[VegasRigged]

"I suppose I'm tired of trying to convince you. If you don't think making powerful allies is of any value, or have so much fun with your games that real excitement doesn't appeal, or have no desire to improve people's lives, then we have nothing in common and would make poor allies." I stand and finish my drink, then check the club ARO for the location of my party "If any of those things do appeal to you, you have my number. If it's something specific that would Pique your interest, I'd like to hear it."

This whole negotiation was a bit of a train wreck, I do want her to work for me, though I'm sure she'll prefer to work 'with' me like all the others. I should have dug into her background, I should have known more coming in. I won't get away with this mistake too many times, I hope it won't cost me here. Once I get home I'll need to manage some damage control regarding what I've admitted to here. Fortunately the real plan is still hidden.

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - Dante's Inferno, VIP Suite] #114

Cynthia laughs a bit "Oh I love challenges, and I do have real excitement from time to time. You propose powerful allies, but the triads as enemies. Unless you're far more powerful than you let on, I don't think even you would believe that to be a fair exchange. You say you will improve people's lives, but for selfish reasons: you do it to earn their loyalty and have them become your army. To them, would it be anything more than changing one master for another? With the added twist of hypocrisy? Anyone can make promises, what would make yours better than the triads?"

She sighs "I know, I'm difficult to convince. And believe it or not, I'm not doing it to piss you off, but I have the luxury to choose my jobs, and that's something I intend to do carefully. I know that in most cases, you'd just wave nuyens, and it'd be done but I need more than that. I don't think I'd be the only one and for those like me who would want more than nuyens, do you think anyone would believe in you, in your goals, with what you told me? Right now, it's have the triads as enemies by getting people under their foot to have an army to achieve unknown goals you may not agree to. In my place, would that make you dream? When you love challenges, there's something very important, at least if you want to stay alive: know your limits, and roughly where you're going." she shakes her head "I know my limits, and I know I certainly can't afford to piss the triads off. Even with your help. For something I know nothing about. Were the situation reversed, would you find something in what you said, the necessary spark, that would make you want to take those risks?"

Standing up, she finishes her glass, and puts it on the table "Maybe it's possible, I don't know... Maybe anyone would find me too cautious. Maybe you'd love to jump in the unknown. And yes, I'll admit it's exciting. But there are limits, and what you said up to now is insufficient for me, you'd have to share more. Even if that seems to be your problem I guess, like my being such an introvert may be mine." she shrugs "Well, all this is true regarding the triads, but I could work on your other stuffs if you still want it. It would be a start, a way for you and me to learn how to work with each other. A way for you to be more comfortable to tell me more about this triad job. Maybe to make your dream, my dream or at least to want to be a part of it, who knows? It's your choice anyway. Like I said, you can take some time to think about it, while we go back to Tanya."

With a small smile, almost apologetic, she adds "But I won't run after you for this. You got me once with the concert, but it won't work many times. Not for serious stuff like that anyway. You have to convince me, not the other way around." she groans, almost amused "But well... At this point you probably think it'd be easier and faster to just find a hacker who'd want nuyens and be done with it. Can't say you'd be wrong to be honest... But would it be better than someone who believes in what you want to achieve?"

Unless Marissa has anything to add, Cynthia will go find Tanya, avoiding any other people who would want to talk to her as long as she can pretend it's not her they're talking to.

[VegasRigged]

There are many thing I would like to say, but none are worth saying now. I'll have to work harder on this one. Her caution has made her all the more appealing as an information hub operator. If I can bring her in she will be very valuable indeed. It might frustrate me for now, but her reservations are valid and she's thinking long term. Both admirable qualities.

For now though, I finish my drink and center myself before walking with her out into the rest of the club to find our party. The noise builds back up, but this time theirs a barrier between me and it, I'm no longer overwhelmed and I can focus.

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - Dante's Inferno] #115

While Marissa seems more comfortable in the crowd, it's the complete opposite for Cynthia: once again, she seems unsure, ill at ease and unable to react appropriately when approached. She doesn't appear to be rude voluntary, but be it from her obvious stress, her lack of interest or simply because she doesn't know how to handle such things, she may often be perceived as such. In fact, she manages to react relatively appropriately when asked about Tanya - even if she doesn't say anything interesting - but she completely fails to do it when men (and women?) take an interest to her.

On the way, she doesn't quite hide behind Marissa, but she's not far from it. She's obviously very relieved when she reaches Tanya's group.

[Mercy Merchant]

Tanya is standing with Marie and Tom on the fifth circle balcony overlooking the dance floor, where a madness seems to have overtaken the dancers.  It is a swirling mass of people, seemingly separate and disparate.  No real pairing lasts more than a few seconds and the music itself seems to encourage random pairings that come together and dissolve in time to the beat of the very techno rock blaring from the speakers.  A number of the dancers are in some state of undress, which does not bother anyone on the floor.  In fact, there are three small groups of people who are completely naked and participating in some sort of orgiastic release of emotions.  Here, too, partners are exchanged at a quick pace, no one seeming to stay coupled together long before someone taps in and swaps spots. 

Marie's hair is mussed greatly from its earlier neatly coiffed state and her blouse is buttoned unevenly.  Both she and Tom are breathing hard from the exertions of being recently on the dance floor and perhaps..............

All three have drinks in their hands and Tanya salutes both of you as you come up to them.  Marie wobbles a step closer, but you see it is from a broken heel on her shoe and not from being drunk.  She has to almost yell to be heard above the music.  "Oh, this is so much fun, Miss Coulter.  Thanks ever so much for inviting us.  Have you been down lower than this in the club?  Tom and I were thinking of heading off to the sixth circle to see if it is even better than this."  She leans closer and you can see the excitement in her eyes.  "I am afraid that I have been quite naughty so far tonight and hope that you do not hold it against me."

