Shadowrun - Chapter FIve - Welcome to the Sprawl

[Trellin]

August 16th 12:44 pm 2058 - The Seattle University Sports Centre


Stalker paid attention as Patch introduced himself to the other two. Once he started speaking with them he put Patch from his mind and turned his attention back to the rest of the crowd. He took a moment to try and spent some time getting a more detailed reading of Dennis teammates. He was looking for anything out of place; Someone who's aura didn't match their visible behavior, who's emotions notably altered whenever Kevin came into view or became part of their mental space, or even someone who's aura looked too smooth, too controlled. He was ruling nothing out, not even the involvement of magic at this point and it seemed reasonable to start with his teammates. He suspected that the trail would lead to something far larger than a few college kids who didn't want to lose out to a troll but that was no reason not to be thorough about it and he did pride himself on his professionalism.

[Maxx]

OOC:  Don't you mean Dennis?

August 16th 12:44 pm 2058 - The Seattle University Sports Centre

The artist laughed.  "Well, I'm not about to find out if you like belly rubs, so I'll take your word on it.  And if you're that down on your luck you might want to drop by Crusher 495.  They might be able to help you get on your feet again.  It may be a bar but they always know about odd jobs that need doing.  Plus the bartender and owner is a troll so when you ask for a large coffee, you get a LARGE coffee."

"Stop trying to save him Duster."  The native woman finally spoke.  Her voice was soft but there was an unmistakable iron in it.  "I'm sorry," she said, addressing Patch.  "He has this thing about trying to play white knight.  He'd try to save everybody, if he had the chance."

"I was just giving him a little advice," Duster groused.  "In answer to your question, I'm just doodling.  Sketching bits and pieces of the practice.  Nothing in particular."  He showed the troll his sketch book.  "Like I said, just something to do while waiting."



There wasn't a whole lot of variation in the auras of the players on the field.  They seemed to be focused rather intently on the practice.   There was the typical mix of irritation and elation, disappointment and anger that was usually found when one side was outdoing the other. It took a while for Stalker to spot because the change was subtle.  Whenever a different quarterback candidate was brought in, one of the receivers pulled off the gloves he wore when Dennis was handling the ball.  It didn't matter who was throwing, however.  His hands seemed like magnets.  He could catch anything, no matter how wobbly or how far off target.

[Honcho]

August 16th 12:44 pm 2058 - The Seattle University Sports Centre

Patch attempted to smile at the women, "Is ok, I appreciates any helps I can gets. I may needs to check dis place out. Crusher 495, ya?" he continues without pause, "My name Max but friends call me Patch" extending his hand to the lady first then the man.

[Maxx]

August 16th 12:45 pm 2058 - The Seattle University Sports Centre

"Timber," the woman replied, giving Patch a firm handshake and looking him straight in the eye.  "As in 'wolf'.  This is Duster."  She couldn't stop a grin from flashing across her face.  "As in feather." The artist gave her a look and waved at Patch but didn't extend his hand.  Perhaps he didn't want to.  Perhaps it was because his hands were already full and he would have had to rearrange everything in his lap in order to stand to do so.  It was difficult to tell.  Both of the pair were being friendly but there was something guarded there as well.

[Trellin]

August 16th 12:44 pm 2058 - The Seattle University Sports Centre


Well, well, he thought, as he noticed the receivers quirk, Our first bigot of the day. He focused all his attention on the kid, listening for a nickname, checking his jersey, and noticing the people he spoke to in a familiar fashion. It was clear he was serious about the practice, skilled and had a surprising amount of focus for a college kid. It was exceedingly unlikely that he was the one responsible for the pressure Dennis was feeling but it was a start. Given six degrees of separation, however, it was a definite possibility that the kid could be used as a starting point to eventually locating that source of stress. He reminded himself not to get so focused on the receiver that he failed to take time to study Dennis himself. If he knew, or suspected, that someone was associated with the source of his stress, it would be much harder for him to hide it, given that he already was reacting to it, certainly off the field.

[Maxx]

August 16th 12:45 pm 2058 - The Seattle University Sports Centre

The jersey read CARSON in large letters and from what Stalker could here, everyone, including the coach, called him 'Cargo'.  The coach himself was easy to overhear, considering that he had a voice that could be heard over a jet engine.  He didn't seem to be holding back his criticism and was more than willing to chew out players who failed to meet his exacting standards.  He had three times as many players as he needed to make a team and he didn't have a lot of time to pare them down.

