. Who knows when the next shitstorm is coming down." She smirks lightly and tips back her glass to finish it, attention settling on Bridget.

"Hopefully it's not too far away," Celaeno says with wide smile, picking the last of the chicken out of the basket as she takes to her feet. "They're always so lucrative. See you around," she gives a wave as she turns and heads toward the exit, thumb once again searching for something that's not there.

Bridget catches a server for a refil as the other two chat, so her waggled glass as Celaeno leaves is full again. She watches her exit. "Probably going to be some soon..." her eyes turn back to Vixen, "So, why were you so not surprised to see me? I don't crash every little job interview you do, do I?"

"You live right over this place," Vixen notes. "Wasn't expecting you, but like I said, I'm not surprised." Her shoulders roll casually. "So what are you down here, for, except for a drink? Shouldn't you be off with your boy or something?"

"I just rent him, so he's not really -mine.-" Bridget grins over her glass, then shrugs. "The drink, mostly, since it's on my way home. A little chit-chat's always nice, too, though. Still don't know what to think of her," her drink waves for the door, "but I didn't know she beat up dragons. You might want to watch her careful, because she smiles way to damned much."

Vixen shrugs her shoulders. "Maybe, but just cause you've got a tooth don't mean all that much," she murmurs. "Could buy one easy enough. Anyway, not sure what all I got to talk about. Not too worried about her and life is steady and even. Makes it a bit uneventful, but there's good in that. Plenty of times before I had to wonder if I was going to see the sun rise again. Not really missing that shit."

Bridget considers the point on the souvenir and hrms, tilting her head. "Good point. Could just be something hocked of somebody. Not sure steady is all that great, unless it's steady credits, steady living, steady... well, Ok, I guess it isn't so bad. Don't get too cozy, though. There's always something going on, like those smiling, happy people." She's not smiling about that. "You run into any friends that are way too happy, or try and invite you out to see something or somebody they think is super special?"

Vixen slips a hand down to her side and produces a can, which she casually spins on her palm. A motion she's practiced enough to get down decent. "I keep some things on hand for anyone that gets too frisky. A little special mace that will make you think twice about doing anything too froggy." She grins casually and slips it back into its place at her belt. "But I don't worry too much. No reason for anyone to bother me, really. Part of the good about keeping it on the low."

"Good." Now Bridget's smiling some. "I didn't think you weren't careful, just thought I'd give you a tip. There's some weird shit around, and I'm worried it's spreading." She takes another drink and shrugs. "Not that there isn't weird shit all over the place, every day, but... you know what I mean.

"What's got you creeped out, chick?" Vixen asks. "Me, I'm always prepared. I don't go anywhere without tools of the trade. Always ready to protect mine and get the fuck out out of any badness that decides to come my way. That's how you live in the Dregs all the time. At least, if you're a survivor."

Bridget smirks, but it's the grinning kind. "Now you sound like Ash... but I guess that's a Dregs thing. What's got me creeped..." Now the smirk isn't so great. "Is things getting into people's heads. You can always get shot, blown up, zapped by lightning, but it'd be nice if you can keep your thoughts to yourself. I guess that isn't really so. There's some... thing. A guy that never let me down before just -had- to show me something, and I ended up in a warehouse full of happy people." She stops to take another sip. "Happy people inviting me to go see their queen, leading lady, whatever she was... and they had nets and rope in case I needed to think about it. 'Her majesty' wound up being some big, ugly thing with a bunch of teeth. Scared me shitless one minute, and the next... it was like we were best buddies. I was all happy and smiling, too, until after I left."

Vixen frowns faintly and shakes her head. "What the hell.. Fucking psychics," she mutters darkly. "What'd they do to you? Didn't take a chunk out, it seems.. at least, you look alright." She eyes Bridget. "Where's this place with the toothy queen bitch? So I know where to keep my ass out of just in case. I hate mind fiddlers.. always think they got rights to screw around where they don't belong."

"Yeah," It didn't take much for Bridget to get her own scowl, "I like to keep my head for me. Bad thing is, I don't know really what it was or what it did... or was trying to do. There were a couple of us that got invited in, and all got a little meet one at a time. Everybody came back out all happy as hell, and I remember helping get Erica to go in before she started shooting people." She sighs and shrugs. "Then I left, and was halfway home before the whole what the hell just happened kicked in."

Vixen frowns faintly and wonders, "Where is this place? Sounds like some bad shit.. if you've got psychics getting with you one on one and leaving you feeling all happy and sunny. Could have been anything going on in there. Might not be a bad idea to put a watch on the place. Maybe see what goes in and out. And maybe set you up with something just in case they put something in your head to make you do things."

Bridget scowls more. "I don't think she... it put anything into me but its teeth. I can probably find the place again, if you want to go looking. Not too keen on going back there by myself." More of her drink is sucked down. "Just can't ignore it like nothing happened, but it makes you wonder who you really want to talk to it about, you know?"

