[Day 1 - Early Evening] The Hunch (The Fox's Den)

[Boogiepop]

Ivan Ortiz

Ivan arrived a bit earlier to snag a table for his meeting tonight, like the far booth by the restaurant stock room where they could get some relative privacy away from some of the locals. He had some meetings in some restaurants around the city but this was perhaps one of the least trendy of places he had suggested for a meeting so far.

May ushered the end of a semester and that didn't preclude some of the students staying over the summer to snag a few credits or fast track their year, which kept the Fox's Den afloat in quiet times. It was calmer, albeit not fully quiet during peak pub hours.

[Jane Doe]

Ivan Ortiz

Ivan arrived a bit earlier to snag a table for his meeting tonight, like the far booth by the restaurant stock room where they could get some relative privacy away from some of the locals. He had some meetings in some restaurants around the city but this was perhaps one of the least trendy of places he had suggested for a meeting so far.

May ushered the end of a semester and that didn't preclude some of the students staying over the summer to snag a few credits or fast track their year, which kept the Fox's Den afloat in quiet times. It was calmer, albeit not fully quiet during peak pub hours.

"Hey Ivan, I keep hoping you're gonna set up a meet somewhere nice. And I keep being disappointed. I suppose that's what happens when you live in hope."

Student resized.jpg (10.13 KiB) Viewed 532 times

Jane settles into the opposite side of the booth with a smile after sweeping the restaurant with a quick look for any possible trouble.
"Haven't had to bring out the student look since that time in Bogota. What are kids studying in New Angeles these days? Still underwater basket weaving?"

[Boogiepop]

Ivan Ortiz

Ivan raised her brows at the other woman at first before smiling broadly as she joined him. "Hey, Jane. I don't know why you keep hoping when I am going to nice places. This place has some sentimental value as an actual graduate of Levy University here. I'm like bearing myself open and sharing a slice of my life here. You're kind of wounding me here. Sure, it's not great but the 5 credit Irish stew is great, I promise."

He chuckled and gave a shake of his head. "So, how have things been? I'm surprised I was able to get some time with you."

The restaurant didn't have any obvious trouble. The crowd here was mostly under 20 or 20-ish. Ivan perhaps almost looked like one of the older people in the room. There was a great abundance of Malloy clones on staff as they moved about to check up on various tables and booths. They even had that Irish charm about them, complete with the 'Irish accent by an American person' down.


Allie Malloy

One of the clones would make her way to their booth and start handing out the menus. "'ello! I'm Allie. Welcomb to de Fahx's Den, is dere anythin' I can get fahr you to start?"

[Jane Doe]

Snip

"Probably just a pale ale for my friend there and-" Jane pauses as she glances down at the menu "I'll try the stew, oh, and the croquettes to share thanks."
Even cheap imitation tapas were tapas.
Turning back to Ivan
"Well, I hate to wound a friend like yourself, I'm sure you made the best baskets." Jane smirks "Oh you know. Busy as usual, meeting new people, learning new things. Quieter than it has been though, which is nice. Quiet enough I could make time for a distinguished Levy University graduate."

[Boogiepop]

Allie Malloy

Allie had a small tablet on her, like one of those old-fashioned notepads but in digital form as she took down the order with a holographic stylus.

"Alright, den. One pale ale draft, one iresh stew, and sahme crahquettes. Lahvely," she said after she was done, flashing a friendly smile to the both of them. "It shooehldn't take lahng."

With that, the Clone hit send to the kitchen and trotted off to attend to another table, leaving the two to talk again.


Ivan Ortiz

"Hey, I was hoping a little more than just a pale ale, really," he said as he shifted in his seat with his hand on his stomach momentarily, wondering if that was supposed to be some commentary on his weight. He wasn't overweight, at least he'd like to think so. Admittedly, his girlfriend did say something that he was eating out a lot.

"Those baskets do good work, I'll have you know," he said as he tapped a finger on the table. "When I drop by the hospital or people's homes with a get-well basket when I'm doing my cases, it lights a big smile on people's faces. You should really consider it sometime."

He reached over to the side for some bundles of utensils and napkins they kept on the side. The utensils were metal, at least. He offered one for Jane before getting one for himself. "Well, don't have too much fun doing what you're doing. The people must be pretty and the food's good, I bet. Maybe if you do well enough, you could consider becoming the next major of New Angeles. Before all of that, I'm sure you'd like to earn your cheques."

[Jane Doe]

Snip

She takes a moment to set the knife and fork just so before folding the napkin back under the knife.
"Revisiting the scene of the crime isn't something folks do often in my line of work, Ivan. Much as there are some folks I'd probably enjoy going back to see its best I keep ties to a minimum. If people can't find me for a beating, they'll go looking for folks close to home."
she emphasises this last point with a fork jab

"Speaking of crimes. What's the job this time?"

