[lwcoyote]

Same time, same place
PAN Status: Passive
SIN Status: Jenna McIntyre

Leigh listened to 'Leatherface' quietly, her features carefully neutral, although brows do raise a little at his apparent knowledge on the expense of bribing the resteraunt to poison someone. Keeping those thoughts to herself,  the elf leaned forward a little, but then smiled slightly as their host proceeded to order dinner. Negotiations on a full stomach tend to be easier, though if he's footing the bill, I wouldn't be surprised if it came out of our contract.. she muses, perhaps pessimistically.

As each of the others orders in turn, Leigh cataloged the information, admiring their tastes - particularly Ada's, having a soft spot for spicy heat herself. When it comes around to her, however, she decides to break from the indian cuisine.

"I'll have the kaeng khua het fang and khanom chin sao nam..." the elf requests, her Thai seeming rote more than natural. "Ask your chef to add extra chillies to the latter." Leigh adds with a slight grin. "And I'll have cha yen and a Guinness Ancestral as well." she finishes, flashing Talon a quick a little smile in response to his wink.

Once finished ordering, Leigh settles back in her chair comfortably, taking another casual look around the table at those that she will apparently be working with. Interesting bunch... some of them seem a little rough around the edges, but that could just be my world view biasing me..

Focusing back on 'Leatherface', Leigh studies him for a long moment, trying to determine if there anything about his features or voice that would be familiar from anywhere. Once the waitress departs, she'll lean forward slightly, reaching for a glass of water. "I understand your point about team-building, and it leads me to wonder why your employeer would not have you contact an established team." she comments, gaze questioning, before taking a sip from her glass.

[StarManta]

"My employer sprung this on me as a test," he answered without missing a beat. "I'm up for a promotion. But I'm reminded of gift horses and mouths. After all, if I'd gone out to hire an established team, you all would still be unemployed right now, am I correct?"
Make a judge intentions test if you don't trust him

"Now, shall we get down to business?"

[Deliverator]

Monday February 15, 2072; 17:09, The Edge, Downtown
Sharp; PAN=Passive SIN: Nicholas Spikings Rt.4

Talon watches Leatherface carefully, if not nonchalantly. "Yes, we may have still been unemployed. But we also wouldn't be suspecting each other of suspicious intentions"

Judge intentions: Int (4) + Cha (5) (9d6.hits(5)=2)

"So when do we start talking business? I don't wish to interrupt my meal with... negotiations... But I have no problem waiting until after the meal if you wish to procrastinate. In the interim, these chairs are quite comfortable, I wonder where they get them... Definitely like not having arms on them, makes them faaar more versatile Flashes a grin at Dancer and resumes his relaxed pose.

"Also I hope you are prepared to front some cred for expenses. Since I don't know any of my team mates here, I will want to be picking up a few things in case of contingencies."

[Thermo]

Monday February 15, 2072; 17:09, The Edge, Downtown
Dirk Blackwater; PAN=Passive SIN: Shin Shoryuken Rt.3

Something about this whole situation definitely doesn't scan.. sounds like he's looking for a bunch of nobodies that are 100% expendable; otherwise, he'd have at least one or two established (and trusted) runners in the group, if nothing else so he can keep tabs on the rest of the "talent".

This is either amateur hour, or we're being set up to take the fall for something.

Judge Intentions roll (Int 4+Cha 3) 7d6.hits(5)=2

Blackjack fixes the Johnson with a steely glare through his matte black cybershades.

"I pick my employers, and I pick my work. My employment is none of your business unless I choose to make it so. This had better be good."

[Kylen]

Nothing changed here
Jackson, SIN = Passive Broadcast of Roan Linth, RT 4

"Well, Mister Johnson, or Leatherface, which ever you prefer, what IS the work you're hiring us for?" Jackson asked, ordering a simple beer.

[Netzgeist]

5 (Charisma) + 4 (Intuition) + 6 (Glasses Empathy software) = 15 dice pool
15 dice roll = 5 hits, no glitch

Eliza does not looks as if she is staring, but she evaluates the so called Leather Face with caution. Her natural perspective glances enhanced by the cues her glasses sensors give her on the physiological hints of their host are usually her best weapon on a battle of wits, and she had learned to trust her impressions.

