Billy blew a small whistle of air due to the costs, its pretty deep but considering the mission it would be handy to grab a few aces in the hole. fine, Ill find a use for the both of them .
The troll nods, waiting for Billy to provide a credstick with enough cash before pulling a pair of objects from behinds the desk. He sets them on the counter with great care. The first is a tiny spherical stone, engraved with silver spirals and tinted blue. The second is a single preserved eye from an unidentifiable creature.
"The spirits have been instructed to listen to the bearer of these artifacts. Simply let your mind reach out to them and they will respond." He takes another long puff from his pipe. "And do not anger them. You will regret it."
After hearing the exchange between Billy Chines and the shop keeper, Friedrich hummed to himself a small prayer thanking that Merlin had helped him discover his magical talents. Hoisting the box gingerly, he could hear its contents shake around as if wanting to escape their confines.
Friedrich gave the shopkeeper a slight bow and carefully bound for the door. His trip to the merchant had definitely sparked an interest into a side previously unused – magic. The knight had seldomly relied on his magic during missions with Billy Chines and Aiyan, fearing that he may have put too much strain on producing effects from the mystical world.
The duo had stopped at a local joint, Marco's which served a crappy soy-bano sandwich as part of Friedrich's treat. The locals regarded the Knight and his partner with utmost scrutiny forcing the pair to make their sandwiches to go. But it didn't matter, the ride was quick.
Bounding up the stairs and to his section of the apartment, Friedrich opened the box and laid its contents carefully, like an engineer before his tools. Jars of oils, candles, chalks of different hues, powders, lace, and incense were neatly organized. Giving a brief hum, the Knight took white chalk and began to inscribe geometric patterns into the floor until several circles and stars overlapped into one large circle whereby candles were placed on each point of the central inverse star. Jars were open and used to brush runic symbols as to provide assymetrical balance to the figure.
The final touch was a simple chant that Merlin had taught him for what seemed like ages ago. The room's light seemed to react to the Knight's prayer as he took a seat within the center and removed his helmet.
”I devote myself to the Round and to my brother knights who fiercely uphold the Creed! I shall not parlay with evil, but route it. Should any harm befall my comrades, I am their shield. To the fairer sex, I shall be their vanguard, ever so watchful for lechers and wretches who wish to prey on them. I am Ser Lamorak, honorable knight and might of the Round!” he said as mystical energies began to channel around the knight. And aura of white, blue, and gold surrounded him as he entered a state of serenity.
During his meditation, Friedrich focused on the two spells that Merlin had given him. He unraveled their mysteries and felt their formulae become one with his essence. He envisioned a trumpet archon whose music revealed the nuances of the Babylonians. Each note symbolized a tongue unfamiliar which had joined his collective. Moments later, he saw a hydra, whose serpentine motion twisted and turned in every direction, revealing a path by which Friedrich could emulate its properties.
After his ritual was done, Friedrich lay exhausted and sweating. A quick beep on his commlink and he told Merlin of his success.
A smiled formed on Friedrich's face.
”Ser William, I am ready for conquest. Rally the team!”
Billy noticed something had changed once Freddy spoke to him, it was like listening to a man speak in closed captions. He could make out the German that he was speaking but above that was like a English interpretor covering up the confusion, although since Billy could understand both it made his head hurt a little.
Still at least this would hopefully help if they got split up. He figured Freddy wouldn't be able to handle communicating with hand gestures and interpretive dance. Although he admitted the thought of the mountain doing a jig made him laugh a little on the inside.
Aye lets go, the days still new enough and we have a lady to go speak too Billy gave James a quick buzz to tell him about where they were headed, and get some info on her possible location. Heading off to meet the 'lucky' miss cherry.
A muffled bang can be heard outside of the garbage bag covered windows, an appropriate alarm for many people to run for their lives. For Geezer, it was just a mundane wake up call. The sun's light tried its hardest to shine through the garbage bags, almost like a tinted blindfold to shield oneself from the poverty stricken streets that would contradict any early 21st century travel brochure of Miami.
