MILLICENT: “Search archived files for “Ruma” and “attack”, show files on visual.”
ALEJO: Alejo is watching the door, but he turns his head back to watch the screen now.
STORY: A paper file appears in her hands, and she opens it for you, displaying a list of folders on the display inside. She stands so her breasts hang over the edge of the file.
STORY: There are four entries, three encrypted.
ALEJO: Alejo raises his eyebrows at this and shakes his head. “What a complete loser,” he mumbles quietly.
MILLICENT: “Dear, if you could just,” Millie shrugs her shoulders to indicate, then, when no movement. “Move your breast, I can’t read the file names.”
MILLICENT: “Run encryption, unlock files.”
STORY: She smiles and does so. “Password required, handsome.”
MILLICENT: Under her breath, “How on earth did he learn to kiss?”
STORY: It’s the evening of the gala, ten minutes after the listed start time. The three of you are in line at the door, Tueller holding Ruma’s invite and Alejo and Millie dressed as his attendants. Tueller, please describe your fancy gala outfit for us.
TUELLER: Tueller is wearing a midnight blue tuxedo, over a matching midnight blue shirt. The only splashes of color are a blindingly white hand-tied bow tie, and a impeccably folded pocket square.
TUELLER: The lapels are peak lapels, if you really care.
TUELLER: He never looks sloppy, but this is as crisp and put together as anyone other than maybe Alejo has ever seen him.
STORY: Alejo, tell me about the uniforms you and Millie are wearing. Millie, tell me about the other people in line ahead of you, and the security situation at the door.
STORY: Also, everyone please tell me what, if anything, you are carrying with you other than your clothes.
TUELLER: Tueller has his combat gloves on him.
ALEJO: Alejo and Millie are dressed similarly, in simple but trim black jackets, white shirts. They are non-intrusive and functional, though they have a slight shimmer to them if you look closely enough. Alejo wears a tie with his.
ALEJO: Alejo carries a concealed baton, a small computerized multi-tool, and a stocking cap.
MILLICENT: Millie is wearing her visor as stylish glasses and has a pad in her hand, trying her best to emulate an executive assistant.
STORY: Hey, this seems like a good time to nail this down
STORY: How old is everyone?
TUELLER: 28.
ALEJO: Alejo is 26.
MILLICENT: Millie is 29.
STORY: Josh and I just had the following exchange
STORY: Josh: “Shit, how old is Millie?”
STORY: Jess: “28? 29?”
STORY: Josh: “I think she should be older than them.”
STORY: Jess: “31. Don’t be older than 31.”
STORY: Josh: “Can’t put her on TV.”
MILLICENT: The line in front of us has a trio of bored (or attempting to look bored) humans, two Odh, one of whom is enthusiastically building the other up after a break up, and some other scattered aliens.
MILLICENT: The security at the door consists of a single, large, almost round alien.
MILLICENT: The creature sits in a floating chair, Harkonen style, and as each guest walks in front of it it sings a bar of some unknown, wordless song and then cocks it’s head, listening.
MILLICENT: Apparently satisfied after a while, it exhales and gestures the guest through.
STORY: Tueller, how do you brief them on how to behave during the gala? What’s their cover?
TUELLER: Our cover is that they’re my staff, and we are here to schmooze because, as the youngest member of my family, I’m casting about looking for a business venture to make my fortune. Millie’s my science advisor, and Alejo’s my servant.
TUELLER: You guys got aliases you want me to use, or you want me to just make it up?
ALEJO: Eladio Gabriel, for the night.
MILLICENT: You make up mine
TUELLER: Dr. Tesla Westinghouse.
TUELLER: Are you a Tess, for short?
MILLICENT: Natch!
TUELLER: I have vague ideas as to how to proceed. I’ve kind of avoided trying to overplan.
STORY: The folks in front of you are admitted to the party, the sad Odh perking up as they are waved through and putting on a game face.
STORY: You step forward to the floating alien bouncer. He holds out a three-fingered hand.
TUELLER: Tueller strides up like he belongs, because he does, and hands over his invitation.
TUELLER: “Tueller Ya’Makasi, of CJH, and servants.”
STORY: He looks it over, sings a little tune, inspects one corner of the paper keenly, and nods, waving you through.
TUELLER: “Come.”
STORY: Millie! Tell me about the grand space you enter into, the decor, the music, the party guests.
TUELLER: Tueller sounds bossy and also dispassionate, like he barely cares about you guys. He warned you he’d be like this, though.
MILLICENT: The gala room is a giant, empty silver ball. Think the Cerebro room or the floor of the Galactic Senate in Star Wars. The dance floor is made of concentric rings of floor that float into and out of each other as they slowly contract and expand.
MILLICENT: This gives the gala a feeling of levels, as different “floors” of the ball literally float above one another. But the timing puts new floors next to each other every 5 minutes or so.
MILLICENT: There’s also a weak gravitational pull keeping guests from falling off the sides.
MILLICENT: Walking from one “floor” to another therefore requires a little extra effort.
MILLICENT: Guests giggle at their own straining after breaking through to another floor of the ball.
MILLICENT: Lights glitter on the side of the floating floors, giving the whole party an ethereal air.
STORY: None of you have ever seen anything like it.
MILLICENT: One floor is a fantastic alien band, another is the refreshments table, etc
MILLICENT: The music is light and flowing, but somehow hauntingly sad.
MILLICENT: One song leads to the next in a progression so fluid you can’t quite catch the point where one song ends and another begins.
MILLICENT: The guests are mixed, Terran and non, for the most part adopting an air of bored calm.
MILLICENT: Like high school, the going fashion seems to be disinterest.
MILLICENT: Okay, I’m spent.
TUELLER: Tueller fits right in.
TUELLER: There are bars in various corners. You can see based on the people clustering around the bars which ones are safe for humans. Not everyone consumes ethanol recreationally.
STORY: As a reminder, this is the yearly A-Sec fundraiser. A-Sec is the police and security force for the Ark, and it is an unusually Terran-populated organization. Terran factoins, as the new kids on the block, are doing what they can to insinuate themselves into Ark politics and bureaucracy, and A-Sec employment is an easy way to get in on the ground floor, so to speak, so you see more Terran A-Sec representation than in a typical slice of the Ark population. A-Sec officers also are less widely respected than they’d likely like to be, which is part of why they throw a big fundraising soiree every year – the more they can show they are willing to play along with off-the-books dealmaking between the major factions on the Ark, the better position they are in to remain aware of the goings on on the station.
