---

Location: Vivian’s, E Street Territory, Spire District
Mentions: @Silver Carrot @Kumbaris

The bouncer hadn't been much trouble; like many of the Spire denizens, his loyalty and actions were tied to others who were far, far more indecisive than any member of the Black Maria. As such, the man hadn't asked many questions when Remo had entered into his view. He hadn't asked much of anything, just shifting out of the way for the Don and his entourage to atride past the line as a whole. It wasn't hard to tell the man's concern about a good lot of things. Remo thought little of it.

Enter into the bar, pause and take a good breath in while eyes scan the residents. He spotted her, unsurprising really considering the description Remo had received and the lack of obvious prosthetics in Vivian's. Those others who had such things were the sort to embellish their metal, blacks and golds mainly in muted wealth, while hers was suspiciously clean, basic. Otherwise…he tried to connect the face with his memories. The lady looked about as old as might be expected, though far more well worn compared to Remo. Time hadn't been gentle to her, not at all. She sat with another occupant of the Spire, though the Don didn't quite recognize her. The other was young enough she couldn't be an old one, one from back in the day. A new friend, really Julia? Remo chuckled freely at the thought.

The group was seated some ways across the floor, Remo ordering a bottle of white wine for himself and his, a bottle of red for the woman across the way. It was cheap to be generous, and the Don somewhat smiled at that thought.

Honey Badger

Sounds of cars in the distance. People moving about in the Backstreets of the City. A shop hawker calling out, "Clothes and Weapons! Armor and Food! Here, low prices! Good quality! Here! All here!" Punctuated by the roar as a mag-train rips by overhead, showering sparks from a faulty mag-lev assembly where the train touches track briefly. The relative glitz of Metro Street maybe a short kilometer away is an interesting contrast. Telling a cleaner story to the story that is being told back here.

And it is here more curiousities reside.

As a citizen, slumming for the day steps into the Backstreets. They are struck by the difference, the relative safety and shine of Metro Street is taken over by the dull grinding fall, rust and grim. Looking about they shy away from E Street toughs. And the E Street folks motion and start to follow the poor person. For about a block, before even they stop. The civilian letting out a slow breathe. The E Street folks motioning to the person, trying to get them to come back, they no longer seem to be wanting to jump them, more like they are worried and concerned.

The civilian turns to see what it is, when out of a run down shop, steps a giant. Decked out head to toe in combat gear, one arm from the shoulder down replaced with black metal and carbon fiber composites, ending in mean looking bladed claws. The other arm holding a massive rotary machine gun. But all of that is topped with a Kodiak bear mask. Blazing blue eyes looking out from the mask at the person. Kodiak grumbles, "You can go to them, maybe get jumped. You're safe here though. Welcome to Badger Sett territory. You can get back to Metro street that way." THe bear motions with his augmetic arm further into the territory. Past a massive Red, and Grey painted building. holo-tags reading, "Pack Territory" and "The Badger Sett" flare and blink and glow on it's walls, atleast six stories or so of a building. Black smoke billowing from windows and piping. The distant roar of foundries and furnaces. The sound of metal work and the sound of tools from within. Kodiak chuckles, "Go on then."

Alot of this really doesn't matter though.

As the erstwhile civilian is more or less unimportant.

It's what's happening within though that's interesting to anyone who might be watching. The Badger Sett administration team is meeting. Honey Badger himself sitting at a large meeting table, facing 4 other Pack members. A Wolf Mask, a falcon mask, a jackal mask and finally an otter mask. The leaders of the Sett in meeting.

Otter leans over the table looking at the list Honey Badger returned with. She hums, "We don't have any of this that isn't already claimed. Though Scavanger Team Beta has called back to say they found some copper piping and slabs that we can render and turn into those fittings. Shouldn't take more then a day and a half. We have five of those heaters in storage but they're all spoken for. Though, if you yourself went to go ask one of the teams working with them they may be willing to wait until we can trade for another or wait for one of the three that are being made. Those being made are about eight to ten days out though." Honey Badger nods, "I'll go ask Team Crow later, he does owe me a favor, he may be willing to part with his promised heater." Falcon coughs then, "It's those gravity filters that are going to be interesting though. We have seven, but each and everyone is spoken for, and none of those teams are likely to want to part with them, their projects are all too near completion. Though we can put you top of the list for the next one we make or find."

Honey leans back in his chair and nods, "I guess that's the best I can hope for. I'll go talk with Crow, and I'll wait on those fittings. I wonder if Ma'am Piety will take the order piecemail." He rubbed the chin of his mask, "Well for now we know what we are doing for this order. In the meantime let's proceed a pace. And send word to the Burners, if they need Pack assistance, they can call on the Badger Sett."

The leaders of the Sett nod in agreement. And the meeting starts to break up.

---

---

Chandi waltzed back to the car with Alese in tow after the woman grabbed her clothes. They slid into the backseat of the car. Chandi practically stared a hole in the side of her head. When Alese finally looked at her Chandi raised an eyebrow.

The creamy pale skin reflected the neon lights of the city as they rode in the car. Chandi let the silence hang in the air and just as Alese looked like she was going to say something Chandi cut her off. “Pack? Really Al? Badge is not exactly the worst company I suppose.” Chandi leaned back and crossed her arms and looked out the side window. Her red lipstick looked liquid black in some of the lights. She sighed and gave Alese the side eye. “And what about your dad’s car? You know I'd bring it up. You should talk about it. Not right now. Later. Tonight is about fun.”