Geezer wastes no time waking up with the usual routine, relieve himself in his throne, and clean himself with whatever cold water was left in the apartment's plumbing. He goes to his kitchen to prepare himself a cup of soykaf, opening the cupboard where he would keep it.
Empty.
Geezer lets out an audible sigh. He would only drink the soykaf to wake himself up. As he would put it, the taste of soykaf alone would be enough to wake him up. He misses the taste of a real roasted bean, but he couldn't afford the real deal. He walks to his bedroom to find his equipment but something caught his attention when he grabbed some of it. He could feel the sudden involuntary movement of his hand reaching for the inhaler.
The temptation was too great, much like one who is lost in the desert and is dying of dehydration with the seemingly only solution would be to drink their own urine. One inhalation of the kamikaze would be enough to keep him satisfied. Just one. "Drek, not now..." he says to himself.
His vocal tone increasing with anger and growing louder as he pushes his bag away hastily. "Not NOW." He starts pacing around his apartment aimlessly, like a rodent trapped in a cage looking for a way out. Breathe in. Breathe out. Rinse. Repeat.
Geezer lies gently on the floor and curls himself into a fetal position, trembling from his addiction. His skin suddenly drenched in cold sweat, he starts to hyperventilate, his trebling grew to seizing, and his eyes begin to water up but feeling like sandpaper.
He looked to his right at his front door. “You enjoy this. All men do.”
“I'M GOANNNAA FUUUCCCKING KILLL YOU” he wailed as he hastily and clumsily picked himself up from the floor and throws himself against the door. He falls to his feet, but quickly repeats the process. His screams grew increasingly unintelligible as he continues to slam into the door.
“DIE YOU FRAGGIN TROG!!” he yells as he bulldozes through the door.
He trips and falls in the hallway, still spazing out of control. No one was there to witness this wonder of nature, as if no one is one his floor. His spasms start to slow down as he begins to quiet down. He comes to a crawl, still drenched in sweat as he picks himself up slowly. He felt dazed.
God, it's getting worse everyday. He thought as he starts to come to what he went through. He looked behind and saw what an impressive work he did to his door. Dammit, I guess I'll need to board up that later. Not like there's much to steal from, aside from my old guitar.
He walks back into his room and takes his commlink. He proceeds to switch it on as he hastily puts on his hoodie. It was still damp from last night, but he couldn't care less. He takes his backpack along with his rile as he goes through his "new" door and walks out.
"This is Geezer. Anyone online?"
Morning Geezer, we can do a meetup, Fredrichs got himself sorted now with some speech enhancement and we got the girl Cherry to find and talk with. Where do you suggest we meet?
A young, soft voice chimes into the call, though it sounds like it's a mile away from the microphone. "Probably best to meet near the job." The last thing Chibiko wanted was them meeting anywhere near her cover identity's stomping grounds. It was hard enough to explain away her infrequent attendance. "I think James said Cherry worked downtown? So we should start asking around there, see what we turn up. If we get lucky, she'll turn up."
There's a bit of static and fiddling. Someone in the background says something unintelligible to Chibiko, then her line goes silent.
Drek.
She glares up at the dormitory's RA. The kid was probably three decades her junior, and yet he is the bane of her shadow life. Her real life. He stomped off with the confiscated commlink while Chibiko slipped his maglock key into her back pocket with a sigh.
Guess I've got a detour to make first.
Right downtown it is, I guess we'll meet there and get to work. What location is there that we can meet at Geezer?
"There's a defunct fountain in Bayfront Park where hardly anyone frequents. We should meet there. Keep it casual." Geezer almost misses a step as he steps over a broken stair in the stairwell
"Chibican or whatever her name is seems silent. You there?"
Right Freddy lets go we got a possible location on the girl we are looking for and the others will meet us there. Billy grabbed his stuff and headed out the door once more.
Friedrich puffed in his helmet as he started the engine, causing it to roar with life within the garage of their hideout. A simple gesture and Billy Chines found his seat behind the burly knight. With a flick of the switch, Freddy turned the throttle and they were off!