STORY: Consequently, you’re likely to find representatives of every major faction operating in this sector at this party, though it’s unlikely any of them will be the top tiers of said organizations.
STORY: Within a few minutes, a uniformed A-Sec officer, a Terran, approaches you. She is short, a little round, with red hair. The A-Sec dress uniform fits her nicely.
STORY: “Evening, sir. Officer Madsen.” She extends a hand.
TUELLER: Tueller takes it and bows over her hand. “Tueller Ya’Makasi, officer.”
STORY: “Oh, from Consolidated Jovan? Nice to meet you, sir. Are you here representing the family?”
STORY: She seems oddly casual about this introduction. You notice bars on her shoulders.
TUELLER: “I always represent my family to the best of my ability, but I am not doing so here in an official capacity.”
STORY: “Understood. Can I get you something to drink?”
TUELLER: “Always.”
STORY: She walks you over to the bar, and you wait in line together. She is fairly smooth about pushing the conversation to A-Sec funding, and you get the sense this isn’t the first time she’s had this chat tonight.
STORY: How do you respond to veiled requests for donations?
ALEJO: Alejo follows at a respectful distance, adopting the reserve befitting of a personal buttler. He moves with a precision and curtness that is decidedly different than is usual for him.
TUELLER: By more or less ignoring them entirely, but not dismissively. Just being interested in what the money is going to be used for. Weapons, equipment, etc.
STORY: She chats with you about their goals for the coming fiscal year, the limitations they’ve had so far, and so on. Millie, what are you doing while this happens?
TUELLER: I’m trying to give off the air that I’m interested in importing and exporting, not donating.
TUELLER: Supplier, not funder, that is.
TUELLER: (Also, openly flirting with her, of course)
TUELLER: Tueller requested everyone keep an eye out for Ndrangheta.
TUELLER: —That’s the first time I’ve spelled Ndrangheta without having to look up the spelling.
STORY: — i’m not there yet
STORY: — i can do bhattacharya and ya’makasi
TUELLER: —Also, I’m sorry about the Ssssszzzzssss.
MILLICENT: —I still often look up Tariq, you show offs
MILLICENT: Millie is wide eyed staring around everywhere. She’ll get interested in something, take some notes on her pad, look back up and get distracted by something else, another round of notes, repeat. The constant movement of the floors doesn’t help because every pause to write on her pad brings her eye level to a new minor science marvel or species she wants to take notes on.
ALEJO: Alejo is assessing as many people as he can as covertly as he can, while keeping an eye out for our target. Every now and then, Alejo reaches over and gently touches Millie to remind her to stay in character.
STORY: Millie, your visor looks like fancy glasses, correct?
STORY: Is Noma in there? Do you have an earpiece attached to it?
MILLICENT: Yes
TUELLER: At some point, “I take it from the questioning that you haven’t found CJH’s official Ark representative in this scrum yet.”
TUELLER: “I haven’t seen Sergio in years myself.”
STORY: She smiles. “I haven’t had the pleasure, no. If you do catch him, will you do me the favor of an introduction?”
TUELLER: “That might not help your cause much, I’m afraid. I will do you the favor of not letting him know we have anything to do with each other.”
STORY: She nods. “Excellent. Well, thank you for the conversation, Mr. Ya’Makasi, but I’m afraid I’m working tonight. You won’t mind if I take my leave?”
TUELLER: Tueller nods graciously.
TUELLER: “I hope to see you around.”
TUELLER: Tueller finishes his drink, and looks for the nearest bar again, keeping an eye out for Sergio.
ALEJO: Once she is safely gone, Alejo moves to Tueller’s side. Quietly: “He’s not here yet. At least so far as I can see. Shall we take a walk around the place to get a better look? I wouldn’t mind more tactical info.”
TUELLER: “Do it yourself. Do that melt-into-the-crowd thing of yours. You see him, you let me know via the Doc.”
ALEJO: He nods once and slips back from Tueller, about to take a wander.
STORY: Millie, as you’re looking around you catch sight of a Terran man entering the party with a rather large entourage. He wears a slick yellow cape with a large collar off one shoulder, his hair curled and styled carefully, and five capable-looking women in uniforms much like your own attend to him. His left hand is a three-spiked metal claw. He enters the party bellowing something to the bouncer, who does not look pleased with him, and moves straight for the closest bar.
TUELLER: —we’re all on comms to Millie, correct?
STORY: — yeah, everyone can communicate directly to Millie, but not each other
TUELLER: —well, missed that rather significant update.
STORY: — she also showed everyone how to turn OFF their comms, so if they want to go on a solo quest or get laid they can do so without someone listening.
MILLICENT: Millie activates the commons for Tueller and Alejo and whispers, “N-rod-gate-ah”
MILLICENT: “Ndrangoatcha”
ALEJO: Alejo jumps a little at how loud it sounds in his skull.
MILLICENT: Millie shakes her head
MILLICENT: “Station chief”
TUELLER: “Well, there’s the asshole.”
TUELLER: “Not going to be hard to track, at least.”
STORY: https://the-peregrine.obsidianportal.com/characters/sergio
TUELLER: “Well. Time for another drink.”
STORY: Alejo! What kind of biometric data are you trying to get off Sergio?
TUELLER: Tueller starts heading for the same bar Sergio’s going to.
STORY: What do you need to access his computer?
MILLICENT: Millie slips the stylus she’d been writing with into her pad and tucks the pad under her arm and follow Tueller.
ALEJO: We need a sample of his hair. Noma can use it to synthesize a DNA print, or that’s the hope anyway. We also need a clean picture of his retina.
TUELLER: —hair? Damn. There go my plans.
STORY: Perfect!
STORY: Millie, Alejo, Tueller: Sergio has arrived. What do you do?
TUELLER: Tueller’s going to the bar Sergio was heading to.
MILLICENT: Millie can get a clean picture of his retina, but she needs to be face to face with him from less than three feet
MILLICENT: Through the visor
ALEJO: Alejo follows Tueller and makes sure that Millie is with them.
MILLICENT: Millie follows for sure
ALEJO: “Show time,” he whispers to Millie with a smile.
ALEJO: “You got this.”
TUELLER: Tueller slots himself right ahead of Sergio at the bar, and orders a drink, flirting with the bartender and keeping Sergio from ordering.
