PC's: Nina Reynolds, Kobura Location: The Tube Cafe Purpose: Nina gets a taste of danger and a contact in the shadows. ------------------------------------------------- The Tube Cafe This is a clear plastic human transport tube that allows people to walk from the second floor of the Gateway Regency, over the road below, and into the upper level of the Gateway Regency Parking Garage. Halfway between both destinations is a small sandwich and soda cafe with a small counter for those last minute snacks on the way to work in the morning and for the busy on the move citizens of Motown. < -places- available here > Contents: Rain Obvious exits: Gateway Regency Garage A small human, well dressed in an Armante suit, steps out of the Gateway Regency and into the transport tube. Instead of walking straight through to the parking lot, he takes a stop at the cafe. Brown eyes look around the small tube, with a faint smile on his face for anyone who matches his gaze. Nina Reynolds is resting on a stool in the tube cafe, sipping from a milkshake while looking over some data on a pocsec. She stops often to watch the people which pass, trying time and again to exchange smiles with them. She seems a social type person, not obnoxious so, but eager to somehow get people to like her. The woman offers a smile to Rain as he takes a seat, an appreciative look in her eye to his high class clothing and then a suck on her straw drinking up some more milkshake, "Good morning sir." Kobura walks through the sliding glass doors from the Garage. Kobura has arrived. Nina Reynolds's right hand raises up as if without much thought and presses the top of the small pocsec on the counter before her closed with a quiet click. A blond haired man steos into the cafe. He snorts and tousles his wet hair before he starts to head over to the bar. He starts to smile as he finds a known face over there. He grins and stops next to Nina, slowly removing his wet trenchcoat, hiding a walking stick like item under the cloth. 'Mornin ... ' he says in a slight japanese accent. Rain returns the woman's nod, keeping a polite smile as he looks elsewhere, ordering coffee and a small sandwich. He pays with a certified credstick, then moves to take a seat next to her. He checks his watch. "Yes... I suppose you're right." It's late, but past midnight. "Don't call me sir, though, I'm not that old." Nina Reynolds spies the gaze of the employee towards someone nearing behind her and then she catches Kobura's reflection in the tube walls surface and she turns to offer the man a wide smile, "Please.. join me if you have the time.. it would be nice to spend more time with you again." She pivots slightly in the other direction to Rain with a widening smile, "My appologize.. its a trained response, my name's Nina." she offers the stranger her hand as she casts a smile over her shoulder to Kobura. Kobura bows slightly and continues to smile flatly. 'Very well ... ' He takes a stool next to Nina, so she seems to be pretty surrounded by men right now heh. 'Coffee and a club sandwhich please ... ' he tells the bartender and puts his coat down next to him befor ehe looks over to Rain, nodding slightly to greet him as well. Rain reaches out to take the hand, giving a faint smile as he lifts it to kiss the back of her hand, in an old-fashioned way that went out of general use a century ago. He's not usually this polite, but he's in a good mood. He doesn't give a name, yet, distracted by the arrival of his drink and sandwich. Nina Reynolds offers a nervous shift on her stool, "Oh my." she says with a bit of a startled response as she looks back to Kobura, "Now.. why didn't you give me a kiss when we met?" she says in a bit of a joking voice, chiding Kobura just slightly in a light manner. Nina Reynolds withdraws her hand after its released and she moves it to her pocsec and then slips it into a pocket as she turns to look back and forth between both men, "Now.. if only I was cursed like this ten years ago when I had to find a date for the prom." . Rain is diverted, picking up the sandwich and taking a bite. He takes a sip of the coffee, but it's too hot for him and he sets it down. The man's attention lifts to Kobura, sizing up the man quickly. Nina gets lost in the crossfire, somewhere, not receiving much more attention from him. The blond haired eurasian looks over to Nina and grins slightly. 'Basically I dont kiss at the first date, Im more the guy who has enough patience to wait for the right time ... ' he grins and drops a credstick to pay for his arriving breakfast at once. 