Bounding through the alley, several vermin scurried from the racket passing over garbage and homeless person alike. Billy Chines pointed a route on Freddy's navigation which lead them along a route under a massive overpass. Dark shades seemed to create a fortress of darkness during the bright Miami day. Several eyes wandered upon the duo as they passed their territory, but none were to wiser than to mess with the German force.
It didn't take long for the pair to find the meeting spot. Judging by Billy's reaction, Freidrich was right to assume that they'd be there first. Taking a spot which allowed for an easy escape, Freddy rolled his bike into the shade and secured it.
"Mein freund, today, we begin our crusade with our new comrades. Know this, I trust you the most of the lot." he said while adjusting the massive sword on his back. "For this endeavor, Merlin has provided for me, but know that I might call upon you. Don't let me down, brother"
Geezer heads out the door of the building. He knew that no transport company in their right mind would come and get him in this godforsaken neighborhood. He figured that running on the buildings up high would be safer than walking to the nearest bus stop given the fact that he needs to keep low, and that the gunfights nearby are growing violent.
He hops uptop the a dumpster and springs himself from it onto a seemingly climbable wall. Within half a minute, Geezer is already ontop of a building, sprinting and jumping to the nearest one each time as he heads southeast towards the Hialeah Station Rail going southbound. He eventually makes it there, and takes the train to the park.
"No one on here, good."
20 minutes have passed. Geezer departs to Bayfront as the train makes its stop near the park. He walks toward the fountain of which he said the group should meet.
Billy have a mild eye cock to that last statement, it was good to think that Freddy thought him so highly. But he was right, till they could be sure of the other two runners it was just them both. He said in German Dont worry, we have each others backs. Besides this is just a search and slap mission, we've dealt with worse.
Chibiko leaves her apartment in the Gables a good half an hour late. Turned out the RA was staying in today. Made grabbing her 'link back a bit more challenging than normal. She needed that commlink - it was the only one she knew how to use. And somehow she still managed to bork it every so often.
She putted up to the meet on her Dodge Scoot and tucked it into the pedestrian bike rack. Hopping off, she grabbed her pack - it held her collapsible bow and everything else in a 'cute and perfectly forgettable' form. Sporting the same uniform as she'd had on the previous day, she walks to the fountain and finds, unsurprisingly, that she was the last to arrive.
With a subtle nod of hello, she does her best to look the part of an unassuming youth in the midst of bustling downtown. She plopped herself down on a bench a good two dozen feet away and played her part. She'd played it plenty of times before. People just kind of looked over her - and not just because she was short. Fiddling about with her commlink, she pokes and prods at it for a minute before finally sending a message to the group's commlink channel.
<Don't mind me, I'll just be over here... looking unrelated and helpless ^_^ What's the plan?>
"We're meeting by the fountain in Bayfront Park. No one really goes there, so it's perfect for us," he said as he seats himself down by the fountain. "I've already arrived."
well we are looking for a girl by the name of Cherry, thats a start. Then convincing her to tell us anything that might be useful to track down the butcher and end this problem. I figure we shouldn't need to get our hands dirty, maybe just see if we can convince her first.
Not sure if we all need to stick together, maybe better to split up and find her in smaller numbers. Maybe splash some cash around to get some interest from any of the other girls on the street to open up. Maybe they will know where she could be or where she went that one time. Billy paused and pondered anything else I missed?
Turning slightly in her seat, Chibiko glances over her shoulder towards the fountain. There was Geezer, talking into his 'link, with the two Germans beside him. For a moment, she wondered - once again - why she worked with this man. At least Billy Chimes had himself together, even if he looked like he fell out of a porn trid. She sighed, then turned back around and went back to tapping away on her commlink. A subdued laugh escaped her as she realized she looked exactly the part of the chatty teenage girl this way. She briefly wondered what the passersby thought of her... if they even took notice.
<Sounds good. I'll ask around and see if anyone's seen my 'mom,' LOL.>
Billy had to hide a smirk, ell I suppose thats one way to go about it Billy chirped in his comm good luck and watch yourself out there , turning to Freddy so how shall we do this, flip a coin or just find a dive and start asking around?
