Scene Two
Scene Three
Scene Four
Scene Five
Scene Six
Scene Seven
Scene Seven
Chapter Six: Fuel to Burn, Roads to Drive
Scene One: Shock to the System
mgrasso> So there we are. We are mostly on the street outside the shop, on our way back to the van.
mgrasso> And there we go!
mgrasso> Everyone's in character, so let's do it.
Roger> James you fucking Moron! what the hell did you say to him?
* James flips him the bird.
* Chet fiddles with the door lock, raidly popping it open and closed.
James> fuck off.
Roger> ?me trots back to the shop.
Ingrid> Watch it, Roger. This is James's mission, after all.
* Roger trots back tpo the shop
James> why thank you Ingrid, I appreciate that.
mgrasso> Roger is back inside the shop.
* Gemma gives James a look
James> Chet! do you have a bladder the size of a furbing thimble or something?
James> what?
* Gemma ever-so-slightly shakes her head "no"
Chet> (Is James in the van?)
mgrasso> (near it? outside it at the door? Everyone's near the van except Roger.)
James> (if chet is, he opens the door to talk to you)
James> (yell, talk, same difference)
Gemma> Why don't we just go regroup, buy some fake mustaches, and come back to piss them off again?
* Chet climbs over the back seat and into the front.
mgrasso> (Commissioner Mustache!)
* Chet starts rummaging through the glovebox.
* Ingrid stifles a laugh.
Gemma> And you, urine boy, why don't you just pee in on their door? As long as you're full and have the equipment, you might as well use it.
* James calms down a little bit a Gemmas humor
* Chet pulls the car door closed.
* Gemma opens the door Chet closed
* Roger walks up and opens the car door
* Chet takes the owner's manual from the glovebox, opens the passenger door and climbs out.
Ingrid> Are we leaving yet?
Roger> I'm ready
Gemma> Roger? What happened, cutie?
* Chet starts walking down the road, away from 3 Coins.
Roger> Just trying to smoothe things over, and Ingrid yes I understand that its James' car, but if he wants it he needs to stay cool.
Gemma> Oh, there goes Polly Pissy Pants.
* Gemma goes after Chet
James> hey, give a guy some privacy!
* Gemma stops and looks at James
Gemma> You think he's actually listening to me?
Gemma> Because if he is, I want to see him pee.
Gemma> I mean, don't want to see him pee.
Gemma> Do. No, don't. Wait.
* Gemma looks to see where Chet's headed
Roger> Look James... Now we know a few things. First off either he's lying or someone registered it through his shop. You saw how many cars go through there.
Roger> How did you find out that it was registered in his name
Roger> ?
James> right, but it's *his* name.
James> dmv computer records.
Roger> Very nice, i'm impressed, can you find any other information, like who its insured through or even what company
James> if it is, yeah probably.
Roger> That's great
* Gemma frowns and heads after Chet again
Roger> The other thing that we know is that he has skill with cars, so he probably didn't make it a low rider
James> do you have an issue with letting the man piss?
* Gemma calls over her shoulder, "I have an issue with dirty old men wandering off to get themselves lost. I'll be back."
* Roger starts rolling a cigarette
mgrasso> It's obvious to everyone; Chet's not going to find anywhere to relieve himself. This is an industrial zone... no businesses, no restaurants, no convenience stores.
mgrasso> Better to round him up and get back to the hotel.
Roger> Its LA he can piss in a gutter
James> I'd pee against a wall, what kind of man is he?!
Roger> He could piss in the middle of the street and noone would look twice....except gemma
* Chet is rapidly getting farther and farther away.
James> hey asshole, nock it off.
* Gemma jogs a bit to catch up to Chet, catching him by the elbow. "Hey, sailor, where do you think you're heading?"
Roger> What?
Gemma> !dice 5 7
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 5d10 at difficulty 7. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 6 5 5 9 5
Chet> Just walking. At the rate they're going back there I'll get back to the hotel before they do.
James> nothing.
Gemma> Not in the direction you're heading, fulano.
James> Let's go.
* Gemma glances up at the sky and squints
Chet> What?
* Ingrid climbs into the van.
Gemma> Huh. Did you see that, Chet?
* Gemma points south
Chet> Did I see what?
* James takes the drivers seat "lets go get those two furking space cadetts"
mgrasso> (*snort*)
* Chet keeps walking while talking.
* Gemma keeps up with Chet
Gemma> !dice 6 8
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 6d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 3 6 10 8 9 4
Gemma> !dice 1 8
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 1d10 at difficulty 8. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 4
mgrasso> Chet looks up to where Gemma pointed.
James> coming "Roge"?
Gemma> !dice 4 6
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 4d10 at difficulty 6. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 1 4 5 9
mgrasso> He sees nothing; she was pointing at the sky.
* Chet lights a cigarette and picks up the pace.
Roger> You're driving I'm sitting here
James> (is roger in the car?)
Roger> (yes)
Gemma> While Chet is distracted, Gemma slips her arm behind him as though she's about to give him a sideways hug -- but instead, you guys behind them can see that she's actually just jabbed her tazer into his back.
Gemma> !dice 5 6
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 5d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 4 8 7 4 2
Ingrid> Whoa! Did you guys see that?
Roger> Holy Shit!
Ingrid> Remind me not to piss her off. Or wander away, even.
* James puts it into d and floors it, catches up to them and slams on the breaks.
