[Jack_Spade]

Isaint looked up as Al came back in. The tea cup was empty and Isaint rubbed his temples while yawned hugely.
"Perfect timing. Matrix coverage down here is spotty, but I was able to get in contact with a few specialty shops, as well as getting my armorer to launch a delivery drone. Since you are looking for explosives, I think I have a solution to get what we need, but we might need to leave Below again for a day or two."

[adamu]

It was music to Al's ears. They didn't seem to be on any sort of real timeline with this job anyway, and it wouldn't have mattered to him if they were - he was down here only because his friends Isaint and Jackhammer had gone along with the old geezer's wishes. But Jack was currently past giving a crap, though in good care with Alyce, so even if Isaint walked off the job completely, Al would happily be seconds behind.

Sadly, he figured the ork meant it when he said a day or two, but he was happy for the chance anyway.

"Reckon the cops is lookin' fer us, but you got that ork-o'-many-faces thing goin' on, and my superhuman Thespian powers'll alter my gait an' demeanor enough ta completely throw off any observer with no actual change ta my appearance whatever. Jist us two, or the others comin'. Might could kill two birds with one stone, git Jack an' Iris some better care topside...."

[Mercy Merchant]

Alyce stays outside the house to finish her smoke and to try to get herself back under control.  The actual words he had said were bad enough, but the way he had callously said them had made it worse.  Of course, it could just as well mean that he had changed enough in the eight years to finally need her in his life.  She swears softly in her mother tongue, damning her heart for betraying her to a man who is both so perfect and so maddening at the same time.  Without really realizing it, she has finished her third fag and chain lit a fourth. 

[Jack_Spade]

"I'd prefer to expose as few people as possible. Only you and Alice will really be needed for this excursion - her I need mainly because she is a a hacker, a doctor and has access to certain chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

See, the problem is: To get explosives down here we'd have to jump through quite a few hoops, while topside there is a certain level of concern about a recent terror attack. The only way to get the stuff we need safely is to make it ourselves.
Now, bomb making is nothing you should undertake lightly - or at all. Therefore I'm busy setting up a shop full of drones who'll do the actual mixing for us. That way - if anything happens - we won't be around for the officials or the crater.
Getting the raw materials will be the tricky part. There are watch lists for this stuff. Now if a doctor from a university or a hospital would order such base components from different suppliers, this will be a whole other story.

This also gives me the opportunity to get some other supplies as well."
Isaint replied.

[adamu]

"All well an' good, kemo sabe. Couple things, though. First, whatcha wanna do with our befuddled friends? We take Robyn, they's no one here ta properly look after 'em? Second, jist sayin', I only mentioned shoppin' fer explosives cuz supplies was gittin' thin an' you was goin' ta the market anyway. But yer plan seems like a lotta trouble jist ta cater ta my pyromanic predilections. I mean, blowin' things up ain't precisely mission-critical fer this here matchmakin' job...less'n ya got some plan ya ain't shared with ol' Al."

[Jack_Spade]

"If this little outing taught me anything, it's that a disruption of the ceremony with an ad hoc calling of a bunch of high powered spirits would be a massive problem. We want to be prepared for this when the time comes - preferably with a bunch of shaped charges, we can use to liquefy those spirits before they can act and without hurting the audience. Overwhelming force against super powered spirits.

Our friends I'll leave in the care of Mrs. Karasu and Rick. They are both well equipped to fend of any Spirits that might come after them to finish them off. Karasu is also qualified to administer any required care.

And no, this is not about pyromania. Your skills with creating an ad hoc exit have twice now saved our bacon. I see it as imperative that we are able to keep up these kind of stunts. Especially if we create a bunch of bomb drones that we use to disrupt spirits."
Isaint grinned. "As a wise mage said: As the size of an explosion increases, the number of social situations it is incapable of solving approaches zero"

[Aria]

[Sunday July 5th, 2076; Robyn’s Place, Below, London]

While Robyn deals with the flustered emotions created by Al, a small, gnomelike figure appears out of the air…clearly a small spirit

“My mistress sent me to deliver a message, she can’t use the matrix thing, too many ears in her House.  I can be the go between, she hears what I do.  She said she hasn’t seen her love since her family barred the Flowers from their gates, but I know her, can take her a message too if you like?”

***

#64

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn looks at the small courier spirit and smiles.  She responds to it at the same time she is sending a message to the others.  "Thank you, kind friend, for acting as a messenger.  I will ask my companions if they would like to send a note to her."  >>Hey.  There is a courier spirit out here that was sent by Tamsyn.  It is offering to act as a go-between to her lover.  What should I have it tell her?<<

[Jack_Spade]

Isaint didn't bother with a matrix reply, instead he walked out to Robyn.
"Greetings. Please tell your mistress that we need to know if there are any holy places she categorically doesn't want to have her marriage in.
We are planing to hold a concert to disguise the ceremony in front of a large crowd.
And on the flip side, we need to know if there are any holy places she can recommend where we can prepare our concert to disguise the ceremony.
We are still looking for an official to do the official ceremony so we wouldn't be averse to a recommendation.
Furthermore we also should have at least one face to face meeting beforehand. Preferably at a safe, yet discreet public place."