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - Dante's Inferno] #116

Looking at the crowd, like someone at a zoo looking at animals in their cage, Cynthia reaches Marie, Tom and Tanya. She doesn't seem disgusted, but very clearly unmoved and not interested. Frowning, she says "I think I'll wait in the suite, this is not for me."

She smiles lightly at Marie "But please, don't worry about me. I'll easily find stuff to do."

[Mercy Merchant]

@ Eva   Tanya watches as Cynthia walks off, a slight frown on her face.  This changes to a smile as she looks at her remaining guests.  "The sixth circle is a bit more.....................sensual than any of those above it.  Are you willing to risk being approached by random people who will offer to have sex with you?  You do not have to accept."

@Cynthia   Once back in the suite, you can pour another glass of juice if you like.  Your 'link pings with a message from Roger.  >>Hey there.  Roger here.  The guy you marked?  I was thinking about you and thought I would send you a note to see how you are doing.<<

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - Dante's Inferno, VIP Suite] #117

After a slight detour to the restroom, Cynthia gets comfortable in "her" chair with a new glass of juice, and slips back into the Matrix. She first checks if she has any answer from Barbara, then replies to Roger.

<<Hi. I didn't forget who you are you know. I'm fine and I have a bit of free time if you still want some help to look into Bogotá.>>

[Mercy Merchant]

>>Good.  And yes, I could use some help.  I have been digging into what went on and there are some surprises and a lot of roadblocks.  I have my agent still looking about but I am wiped.  Do you want to meet tomorrow?  I have to say that I am damned sure that there is something fishy going on down there.<<

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - In VR] #118

<<It may be possible, sure. I don't know when though. My future maybe possible employer is "thinking about it", and I gave her until the end of the evening to decide so until she does, I'm not sure when I'll be free. I don't think she will decide tonight, but you never know...

Anyway, I didn't yet check what I found in the afternoon, but are there some areas you'd like me to check specifically? Wait, I'm stupid, I'll check now.>>

Cynthia grabs the file Sherlock compiled in the afternoon / start of the evening, and quickly reads through it to get an idea of what is going on in Bogotá.

[Mercy Merchant]

The file from your sprite is fairly complete.  The synopsis at the beginning is fairly clear.  A large bomb had exploded in the government district of Bogota, Colombia, killing scores of people.  The toll at the time the report was generated stood at 87 dead and over 200 in the hospital, 45 of those in critical condition or worse.  Among the dead are the country's Finance Minister and his bodyguards.  A revolutionary organization called FARC has claimed responsibility, calling for the public removal of all who would stand in the way of developing Colombia's vast natural resources.  Apparently, the Finance Minister had been opposed to approving some sort of deal that would allow a company called Liston Pharmaceuticals to build some sort of facility in the country.  The minister had been an influential adviser to the President and the deal was apparently as good as dead.   The Deputy Finance Minister has come out publicly in opposition to his former superior.

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - In VR] #119

<<Ok, up to date now. So Liston paid someone to assassinate the finance minister and have him replaced by his deputy. I don't know much about politics and corps practices, but isn't that pretty standard stuff? At least in Bogotá, I suppose they don't use bombs everywhere, too many questions to answer, but in Bogotá... So... I suppose that I should dig into this Liston Pharmaceuticals and the deputy to see the fishy part?>>

[Mercy Merchant]

>>I knew you were smart the first time I saw you.  Send me a message in the morning..............say tennish?<<

[Imladir]

[Cynthia Rawson - Sunday June 10th, 2075 - In VR] #120

<<Sure, will do. 'night.>>

This done, Cynthia will first look for updates on the situation on the home front - most notably to see if she can find why the Colonel left early. To do this, she'll dismiss Arsène, and have Sherlock perform the search. It's nothing too difficult which is perfect since she doesn't want to compile it at a high level, and right up his alley.

While Sherlock starts its own search, she will look into some data havens she knows which specialise into corp data and/or political powers: she doesn't expect to find the graal there, but some basic data on this Liston corporation, as well as the deputy himself, and hopefully, some leads to exploit to get more.

This is quite exciting (well, to her at least...), and she intends to profit from this for a while. However, she must be cautious, and regularly makes sure that no one is playing any game with her, carefully checking after each notable operation that she's not marked and/or followed. She really doesn't want to draw the attention of someone capable to kill hundreds of people just to get one person to herself. She pays all the more attention to all this since once again, she probably isn't the first one to think about all this. Furthermore, the corporation itself might have put some traps here and there to convince people like her to drop the matter. Or drop, period.

This run is just a preliminary one: she will exploit her most promising/dangerous leads in the morning. Now, it's just a way to pleasantly spend time, and get a head start for later.

[Mercy Merchant]

The local news feeds are all covering stories about gang violence breaking out in several parts of the city,, most notably the Barrens and the districts adjacent to there.  Vids of burning vehicles and barricades closing off streets are rolling on every channel, along with estimated death and injury counts that seem to increase every couple of minutes as new information comes in from various hospitals.

There is some public information on the trix about Liston Pharmaceuticals.  They are apparently a small firm known for developing and producing cheap medicinal drugs in out of the way locations.  They have listed facilities in Africa and South America and the UCAS.  The UCAS facility was recently in the news when a group of criminals managed to get past all the security and raid their warehouse.

The former Finance Minister of Colombia has quite a lot of press coverage.  He had been an outspoken opponent of foreign corporations coming in to exploit a cheap labor market and had been very vocal about the recent application of Liston to build a facility there, pointing out the corporation's poor record for safety in other South American countries.

These public files attract lots of visitors, but you do not detect any marks on you.