Billy had a idea commlink to James, hey James do you have a list of the hangouts that the girls you hire regularly visit? We are gonna do some leg work and see if we can find her around here. Anything you can give us to help narrow it down will helpful.
"Any current leads on Cherry? Like a photo or some shit?" Geezer asks Billy.
shoot good point, James do you have a image of the girl as well?
You hear a sigh on the other end of the commlink as James shuffles through some things presumably on his desk.
"Didn't you get the files I sent over? Bah, someone's getting canned. I'll send them over myself. Has all the details on the girls - pictures included. And videos. But try to stay focused, Billyboy."
A few seconds later, a handful of new files show up in your mail. Each is labeled with the names of the missing girls - Kurva, Cherry, et. al. - and each file contains information on who they were and where they were from. Each file was topped with an image of the girls during their 'auditions.'
Cherry, perhaps unsurprisingly, boasted blazing red hair on a tall and lithe body. Her punk-styled hair was shoulder length and spiked along the front. She was human, with light skin touched by the Miami sun. She wore a rather revealing top with jeans and a biker's boots. A pair of large hoop earrings, probably fake, hung from her ears. Her figure was good all around. There was no wonder why James hired her.
A bit of scrolling through the files reveals a couple of her typical hangouts downtown. Two were places she frequented for her occasional nightly 'outings,' while the third was a notorious biker bar along the southern downtown waterfront. All three of them were on the southern end of downtown - the end known for a lack of scruples.
Leaving the bench, Chibiko tucked her commlink away and walked off in the direction of one of Cherry's chosen stomping grounds. As she walked south along the road the quality of downtown quickly deteriorated. While the sections that bordered Little Havana and Overtown were havens for business and commerce, the south side was... something else entirely.
Dive bars were ferreted off down every other alleyway. Women of the night were already lining up along street corners, waiting for the business to 'open' later tonight. Cheap motels with their flickering neon boasted a view of the ocean through their bullet resistant glass. A McHugh's seated next to an equally greasy Stuffer Shack. It was that kind of downtown. And a little prep-school girl was blatantly out of place here. She caught a couple of glances shot her way - probably sizing up how much she was worth. It was a bit early for the muggers and she'd only been the victim of an attempted kidnapping once. Her supposed kidnapper wasn't going to be doing much more after Chibiko was finished with him.
Embracing the juxtaposition of herself and the world around her, she strolled through the sliding glass doors and into the tacky interior of a motel. The ragged looking ork behind the desk raised an eyebrow at her entry, but said nothing. Giving him a big, innocent smile (she practiced those for just such an occasion) she leaned up onto the desk on tip-toes. "Hi!" she exclaimed, putting an extra dose of enthusiasm into her voice and deliberately kicking it up in 'cuteness.' Was it fate that her adept powers only made her disguises more believable? "I'm looking for my mom, a lady who goes by Cherry? It's a bit of a long story, but my Dad used to tell me she died, but it turned out she didn't, and he got real mad that I found out, and I asked him why he never told me, and he didn't tell me, and now I'm looking for her..."
3 hits
The ork behind the desk sighs and brushes away an AR display he'd been reading. "Look kid, you shouldn't be here..." He looks into Chibiko's wide, expressive eyes and sighs again. "Alright, no harm in it I guess. Cherry's uh, well she uh, stays here a lot. Always uses the same room, 402. Dunno if she's there now... er, actually, she's probably not." He averts his eyes, obviously hiding something. The man scratches the back of his head and glances out the door.
"Shouldn't you be somewhere else anyways? This ain't exactly a place for a kid."
Friedrich's eyes scanned the information that was shared via Billy Chimes on his commlink.
Hm.....
Of the places described, the Biker Bar seemed like the most appropriate to go for two reasons - motorcycles are an interest of the Knight and he felt that he could blend in well; and secondly, motorcycles (lol).
Turning his head to Billy, Friedrich smiled motioned towards his bike.
"Biker Bar is where we should head next. I feel kindred among them. I also have a curiosity I need find."
Going towards the bike, he engaged the engine and straightened back in his seat. "We ride."