Roger> I hope I won't need to pee
mgrasso> Chet convulses and falls to the ground. Chet, Willpower roll, diff. 8
Chet> !dice 8 8
* DiceWell Chet rolls 8d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 4 5 4 3 1 8 10 4
* Gemma takes a few steps back
Ingrid> I hope he didn't pee his pants. Geez, Gemma.
* Roger gets out and rushes to chet
mgrasso> (Chet just barely controls his bladder)
* James puts it in park and hops out
mgrasso> Chet is conscious, and in PAIN. He has two levels of bashing damage.
Gemma> Okay. I got him. Load him up.
James> Gemma?! why, what?
mgrasso> He is conscious, however.
Gemma> What do you mean why?
James> why did you do that!
* Roger helps chet up when hes ready
* Chet mutters, "Hell..." and digs in his bag.
Gemma> He was being a dork. It was either that or let him get himself lost. Hm. Maybe I should have just done that.
Ingrid> It's not like we ever lost sight of him.
* Gemma shrugs and tucks her tazer back into her bag
* James has a looks of compleet bewilderment in his eyes, and something else- maybe fear... probably fear... yeah, fear.
* Chet produces a fresh pack of cigarettes and pulls the cellphane wrapper off.
mgrasso> Everyone piles into the car.
* Chet pulls the crushed pack out of his pocket and tosses it away with a wince.
James> alright. everybody get in the furking car.
* Roger pulls out a gold zippo and lights chets cigarette
Chet> Thanks, dude.
Gemma> Shotgun!
James> you're almost all giving me a fucking headache
Gemma> Only almost?
Roger> Do you need a doctor
Chet> What?
Gemma> He'll be fine.
James> no, I have a fucking headache, but only almost all of you are giving me it.
Gemma> The instructor jabs you with the thing before they let you out in public with it.
Ingrid> Chet, are you all right?
Gemma> He'll have a really neat bruise,t hough.
Chet> Sure. Whatever.
Roger> That doesn't make it ok.
* Gemma sighs
James> hey, roger get off her back... chet is the only one who has any right to be pissed off.
Chet> Shut up for once in your damn life, James.
Chet> Just drive.
Ingrid> That's the first sensible thing I've heard yet.
Chet> Unless you'd like me to pee right here.
* James drives but doesn't shut up
mgrasso> It's only about 5 minutes back to the hotel.
James> you should have fucking peed on the wall or held it asshole, you're not three.
* Gemma reaches over and puts her hand on James' arm, giving it a gentle squeeze
Chet> No, I'm not. Because then I'd be you.
* Ingrid covers her smile with a nonchalant gesture.
Scene Two: Lobby
mgrasso> SO! We all come back to the hotel. Chet uses the lobby restroom.
James> and I'm already potty trained, can you imgaine that!
mgrasso> The rest of you hang out in the lobby, perhaps discussing our next move.
Ingrid> (I can't believe you made Chet wait a whole two weeks to pee!)
Gemma> (lol!)
mgrasso> (I'm evil that way)
James> I'm just gonna kill him. That's my next move...
James> (bill have you gotten any of my msgs?)
Gemma> Don't kill him, mijo. I hate those conjugal visit trailers.
James> well, maybe just paralyze him, how high does that tazer go?
* Gemma smiles a little
Gemma> Just high enough to be fun.
Gemma> Or safe. You know. Whatever.
* Gemma playfully pinches James in the side
Gemma> I can show you later what it's like on the lowest settings, if you want.
Gemma> But anyway... What are you going to do about the flying oranges?
* Chet emerges from the bathroom.
Gemma> Or really, I should be asking you, Roger.
Roger> I have to say you guys are fun to hang out with, thats the first time I've ever seen anyone zapped just because he had to pee
James> well, I think roger had an idea about some more research
* Gemma gets a bit huffy
Gemma> I didn't zap him because he had to pee.
Roger> whatever
* Gemma smooths her hair back
Ingrid> SO, research?
Gemma> But the creepy things in the sky... Roger? Do you know anything about them? Are they common?
Ingrid> What was in the sky?
Roger> Well, he didn't seem to be lying when he mentioned the T-bird, so its possible some else at the shop is involved
Gemma> I don't know how to explain them.
Roger> what creepy things are you talking about
Gemma> It's not like they have the decency to have a clearly defined shape.
Gemma> Just big blobby orange and black things, floating around, being pests.
* Chet looks around for a seat.
James> let's go up to a room so I can plug in.
Roger> I have no idea what your talking about
Gemma> But you live here!
James> chimera or real gem?
Gemma> Oh.
Gemma> Um.
Gemma> Well, it wasn't real.
Gemma> So ...
Roger> I haven't lived here very long
Ingrid> I didn't see anything like that.
James> I need my spanish detector.
mgrasso> (*snort*)
Roger> and I've never heard of anything like that
Gemma> I *said* it was real.
Gemma> In Spanish.
Roger> what?
James> right, but I wasn't sure if it was spanish or not.
Gemma> No, it was.
James> argh!
* Gemma nods
Roger> She's not speaking spanish
mgrasso> (hee hee hee!)
Roger> man you guys are nuts
* Gemma laughs
Gemma> !dice 2 8
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 2d10 at difficulty 8. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 7 7
* James cracks a smile
Gemma> Okay. En espaņol... It was REAL.
Gemma> Once more, in Spanish ... it was definitely not a chimera. It was so real, no one saw it.
Roger> ok so it wasn't chimerical
* Gemma laughs again
James> wait, so it was fake or this isn't spanish?
mgrasso> (site's back up, btw)
Ingrid> No, I think she means the opposite.
