(PRP) Deals in the Dark

[Changeling ST]

The Spymaster worked tirelessly into the night, preparing for the night ahead. After much reflection, he had chosen to keep Harvey's face. The effort to obtain it had been too costly in its own way for him to forsake its use now, at the critical time, and the hire car had been so much easier to obtain once he had discovered that trick. The vehicle, paid for in cash from a discrete firm, sat inside the garage of his apartment building; none of the other wage slaves had batted an eyelid and he had begun to doubt they had even noticed.

So much the better.

The basket was packed - thrill of terror as he slipped things best left in the Hedge into the mortal realm! - and the disguise laid out on his bed.

He played Nightwish while he toiled with his face in the mirror: comb, razor, aftershave and an almost overwhelming dose of Glamour.He'd need to Harvest soon.

The cool rush of magic forced him to stop once lest he cry out from the sheer pleasure of the stuff pulsing through and around him. It made up for the pain in his gut and the ache in his bones when the popped and collapsed.

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2016-01-15 23:05:22		Spymaster to Prep - 2nd attempt rolls 7 to Manipulation + Wyrd - 1 (10 Again, WillPower)		5, 10, 5, 3, 10, 3, 6, 2, 9		3 successes
2016-01-15 23:04:26		Spymaster to Prep rolls 5 to Manipulation + Wyrd (10 Again)		1, 2, 5, 3, 4		failure
2016-01-15 23:03:59		[02] Spymaster to Prep rolls 7 to Stamina + Wyrd (10 Again)		9, 8, 4, 6, 5, 4, 8		3 successes
2016-01-15 23:03:59		[01] Spymaster to Prep rolls 7 to Stamina + Wyrd (10 Again)		4, 9, 10, 2, 4, 9, 5, 10, 5		4 successes

North of the railway tracks. Just off 28th Street to the right. There is a gas tank. I'll meet you there. Midnight.

If you have found the dog park or the skate park you've gone too far. If you've found the little gas works and the silo's look south across the road... if you wanna call it that.

This part of the city was still under construction and at night it was all shadow and stillness. The tracks were a boundary, separating this as yet unformed part of town from the green pastures of urbanity and suburbia. Beyond the tracks was dust, cracked tarmac and stunted grass.

And no lights.

It was so easy to park the hire car behind the cylindrical bulk of the tank, turn of his lights, and simply wait. Night vision would come soon - so much the better. And then they would come. Two would suffice. They would have to. This was probably his last roll of the dice.

The thing in the basket on the passenger seat cooed and babbled happily. He rocked it, gently, dredging up the old lullaby he had sung into his wife's belly, so long ago.

Xander Daniel Leto Parable

[Daniel Leto]

Daniel arrived on foot. This was the second time he'd coming walking along a railway on mission. Though admittedly he didn't know what precisely this one entailed. That made him a little nervous. Minnesota still loomed in his mind. Upon receiving the message he had done a quick check on the internet to see what the road looked like. It was fairly isolated but that wasn't too unexpected considering the discretion mentioned on the flyer. All the same, Daniel had pretyped out a message on his phone to be sent to his friends in case things turned out badly. 'Answered Spy gonna Spy flyer. Went to gas tank at Sutter's Landing Regional park. If I'm sending this, I'm in trouble.'

Approaching the rendezvous, Daniel was dressed in several dark layers. Between some of those clothes, he kept his trench knife concealed. Again, in case of emergency. The fog of his mantle trailed behind him, before disappearing into the browning grass and cracked asphalt.

He saw the car and stopped about twenty feet away. The lights were off but he thought he saw someone inside. Not wanting to get too much closer just yet, he waited for the figure to get out and explain why the flyer had been put up.

[Milo Chernobog]

A season had turned since Milo made his promise to Ms Jasons, and the Ghul was more then ready to work. Per her advice he had thought on people to help him, and part of him wondered if she'd be here to lurk in the shadows with him once more.

Curiosity reigned in the Fairest's mind as he made his way on foot towards the gas tank. Dressed entirely in black, with his black leather jacket and running shoes to help his blend seamlessly into the night. He spotted the tank, and the shadowy individual nearby. He wasn't sneaking, and the mist was familiar enough.

"Daniel?" He whispered as he approached. Not the figure he thought he'd see, but that just meant there was time to invite her. "Been a while."

He thought about saying more, but they had someone to meet. Well, that and the sketchy transvestite from the last time they met didn't seem like the best place to start the small talk.

[Daniel Leto]

Daniel jumped a little involuntarily as a gentle voice spoke his name. The darkness and mist hid his slight blush at being so skittish as the good looking Shadowsoul emerged from the darkness that continued to try and grasp at him..

“Hey, Milo,” he calmly replied, at first about to contradict the Fairest. However, when the Dakling searched his memory he realized it had been almost an entire season since they’d interacted. Truthfully not that long ago, but it felt like it had been forever. Like so many years he had know people during his Durance.

“It has been a while,” he confirmed; a pleasant smile in his voice more than in his face “How have you been? I’m guessing you’re here for the ad?” a small glance was paid to the car. It was possible that Milo had called this meeting but given his approach that seemed unlikely.