The ride towards the Biker Bar has along the waterfront which meant that they were going to a sketchy part of town. The danger exhilarated the knight. Perhaps there other knights there, or maybe soldiers of the way.
Rolling up in the afternoon, Friedrich guided his bike towards an empty spot near the entrance of the bar. Cybered eyes and tinted glasses stared at the Knight and his comrade as they made their way towards the ingress. A heavily muscled ork stood in the way. His pink mohawk glistened in the sun, and the metal fasteners and spikes gleamed. It seemed like a moment out of a trid-vid as the two stared at each other.
Several bystanders stood with their hands inching towards their weapons expecting a sudden display. A few seconds pass and the mohawked ork leaned in to stare at the knight's visage. A smile formed he clapped the knight's shoulder firmly. He muttered some garbage in English and proceeded to step to the side, allowing a breathe of relaxing come in.
Friedrich approached the bar and took a seat that allowed him to be close to a human waitress. Pulling out a credit, he motioned towards a crude tap nodded. The woman was curvy, riddled with piercings and chains that made her appropriate to the bar. The slight hint of breasts showed through her torn shirt and denim vest.
As she leaned over to offer the knight his drink and take payment, he gently placed a hand on her arm and channeled magic.
1 hit
Seeing panic rise in the woman's eyes, Friedrich quickly reassured her in English, thanks to his spell.
"Mi'Lady, I mean no harm. I am from a foreign land and in order for me to talk, I needed to cast this spell." she seemed to ease, or poise herself for a concealed weapon, but before he could, Friedrich tapped his commlink to show her an image. "I am searching for this woman, Cherry. Do you know of her?"
2 hits
As mana flows through Friedrich and into the woman, she recoils back slightly and then raises an eyebrow in confusion as Freddy starts talking. Despite the man's lips not matching the voice she hears, the voice she hears is not particularly clear.
As it turns out, Friedrich's inexperience with the translation spell meant that its translating was... a little questionable. Though he thought he was being quite erudite, his actual words were not so fine: "Hallo. I am nice. I am from not here. We are talk!" "I want Cherry. Do you know?"
The woman looks very confused, at least until she glances at the picture of Cherry. "Oooooh. You're looking for her?" The translation of her words in Friedrich's mind is equally bumpy, but the gist is still there. "She's a regular around here, but I haven't seen her for a while. She stopped coming around maybe a week or two ago?" She shrugs off the strange German and goes back to work.
Friedrich turned to Billy.
"IT worked! Merlin's magic always prevails!" he said while causing ruckus.
To honor the moment, Freidrich down his drink in one gulp like the courageous knight he was.
But something didn't feel right. He had only gotten a small taste of the magic, and he felt more curious.
Tapping to his glass and producing another credstick, Freidrich leaned in and tried one more time to talk to the waitress while the magic was still in effect.
"You said she was here a week or two ago. Was she alone? Did she happen to talk to anybody? Was anything she said rememberable? I need to know, please!"
1 hit
The woman turns back around as Friedrich asks more questions: "She was here! Did she talk? Was good? I am needing to know thank you!"
Slowly the waitress shakes her head. "Look, guy - I don't know exactly what you're into, but I don't think I should tell you too much more about Cherry. She's her own girl and if you want some of that, you'll have to get in line with the rest. I don't think the big fella that she was with would approve, either."
With a disapproving flick of her head, the woman heads off and back to work.
Friedrich gives the woman a nod and looks about the bar. Even though it was right smack in the middle of the day, there were barflies clinging to poor spirits and cheap smokes. Some folks seemed like there were straight out of a trid-comic, their faces portrayed a myriad of sullen expressions ranging from different metatypes.
The knight had met little success with his encounter with the waitress and felt that he couldn't pressure her for any more information without rousing anger from the bouncer. Instead, Friedrich scanned the crowd for someone who seemed to take note of what was happening.
