The flight in from EU was long.  It is always long.  You had woken with a fright only once, which scared your 'seat neighbor', but everything else was smooth. And with only one stop in Lisbon that allowed you to stretch a little, not too long.

Chicago isn't as bad as some had said.  O'Hare is busy, there are a lot of cars, but no smog and the street is clean(ish).

The little red Volkswagen Jetta pulls to a stop in front of you.  The window rolls down and Adam smiles from the drivers seat.  "Hey...I hope the car makes you feel like home."  He gets out and comes around to help with your bags.

[OOC]
Adam Founder...6'...red hear...network engineer...sorta goofy.  And your online friend for over a year plus now.  When you talked about coming to Chicago, he offered giving you a ride from the air port.

"Great to finally meet you in person." Cathrin smiles at Adam. "The car's certainly a bonus." Usually not caring all too much about cars, as long as she knows how to drive them, Cathrin takes a few moments to look at it before putting her bags in the car, making certain that her violin is stored safely.
"I'm glad that you offered me a ride. This place is a lot larger than I'm used to. And that's only the airport." She grins.


[OOC] had to look up the current VW Jetta, I only know the Jetta as a fairly old version

"Anything to make you feel at home.  O'Hare is huge...I like to use Midway.  You can actually get from one end to the other in a hurry, if needed, there.  Where to first?  You hungry?"

The car is clean, albeit maybe not the roomiest.  After you stow your bags, he pulls out into traffic and starts to head back into the city.

"Hm... something to eat sounds like a good idea." After the long flight she feels in need of something to eat, a shower and several hours of sleep in a real bed. In no particular order.

When Adam pulls into traffic Cathrin leans forward in her seat a bit for a moment. Noticing that it's only the placement of the traffic lights that seemed odd to her, she leans back again.
"Do I sound much like a tourist when I'm curious if McDonalds really looks like back home?" she asks grinning.

He chuckles.  "Well...let me say that McDonald's is not the fine dining experience here that it is in Europe.  The buildings are not as nice, there is no silverware (unless a flimsy spoon for ice milk counts), and thank heaven, no McHotDog.  Your discussion of that brings me nightmares."  He fake shivers when he says the last one.

"But, if the lady requests McDonald's, she will get McDonald's.  How was the flight?  Your sister waiting for you?"

"Fine dining experience?" Cathrin chuckles. "Not really. But something that's somehow familiar."

"No McHotdog for me, either."

Cathrin cursory glances out of the window, then turns back to Adam. "The flight was good. Just a bit long. Now I know that one can actually become bored of watching movies", she states with a smile.

"Hannah expects me to show up at her place at some point today. I texted her that I was here once I got my luggage."

"We can hit there first?  Would she need the McDonald's dining experience as well?"

As you are driving in, the radio station breaks in with a warning to stay away from Lake Shore Drive as there is a police activity and warnings of meta-human activity in the area.  Adams quips, "Consider us warned."

Cathrin chuckles. "I guess she would not like the idea at all."

"What's this about?" Cathrin asks curiously.

"I have not heard everything, but there was a police blockage of South Lake Shore about 10 or so minutes ago.  It sounds like it has moved north.  Let me change the station to all news.  Either way, we are a lot further north and west and won't have to worry about this.  Although it has been a while since I've heard of anything with metas in the news."

He changes the station to WBBM.  The answer immediately starts to talk about a chase involving meta-humans from the Museum of Science and Industry to Northerly Island.  As he is talking, an update puts Interceptor-X on the scene.  More details are not in at this time.

"What are they doing there?" Cathrin asks with a frown. "I get it that it's not a usual thing to happen?"


[OOC] I assume Cathrin might have heard of a few of the current metas in Chicago? Interceptor-X for example?

[OOC]
As to knowledge, I would say that you know what metas are.  You know that in general there are more in the US (and speculations of other countries) than other countries.  As to in particular details, I will are for a roll against a OV of 4 to get some RAPs of how much you know.

[IC]
"It happens, but not a lot in the open like this.  It seems that these things happen in secret a lot.  Abandoned buildings...construction site...but not in the street in daylight.  I think many of the heroes try to keep people safe, so it makes sense that they don't do it where people could get hurt.  The disaster at the pier was another of those exceptions.  I guess sometimes the where and when are picked for you."

"Seems as if Chicago is even more interesting than I thought", Cathrin says. "What happened at the pier?"


[OOC] 20:36, Today: Dichlan rolled 16 using 2d10 with rolls of 6,10.  metas in Chicago.
Don't know what to add to that, though

[OOC: You add nothing to rolls, but the GM will tell you what you use for the Acting and Effect Values for the roll. Most likely Int for this.]