MILLICENT: —haha throw me under the bus will you you son of a bitch
TUELLER: Back to Sergio.
ALEJO: Alejo moves so that he’s close to Sergio, but not too close for anyone to notice. He’s waiting for Tueller to engage him.
STORY: Tueller, you don’t so much notice his change in behavior as sense it – Sergio stops braying whatever story he was telling to his attendants and stands quietly behind you.
STORY: “Tueller Fuckin Ya’Makasi.”
TUELLER: Tueller turns around, a big smile on his face. It is not a friendly smile.
ALEJO: Alejo now moves to the bar and looks for the closest drink that isn’t taken.
TUELLER: “Serj!”
STORY: He’s smiling too, the kind of smile a snake has before it strikes.
STORY: He purses his lips, looking like he’s considering his next move.
STORY: “I didn’t know you were with us on the Ark.”
MILLICENT: —Jesus Riccardo Scamarcio looks like you played Alejo and chose every evil decision from the dialogue tree
TUELLER: —hah!
STORY: Alejo, you grab a half-glass of wine someone left behind.
TUELLER: “Oh, I’m here for a bit. You know what they say about rolling stones and moss.”
TUELLER: “How the fuck you been? Still got the phantom itching in the hand?”
MILLICENT: —what a prick
MILLICENT: —gawd
TUELLER: —me or him?
MILLICENT: —you
STORY: His eyes widen and he laughs.
STORY: He holds up his claw to show you. “Still a little. This isn’t so bad, though.” He leans in conspiratorially. “You wouldn’t believe the pussy it gets me.”
TUELLER: “Girls do love a charity case, I hear.”
MILLICENT: Millie’s eyes widen and then she nods thoughtfully
STORY: He laughs again, clapping you on the back with his claw hand. “They do indeed. I suppose I owe you, then, don’t I.”
STORY: His smile fades a bit. “I’m sure I’ll pay you back someday.”
ALEJO: Alejo waits for the optimal moment, right when the tension is highest and then stumbles forward into Sergio, acting just a bit tipsy and spilling the wine down the leg of his pants.
TUELLER: Tueller lays a hand on the claw just as Alejo stumbles.
STORY: “Testa di cazzo, what the fuck!”
ALEJO: “Oh Gods, I’m so . . . ” Alejo slurs out the words, still stumbling a bit.
ALEJO: –At this point, I need a roll. Alejo is going to try to quickly nab a bit of hair in the tussle.
STORY: “Who the fuck is this? He yours?” He looks at Tueller angrily.
STORY: That’s going to be Face Adversity + Mettle please!
ALEJO: /roll 2d6+2
STORY: @ablair01 rolled 12 + 2 = 14
TUELLER: Tueller is going to try to keep….okay, nevermind.
ALEJO: –Boom!
STORY: Very nice. How do you get that hair?
MILLICENT: —wooooooow
ALEJO: For the briefest moment, Sergio looks down at his pants and Alejo simply reaches up, picks a single strand of his annoying hair and plucks it free. When Sergio leans back up to glare at Alejo, Alejo moves the hair behind his back, quickly gives a “all good” sign behind Sergio to Tueller and Millie and picks up with the roll of the drunk Servant.
STORY: Sergio pushes both of you away from him, swipes at his pants where the wine is setting in. “Mannaggia, get this finocchio off me, Tueller, handle your man.”
TUELLER: “My manservant. Put it on my tab. For when you pay me back.”
ALEJO: “I’m so sorry, sir, I . . . ”
TUELLER: “Eladio, don’t apologize. Accidents happen.”
TUELLER: “No need to apologize at all.”
STORY: Sergio grabs your face, Alejo, squeezing your cheeks and pulling you close to him. “Vai a dar via il culo, you little bitch, get out of my sight.” He pushes you away and turns to his assistant.
MILLICENT: Millie swallows, seeing their opportunity leaving.
STORY: “Go back to the flat, get me clean trousers. Quick.”
STORY: He doesn’t make eye contact with her.
ALEJO: Alejo looks contrite. “Please pardon me, of course sir.”
TUELLER: “Serj! You don’t touch my people, and I won’t touch you.”
STORY: Sergio ignores both of you, straightening his jacket and looking around to see if anyone noticed the kerfuffle.
ALEJO: Alejo looks to Millie. Silently with a look like “now!”
MILLICENT: Slurring, “Hey, I want an accident too!” She grabs Sergio by the shoulder and turns him around into a full-throated kiss.
STORY: Millie, let’s have a Face Adversity + Influence, please
MILLICENT: /roll 2d6
STORY: @josh rolled 10
STORY: Tell me what happens!
MILLICENT: Millie pushes him back and looks him dead in the eyes. “Must have been the hand,” she apologizes breathlessly.
STORY: He blinks heavily, a little shocked but definitely into it.
STORY: He slides his good arm around your waist, holding on tight. “Stick around, honey, you’re a much better option than Tueller’s other troia.”
MILLICENT: She gives a loud, shocked at herself laugh and stumbles back a couple of steps. “Think I’d rather have another drink!” She dramatically offers an elbow to Alejo.
STORY: You get your retinal scan just as he reaches his claw up to gently pull your glasses down with it. “You have beautiful eyes, fragolina.”
TUELLER: “That’s one of your longer lasting relationships there, Serj.”
ALEJO: Alejo takes the elbow under his arm. “Tess, how could you!” He smiles and leads her away.
MILLICENT: Millie goddamn skips away with Alejo.
STORY: He doesn’t stop looking at you, Millie. As you go, “Make you a deal, Tueller. I get to spend the evening with that beauty, we forgive your idiot.”
STORY: “Otherwise, you have a problem.”
TUELLER: Tueller shrugs. “We’ve always had a problem, Serj. I’ve heard how you’re fucking up a routine posting here for the Families. I would have thought you’d at least be _pretending_ to be addressing it.”
STORY: Tueller, let’s have a Face Adversity + Influence to see how the rest of your Sergio time goes
TUELLER: /roll 2d6
STORY: @chris.stuart rolled 9
STORY: Alejo, as you are leaving the party, you are stopped by a tall, gangly Terran man. He smiles broadly. “Alejo Soto?” You have never seen him before.
STORY: He’s very handsome, in that way stupid people often are.
STORY: He holds out a hand, looking to shake yours.