The trip to the Spire itself was short. Along the way a billboard flickered, catching Chandi's attention. Her lips twisted in thought. She had been raised to catch little things. She texted Jeremy about it and immediately that was followed by On it. as a text response.

Looking over at Alese she asked. “Did you see the billboard?” It was more of a way to fill the silence. Alese knew that and it was a testament to their friendship that Chandi said it and Alese allowed her to. Chandi said it because she needed to hear it aloud. She held out her hand for the clothes that Alese had brought with her. As she received them she studied each one. “That'll do. Though I really want to try out the fashion tabs. I'm thinking if they work on clothes that might break me into clothing design and open that up for luxury patterns. Then work on different textures in turn you'd be able to wear any pattern; including ancient art. Open source blah blah blah. It's just an experiment.”

As they moved out of the car Chandi listened to what Alese had to add, nodding while the staff of the Spire let them through. The lift to her apartment was silent and the quiet rush of the assent allowed the ladies to reflect on thoughts. Chandi waved her hand with the micro implant and the lift doors unlocked. Opening to the opulent suit lobby Chandi let Alese go ahead then turned and pressed the button to close off the lift doors from opening to this floor. The lobby had couches, a small table with chairs; everything was black and white themed and the whole room balanced perfectly. Clean, modern and utterly lacking in Chandi's personal touches.

Once past the lobby Chandi's apartment opened into a massive vast open plan kitchen living room with couches and furniture that was cat friendly. Shadow and Grim immediately started stalking and chattering at the two women and Chandi murmured back to them. “Let me take care of them while you clean up. You know where everything is.” 

---

Both women were enjoying the sights and sounds of the bar, with Xiang Min quite surprised when Julia said that this was the exact spot she liked hanging out back in the day. "Well, that sounds highly convenient." She responded when Julia mentioned that. The woman could only smile though, as her day was slowly getting better and better, She met someone who could match her in fights, someone who seemed to vibrate on the same wavelength as her, and someone that she just found pleasant to hang out with. Barring her sister of course. She had half a mind to make her a job offer right on the spot, but she was a bit curious about her past, what she went into, and how she ended up here, so she decided to delay that thing just a bit longer to see where Julia might take her.

Then she talked about her past, and Xiang Min did not expect what she was saying, as she talked about the incident, and just a little bit of her past, how she took the fall of a lot of things and got eventually imprisoned. Xiang Min's brain worked once more, her face was contemplative when she heard the little details of Julia's story she was willing to divulge, and thought about her as a potential addition to SDS. But, unfortunately, her thoughts are interrupted by two developments, firstly by the Robot bartender bringing both her and Julia their desired drinks, and secondly by an unexpected order of red wine that arrived shortly after the drinks they ordered, her head swiveled as she saw a man wearing a fur coat, and with visible signs of aging. Nothing too unusual for her, sometimes there are old and creepy men that think she's just some escort looking for work. Creeps.

But her face turned when she saw Julia's face change into a look of dread, concerning, but simultaneously piquing her interest. She studied the man further, and her eyes widened as she saw a connection forming. That man is Black Maria, most likely a Don too judging by how nonchalantly he's going by the day himself. She doesn't need to be a genius to see that Julia is visibly afraid of him, and her mind slowly turns again. Is she? She's E-Street? Xiang Min thought, the only person that would either be visibly afraid or enraged by a Black Maria are either E-Street members, people that have been wronged by them in the past, and people who've been on the receiving end of the Black Maria's rage tend to not live for long, their bodies disappearing as frequently as the Sun over this damned city.

"Hey? Julia, are you okay?" Xiang Min asked. "We can get a private room if you are feeling not well." She offered. The no. 1 Rule when dealing with strangers, is not to make them feel uncomfortable, she learned that from his parents whenever they entertain guests on formal occasions. And this fits the bill.

Whatever leather or swanky composite material the seats in Chandi’s car were composed of was more comfortable than Alese’s bed and smelled of exotic perfumes. Having been here before, she allowed herself to sink in blissfully as they set off before sensing the redhead’s heated glance being directed her way. “So?” She said, rolling her shoulders comfortably in the smooth fabric. There was more than enough room for three or more to easily stretch out in the back of the large car, though Chandi sat mostly upright in her usual aura of relaxed affluence. “I don’t judge the company you keep when I’m not around,” Alese continued, arching an eyebrow back in playful return judgment. “Oh, Chandi, can I get you a drink? Let me take your coat- Marry me Chandi…” She pantomimed gagging. However her teasing grin rapidly faded at the mention of the car and she looked away, embarrassed, forlorn even. Images flashed through her mind again and she started to speak, though Chandi had thankfully already changed the subject. She peeped up over the edge of the thick window frame into the glowing night of the city. One of the many corporate billboards among the animated holograms and traffic signals strobed and pulsed unusually for a moment, just enough to be noticeable. It was a GeoNet advert, however with sections of the image missing, it merely read, G oNe. Alese looked down at her Net bracelet and her glance narrowed. “That’s weird, it still thinks I’m at home.” Though it immediately corrected its readout as if it heard her speak. “There it goes.” She shrugged, but Chandi had already taken to evaluating her wardrobe choices.