'And I doubt that you would gave been happy with me 10 years ago ... ' he laughs softly and starts to pour some milk into the black soykaf. Nina Reynolds turns to look to Kobura more directly now, the stranger more behind her left shoulder now as she chats with the recently arriving blond eurasian, "Aye, I can respect a man of patience. No offense to the gentleman here behind me," head motioning to Rain, "But social masks can become a layer of protection between people becoming genuinely close." Kobura who still is wearing his leather gloves slowly grabs his cup of soykaf. 'Thats what I heard as well ... ' he says still smiling flatly before he takes a quick sip. 'I hope I didnt disturb your conversation ... ' he says and looks over to Rain as well. 'I just was in the mood for a Tube Cafe club sandwhich ya know ?' he grins and sideglances at Nina with a grin. There's a faint laugh from the man behind Nina. He gets half-way through the sandwich and looks up. "No, it's fine. I'd just sat down." Nina Reynolds turns and offers a polite smile and nod to Rain and then turns back to Kobura, "I'm glad I turned you on to the club sandwhich.. careful though, it tends to be addictive." she leans a touch forward with a wryful grin, "I think they put something addictive in it to keep you coming back." Rain goes halfway through the coffee, and gives a nod to Nina to before he slides off of the stool. There's a quiet, "Nice to meet you," delivered as he ducks out, with just enough volume to be heard if she was listening for him. Then the man eases on down the tube, disappearing down the parking lot. Rain slips off the stool at the Counter. Nina Reynolds casts a glance toward Rain, nothing more than watching a near stranger depart... most certainly no deep relationship developed at all with the man. Rain walks up to the sliding doors and they part for he as He walk into the parking garage. Kobura hmms and nodnods grinning slightly 'Yeah ... wouldnt suprise me at all, I guess most fast food restaurants are using such goodies as well right ?' he chuckles and puts the cup down again. As Rain stands up he quirks a brow and seems to be slightly suprised that he is leaving again. With a growing frown he watches the man as he leaves, the flat smile is frozen as he does so. Nina Reynolds slurps the last of her milkshake, stopping quickly as the straw bellows out its protest and lack of product transport. The woman pushes the empty cup away from her and then wipes her hand on a napkin from the dispensor as she chats, "You must live around here then right?" Kobura looks back over to Nina and shrugs slightly. A single finger touches his plate with the sandwhich and slides it over to him. 'Well ... you could say that I live everywhere and no where.' He grins 'Thats one of side effects of working as a freelance ... ' He lifts the sandwhich and takes a bite before he starts to chew slowly. Nina Reynolds remains on her stool, offering herself as someone to keep Kobura company, lest he grow lonely here in the cafe this early morning, "Have you done any famous type bodyguard work that I might have heard of maybe?" Kobura looks up, glittering almond shaped eyes are finding hers, then he swallows. 'You know that Im not allowed to tell you bout it ... basically pop stars and people like that arent my clientel ... ' he smiles 'People who are calling me do call me because they know that their chances to survive are very low ... thats why Im ... well, expensive ... ' Nina Reynolds's lower lip grimices and then she nibbles on her lower lip, "Oh my." she lowers her voice to a near whisper, "You mean.. like mafia snitches?" a look in her eye reveals an obvious lack of personal experience with 'shadow' type topics. The blond eurasian smiles and tilts his head 'That would be a good example ... ' he points at your empty glass 'May I buy you another one ? Or something else maybe ?' he pauses, sliding the menu over to her. 'And you ... did you work for someone who was famous hm ?' he grins. Nina Reynolds rests her hand on the menu, "Oh.. no thank you.. if I had anything more I'd bust," she pats then on her stomach lightly, "I'm not supposed to go into much detail about our clients, but several of them are public knowledge that we designed and run their security.. MaxTor Inc, Ford Motor Company, University of Detroit, lots of smaller companies.. some industrial locations and then of course we have our residential specialties. It's a rather comprehensive company. Its quite satisfying really, making the city a bit safer." she grins, "Well.. trying to anyway." Kobura grins and even laughs softly, finding it extremely funny that he is chatting with someone who is designing all that nasty little gadgets who are trying to keep him out of those locations. 'Oh ... well, busting isnt an option when Im here ... see, Im the bodyguard so ... no more milkshake for you ... ' he grins and grabs the menu again. 'Well, Ford Motor ... well, now that are some names ... ' he nodnods. 