ihinka

Tombs & Treks: A Pulp Roleplay

Elle's excitement grew more and more with every word that fell out of the Baron's mouth. Her cheeky grin grew wider and wider until her whole face was one huge, goofy smile. Her heart beat a mile a minute and her eyes shone with the prospect of a new adventure. Finding the Garden of Eden was a dream of every archeologist out there. Of course the more academic ones would deny it if asked directly, dismissing it as a 'wild goose chase'. But, fortunately, Countess Pelham was a wild card of an archeologist at best and even considered a pseudo-archeologist and a quack at worst. So the prospect of this expedition was right up her alley. Still, even a rogue archeologist and anthropologist as her would not be worth her salt if she didn't ask the pertinent questions.

"Pardon me, Baron." Elle spoke out. "Although I do share your excitement, because what archeologist or scientist in this sphere doesn't want to prove the Garden of Eden is real and not myth or a pretty Biblical metaphor, but what factual evidence you have to back this claim that it is in the Congo?" El was curious to find out why the Baron claimed the Garden was in Africa. Israel aside, from what she knew of the research done, the Fertile Crescent was a more likely location for it. Africa was cited as a possible location for the Garden in a few theories, but the claim appeared to be weaker than that of ancient Mesopotamia.

El paused and shifted her gaze to Al. "I'm sure you wouldn't summon all of us here without any solid leads. Although I also would assume it's why me and Al are here. So, tell us, Baron. What is it that makes you so certain the Garden is in the Congo?"

D&D 5e -- The Lost Children

@Guardian Angel Haruki She was probably too busy brooding

D&D 5e -- The Lost Children

Nope!

D&D 5e -- The Lost Children

@Guardian Angel Haruki Would Safira know or remember anything related to craters in forests? How strange is this occurance?

Tʜᴇ Sᴘʀᴀᴡʟ :: Running in the Shadows

"Lilly is my sister, yes." Síofra nodded in agreement at Jacks snarky answer to Serge's question. "And Doc... Doc is the only one I trust to take care of her while I'm out on jobs." The ex-soldier hesitated. "And that's all you need to know." Síofra nodded at Lilly. "My sister will show you where to set up. I'll be right back." She finished and followed a very irate looking Doc behind a door that probably led to a bedroom.

As Lilly was showing the team Síofra's 'office room' where Myrtle was set up, connected to a wall of four monitors, muffled voices could be heard arguing.

"I can't believe you just brought them here!" Doc was furious. Her mocha skin was flush with righteous anger. "I know you don't need me to tell you what's at stake here!" She pierced Síofra with a steely stare. "No one can know about Lilly!!! The more people know the bigger the chance for TVP to find us." The half-pint Latina kept fuming like this, strolling back and forth while Síofra stood motionless and observed the rant with a mixture of indignation and amusement. As well as a small dose of the warm fuzzies. She watched for another moment or two and when it appeared that Doc wouldn't be running out of gas anytime soon she stepped in front of her to halter her pacing. The therapist stopped dead in her tracks and was forced to draw her head back to look at Síofra. She was still fuming.

"First of all..." The ex-soldier began, removing her goggles and fixing her blue eyes on Doc's stormy brown ones. "I would never... never do anything to jeopardize Lilly's life! You damn well know that so for you to suggest otherwise is..." Síofra left the sentence hanging. "Second... I would have never invited these people in my home if I wasn't sure that they were trustworthy." As Doc opened her mouth to protest Síofra silenced her raising her index finger. "And third... You said us." Síofra added with a playful glint in her eyes.

"I..." Doc tried to argue, but there was a telltale blush suffusing her cheeks. "You..." She tried again and when Síofra grinned at her that cheeky grin that only she could Doc groaned and shook her head. "Fine! I mean. I trust you! Lilly trusts you! I still don't have to like it though." She finished petulantly jabbing a finger into Síofra's chest.

"So noted." The ex-soldier saluted loosly and Doc swatted at her.

By the time the two had exited the room Lilly had shown the group the office room and was being so polite and well-mannered that something on Síofra's radar pinged. The girl was also almost desperately trying to steer the team away from the door to the lab. Which was strange since she was supposed to show them that room as well. A realisation hit the tech and the blood drained from her already pale face. She rushed towards the door to the lab and Doc scurried behind her with a look on her face that said 'she was only in there for like fifteen minutes, how much could she mess it up?'. But when Síofra opened the door undeterred by Lilly's attempts to turn her away Doc knew by the look on her face that it was bad. Really bad!