The cleanliness of the air was the most noticeable characteristic of the Spire. Crisp and cool. There was almost a taste to it for the unaccustomed. Even the air scrubbers Norris installed at Iron Technica could not compare to stepping up the multiple social and physical steps to Chandi’s flat. Even the water in the shower felt better, like bathing in silk and again she lamented selfishly that this was an attainable choice that she had the ability to make. After nearly an hour she emerged, vibrant and in a riot of colors. She would lie if she said she hadn’t enjoyed every second and took her time to savor it, but since Chandi had decided to pop-in for a surprise visit, it felt a deft counterstroke to take her time in the lap of luxury. “God I needed that…” She said wistfully and glided over to the bar area moving some of the bottles around and tipping on her toes to examine others before preparing a selection for herself in a silver mixing cup. One of the cats purred against her leg, smelling Chandi’s floral scented body wash fresh on her skin as she stirred. “I swear I’m not getting drunk this time. This is just pregame.” She said, taking a sip and bending down to apply generous scritches, though as soon as the heat of the liquid descended to her empty stomach she felt the warmth of high-end alcohol rise back up through her nerves and smiled broadly, taking in a deep breath and savoring the taste. “Mmmm…Yes, that will do.”

There was a large mirror adjacent to the bar and she half-turned, drink in hand, and pivoted on one foot, looking down her shoulder discerningly at her figure for a moment. Satisfied, she put a new bag over her shoulder- a much sleeker option she kept at the apartment and more than anything she would have risked on the streets. “Alright, I’m ready.” She said, turning back to Chandi and taking another healthy sip before setting the cup aside. She fished a pair of glasses from the bag and slid them over the top of her head.

Any hope that Julia could get through this night whithout that Black Maria bastard spotting her were shattered when, upon checking back after he'd entered, their eyes met, and Julia's head snapped back to the front. Well, he'd seen her. She didn't doubt he recognised her. They crossed paths enough times. He'd grown a beard, she had a lot more scars and they'd both started going grey, but you don't forget the face of one of your nemeses.

She tried to calm down when he appeared to ignore her and sit at the other end of the club. Maybe the desire to avoid each other was mutual. After all, surely this was a coincidence. Xiang seemed too popwerful to be in Black Maria's pocket. It wasn't that Julia trusted her too much to entertain the thought that Xiang may have ratted her out. She was still a relative stranger. It's that Xiang didn't seem like the type to operate like that. She probably had her own guys. Didn't seem like the blonde lady's style to do something like this.

Their drinks arrived, along with a chilled bottle of red wine. The robot waitress made a point to specify that the 'gentleman in black' had ordered it for this table. Red wine, huh? Julia was starting to calm down now that her fight or flight response was assured she wasn't in danger of catching a bullet, or worse. This was, however, an annoying addition to her evening. Her expression turned from fear to irritation as she clicked her tongue.

"I'm fine, don't worry." Julia reassured her new friend with an unconvincing, fleeting smile. "I'm afraid I have to catch up with an old friend. Excuse me."

Julia hadn't invited Xiang to come with her, but she hadn't told her not to either, as she left the wine in the ice bucket, and downed her cocktail in one gulp. It tasted sour and fruity going down, but left a cloyingly sweet aftertaste in her mouth. She made her way across the club's floor and over to Remo's table, where she sat down at the free seat.

"It's been a while," Julia greeted dryly, with a nervous smile. "Never thought we'd be in a situation like this. So, how can I help you, Don Remo? Congratualiions on the promotion, by the way."

@Kumbaris@Thayr

Hotshot rubbed his eyes in the dim light of Mak0's hideaway. The tiny room had no windows and the walls were thick enough to block the Skynet signal; making it impossible to tell just how much time he and his benefactor had spent pouring over MCPD surveillance footage. So far, following Rotor's movements prior to his death. He'd somehow managed to keep a low profile despite the usual brash and loud persona Hotshot and multiple Burners were accustomed to. The cell boss was starting to wonder if this little trip was going to yield any results.

Mak0 had abandoned the task in favor of working on the Rip Current. Leaving the room for his 'workshop' the Shark slipped through a hidden door against the back wall. All Hotshot could hear was a string of various machine noises broken by the odd curse in a distorted tone. With little else to do, he turned his attention back to another surveillance video. This particular feed was Rotor on his daily beat. While Afterburn preferred the rooftops, members like Rotor and Saturnine would often descend to the city floor in the hopes of picking up jobs or the occasional credits. Onscreen, Rotor was loitering in his preferred alleyway. It looked like practically nothing until something caught Hotshot's attention.

"Mak0! I need you in here!" A few moments later, the hidden door slid open and the shark mask popped out. The electronic eyes studied Hotshot carefully.

"I take it you found something?" Hotshot pointed to the feed in question. While Rotor stood leaning against the wall, the camera made out the faintest trace of a distortion next to his body. Exactly the size of an adult human.

"What do you think? System glitch or have we found our potential client?" Mak0 eyed the feed and brought it to the main monitor on the wall. He shook his head.

"Highly unlikely it's a glitch. The cameras are about the only thing the city tries to keep up to date. MCPD and the Heirs love having their eyes and ears on everyone." The Pack member furiously typed away on a keyboard yet - no matter what was hit - the blur refused to change. "That's definitely an AR cloak. I haven't seen something this difficult to hack through in a long time. If I can't do it, then you have two prime suspects. Someone from the Pack using a homebrewed gadget..."

