Ivy and Chrome PbP Forums

He shifts his attention briefly to the other bartender, making sure the man is out of earshot. Satisfied, he leans in slightly, lowering his voice. “I’m not comfortable sharing information about a missing child without knowing who it’s going to... and why they’re offering such a hefty reward.” He pauses, both to ensure the other bartender isn’t reacting and to watch her expression closely. “I don’t need to know who the client is. Not yet.” Another beat. “But if they’re not looking for him for the right reasons… maybe he’s better off staying ‘lost.’”

A faint shrug follows, casual on the surface as he leans back and takes on a more casual tone. “If that's the case, I could go for some pretzels to go with this excellent drink.” Shep lifts the glass and takes a slow, measured sip, never taking his eyes off her, but still watching, still weighing and keeping subtle awareness of whether the other bartender starts paying too much attention.

Shep catches it first in the mirror behind the bottles. The other bartender’s eyes, flicking toward him, then away, pretending to polish a glass he's already cleaned twice. Someone is listening. He shifts a few inches down the bar, but the barmaid follows with a practiced ease, closing the distance as if it’s part of her routine. Her voice drops to a whisper so soft that he feels it before he hears it, warm breath brushing his cheek. “In the case of young Corvus…” Her gaze stays fixed on the counter, as though reading from invisible text. “It’s his father. He was set to move east. His wife didn’t want to go. She took their boy and vanished. Twelve years now, he’s been looking for any scrap of truth.”

Shep feels the weight of the story settle in the dimness around them. The other bartender pretends not to watch, but Shep can sense the attention like a mounting pressure in the room.

“I’m not supposed to tell you any of this,” she murmurs. “The board is for people who need money. No questions.” Her hand drifts towards Amy's file and her finger taps it once, lightly, like a warning. “She’s a runaway. That’s all she'll say. Her mother placed the bounty. No details. No context.” Her voice thins to a thread. “This stays between us.” Her fingers deliberately and briefly brush across Shep’s weathered knuckles. Her skin is slightly warmer than most, like she’s carrying tension of her own.

Shep stays quiet for a long moment, weighing her words and how much he wants to reveal, then whispers as softly as he can. "For Corvus, I can share what I know, as long as the client is legitimate." He taps the file once. "I've crossed paths with a boy matching that description, with the same first name. I have no reason to believe he's not still where I last saw him." He pauses, choosing his next words carefully. "The boy I know lost his memory years ago, around the same time he lost his mother."

He loses focus for a moment as he fights down the memory of that bloody encounter. The image of the boy's mother's blood dripping from the demon's mouth threatens to drag up everything else he keeps buried. oO( Will these memories haunt me to the grave? Why can't I forget like Corvus did? )Oo

His eyes shift to Amy's folder, then back to the barmaid. "This one is different. Runaways don't always need to be found. Sometimes they need to be left alone long enough to choose where they're safe." He takes a measured sip of his drink. "If I were to reveal anything on her, it would be limited, and only if I'm convinced she's not being handed back into harm."

Shep stays quiet for a long moment, weighing her words and how much he wants to reveal, then whispers as softly as he can. "For Corvus, I can share what I know, as long as the client is legitimate." He taps the file once. "I've crossed paths with a boy matching that description, with the same first name. I have no reason to believe he's not still where I last saw him." He pauses, choosing his next words carefully. "The boy I know lost his memory years ago, around the same time he lost his mother."

She smiles, revealing those teeth again, "That's good. The easy ones are the best!" she says in a light, excited whisper.

He loses focus for a moment as he fights down the memory of that bloody encounter. The image of the boy's mother's blood dripping from the demon's mouth threatens to drag up everything else he keeps buried. oO( Will these memories haunt me to the grave? Why can't I forget like Corvus did? )Oo

His eyes shift to Amy's folder, then back to the barmaid. "This one is different. Runaways don't always need to be found. Sometimes they need to be left alone long enough to choose where they're safe." He takes a measured sip of his drink. "If I were to reveal anything on her, it would be limited, and only if I'm convinced she's not being handed back into harm."

"That's good! We need more contractors like you. Those with a sense of morals instead of how many zeros trail their credits," she glances up at the clock, "Close to end of shift. Do you care if I join you in about ten minutes?" She leans forward, in an awkward seductive posture, "I could show you all of the interesting hotspots here."