[Boogiepop]

She takes a moment to set the knife and fork just so before folding the napkin back under the knife.
"Revisiting the scene of the crime isn't something folks do often in my line of work, Ivan. Much as there are some folks I'd probably enjoy going back to see its best I keep ties to a minimum. If people can't find me for a beating, they'll go looking for folks close to home."
she emphasises this last point with a fork jab

"Speaking of crimes. What's the job this time?"

Ivan Ortiz

"Right," he nodded once at that bit of seriousness. He would have made a joke about switching places for a day but perhaps thought better of it.

"Well, not so much as a job but just something I was hoping that you could look into for me. I figured that since you're going to be seeing all sorts of people and going everywhere, maybe it's something you can slide in as an incidental. Just a little bit of investigating." It was hardly ever just 'a little bit' with Ivan. "I don't know if you've caught the news this morning. They did a good job of burying it after AAN got to it. Did you hear about the exec crash?"

[Jane Doe]

Ivan Ortiz

"Right," he nodded once at that bit of seriousness. He would have made a joke about switching places for a day but perhaps thought better of it.

"Well, not so much as a job but just something I was hoping that you could look into for me. I figured that since you're going to be seeing all sorts of people and going everywhere, maybe it's something you can slide in as an incidental. Just a little bit of investigating." It was hardly ever just 'a little bit' with Ivan. "I don't know if you've caught the news this morning. They did a good job of burying it after AAN got to it. Did you hear about the exec crash?"

"With Perez at Weyland? It came up in my feed. Thought it was a bit odd, a good hopper doesn't just drop out of the sky. 4am was an odd time too...."
She looks pensive for a moment, drumming long fingers on the tanle

"Is this where you ask me to look into it?"

[Boogiepop]

"With Perez at Weyland? It came up in my feed. Thought it was a bit odd, a good hopper doesn't just drop out of the sky. 4am was an odd time too...."
She looks pensive for a moment, drumming long fingers on the tanle

"Is this where you ask me to look into it?"

Ivan Ortiz

"I mean, they do...but seems kind of weird that it would happen to a Weyland exec, yeah. My take on it, it's probably some sort of Weyland power struggle, probably whacked him for breathing the same air in the boardroom. It would be good to see if you can do anything on it, anything at all. I just so happen to be working on a class action on them at the moment...the surprise demo of the Callender Parks apartment, over 100 dead overnight. It would be good to get some dirt to leverage them, maybe get them scared enough to work out a settlement on the side."

He shrugged with a deep sigh. "Hey, I can dream."

[Jane Doe]

Ivan Ortiz

"I mean, they do...but seems kind of weird that it would happen to a Weyland exec, yeah. My take on it, it's probably some sort of Weyland power struggle, probably whacked him for breathing the same air in the boardroom. It would be good to see if you can do anything on it, anything at all. I just so happen to be working on a class action on them at the moment...the surprise demo of the Callender Parks apartment, over 100 dead overnight. It would be good to get some dirt to leverage them, maybe get them scared enough to work out a settlement on the side."

He shrugged with a deep sigh. "Hey, I can dream."

She chuckles
"Sure they do. You ever notice corporate hoppers tend to crash a lot more than anyone else's? Must just be a design fault....but sure. I'm happy to look into it. What happened with that building was...well, same drek which has happened everywhere else at one time or another. But it doesn't mean they should get away with it."

Winking at Ivan
"I mean, you'll still probably lose. How many thousand an hour does Weyland pay its lawyers? But I'll dig and see what I can find. If it's internal and public odds are things are messy enough for their to be a trail somewhere."

[Boogiepop]

She chuckles
"Sure they do. You ever notice corporate hoppers tend to crash a lot more than anyone else's? Must just be a design fault....but sure. I'm happy to look into it. What happened with that building was...well, same drek which has happened everywhere else at one time or another. But it doesn't mean they should get away with it."

Winking at Ivan
"I mean, you'll still probably lose. How many thousand an hour does Weyland pay its lawyers? But I'll dig and see what I can find. If it's internal and public odds are things are messy enough for their to be a trail somewhere."

Ivan Ortiz

"Not just crash, but also spontaneously combust. You'd think all of the credits are put toward the tru-leather seats and the wine dispensers than the actual function of the hopper. But good, and thank you. Well, some dirt here and there has to amount to something. Still wondering if it's going to be worth checking the base of my hopper every day if it ever amounts to anything. Maybe I should consider public transit from now on. Anyway, this meal and the next one are on me, obviously as thanks." He smiled winsomely at that.

"You can consider checking up with the NAPD on that if you don't want to take the Weyland route. I'm sure there's already some insurance legislation going on already to make the whole thing difficult. Perez wasn't exactly laid off without cause or injured at work without compensation, so a bit hard for me to stick my neck there. Of course, not exactly the regular working joe, either."

[Jane Doe]

Ivan Ortiz

"Not just crash, but also spontaneously combust. You'd think all of the credits are put toward the tru-leather seats and the wine dispensers than the actual function of the hopper. But good, and thank you. Well, some dirt here and there has to amount to something. Still wondering if it's going to be worth checking the base of my hopper every day if it ever amounts to anything. Maybe I should consider public transit from now on. Anyway, this meal and the next one are on me, obviously as thanks." He smiled winsomely at that.