"... or an Heir got some new toys and they REALLY want this quiet," said Hotshot finishing the thought. "Not the smallest pool to work with, but that does narrow it down. I trust you'll keep working on this for me?" Hotshot turned to leave when Mak0 placed the Rip Current on the table.

"I'll do what I can, but if I can't hack past that, then you may be SOL, my friend. Although there may be one Pack member who has more advanced tech than I do. I'll have to call in a favor..." Before Hotshot could ask, Mak0 pointed to the pistol. "I took the liberty of removing the limiter this time. You get five shots before reloading now, but the stored charge should be plenty stronger. You'll cripple any cybernetics so long as you're accurate. And of course," There was a dry chuckle as Mak0 set a box of rounds on the table.

With a nod, Hotshot claimed his items and turned for the door. Upon stepping outside, he quickly reconnected to Skynet and tried contacting Saturnine as he fired a grappling hook to ascend to the rooftops. "Sat? you copy? Sat?" When no reply came through, the boss groaned. It seemed like he'd be the one contacting other cells. Baba would have to be first since The Lost could be reasonable. As he took off running, Hotshot made a mental note to stop by Jigen's before tracking down Baba. He'd have to take his noodles to go this time.

Meanwhile, back in the hideaway, Mak0 returned to the workshop and started packing up tools. As soon as he made contact with another Pack member directly, it was going to be time to close up shop. This particular errand also meant having to track down a nosy Badger. Mak0 turned and picked up a rifle that had been leaning against a wall. An unfinished project, but with a little work, it would be more than a fair trade for some information.

---

He smiled as she made her way over, not stopping for any sort of invitation before seating herself down in a free seat at the table. The Don hadn’t brought quite so many as to take a whole table, and some hadn’t seated themselves, though made men's eyes drilled into the woman as she did so. They knew who the lady was, generally speaking. Associates of Black Maria, and more specifically Regia Maria, were told to carry themselves a certain way, talk a certain way, and she didn’t fit the profile at all. Of course, meeting with an associate would never have been done by the Don himself, so that pointed the way from such a possibility easily enough. He stared, too, smiling thinly as she spoke.

A pause passed, Remo motioning with a casual enough gesture, and those men seated stood, took a few steps away. He didn’t need them for the conversation, that was true enough. Only his Capo remained seated, hands hidden under the table.

“It has, it has. I’d always hoped we would find ourselves in a situation like this. Talking like this. It would mean someone has finally won, or at least won enough. And…thank you. The promotion has been most interesting.”

He studied her again, taking a sip of his wine. It wasn’t great, but also wasn’t odious. The smile remained on Remo’s lips as he considered her. “How’s the real world, ragazza? Good?”

Julia’s smile was strained. She wasn’t just pissed off because he’d stated that them talking like this was a sign he’d won their blood feud. She was even more pissed off because he was absolutely right. He was the winner. He is even more powerful now than he was then. Julia may be much better off after reaping the rewards of her deal than she ever had been, but she no longer had power within E-street hierarchy, and was short two limbs. Even so, she was a strong believer in respect, even among once-enemies, so she answered cordially.

"Considering the Spire as the real world is still novel to me. Compared to prison, it’s….very quiet at night," was her hesitant, bizarre answer. Trying to make small talk with Remo was seemingly a challenge to her.

Meanwhile, Xiang Min was silently observing the situation as it unfolded. The Don and Julia meet each other, seemingly sizing themselves up, before sitting down and talking, the CEO silently commands her gauntlets to be on standby mode, in case anything were ever to happen that demands her intervention, but she doesn’t think Julia nor the Black Maria Mafioso are stupid enough to start a conflict in the Spire out of all places.

Still, while she has dealt with her fair share of gangsters, she hasn’t dealt with one with this much prestige and position. She’s dealt with some mercenaries and E-Street thugs that rivals hired to kill her, and she tended to be on the winning end of that situation. She was a little bit surprised though when some Black Maria gangsters left the tables in Vivian’s, she never even thought that there were more Black Maria gangsters here, the muscle near the man in the White Coat is still sitting there however, unmoving and a rock, most likely insurance in case things go south.

The blonde-haired woman could only give Julia Kray a nod as she stood by. So, a bunch of gangsters, and a muscle right next to the head. Would need a distraction to keep the other gangsters occupied while I gun for the Muscle, a uppercut with my gun firing should knock him out for good, and at that point, the rest of the gangsters should be easy pickings. Hopefully the old man wouldn’t choose to fight himself, but if it’s necessary, a sharp knock on the head could KO him for the moment while we do a fiery escape. Xiang Min thought as her mind wracked over potential exit strategies for the current situation.

Normally she would have Mingfan and some SDS personnel assisting in this situation, but she doesn’t have time to call for assistance should things go south, and she doesn’t want to take her attention off just to call for help.

”I imagine so. Bars aren't good for souls. It breaks them down too much…and what is left is bleeding.” He paused, considering, contemplating, taking a sip of his wine. There sat a former foe who could fight no longer, knew it, and though he understood and knew that the feeling one should feel was elation, the Don struggled to grasp at that emotion. No, instead he just saw a broken, broken woman who lacked strength. In a way, there was pity to be found in that image. In a way, there was pride. He had done this and no other, no other could claim it as their war to be won. No, Remo couldn't crow over the victory like a child, but he could at least quietly appreciate it.