Lifting himself from the bar, he noticed a peculiar fellow sitting near a ramshackled holo-pool table with an ar display. He was a straggly looking elf with a vintage green visor, tropical shirt, and golf shorts. The only thing that betrayed his genuinity was an obsolete looking data jack that had covered most of his head. How this fellow managed to stay in a biker bar meant that he either was a mean son of a drek, well funded, or connected!
Taking a seat near him, Friedrich cocks his head and attempts to speak in Sperethiel.
"Allo friend, may I have a moment of your time?"
4 hits
The elf turns his head and glances up at the interloper from beneath his visor. He nods, then turns back to his game to examine the game. He lifts his AR-enabled pool cue and quickly pockets a ball. He nods and steps around the table, surveying the game.
"Indeed," he says in silky smooth Sperethiel. "What did you want?"
Ah, good. I'm putting skills that I barely used in the Vershisstandtz to use here. Arthur would be proud
Allowing a moment to formulate his ideas, Friedrich stepped to the side so that he didn't disturb his guest's game.
"This woman has gone missing and I'm on a quest to save her and bring her assailants to justice. The barkeep informed me she hasn't been seen for sometime, but that she was with a rather large brusque person. Praytell, do you know anything about her?" he said while showing the Elf his Cherry's image via commlink.
The man raises an eyebrow, then takes a shot. The 8 ball slides into the pocket, ending the game. "I've seen her around. Always hanging off of some muscle-bound biker type. She fits in well here. I am merely here for the competition." The elf opens a palm and a begrudged biker plops a credstick into the man's hand. "She hasn't been around for a while, however. Then again, I do not come here daily. I am not her keeper. May I ask why you care?" He pauses, then reconsiders. "On second thought, I don't care. Game?" His question is accompanied with a slight smirk. You suspect he's quite good at this game.
Friedrich remarked at the man's accuracy. Surely, he either has been gifted, or has practiced. Facing against him would be unwise.
The knight simply bowed his head and told the game shark, "Perhaps another time. Thank you for your time."
I need to find this person she was with. Perhaps the guardian would know
By now, Friedrich has made his rounds within the bar and came full circle with the bouncer of which he passed his entrance test with flying colors. He assumed that the ork only spoke 2 languages - English, and strength. Before resorting to a physical display, Friedrich came upon him in a friendly gesture and clasped the man's shoulder, as if garnering his attention. This was all a ruse so that he could channel the proper magic to communicate.
2 hits
1 hit
Once the communicae was established, Friedrich showed the Pink Mohawked Bouncer a picture of Cherry.
"My friend, who did you see with this woman? I wish to challenge her escort to a contest of strength."
"Hallo friend, do you see zis woman? I am challenging her man with strength."
The bouncer glares at Friedrich. No, he glares through Friedrich.
"It ain't my job to play matchmaker, weirdo. Next time try picking a joint that matches yer outfit. Now slot off before I do it for you."
Friedrich gave a small nod and motioned towards Billy Chimes to follow. The bar had been little success for the group. Perhaps they knew something all along.
"Billy, we should check out another bar. Perhaps we'll have better luck there."
Hopping upon his motorcycle, Friedrich and Billy head to Bar #2.
As the pair of Germans ride on towards a slightly less biker and slightly more Miami bar, a message comes through to the groups' comms from Chibiko.
<Found a place she might be staying. Drekhole of a motel. Going to give it a look over, but might want someone to come back me up just in case.>
A few moments later, a series of blips appear on an AR overlay map. None of them appear to be in Miami.
<Um, it's down the road and along the waterfront. You'll know it when you see the place that's taller than it is wide and is tackier than every place next to it.>
All things considered Freddy was holding his own with the language part, although he would have to warn him about the minor fopar he just did, it was a good thing that bouncer wasn't in the mood to fight. Freddy dear I think that you had better be careful with the translation spell, its possible that your getting some of your words a little mixed up, you basically told that bouncer you wanted to fight the biker that's hanging out with Cherry. Still at least we know she's defiantly hanging about these sorts of places, lets go and find another one of the dives she often stays at.
Geezer kept his distance from the bar Billy and Freddy were in, thinking that he doesn't bode well in social situations like that. He recieved the message from his commlink, later thinking that would be more up his alley, even if he's not fighting anything.