ALEJO: Alejo pauses reaches out a hand tentatively and looks confused. “Sorry. Do I know you?” He stumbles over the words, coming off as earnestly confused as possible. “I’m not . . . ” He trails off, intentionally.
STORY: “Wen Kuang. I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m – well, if you have a few minutes, I’d love to sit down and introduce myself.” He looks at Millie. “Oh, I’m so sorry – am I interrupting you?”
MILLICENT: Millie blinks heavily
MILLICENT: Looks at Alejo
ALEJO: “Wen. Right.” Alejo is now genuinely but very briefly knocked off balance. “Uh, yeah, this is my friend Tess.”
MILLICENT: Still playing drunk surprisingly well
MILLICENT: Millie nods at her name
ALEJO: “We should definitely catch up. Soon. But I need to get Tess out of here. She is . . . well,” he looks away, back over to Sergio, “popular. But she needs a little air. Sure you understand.”
ALEJO: He gives Wen a knowing look, hoping that he knows enough about Sergio to get the implication.
MILLICENT: https://www.autostraddle.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/jasika-nicole-vancouver-portraits-fringe-editorial-images-amelia-strauss-9.jpg
STORY: “Oh, of course! Please, let me help, I know the back way.” He starts toward one of the outside rings, holding out an arm for the two of you to follow/
MILLICENT: “I’m popular!”
STORY: Millie, can I please have a Face Adversity + Influence for this drunk act
MILLICENT: /roll 2d6
STORY: @josh rolled 7
TUELLER: To Sergio: “My science advisor is not on offer. Especially to a guy who can’t keep CJH ships from getting shot out of the void.”
STORY: Sergio looks mock hurt. “You heard about that. I assumed Ruma would come begging to you for help.”
STORY: “Silly me, I thought you were here to wish little sissy well.”
ALEJO: “Great.”
TUELLER: “Bhattacharya family members shouldn’t have to beg _anyone_ for help. They are Family members. A strike at any of us is a strike at all of us. Even you.”
TUELLER: “I should have known you’d be unable to lend a _hand_.”
STORY: Sergio clucks. “Family member, right. She married in and lost that wife of hers months later, thanks to you. She’s a stranger to us.”
TUELLER: Sergio still has an entourage.
STORY: “Maybe if you cared so much about her well-being you’d have made sure Nandini got home to her, cazzo.”
STORY: He’s staring dead at you, Tueller, daring you.
TUELLER: “I don’t give a shit about Ruma. I give a shit about our ships–the lifeblood of our Families–under attack and a station head on the Ark too incompetent to respond.”
TUELLER: Tueller doesn’t take Sergio’s bait about Nandini at all. It just rolls off of him.
STORY: Sergio is flanked by four women, none of whom could likely take you, Tueller, but if all four jumped at once they’d stand a chance.
STORY: Sergio looks coldly at you. “I took care of it.”
TUELLER: “A likely fucking story. You can’t pay kids to do your homework for you here. Results matter.”
TUELLER: “You don’t even know where the attacks happened, I bet, much less who did them.”
STORY: Sergio leans into you, hissing the next bit into your ear. “I kept that shit from blowing up and causing a fucking multi-species problem for our families. Don’t doubt me just because some bitch has a sob story for you about it.”
TUELLER: “You were on a career track to being an internal auditors, not a fucking diplomat, and definitely not a M&A guy. You walk around like Captain Neo-Hook but you’re a paper pusher and a coward.”
TUELLER: “You owned a fucking katana!”
TUELLER: Tueller laughs genuinely.
TUELLER: —M&A = Murders and Acquisitions.
TUELLER: —= Piracy.
STORY: Something in Sergio snaps and he begins to quiver with anger. “What did you call me?”
STORY: Millie, Wen looks worried. He leads the two of you to a doorway that opens up onto the main hallway of this sector, but pauses at the door. “Are you sure she shouldn’t be going to the infirmary? She looks pretty far gone.”
ALEJO: Alejo glances to Millie and then back at Wen. “No, no. It’s alright Tess. You can drop the act.” He gives her a reassuring smile and wink. Then looks back to Wen. “God. That guy, right? We needed an excuse to get her outta here. Thank you.” Alejo bows to him graciously. “Truly, Wen. Thank you.”
MILLICENT: Millie shakes her head and smiles up at Wen. Regular voice. “Good evening, very pleased to meet you, I’m sure.”
STORY: Wen looks confused, then laughs. “Oh! Sergio, you mean? Oh gosh!”
STORY: He laughs. “Well yes, he is tough to take. Very enamored of himself. Where are you headed? Maybe we could grab a drink, the three of us? I’d really like to speak about… well, I have something to ask you, if I’m being honest.”
ALEJO: “Listen, Wen,” Alejo leans in conspiratorially, “I’d love nothing more. And now I definitely owe you a drink! Can we meet up in about an hour? If I’m being honest, I promised Tess that I’d get her someplace.”
STORY: Wen looks somewhat hurt, Alejo. “Yeah, I, uh. Sure. Sure, of course, sorry man. I’m, uh. I guess I’ll be back at the party.”
ALEJO: “Thank you. I really appreciate it.” Alejo gives Millie a quick look. “An hour? I’ll find you at the bar?”
MILLICENT: Millie gives a small shrug and nod. A whatever you like look
STORY: Wen nods, sadly. “Sure. Nice to meet you, Tess.”
ALEJO: Alejo hears the excitement coming from the general direction behind them. “See you soon, Wen.” He takes Millie’s hand, somewhat awkwardly and turns and moves quickly away and, hopefully, roughly in the direction of our target.
MILLICENT: “Lovely to meet you, Mr. Kuang.”
TUELLER: “Which time? Auditor? Paper pusher? Captain Neo-Hook? or Coward?”
STORY: Sergio licks his teeth. “The last one.” He sucker punches you in the face, a quick pop to the nose.
STORY: With the hand hand, not the claw hand.
STORY: He takes a step back, so that two of his attendants are slightly in front of him, two behind.
STORY: And smiles at you, raising one eyebrow.
STORY: Please roll to Brace for Impact!
TUELLER: Tueller takes it and takes a step back as well. “You dishonor the Families. We are the guests of the Ssssszzzzssss here. We are representatives of the greatest families humanity has ever known.” Raising his voice a little. “Do NOT dishonor us with this petty bullshit.”
TUELLER: —brace for impact is just 2d6 plus armor?