[adamu]

Al had followed Isaint out to witness his Satanic congress. The demon was small, and attempted to hide its malevolence with a modicum of cuteness. Al wasn't fooled.

Isaint laid things out for the imp. Al wondered how he knew it was really from the lesbians. Probably it was a gut thing. And if he didn't trust the gnome, he trusted the German ork's gut.

The thing listened impassively, and with a delay of only a few seconds, spoke again, as if relaying words. The ceremony must be on the Isle of Lyonesse. And then it held up a miniscule hand as Isaint started to object. My Mistress is aware you may have concerns, but since you request a face-to-face meeting in any case, then your objections are best aired in that setting. My Mistress herself is too closely watched right now, since the trouble in the gardens. But her beloved Cara will meet you. My Mistress will make the arrangements, and I will return with news.

Then the thing was gone. Not knowing how long the wait would be, or when the meet might be. they started getting ready for their errands topside - Robyn giving instructions for Lady Karasu in the care of Iris and Jackhammer, Isaint going over his elaborate plans for securing and fabricating explosives, and Al pretending to listen to him while some new tricks he could teach Spike.

Before they could consider actually leaving, however, the runt-spirit was back.

Go the fourth level of Nightside Market, a well-known shop called Pretty Poison. She will see you there. Do not acknowledge her when you see her, but follow discreetly and she will lead you to a place where you can converse freely. Sadly, she must be very judicious, and can rely on none of her own House to assist her. They will not know you are expected of her, and in fact would likely try to hinder you if they did know. So tread lightly, for many are her kindred in that part of the market, and you are ill-loved by them, whatever the formal rulings.

And then the spirit was gone.

"Well, there ya have it - wherever we least wanna go, that's sure 'nuff where we's goin'."

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn smiles but says nothing, waiting to see where ISaint was going to lead them first.

[Jack_Spade]

Isaint groaned inwardly at the mention of an astral journey - the one place where spirits would have all the advantage. But he held his tongue for the moment.
"Alright, we three will meet her."

Once the spirit had gone, he turned to the other two: "Looks like we'll go sooner than expected to the market. Not getting recognized would be a good idea for that - which means we three will have to disguise ourselves. Let's go inside and see what we can scrounge up in that regard - especially for you Al. You have a rather markant profile."


Disguise checks for everyone. I'd be delighted about some teamwork help:
Al: Disguise: 13d6t5 4 [13d6t5=2, 1, 5, 3, 2, 5, 4, 4, 3, 6, 2, 5, 2]
Robyn: Disguise: 13d6t5 7
Isaint: Disguise: 14d6t5 4

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn does what she can to help with the disguises, but is best used as someone who can hold items.  This is another of her weak points, but is not something that she really thought that she would need.

Disguise: 4d6t5 1  Not much help, sorry.

[adamu]

"Disguise, huh? Well, they don't call ol' Al the Man-of-a-Thousand-Faces fer naught, y'all. Best part is, I don't gotta change nothin' - jist apply my Method artistry an' transform myself inwardly...like so!"

The small man rolled his shoulders a bit, cracked his neck, and stood up a tiny bit straighter. "There ya have it. Wouldn't even know it's me, less'n I willed it..."

He looked at them expectantly, apparently thinking they might try to guess what he had transformed himself into. However, there was no difference to be perceived.

After a pregnant few moments, he gave an exasperated sigh, and blurted out, "Circus ringmaster. C'mon, the posture? The bearin'? Must be cuz she's blind. An' if anyone tips ta the ringmaster persona, I jist switch over ta this..."

He pursed his lips, ran a hand over his hear, and scratched his nose. Took a deep breath. "Right? Right? Total transformation. Looks easy, but that's years of immersion in the Thespian's craft." Then, for Alyce's benefit, assuming she was unable to perceive the change, he explained, "Chimney sweep."

He went inside and grabbed his shotgun. "We leave now, we can stop fer some beers onna way."

 

[Jack_Spade]

"Uncanny, really. But as good as your posture trick may be, it still won't beat digital facial recognition software. Sunglasses and a scarf would go a long way to take care of that. Also a nice beard never hurts to underscore a striking face."

Isaint nodded and took the wraith poncho from Arthur. A short command and it turned into a stylish black cloak.
He had used the time to change his own face for a more angular look. A short cropped full beard made him look a bit like Che.

"Here Robyn, just in case there is trouble and you need to get out of sight." With that he put the cloak over her shoulders.

With that he followed after Al toward the market.