[OOC] Int is 6

[OOC]
You received 7 RAPs with that roll.  If you want me to go over how that works, let me know.  For reference, when we do a 'knowledge check', I general use the table on 111 for guidance.

You actually know a lot about US metas (you may have geeked out one evening getting ready to travel and read way more than you needed to read).  You know any of the general knowledge in the Heroes & Villains post, and you know that Interceptor-X is super fast hero in Chicago.  If you ask a specific question, if it is general knowledge, you may know the answer.  This will be only for questions asked in this opening set of posts.

[IC]
The minute you ask about 'the pier' you realize he is talking about Red Monday (the event where Joe Public died and Nixx was put in a comma).  Adam grimaces when you ask about the pier.

Cathrin looks at Adam, then nods slowly. "Oh. I think I've heard about that", she then says. All of a sudden it feels a lot less fascinating - and more threatening.


[OOC] Thanks for the explanation.
I can imagine Cathrin reading and reading ... ;)
This message was last edited by the player at 14:24, Tue 04 May 2021.

He grimaces and hisses, "Yeah...that was not good.  I hope that doesn't happen again.  A lot of people were hurt and Joe died just trying to save people."  He turns the radio up a little as you are driving.  The news anchor goes over a robber at the Museum of Science and Industry and the thieves moved north to catch a boat.  They are in a fight now with Interceptor-X and an unknown person.

"We won't be anywhere near there.  We'll just need to keep an eye on the traffic...it ALWAYS gets worse when you think it has no reason to do so.  hehe  So...what plans do you have other than today?"

"I hope so, too", Cathrin says. "No need for more people hurt. Or dead." She shudders.

Now Cathrin listens even more intendly to the news. There's a fight right now? She hopes that Adam is right and they're far enough away.

"My plans?" Cathrin shrugs. "There's a song I want to write. Two actually. And there's a whole city to explore." And some nephews to play games with.



[OOC] Now I'm not certain whether Cathrin already works for Rousseau or not

[OOC: Rousseau International is based out of Paris, France. Rousseau North America is a subsidiary based in Chicago, so you could have been previously used by the parent company.]

[OOC]
You had a contact at Rousseau, which is Adam as he works in the Chicago office in IT, but I didn't see that you worked for Rousseau.  It isn't hard to change.  As long as we don't cause an issue with Mindstrike, we're good.

[OOC: Easiest thing would have her have worked as a session musician and music and jingle writer for Rousseau International. Then she just can be used by Rousseau North America in the same capacity.]

[OOC] That would have been my suggestion, too

[OOC]
I like the 'music writer on campaign' angle.  It is a low, so that would work well.  It could be in Germany or the US.

[OOC] SO "having worked for Rousseau International before" in Germany. And now on the way to working for Rousseau North America, but not yet doing so?

[OOC]
OK...interviews over, hired by the Marketing Department?  Gig work as a musician or would they have some "musical director" position (over the sound theme for all US marketing...radio, TV)?  I'm OK with either.  If gig work, we will just need to decide if other gig work will need to be found (minor RP item).

[OOC] Preferrably some "music director" or rather songwriter stuff. Gig... not yet *shudders* ;)

[OOC]
I assume you know what you want to about the MSI incident based on other treads?  If you do, I won't dwell on it.

"Sound Director, US Division" is what I think is the best choice.  That would be music, ambient sound, and jingles (if there is one to be done).

[IC]
"We'll...off to one of the nicest McDonald's you'll see in the states.  Low bar...but hey...it is a bar and it jumps over it so you can't be disappointed.  I'll get you 'home' after that.  I'm betting your sister is ready to see you.  You figure out anything on the apartment front yet?"

Cathrin chuckles.

"Hannah said she had news about that, but I don't know anything more than that, yet."



[OOC] I'm fine. Should begin taking notes, though. There are soo many threads in here.

Sounds cool.

Adam has talked non-stop since getting on the road.  The topic have ranged from his boyfriend, to his apparent (in Ukrainian Village area), to his cat, and his job (IT...maybe not so interesting).

The radio continues to talk about the theft from the MSI and the fight with eventual arrest at the lake front.  Interceptor-X and Mindstrike (someone newer to the area) were there to stop the thieves (it is reported that all of the items were recovered).