[Trellin]

August 16th 12:46 pm 2058 - The Seattle University Sports Centre


Once he had enough information on the receiver to start digging he turned his attention to Dennis himself, searching for any tiny details that he might have overlooked on the initial survey of the players, trying to discover the threads in the web that connected him with everyone else here today.
While he did this he tried to genuinely appreciate and actively enjoy the practice. First, immersing himself helped him gain a better understanding of the world in which he would have to operate to accomplish his goal and second, it would help him blend in and operate in that world more effectively and third, someone there watching practice intently with no apparent connection to anything or anyone would draw attention sooner or later.

[Maxx]

August 16th 12:46 pm 2058 - The Seattle University Sports Centre

It was occasionally difficult to watch.  Players who had the heart but not quite the talent were slowly but surely heading themselves for elimination.  Dennis was like a machine.  His arm would go back and the ball would fly to exactly where he wanted it.  If a throw was missed, it was unlikley to have been Dennis at fault.  He seemed like a mountain king, standing calm amidst a storm.  

The other quarterback contenders seemed to sense the pressure.  Some stepped up their own game while others accepted the inevitable.  Here was where the coach was focusing the majority of his ire.  He wasn't interested in anyone who wasn't able to perform under pressure or was willing to give up at the slightest challenge.  He screamed at those who were looked like they were going through the motions.  He was less vitriolic but equally loud with those who were trying to knock Dennis off his mountain and it seemed like the coach was more than willing to let them have their chance.

[Honcho]

August 16th 12:46 pm 2058 - The Seattle University Sports Centre

Patch attempts a smile at the wit of Timber, and turns back to Duster and lifts his hook into view, "As you see I could use lucks and favors. I new to area. I not know many. So I tanks you for advice. You say dat you tries to saves people, ya? You ever have any lucks?"

[Maxx]

August 16th 12:47 pm 2058 - The Seattle University Sports Centre

There was a haunted look in Duster's eyes for a moment.  "Sometimes," he said.  "Not always."

[Trellin]

August 16th 12:47 pm 2058 - The Seattle University Sports Center, Stalker


He grinned listening to the coach rant. It didn't matter what the sport or where it was played. You didn't even have to know the language to understand what they were saying. He turned his attention to the staff that he could see trying to gauge their reactions to what was going and noting their reactions to the players.
He did a quick time check before studying the staff. He needed to be thorough but also wanting to make sure that he had plenty of time to surreptitiously study the crowd in depth before the practice wound down and people started filing out. His goal was to be in a position where could watch and listen to the crowd unnoticed as they exited and see what he could find out when they started talking about what they'd seen, and then be in place to do the same with the team when they left the locker room for the day.

[Honcho]

August 16th 12:47 pm 2058 - The Seattle University Sports Centre

Patch gives a quizzical look to Duster, "Sound likes last von not go so vell." he tries to choose his words carefully, he wants him to expound upon the topic but doesn't want to pry too much. "Is someting you vants to talks about? If nots, I understands." he careful watches Duster's body language to see if he's made his new acquaintance uncomfortable.

[Maxx]

August 16th 12:48 pm 2058 - The Seattle University Sports Centre

Duster wasn't just uncomfortable with the question, he was VERY uncomfortable with it.  Even the mongoose picked up on it. 

"No, he doesn't want to talk about it,"  Timber said as she put a protective arm around Duster.  There was a warning in her eyes that let Patch know that he was treading on dangerous ground and if he stepped further the troll would be dealing with her, rather than Duster.  It was clear that of the pair she was by far the most dangerous.   "Anything else we can do for you Patch?"

[Honcho]

August 16th 12:48 pm 2058 - The Seattle University Sports Centre

Patch recoils mentally, "I understanding dis, I meaning no harms to you. I means not to upsets anyvon's." he moves to stand "I tanks you for da helps. I hopes you can still enjoys da practice and mongoose enjoys new home." he tips his hat politely "If you please excuse. Maybe I sees you again. Just one mores question please. Do you knows where is bathrooms."

Assuming that Timber doesn't take offense to this and points him towards the bathroom. He goes down to the bathroom. If he sees either Stalker or Raven on his way he'll simply tip his hat to them and continue to the bathroom. Once there he'll go to a stall sit down then move his patch to the other eye. Then reposition his hat low to shadow his eyes, flush, wash, and exit.

