[ismilealot]

Jane watches the others go through their bags, and then goes through her own without actually taking anything out of the bag. When she's done examining it she places the tissue paper back in the bag and places the bag on the table in front of her. She isn't really paying attention to the others at the table. Drugs are common enough in aztlan. The corp only really cares about having it's cut and restrictions on border crossings and sales are only about making sure they maintain their profits, not about deterring people or about keeping them safe. The corp was founded by a family owned drug cartel after all. But she didn't like it. In fact, she hated it.  Making a sudden decision she stood up and looking at Reaghan says, "Excuse me please." and slides away from the table. Looking around for the spirit she doesn't see it and so turns once again to Reaghan, "Please tell our host that I am not interested in the job." and she walks back the way she came, her back unconsciously erect and her shoulders set, and though she doesn't know it, her mama would recognize the look on her daughters face right now, for it is her fathers face, the face of someone who will brook no evil. Jane walks back through the noise and the crowd and the party and the people many of whom are no doubt on something to "help them set the mood". But if this Ace thought of drugs as a party favor, he was not someone she wanted to be associated with.

[ve4grm]

Critter slides out of her seat, and before the dwarf realizes, is walking, backwards, next to Jane, as they reach the exit of the VIP area. "Whoa, hey. Something wrong?" she asks. She doesn't stop Jane, nor try to slow her down.

[Bewilderbeast]

Frankentein wore a neutral expression in response to all this VIP treatment and hospitality. He went through the gift bag with disinterest, picking through the different items. The data chip interested him the most, but decided against slotting it on the off-chance it held some malicious code. It wasn't exactly like he could afford to replace his Avalon. The young dwarf lady's exit barely registered on Frankie's radar. If the mere presence of party drugs offends this young lady's sensibilities, then she clearly hasn't been running the shadows for long. Although it is odd to supply your potential employees with opiates. What is this Aces guy buttering us up for? Is this just how they do things here?

When the spirit asked if there was anything more she could do, Frankenstein reached into his pocket and pulled out his second drink ticket. "I would actually like another beer, ma'am, if it isn't too much trouble." He felt a little weird asking a being of pure magical energy to act as a barmaid, but since she offered...

[ismilealot]

Barely looking at her Jane continues to the door. "No. I simply do not wish to work for someone for whom drugs are such an easy way of life that they pass them out as easily as they would pass out candy from a piñata." Her chin juts out and makes a small sweeping gesture indicating the crowd around them. "I know that many people use drugs as an enhancement." "But." *sigh* "It's hard to explain." She stops then, looking for the words to explain what she herself really hadn't thought through. "If he hands that out now, before he even knows us. What types of activities is he going to ask of us. What things are the drugs going to dull our sensibilities to?" She pauses again, her lips fold inward, a look of indecision on her face, trying to decide, and then she looks up, and into Critters eyes and admits, "I have done things that are illegal," "But, I am not prepared to do evil." "And on this path, the path of shadows, it is I think far to possible to take one small step towards evil every day. Until you no longer recognize the person in the mirror. And to keep taking those steps until the evil that is outside calls you brother." "Drugs dull your senses to all of that, and evil becomes just a part of the good times" she pauses again a thoughtful expression on her face. "It would be easy for me to try and escape all of this." and she makes a sweeping gesture with her hand to indicate herself. "But if I do not have the courage to live my life and face it's pains with honesty, then," she pauses again searching for her feelings, "then, I am not my fathers daughter. Jane straightens again, calm, glad she understands herself better now. Glad even that she has found what she will not do, And turns once more to the door. She's not bothering to look around at all the party-goers anymore. Her young longings to be part of the fun, the old tears at never being invited, the pain at not being good enough gone. This isn't for her, this, isn't good enough for her.

[ve4grm]

Reaghan places a hand on Jane's shoulder. "Wait." she says. "You're not wrong. But you can hear someone out, and do jobs for them, without becoming them."