The drive to the McDonald's is about 40 minutes from where you are by O'Hare.  The ride is full of neon signs, endless houses and buildings, and then the Chicago skyline that looms bigger and bigger as you drive.  But when you get to the parking lot, which is packed, you find a retro rock-n-roll cool that came from the 50's and may not come again.  After a wait, you do make it inside.  It has all of the modern amenities and some that are NOT THE NORM.  From the custom coffee bar, to the new ordering systems, to a small museum, it is very different.  As you are sitting there, Adam looks seriously at you and asks the question that you dread.  "How are you holding up?"

During the ride Cathrin asks the occasional question and is quite content to listen most of the time. She shows interest to all of the topics, even the IT stuff, though she apparently doesn't know much about the latter.

She stores the names of the ones who stopped the theft in her mind. Seems as if people in Chicago are used to having metas around. Better to keep that in mind.

At the parking lot Cathrin looks around for a moment. Taking note of everything that is very different and the things that at least seem a bit familiar. She follows Adam inside and notices that there's a museum in there, too, though a small one. Back home there would have been a small childrens playground, she muses, then inwardly chides herself for thinking of Hamburg still as home.

She takes a deep breath before answering Adams question. "I'm fine. Just a lot of things to getting used to."
"How come that they've decided to put a museum in here?", she asks, attempting to change the topic.

Although it takes a second, Adam gets it.  "Oh...ahh...yes.  The famous Rock-n-Roll McDonald's Museum.  Well....  Yes...ah...I have no idea!"  He turns to you with a smile.

"There was always a collection here as far as I remember.  The gold records...the car...the costumes....  I guess what were they going to do with them after they bought them and had been on display for so long.  It wasn't always this way...it used to be items just scatter around the McDonald's.  I guess having them in one spot still is a draw for people?  I can come up with more BS if you want."  Goofy smile.

[OOC]
This gives you an idea how it is setup now.  Maybe clearer than I have....
https://www.vice.com/en/articl...ock-n-roll-mcdonalds

The longer Adams tries to explain things, the broader Cathrins grin becomes.
"It's alright. I was just curious."

"Must've been interesting before they moved all that stuff into one place", she muses.

"It's much more different than I imagined. But in a good way. Unless... they do serve BigMacs in here, right?" Cathrin grins.



[OOC]
Thanks!

"They even use the secret sauce...which seems to be mayo, pickle relish and ketchup...I think."

It is early evening now and the place is busy, but run like a military base.  The crowd of people here is a big mix of tourists and locals.  You hear about 4 different languages in this area alone.  The music is ZZ-Top's cover of Viva Las Vegas.  You and Adam have a good time eating and talking about everything Chicago, music, and a smattering of IT (we can't help it).

He gets you to your sister's without any issue, other than traffic.

[OOC]
Give me (us) an idea of how things are there and what is next.

[OOC] I guess I'll need some help with the place where Hannah lives. First I pictured them living in a house with a garden. But then: Chicago. Probably way too expensive ;)
So... a nice apartement near a park maybe?

[OOC]
Chicago has apartments downtown (The Loop), brownstones to the north and south (just like NYC), and then the 'Chicago Bungalow' all over when you move away from downtown (brick, basement, narrow, yards but small).  They dominate the immediately surrounding suburbs as well as the less affluent (blue collar) parts of Chicago.  North of downtown would work; Lincoln Park, Uptown, Edgewater.  They are neighborhoods...Chicago doesn't have burroughs.

[OOC] Edgewater sounds nice. Brownstone there?

[OOC]
Edgewater is a little upscale, but you have a mix of large apartment buildings, smaller 3-4 story apartment buildings and some private homes (these would be brownstones).

[OOC] Looks really nice there!
Hm. The family is sort of rich. So I guess having them live in a private home there would be possible?
If that's really only for billionaires or something I'm fine with an apartement in the smaller apartement buildings (somewhere amidst the trees in the picture preferrably ;) )

[OOC]
I live WAY SOUTH-WEST of Chicago, so I don't know the full demographic for the area, but it is a safe bet if you make $250,000+ you could own a home in the area.  I have no issue with you having family in that area.  I know there are a lot of 'family homes' in that area and others on the northern side of Chicago.  With that, a home could have been in the family for a 150+ years (post-fire...if it wasn't burned, there is a good chance it was sold as there was a lot of exodus post-fire).

When I was doing consulting work, I knew a judge that lived in the area (he was a judge, his wife was a psychiatrist).  He collected pens...you know...$500 pens from Japan where the lacquer changes color with time and use.  :^|  I have a nice Parker with my name on it.  :^)

[OOC] Cool. Then it's from Daniels side of the family, most likely ;)

$500 pens? Wow.

Moving to 'primary' thread.