[Mercy Merchant]

@Cynthia   >>No problem,  I practically live here when not on the trix.  I will be here at 1900.  If you are not here by then, I will be here tomorrow, too.  Drop me a note to let me know if you will make it tonight and when tomorrow is best for you if you cannot.<<

You leave several shop assistances with odd looks on their faces as you move from store to store.  The tired woman you finally talk to, is very patient, even though you disregard the first few sets she has for you.  You are apparently a challenge that must be overcome and she continues to show you different selections, finally bringing you one that seems to satisfy your needs and is affordable.  She hands you off to another shop assistant to check you out and goes off to a new challenge.  By the time you pay for the purchases and leave the mall it is 1810.  You could still make it to the Digital if you changed there, but going home first would cut it very tight to make it there and have more than a few minutes before needing to leave for the Inferno.

@Eva  Just after 1800 you get a message.  "Just who is this woman?  She had a hard time deciding on what to wear, but is sorted out now.  I will see you at the club at about 1900.  Ciao<<

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - On the way to the Digital] #40

Cynthia thanks the woman, with a tired smile and a nice tip. She's not sure the experience was as tiring for the woman as it was for her but... Well, since she probably said some stuff she shouldn't have, she might be wrong so... Let's at least make her happy... Or less unhappy...

Looking at the time, Cynthia decides to stuff her new clothes in the car. *I'll change in the restrooms at the Digital. Or on the way to the Dante. Let's try to get there on time...*
<<I'm on my way, should be there by 19:00. If traffic is not worse than usual that is. Seems to be okay though.>>

Once she has reached the bar, she takes her bag of clothes with her and enters. She looks around, salutes Xiaoyou and exchanges a few words with her. Then she sends <<I'm here.>>.

[Mercy Merchant]

In response to your first message you get back one back rather quickly.  >>Very nice.  Please ask for table 49 when you arrive.  I am sorry that we will not have much time to chat tonight since you have another engagement afterwards.<<  The response to your second message is shorter.  >>Remember, table 49.  Can I order you a drink?<<

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - The Digital] #41

At the counter, Cynthia asks for a beer, and then walks toward table 49. As she does so, she sets an alarm for 19:50 to remind her she's got to.
When she reaches the table, she says. "Hi. Since I had to go by the counter, seemed to be more effective to take the beer myself." She sits down, and looks at her hunter-turned-prey.

[Mercy Merchant]

@Cynthia   Table 49 is off to the right rear of the Digital and is situated so as to provide almost no observation of the rest of the club, but neither is it easily observed by the rest of the club.  As you approach the table you see a young man, probably in his early twenties, sitting there.  He has a drink on the table in front of him and there is a thin stick propped against the wall next to him.  He stands as you approach and motions fro you to take a seat.  The eyes that watch you are completely milky white.  "Ah.  The mysterious woman who turned my own trap on myself.  I am very glad to meet you, indeed.  Please have a seat."  He waits until you sit before taking his seat.  "My name is Roger.  How do you do?"

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - The Digital] #42

Cynthia chuckles. "Yes well, since I had the same idea than you, seemed a good idea to check if someone hadn't taken me for a prey. And when I found out that someone had indeed done so..." she shrugs, then continues with a smile. "Seemed more fun to take that someone at his own game than following anyone else for data I didn't really care about."

She waves her hand in front of the eyes of the man. "By the way, are you blind? Why don't you get that fix..." She stops talking abruptly. *Shit, I did it again!*
Shaking her head, contrite, she quickly adds,  "I'm sorry, don't answer that. I have the bad habit of letting my mouth work ahead of my brain..."

[Mercy Merchant]

@Cynthia   "Yes, I have to say that I was quite surprised to find the mark on me.  It was adroitly done, too, and I applaud your skill.  It did take me a while to decide whether or not I should try to contact you, but in the end my curiosity won out.  Thank you for meeting me."

He sips from his drink then answers your question.  "Yes, I am blind.  I would have it fixed, but I have been told that my condition is fairly rare and the operations needed are apparently complicated and require a serious boatload of nuyen that I do not have.  Oh, and they tell me that there is only about a ten percent chance of success.  I have lived with it from birth, so I have pretty much decided to live with it a while longer.  And I do not mind talking about it.  I have long got past the stares and snide comments.  So, what abut you?  May I ask who you are?  I know your avatar well, but not you."

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - The Digital] #43

"Well, I'll admit I was curious too. I wasn't really expecting you to answer. Not everyday I have someone who wants to meet me. But then, I suppose curiosity is the trait we all have in common here. As to who I am... Err..."
She shrugs "I'm Cynthia. And err, I'm seventeen. After that, I don't know if there's much to say... Since I'm not quite sure what I want to do with myself, I can't speak about jobs since I don't really have one, so... What about you?"