STORY: Yep!
TUELLER: —I’m not wearing my armored suit, so no armor.
TUELLER: /roll 2d6
STORY: @chris.stuart rolled 9
STORY: Ok! This is a Minor injury, it’ll be one of those little blue bruises under your eye tomorrow. Just a good pop on the nose.
STORY: — guys Hall & Oates just came on, and I’m gonna be honest, they are really good Space Flying music
TUELLER: “Sucker punches are for cowards. Ambushes are for cowards. Guards are for cowards. Even your fucking claw hand is for _fucking_ cowards.”
MILLICENT: –Luda is also pretty good
TUELLER: Tueller hisses the last bit.
TUELLER: Tueller isn’t even raising his arm in defense.
STORY: He reaches forward with his claw, grabbing the inside of your peaked lapel, pulling you towards him, and hisses straight into your face. “Outside, then.”
TUELLER: Tueller smiles. “Outside then, coward.”
TUELLER: Tueller grabs the claw. “Hands off until outside. Do not embarass the organization further.”
TUELLER: “We owe much to the Ssssszzzzssss.”
TUELLER: “Even you.”
TUELLER: Tueller finishes his drink.
ALEJO: “I’m totally gonna kill that guy,” Alejo whispers this flatly as he and Millie rush walk away.
MILLICENT: As we’re hustling away, “Mr. Soto, who was that gentleman?”
MILLICENT: “I caught his name, I mean…”
MILLICENT: Millie’s never seen Alejo mad at anyone before
ALEJO: “Wen. That was Wen. Apparently the soon to be husband of Akilah, Tueller’s sister and my former lover.” He’s got a completely flat voice as he says this.
MILLICENT: “Ah.”
MILLICENT: “He seems.”
ALEJO: “Like a nob.”
ALEJO: “A pretty, pretty nob.”
MILLICENT: Millie puts a hand on Alejo’s arm. “Alright.”
MILLICENT: “He’s a downright nob, if you’d like my honest opinion.”
ALEJO: Alejo pauses for a moment and smiles broadly at her. “Thanks. And, by the way, pro move, back there, Doc. I’m jealous of that kiss though.” Alejo says this playfully and joyfully.
MILLICENT: Millie says this with a trace of sadness, humoring Alejo, making every effort not to condescend.
MILLICENT: Millie smiles, “You should be! For a testa di cazzo, he sure can kiss!”
ALEJO: He shakes his head and laughs. “Really?”
ALEJO: “Oh, the hair.” Alejo pulls out the strand of Sergio’s hair and hands it to Millie as they continue walking, never breaking stride. “To start processing.”
MILLICENT: Idly, while walking and trying to scan the halls for computer security with the visor. “Really! I was surprised. Your average coglione thinks kissing is a fight to win or an obstacle to overcome, but he was looking for a match.”
STORY: Millie, there’s security all over, but none pointed your way, most of them in front of shop doors and windows.
STORY: Sergio smiles and straightens up, looking around. “No servants to help you prepare? Fine. Outside. Now.”
TUELLER: “I don’t need servants.”
TUELLER: “I am Ya’Makasi.”
STORY: Tueller, you turn to head out and step forward, accidentally slamming into a tall Terran, one who staggers back and looks up at you meekly.
STORY: “Oh my gosh, Tueller Ya’Makasi?”
MILLICENT: —by the way, I intend to teach a lesson by the end of this episode, if not session. “Beautiful women do not just kiss assholes out of the blue for no reason”
STORY: He smiles broadly, holding out a hand. “Tueller, wow, I’m so thrilled to meet you. Wen Kuang.”
STORY: https://the-peregrine.obsidianportal.com/characters/wen
MILLICENT: —haha there he is again
TUELLER: “Wen. Congratulations.” Tueller shakes that hand.
STORY: “I’m, uh. Did Akilah tell you about m– yes, that’s me. Thank you!”
STORY: “Have you got a few minutes to have a drink? I’d love to get to know my future brother-in-law.”
TUELLER: —If I recognize this guy right, he’s a martial arts master who would be a great second.
STORY: — he’s also really into bell peppers
TUELLER: “Not at this moment, Wen. I’ve got to kick the shit out of someone.
ALEJO: –Wen. Fucking Wen.
STORY: “Y– what?” He looks behind you, sees Sergio, and his eyes widen. “Shit.”
STORY: “Sergio?”
TUELLER: “I can be with you in a couple minutes, Wen.”
TUELLER: “Depending on how much of a bleeder he is.”
TUELLER: —I just realized that Tueller gets punched in the face a LOT.
MILLICENT: —yeah, he’s a real Mal Reynolds
TUELLER: —Sucker punch is basically Jess’s favorite move.
MILLICENT: —guys, I feel like my Rushmore goofs are falling on deaf ears
STORY: — there’s a good chance tueller will get more than punched in the face this session! so that’s progress
ALEJO: As Alejo and Millie get close Sergio’s office: “Men are idiots, no question.” He says this wistfully.
MILLICENT: “No question.”
STORY: Alejo, Millie, you’ve made your way into the residential block of this quarter, which is pretty well-appointed. Millie’s visor tells you it’s not possible for you to make it through this area without moving through the path of a security camera. What do you do?
ALEJO: Alejo slips out his stocking cap, takes off his jacket, rolls up his sleeves and, in a brief moment, looks entirely different. He gestures for Millie to slip off her jacket and do something different with her hair. “Your hair . . . ” He stumbles a bit, feeling now a bit silly, like he was starring at her too long or something.
ALEJO: “Key is to move quickly and assuredly. Let’s go separate. Me, five seconds, you. Right?”
MILLICENT: “Oh. I.”
MILLICENT: “I didn’t bring a disguise for this part.”
MILLICENT: Millie bites her bottom lip.
ALEJO: “No worries. Just . . . you have lovely hair. Put it up. Which is a shame.”
MILLICENT: Millie is doing math in her head
MILLICENT: “We left the party drunk, swerving.”
MILLICENT: “Mr. Soto, would you stand just there?” Millie points.
ALEJO: Alejo smiles and complies, though he’s anxious to get going. “Alright.”
MILLICENT: “And just, a half turn, yes, good.”