She straightens up, removes her hand. "You can't always choose who you work for. Heck, you don't always KNOW who you work for. But you can choose what you do, what you're willing to do." Reaghan stares off into space for a second, then comes back. "Come back to the table, let's hear what is being asked. And if it's on the steps towards evil, as you say?" she stares Jane straight in the eye. "Then I'll be right beside you, walking out that door."

[ismilealot]

Jane looks Reaghan straight in the eye, about to refuse. But she can't deny the sense of the woman's words. "Shadowrunners don't always know who they're working for, or even the real job they're being paid to do." she thinks, "And in a world where that's true can I ever really know the evil my actions may cause another?" and then the memory of a painful conversation with her father came with a suddenness that took Jane by surprise, "No, this is justification, and when you find yourself having to justify your actions you are in the wrong." her fathers words, her fathers voice, echoed in her mind. And the pain crushed. Jane looked down, her gut twisting, and tears blurring her vision. She took a deep breath and forced them away and looked up at the woman about to refuse. Judge Intentions Baby Steps: 7d6t5 2 And saw the innate honesty of the woman. This was a person worth knowing, Even if she sat down and refused the job, it was perhaps worth sitting there just to get to know her. She looked like she'd been running the shadows for awhile, and heaven knew she needed a few honest contacts in her life. Jane nodded her assent, and walked slowly back to the table, hoping she could tell good from evil when it came in tiny steps

[Moneyspider]

After Jane and Reaghan take their seats again The spirit returns with Frankie's beer. On her heels is an older man maybe late 40's early 50's. Average height and broad shoulders. He has a shaggy mane of black wavy hair with several beads and charms braided into it with a bit of silver mixed in here and there and more so on the short German style goatee. His skin is tanned golden from time in the sun, natural rather then the common artificial body dyes you usually see in urban sprawls. He wearing a suit with a custom cut expensive but comfortable, Over it a high collared long coat hanging loose on his shoulders to the floor. His shirt lays mostly open revealing a silver amulet. At his hip an old fashioned Rapier, not one of those car antenna things used in the Olympics but solid strong steel that could punch through plate armor. On his cheek a rose Tattoo, and on his right hand a golden filigree tracing arcane shapes over the skin. A smirk reveals the creases around his eyes, which are the bright green.  His voice thick with Russian accent. Rainia, how did et go? He asks the spirit. The spirit floats to his side, Well my shaman, none of them used the patches, or chips. In fact the little one made quite a show of it. She fears you would have her do evil. The man listens intently. Da good. Danka Raina you are dismissed for now.

Taking a seat at the head of the table. 'ello I am Ace of Spades.

[ve4grm]

Reaghan leaned back in her chair, crossed her arms, and fixed her stare on Ace, saying nothing.

[ismilealot]

Jane doesn't move. Her eyes take in the details of his appearance and his words. Every part of her being is focused on his movements and his voice. He had the outward appearance of a mage, and the spirits had obeyed him. But IrishTwoTimer had been able to fake being a whole lot of things. Jane had never known when Irish was lying or telling the truth. So, she had developed the simple rule of assuming that Irish was lying. But, that rule was dangerous, and she couldn't use it here. She'd just have to pay close attention. His words were trying to make it seem as though the drugs were a test. But, they had come with his personal stamp on them, and as a test that was a bit far to go. As common as party drugs were, a test was unlikely then. More likely it had been a simple gesture meant to encourage them to have fun. Meant to make him seem as a benefactor. So, every word, every nuance, every movement needed careful attention and that presented problems. Because she needed to gauge him in the astral, but, that put her at severe disadvantages on observing every detail here and now. She had to take that chance though, because she needed to SEE him. Jane relaxed into the world where her soul was at home. The bright, sometimes dangerous world of the astral, and looked carefully at Ace, trying hard to see what he might not want found.