[Mercy Merchant]

"Hello, Cynthia.  It is nice to meet you.  I am twenty-two and very impressed with your skill set if you are only seventeen.  I do not have much of a job, either, but do a lot of freelance stuff, usually for different PI types.  Tracking down and following cheating spouses and deadbeat dads, that sort of thing.  I have found some lost relatives, too.  Not much, but it pays my necessary expenses and gives me time to do what I love most; walk the trix.  So, I have a question for you.  You do not have to answer right away, but think on it.  We are both looking for the same people, along with half the planet, probably.  What do you say to working together on this?  We could do it from our homes, but we could also meet here and work.  What do you say?"

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - The Digital] #44

Cynthia laughs. "Who's to say that I didn't already find them?" she lets a couple of seconds pass, then adds, more seriously "In this instance however, I was serious when I said I was only looking for fun. Seemed like something I'd enjoy. And I did. But I never had any intention to bring more heat on the head of those people."
She pauses, thinking for a few seconds, then sighs "I won't pretend I'm some kind of hero of justice or whatever. Still, I'd like to be able to look at myself in the mirror in the morning. Not that there's much to see, but..."
She shrugs. "Anyway, I suppose you could say there are some lines I don't intend to cross. And while I perfectly understand why most looking for them to get the reward wouldn't think about it, I don't think this is right."

She laughs self-depracatingly "You may think this is stupid, but from what I saw and read about the shooting at Washington Rec, the wanted man pretty much saved the day. No one, not even KE, claims he shot or injured any officer at Mercy General. But when you look at it, he's wanted like he did and then some. Add to that the nature of the attacks, the explosions here and there, the murder of a suit by an assault team in his home and so on, and you get something that smells awfully like corp business. I don't know the man, but...".

Once again, she pauses, considering "You could say that I'd like him to make it." she chuckles "I don't really know why to be honest. Maybe because I don't think he's a bad guy, in this at least? And that I want to think that I'm one of the "good guys", whatever that means? But then, maybe that's just because any money I make is nice to have, but the bills are paid even if I don't. Maybe I would sing another tune if I had to, and that I'm just an hypocrite. I'd love to think it's not the case but..."

She shakes her head, then realising that Roger can't see it, she adds "Still, things being as they are... I'm sorry, but on this instance, I don't think I would. Help I mean. I won't even try to prevent anyone from finding them, but I don't want them to be found. If you have some contract to look at who the attackers are however..." she continues, amusement clearly audible in her tone "You may have more luck convincing me to do your job.". Sombrely, she finishes "But that would be a hell of a lot more dangerous."

[VegasRigged]

I give him the usual treatment, on the cautious side with a touch of magic. Afterwards I ask how he'd feel about me bringing a protégé to our next session, purely as an observer.

[Mercy Merchant]

@Eva   Mr. Smith is thoroughly dominated during the session and seems to love it.  If the other Marisa was good at it, you seem to have a natural talent.  Your client is sweating heavily by the time the session is up.  At your question, he looks interested, but a bit concerned.  "It won't cost me more, will it?"


@Cynthia   Roger looks at you as you talk and of course it is impossible read his eyes.  After you finish, he pauses for a few moments, taking several sips from his drink.  "Very interesting.  OK, let's say that I have might have something to do that is different.  I could use some help with a project that interests me.  I was contracted by someone I know and trust to do some investigating.  It might be a bit dangerous if we stir up the wrong sort of hornet's nest and the pay is pretty much to be determined, although I feel confident that I will not be hung out to dry.  Besides, it is not just the money, right?  Interested?"

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - The Digital] #45

Cynthia nods, grinning. "Sure, I love a good challenge." she stops, tapping the table with her fingers. "Though I still have to go later this evening. I was asked for some kind of weird business meeting. Probably nothing important nor interesting, but since they asked first, I should at least listen what they have to say."

She drinks a bit of her beer, then adds "Of course, I doubt I would be working full time even if there really was something, so I suppose you can count me in. But if you want to wait before I can give you a definite answer, I'm cool with it of course.".

[Mercy Merchant]

@Cynthia   "Of course.  I understand and completely agree that you should keep your prior agreements.  I feel that the specifics need to be kept close for now, but I will tell you that I think it is important and I will give you a small hint.  During your searches through the trix, did you see anything about a bombing and assassination in Bogota, Colombia today?"

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - The Digital] #46

Cynthia cocks an eyebrow "My Monitor... er... That's a program I'm writing, it pulls live news and stock markets data in the world to colour each location, green when all's good, red when it goes all to hell. Anyway, it caught the bombing, so I know about that. Maybe it caught the assassination too now that I think about it. It could explain the larger than expected impact for a bombing I noticed at the moment. But since I didn't really check, I saw headlines about a bombing, not the assassination. Who was the target?"