[Keita]

>>>>>[ I know. That's why I learned Nahuatl. It's less useful here, though. But Japanese is such an inelegant language...and it doesn't fit well in my mouth. Sperethiel...perhaps it's because of the age I was born in, but as beautiful as the language is, I don't really see what's so special about it. I've been around longer than it has, so for me, it's about on par with Or'zet.

Mmm...I've heard some good things about the Azanian Confederation, or whatever they call themselves now. Interesting history they have. My old runner buddy laughed at me when I quoted the standard view of Africa to him. All he said was "don't believe everthing you read. Thos who write our stories write without understanding, from a point of view that interprets difference as inferiority. Presumptuous of them to write about us when they can't even get the African map right."

His words, not mine.

  Night, Ice. Nice chatting with you.

Um...and hello Faust. ]<<<<<
     -- Madrecita (17:25:12/01-11-74)

[CanRay]

>>>>>[Always fun talking to the DocWagon Company Men, "Don't trust those clinics, you could end up with a cortex bomb.  You're safer here, if we were going to do it, we'd have done it already." is what a few hours of discussion sums down to.  Yeah, the "dark" part of DocWagon knows what I do.  Honestly, they consider me a walking advertisement to the shadow community to their services.  And, really, as I'm alive instead of dead after having a building fall on me, I can't fault them for it.

Not just elves that see folks grow old and die, I was starting to see it with Murphy's Uncle these last few years.  Really hit a few points home.  I also know of some, well, really short lived peoples, shall we say...  Well, we all know life ain't fair, neh?

Ah, languages!  Linguisofts help, but I'd suggest chip training in the language, then learning from the locals of wherever you are.  A good ear can piece out a chip speaker anywhere and know you're not local, and don't even bother trying to learn, just rely on technology.  It's an insult in some places.  I grew up in a English and French household, learned German and Japanese as a child.  Chip-learned Sperethiel and then got it from the street, smudge of Korean and Mandarin, enough Vietnamese to swear in, my Grandfather of all people taught me enough Thai to get a drink, laid, or both in.  At least, I hope he did, he's a little strange in the head.  I learned Or'Zet the hard way, but sound like a stereotypical lisping homosexual in it, as does anyone without tusks apparently.

The rest is mostly patois of a variety of languages from here and there.  My French and German were what I used the most in Africa, for example, with a bit of the local dialects creeping in.  Enough to learn that I was pissing off the wrong animals.  Man, I miss those hunts.  Ah well, should visit again someday.  This time, more cartridges for the elephant rifle.

Welcome to the bar, Faust!  Sorry, I'm drifting in my thoughts here.  Enjoy the bar, unlike the liquor in the mundane Underground 93, this stuff won't rot your insides out!  Bleh.

Oh, and Iceblade, watch out for Murphy.  I saw his Uncle train him, and he took your contract, which means he's looking out for you right now.  Guaranteed.]<<<<<
     -- Money Johnson (16:32:10/01-11-74)

[Mirikon]

>>>>>[Sorry. I am sorry. Things are better sometimes than they are at others. Doc would say it is Post-traumatic, but it is not. I do not remember my past. Not before the SCIRE. Online during the Crash. It did not help my mind.

What I was is no more. Now I am a street samurai.

Money Johnson, Madrecita, I thank you for my welcome.]<<<<<

--Faust (18:38:05/01-11-74)

[Kylen]

>>>>>[My...er, lets call him Old Man taught me, I think it's Cantonese dialect Chinese. I'm not sure off hand though. I'll have to ask next time we meet up for tea and training.

Which brings me to the topic of alternative jobs: I love my 'delivery boy' job. Wonderful Triad front, pays alright, Get extra coin when a Brother needs something shipped quiet like. Keeps me in my nice pad...even if I have some issues there. Alas, no neighborhood or house is perfect, but I got my dojo and a place to live. Not much else I need.]<<<<<

     --Card (18:56:30/01-11-74

[CanRay]

>>>>>[I'd be happy with a waterproof tent and a army surplus cot.  All-Father knows I've had to rough it worse.  Anyhow, I just have a full-body refurbishment and upgrade only six years ago or so, so my age shouldn't be a problem.  But appearances must be maintained.  Not complaining about my apartment, mind you.  Just wish the security there wasn't so intrusive at times.

