"So what's the plan?"
"Wait and see."
"You serious?"
"You really wanna attract their attention? We need to wait."
----------------
Saturday- South Riverside Avenue, Taipal, west side of the University District Border
The sun lay behind a thick blanket of clouds, the air heavy with the potential for rain, and the city streets were as packed as ever.
Over in a small shopping court, the parking lot was packed with bodies, all waiting in line for a single food-stand. Next to a semi-truck, trailer turned into a refrigeration unit, lay an outdoor kitchen, at the center of which stood a mountain of a man. Right now, there was a large carcass, perhaps a moose, roasting over a fire as the man hacked away at what may've been  a bear, delivering chunks of seasoned meat alongside assorted vegetables and potato. Taking a moment to rest, he wipes the sweat off his brow and orders his assistants to get more ingredients, it was always this busy the weekend after a hunting trip. Glancing over the crowd he saw a lot of new faces, likely tourists, with a low rumble of a grunt the bear-of-a-man would get back to work.
----------------
In an alley of Chuhon
Shadows lay over the bloodied face of a small, wiry, individual.
"How many times we gotta go through this, mouse? When will ya learn?"
Standing over him, a pair of Watchmen loom, a man cleaning blood off his fist, and a woman looking down with a mixture of disappointment and amusement. The 'mouse' would scoot back to lean against the wall and reach up to set his nose back in position, through a wince of pain he'd look up.
"As many times as it takes to win our little game, admit it, I've gotten better and you enjoy the challenge."
With a shake of her head, the two enforcers would carry the tenderized rogue out of the market district, a few tourists would take pictures as they passed by.
----------------
Downtown, the IAE
A jet-black Corporate Sedan would approach the looming form of the arcology, stopping in front of the massive entrance. Security guards would clear the area as a man and woman clad in white suits exit the vehicle.
Locked briefcases in hand, the pair would enter with escorts in tow.
Up on the room of a nearby skyscraper, binoculars would be lowered from the masked observer's eyes, he didn't know who the corpos were, but he was reasonable sure they were important. He'd need to let the others know, it might be trouble.

Within the South Riverside Avenue, Lux would see the food stand, wearing a jacket, a hoodie under it, gloves, jeans, which he was wearing because.. Reasons. He had also been holding some small leather bag in his right hand. His eyes locked onto the cooking carcass, and his stomach could not help but draw him to it.. But first, he would pull out his wallet and examine the cash he had on him. He wasn't sure the price, and he needed the cash for the bus and other supplies.. He would attempt to pass by, but the scent would enter his nostrils, the pleasantry of the meat's smell was irresistible.

He would walk into the line, rubbing off some drool that had begun to leak from his mouth.

In reply to Lux Vance (msg # 2):



Some time latter Kay arrived to the sight of the exotic food truck. She cursed under her breath at her lateness. The line was already twisting down the street. She couldn't see the end. She didn't have time to get to the truck in time & now she didn't have time to wait in line for hours.

The smell was so thick with strange, powerful, burning meat. Sweat, melting fats, foreign to her tongue, hung in the air. New spices teased her palate. Her nostrils flared. Her stomach roared. She simply must consume it all.

She scanned the line for anyone she knew. There was a young man. His face seemed familiar. Was he from her school, or another?

She went to so many events in her various clubs, sometimes at competing schools, all the faces tended to blur. But he was probably a local. Her instincts told her they never talked or locked eyes. Either way, she hoped she passed him some where, some when, & that lark was close enough for her gambit. The meat is waiting. It must be consumed.

She spotted the young man looking thoughtfully at his thin wallet. Opportunity. Business. She sprinted to his side.

"Hey Larry!" she said excitedly as she ran up to Lux. He looked like a 'Larry,' so she'd roll with it. "Remember me? I see you've taken up my advice on this exotic cuisine everyone's been talking about! Hey..." She opened up her own wallet & flashed a couple fat pieces of jade. "I am so glad to see you again!" She added low... "If you let a girl in line, I'll gladly cover anything you want." She winked at him playfully.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:04, Tue 15 June 2021.

He had ignored the name she had called him, not as a means to be mean, rather, because he didn't even realize she was referring to him. Then he realized no one had immediately gotten behind him, so whoever this was is talking to him. He turned towards her and..

He did not recognize who this was at ALL. He paused, looking to her with his golden eyes. "Uh.. Do I know you? I'm just here because it's a shortcut to the bus station. Well- Here because I uh- Couldn't resist the smell of the food. It's really good even from here-" A simple brow would raise- He'd remember someone like her. He was sure of it.. Well, he doesn't make a lot of friends anyway, so there is the likelihood he either forgot, or simply purged her from memory.

He looked at her with confusion, and then suspicion.. was she trying to bribe him?

"No way, besides, the line's pretty long anyway- Wouldn't make a difference- ...Unless you plan on sharing the rewards?" A hand was placed to his chin, the premise beginning to interest him. He was so focused in fact he didn't even notice the line hadn't been moving. Man, it was a slower line than he had thought.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:04, Thu 17 June 2021.

In reply to Lux Vance (msg # 4):



"Oh! Ha, ha! I'm sorry. You looked like someone I might have known!" Kay rubbed the back of her head with bemused embarrassment. She must have just imagined he looked familiar.

"Well now, if we are strangers, we can correct that in no time. I am Kay Klawdet Copperpot the 1st, & it is a pleasure to meat you!" She held out her hand to shake with a big smile.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:54, Thu 17 June 2021.