His gaze wandered a shade to the distance, to the woman standing some ways away in fine Spire clothing. The way she was studying his bodyguards and the Don clicked in the man's mind, a careful enough study for issues and threats. A thought sent and received over his link and he knew one of his men had already tensed, ready, waiting to put a bullet in the woman's skull. An issue or another would be stupid, but so would not taking precautions. He made a point to look long enough before looking again at Julia. ”The Spire isn't quite real either, that is true, but I am glad you are making not quite real friends in it.”

Julia’s jaw clenched and the muscles in her neck visibly tightened. She was staring at the table in front of her. She could not listen to what he was saying. Especially not him being the one saying it. She had made friends. A lot of them. Some of them died by his command. Other deaths were her own fault. She couldn’t think of any retort that wouldn’t get guns drawn on her, and not make her look pathetic. She had to resist both the urge to jump over this table and snap his neck, and had to hold back tears.

”You’re better than making remarks like that. Or, you used to be.” was her eventual, quiet, serious response. Her mouth was dry. The look in her eyes when she raised her head to meet his gaze again would be a familiar one. Hate. A flame betraying her explosive, violent nature. So, the fire hadn’t entirely gone out after all.

He watched the immediate reactions, the hate, the movement. Clearly enough, there was something to be had there as she bore holes down into the table, and as the woman spoke Remo let out a long, long breath. There was flint there in that voice, flint and the taut wire about the neck. The Don's eyes didn't leave from her as he watched the performance, calculating over it.

”I'm sorry - you misunderstand me. New friends is what I mean. New friends like the one you have over there. Your old friends…” He paused, letting the words hang as he considered the next well. There wasn’t any more pity to be found there, that was for certain. She still had a fight in her, a fire in her, not quite fully beaten down and away. ”They were good people. They really were. Honest enough, skilled enough. Worthy opponents to the end.”

Xiang Min continued studying her opponents, from their clothes, their weapons, everything. The situation was so tense that one could pull out a knife and cut the tension wide open, one wrong move from either of them could spell disaster, and Xiang Min was pretty sure everyone knew it.

And so the woman, already assessing her threats, decided to do something unexpected, her weapons were still kept on standby, but she relaxed her body, outstretched her arms forwards and then upwards, and just continued watching the conversation unfold with her hands, her arms grabbing her tea and then drinking it. A silent nod towards the Mafiosi that she meant no harm, but a message that, if they did anything. Xiang Min would protect her erstwhile Gym Partner from whatever aggression they would inflict upon her.

I could only hope the Black Maria received my message. Xiang Min thought, silently drinking her tea as she still watched Julia and Remo talk in the distance.

Julia sighed, her anger dissipating as she realises that he’s trying to cheer her up. This was a weird situation. She didn’t want to fight. She wasn’t prepared for the consequences. But every second in front of this man was a test of her self-restraint. And she definitely didn’t want to bury the hatchet and become friends. Hearing him overcorrect and start praising her friends brought out a single snort of laughter from her, though she still wasn’t smiling.

”They were punks. Gangsters. Kids who shot other kids. I appreciate you calling them skilled and worthy, though.”

There was a thoughtful look in her eyes. All the bloodshed on the streets of Metro City and now look at them both; Old, alive ,rich and talking peacefully over drinks in the Spire. She didn’t know whether to give credit to the blood she spilled to get her this far, or wonder what it was all for.

”If they weren't skilled, my men wouldn't have died to them. If they weren't honest, I would have bought them. It is just the truth. You were the same. There's a reason you have chrome instead of a suit.” He frowned, then, tapping briefly against the table. A number of thoughts came and went, though none of them were solid enough to wholly grasp. Some part of him still wanted to relish in the victory, other parts of him wanted to talk more candidly in one way or another. A question still tickled at the man's curiosity since she'd mentioned such people. ”Do you visit them?”

Julia looked down at her arm. She could have gotten something shiny and fashionable, but she wasn’t an heir. It would in some way have felt like a betrayal of herself. Maybe that’s what he meant by honest. E street would lie, cheat and steal, but they knew who they were. They knew that they were street scum given value by pledging loyalty to Heir benefactors. That’s why they had a strong sense of respect, and lived by the mantra of ‘E street for life’.

She looked back up when she was asked if she visited her old friends. She shook her head with a deflated face. ”From time to time. The new blood don’t want me to work for them, but they still respect me. It’s a strange position. E street members never stop being E street.”

Remo snorted, that thin smile finally reaching up to twinkle in his eyes. The ragazza still didn't understand, didn't always reach his full meaning about the facts, about life, about all of it. He spoke of the living, new friends, and she thought he spoke of the dead. He spoke of the dead, friends made and lost during that feud, and she thought he spoke of the living. The girl was right, though, right about all of it. E Street never did stop being what they were, enforcers given meaning by what they offered up to those in the high towers who wouldn't know loyalty or sacrifice or decision if it was choking them awake. They were enforcers who didn't grasp that whole picture, built from the decisions of those before, their blood and skill, who saw only the next day. That new blood, if they were smart, wouldn't waste someone with experience…but they weren't smart because, E Street never changing, never learning, didn't know. They saw her failures against the whirlwind Remo had once unleashed that so many had been torn by, not the successes she had born which forced his hand to create such monsters. They were, in short…E Street. It amused him, that grand joke.

