--The closet is my bedroom anyway.-- She stated in their com's. Then nodded in agreeance to the alternative idea.

From thw outside, the rain falling in a constant annoying drizzle around them, it looks like any of the other numerous, run-down shotgun houses.  Twelve feet wide and forty-eight feet long and set on what appears to be a cinderblock foundation, the exterior of the house looks dingy and gray, with dirt-covered, boarded-up windows and cracked and peeling paint made colorless by the rain.
Phoenix walks up the short steps to the covered porch, opening the cheap and dirty aluminum-and-plexiglass storm door so he can unlock the entry door.
When he steps aside to let the others in, the appearance changes dramatically.  Far from luxurious, the much cleaner interior if the house has a simple and understated elegance.  All the furnishings are old, but elegant and well-maintained, from the matching leather-upholstered sofa-sleeper and two recliners, end tables, coffee table, and table lamps in the livingroom, to the china in the glass-doored cabinets, silverware, cookware, even the three bar stools at the island.  The drapes covering the boarded windows are thick and velvetty, blocking whatever light might leak out.  Anyone looking in the bedrooms would see similar with the beds, bedclothes,and furnishings, each containing a dresser, and a small desk and desk chair, while the master, at the back of the house, also includes a recliner similar to those in the livingroom.  The bathrooms, both household and en suite are simple, utilitarian affairs.
Make yourselves comfortable.  I don't generally have guests, so I don't have much to offer to eat or drink.

It looks like the four-room renovated version inside without the side entrance.
https://images.app.goo.gl/D9djCZ9Y4JTifcZ99

The Salaryman paused after she stepped into the dwelling and cautiously found the best spot to put her umbrella.

Once inside the house proper she looked over what was visible from the main room appreciatively.  The exterior facade did a good job of concealing what a tidy, well put together space Phoenix had.

As she moved to take a seat she gave him a deep nod of acknowledgement and stated, "Please do not trouble yourself." in regards to his apology over refreshments.

Prodigy would walk into the house, and then carefully walk from room to room taking in each room. This seems like a normal thing for her no matter where she goes when she go into a new place, survey the place for something.

Phoenix watches Prodigy practically search the place as he waits by the door for the others to enter.  It was once used as a safehouse by a corporate executive, a way to get away from the politics and bustle of the job.  There are panels under each bed, the couch, and the dining table that lead into the crawlspace, with hidden doors on each side to effect an escape in any of the four directions.

She stops long enough to listen to Pheonix, then when he is done she will go to each of the places he indicated and look at each of the panels and hidden doors. Checking them all out and looking through them all before carefully reconcealing them.

She finally turned back towards him, and nodded.

new thread for Phoenix's house:

link to a message in this game

---

"I'm sorry Jonno," his team leader says apolgetically over the phone "But that a-hole is still around. Supes don't want to risk him spotting you on duty and kicking up a fuss, not when there's contract negotiations going on. Supes have said you're back on the clock as soon as he's out of the picture."
"He were 'spost to be buggering off to another office," Jonno replies, his Yorkshire accent becoming more pronounced with his anger. "I'm down't me last packs of kibble here!"
"I know, I know..." there was a sigh from the other end of the phone. "Look, if you wanna go find some work off the books I aint gonna tell anyone, just stay outa Rancho Coronado and if it ain't legit, for gods sake don't get caught."
"Fookin' great." Jonno hung up the phone and wandered into the kitchen area in his tiny apartment, opening the fridge to find he was down to his last beer. He took the beer and went back to the living area, sitting on the edge of his sofa-bed and taking a business card off the side table. He'd had the foresight to pay up his rent and bills in advance, but pretty soon he'd be hunting rats for dinner.
Well, as long as I don't get caught.
He took out his cellphone and dialled the number. After a couple of rings it went to voicemail. Jonno too a deep breath.
"Hullo, this is Officer Johansen, we met breifly last month in Rancho Coranado and you gave me your card in case I was ever looking for work. Well, I'm looking. Call me back on this number anytime if you have anything."
He hung up and contemplated his last beer, wondering what rat actually tasted like.

Lady Koi was counting out the last of her euros, sitting on her futon on the floor in the spartan studio she called home, when the voicemail notification caught her eye.  She played the message back with a short intake when she recognized the voice.  Deadman rises again? In need of medical knowledge?  Well that obviously wasn't her, but perhaps she could find someone.  There is no indication of the urgency.  Sitting in seiza she tapped out a quick message, reading English better than she could speak it.


She thinks about it for a few minutes before calling Rip and leaving a voicemail, assuming he is on the road and unable to pick up.  "Atashi; are you busy?  I need a ride into the combat zone, could be some work, won't know til I get there.  Call me back? Domo."  While she is leaving the message the notification for another call coming in interrupts.  Checking the voicemail, she calls Johansen back.

"Hello Officer?  I hope I am not in trouble." she says a little playfully to the voicemail.  "Send me a text message, I may have something and will know more soon."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:34, Thu 13 May 2021.

She took the time between messages to dress, going with the stylish miniskirt-blouse combination in black and red, and tossing her armor jacket on the hook by the door.  No word from Rip, not that she was really expecting considering.  The new text came in from Phoenix and she looked at it for a bit, biting her lip lightly.  He couldn't come himself, no vehicle, but she trusted whomever he sent, because she trusted him.

Text to Phoenix:  "On foot if it must.  Key word?  Will be waiting.  Mata ne."

Packing her weapons and other essentials, she settles in to wait.