"I'm on my way over to the motel. Send me the coordinates."
<I did.>
A pause.
<Okay, I tried to. This thing has too many buttons. Just check the information James sent over. And hurry up, the guy behind the desk here is giving me a funny look.>
Another pause.
<Not that kind of funny.>
The second dive is decidedly not a biker bar. Instead, this one plays on Miami's history of sleaze and vice. It looks like it fell straight out of the 20th century and onto this patch of dirty and slightly-off-the-beaten-path patch of downtown. Though it's several streets from having a view of the ocean, the tacky plastic palms and vibrant colors would be right at home. It even boasts a modicum of security. A pair(!) of bouncers stand outside the door and one of them is holding what appears to be a weapon scanner. A small camera mounted above the door keeps watch over the alleyway leading to the entrance.
Billy decided this time it would be better if he did the talking, walking up to the bouncers he let himself be scanned by the weapon scanner.
"Why does she even HAVE a commlink..." he mutters to himself. The blips didn't give him an ounce of help, however, as he looked through Chibiko's log history, he finds the description of the motel. It was enough to jog the memory of which motel he needs to traverse to.
A few minutes later, he finds himself in front of the motel she described. He texts Chibiko.
<Mind describing to me what seems to be the problem? I'm outside right now, ready to come in all guns blazing if necessary>
Surprisingly, the MAD scanner doesn't even flinch at Billy's entrance. The bouncer with the scanner gives the playboy German a nod and steps aside to let him in.
The other has his eyes locked on Friedrich. He shakes his head slowly. Disapprovingly.
Billy notices the glares and shouts back to Freddy Ill be right back with the info! Play nice :)
After sending her text, Chibiko bounds off the surprisingly comfortable (if kind of scuzzy) couch and heads for the stairs. The ork behind the desk sighs and shakes his head, but goes back to watching a trid. Wasn't his problem - he tried.
A few moments later she was standing in front of room 402, wondering if knocking was really the best course of action. It was then that Geezer's message came back. She tapped out a reply.
<Nothing yet. Room 402, I'm about to knock.>
Chibiko took a deep breath, then put on her best game face and knocked.
"Hello? Anyone home?"
She put her ear to the door and waited, hoping she could hear them before they threw the door open and came face to face with a tiny high school student without any good reason to be here. She glanced down at herself. Maybe a tiny middle schooler. Her size was as much a curse as a blessing, she bemoaned.
Friedrich saw the bouncer's disapproving look meant only one thing - he ain't getting in. The knight had done well not to blow up the last biker bar, so throwing a tantrum wouldn't solve any problems. Giving his partner a nod, Friedrich returned outside and found a place within the shade.
Just for simplicity's sake, Friedrich buzzed his commlink a quick message to give Billy Chines security.
"Any problems, contact me, Billy. I await outside."
Will do, but heres hoping it doesn't come to that Giving the commlink a quick chirp
The interior of the bar matched the outside and the curbside seating. Tacky decor and tiki heads. All of the drinks probably came with little pink umbrellas propped up in them.
Compared to the biker bar, it was a wonder what a girl like Cherry might be doing frequenting this place. Two rather disparate locales. The clientele are a different sort, too. Rather than wearing synthleather and sporting a perpetual scowl, these were the sort of folks you might imagine down on South Beach... if you had the clearance or the wallet to ever actually see it yourself. At the very least, it was sort of how the trids made South Beach look.
Except that this was very clearly a much cheaper and much lower quality alternative. People with Hawaiian shirts and overflowing plastic cups of beer. Old men who looked like they'd rather be on a boat than on a creaking bar stool. Young women wearing grass skirts over their too-short shorts. And the music... all from decades ago.
At least there were plenty of saps to ask for info.
A few tense moments pass, but no one comes to the door. Neither does Chibiko hear any movement from within. Sounds like the doorman was right. No one's here right now.
Billy spies the bartender and heads over to ask about Cherry. Hello, Ill have a tequila sunrise on the rocks and if you have seen this girl around here recently Billy shows them the photo Ill make it worth your while.