A small muscle on Síofra jaw was jumping frantically up and down. Doc watched it and the taller woman mesmerized. The struggle lasted for but a moment and then the tech closed the door. That tiny muscle silent, her blue eyes unreadable. "I only wanted to play with Octa a bit." Lilly's small voice explained. "You know it calms me down." She tried to justify her actions, but it was painfully obvious the kid knew she'd messed up. Her head was hung between her shoulders and she was crestfallen. "I'm sorry." She murmured.

Síofra nodded. "I know you're sorry. But what do we say?"

"Sorry's not enough." Lilly supplied obviously used to this line of scolding. "I'll clean it up." She added.

"No." The tech shook her head. "You should have cleaned up right after. Now is too little too late. I have work in there and I won't be able to do it." She put her hand on Lilly's shoulder and used the other one to raise her head by the chin. "You're better than this Lil. I know it. You know it. Having fun is good and all, but how would you feel if I messed up your room and left it like that for you to find."

"Pissed." Lilly answered barely managing to hang on to the eye contact. "I'm grounded, aren't I?"

Síofra nodded. "One week." Lilly's eyes became huge with the length of the punishment. "I don't want to, kid. I know it helps you. But this is how you learn. Right?"

"Yeah." Lilly mumbled.

"Come on, Lilly, let's go to your room and finish that homework." Doc hugged the dejected girl. "You're sister and her friends have work." Lilly nodded as Doc pushed her toward her room. "Go, I'll be there in a minute."

"Nicely done!" Doc said to Síofra as the teen trudged for her room. She looked at the lab door. "How long?"

Síofra sighed. "The whole night most likely." She answered massaging the ridge of her nose.

"I'm sorry." Doc said. "I should have checked after she left the lab, but she was only in there for like fifteen minutes."

"No, Doc, it's not your fault. Lilly know she's only allowed in there if she cleans up after herself. This way she'll learn."

"Can I at least help you clean up?"

Síofra looked at Doc, amusement in her eyes.

"Hey!" Doc protested indignantly. "I know the difference between a welder and a wrench."

"Mhm." The tech chuckled. "Thanks, Doc, but I got it covered."

---

Síofra sat in front of Myrtle, cracked her knuckles and started typing. The team needed to know when this asset was getting moved if they were gonna intercept it during transit. They could try hitting the streets and find the intel that way. But that could take too long and there was no guarantee the info would be sound. She much preferred to fish straight from the source, but unfortunately she didn't have a tap on Hosaka to try for a direct hack. So she needed to find someone who did. There were bound to be plenty of people out there that wanted nothing more than to mess with that particular corp. And Síofra knew the perfect place to look for such individuals. Or groups. 'CorpsRU'. It was a netroom withing the darkweb frequented by corp haters of all sorts. Sure, there was the occasional nutjob and the not so savory types with shady morals and agendas, but Síofra knew how to navigate the oddballs in 'CorpsRU'.

"Need a line on Hosaka's servers to do some damage. Any interested party that comes forward with access lines will be compensated accordingly." Síofra typed the message, making sure to put in the necessary encryption, firewalls and safeguards. When she was positive no identity could be discerned from the add she pushed away from the cyberdeck. She couldn't do much but wait now. Okay, Lil, let's see just how big of a mess you've left me with. The tech thought as she strode toward the lab. On her way there she grabbed her trusty goggles and put them on. Myrtle would alert her via them if she got an answer to her add.

D&D 5e -- The Lost Children

I could post, if we need it to move us along. I'm just trying to give the others a chance to post too.

Tombs & Treks: A Pulp Roleplay

I'd be up for that.

Tʜᴇ Sᴘʀᴀᴡʟ :: Running in the Shadows

Síofra's attention was divided between listening to Mr. Wu's words and observing intently Jack. She knew Andi and Serge well enough to trust their behavior during a meeting. Jack, however was a whole different story. The ex soldier knew her type well enough and even though the assassin was behaving herself so far no one knew when she might explode into a flurry of undesired actions. The tech might have been able to interfere with Jack going for her knife had it not been for Mr. Wu's explanation about the specifics of the job. The way he was explaining about the asset and how it should not be harmed under any circumstances struck a cord with Síofra.

