Partida Rol por web

The place is a dump. Situated by the motorway, in the outskirts of Glow City, Old Ma's Delicious Meals makes its bussiness from truck drivers, policemen and gangs that need a quick meal before going away. The parking is just plain soil, darkened by the pass of hundreds of vehicles. Right now, just a couple of cars stay there.

It's dirty inside, air smells of crowd, smoke and the sound of frying food comes from inside. The surface of the tables is either sticky or greasy. A few people is eating in the corners, none of them look very posh: you can see a huge bloke with tatooed arms with a burger and a couple of teenager girls eating fries as they jiggle.

Behind the bar, a long haired guy with an apron takes the orders. He is sweating due to the heat from the kitchen.

"Man, what a place. Anyway, I am hungry. Anyone for a bowl of fries or something?"

Brian crosses the door with his hands in his pockets and the head covered by his jacket's hood, and silently walks towards the bar.

Then, he nods to the cook.

"Yo. What's up, Ted?  These are my friends. We need to talk with you"

Drexler offered an open tupperware to her pals. Her pulse was not the firmest:

"I have food pills... if you fancy... wait... these are not the edibles... "

She puts the plastic box in one of her pockets before looking the cop with red-light eyes:

"I'm in... for those fries, Jerome. Not exactly high... class place, uh?"

"Uh... do I know you,mate?... Are you cops?"

Brian suddenly understands that Ted doesn't have seen him in the so-called-real-world.

"It's me" and then whispers his warname: "Janus".

"Not cops. I promise. We need to talk"

Brian doesn't feel comfortable with revealing his alias outside the GlowNET. He's nervous. And the company of the Bride of Frankenstein and a former cop doesn't help at all. Life isn't easy outside the GlowNET.

Standing by the sticky table with Jerome and Drexler, Johnny looks at the place. Decrepit. A good cover for druggs dealing, similar to quite a few that he knew in his days with the Rainbow Ponies. He itches looking at Brian/Janus talking to his contact, with his muscles flexed and a ready smile in case he needs to intervene. Brian does not look like the most social guy around, even if his hacker skills are clearly something to rely on. He flashes a smile to his companions. 

I will also want some of those fries. I will go and order them for us.

Saying that, he moves to the counter

The long haired waiter puts a greasy bowl of fries over the counter. They are so covered in oil that they shine like a bunch of light bulbs.

​"Here are the fries. Anything else to pass them? Soda Pop? Zing Cola? Strawberrygeddon? It will be three bits, you know. Only cash for bills of less than ten bits."

He bends then a bit over Bryan.

​"Janus? How can I be sure if we have never met before? For all I know, you could be a hired assassin or someone looking for bad trouble with me!"

​Brian holds a deep sigh. Ted is not the sharpest guy he knows.

"Tell me, Janus, what was our second job together?"

Brian starts to talk mechanically, without even staring at Ted: "You paid me with some pills for a piece of information about a stupid thug who was dealing in the Distillers territory - then, something bad happened to the guy. I supposed it wasn't my business and of course he deserved it, so I just took my drugs and get away".

"And, if I were a hitman running a contract, you were already dead, Ted - You're not even armed!  You aren't a Big Boss, Ted: nobody wants you eliminated - don't be such a paranoid, please. We just want to talk".

Brian is trying to be conciliatory, but he doesn't smile - in fact, he never smiles - so his gab could seems weird.

Drexler picks a frie with her plastic fingers. With a robotic move ,she puts it in her mouth. Without chemical stimulation, everything tastes like wet cardboard to her. 

"If nothing else... I could use that guy's... drug dealer side. This... shit... is tasteless"

The waiter seems to think way too long before answering. 

"OK, point taken."

Then, he spends a while studying the hooded man in front of him. In the net, Janus is part of the elite, sadly, in the real world he is not as impressive. The Distillers are not the most vicious gang but they are used to a rough lifestyle of fights and nightlife. Even Ted has survived the worst that Glow City's Underworld can throw at him. 

"Talk? We have already spoken mate. Besides, talk about what? "

With a slow calculated motion, Ted's hand goes under his apron. 

Bryan stares at Ted without moving before talk again.

"Do you remember that few days ago I asked you about the Iron Maidens?"

"Well, we need to bargain with Tara Bleach. So, what would you need to trade again with Tara?  We are willing to help you with her - your deal would be useful for us to".

The Distiller sighs.

"It's not up to me, man. The Panthers used to be our clients but not anymore. They said they don't need our shit so I suppose they have another dealer or a big batch or, who knows maybe they have learnt how to cook their own stuff.  It would be great to know exactly what the hell is going on with them. Shit, perhaps they are having a party high as fuck and I am here selling burgers five days a week"

His eyes wander over Brian's shoulder and suddenly focus in the open door. Some bikes are stopping in the parking with their engines roaring. Ted goes pale.

"Oh, shit, man. The Livewires. They have found me" he looks to Brian for a second "We had a deal with them last month that didn't end well. I kind of forgot to return them their money"

 Ted runs through the back door mere seconds three huge men enter the restaurant waving guns and chains. The first bullet goes for  one of the teenagers who falls down with a blown chest. The tatoed man dies next leaving a single girl yelling. 

"NOBODY FUCKS THE LIVEWIRES!"

"Kill them all! I want my money back and I don't mind looting it from corpses!" roars the leader.

​"Yes, boss!" the biggest one looks around for a new target. 

"Oh yeah!" the third one is very young, likely a newbie in the gang. 

Drexler is under the effects of Black Lotus. Her brain is working fast and deep but her body is just not fast enough to use her cunning strategy. She babbles trying to say too many things at the same time:

"BecarefulIcantakethoseguyslooktheoneincareofthisthedangerousdontleftismineworryIhaveaaaAaAAAAAAAAAARGH!"

She is drooling and trembling. Her fists are clenched but her blades are stuck in her metallic wrists. She tries to wake up but her legs do not respond yet.

As he heard the noise, Brian turns around. He wants to jump over the counter,  but ,  instead of that,  he remains paralyzed, unable to move or even speak.