'Im happy to hear that you like your job ... ' Nina Reynolds nods, "It doesn't pay the best.. I mean, well.. if I don't have very high sights for my horizons I guess the job will get me there." she sighs lightly, "Don't let this get back to the company phychiatric investigators.. but its hard to get ahead financially just doing your 40 hours a week there. I mean.. look at where I live." she motions to the gateway regency apartment building, "I'm not spending money on children or pets.. and yet this is the best I've been able to manage." she sighs, "Sorry to load this on you.. just gets to me sometimes when you do everything expected of you and you still can't really get ahead in life." Kobura puts a finger at his mouth 'My lips are sealed ... promise ... ' he smiles and nods slightly as he continues to listen. 'Well, I can imagine that living over here costs a lot of money ... ' he pauses and seems to think a bit 'Well ... ' he says after a while 'Im sure someone of your talents shouldnt have problems to find some ... well, 'freelance' work ... if you know what I mean ... ' he glances over his shoulders to check if someone is listeing, then he looks back at her 'You know ... private investors are paying much more than corps, especially when they need your talents badly ... ' Nina Reynolds considers the turn of the conversation and looks a bit nervous, "Can we go for a walk to talk about this?" well.. she's at least smart a bit about being cautious. Kobura nods 'Sure, I am done with my breakfast anyways ... ' he leans forward to grab his coat and puts the last bit of his sandwhich into the mouth. He chews, grins and tilts his head as he slides off his stool. Nina Reynolds slips off her stool, pays her tab and considers, "Can you wait here for a moment? I need to run and get a coat from my room.. kay?" Kobura slips off the stool at the Counter. Kobura nods 'Sure ... not a problem ... I guess its still raining ... ' Nina Reynolds heads into the gateway regency and turns left, leaving the view of the tunnel. Moments later a door can be heard opening and then closing... soon.. the sound again and then Nina can be seen jogging into view around the corner and then slowing to a fast walk up to meet with Kobura again, slowing with a smile on her face, "Nasty weather out tonight." Kobura stands and waits where you left him. He nods and glances over to the windows 'Definitly ... ' he shrugs 'Well, lets go ... ' he grins offering his right arm, all gentlemen like. 'But the good thing is that I can sleep very well when its raining, reminds me of my home ... aehm homeland ... it was raining there pretty often as well ... ' Nina Reynolds slips her left hand under Kobura's arm as its offered and moves off with him towards the parking garage, "Rainy days are best for inside work.. and I tend to agree about sleeping, something about a good thunderstorm and a nice soft dry bed. It's probably something very basic, a commanality in human desires to take comfort in a dry warm place when the weather is agressive. Like hot chocolate on a winter night." she blushes just lightly as they walk on, "I babble don't I?" she asks with a frown. You walk up to the sliding doors and they part for you as you walk into the parking garage. Gateway Regency parking-Level 2 Kobura shakes his head before he answers 'Of course not ... to be honest Im really enjoying your presence. I got a bit tired of all those aggressive, gun toting girls I usually meet ... ' he chuckles softly as if he just made a joke. 'Are you leading the way ?' he asks and walks slowly, holding his coat in his other hand. 'And I think that a warm place like a dry bed when there is a thunderstorm on the outside is indeed a commanality ... no matter who they are right ?' Nina Reynolds nods at the end comment about the warm bed and then stops as they enter the garage, she puts her back to a camera in the corner rather blatantly, "My company covers security here on occasion for the Gateway Regency, its' part of why I live here. The camera back over my left shoulder on the far wall is capable of lowlight and thermal imagery.. as well.. if activated it has a lipreading translations software package in it that can translate mouth movement of eight different langauges.. can we go somewhere where I think we can speak freely?" Kobura blinks and seems to be slightly suprised 'Those nasty little ... ' he stops and chuckles 'Sure ... just lead the way, let me just grab my coat ... ' carefully he lets your arm go and unfolds his coat. The walking stick he was hiding under the coat almost looks like a Katana, but the eurasian is very canny to hide the blade from the camera and from her. Just a few movements later he stands there, wearing the coat, sword hidden somewhere under the cloth. Nina Reynolds moves with Kobura, leading the way after his coat is on, her own hands going to button up her own coat now as she moves for the street exit. Kobura offers his arm again and heads for the street exit as well. 