"You can consider checking up with the NAPD on that if you don't want to take the Weyland route. I'm sure there's already some insurance legislation going on already to make the whole thing difficult. Perez wasn't exactly laid off without cause or injured at work without compensation, so a bit hard for me to stick my neck there. Of course, not exactly the regular working joe, either."

"People trying to kill you just means you're making a difference. I take it as a compliment... but maybe keep a safe profile until I find something, wouldn't want to lose my next free meal."
Jane waggles and eyebrow as the server arrives with the food and she offers Ivan a croquette.

"NAPD, Weyland, maybe see if there's any cam footage look into if any freelancers might have been called in to do it. Lots of options. With any luck it will be fairly cut and dry and not one of those big overarching conspiracies. God help us if Perez was a Kennedy..."

[Boogiepop]

Post!

Allie Malloy

Allie did indeed eventually return with their order, setting it down to the respective people. "Yes. Pardahn de intrusion. A pent fahr de gentleman, a stew fahr de lady, and de crahquettes fahr de table. Please enjahy, let me know if you need anythin' else."

The clone cast a trademark friendly smile at both of them before moving off toward a table of loud boisterous students who were making this particular time drink o'clock.


Ivan Ortiz

Ivan couldn't help but put a hand on his collar at the thought of getting hunted down. There were movies like that, weren't there? The lawyer gets hunted down by the corporate goons and...wait, those didn't have a good ending nowadays even on the threedee screen.

"What's a Kennedy?" He asked curiously as he took his pint after popping a morsel of croquette with a fork. "Well, I'll leave you to look at all the angles. This city must have a billion of them. It happened in the middle of the night but there must have been at least some eyes on some windows. But don't worry about me, I'd be more worried about you and all of your new friends on the committee."

He snickered before taking a sip from his glass.

[Jane Doe]

Snip

"They were this big US political family that kept dying in mysterious circumstances. They say the last one died out 40 years ago but I have my doubts, they never did find the body."
Shrugging "A mystery for another time. Like my new committee friends. Bet they can't wait to let the backstabbing commence. And hey, if by some miracle it winds up a success then Heinlein gets to enjoy another surge of Earthers to keep them down..."
Jane frowns slightly and unclenches a hand which had scrunched up her napkin.
"But what else is new?"

[Boogiepop]

"They were this big US political family that kept dying in mysterious circumstances. They say the last one died out 40 years ago but I have my doubts, they never did find the body."
Shrugging "A mystery for another time. Like my new committee friends. Bet they can't wait to let the backstabbing commence. And hey, if by some miracle it winds up a success then Heinlein gets to enjoy another surge of Earthers to keep them down..."
Jane frowns slightly and unclenches a hand which had scrunched up her napkin.
"But what else is new?"

Ivan Ortiz

"Really, now? You'd think that they'll become part of the fixtures once you get your family into politics. Eh, I'm pretty sure they had a pretty good run," he said noncommittally with a shrug of his shoulders, despite not knowing who these Kennedy's were. Whoever they were, they must have pissed off some really important people.

He took some munching and a sip of his pint. "Well...Even as an Earther, I kind of get the feeling that's where it's headed. No chance of pulling the wool over your eyes, huh? On the bright side, maybe they'll build some new condo on Heinlein, the sort that you'll get some elbow space. For your service and collaboration with your Earther overlords, they'll give you first dibs on the bidding process."

Ivan did hold up his hands defensively to make it clear that he was trying to be tongue and cheek, even if there was some likely truth to it. He sympathized, even if it wasn't his home.

[Jane Doe]

Ivan Ortiz

"You're lucky you owe me another meal Ivan." She sticks out her tongue

"Folks'll get what's coming to them eventually. And in the meantime, we can enjoy the irony of America dealing with a rebellious colony? I guess that makes us the space Philippines."

She pokes at her stew a few times before taking a slurp.
"...Actually not bad. I mean, not good. But I've had far worse. Reminds me of that time in Boston..."

((Good to fade out to small talk there? Thanks for the scene ))

[Boogiepop]

"You're lucky you owe me another meal Ivan." She sticks out her tongue

"Folks'll get what's coming to them eventually. And in the meantime, we can enjoy the irony of America dealing with a rebellious colony? I guess that makes us the space Philippines."

She pokes at her stew a few times before taking a slurp.
"...Actually not bad. I mean, not good. But I've had far worse. Reminds me of that time in Boston..."

((Good to fade out to small talk there? Thanks for the scene ))

Ivan Ortiz

"I think Puerto Rico is the better analogy here. Well, legally speaking but your comparison is probably more on the nose than anything else." He shrugged.

He snickered at the mention of Boston. "Hah! And you've actually been to Boston? Are we talking about the coast part or the Washington DC part? So, how's the seafood..."

/scene!

(Thank you for the scene!)