Patch then returns to the bleachers and looks around for the obvious team entrance/exit. He tries to find a seat that is near the tunnel and away from others to finish watching the practice. He is hoping that he can capture images of the players faces, using his good eye, during the practice or as the team leaves. He especially, focuses on Dennis and anyone that talks to or hits him.

[Maxx]

OOC:  Sorry Trellin.  Missed your post.  Must have been the dark blue blending into the background....  lol

August 16th 1:00 pm 2058 - The Seattle University Sports Center

The staff, like the players were trying to shake the summer's dust off their backs.  Unlike the players they had more time and less criticism.  Most of their jibes were reserved for the newer candidates and seemed to involve coming up with unimaginative nicknames for them.  Cargo they knew and Dennis had been saddled with Goliath, for obvious reasons. 

One of the people the staff were discussing as the players left the field, exhausted and either elated or deflated, was the blind man sitting above the players bench.  He was a stadium fixture it seemed and never missed a practice or a game.

There were no real clear shots of the players faces.  They were crowded together and not all of them had taken off their helmets.  Many were looking down.  It was likely going to be an hour before they were leaving, after their showering and the obligatory dressing down from the coach. 

[Trellin]

OOC: Thats cause it was ninja-like in its stealthiness. That's my claim, anyway.

August 16th 12:47 pm 2058 - The Seattle University Sports Center, Stalker


He focused in on the conversation that the staffers that were having concerning the blind man for a moment and surreptitiously  took a look at the gentleman out of the corner of his eye. Surely he had misunderstood what they were saying. If not, he had to admit he was very curious about the gentleman.

He began to slowly make his way towards a spot he'd picked out earlier where he could go unnoticed and observe the spectators in an unhurried way as they made their exit from the stadium.

[Maxx]

August 16th 1:47 pm 2058 - The Seattle University Sports Center

The players began trickling out in ones and twos, some obviously pumped about their chances and others downcast, either already eliminated or very close to being so.  Dennis seemed at odds.  His performance had been excellent but he showed no signs of being pleased with it.  In fact he was almost sullen as he strode to his motorcycle, fired it up and rode off.

Shortly after Dennis departed, the old man from the stands arrived, slowly working his way along the wall, a white cane in his hand.  He waited until he heard a particular voice, then smiled.

"Hey, Cargo."

The receiver beamed.  "Hey, Dad.  Need a ride?"  His aura was awash with pride and love but traces of sadness ran through it along with a faint trace 0f shame.

"Unless you want me to drive."  They both laughed and Cargo took his father's arm and headed for the parking lot.

[Honcho]

August 16th 1:50 pm 2058 - The Seattle University Sports Center

Patch waits for the players to finish leaving and looks over to see if Duster and Feather have parted ways with their mongoose. He then goes to find Stalker and Raven to share what little info he managed to gather, hoping that they may have found out more.

[Maxx]

August 16th 1:50 pm 2058 - The Seattle University Sports Center

Duster and his lady were long gone by the time the players started leaving.  They seemed happy enough and the cage was no longer with them.  Patch got a nod of acknowledgment rather than a full wave.  They got on a beat up Harley and sped off.

[Trellin]

August 16th 12:52 pm 2058 - The Seattle University Sports Center, Stalker



Stalker waited patiently, observing in isolation until he was certain everyone had left except the employees and then waited another minute before making his way towards the others. He needed some beer and some time to turn things over in the back of his head. He could toy with ideas with the others but he wasn't used to operating with a team like this and wasn't sure if it would help or hurt to have to talk to the others about it. On the other hand, if it turned out he needed some time, it was easy enough to get some time for his normal, semi-instinctive process of letting the subconscious work on it if that was necessary. He was curious how the others had fared though and wondered if they might have turned up anything that could be used to weave a useful pattern out of.

[Maxx]

Okay, I'm calling for a vote.  Who wants to continue this thread (with a restart) and who wants to just let it fade away?

[Trellin]

I thought I"d responded to this earlier, sorry. I would be happy to do a restart provided we could actually get posts. Just my two cents.

[Maxx]

Posts are good.  People just seem to lose interest over time when things don't move fast.

[LadyJallyn]

Youve lost Honco too I think...

[Maxx]

Not to mention a certain young lady who has commented here but not given her actual opinion.