Mistwind
Major
Licensed flight addict, deepsea diving fan, mech-pilot rookie - Accepts food and play for services.
Posts: 531
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Post by Mistwind on Oct 6, 2012 7:59:38 GMT -5
Some days after Smoke Signals. Date free to be determined by Duskwing's player according to ending of Smoke Signals. Private.
One day, Guido will find the doorbell to ring. On the doorstep sits a carefully sealed off cardboard box with his name and address on it. The letters are quite rigid and have a chiseled glyph-like feel to them, despite being English. The letters are also a deep purple color.
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Duskwing
Major
"What the slag happened?"
Posts: 848
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Post by Duskwing on Oct 6, 2012 17:01:54 GMT -5
Given his line of work, Guido Ala is slightly on the paranoid side. He checks through the peephole first. Seeing no one, he opens the apartment door a few inches; one hand holds a .45 pistol down at his side.
Still no one. Glancing down, he spots the box. What the hell? Is it a bomb? Something about the writing on the box attracts his attention, and he picks it up.
"Huh. Weird font." He takes it in the house and sets it on the table, then pokes around his kitchen drawer looking for a certain very sharp knife. Finally he pulls out a very narrow-bladed knife--a filleting knife and studies the box.
Very carefully, he cuts the bottom edge all the way around with his razor-sharp knife, turning the sealed cardboard box into a sealed cardboard lid sitting on a cardboard base. Also very carefully, he tilts the bottom edge up very slowly, peering inside....
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Mistwind
Major
Licensed flight addict, deepsea diving fan, mech-pilot rookie - Accepts food and play for services.
Posts: 531
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Post by Mistwind on Oct 6, 2012 17:44:22 GMT -5
A very strong scent of anti-septics emanates from the box, although there is a touch of long-extinguished burn wafting through it.
Inside the box lies a very sturdy vacuum-compressed plastic bag filled with a nondescript gray ash. There is no way to simply open it, and labels on the outer plastic clearly read 'Never open'. Taped on top of it, a crumpled twenty dollar-bill. There is also a communications device inside the box.
Guido has about a minute to take it all in before the device rings and the led screen displays [Answer me!] First in binary, then in normal english, then switches to binary, and so forth.
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Duskwing
Major
"What the slag happened?"
Posts: 848
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Post by Duskwing on Oct 6, 2012 17:53:39 GMT -5
It's not a bomb. Guido stares at the contents of the box in complete puzzlement. Whattheslag?
He scratches his head and stares at the dandified cell phone as it rings--then finally picks it up and hits the SEND button.
"Yeah, who's dis?"
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Mistwind
Major
Licensed flight addict, deepsea diving fan, mech-pilot rookie - Accepts food and play for services.
Posts: 531
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Post by Mistwind on Oct 6, 2012 18:07:29 GMT -5
Mistwind has made absolutely no effort to mask his voice, so that Guido might recognize him by voice alone. Still, he doesn't play around, much; "Ah, good! You found my present! Is your voice box still familiar with the name 'Misty'? That would be great, you see?"
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Duskwing
Major
"What the slag happened?"
Posts: 848
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Post by Duskwing on Oct 6, 2012 19:15:43 GMT -5
Guido Crepisculo Ala stares at the cellphone device for a long moment. Finally, he replies. "What the slag does my voicebox got to do wit' me rememberin' your name, Mistwind? An' what is all this other slag?"
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Mistwind
Major
Licensed flight addict, deepsea diving fan, mech-pilot rookie - Accepts food and play for services.
Posts: 531
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Post by Mistwind on Oct 6, 2012 20:15:03 GMT -5
"It has everything to do with remembering this one's designation, actually. That bill of currency was your property. In which case you can probably guess the message that the human streetrat messenger is giving you right now. Ordering this one around and claiming ownership of it is not a thing to do lightly, especially not if you then instruct some organic scum of relatively similar age category. This one took liberty to test and exhibit our differences, clearly." Mistwind announces that wat Guido has in front of him are the remains of Fade* in the most light-hearted way imaginable, even with a sense of satisfaction.