”Maybe so, maybe so. Maybe one day you'll find something that better fits you, here, now. Maybe one day a seat will welcome you with open arms. I hope you'll find it.” A glance at a watch, then, casual as may be in the motion. That brief frown visited the Don's face as he looked back up. He spoke as he rose, fixing his coat as Iacopo strode off to pay the bill. ”I hope every visit might be as pleasant as this one, but I must cut it short. Other business to attend to. If you are ever in the neighbourhood…please, I'm sure the Star can find a table for you. Good night, Julia.”

---

As soon as the Black Maria and his goons left the place. Xiang Min immediately went into the bar and sat right next to Julia. Her eyes still examining potential threats as the CEO tried her best to make sure her erstwhile gray-haired partner did not feel too rattled by the taunting and veiled threats she received from the Mafioso. "Uhh, can I have one mangonada here, please?" She asked the bartender, who quickly concocted the drink as a blonde woman pat Julia on the back, making sure that everything would be okay. "Hey, hey!" She ushered Julia. "You're gonna be alright, okay? I may only know you for a day, but I don't let people that I take an interest in be intimidated like that."

It seems that the bar quickly returned to its normal tempo once the Don left, and the cheery atmosphere returned rapidly enough. Xiang Min could only breathe a sigh as she didn't need to call in her private detail and Mingfan to make sure things stayed under control, "I have a Mangonada ordered for you, I've heard that it could make even the most foulest of days brighten up with how tropical this thing tastes. It's on my tab, you seem to need it more than I do." She commented as the bartender slid the cocktail to Julia's table.

She considered asking if Julia was truly E-Street or not. She is 99% sure that she is but ultimately decided not to pursue the matter further. Better let bygones be bygones for today and enjoy the rest of the day.

The Badger Sett

The elevator rumbled and growled. Old rails carrying the beat up steel beast. From a time long ago when this area of The Sett had a different purpose. In fact Badger looked down at his feet. He smiled behind his mask.

Buy when he looked up he let out a gasp.

A memory? An old engram of the past maybe? But through the chain link door that looked out onto the immense cavern of mechanical bays, he saw something that he thought wad the past. The place looked new, the lighting crisper and more clear. Soldiers of various allied corporations walked the length and breadth of the immense room. The hum of electronics. The snap-crack of an arc welder. The crash of a pneumo-hammer as it struck an armor plate. Thr whine as a walker suit powered up, it's pilot calling to the service crew at its feet. Badger looked to his left and right looking at the...ghosts...yes ghosts of other service personnel and bots rising the lift down to the service floor for a new shift.

The lift thumped to a stop, and a person opened the sliding door. Peered in and called, "Sir?" For a moment Honey Badger just stood there. Just looking out. Then without real thought in the moment rattled out, "H0-n-3-y reporting for Shift Oscar..." again the person, now recognized by his mask that of a Lion coughs, "Sir? Are you okay?"

And everything snapped back to the now. Badger took in a deep breathe. His synthetic lungs pumping hard to get his body working again. Eldritch fluids pumped out of his heart into his body. He sighed and nodded, "Apologies...sorry Lion, I'm looking for Crow White." Lion nods, "Bay Nine Sir.. are you sure you're okay?" Badger nods,"I'm fine...yes fine. Bay Nine you said? Wonderful." And he wandered off into the service garage to find his old friend.

---

Some time later Honey Badger sat at his desk, filling out and filing some paper work.

His conversation with Crow had gone swimmingly. The old friends, from way back during the Wars had traded stories, caught up on things. It'd been awhile since Crow had been to the surface, he'd always performed the safety of the service level, compared to Badger who was more adventurous and out going. When Badger had breached the subject about getting the heating coil from Crow, the old Bird had asked what Badger needs a medical grade heating coil for. And he'd told the truth about a client looking for items. Crow had hemmed and hawed until Badger had brought forward the debt and favor owed. Crow had groaned and nodded, admitting there were another ten such coils coming out of manufacturing in a week's time.

And here Badger now sat with the coil wrapped up in protective foam and wrap. One part of the order from Madam Piety. The copper fixtures would be put through the foundry, and cranked out to his instructions by the morning. He'd just have to wait for the gravity blocks.

As he sat and worked his desk comms unit beeped. His left arm heaved open and one of the manipulator armed hit the answer key, "Badger here." The voice of their receptionist, a handy and capable little seal answered, "Sir, you have a visitor. Shall I send them through? A certain...shark Sir." Badger quirked his head to the side, "A puzzle then. Yes, send them through, I'm in my office."

Moments later the most accomplished artificer of the Pack entered the small office of maybe the oldest Pack Member still alive. Honey Badger quirked his head to the side and nodded to a chair, "M4ko, don't often see you enjoying the company of the vulgar crowd. To what do I owe the honor my boy?" The smile and clear curiosity loud and at the fore in the vocal tone and pace as he looked across the desk at the shark masked man.

@TheNoCoKid

@Kumbaris

Julia joined Xiang at the bar, looking stoic until she heard the door close behind Remo and his friends. The moment she heard the click, her head collapsed into her hands and she let out a shaky, haggard sigh, before starting to breathe deeply and deliberately. In through the nose. Out through the mouth. She hadn't had a panic attack in over twelve years. The prison therapist had helped her put a stop to them, and the trauma of getting blown up and losing two limbs was healed as far as Julia knew. But seeing that bastard face to face was almost bringing something back up.