"Usually I don't like negotiating during a meal... It never feels appropriate, and can spoil the experience." Ada seems quite polite, and is saying nothing but the true. As far as she perceived based on the orders, they could all had a more than decent gastronomic experience before the end of the day. "But if you are interested in starting the business talk, I wouldn't be contrary to that. The stage you set let me quite curious, Mr. Johnson."

[StarManta]

Monday February 15, 2072; 17:10, The Edge, Elven District, Seattle Downtown, UCAS

Talon, Blackjack, and Eliza scrutinized their potential employer. Only Eliza - and her empathy software - could get a hint of what Leatherface was spinning. She was sure that what he was saying wasn't true, but probably only just - and perhaps more telling, her empathy software picked up on signals, body language and vocal cues, that he was actually invested in the relationships he was cultivating here. Perhaps he was more concerned about what someone else might get wind of than what the actual team knew. Seeing through the lie put her at the advantage, and paradoxically made her feel like she could trust him. With a hint of something she might in the future be able to hold over him, Eliza might be able to pull that thread and actually trust him. What better trust is there than blackmail?

"If you'd rather wait until after the meal," he was saying, "I'm in no rush. It certainly makes sense that you'd want to savor a meal of this caliber." He turned to Talon. "As for expenses, they'll probably be coming out of your cut, but I suppose depending on the nature I might be persuaded to expense some gear for you."

Monday February 15, 2072; 17:15, The Edge, Elven District, Seattle Downtown, UCAS

A few minutes later - faster than expected, even - their entrees began arriving.

[Deliverator]

Monday February 15, 2072; 17:15, The Edge, Elven District, Seattle Downtown, UCAS
Sharp; PAN=Passive SIN=Nicholas Spikings rt.4

"Ah wonderful! Either the kitchen is slow tonight, or someone likes us." Grins devilishly at Leatherface. Talon digs in after everyone is served, savoring every bite and lavishing in the mixture of pleasant flavors. "Meals like this make me wish I was married to a chef, Mmmmm"

Monday February 15, 2072; 17:45, The Edge, Elven District, Seattle Downtown, UCAS
Sharp; PAN=Passive SIN=Nicholas Spikings rt.4

"... And then I wanted as this dancer just gassed this trog with this huge grin on his face. So I said 'You better wipe that shit eating grin off your face or things might escalate!' " Talon laughs heartily and takes a drink of wine and sighs heavily. "Haha hah... anyway, it seems like everyone has finished their meal now. Lets move the conversation toward the serious."

[Netzgeist]

Monday February 15, 2072; 17:45, The Edge, Elven District, Seattle Downtown, UCAS
Eliza Gebb, PAN = Passive (Meta Link), Hidden (Major); Broadcasting Ada Byron SIN rt.4

"Ada"'s plate is completely clean before her. The girl holds her glass and looks at the remains of the meal. With a meditative look at nowhere in particular, she adds: "It was quite good, I give you that, but it's not that difficult to know why the movement here is dwindling. Seems like the chef is having a hard time trying to be innovative."

She sips some wine, smiles widely, and scans a brief glaze through all her table-mates. You can learn more in a dispretentious conversation during a dinner than most would imagine. I was a good time - and that is really something when it comes to knowing a Johnson with a forced through team.

"So, Mr. Johnson, I think you could brief us in about the job you will request. It seems like you got everybody's attention."

[Kylen]

Monday February 15, 2072; 17:45, The Edge, Elven District, Seattle Downtown, UCAS
Jackson Hart, PAN = Passive, SIN RT4: Roan Linth

Jack had just ordered a salad, not really caring about the sophisticated food, and it showed. "It's alright..I'm saving my appetite for somewhere else." he said, finishing it quickly and pushing it aside. "I'll be honest, I came here for business, not fancy food. If we could follow her suggestion and get on with exactly that."

[StarManta]

Monday February 15, 2072; 17:46, The Edge, Elven District, Seattle Downtown, UCAS

"Down to business it is. So here's the rub. I need some data planted in the right place, which in this case means the NeoNET communications nexus in Tacoma. If it's planted there, the amount of data passing through that fiber will mask its origin. This will involve sneaking into the facility - undetected, of course - and linking a datastick I'll provide into one of the core routers. The software on the stick should take care of the rest from there. It's important that this is done on Wednesday before 11AM. I can offer 2000 nuyen for each of you - half up front, of course."