'Damn ... I wonder when it will stop, it cant rain forever right ?' he smiles as he tries to continue the conversation. Nina Reynolds slips her hand into the offered arm of Kobura as they head out, her face turned from the camera as she comments quietly, "You'd be amazed how many face regocnition software programs are running in this city.. in ATM's, hotel lobbies, fast food entranceways.. all linked up to criminal search databases. I've heard rumors though that it goes further than that.. I heard that hackers.. or deckers I guess they're called can tap into them and track people.. and if they can do it.. you bet corporations can do it." Gateway Regency parking-Level 2 Kobura arrives from the first level. You head out to the street. Clifford and Columbia Kobura arrives from the street. Kobura nods and sighs 'Brave new world eh ?' he shrugs as he refers to an old book he read somewhere. Slowly he walks along, raindrops quickly are starting to glitter in his hair. He looks up into the dark sky and glances up and down the streets for a moment as he walks along. 'I should have brought an umbrella ... ' he comments with a wry grin. Nina Reynolds snuggles in close to Kobura, as if his form will protect her from the driving rain, her hair already beginning to soak from the precipitation from above. She turns east out of the garage and starts walking with Kobura as they talk, "You were speaking inside... that you might know of people that might offer work.. freelance work. Can you tell me more about this possibility?" The eurasian walks along the wet streets slowly, accepting her closeness next to him. 'Well ... ' he nods 'As I said, there is a huge market and many possibilities for people with special skills ... so for people like you or me ... ' he pauses and seems to think for a bit 'The Darkness is a deep one in that kind of business ... I have to warn you, dont trust anyone in that biz ... ' he shrugs 'For the beginning to get a feeling for that kind of jobs you could take a look at a certain matrix location ... read the old infos and the new ones ... that might give you an idea whats going on down there ... ' Nina Reynolds's face can be seen clearly in the light of the street lamp overhead as she looks up as they pass by hand in arm past a bus stop where a group of four people are sheltered under the small rooftop location waiting for the bus that's behind schedule. Nina waits until they are several paces past the busstop before she continues the conversation with Kobura, "Dark in the freelance type work? I'm not sure I follow." she seem sharp, but perhaps a bit uneducated in the formalities of exactly what lies beyond the legit-realm, "You said you don't work for pop stars and actors and such.. but for real dangerous type work. I suggested mafia informants and you said that was perhaps similar to the type of work you do. Is that what you mean by dark? Work that most security companies don't like to take on because of the high risk factor?" Kobura chuckles softly and shakes his head. 'Im not sure if Im doing you a favour when Im telling you about this ... this is no childs play, forget what you heard about mafia stories and terrorist activities on the Trid ... forget all those films about heros and people who are running in the shadows ... ' he pauses 'The real darkness is a deep deep hole ... its cold down there, lonesome ... dangerous ... ' he sighs 'This isnt about the mafia or security companies ... the world Im talking about is the Shadow Realm ... Companies like Ares or a Dragon hires a group of specialists to wipe out a whole village to build a new sports complex over there, or someone is looking for someone who is able to protect him because a powerful corp exec wants his head and hired a bunch of cyber modified killers to geek him and his whole family ... ' Nina Reynolds can be felt tensing up as Kobura talks, her bones shivering from the cold conversation as she begins to understand. Some reason, Nina's grip on Kobura's arm tightens, perhaps the horror-film auto-response reaction from her, "I don't think I'd every be able to offer any real skills in anything like that. I'm a technician.. a strategist.. at best a trained burglar that is awakened and skilled with being invisible and silent with a few other tricks... Killing a village, cybered killers?" she shivers again, "Do things like that really exist around here?" The eurasian hmms and continues to walk along 'I really dont plan to scare you, but I want to make it very clear what kind of things can happen in the shadows ... sure there are nicer jobs as well, someone is looking for someone who