Roger> I need a drink
Gemma> No! It's ... no!
Gemma> Ingrid, I could lick you.
* Roger pulls out a silver hip flask and takes a swig
Gemma> In fact, I think I will.
* Gemma heads over to Ingrid
Gemma> c'mere, baby
* Ingrid leans backwards.
James> can I watch?
Ingrid> Thanks anyway, Gem.
* Gemma shrugs and steps behind Ingrid
Gemma> Whatever you say. Just keep looking forward.
Gemma> So, yes. Ingrid's speaking Spanish, guys. Listen to her.
Ingrid> Hey! None of that. Let's get back to this chimerical blobby thing.
Roger> so it is chimerical
* Gemma whaps Ingrid on the butt and heads back over to James. "Whatever you say, sweet cheeks."
Roger> man I'm confused
James> (ha!)
Gemma> Although it wasn't blobby. It was more like your ass.
Gemma> You know, hard to define...
Ingrid> It's not uncommon around Gemma, Roger.
James> ouch Gem.
Roger> Thank You
Gemma> What? She has the white girl butt. No shame in that.
James> let's talk about this up in a room, I want to try and check out some of these trails roger was talking about
Gemma> Okay.
Roger> Great
* Gemma grabs James' hand and fairly drags him to their room
mgrasso> Whose room? Gemma and James'?
Gemma> (yup)
Ingrid> Let's go.
James> it's where my shit is
mgrasso> Cool. Guess that solves that.
mgrasso> (brb, beverage)
mgrasso> But keep talking.
Gemma> Someone make sure Junior comes with us.
Roger> James, you said your grandmother sold it right
Roger> how was it paid for? if it was a check could you trace that to.
* Ingrid goes to round up Chet.
James> yeah, gran sold it a year or so after granpop kicked it.
Gemma> I'm surprised he didn't leave it to you.
* Chet looks up from his chair, "Are we going somewhere?"
Ingrid> Yeah, up to Gemma and James's room for some hacking.
Chet> Whatever...
* Ingrid hold out a hand to pull Chet up.
* Chet takes Ingrid's hand and pulls himself up with a visible wince.
James> he left it to her. He loved her so much- but she couldn't handle it, it hurt her to look at it.
Ingrid> How's it feeling? Do you need anything?
Roger> That's to bad
Gemma> Wow. I wonder what it's like to love someone that much?
Roger> (ouch)
mgrasso> (*snort* at Bill)
Chet> I'm OK. It'll be OK in a bit.
* Ingrid carefully escorts Chet to the room.
Scene Three: Sanctuary
mgrasso> So, we're up in Gemma and James' room.
mgrasso> James works on putting together his laptop.
* Roger watchs James at work on the computer
Chet> Can I talk to you for a minute in the hallway, Ingrid?
mgrasso> #hallway, guys?
Ingrid> Sure.
* Chet closes the door behind him.
mgrasso> James boots up his machine.
* Gemma glances at the door
Roger> So James, how long will it take to get the info
Gemma> (did Ingrid leave yet? Or does Gem have time to razz her? ;) )
mgrasso> Nope. They're gone.
Gemma> Ah.
* Gemma quietly goes over to the door to see if she can hear them
James> donno
Gemma> !dice 7 7
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 7d10 at difficulty 7. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 10 8 10 4 4 6 4
Gemma> (reroll 10s?)
mgrasso> Sure.
Gemma> !dice 2 7
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 2d10 at difficulty 7. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 3 8
James> Muther fucking shit! what the fuck is this corperate bull shit?! those murfurbingassholes and their furking bastard monkeys!
Roger> what, whats up?
Gemma> Cheese and rice, James!
James> work shit man.
* James grumbles
* Gemma goes to James and starts massaging his shoulders
* Roger looks at the screen over james' shoulder with absolutely no understanding of what he sees
Gemma> !dice 6 6
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 6d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 7 5 10 2 10 4
Roger> !dice 4 6
* DiceWell Roger rolls 4d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 7 6 5 8
* James cracks his neck loudly and sighs with a great stress.
James> mother fucking shit...
Roger> What, whats goin on?
James> !dice 9 6
* DiceWell James rolls 9d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 4 successes.
* DiceWell 1 9 5 9 5 6 9 5 7
Gemma> What is it?
James> nothing, don't worry about it.
James> I'll tell you later.
mgrasso> So, James, what are you hunting for first.
* Gemma gently kneads her knuckles down as much of James' spine as she can before hitting the back of the chair
Gemma> Just take deep breaths and relax.
James> I'm gonna look for insurance information first.
Gemma> And if it's not insured?
* Roger goes over and sits in a chair, he rolls and lights a cigarette, and takes another swig from his flask
James> If I can't find any leads myself, I may have to contact a friend.
mgrasso> California insurance?
Gemma> Ah.
James> we'll start there.
mgrasso> All right. Let's get a Intelligence + Computer Hacking, diff. 8
James> !dice 6 8
* DiceWell James rolls 6d10 at difficulty 8. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 7 1 7 8 4 2
Gemma> Hey Roger? Could you not smoke in here, please? Booze is okay, but tobacco gives me a headache.
James> wp
Roger> (is there a balcony)
mgrasso> All right. You manage to get into the California DMV. Now to get to the specific record. Another roll, same diff.
James> !dice 6 8
* DiceWell James rolls 6d10 at difficulty 8. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 7 2 2 7 5 5
mgrasso> (No, Roger. And it's a non-smoking room. :) )
James> wp again.