MILLICENT: Millie takes a few steps back and comes running forward and with a raucous war cry she launches herself onto Alejo’s back, sending him stumbling into frame as Two Drunk Servants make another appearance, swaying across the camera’s viewscreen as Millie rides on Alejo piggyback style
MILLICENT: Naturally, Millie swings one hand over her head, miming a lasso
ALEJO: “Ahh. . . . ” Alejo stumbles forward with her on his back. “That was one way to do this.” He says this as he moves a through the view of the camera.
STORY: So one of the things I don’t like about this system is that there’s no methodology for Perception checks, like I don’t have any way to randomize whether you notice something or not. I think for this plan of Millie’s, I’d like a Face Adversity + Mettle move from Alejo on this, please.
ALEJO: /roll 2d6+2
STORY: @ablair01 rolled 7 + 2 = 9
MILLICENT: nice
STORY: Okay. You move quickly through the path of the camera, approaching Sergio’s apartment, and get there in time to see the door slide open and one of his attendants step out into the hall, holding a pair of pants. She is locking the door. You have moments before she turns and sees you both.
STORY: Back to Tueller, I think!
TUELLER: —I worry that you’re using up all the good rolls before Tueller has to get into a fistfight with five assailants.
STORY: Tueller, Wen looks seriously at you. “Are you… going to duel with him?”
TUELLER: “Not a duel. Duels have formal rules and have to be registered in the CJH blockchain. I’m just going to beat the shit out of him.”
MILLICENT: —we have your metaphorical back
TUELLER: “He’s probably going to cheat in some ways because he’s a fucking coward who can’t handle a fair fight.”
TUELLER: Tueller says that definitely loud enough to be heard.
STORY: “Oh, phew. Yeah, Kiki told me about those, said there are a lot of procedures to follow. Um…” He looks around. “Are all of those his?”
STORY: He gestures to the four women walking with Sergio towards the exit.
TUELLER: “For now. I can’t imagine he inspires much loyalty in them.”
TUELLER: “But they’re probably well-paid for.”
STORY: He nods. “So…”
STORY: He exhales nervously.
STORY: “This is going to be the weirdest introduction ever. But… do you need some help here?”
TUELLER: Tueller shrugs and smiles. “You’re going to be family, right?”
STORY: He smiles wide. “Exactly!”
TUELLER: Tueller claps him on the shoulder. “Sure. Come along and we can get a drink afterwards.”
STORY: “Geez, okay! Nice to meet you, man.” He follows you outside.
STORY: Millie, Alejo, Sergio’s assistant is closing the door to his apartment, turned toward it for the moment, but not for long. What do you do?
STORY: You’re five feet away, standing without cover in the hallway, Millie on Alejo’s back.
STORY: Maybe more like ten.
ALEJO: Alejo now looks a bit differently than he did in the bar, so he runs up to the woman, pulling the stocking cap down a bit further over his brow. “Tyra? Tyra Silas?” He modulates his voice, so that it is different than it was in the bar, calculating that if she saw him at all, she would have only had a brief glimpse of him.
ALEJO: He takes her warmly by the shoulders and spins her around a bit, allowing Millie to slip past and behind her to the door, which Alejo tries to catch with his foot.
STORY: She turns around, one hand still on the doorknob, looking confused. “Who?”
ALEJO: –Roll?
STORY: Yeah, Face Adversity + Influence please to make this smooth
ALEJO: /roll 2d6+2
STORY: @ablair01 rolled 5 + 2 = 7
ALEJO: –Shit. Really?
STORY: She pushes you away abruptly. “Don’t touch me! I’m not whoever you said, back off.”
MILLICENT: –haha aw
STORY: She reaches behind her to pull the door closed, not taking her eyes off you, too late to notice that Millie has already slipped by.
ALEJO: “Tyra?” Alejo steps back confused. “You’re not . . . ?”
ALEJO: He looks like he’s been slapped.
STORY: The door clicks closed. “Back off, buddy, you’re drunk.” She tucks the pants under her arm and begins to walk quickly away.
MILLICENT: Millie looks around for the terminal
ALEJO: “Wow! You’ve changed Tyra!” He slurs this and steps past the door, watching her carefully until she’s gone before returning to the door and knocking very gently.
STORY: Millie, you’re inside Sergio’s apartment! The lights come on via motion sensor, so you’re illuminated, but you can’t see far in front of you. There’s a knock at the door as your eyes adjust.
MILLICENT: Millie looks through the peephole.
STORY: It’s Alejo.
MILLICENT: Millie opens it
MILLICENT: She’s gesturing like a conductor, trying to get the lights up
ALEJO: “Thanks.” He steps past her and looks around the room quickly and professionally.
STORY: The main lights come up, Millie, and you have a few seconds to look around the apartment.
STORY: Tueller, you and Wen leave the party together, stepping into the hallway outside the party. One of Sergio’s attendants is waiting for you, arms crossed, looking bored. She gestures to you as you come outside.
STORY: “This way, Mr. Ya’Makasi.”
TUELLER: “Thank you ma’am. How’re you doing tonight?”
TUELLER: “Sorry to take you away from the party.”
STORY: “Well paid and in debt to the Ndranghetas, thank you for asking, sir.”
STORY: She is unflapped by you.
TUELLER: “Sorry to hear that.”
STORY: “We all have our thing, sir.”
TUELLER: ’Don’t we all.”
STORY: She leads you down the block, around a corner into what looks like an alley. There are a handful of dumpsters, and the back doors of a number of establishments open up onto this area. It’s dimly lit.
TUELLER: “I hope it’s a fair fight, and if it’s not, I hope I don’t cripple you.”
TUELLER: To the lady, not Sergio.
STORY: Sergio stands in the center of the hallway, his half-cape swinging around him as he paces angrily back and forth. His three remaining attendants stand at roughly the northeast, southeast, and southwest corners of the area. The attendant who walked you over takes up the northwest position.
STORY: Wen looks over the scene, nodding. He takes off his suit jacket and finds a clean looking dumpster to lay it on, unbuttoning his cuffs and rolling them up.
STORY: “So is this just a regular fistfight, or what?” he asks you.
TUELLER: Tueller walks over to Sergio and punches him in the face.
STORY: “Oh,” Wen says gently as the four attendants descend on you both.
ALEJO: –Get him, Tueller!
STORY: Millie! Tell me about the room you’re in.