is able to modify his car or a rifle ... but the other side is there as well, and ignoring it would be stupid ... ' he pats her arm slightly as he tries to comfort her 'Im just telling you about it, that doesnt mean that you have to stick your nose into it ... but, its a fact that youer able to earn a lot of money there ... ' he tilts his head 'And to answer your question about the cybered killers ... they do exist ... ' he pauses 'Who tells you that Im not one of them ? Who tells you that Im not a known bloodthirsty monster ... like a shark I was just waiting to be alone with you on an empty street where you cant escape my fangs ... ?' his voice is very calm, it just became a little bit colder. Nina Reynolds nods as she listens, as if grateful for Kobura's advice.. but then that nod slows as the world around her seems far too quiet, too dark.. not enough people around any more. Nina fears to take her eyes off Kobura to look around for he might make his move to attack her and drag her into the nearby alley, her body, her hand on his arm stiffens though and she wishes she hadn't accepted his arm as a guide, for jerking away might not be possible. Nina knows her limitations and forceful.. hand to hand combat is one at the top of the list. Her heart races, she can hear the beating of her heart in her ears and she's sure that Kobura must hear it also for it deafens her with its quickening pace. Her eyes cast down just slightly away from Kobura's face, to look at his chest as she slows her step, perhaps hoping to bring them both to a stop before they get another step closer to that alley just ahead. Nina slips her perception into the astral plane, sweeping her vision over the man before her to try an ascertain the mood, the feelings and the emotional intent of this man with her.. trying as best she can to see if she truely is in the presence of a monster about to do all sorts of unspeakable things to her. The tall man seems to feel her intents to stop and slows down as well, stopping at the wet dark street he lets her arm go. He turns slowly and looks down at her, he starts to smile flatly before he continues to speak 'Relax ... I just wanted to show you how its like ... you dont have to fear me ... ' he kisses the tip of his leather gloved trigger finger and touches her nose slightly. 'When youre planning to take a look at the Shadows be careful ... and always have a backup plan to flee if you have to ... Id suggest to take a look at the shadowland node first ... ' The astral world is very dark over here. The aura of the male next to you is very self confident somehow and he seems to be able to hurt people, but doesnt seem to plan to hurt you at the moment. Hes very calm on the surface. Nina Reynolds seems nervous, like a fish out of water and unsure of her situation still. She visibly flinches as her nose is touched and her breath catches in a near whimper of fear, "Node?" her voice wavers and falters, "A matrix site?" she's truely shadow green there is no doubt. Kobura smiles and tries his best to comfort her again. 'I think I should bring you back to the hotel ... what do you think ?' He offers his arm again 'Yes, its a matrix site ... I will try to find the current address, so you can take a look ... how does that sound ?' he grins and pokes her slightly 'Ey, that was just a little show ... but dont forget what happened, dont trust other people ... do you understand ?' Nina Reynolds nods to Kobura as they turn back toward the hotel, having only moved a short distance it is discovered its not that long of a walk back. Nina keeps quiet as they pass the bus stop, the idling deisel puffing transit bus picking up the load of people from the meager sheltered overhang by the post declaring it a stop for city transporters. As they pass and the bus revs up and moves away from the curb, the black smoke rolls out of the rear of the bus and offers a choking addition to the conversation as they walk around the billowing black cloud that is already starting to settle onto the sidewalk, destined to be washed away by the rain into the gutter in short order... Nina nods to Kobura with still quite a bit of that wet cold kitten look that proves just how vulnerable and weak she truely is, "C...Can you leave the address in an envelope for me at the tube cafe when you find it out? I don't know a lot about matrix things.. is it easy to get there once you get me that information?" Kobura walks back to the hotel. He keeps quiet and nods to her as theyre arriving at the hotel entrance. 'Sure ... I will do that, Im sorry if I should have scared you ... ' he bows 'I hope youre accepting my excuse and I hope that we will have a chance to chat again ... good night ... ' he smiles, turns and without another word he starts to walk down the dark streets.