* Roger gets up and walks to the bathroom where he flushes his butt
* Gemma smiles at Roger
mgrasso> You're currently hacking a program that will allow you to search the tens of millions of registrations and insurance records in California.
mgrasso> Again, same roll.
James> Gem, will you get me an "asprin" they're in the front of my suitcase
James> !dice 6 8
* DiceWell James rolls 6d10 at difficulty 8. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 3 4 2 1 4 8
James> (what the fuck!)
Gemma> No.
mgrasso> (No more WP, James?)
* Gemma sighs and mutters, but goes over to the suitcase
Gemma> Are you going to need water?
James> (i have one more)
James> nah
James> wp
James> (why not)
mgrasso> Still more time, you need more time.
mgrasso> It's frustrating work.
James> !dice 6 8
* DiceWell James rolls 6d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 3 8 10 6 4 6
Gemma> How many do you need?
mgrasso> No records have popped... wait! You've got one!
James> just one- shit
James> !
James> (good "shit")
* Gemma gets one and gives it to James
mgrasso> The insurance matches the VIN.
Roger> whats up?\
* James swallows it dry
James> I've got a match on the vin!
mgrasso> The insurance record is going to take a little more hacking to get. This time, Int + Hacking, diff. 7.
* Gemma crinkles her nose
James> !dice 6 7
* DiceWell James rolls 6d10 at difficulty 7. S/He fails the roll!
Roger> Great!
* DiceWell 2 8 2 1 9 1
James> damn (diff 8, right?)
mgrasso> If you want to try again, yes.
mgrasso> You got booted out of the system. Try again, at diff. 8.
James> !dice 6 8
* DiceWell James rolls 6d10 at difficulty 8. S/He botches the roll.
* DiceWell 6 2 3 4 2 1
James> FUCK
mgrasso> That'll do it. You have the insurance number.
mgrasso> Now, you could try to re-hack the insurance company's system, but you'd have to start from scratch.
* James slams his hand down hard on the little hotel desk.
mgrasso> (Before, you were working on the DMV system.)
James> alright, I'll give it a shot.
Roger> Take it easy, what did you get so far
mgrasso> The policy-holder, whoever that is, was born on April 28, 1950.
James> only a little bit.
mgrasso> All right. A new hack, into the insurance company's system.
mgrasso> Intelligence + Hacking, diff. 7
Roger> What did you learn, every little bit can be helpful
* Chet re-enters the room.
Gemma> You're such an optimist.
* James steps away from the screen, takes off his glasses, rubs his eyes, shakes his head vigorusly and sits back down.
* Ingrid calls for Gemma to come out into the hall for a sec.
James> !dice 6 8
* DiceWell James rolls 6d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 5 2 5 8 5 2
James> (oops!)
mgrasso> (It's okay! One success!)
* Gemma grumbles but goes out
Scene Four: Hallway
Gemma> Hey. Need a fresh towel?
Ingrid> No thanks.
Ingrid> How's he doing in there.
Ingrid> ?
Gemma> Who?
Ingrid> James? Looking up stuff on his car?
Gemma> Oh! Oh.
Gemma> You mean you couldn't hear him?
Ingrid> Well, I heard a few curses. I figured he was getting somewhere.
Gemma> It's kind of hard to tell in between the cursing and table-slamming and all.
Gemma> FOr this you needed me out here?
Gemma> !dice 2 8
Ingrid> No, not this.
Gemma> Then...?
Ingrid> I actually want to ask you about the car.
Ingrid> Do you happen to know how James will be obtaining this car once we find it?
Gemma> Seriously?
Ingrid> Seriously.
Gemma> I jab Chet with my Lady Tazer and you want to know how James will pay for his car?
Ingrid> I notice he didn't exactly bring a wad of cash.
Gemma> Cash is so passe.
Gemma> Checks are the in thing now.
Gemma> He *does* have a checking account, ma'am.
Ingrid> He's writing a check?
Ingrid> For thirty thousand dollars?
Gemma> Is it impossible to believe that he could have money?
Gemma> You don't think I'd give up my trust fund for a poor man, do you?
* Gemma smirks
Ingrid> No, that's not it. It's just... I thought I heard him say something about just *taking* it.
Gemma> Eh. He's so dramatic.
Ingrid> I hope that's all it is. I don't like the idea of that one bit.
* Gemma nods
Gemma> I understand.
Gemma> Um.
Gemma> Listen ... you were out here with him -- *is* Chet mad at me?
Ingrid> And you, what's with the taser? That was a little extreme, no?
Gemma> I mean, because I just get these ... these impulses sometimes and I used to be really good at holding them in check and lately .... I don't know.
* Gemma furrows her brow a bit
Ingrid> I don't think Chet ever gets mad. But hey, you might want to look into that impulse control thing.
Gemma> Well, how do you do it?
Ingrid> Seriously?
* Gemma nods
Gemma> Really. How do you do it?
Ingrid> I imagine ice. Standing in Antarctica in a gown made of ice. Cools me right off.
Gemma> Huh.
Gemma> Really?
Ingrid> Sometimes I add penguins, when I really need a distraction.
* Gemma smiles
Gemma> No! You're kiddnig me. Really? Penguins?
Ingrid> I knew you'd laugh at me.
* Ingrid smiles.
mgrasso> (What is this, Fight Club?) :D
Gemma> (lol! Yes. I'm going to ask her to make soap next)
Ingrid> (hey! :D)
mgrasso> (heh.)
Gemma> Sorry. It's just that certain things that used to come naturally to me are -- um, anyway.