Then he proceeds very seriously; "We need to talk, in real private. Don't worry, you're not at risk of harm. That's my present after all; not injuring you. It's a really awesome present!"
* Off screen killing of the random NPC character in agreement with Duskwing's player. Wasn't going to be used outside of its initial appearance.
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Duskwing
Major
"What the slag happened?"
Posts: 848
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Post by Duskwing on Oct 6, 2012 20:49:22 GMT -5
Guido's face twisted into a scowl as he stared at the package in front of him. What the slag? He stared for a while, trying to figure out just what the voice on the other end of the connection was saying.
"Slaggit, you needa learn to talk straight! A guy cannot figure out what the frag you are sayin' withou' thinkin' it through half a dozen times, and what's gonna happen if what you're tryin' to tell me is 'Incoming--duck!'? I'm gonna have my head shot off before I figure out youse is even talkin' to me," he growls.
"Now let me get dis straight, because I am not sure I am understandin' what you are sayin', on account of it being dumb. Is you sayin' that you bumped off Sooner's courier and stole my payment of his cut to him? 'Cause dat would be not too bright. See, the outfit works like dis--if I get paid for protection services, dem as what be needin' to be protected from gotta get dere cut, or dey ain't gonna cooperate. If dey don't cooperate, and go rip off a guy dat I specifically said was pro-tec-ted, den I look bad, and I gotta go frag 'em for makin' me look bad. Dat sorta thing makes my bosses unhappy, if I do it wit'out really good reasons, see, and den dey make me unhappy, see?"
"So I am hopin' I maybe did not understand what you said. I got orders to keep a low-profile, see, and I cannot do that if I gotta go all Ladd Russo on the local punks."
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Mistwind
Major
Licensed flight addict, deepsea diving fan, mech-pilot rookie - Accepts food and play for services.
Posts: 531
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Post by Mistwind on Oct 6, 2012 21:37:51 GMT -5
Mistwind isn't going to say that Guido's happiness will be disturbed anyway. Instead, he answers, "You understood correctly what this one said." See! Clear sentence. "Wait...then that means you should've paid me too, which you didn't. So it all went as you explained. Now, about keeping a low-profile, you're not doing it. And some of your bosses might get angry if you keep it up, so like I said, we need to talk. Somewhere private, as in away from people."
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Duskwing
Major
"What the slag happened?"
Posts: 848
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Post by Duskwing on Oct 6, 2012 21:46:47 GMT -5
"Huh? But nobody said you was part of the outfit! Youse s'posed to let me know stuff like dat," Guido protested. He held out the phone and glared at it for a moment.
"Whaddaya mean, I ain't keepin' a low profile? Slaggit, you are right we gotta talk. But not too far away private, on account of dat makes me twitchy. 'Cause if someone is makin' you set up an ambush, better tell 'em I work for Lord Slaughter, too, not just the outfit, and nobody but nobody wants to piss him off, see?" Guido growls.
"Jersey. I know a spot on the waterfront, not too far off the bridge. Place looks abandoned, nobody casual-like gonna interrupt us," Guido says after a few moments of frowning vaguely at the wall. (It's also right on top of one of Lord Slaughter's auxiliary support bases, but he doesn't mention that.)
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Mistwind
Major
Licensed flight addict, deepsea diving fan, mech-pilot rookie - Accepts food and play for services.
Posts: 531
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Post by Mistwind on Oct 7, 2012 13:23:02 GMT -5
"Apologies, but information is on a need-to-know basis." A pause, "Your proposed location is acceptable. It isn't an ambush, it's more like... protection! Without a fee."
"This one will be waiting for you. Contact me if you have delays."
(Probably heading for a timeskip?)
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Duskwing
Major
"What the slag happened?"
Posts: 848
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Post by Duskwing on Oct 7, 2012 14:13:32 GMT -5
"I'll be there in an hour, 'less the tunnel gets fragged up again," Guido replies, then hangs up the phone. If he can figure out how.
About an hour later...
