[Jack_Spade]

"Meeting with an astrally projecting mage. As you can see, I'm not normally one to dine out with beautiful women in fancy restaurants. This is strictly an information gathering mission - your employer chose wisely when he sent you."
He pulled his hand away from her.
"Incidentally, what is this small fork for?"

[gilga]

@Dhalia looks suspicious, "Why would an astrally projecting mage pick this spot? you could have met while you were on the way heck you did not even have to get out of your bed. There must be more to it than that. Why schedule in a fancy restaurant when you cannot even enjoy its food. "

She casually say "For fish off-course,  I ordered a fresh cod fish- would you like to share it with me?"

[Jack_Spade]

"Fresh cod in Seattle? Oh well, my nephritic screen will probably protect me, so sure, why not.

And yes, it's unnecessarily complicated, but it was the same with our first meet in a strip club. And the food is good, so I'm not complaining."
Kynos took a sip from his water. Hopefully the mage would turn up soon...

[gilga]

@Dahlia said, "Yes, now that they are grown in labs at the cellular level, you might not be willing to still call them fish, but they are 100% clean. The only way to get clean fish as you may know."


She sighs
"Your mage seems like a sad person, to send you to all these nice places and never participate in any of the fun."

The time goes by and you enjoy (or not) the conversation and cod fish but there is no sign of IT. You are already finished with Dhalia's fish, when she suggests.
"Would you like some of the deserts? They make this incredible chocolate pies."

[Jack_Spade]

"Alright. I'm not so far gone that I refuse chocolate.
As for the mage's tastes: Who knows - there are weirder fetishes. For all I know she's watching us eat since we got here. That's why I asked if you have arcane talent. But there is nothing to it than to wait", Kynos said resigned.

[gilga]

@Kynos The chocolate is actually quite good, and as you finish deserts Dhalia say "I am not sure your shy mage friend is actually coming... care to bail?" She eyes you suggestively.

[Jack_Spade]

"Not yet. Maybe we are to public. I'll check the restroom and the other parts of the restaurant. We'll give her another quarter of an hour. After that I suspect an ambush. Stay in the restaurant, while I go out. If there's shooting... well, it was a nice evening and good chocolate, so thank you."
Kynos got up to do as he said.

[gilga]

@Kaynos as you go to the restroom you are a bit alarmed by the voice of IT asking:"Having a good time Knyos?" Looking to your back you see the joyful mage smiling a warm smile at you.

[Jack_Spade]

"Could be worse. You've been waiting long to see me pee?
Well, good to see you since that means you are still alive. So to business: You told us we had to remove rockets from the playing field - now I learn that the warehouse we acted on was in fact a trap designed to kill a Mafia and Yak guy to start a war.
I don't really mind, but I'd like an explanation."
Kynos relaxed from the fighting stance he had taken instinctively when the mage surprised him.

[gilga]

IT laughs and then say:   "I waited because it was the only way you'd stick around in the restaurant, it is a safe place for you to be. About that job, I do not assassinate people, me and DemoX were trailing a very sensitive arms delivery that some bad apples at the army re-gifted.

Assassinations take more time, in few minutes he could perhaps demolish the warehouse by drilling a few explosives to the walls - but assassinating is a completely different story. DemoX could not prepare the place for a hit in such a short notice. 

However, I do have my suspicion that I was not the only one DemoX was working for that night. It makes me angry, I do not swing that way it make me look bad."

[Jack_Spade]

"My thoughts exactly. So, who gave you the info on the warehouse and provided you with contact to DemoX?
Seems like there were no rockets inside when it exploded. And if it was only that van full, flattening the whole warehouse would have been overkill. So either your intel was very bad, or we failed and quite a large number of rockets made it out on the street."
Kynos leaned against the toilet door, preventing anyone else to enter and disturb the meeting.

[gilga]

IT said: "Me and DemoX had a mark on the van, this is how we tracked it, it landed in that house and waited there for several hours. The first plan was to replace vans. To steal the van with the explosives and place an identical empty one in its place, but that asshole, Venom blew that van with a rocket launcher, I never saw that one coming - completely unprovoked.

The second plan was to blow the van with the explosives and with it the entire warehouse as you cannot blow that many explosives without demolishing the place. The warehouse was planned to protect the neighborhood from the van exploding. "

[Jack_Spade]

"I see. But the van took flight as soon as we got there. What did DemoX do in the warehouse if all rockets were in the van?

Seems like I have to find DemoX to get some answers. Do you know where I should start?

Also, Demox mentioned that there are a lot of people interested in Venom's demise. I could facilitate that, provided someone pays me. You wouldn't know who would be interested, would you?"

[gilga]

IT: tells you "Venom hates my guts but the hatred is not mutual. I'd be happier to know who does Venom really work for.  His behavior seems idiotic but it causes a lot of chaos in the city and Venom seem to have access to large amounts of cash. That money comes from somewhere, I can handsomely reward you if you find out about him.

About DemoX is a member of the Red Hot Nukes, I'd start by talking to them.  I was at the brink of death when these events happened, but as far as I can tell that van was in DemoX's control the entire time. We kept it in the warehouse to not alert the Yaks, we are not exactly combat capable."

[Jack_Spade]

"Fair enough. Not my speciality, but maybe I can find that out while I solve the other mystery. Is there a way I can contact you directly without having to visit clubs and restaurants?"