* Gemma reddens a bit
Gemma> Listen, did you notice the name of that auto place?
Gemma> I mean, you did, since you asked...
Gemma> But did you think about it?
Ingrid> Three coins? Yes! Just like the ones we have...
Ingrid> Is that what you meant?
* Gemma clears her throat harshly
Gemma> Yeah
Ingrid> I don't have it any more, Gem. I gave it to James to keep, just like the ruby.
Gemma> You talked to him about it?
Gemma> I shouldn't be surprised.
Gemma> Oh, wait. I'm not.
Ingrid> I didn't think you really were.
* Gemma leans against the wall and sighs a little
Ingrid> I can't keep it since it truly doesn't belong to me.
mgrasso> Gemma: Perception + Alertness, diff. 10
Gemma> !dice 7 10
Gemma> (argh)
mgrasso> Sorry!
Gemma> (damn ... a botch)
mgrasso> (no big deal)
mgrasso> (Continue)
Gemma> I think this little car shop is a sign.
Gemma> It has a sign, and it is a sign.
Ingrid> Really? How so?
Gemma> I'm not sure.
Gemma> I need to focus on this and pray, I think.
Ingrid> Best of luck to you, then. I'll be interested to know what it reveals.
Gemma> Could you do me a favor/
Gemma> ?
Ingrid> I'll do my best. What is it?
Gemma> Could you go in there and get the coins, and then let me borrow your room?
Gemma> I'd ask Chet myself, but .. um.
Ingrid> Is this part of the meditation? I don't really know how to feel about this.
* Gemma nods
Gemma> It is. I need something to focus on and some privacy.
Ingrid> Can I be there with you? I'll be unobtrusive.
* Gemma blushes a little
Gemma> Um... okay. But breathe a word to anyone and I'll tell everyone ... something terrible.
Gemma> Like you sold your underwear to the bellhops.
Ingrid> Oh, not that!
* Ingrid laughs.
Gemma> I'll wait here.
Ingrid> I'll be right back.
mgrasso> (These two have such an up-and-down relationship... it's more interesting and fucked up than James and Gemma's!)
Ingrid> (no kidding!)
Gemma> (That's because they can't cool it off with sex in between spats. :) )
mgrasso> Whoa.
Ingrid> (Hah!!)
Gemma> (hee!)
Scene Five: Tonight
* Chet pulls out his bag, pulls out his sunglasses and puts them on, and sets his nag behind the couch.
James> (when did chet get a horse?)
mgrasso> James gets into the system, and is searching through the policyholders with the same birthdate. There's only a few in California. Now, one more hack. Same roll, diff. 7.
* Chet walks up behind James and rubs his shoulders, "Whatcha working on, big guy?"
James> !dice 6 7
* DiceWell James rolls 6d10 at difficulty 7. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 1 4 2 10 3 9
James> Finding the car another way.
James> insurance.
mgrasso> There's five names. One more search... one more roll. :)
Chet> How's it going so far?
James> !dice 6 7
* DiceWell James rolls 6d10 at difficulty 7. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 7 3 9 6 3 8
James> boo yeah!
* Chet pats Roger on the back, "Looks like you're doing some good work"
mgrasso> Here's the name and address.
* James stands up and does a little cabbagepatch
Roger> He's doin it all, I just wish he'd tell me what he found
mgrasso> The current owner is one James Leno. He lives in Beverly Hills, at a certain address.
Gemma> !dice 2 8
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 2d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 7 8
Roger> (james are you relaying any ninformation)
James> yeah, at this point.
James> ()
Roger> So the car is regestered to Hassan, but is Insured by Leno.
mgrasso> Nope. It's insured to Leno and registered to no one.
James> as of right now...
* Chet pats Roger on the back again, and then moves over to rub James' shoulders some more.
Chet> Got it yet, dude?
* James does a quick search
James> James leno AND Jay
Roger> ok that is goin to make this more difficult.
Chet> You're almost there...
Roger> Does it matter how hassan's involved or are we just getting the car, does *why* matter?
* Chet walks over to his bag and picks it up to remove a pack of cigarettes.
James>
James> Occupation: Comedian, TV Personality
James> Real Name: James Leno
James> Date of Birth: April 28, 1950
James> Place of Birth: New Rochelle, N.Y., USA
James> Sign: Taurus
James> Relations: Wife: Mavis Nicholson
James> Education: Emerson College
James>
James> you don't think??
mgrasso> After a quick websearch, James thinks about the possibility... :)
* Chet slides the pack into his pocket and puts the bag back down.
Roger> What are you doing?
* Chet sits down on the couch and puts his feet up.
James> the good news is I found the car
James> the bad news is it might be insured by Jay Leno.
Roger> might be?
* Chet walks back up behind James to peer over his shoulder at the screen.
Ingrid> !dice 6 7
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 6d10 at difficulty 7. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 10 1 6 10 1 4
mgrasso> Chet can see a Mr. Showbiz type site up on the screen with a bio of Jay (James) Leno.
Chet> Jay Leno? He sucks. I'd rather meet David Letterman.
James> (that's the exact site I'm looking at)
* Roger smiles " I'm with you on that"
Chet> Letterman was ripped when they didn't give him the TOnight Show.
Roger> Ever see the movie "late Night" great movie on that whole affair
James> well I've got a two point match here, so it's probably him, although finger printing needs a four point match.
Chet> That was pretty good. That guy who played Letterman was a dead-ringer.
Roger> ok, so the big question now is do we try and go see Leno
Roger> that won't be easy
James> shit man, did you see that episode of titus? He was an asshole.