The waitress returned, bringing a bottle of moscato and a number of wine glasses on a tray wine glasses. "Will this be shared with everyone today, sir?"

As she poured wine into his glass, he smiled. "I took the liberty of ordering us a dessert wine. Wine is always on me for any of my business partners. With that in mind, I will let each of them decide if they would like some wine."

Who would accept a job readily with so little information? The dubious looks he got back from the more experienced of the group said enough. "Just leave the glasses, please, miss. I'll pour for those who want it." As she complied, he returned his attention to the table. "What can I tell you to get you to let me pour you a glass?"

[Deliverator]

Monday February 15, 2072; 17:46, The Edge, Elven District, Seattle Downtown, UCAS
Sharp; PAN=Passive SIN=Nicholas Spikings rt.4

Talon glances at Leatherface. "Well, do you have more information? Security protocols, systems, response times, number of personnel at different times of day? Also, 2000 seems a little low to risk my life with people I've never met. So I would like to request a little more for me, I have bills to pay after all."

[Netzgeist]

Monday February 15, 2072; 17:45, The Edge, Elven District, Seattle Downtown, UCAS
Eliza Gebb, PAN = Passive (Meta Link), Hidden (Major); Broadcasting Ada Byron SIN rt.4

Eliza appreciated the way LeatherFace drove the negotiation: not that it would facilitate any one accepting the job, but it was done with style. What she really, really didn't like was hearing the word NeoNET.

She puts down the glass she was drinking before, now emptied, and with a soft voice, says:

"I believe this wine will need to take some air before we partake of it, Mr. Johnson. It will enhance it's bouquet and give us time to decide if we'll be business partners or not."

Toying a little with her hair, the girl continues:

"I believe you could share with us a little more info on the practicalities of the task. I'm wondering why should you assemble a team like ourselves - you certainly believe there's a need for each of our talents, and it would be useful for us to know into what you base this assumptions. Also, I'd like to know a little more about the facility where this little tampering should be staged: what kind of security should we expect, and within which parameters should we act there. May you enlighten us as to it?"

[Kylen]

Same place, slightly later time
Jackson, PAN passive, SIN Roan

"2k? Either there is something wrong, or you're not expecting us to come back." he said, enjoying his Guinness brew. "II'm sorry, but I could go to my normal...employer and make that in a day or two, minimal risk, no team required. You either need to up the price, or explain real well why it's so cheap to sneak into a likely highly guarded building to find this info." he said, keeping his cool.

[Thermo]

Monday February 15, 2072; 17:46, The Edge, Downtown
Dirk Blackwater; PAN=Passive SIN: Shin Shoryuken Rt.4

Dirk finished his meal, acting as though he ate like this on a regular basis, but knowing full well that his meal had probably cost 250 nuyen.

I know it's tradition to give the condemned a last meal of their choosing, but I didn't think it would be washed down with a whole liter of Guinness Ancestral Lager!

Dirk considered what Leatherface was offering.

Two thousand nuyen isn't bad pay, assuming it's a milk run.. Hopefully one of these guys can talk him up a bit. It'd be nice to have the rent a few weeks in advance.

"If things go sideways, somehow I get the feeling that I'm on the 'muscle' side of the equation. I might be able to bluff my way in, but getting my gear inside is going to be a whole different story. Might be better to use my chameleon suit and let some of these slick chummers here create a diversion. There might be rooftop access, and I've got my grappling gun, but we'd need a wiz hacker to disable the security."

Dirk reaches for the wine and pours himself a glass, but makes a point to put the glass in front of him without taking a sip

Just pouring wine never settles things, it's the toast that seals the deal

He nods to Eliza and Talon in agreement concerning the need for more information

"I assume you can tell us more about the security, both getting in and getting back out, right? As for insurance, well, I can assume that if we get pinched, they'll figure out pretty quickly what happened and the data plant will be useless. Seems like full disclosure is in both of our best interests. So what exactly are we getting into here?"