---

"Key word" refers to the passcode her escort will use to confirm identity.  she is assuming she doesn't know him.

Jonno steps out of his shower and is towelling off his close cropped hair when he notices the missed call light on his cellphone, and is releived to see a voicemail has been left.



Hi LadyKoi he texts Sorry I missed call was in shower. He pauses, thinking. He doesnt want to appear too desperate, especially not when he might be negotiating pay, but on the other hand if he  pretends he isnt free and desperate and she needs someone right now, he might miss the job.
Def free today and tomorrow, nowt nothing too important rest of week + can v prob make time for u if u need. he finishes the text and hits send.

She was standing in the door of her studio when the text came in from Jonno.  Heading down to the building foyer where she had a clear view of the street, she first sends another text to Phoenix.  Text: "How much help do you need on this one?  I can swing a few extra.  Pay?"  Then she dials Jonno while she waits, leaning against the wall, not blocking the entrance but with a clear line of sight.

Jonno is not too surpised when his phone rings.
"Hello?" he recognises LadyKoi's voice.

The call doesn't take long.
"I'll make my way uptown then. Call us when you've got an address. Ta-ra."
Jonno hangs up and pockets his phone.
He grabs his cheap rucksack from and throws in the spare ammo for his rifle and after a moments thought, he fills a bottle with water from the filter tap and adds it along with his old inflatable mattress and sleeping bag. Adjusting his rifle on its sling to hang under his right arm and be mostly concealed by his armour jacket, he puts his knife in an external pocket and leaves his apartment.
It's not far to the NCART terminal and within minutes he's an a monorail train heading North.

The drive towards Lake Park became progressively easier the closer the young Nomad got to his destination. The distant gunshots faded into silence, and the glow of the various fires began to blend with the general haze that clung above Night City. The little tarp hovels, the broken glass, the sour reek of urine and alcohol all became less frequent.

But the closer he got, the more Rip also became more conspicuous. He stood out, there was no way to avoid it, with the dirt bike, the armor and the patch. It was not that he looked anymore dangerous, just out of place, a curiosity. Not too many Nomads in the Urban zones, and even fewer Jodes.

He did not need directions, he had been there before, and he pulled right up outside the older apartment building, lowered the kickstand and dismounted.

As he approached the lobby he pulled off his helmet and cradled in under one arm, a small, wry smile on his features.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:48, Sun 16 May 2021.

Lady Koi watched the all-too familiar motorcycle pull up in front of her building and opened the door as Rip reached the top step.  "Hello Rip.  Did you get my message or ... ?" she let's it trail off, leaning back and letting the jacket hang open to show off her outfit.  The messenger bag with her other gear was hanging from her shoulder.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:48, Sun 16 May 2021.

"Miss Koi" Rip replied in a familiar way, as if there was just a very faint hint of bemusement about meeting in a professional capacity. "No, no that one was a burner. Just enough to set up my biz. Not much use for a cell where I come from. I'm up on a comm channel though if you have one." he replied conversationally as he admired her outfit then glanced at a clock in the lobby.

"You all set? It's gonna take a while to get clear of the city lights, but I think we can still catch the meteor shower if we can beat the traffic" he added with a slight jerk of his head.

In reply to Rip (msg # 154):

She raised her eyebrows, the only indication that she was not expecting him to be sent by Phoenix, then nods saying simply "Uhn, ikou?*" then slings over the messenger bag and steps out into the evening air.  He can now see she is wearing sensible flats for walking, presumably the ubiquitous heels are in the bag.  Looking at the bike, she asks, "riding or walking?"

---

"yes, shall we go?" in casual Japanese.

"I'd love you give you a ride, but there's no way both of us would fit on my bike" he replied with a hint of shame, obviously wanting to be able to help.

"But I can walk it with you, if that would be any help." There was some safety in numbers, after all.

"I might just have enough for a taxi and lunch, the walk is an hour at this time of night." she says with a resigned smile.  She will sling her bag cross-wise and hold the jacket closed against the night chill.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:47, Wed 19 May 2021.

Night City, What's Happening:

Rip nodded, still obviously feeling a little bad about not being able to give her a ride himself.

"Sounds like a plan. I'll escort your cab then, least I can do." he offered with a series of small nods.

She favors him with a smile as she summons a cab from her phone.  When it arrives she gives the cabbie the address and then hops in, changing her shoes in the cab to match her style and outfit.  She also sends Phoenix another message.

Text: "Several skilled people have asked if I have work for them, how many do you need for this job and how far will the pay go?"

While the distance was short by Rips reckoning, it was inevitable that they would have the typical delays caused by traffic, long lights, and the chaos that seemed to define Night City as a whole.

Rip mounted up on his bike and escorted the cab from just in front, where he occasionally glanced in his mirror to make sure all was going well back there.

Provided that they did not come across anything that would detour them...he escorted the cab back to the house where he had first met Phoenix.

To Phoenix House ->

The NCART train was approaching the city centre when Jonno's cellphone beeped with an incoming text. It was LadyKoi's number with an address in the University District.
A glance at the route map showed the train would have to loop several stops north to reach the university area, or he could get off at Japantown and walk across the edge of the park, probably 10-15 minutes march.
After weeks cooped up in a one room apartment, he decided to get off at Japantown and walk.
He quickly texts LadyKoi back as the train pulls into the station.
On my way. ETA 15 minutes.


OOC - Unless the GM throws me a random encounter (or I've misread the map), Jonno should be at Phoenix house in 15 minutes or thereabouts.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:35, Sat 22 May 2021.