Roger> Or do we try and steal the car
* Chet walks back over to the couch and pulls his bag out from behind it. He drops in the pack of cigarettes from his pocket, before fishing around and retrieving a pack of Camel Lights.
Chet> Anyone else?
Roger> No thanks
* Chet offers the pack to Roger.
James> I could steal from a little foreign racist shop guy, not Jay Leno, I don't think it would be a good idea.
Roger> and gemma said not to smoke in here
* Chet pulls one out and lights it.
Chet> D'oh! I wish you had told me that sooner.
* Chet takes a long drag on the cigarette.
Gemma> !dice 7 10
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 7d10 at difficulty 10. S/He botches the roll.
* DiceWell 1 6 3 1 7 4 5
James> (strike titus, bill says it's an anacronism)
Roger> Should we try and break into his house to get a look at the car
* James looks at roger sideways
mgrasso> (Well, this is April 2001. The episode's probably already been on)
Chet> Do you really think it's a good idea to break into the mansions of the rich and famous if we're trying to maintain a low profile?
Roger> (I thought it was 2000)
mgrasso> (Nope. 2001.)
Roger> (ok nevermind then)
Roger> (strike the strike)
James> maybe we could just go and talk to him, I mean he has a lot of classic cars, right?
* James looks doubtfull
mgrasso> (Now when Jess mentioned going to the Oscars the week the Oscars were happening... that was a bad anachronism. :) )
Roger> Yes he does, He's one of the biggest collectors in LA
Chet> Do you think that you can fake it like you're a car enthusiast, James?
* Chet smiles.
James> because that would be *so* hard.
Roger> If he can't I am one.
James> It's the pretending I'm rich part that's difficult.
Roger> That's not to hard
Roger> Just act like your the most important person on earth
Roger> see youve got it down already
mgrasso> (damn!)
Chet> Well, it's just a matter of dressing nice. I think you've got the "eccentric" thing down pat.
Chet> I have a feeling that we're going to have trouble getting near him, though. HIs TV show practically makes me nauseous. Do you think you could talk to him without getting physically ill?
* Ingrid enters the room.
James> anything for my baby. besides, from an insomniacs point of view it's not that bad, just that new girl he has doing the jay walking segment- sounds like fran drescher on crack...
*** Retrieving #Changeling-Tucson info...
*** mgrasso changes topic to 'Before people leave, I need to make an announcement...'
Gemma> (hey, we still have 20 minutes by my clock, buddy)
James> (yeah!)
mgrasso> (I know, I'm just making sure people don't scamper off...)
Ingrid> James, did you bring the two coins you have? And Chet, did you bring yours?
mgrasso> (So, Gemma...? Back into the room?)
mgrasso> (Oh, it's Ingrid. Sorry.)
Chet> OK. Well I'm not getting near him. Although if I could visit the Friends set...
Chet> That Joey is a *dreamboat*.
James> hey, maybe there's a classic car show in the area
mgrasso> (Chet, James, you both did. It's chimerical. Best to bring them both)
James> yeah Ingrid, why?
Gemma> (no, waiting outside)
Chet> Are we going somewhere again?
Ingrid> Could I borrow them for a minute? Gemma wants to meditate on them in my room. I'm going too.
Ingrid> No, you can stay here if you want, Chet.
Chet> Ummm... I don't think I can lend it to you. I can go with you, though.
Ingrid> James? Would you mind?
Ingrid> And Chet... I think you'll have to ask Gemma. She's the one meditating, after all.
Ingrid> She's in the hall waiting.
James> sure... It's weird, but what ever.
Chet> She's also the one who shot me through with 100,000 volts. I'm not too keen on lending her anything right about now. YOu understand, I hope...
Ingrid> Great, thanks.
* James reaches into his deep work vest pockets
Ingrid> I do, Chet.
Chet> Thanks.
James> and hands it to Ingrid.
* Ingrid takes the two coins.
mgrasso> So, it's Chet, Ingrid, and Gemma off to Ingrid's room?
* Chet follows Ingrid.
mgrasso> You guys, leave this room and go to #ingridroom.
*** Chet (spudboy@216-40-2-85.novia.net) has left #Changeling-Tucson
*** Gemma (nutscratrchpiruja@pool-63.50.230.156.phnx.grid.net) has left #Changeling-Tucson
*** Ingrid (jsober@1cust206.tnt1.belvidere.il.da.uu.net) has left #Changeling-Tucson
Scene Six: Visions of Hephaestus
* Chet enters Ingrid's room with his shoulder bag clutched tight to his side.
Chet> Now what?
Ingrid> Gemma?
* Ingrid sits on a chair near the dresser.
Gemma> The coins, please.
* Gemma holds out her hand
* Ingrid hands Gemma the two James gave hre.
* Chet sits down and starts untying his right shoe.
* Gemma glances at Chet
Gemma> Um, Chet? May I borrow your coin, please?
Chet> He pulls off the shoe and peels off the white tube sock that is sticking to his foot.
mgrasso> (I think I see where this is going)
Gemma> (it's in his sock?)
Chet> (test)
* Chet turns the sock upside down, shakes the coin out into his hand, and wipes it off on his pants.
Ingrid> (All the better to be near the meth lab in his sock drawer)
Chet> Here you go. And I need it right back.
Gemma> Er, right. Thanks.
* Gemma takes the coin, goes to the space between the beds and sits on the floor
* Chet leans over to Ingrid, "So what is this?"