Xiang pat her on the back and tried to cheer her up. Julia raised her head and glared at her for a few seconds, before her expression softened a tiny bit.

"I appreciate you looking out for me, but don't pity me," she sighed, shaking her head, as she took the cocktail and gave it a sip. "Mm! Thanks for the drink, though. That's nicer than I remember."

---

---

Rising from the sofa where she had been petting Shadow and Grim; who both looked put out as cats do when they know their owners are going out to do hooman things. Alese came back out of the shower then poured a shot and Chandi grinned at the thought that Alese was going to not get drunk. “So adorable that you want to commit to that. I believe you believe that. Right now in this moment.” Chandi poured herself a shot of gin and threw it back. “I hear that every time we go out. Then I hear groaning from my guest room and bargaining with a higher power and the…” She looked thoughtful. “Is it the I’m never drinking again… yes that is the line that falls from your lips every time.”

Not letting Alese really protest she took the older woman by the arm and walked her out the door. Chandi stepped into the elevator with Alese in tow. “Sheila engage the lock for apartment Chandi. My voice is my password. Secondary voice password for Alese that you have on file. If anyone else attempts entry contact authorities please.” She smirked at Alese. “Yes I am evil because you have to sing that phrase you hate. ‘Alese, Alese, the queen of the streets. She can enter the room, if she sings a sweet tune’.” Chandi’s sing-song was more on tune than Alese would have been.

As the floors shot by Chandi was smugly silent till they got to the eighth floor. Chandi tapped her wristwatch. “Jeremy inform the good ol’ boys of my plans for the evening.” Looking over at Alese she smiled. “Ready or not here we go bestie.”

Chandi’s attitude switched up the moment that the door opened to Vivian’s. A smug smile graced her lips. Her head up and back shoulders squared and the step said Who runs the world? You’re looking at her. “Milo. Excellent. Gin and tonic double with a real cherry and real lime wedge. Get that for me, pet. Oh and get us two shots of Lust, Pride and…” She tapped her scarlet lips. “oh yes Wrath from the S7s. The shots you can bring at 30 minute intervals.” She ticked off her fingers counting off what she wanted. Milo could handle it. He always did. Dependable Milo was. He had to be to keep his job. “Meanwhile Alese needs a Windy Sail with an orange, pineapple wedge and a mango curl. Curl at the bottom…” Milo looked like he was going to perspire on the way to the bar.

“Is Vixie here? Yes? Good. Tell her that the head bitch and her crony want their usual.” Milo looked like he was going to ask more questions. Chandi held up a finger to his lips. “Yes, pet, the real kind. Nothing that those crazies say tastes like the real thing. Oh and what are you out of the dress code? Put your tie and suspenders on. Ancient Roman skeeves me out. That Vico bitch thinks she is in charge. There is only one HBIC and that is me. Even Viv doesn’t play me. Go on pet. Kiss.” She presented her cheek and he kissed her on the cheek. Then he turned and she gave him a kiss on the cheek then made a gentle shooing motion to Milo as she kept Alese as an extension of herself and walked over to their booth passing the other heirs who were slumming it with the plebs.

@Silver Carrot@BigPapaBelial@Kumbaris@Thayr

There was a dissipating uneasiness in the air as the lift opened for Vivian’s, like a thunderstorm had just passed. Though not directly noticeable, it was odd for a Friday night. Regardless, there were plenty of patrons so far into the spirits and the dance floor that Alese discarded the peculiar vibe almost as quickly as it was felt. What had not been uneasy, on the other hand, was the amount of alcohol in the mixing cup she downed prior to leaving Chandi’s apartment, which was apparently more than she had estimated; already giving her a light sashay in her step. The music and the UV lights shifted, pulsing, inverting and brightening colors across the club as if someone else had sensed a din in the air or maybe it was just for Chandi, which was entirely possible. Perfect timing. She thought, breathing in the crispness of the air like a sweet aroma. Vivian’s was a club for Heirs and there was a patrician fragrance in the atmosphere like high-end textiles and natural flora. While not as subtle as the apartment, it had an unmistakable allure that seemed to pull at base temptations. Alese touched a finger over one of her numerous bracelets as they walked and a digitized neon halo appeared over her head, slightly off-center, rotating softly in the dark light. Piety wasn’t exactly a common name in the GeoNet database, but she loved to own it fully and standing next to Chandi made her feel like a model on the catwalk. She beamed as they were escorted up to the redhead’s regular spot with the usual fanfare.

Nestling into the booth with a broad view of the club, Alese rocked her shoulders in time with the beat as a tropical concoction was presented to her with a flourish from Milo. As much as Chandi commanded him around he always had a sense of debonair and a strange aura of familiarity, at least to her it felt, that she couldn’t quite place and simply chalked up to him being good at his job. She thought she could detect a slight smirk towards her in his polished demeanor, but her fawning was interrupted with the order for shots and her glance widened towards Chandi with a look of disbelief and helplessness. “Oh my God, I said I wasn’t getting drunk! Are you trying to kill me?” She whined, repeating nearly the same line she had given Badger earlier. She grabbed Milo’s sleeve before he could dash off again. “Please bring me something to eat, Milo. I don’t wanna die.” She pleaded, giving him her best puppy-eyes as if she were a hopeless prisoner to Chandi’s drunk jail. This time she was sure she saw a smile.