MILLICENT: The room was designed by Toxic Masculinity, the interior designer. The fixtures and furniture are all chrome and cherrywood. The floors and ceiling are reflective black mirrors. The walls are a garish video montage of extreme sports on helmet-cam. One moment it’s kayaking over a waterfall, the next it’s a quarter-mile halfpipe drop, the next it’s skiing from a helicopter, then it’s mountain biking down straight ridges, one clip is honest to God lion taming.
ALEJO: “Lions. I like lions.” Alejo says this more earnestly than he should.
MILLICENT: Millie raises an eyebrow
STORY: You’re watching the viewscreens when a woman comes walking briskly out of the back room towards you. She is young, beautiful, with her hair pulled back in a tight bun, wearing a blue cheongsam.
TUELLER: —I’m just impressed he’s seen lions!
STORY: She smiles warmly at you both. “Good evening.”
ALEJO: –In books! He’s not a complete street urchin!
ALEJO: Alejo spins around to face her and immediately blades his body, offering a reduced target. “Hi!” He says brightly while trying to assess if she’s alone.
STORY: “What can I do for you?”
STORY: As far as you can tell, yes, she’s the only occupant of the apartment.
STORY: Millie, you’ve still got your visor on, yes?
MILLICENT: Yes
STORY: Good! This woman is an expensive hologram.
ALEJO: “Alexander.” Alejo says this and steps forward, hand extended. Alejo is ready to drop her.
ALEJO: He does not see that she’s a hologram.
MILLICENT: “Could you point me toward the primary entry port, please?”
STORY: She bows to Alejo, and nods to Millie. “Certainly. Can you please provide your credentials?”
ALEJO: Alejo stops, hand outstretched, momentarily confused and looking a bit silly now.
ALEJO: After a pause, he realizes what’s happening and straightens up, trying to look like he didn’t almost try to attack a hologram.
MILLICENT: “Of course,” Millie hands over the hair and uses the visor to send the retinal scan
STORY: After looking at your retinal scan beam directly, she moves towards a port on the wall and gestures to it. “DNA material here, please.”
MILLICENT: Millie places the hair
ALEJO: Alejo watches, feeling a bit like a third wheel. He moves back so that he can watch the door, letting Millie take the lead on the stuff that she definitely should be taking the lead on.
STORY: The flap in the wall closes and there is a whirring, then a light, friendly ding. The hologram’s compose changes materially, as she becomes measurably sexier and a few hairs fall out of her bun onto her neck. “Welcome home, sexy.”
STORY: Millie, this hologram definitely wants to fuck you. What do you do?
MILLICENT: Keep it totes profesh
MILLICENT: “Search archived files for “Ruma” and “attack”, show files on visual.”
ALEJO: Alejo is watching the door, but he turns his head back to watch the screen now.
STORY: A paper file appears in her hands, and she opens it for you, displaying a list of folders on the display inside. She stands so her breasts hang over the edge of the file.
STORY: There are four entries, three encrypted.
ALEJO: Alejo raises his eyebrows at this and shakes his head. “What a complete loser,” he mumbles quietly.
MILLICENT: “Dear, if you could just,” Millie shrugs her shoulders to indicate, then, when no movement. “Move your breast, I can’t read the file names.”
MILLICENT: “Run encryption, unlock files.”
STORY: She smiles and does so. “Password required, handsome.”
MILLICENT: Under her breath, “How on earth did he learn to kiss?”
STORY: Tueller, I assume the melee has begun?
TUELLER: Indeed!
STORY: Well that sounds like a Launch Assault move to me!
TUELLER: /roll 2d6+2
STORY: @chris.stuart rolled 3 + 2 = 5
TUELLER: OOooooooof.
STORY: Oh boy!
MILLICENT: wow
ALEJO: –Oh no!
TUELLER: Well, that could have rolled better.
TUELLER: I mean, only one roll could be worse.
STORY: You get one clean punch in against Sergio before his attendants descend on you, each grabbing a limb and doing a reasonably good job securing them. You’re held pretty well helpless as Sergio approaches you, smiling, wiping the blood off his lip. What do you do?
TUELLER: “Knew that when it came down to it, you’d be a fucking coward. You’ve only faced me once in a fair fight in your entire life.”
STORY: He laughs, then looks up eagerly at Wen as he approaches.
STORY: Rather than kick the shit out of you, you get to watch Sergio smash his claw into your soon-to-be brother-in-law’s pretty face. He gets a good slug in, drawing blood, and Wen hits the floor, just starting to drag himself back to standing as Sergio kicks him in the shoulder, knocking him down again. What do you do?
TUELLER: Well, struggle to free myself.
STORY: Tueller! Give me a face adversity + physique please
TUELLER: /roll 2d6+2
STORY: @chris.stuart rolled 9 + 2 = 11
STORY: You’ve succeeded at your move, what happens?
TUELLER: Tueller has been held with his arms apart, like he’s going to be crucified, not really struggling, but he takes an opportunity to twist his wrist a little bit and grab on to the wrist of the woman holding him–the one who escorted him. He grabs her wrist and squeezes, and his gloves amplify his squeeze and her wrist bone cracks.
STORY: She screams and lets go.
TUELLER: Which gives him enough time to get that arm free and smash it into the woman holding his other arm.
TUELLER: Getting her right in the nose.
STORY: Another scream, and two woman are staggering away, holding their wounded bits.
STORY: The other two are shaken, one of whom lets go, then the other, realizing she is alone in this, joins her.
STORY: They both step back carefully from you.
TUELLER: This frees Tueller up enough to launch himself at Sergio with a bloody scream.
STORY: Launch Assault please!
TUELLER: /roll 2d6+2
STORY: @chris.stuart rolled 4 + 2 = 6
TUELLER: oh fer fuck’s sake.
STORY: hahahah
STORY: Sergio is untouchable!
MILLICENT: hahaha
MILLICENT: poor Stu
TUELLER: I have such plans for that guy.
STORY: He sees you coming, swinging his claw up towards your chin as you fling yourself at him, landing an uppercut once you’re close enough. Roll to Brace for Impact please!
TUELLER: /roll 2d6
STORY: @chris.stuart rolled 5
TUELLER: Oh come on!
STORY: Well shit, he catches you pretty good on the jaw and that Minor injury becomes a Major one.
STORY: You feel your jaw crack as he connects with it.
STORY: Wen staggers to standing and tries to take a stance, wobbling as he does. What do you do?
STORY: You can’t speak without searing pain.
TUELLER: I’m going to continue to try to beat the shit out of Sergio.