Vixen nods her head. "Go find it.. don't go in, but get a sense where it is, then tell me. I'm going to think about this a bit. Get you fitted for a camera. Something you can carry with you. Or a tracer. Maybe a panic button." She purses her lips, thinking over the situation. "Lots of little tools.. though getting a camera or two around the place is key first. See what the activity is like. Too bad there's no one to pay for it."

"Oh, if you want video of it, I can get you that." Bridget's scowl doesn't really lighten much. "I should've tried to get something when I was there before, but I was little distracted by all the smiling. And the giant snail-looking thing trying to chew my arm off..." She jumps back to the surveillance. "Getting a camera or two on it full time would be good, even if it isn't paying. Hey, do you know Erica, or any of the boys she hangs around with?"

"Wait, chewing your arm off?" Vixen frowns a little. "I thought the teeth into you think was just a metaphor or something. And what snail thing.. was that the chick? Gimme a bit more detail." She pauses, then adds, "I know Erica a little, but 'the boys she hangs out with' is something else entirely. Why?"

Bridget sighs and sets the drink down. "Sorry, guess I'm rambling all over the place. The whole thing pisses me off. 'Her majesty' was the one they wanted us to meet. 'They' were just normal people, best I could tell, other than being all happy. Thought it might be some cult, or had them all hooked on some new poison. Anyway... queenie, or whatever it was, wasn't some person. Big snail looking thing with a mouthful of teeth. Freaked me out when I saw it, and it started biting me. Not as hard as I think it could, either. Erica was there, with a guy she knew. He was the first in, and came out all happy. She was after me, so I don't know what happened with her. That's why I was asking."

"Strange shit.." Vixen shakes her head slightly. "If you've got a camera, go for it then.. though if it isn't cyber, you'll want to disguise it somehow. Don't figure they'd want you taking pics. Maybe some audio back up in case they find the camera." She shrugs. "I'll let you think about that, but keep it ready. ONce you find the place, I'll set up some watch. YOu should find those people you were with.. see what they remember." She fishes into her coat and pulls out a card. One of hte old Vixen's View cards with the PO box. "Drop me a line here once you find it. I check it regularly."

"Not what I want to do more..." Bridget frowns more. "Find them to see if I'm not going nuts, or stay away from them in case they're still nuts. Or happy, or whatever that was." She takes up the card and gives it a glance before tucking it away. "Thanks. I'll see if I can get back there and take a peek. Would say you could get on the air again and tell people to watch out, but everyone'd probably think -you- were the one with the messed up head." "That's why you go there careful. You know where you got caught before.. you know how and what they look like." Vixen leans in across the table. "You move into the area slow. Dress up different.. make yourself look like someone else at a glance. Ease up on the area and if you see anything foul, bug out. Wait a while and try again until you pinpoint the place. Always walk careful and alert and the moment you feel any heat you don't like, roll out. Me, I think I'm going to get an ear down. See if anything's out there." Her lips purse, her expression turned thoughtful.

Walking into the strange place is probably a man that would stand out. Well, he probably does stand out. For unlike most of the other guests, dressed in their finery and tuxes of the western or US, this one only wears the sliks of his native homeland. Along his left side is a pair of swords, with the hilts poking out of a large belt. His hat is off, of course, as beiftting indoors, and his shoes are too, which are near the door. Of course, the host's 'protectors' is gesturing to the shoes and saying something low to the man, but his face is confused only for a second, before nodding, smiling and picking them up. He tucks them behind his back, in his sash.

Bridget bobs her head in small nods as she leans in and listens. Her frown slowly turns itself upside-down, too. "I think I can handle that. If you hear something, let me know? I think I gave you a card before, right?"

"I'll find you," Vixen replies. "After all, I know where you live." She smirks faintly and slips out from the booth, snagging her bag as she does so. "I'd best get moving. Just remember what I said. No need to rush this. Since rushing gets you in the shit." The bag is slung over her shoulder and she lifts a casual hand. "Later." Then she's moving away.

Not knowing almost anyone from anyone else, the asian man looks around, his eyes more roaming over the building, and he's not smiling. Rather, its an almost blank expression, as if sizing up the place, or absorbing details about the place. With a moment or two, however, he is making his way to the bar to lean against.

That is a good point, and actually gets a small laugh from Bridget as she waggles her glass to Vixen. "Later." After a long sip and watching Vixen head out, she stands up from the table, steals a last piece of deep fried something from the basket there, and heads for the bar.

Vixen glances towards Hamamoto as she's leaving. Noticing him, though not pausing as she makes her brisk way out and onto the street.

"Water please. No saki for drink." HIs accent is thick, but his words are precisely and carefully pronounced. He reaches into a travel pouch and pulls out a few of those shiny credit things, and he begins to count, more to himself than to anyone else.