Guido Ala pulls up to the abandoned warehouse in someone else's car (again). He drives by a few times, eyeing the area for suspicious characters who are not Mistwind. After satisfying himself that neither the SWAT team nor a bunch of Autobots are waiting for him, Guido parks the car and casually saunters around to the waterfront side of the building. His right arm hangs loosely, ready to dart into his jacket and draw his pistol from his concealed shoulder holster.
"Misty? You here?"
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Mistwind
Major
Licensed flight addict, deepsea diving fan, mech-pilot rookie - Accepts food and play for services.
Posts: 531
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Post by Mistwind on Oct 7, 2012 16:25:16 GMT -5
As agreed, Mistwind is waiting. He took cover in the building but approaches the door close enough that Guido can see him, "Affirmative". He glances outside, then observes Guido before nodding an invitation to come inside, "Shut the door behind you. Cleared the place already, we're alone." He did not see Guido being accompanied by another human but he will keep his sensors alert.
Assuming that the human follows, Mistwind will face him with a mixed expression, "Erm, hi. Good of you to come." Now tasked with actually talking to his humanized partner, Mistwind is nervous and it's difficult for him to hide this from Guido (as in, he fails). Still, he prepared for this conversation. While he is annoyed with the fact that he doesn't know what the human does and does not remember, Mistwind steels himself and begins to explain. "That day with the broken down car, you were really calling attention. As low-profile as a flare in an open field at night. And I wasn't the only one around capable of noticing so we better talk about not calling attention before command decides to have that talk."
So far for the reason why. Mistwind adds a warning: "You're going to have a really, really bad day, Guido. Understatement of the year. Fortunately, it will be this day, and not when you are working for that 'outfit' thing, or for Lord Slaughter. Because that would be a really, ah, slagged up day, alright? Is that the right phrase?"
Guido finds himself observed really carefully by a concerned Mistwind.
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Duskwing
Major
"What the slag happened?"
Posts: 848
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Post by Duskwing on Oct 8, 2012 18:30:44 GMT -5
Guido ventures into the building. Why does he trust the little guy, again? (That he doesn't wonder why he thinks of the looming robot as 'the little guy' is another question.)
He listens with a confused frown to Mistwind and then holds up a hand. "Hold it! Dat last bit sounds like a threat, and youse do not want to be threatening me. Were you not payin' attention to the bit where I told you I was working for the Outfit, and Lord Slaughter? Or are you just not knowing who Lord Slaughter is? Kid, dat dude is scarier than the Capo di tutti capos. Not only can he kill you real dead, he's got lawyers! So do not be taking him lightly."
Guido frowns. "Besides, I think he's got Brawl and Vortex on his payroll. An' he's the one what gave dem dose code names." He scratches his head. "Dat means something, I think."
He shrugs, completely failing to put the last clue in place and figure out what it all means. "Any news, whaddaya mean, I wasn't keepin' a low profile? I did not pull out my pistol and shoot that goomba, and he was lookin' for a knuckle sandwich at the top of his lungs, see?"
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Mistwind
Major
Licensed flight addict, deepsea diving fan, mech-pilot rookie - Accepts food and play for services.
Posts: 531
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Post by Mistwind on Oct 9, 2012 9:03:08 GMT -5
Guido is unhindered to try and remind Mistwind of that he's someone not to be messed with. Then he mentions Brawl and Vortex...
The mech's expression turns from Neutral to Shock to a stern Not Amused and as soon as Guido gives him the chance, Mistwind puts the human's words under scrutiny, "What I mean? Why don't you listen to yourself talk, you'll hear what I mean." He crosses his arms in front of his chest and glares at the mobster. "Question: When exactly did I tell you that Lord Slaughter and me are kinda working for the same cause? .... oh wait" He growls, "This one didn't!"
"Now, you are really lucky; 'that dude' and me do work for a similar cause. So right now, you did not just leak sensitive information about the guy who is 'scarier than the Capo di tutti capos' and his personnel to a non-ally. You just leaked sensitive intel. This is what I meant with not keeping a low profile: Your mouth runs faster than your brain does. I'll give you a moment to try and catch it, maybe you can explain why you felt free to share the names of Vortex and Brawl?"
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