The bass rhythm could be felt through the plush sofa and she already wanted to dance- a prospect that would only increase exponentially the more she consumed. Her eyes studied the “competition” as she sipped the glorious mixture of pineapple juice, rum and exotic fruit. These stiff legged bitches wouldn’t be able to touch her in her sneakers. Maybe just one shot, that’s all. Then she’d be set. Her glance passed over the bar as the club’s energy was beginning its charge into the night and more people arrived. There was a pair of women that looked like they were crying in their beer. A remnant from the feeling she got when they first entered. Her lips pursed a bit. No time for Debbie-downers tonight. Unlike the majority of this lot, Friday actually meant something to her and she had worked enough in sweat, grime and welding fumes to earn a night of not thinking too much about MegaCity. She was glad Chandi had shown up, though it had been a surprise, otherwise she might have spent another night alone, reading cheap romance from a tattered paperback. Still, she wondered for a moment how Badger was doing finding her items. She took another long sip and contemplated messaging him to pick her up some more books. If there was one thing the Pack would give away freely without question, it was salacious mysteries and glamor novels. After scaring her half to death just making him carry it around would be fitting payback.

@Silver Carrot
@Kumbaris
@Almalthia

---

Xiang Min was busy comforting Julia when both Chandi and Alese arrived at the scene. But her eyes immediately noticed them whenever she shifted her eyes towards the larger club. She is not a person to go to a place like this, but it doesn't take a genius to know that a local hangout for heirs might be a good place to discuss stuff not commonly talked about in boardrooms. And speaking of talking to important people. "Well, would you look at that..." Xiang Min mused, her voice barely audible as she sees the Heiress of CybertronRX and a blonde-haired companion of hers, perhaps a girlfriend or some mistress of Chandi's, arrived at the club and seemingly order a ludicrous amount of alcohol to fill up their system. She's not necessarily surprised by this. It is a Friday after all, and people like to go a bit wilder than most at the start of the weekend.

"Hey. Julia." She motioned to the former ganger "I'd like to talk to you further. But I noticed a bunch of people that I need to talk some short business with. Would you like to be my temporary bodyguard for the day? I'd pay you 1000 Credits right now, as long as you keep your mouth shut about tonight's events and protect me in the unlikely scenario some rival is out to get me in Vivian's out of all places." Not waiting for an answer from Julia. She ordered a bottle of Riesling Wine and a bunch of glasses. "If you follow me. I will assume that you've accepted the offer." She finally said to Julia, before grabbing the set and making way toward Chandi and Alese.

"The Wine's on me." Xiang Min said to Chandi and Alese, putting the bottle down and smiling at the both of them. "My name's Xiang Min. Is this a bad time to talk about some light business? I'm sure the future heir of CybertronRX would have no problem talking to a humble SDS representative such as myself." She said, sitting opposite to where the duo sat.

Truthfully. Xiang Min is quite interested in the young Heir. She has made quite a name for herself. Painting a media image of a Sophisticated, well-to-do woman who only knows the finer things in life. Quite the opposite compared to the image the media has painted of her. A much more ruthless, ambitious corporate climber that has no fucks to give after her family tragedy, she is seeing whether SDS could entrust CybertronRX with their more... sensitive Cybernetic equipment for testing or if she has to maintain a dedicated Cybernetics testing division within the company.

Hey... a leaner company is sometimes a meaner company after all. And the scientists now out of their typical duties could be redirected for... other uses, much more... specific R&D projects that Xiang Min has in mind for them.

@Kumbaris@Almalthia@Pilatus

Julia turned when she hear the door open again, and looked back with one eye just in case Remo had come back and she'd relaxed too soon. Nah, it was just an Heir, albeit a seemingly particularly important one, with a brightly colored dressed plus one. Julia quickly lost interest, and looked away. Heir's business was heir's business. E Street thrived by knowing when to keep their nose clean. Julia would never belong here. The Spire was her retirement reward. It was not, and probably never would be, the place she thought of as home.

Xiang then adressed Julia, and gave her an offer. 1000 credits for some temporary bodyguard work. Easy money. If things didn't kick off with Black Maria, they weren't going to be kicked off by anybody. Julia didn't have her gun, but she didn't need it. If you need to use a gun during a shift of bodyguarding, something has gone terribly wrong. As Xiang left the table, Julia finished her Mangonada in several sips so that she could still savour the flavours. She then got up and briskly followed Xiang with large strides so that she caught up by the time Xiang reached the booth table. The current two residents were the people Julia had seen enter the club, and she retroactively tried to recall anything important they might have said on arrival. Heir's business was heir's business, until an heir paid Julia to make it her business.

"C'mon, Xiang. They're here to enjoy themselves," added Julia as she took one of the stools facing the comfortable booth seats, and opened the bottle that Xiang had put down to pour a large measure of wine in each of the glasses. Julia had been involved in many a talk or meeting like this. She had watched her own bodyguards use all of their little tricks of the trade. Being on the other side of that, was very novel.

The older grey-haired woman flashed a pleasant, respectful smile at both Chandi and Alese as she poured the wine using her simple, no-frills spartan robotic arm. She was wearing a rather shiny neo-retro leather jacket over a silver crop top. The woman was dressing her age, wearing an updated version of the kind of thing she'd have likely been wearing when she was young. She was, looking around, the oldest person in the club by far.