Syrupy vapors ran up against cloying shadows as the two mantles met and wrestled for dominance. The mist for its part, whether because it had given up or was trying to usurp power, began to try to cling to Milo's ankles.

[Changeling ST]

The Spymaster can't see them, not exactly. But he can sense them - out there in the murk. Time to reveal his hand. Time to begin the deadly serious game. Is this what it is like? Movements in the dark? Plucking the courage to make the first move?

God! He wishes he'd watched more Le Care movies before he took this burden!

Exiting the vehicle is an experience now: his body is less heavy and he feels so light as he lurches from the car. He debates on struggling with the impressive wicker basket and its contents. In the end he quietly shuts the door and moves quickly around to the other side...

... If it was an ambush they'd jump him no matter what so why not present one's back while one hoists a big basket (so like the ones depicted with Red Riding Hood) with one arm. For the first time, he feels his own musculature and it is a marvel. For later...

The Spymaster moves into view.

Harvey moves into view with his back to the gas cylinder: broad shouldered, impassive, big hands wrapped in rags and fingerless gloves, collar pulled up high. A ghostly face framed by a thick collar and a dark thatch of hair.

The Spymaster waits for the next move.

The basket moans in protest.

[Milo Chernobog]

The mist was an interesting twist. He didn't remember the Winter's Mantle being stronger then his own, but with the exception of Morgan most of the people Milo had interacted with had stronger mantles then he did. His darkness being forced into submission wasn't bothersome at this point.

"I've been doing well." He said as he smiled to the Darkling. "And indeed I am here for the flyer."

For a moment he half expected the recently returned to say he brought trouble back with him, but not soon after a third figure emerged. A third figure he watches closely, with a basket he's not sure what to make of. Unfortunately he waited for Milo and Daniel to make the next move, and he couldn't help but wonder why the spymaster was so hesitant to deal with members of the freehold.

"Bit late for a picnic." Milo said as Harvey waited. His eyes remained more interested in the basket then the man carrying it, mostly because he was expecting a weapon to pop out and shoot him. "What do you have for us?"

[Daniel Leto]

Daniel tenses slightly before he forces his muscles to relax into a calmer posture. The living shadow exits the car and then pulls a wicker basket from the passenger seat. A basket that vocalized. Which, while it certainly helped assuage Daniel's fear that this was a trap, didn't calm his nerves.

Milo asked his question but Daniel had a fairly good guess already. The Gravewight held up his hands nonthreateningly and approached the Shadowsoul steadily. When he was close enough, he looked down into the woven carrier to confirm his suspicion and make sure it wasn't a Hob.

"What's their name?"

  2 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2016-01-19 05:43:08		Daniel Leto rolls 6 to Wits+Comp basket noises (10 Again)		3, 10, 7, 5, 8, 7, 2		2 successes

[Changeling ST]

"The Boggan Brothers." The spymaster rasps.

"They have something special I... The Freehold... needs. Fortunately for us, they are in the mood to sell. Eh... That gives you two options. You can either sneak into their home and, um, steal what we need from them; or you can go in by the front door and barter for it. Thats what the basket's for, if you wondering: can't have you guys going off with nothing to trade, now."

That was the short version.

"So? Interested?"

[Milo Chernobog]

Trade?

the notion brought a smile to Milo's face, mostly because he found it quaint. His time in Arcadia blessed him with an unparalleled ability to sneak, steal, lie, and cheat. Why then, would he bother trying to barter with these Boggan brothers.

"How are you at breaking and entering?" He nearly whispered Daniel before returning his attention to the other Shadowsoul. "And what can you tell us about the Boggan brothers, their home, and the product we need to acquire?"

Without mention of time constraints, Milo was content to get as much information as he could squeeze from the spymaster before getting into the field.

[Changeling ST]

The Spymaster remained impassive. The words oozed like liquid sandpaper, from his frigid lips.

"The Boggan Brothers. Hob gang. There is three of them, though to be honest I reckon that at least one of them is a Changeling, but I can't be sure. Their face guy is a short ass with a head like a mushed potato; wares a big red cap that I swear is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. Has a habit of taking words the wrong way, if you catch my drift. They're hold up in a... watchtower... just passed the Meat Market."

Harvey had not moved an muscle.

"Far as I can tell the Brothers are making a play to become local fixers. The object I want is big on their sales list. As for the tower - it is in ruins, yeah? Looks like they've managed to rebuild some of it. As its their base, I reckon they'll have stashed the object in the topmost chamber - thats where rumour says they keep their loot. Red Cap potato head is rumoured to have a big chest with a lock built by Fae artisans, so it fits that the object would be there. Its kinda valuable, after all."

"What you are going for is the Scroll. A Goblin Contract of great power..."

The Spymaster can't help himself: Harvey's face breaks out in a lop sided, leering, grin for a moment.

"The 'Hold needs it. So I need you to go and get it... Before someone else does."

The smile fades.

"You want more intel on the Brothers? Besides Red Cap Potato Head (probably don't call him that to his face) there is Dirty Carnivale Guy - like one of them Venice Carnival dudes, only like he's been dumped in a swamp and left for dead. Kinda funny to look at. Not sure about the last one: if I'm right than its a Reptile kith... And if I'm wrong that was just another patsy the Brother's hired."

The Spymaster paused, a silent challenge request for questions.