"I'd like that," he replies, voice low and measured, but sincere. "For the places you have in mind, what's the recommended attire? Is this fine, or should I change into the suit I just bought?" He gives a small nod toward the door, eyes briefly scanning the room before returning to her.

"I'd like that," he replies, voice low and measured, but sincere. "For the places you have in mind, what's the recommended attire? Is this fine, or should I change into the suit I just bought?" He gives a small nod toward the door, eyes briefly scanning the room before returning to her.

"Sir, you can wear anything you would like. Even nothing," she smiles. "I just need to clean up and organize so that my coworkers aren't swamped. I'll meet you in ten." She heads over and collects her tips and walks into the back.

Another job seeker enters the bar, walks over near Shep and nods to the other bartender, giving the barmaid an sinister side-eye, muttering, "Disgusting dee-bee..." barely under his breath. After a glare that lasts a few moments too long for comfort, he finally looks up, asking, "Would you show me what's new in #3?"

The bartender grabs a box full of folders and slides it over. The job hunter scratches his chin through a bushy black beard and pushes back his protective digital goggles with his middle finger. His armor is so warped from countless repairs that it may not even be worth wearing. He finally sighs as he glances over at Shep, "Business is slow, friend. What kinda work do you do?" His almost challenging gaze seems to sear into Shep.

"Mostly transport and escort work at the moment." Shep replies in a lazy, friendly tone, doing his best to ignore the man's intense stare. "Thought about taking a look at missing persons work for a change of pace, but I don't think it's for me. How about you?" He keeps his expression neutral, as if he hadn't noticed which folder the man asked for.

"Mostly transport and escort work at the moment." Shep replies in a lazy, friendly tone, doing his best to ignore the man's intense stare. "Thought about taking a look at missing persons work for a change of pace, but I don't think it's for me. How about you?" He keeps his expression neutral, as if he hadn't noticed which folder the man asked for.

He finally breaks his gaze, sits back and proudly announces, "Bounty hunting. Good money to be made there. Most of the time, the targets don't care and are easy pickings. Sometimes it's rough." he glances back, showing a bit more respect, "You're new here. Missing persons jobs are tough. Sadly, because of the job board and the competition, whatever one person finds... doesn't get shared so each contractor needs to figure it all out again."

The barmaid finally comes back out. Dressed in a flowing, shiny golden, skin tight gown. For being a dee-bee, she has a nice figure. The bearded bounty hunter's mood sinks back into racist disdain as he side eyes her. She just ignores him. "Are you ready?" She smiles.

"You look sharp," Shep says clearly, loud enough for the bounty hunter to hear. He gives her a warm smile. "If you're dressed like that, then I definitely need to change into something more appropriate."

Once they're back in the main area, he excuses himself long enough to find a changing room, assuming one exists in the shop's lobby area, and put on his new suit. He carefully bundles up his work outfit, then steps back out and looks around for Monkey to see if would mind dropping the bundle off with his other gear and to offer him 20 credits. "For the trouble, and for that drink I owed you."

"You look sharp," Shep says clearly, loud enough for the bounty hunter to hear. He gives her a warm smile. "If you're dressed like that, then I definitely need to change into something more appropriate."

The bounty hunter grunts out, "Watch your wallet and your back with her." To which, she still ignores him as she leads Shep out of the job lounge.

Once they're back in the main area, he excuses himself long enough to find a changing room, assuming one exists in the shop's lobby area, and put on his new suit. He carefully bundles up his work outfit, then steps back out and looks around for Monkey to see if would mind dropping the bundle off with his other gear and to offer him 20 credits. "For the trouble, and for that drink I owed you."

Monkey raises a brow when he sees Shep with the d-bee woman, "You sure you wanna do that? Tell you what, meet up with me later. I'll be around." He shoots Shep a concerned look as he disappears, toting the gear back to safety.

"If you don't want to do this, then I understand. My name's Carry," She finally introduces herself, but with a tone of melancholy.

Shep watches Monkey’s retreating back and says to Carry, still facing the corridor, "You know, I’m getting tired of people telling me who the right people and wrong people are." A small knot of anger tightens in his chest before he turns to face her. "I don’t judge people by how they look or what’s in their DNA. I judge by how they treat me and how they treat others. Unless you’re playing me, I think you’ve got a good heart, and that’s enough for me."

He studies her posture, expression, and tone for any sign she’s holding something back. [OOC: Perception + Rogue: Streetwise (70%) if applicable.]