How did one 'runner put it on Shadowland once?  "A place to keep the rain off, a pistol for security, and a bottle for company"?  Heh, lots of folks have a lot less.  Speaking of, Murphy, you're about to get a harsh lesson that your Uncle and I couldn't prepare you for.  Nerve yourself up and remember your face, you've seen all this before with Mr. Poncy Elf Nobleman.  ...  No, I doubt you're too poncy any longer, are you Iceblade?

That guy that kept kicking me and stabbing me with the rapier, he was poncy!  Leather jacket with lace ruffles out of the sleeves, I kid you not!]<<<<<
     -- Money Johnson (18:14:57/01-11-74)

[Mirikon]

>>>>>[Just checked into the hotel. Nice place in the Hub. Don't have any meetings tonight, so I'm taking Murphy to Weekday Eclipse. That pixie group is playing tonight, and it should be a good time.

Don't worry, Money. I'll look after the kid. And his uncle would be proud of him. Didn't even flinch when a free spirit popped in out of nowhere, looking like a wendigo for reasons I don't even care to guess at. The Hub has a very high percentage of Awakened residents, which means things can get... odd. Odd even by magical standards. Kid hasn't freaked out yet, so there's definitely hope for him.

And what the drek you mean by 'poncy'? Just because I look good, and the ladies know it, doesn't make me poncy. ]<<<<<

--Iceblade (19:23:19/01-11-74)

[All4BigGuns]

>>>>>[Always meant to learn Sperethiel, but I never found a language teacher for it.
As to DocWagon, yeah, there's only one doc I'd trust more than them. Which is why whenever I renew my contract, I go for Platinum service.]<<<<<

--Predator (19:23:19/01-11-74)

[CanRay]

>>>>>[I can see what you mean by not being able to prepare me for this, Mr. Money.  The extravagance of...  EVERYTHING.  I knew there was a major difference between the Haves and Have-Nots.  But there's no way to prepare a Barrens Brat for something like, well, what Mr. Iceblade is doing right now.

I almost did pop that Wendigo spirit one, however.  Reflexes were set up for defense of you, Mr. Iceblade, but when you didn't react, I settled down.  The overzealous bodyguard is just so much posturing and obvious Alpha dominance.  There are more subtle ways of doing things.  Especially when said bodyguard ends up on the floor and bloody when he tries it on Uncle or me.  Um, tried it on Uncle, I mean.]<<<<<
     -- Murphy (10:33:40/01-12-74)

[Keita]

>>>>>[ Mmm...he's going to be just fine, isn't he? Be sure to learn all you can from Ice about fitting into that world, Murphy. I can't think of anyone better than a Tir noble to teach you that. You'd be amazed about how easily doors can open for you if you know the right image to present.

Poncy. Mmm. Engish is a funny language.

Nice attitude you have there, Card.  ]<<<<<
     -- Madrecita (12:29:12/01-12-74)

[Chrona]

>>>>>[I had a chat with that Free Spirit while you were out, Ice, Murphy. Similar tastes it seems. He, as it prefers to be referred to, laments his lack of ability to truly taste Metahuman flesh. I consoled him with my experience that it isn't great..]<<<<<
     -- Chrona (17:29:40/01-12-74)

[Kylen]

>>>>>[It's an easy one to have when you gotta live on a budget, Madre. I'm just happy I'm not like the stereotypical 'runner, living in a box a majority of days.

Also, I suggest avoiding North Seattle. Some idiot decided to drop a building into the roads. Traffic is going to be backed up almost to the City Center.

chrona: Check your time. I know it's not after 5 here in Seattle. Unless you're posting from...er...the East Coast I guess.]<<<<<

     --Card (14:05:30/1-12-74

[CanRay]

>>>>>[Poncy as in "Effeminate".  If this guy had a bigger chest, some make-up, and some actual fighting ability, I might have mistaken him for my wife.