* Gemma holds the coins in her open palm, and stares at them for a long moment, then covers the coin with one hand, sits up straighter, and closes her eyes.
* Gemma takes a few deep breaths, then begins chanting in Latin:
Gemma> Karitas habundat in omnia
Gemma> de imis excellentissima
Gemma> super sidera
* Ingrid whispers back "She's meditating on the Three Coins."
Gemma> arque amantissima
Gemma> in omnia
Gemma> quia summo regu osculum pacis dedit
* Chet whispers, "What for?"
Gemma> Hodie aperuit nobis clausa porta quod serpens in muliere suffocavit
Gemma> unde lucet in aurora flos de Virgine Maria
* Ingrid whispers again, "Call it a hunch."
Gemma> Karitas habundat in omnia
Gemma> Karitas habundat in omnia
* Ingrid follows this up with a little shushing gesture.
Gemma> Karitas habundat in omnia ... (she keeps repeating that phrase several more times)
mgrasso> (Ready to roll?)
Gemma> (sure)
Chet> (give diecy a nice rub first...)
Gemma> (::rubs dicey for luck::)
Chet> (or a rice nub...)
Ingrid> (nub?)
mgrasso> (What is Gemma meditating on exactly?)
Ingrid> (:D)
DiceWell> (:) is not a valid number Ingrid.
Gemma> (the coins and if there's any tie to that auto shop, buster)
mgrasso> (I need to know before I can recommend a Realm)
mgrasso> (Ah, excellent. Then it's Intelligence + Prop, diff. 4)
Gemma> !dice 6 4
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 6d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 7 8 4 6 1 3
mgrasso> Here it comes...
mgrasso> Gemma goes into a slight trance...
* Gemma suddenly snaps out of it
* Gemma gets up off the floor and sits on the edge of Ingrid's bed
Gemma> !dice 2 8
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 2d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 8 3
Gemma> Wow.
Ingrid> You okay?
* Gemma nods
Gemma> Yeah, but get this..
Gemma> There's this guy who's hanging out in the hills behind the Hollywood sign.
Gemma> He has a pet dragon that evidentally releases a bunch of orange butt fumes -- that would be the black and orange thing I kept seeing in the sky, I think.
Gemma> And he has this forge in his shack, and he has a red beard and is in dire need of a makeover.
Ingrid> Orange... butt fumes?
Gemma> You tell me, then!
Gemma> He had this orange cloud around him.
Ingrid> No, please continue!
mgrasso> (We need to be wrapping up... perhaps we could move everyone back to Gemma and James' room at some point?)
* Gemma shuffles the coins around in her hands
* Chet holds out his hand. "Can I have my coin back now?"
Gemma> I think that's it... A forge in a shack on a hill in a nook nestled in the hills behind the Hollywood sign with a black dragon with orange butt fumes and a redhead in a beard.
Gemma> Yeah.
Ingrid> Well, that just about solves everything then.
* Gemma gives Chet his coin back
* Ingrid looks vaguely exasperated.
Gemma> Does it?
Chet> Well he shouldn't be too hard to find. There can't be more than a dozen people in LA who fit that description.
Gemma> No, listen, it makes sense. He's in a shack. see?
Gemma> And he has a *forge*.
Gemma> And what do you do with forges? Class?
Chet> Wait. Don't tell me...
Gemma> Someone's really up there.
Ingrid> Maybe we should let James and Roger in on this too.
Chet> Fine.
* Gemma babbles excitedly, "Maybe it's a secret freehold and he's this surly scottish nocker and he makes collectable coins from magic cars."
Ingrid> And Gemma, I'll take those coins, please. I want to give them back to James.
Chet> I have no idea how this relates to Jay Leno, though.
Ingrid> Jay Leno?
Gemma> You don't trust me to give them back?
mgrasso> (5 minute warning)
Chet> Yeah. The big chin guy. Isn't he on your station?
Ingrid> I took them, I want to give them back.
Gemma> Whatever.
Ingrid> Thanks.
mgrasso> (He's is on Ingrid's station, in fact. :D)
* Gemma gives the coins back to Ingrid and walks out
* Ingrid sighs.
Gemma> (back to the channel.. whee! :) )
Scene Seven: Plots
mgrasso> So, Roger and James...
mgrasso> Plotting? Planning?
Roger> Where do we go from here. A car show is a good idea
James> I'll do a search for some high profile car shows.
Roger> but there is no garauntee that he'll be there
mgrasso> A quick computer search brings up.... none in the LA area this weekend.
James> damn it.
James> so, do we go there? Do we sneak in? I have some heavy duty gear from this raid we did in Mexico
mgrasso> (Mission Impossible theme plays)
Roger> We won't be using heavy gear
Roger> We should use the front door first
James> night vision? kevlar? no?
Roger> How are you with security systems
James> what then, a skii mask and a crow bar?
Roger> Nothing so vulgar
James> I'm not sure, I can crack anything inside a computer, and I've bugged an office before, I could probably do something...
Roger> lockpicks and maybe a few other small things
James> I think you're underestimating the security that would be on a place like that... not just his house but his car garage!
Roger> Why, with luck he'll invite me inside
James> I'm not buying it.
Roger> We need to try and do some research, we should probably take a drive by the address first
James> (can I find his phone number online?)
mgrasso> You have a number from his insurance thingy.
Roger> Besides you still have to drive me to my car at pink's
Roger> I have an Idea
James> and what's that?
Roger> We know the insurance company, his policy number and his phone number
Roger> we call pretending to be from the insurance company saying that this car has been reported in a hit and run
James> or is not registerd? Is that a legal offence?