This first roll is a Judge Intentions roll GM as Jane focus's on Ace for the first time : Meeting Ace: 7d6t5 3  The second roll is an assensing roll as she perceives him in the astral  Assensing Ace: 11d6t5 5  The third roll is with the -2 to perception that Jane takes when she's astrally perceiving  Like a hawk: 5d6t5 2  After she's had a good look at him and then a check of the others at the table she'll return all her attention to the here and now. After all, she doesn't want Mater Yoda chiding her for inattention.

[Moneyspider]

Intentions he seems to be on the level if not somewhat cautious. He's not nervous or stressed per-say more like coiled and at the ready. He also seems to be clearly analyzing each of you. Possibly even on the astral. Your gut tells you he's careful with a health dose of paranoia but not hostile.

Assensing will tell you a lot more about him. His mood is one of excitement. Health wise he's doing well especially for someone of his age. His right arm and eyes are deltaware and there's a mass of bioware on his brain-stem and spinal column. That's probably why his essence is set at 5. His aura has been masked but you're able to see through it, at first it looks like he's got only a mere 4 Magic but in reality his magic is at 8. He does have several auras, probably foci and active spells on his person. His arm, sword, amulet are all Foci, but will require further tests to learn more about them. He's not suffering from any maladies but does have a little bit of alcohol in his system. He is clearly not a Technomancer. You've never seen his aura before of that you're totally confident.

As for the appearance of his aura: He appears much the same as you see him, but younger maybe in his early 20's, his aura is rimed in blue and violet light and sigils and words made of light wrap around him like stylish armor. And while it appears as him but younger, it also has an old depth to it, something like fatherly pride. As your Sight opens wider still you can see a sort of pain, like loss or regret which has knotted itself around his heart, while the knot threatens to strangle, it also seems to burn away by the same blue and violet light.

The perception test reveals few details not already described. But you do notice the shape of a shoulder rig for some kind of smaller fire arm under his jacket. Also you'll notice that several of the pockets bulge slightly but not enough to make out their contents.

[Bewilderbeast]

Frankie graciously accepted the beer from the helpful spirit, but did not have a chance to open it before Aces appeared. Frankenstein watched Aces closely as he emerged. When the spirit answered her master's questions, Frankenstein let out a low chuckle. "Ah, so it was a test. I like." And then, without a trace of irony, Frankie opened up his synthbeer and took a slug, waiting for the meeting to start.

[p1erx0R]

When asked if he could be helped, he'd order the most unique and exotic sounding cocktail on the drink menu. He'd peek through the bag, eying the others curiously, then looking at the chip with a grinning interest. He scoops it ups and examines it,but before he could slot it, Ace shows up and he slips it into the bag. An activity for later. He grinned at Ace's introduction and nodded in return. Phant05. A pleasure. As his drink arrived, whatever it was, he'd take a swig of it before setting it down, eying the others and ace intently and expectantly.

[Moneyspider]

Ace leans back in his chair the picture of confidence.I am attempting to organize a team for some of the odd jobs that come across my plate. A team that's versatile enough to handle a wide variety of jobs. But before I decide to make this team permanent I'd like to see you in action. To that end I have a handful of simple jobs for you if you are interested. Should I be impressed, I can promise you plenty of more work, and other benefits. He pauses for what is apparently dramatic effect. The first is a simple delivery. Looking to each of the runners before him in turn. Any questions before I get to the details?

[ismilealot]

Jane continues to strain every sense listening to him trying to figure out his game. "Far to many things are a contradiction." she thinks.  To every outward appearance she is a mouse just sitting at the table, not really paying attention to anything. You're eyes slide over the top of her head without ever really noticing anything about her. Even if you were particularly paying attention to everything going on at the table you're eyes would soon pass over the little dwarf, there's just nothing about her worth noticing. She stays like that, continuing to split her focus between the astral and the material plane, watching and waiting to hear and see the truth.

[ve4grm]

"Yeah, I got a question," said Reaghan, leaning forward. "Th'fuck's with the chems and chips? Y'want a team that'll be loaded? Dependent? S'that what you mean by benefits?"