Yeah, I felt the earth shake and it felt like a building (You have one land on you, you learn how it feels!).  I wish I wasn't in a tank so that I could get up and look.  The Matrix Feeds are getting horrible shots.  I swear, ever since the Wireless Matrix came about, news agencies don't care about proper camera shots any longer, they'll just hack and use whatever cameras are in the area instead of sending a drone of their own.

As for Metahuman flesh, can't say I've ever tasted it.  Never wanted to.  Just like Dolphin.  Mercury levels are through the roof.]<<<<<
     -- Money Johnson (14:19:35/01-12-74)

[Keita]

>>>>>[ I used to live in far worse than a box before coming to Seattle. The house I have now seems positively luxurious in comparison, although not nearly as plush as what I had before taking up running. Oddly enough, I don't really miss it. It was a life I can barely relate to anymore.

Mmm. Thank you, Money. I'll have to go read a dictionary, it seems. ]<<<<<
     -- Madrecita (15:44:12/01-12-74)

[Mirikon]

>>>>>[Just got in after the day's meetings. Checked in with the Tir embassy here in the morning, got the lay of the land. Later, we 'just happened' to run into Johann Castle (the CAS rep on the Council) at his favorite club. Played the extravagant nobleman around him, and he ate it up. Didn't get any real information, but that wasn't what this trip was about. You have to develop contacts over time. No we talked business, literally. Told him I was looking to invest in the CAS sector, but was looking for a 'local partner'. Again, he ate it up.

After lunch, we had an appointment with Istas Catori, the PCC rep. Nice lady, all told. PCC and Tir Tairngir have a lot to talk about, natch, so the 'unofficial representative' line is a nice way to get the ball rolling. And there's a lesson for you, Murphy. The majority of the work of politics is done through unofficial channels, not the circus you see on the news channels. Tap into the unofficial channels and you get a feel for where things are going.

Murphy's handling himself well, and hasn't let himself go slack-jawed, staring about as most Barrens kids do when they first get a taste of the high life. He didn't even show any discomfort when we attended services at the local chapter of the Church of the Dragon (Or is it the church of the dragon reborn? So hard to keep track of cults these days.), to talk to Lucinda Gray Arrow. Only place her Wildcat bodyguards give people a bit of breathing room to talk with her, so I played the recent convert during the service, and we talked afterwards.

Chrona, if what you say is true, I wonder if that spirit was a Spirit of Man originally summoned by a Wendigo, and later gone free. Did you ask him about his history at all? Could be an interesting story there.

Madre, its a good thing you can barely relate to that life now. Does nobody any good to walk back down bloody paths when you've left them.

Anyways, back at the hotel now, getting ready for dinner. Going to Altitude, see if we can't 'just happen' to run into the Dragon's Voice while we're there.]<<<<<

--Iceblade (18:54:02/01-12-74)

[CanRay]

>>>>>[Johnny!  Haven't seen that drekhead in years!  "Eating it up" might be an understatement, he's a lot sharper than he gives anyone appearances to.  Unless you're Aura-Reading him, expect three different plans going through his head at once.  That said, he's one of those rich guys who want to have class rub off on him, and hobnobs with a chummer of mine that is a British Nobleman in self-imposed exile of sorts (long story, not mine to tell.).

Yeah, Murphy's Uncle and I taught him a bit of Japanese culture about wearing a face and all that.  He'll go ga-ga when he gets back in private.  Just don't expect him to stay that way if things go down, his entire attention will be on putting things down as hard and fast as possible, as well as looking for additional threats in case that's a decoy.  His Uncle, Grandfather, and Great-Grandfather were the same way.  I just hope your stick can afford expensive breakables if he has to go all-out, he doesn't care about collateral damage that isn't biological.

Maybe it's everyone talking about home, or me being stuck in this tank, but I'm getting homesick now.  Damnit.]<<<<<
     -- Money Johnson (18:26:40/01-12-74)