Lilly's face flashed inside her mind's eye. TVP used to call the children they were collecting assets. The girls especially were to be collected with the utmost care for their health, while the boys could stand to sustain a ding here and there. The moment the thought of Lilly crossed the ex soldier's mind Jack made her move and Síofra was a few moments late to grab her wrist surreptitiously and stop her. With the opportunity missed the tech clenched her hands in fists and growled low in her throat allowing the situation to play itself out, but she stomped her army boot on Jack's toes to make her point. Behave, damn it! She didn't trust herself to say anything out loud, because next to Jack she would be considered the second hottest hothead in the group. And she was right to delay as Andi intervened fluidly making Síofra a teeny tiny bit jealous she wasn't the one being scolded.

And thank heavens for Andi's quick reaction, because as soon as Jack made her move so did all of Wu's goons hidden among the patrons of the establishment. But with the situation resolved, things quickly calmed down and talks proceeded. Only this time, thanks to Jack's interference, with Mr. Wu having the upper hand completely. And Síofra wasn't too keen on taking on a job like that with such vague info to go on. Also, she wasn't too sure she could guarantee she'd allow this asset to reach Wu's hands upon completion of the job. But it was no use crying over spilled milk so she would commit to the deal and adjust accordingly in stride.

After Serge assured Mr. Wu they would take care of the job she nodded somberly and removed her boot from Jack's toes.

>Síofra also stakes 2 cred on this mission.

---

After Serge and Mr. Wu had hammered down all the arrangements for the job, their new employer left the dingy food joint, his cohorts slithering behind him like ominous shadow creatures. With all libations and food consumed and the table cleared by the young nervous waiter, the hodge-podge of free agents sat there in quiet reflection.

Síofra was debating an issue with herself. The team would need a base of operations of sorts. Her place was quite secure. It needed to be because of Lilly. And had she been on her own she wouldn't hesitate to offer it to the team. But with Lilly to think of... She just wasn't sure if she could afford to let her new team mates into her home. On her own she could easily find new digs if their safety became compromised, but with her high-profile sister in tow it was a different story. The ex-soldier scanned the others at the table one by one. Doc's not gonna be happy about this. Síofra sighed, deciding to go with her gut.

"My place is secure enough to serve as our HQ for this job." The tech spoke in her usual quiet unassuming tone. "But I, uh..." The constant assuredness with which she spoke waivered for a moment. "I live with someone and your presence in my house cannot under any circumstances threaten their existence!" The threat in her words was crystal clear to anyone listening. "If I let you inside my home and any harm comes to her due to something you did..." Síofra removed her tech goggles, paused for effect, squaring all three with her deep blue eyes. "You will be erased from existence, no questions asked!"

The ex-soldier got up, uninterested in the reactions of her new team mates to her words. "Let's go." She urged, putting her goggles back on. She took the usual precautions leading the group to her house. Only this time she executed everything twice to be extra sure no one, or thing, had followed them. Once that was done the team found themselves in an old subway tunnel system that appeared derelict. They stopped a few times while inside the tunnel while Síofra fiddled with some old access panels, until they finally reached a door most people would overlook. As soon as the tech approached it a beam was emitted by a device above it. The soft blue glow scanned the slight, fit figure of the ex-soldier and a panel appeared from inside the wall to the left of the door. Síofra entered a long sequence of letters, numbers and symbols and the door hissed open.

"Lilly wait!" A concerned female voice warned at the same time as a teen girl yelled excitedly: "You're back! Finally!" Síofra, used to the excited welcome home from the girl, received the flying hug with ease, but also with some amount of awkwardness considering the presence of her guests in toe.

"Um, Lil, hi... we... um... have guests." The amount of stammering was mortifying and the ex-soldier pried Lilly's body away from hers and looked to the owner of the concerned female voice for some help. "Hi, Doc." She muttered sheepishly. The tech could tell Lilly's shrink and babysitter was not pleased one iota by this development. But since what was done was done she placed a hand on Lilly's shoulder.

"Lilly, let your sister and her friends inside." The thirty something Latina looking woman urged, shooting daggers at Síofra.