Roger> after he denies it we can send an "adjustor" out to take some pictures and confirm it.
mgrasso> Roger, James: Wit s+ Enigmas, diff 6
Roger> at least we will be able to know for sure whether its your grandads car or not
James> !dice 7 6
* DiceWell James rolls 7d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 9 4 1 2 9 9 7
Roger> !dice 3 6
* DiceWell Roger rolls 3d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 10 5 5
mgrasso> James: If the car is insured and not registered, it probably means he doesn't drive it.
mgrasso> It's just for show.
Roger> that doesn't matter
Roger> we act like we know its a mistake, but we need pictures to provide to the other insurance company
Roger> so they'll drop the report
James> so, we have all the car information right here, why don't we report the accident and then head off the claims adjuster?
James> that way his people are really talking to the company
Roger> but that means that we have to directly waylay someone
James> eh, we tie them up in a back room somewhere- didn't you play d&d?
mgrasso> *snicker*
Roger> though your idea is good if we act like we are from the reporting company
Roger> no
Roger> we agree to drop the claim if they show us that there is no damage to the car
James> so how do we do that?
James> can my name be brad? it's so california.
Roger> A little fast talking and some more research and we will have it
James> alright, I've got the research end... what do you need?
Roger> sure, any name you want, just be sure you can remember it.
James> I can remember *anything*
Roger> Give me a second to think it through
James> for example:
* James rambles off the licence plate of your car, the street adress of the movie lot and little store, the street names you passed on the way to the hot dog place and what you had to eat there. He then tacks on the various signs in the three coin place.
mgrasso> (heh)
James> (brb, beverage)
Roger> very nice, if we get in I need you to watch any security keypads that are used, locations of cameras all that stuff
Roger> James can you find out the name of lenos insurance agent, who he goes through to take care of his cars.
James> Yeah, I have that all right here already
Roger> OK good
mgrasso> (5 minute warning)
Roger> we need to talk to him directly
Roger> Our story is that one of our clients swears that your granddads car hit him
Scene Eight: Plans
*** Chet (spudboy@216-40-2-85.novia.net) has joined #Changeling-Tucson
Roger> The client has threatened to take this to court
*** Gemma (nutscratrchpiruja@pool-63.50.230.156.phnx.grid.net) has joined #Changeling-Tucson
*** Ingrid (jsober@1cust206.tnt1.belvidere.il.da.uu.net) has joined #Changeling-Tucson
mgrasso> (This log is going to be a bitch to assemble :D)
James> (time to start putting away the toys, and everyone needs to find six pieces of trash and then join me in a circle on the green rug)
Chet> Why are they James' coins, anyway?
Roger> our company is fairly certain that our client is lying
Ingrid> One is because the old man gave it to him. The other one's in dispute, so he's holding it.
* Gemma snorts
Gemma> Yeah. Dispute.
Roger> But if we don't prove that Leno's car isn't the one he will go to court
Gemma> Chet was there.
Ingrid> Well, it is.
Gemma> Chet, you were there.
Gemma> He gave it to me.
Ingrid> And he gave it to me too. So whose is it?
Gemma> Oh, for cock's sake, he did not.
mgrasso> (2 minute warning)
Chet> Maybe he can cut the coin in half and give you each part.
Gemma> He SHOWED it to you.
Roger> If Leno's agent is smart he will not want any sort of bad publicity for his company or is famous client so he should let us take a look at it.
Gemma> There's a huge difference and you know it.
Chet> Can you do that James?
Ingrid> See? Dispute.
* Gemma takes a deep breath and walks over to James
Roger> Does it sound like a good plan, James
Gemma> James, mijo, what's going on? What's this talk of suing Jay Leno?
James> so, we need to find a company name- and an untraceable phone- i don't want my cell to be implicated in any of this..
James> Only to verify that he has the car
Chet> I told you guys Jay Leno was involved with the Scottish guy and the flatulent dragon.
Roger> oh of course, I'll handle that
Gemma> Jay Leno has your car.
* Ingrid walks over and hands James the two coins.
Ingrid> Jay Leno? Oh, this ought to be a piece of cake.
James> how did the meditation go?
Chet> He's on INgrid's staion, you know. Maybe she can get us in to talk to him.
Ingrid> Hmm... Maybe so...
Roger> Right now we have a plan to get in and take a look at the car
Gemma> Um...
Roger> (what day is today)
James> we've got a pretty solid plan to start out with
mgrasso> (Friday, April 6)
mgrasso> (2001)
Roger> shit
James> Ingrid- how do you feel about making a few phone calls?
mgrasso> (And we need to wrap up now)
Gemma> Well, I think I found out what the orange and black blobs in the sky are.
Roger> James we wont be able to move on this until monday
Roger> nobody would do this stuff on a weekend
James> gyco would
Ingrid> I'll see what I can do. Maybe make it into a human-interest bit.
James> or a car interest bit!!!
Gemma> Yeah. He's really going to want to talk to some local yokel from Tucson, Arifuckingzona.
Ingrid> Yeah, I have a plan already, I think.
Roger> Good, we should have a backup plan
James> (and cut, I'm beat!)
Chet> "Celebrity cars and the people who stalk them," coming up right after the break.
mgrasso> (Yeah, I think it's time to wrrap up)
mgrasso> Now, my announcement.
Roger> I agree
Ingrid> He will if this guy can show him tricks he's never heard of on his own car!
Ingrid> Anyway. :)