STORY: Okay, let’s do one more Launch Assault to see if he wins this fight and come back to you in a minute
TUELLER: /roll 2d6+2
STORY: @chris.stuart rolled 6 + 2 = 8
MILLICENT: “Noma, would you straighten out this glorified tissue box?”
STORY: Noma pipes into your earpiece. “Certainly, Millie. It shall be a few minutes.” Alejo, you see the hologram wince and flicker, and then the image freezes in place.
STORY: The apartment is otherwise dark and quiet.
MILLICENT: “Mr Soto. I am sorry to hear about your. Ah. Personal disappointment.”
MILLICENT: “And Mr Kuang is a nob, as any thinking person can attest.”
TUELLER: —He’s less pretty now.
STORY: — that was a gift for alejo
ALEJO: –And he appreciates it.
MILLICENT: “How long ago.”
ALEJO: “Shortly before you stole us when we tried to steal the Peregrine.”
MILLICENT: “Ah.”
MILLICENT: “My condolences, Mr. Soto.”
ALEJO: Alejo shrugs. “I only ever borrowed that life.”
ALEJO: “Anyway.”
MILLICENT: “You…”
MILLICENT: “Mr. Soto.”
MILLICENT: Millie’s heart is breaking here
MILLICENT: That’s such a good line
STORY: Noma pipes in. “Finished, Millie. Files are stored in your visor. I will be at limited capacity while I have to share space with them.”
STORY: “I recommend we depart immediately.”
MILLICENT: Millie draws back
MILLICENT: Squeezes Alejo’s arm
ALEJO: He smiles at her softly. “Got what we need?”
MILLICENT: Millie shakes her head
MILLICENT: Back to herself
MILLICENT: “Yes, we’ve got what we came for.”
MILLICENT: “Oh!”
MILLICENT: “One last thing!”
MILLICENT: Millie starts finger typing, using the visor to access the hologram
MILLICENT: I’m hacking the security system
STORY: Let’s have an Access + Interface please!
MILLICENT: /roll 2d6
STORY: @josh rolled 4
MILLICENT: ugh
MILLICENT: 6
TUELLER: That’s how it feels.
MILLICENT: —it doesn’t feel great!
STORY: You attempt to access it, but are locked out. The hologram looks at you, betrayed. “Access denied. Are– who are you?”
STORY: She looks alarmed, then, there are actual alarms.
STORY: The apartment lights up as every bulb is turned on and a droning siren goes off.
STORY: The hologram melts away.
ALEJO: Alejo looks around, calmly. “Definitely time to go.”
MILLICENT: “Yes, that uh. I should not have tried that.”
ALEJO: He pulls off his stocking cap, slips it over Millie’s head, and guides her out the door. “With me, Doc. Stay close and do exactly what I say, okay?”
MILLICENT: Millie nods, heads with Alejo
STORY: Tueller, you’ve had a mixed success, finally. Wrap up this fight for us!
STORY: Wen is staggering to a standing position as Sergio squares up with his claw for another round.
STORY: Also, your jaw is -for sure- broken. Good god, that hurts.
TUELLER: Tueller spits out “Motherfucker” through his jaw. You can hear how much it hurts him to say that. He smacks his hands together on Sergio’s metal claw, and it…well, for lack of a better word, is pulverized.
TUELLER: He holds onto the shattered prosthetic with both hands, and yanks, pulling the metal arm off at the elbow with a ugly smacking noise. He then beats Sergio in the face with his own metal forearm.
TUELLER: Making truly ugly noises through his shattered jaw.
STORY: You definitely wreck his face, but that claw’s fucking up your hands as you get a grip on it. Roll to Brace for Impact for a minor injury to your palms.
TUELLER: /roll 2d6
STORY: @chris.stuart rolled 5
TUELLER: Oh come on.
STORY: God damn, it really digs in and gives you some deep cuts. You lacerate a muscle in one of your hands, which is your second Major injury, and geez it’s a good thing you took that Asset.
TUELLER: —I wasn’t sure if I was going to kill Sergio or not, but I guess that decides it.
STORY: You’ve got one good hand, which luckily Sergio doesn’t notice as you slam the claw into his face, slashing his cheek deeply and knocking him out.
STORY: He lands on the deck, unconscious. His attendants stand by, two injured, two nervously watching you as you unhook the claw from your own palm. What do you do?
TUELLER: The pain keeps Tueller from going further than that. Tueller drops what remains of the claw to the ground, kicks Sergio once, and turns around to face the attendants.
STORY: Wen takes a wobbly stance behind you, ready to handle the attendants if any of them make a move.
TUELLER: “Get him fixed up. Tell him I’ll see him around. Have yourself a good night.”
TUELLER: Tueller bows politely, looks to Wen, and starts walking back to our safe house.
STORY: They make a path for you. Wen, if you’ll allow him, ducks under your shoulder and offers you a handkerchief for your hand, offering to lead you to the nearby infirmary.
TUELLER: Tueller does not allow Wen to help him out while the attendants are still able to see him, but does after they’re out of sight.
ALEJO: –Freakin’ Wen. Hate that guy.
STORY: Yeah, what a dick.
TUELLER: —Sorry, dude. I’m bringing him home with me.
MILLICENT: —what a nob
ALEJO: –Gotta do it.
STORY: Alejo! The alarms are blaring, A-Sec will doubtless be summoned in minutes, Millie is unfamiliar with this sort of situation. What do you do?
ALEJO: We head out the door, head for the main exit and hope that we can get to the street just as things get very crowded.
STORY: Let’s cover this with a Face Adversity + Mettle roll
ALEJO: /roll 6+2
STORY: @ablair01 rolled 6 + 2 = 8
STORY: You manage your egress all right, avoiding major camera paths, but the two of you reach the main street just as an A-Sec agent comes running around the corner. You have to do something to avoid notice. What do you do?
ALEJO: Alejo grabs Millie and spins her into him, acting as though they have just come out of their apartment, lovers out for an evening stroll. “What’s that noise, dear?” His voice is completely different than it’s been.
MILLICENT: “Mmmmmm? I couldn’t possssibly saaay, deyah”
MILLICENT: Millie’s voice is less convincing, but not bad, per se
ALEJO: Alejo laughs and pulls her close, walking calmly but quickly.
STORY: Millie is a terrible actor, but it works. You both make your escape from the sector and slip back towards the shuttle you take back to your rooms.