As the group shuffled in and the security measures put up once again Doc sidled close to the tech and whispered in her ear: "Once they're settled, we'll talk!" The command in her voice unequivocal. All the while Lilly was busy ushering the guests inside, playing the hostess. Well, at least I'm doing something right. Síofra thought watching the teen girl act all polite and well-mannered.

Tʜᴇ Sᴘʀᴀᴡʟ :: Running in the Shadows

Síofra was twisting and turning on her futon. Ironically she was the one who ended up with the nightmares rather than Lilly who'd gone through that... that... that monstrosity that the tech could not even bring herself up to describe. So it was the scrawny looking teen that often rushed into her room to shake Síofra's sweat covered body awake instead of the other way around. Well, not to say that the kid was splendidly adjusted. Heck no! Mammoth panic attacks could be triggered by the smallest and most unassuming thing. Some of the triggers were obvious and both of them knew to avoid them as best as they could. But than there were those that snuck up on both of them and the tech would be left with a virtually unresponsive teen girl in her hands to take back to their humble abode. As inconspicuous as the ex soldier could make the trek back with a catatonic teen in her arms. People tended to notice that!

And yet it was Síofra that had ended up with the nightmares. Or night terrors as Lilly's most discrete head shrink had called them. The tech payed more than good buck for that therapist. She knew that Lilly needed professional help after what had been done to her and she knew she would have to pay good cred to keep whatever happened within those sessions confined to the room they took place in. But she'd lucked out with a doctor that had once been approached to participate in programs similar to TVP's and upon refusal had barely made it out with their skin intact. Suffice to say Doc had her own motives to help Lilly and be most discrete about it. But when Síofra had mentioned the nightmares she'd offered to listen and with Lilly's constant nagging to do it the ex soldier had finally caved. She was learning fast that there wasn't much she wouldn't do for her adoptive sister.

So the Doc had said that with her case it probably came down to guilt. That even though Síofra hadn't know what really happened to the kids, the girls especially, she felt responsible. Well, of course she felt responsible. She didn't need a shrink to tell her that. She knew she was responsible. She'd told the Doc as much, but than the woman had gone into a lengthy explanation how responsibility and guilt were not the same and how they could affect the subconscious in a different way. Still, since talking appeared to help somewhat Síofra did it whenever she felt like it, but absolutely refused to go into regular therapy the way Lilly did. She could handle the nightmares, especially after what she'd witnessed at TVP, which had led to her busting Lilly out. What she couldn't handle was Lilly's worried expression each time she had to shake her awake.

It still boggled Síofra's mind how Lilly didn't hold any grudge against her for the part she'd played in Lilly's imprisonment. The ex soldier wasn't personally responsible for the teen's capture, but was among the soldiers who were tasked with such retrievals. And Lilly knew that and still forgave her. Síofra shook her head to chase away the thoughts of her sister and to put her mind on the job at hand. Her eyes darted over the figures of her team mates for this op. She knew them by reputation, of course, but she did have some small personal experience with all of them. Serge, the burly dandy with that ridiculous transparent poncho over his precious suit, had helped her with that data mining job down at the MOLE tunnels. It had been a solid job and even with the new scrapes and bruises Lilly fussed over, she was satisfied with the outcome.

Síofra's eyes lingered on Andi a beat longer. Not that Serge didn't strike a fetching picture. He most certainly did, but not to one with her proclivities. No, to her he was just a handsome bloke in a suit. While Andi... Well... Plus she was a tough broad. And Síofra respected that. Especially in this day and age! But, of course, she would have in any day and age. Strong women were simply attractive to her. Aaaaand then there was Jack. Síofra often wondered if she could have ended up like Jack, had she stayed with TVP long enough. But right now she didn't have time enough to ponder that particular possibility or reminisce about the job she'd done with Andi that originated the idea about the TVP data mining op as the group was just entering the locale of their meet up. Their contact was already waiting for them and it would appear they'd made the appropriate use of the place if the bowls of consumed food were any indication. The tech seated herself beside the others not really bothering to introduce herself. If these people had contacted them for a job, they knew well enough who they were. Instead she just let Serge do the talking and flagged a waiter.

"Better order something or we'll stand out like a sore thumb." She spoke quietly as if to herself.

Tombs & Treks: A Pulp Roleplay

Inspiration was hard to come by the day after an onset of weird heart palpitations -_- *blames her womanhood for those*