IC - UtVoV - Chapter 2

[Pulpatoon]

Foulqueret, halfway through forming their lump of mercury into its revolver configuration, shrugs and puts it away. "I suppose that's worth a shot."

The little synth steps to the mouth of the alley where they should be visible to the pursuers. They narrowcast to Chones, "I'm looking at them challengingly. Is it clear that I'm looking at them? Challengingly?"

[tibbius]

"I'm looking at them challengingly. Is it clear that I'm looking at them? Challengingly?"

After a couple of moments, the new sheep notices Foulqueret staring at the two stalkers. He touches the cacogen's elbow, and turns her a bit more toward the alley. She looks directly at Foulqueret, then turns to the new sheep and says something, raising her hands in a quizzical gesture. The new sheep shrugs and crosses his arms, leaning against the building.

[Pulpatoon]

Foulqueret jabs an appendage in the direction of the new sheep in a "Hey you! Yeah, you!" gesture, and then waves the sheep over to the alleyway.

[tibbius]

Foulqueret jabs an appendage in the direction of the new sheep in a "Hey you! Yeah, you!" gesture, and then waves the sheep over to the alleyway.

The new sheep regards Foulqueret with the kind of skepticism that only a ovine face can muster. Then, slowly and emphatically, he shakes his head.

The cacogen watches this interaction and laughs once, slow-clapping her hands a couple of times.

Neither stalker makes a move to approach the alley.

[Urson]

Chones
Watch my back.
Chones walks slowly toward the stalkers, stopping in the middle of the alley. His hands are held at his side, open. Ok, we started off on the wrong foot. I don't wanna get hurt, and I don't wanna hurt anybody else. Let's talk.
[1d20]=4+6 (trying to be charming and friendly).

[tibbius]

Chones
Watch my back.
Chones walks slowly toward the stalkers, stopping in the middle of the alley. His hands are held at his side, open. Ok, we started off on the wrong foot. I don't wanna get hurt, and I don't wanna hurt anybody else. Let's talk.
[1d20]=4+6 (trying to be charming and friendly).

Standing at the alley entrance, directly across the moderately wide street from the two stalkers, Chones has to raise his voice a bit to be heard over the passing traffic of feet and wheels. A few passersby look at him with curiosity as he speaks.

The new sheep and the cacogen watch him with an appearance of disinterest. They don't seem to want to interact.

[Pulpatoon]

Foulqueret: "They seem uninterested in engaging with us directly. Shall we continue our journey? Look for other opportunities to lose them?"

[Urson]

Chones
Yup. moving on. Keep an eye on them, tho. URV circles overhead, watching the New Sheep and the Cacogen.

[tibbius]

URV overwatches. You approach the Brass Balls. The New Sheep and Cacogen ... sheepishly cross the street to join you at the entrance. The New Sheep bows slightly as he opens the door for Chones to enter.

Perhaps you didn't intend to walk right up the door and go in. Please let me know what you actually do, and I'll edit this post and make a further pst accordingly.

[Pulpatoon]

It's been so many weeks, I completely forgot where we were going! Our intention is to shadow the young woman from the counter, right? We can't do that while being tailed, ourselves. So I think we need a plan to confront or lose these two.

[Urson]

Chones
Enough BSing around- what's your deal, guys? Were you supposed to follow us? Escort us here?

[tibbius]

The New Sheep bleats a little as he answers. "We are just keeping an eye on you. Surprising that you chose to walk back in here, all things considered. Would you like to put bows on, before you come in?" He makes a very emphatic bleat that might be his version of a laugh.

The Cacogen woman laughs openly. Her iridescent skin pulses pink and green; apparently its appearance is tied to her emotional state?

[Urson]

Chones
Who sent you to keep an eye on us? Or are you two the local neighborhood watch?
Chones relaxes just a fraction. He's still on guard, but he's a little more open to conversation now.

[tibbius]

"We keep an eye on things," the cacogen now says. She's put away her laughter and has a serious expression. "I question what you're thinking of when you choose to return where you had such an unpleasant experience. What ever happened to Kiddaw?"

[Pulpatoon]

Foulqueret: "What is the nature of your interest in this... Kiddaw, was it?"

[tibbius]

The New Sheep makes a new noise, a kind of grunt/scream of exasperation. "C'mon," he follows up, "let's not kid around. Kiddaw is a friend of ours. Last time he was seen, you was hauling him outta this very place. Where is he now?"

[Pulpatoon]

Foulqueret: "He was, as you perhaps observed, in very poor condition and not feeling at all well upon our departure. He needed medical attention; we needed him in good shape so we could conclude our conversation with him. But we all agreed that we should exercise discretion in our choice of medical facility. We took him to a friend of ours who specializes in discrete organic maintenance and repair. We have returned to this site on Kiddaw's request. He had a message he wished relayed to an associate. We do not expect to be welcomed after the previous incident, but we feel an obligation."

PSY [1d20+3]=13+3=16

[tibbius]

Foulqueret's sally at deception strikes well. The New Sheep rolls his eyes but inclines his head in toward the lobby. "Go ahead in, then. We'll ... uh ..." he looks to the cacogen.

"We'll have a beer," she says firmly.

The four of you enter the Brass Balls. The counter girl looks over toward you and gasps. She immediately ducks down behind her counter.

[Urson]

Chones
Chones doesn't say anything, not willing to risk ruining F's bluff. He walks confidently to the counter. Come on out, pretty one. Ain't nobody here gonna hurt you. We need beers and sandwiches.
He's smiling, being as charming as he knows how to be. [1d20]=11+6

[tibbius]

The curly green mohawk is first to appear, followed by the eyebrow piercing and then a very cautious adolescent female face. She looks at Chones carefully.

"Huh," she says, and just looks at Chones some more. After a moment: "The snack bar is right over there. ... I'll make you a sandwich. Lizard, pig, or peacock?"