Downtime 4

"You don't specifically need the Dragon Egg. You can also get what you need from Tears. I'm not sure what makes a dragon cry, but I'll bet any interested dragon would part with tears before killing this egg."

"No i need he enzymes that are in the egg whtes which means that the egg will not survive unfortunately"

After hearing Fuchou was infected with the Ghoul virus, Kitaro feels bad for him.
He decides to chip in for the rescue mission.

In the following days he will summon a force 3 spirit of man each morning with the optional spell "detect life" and ask the spirit to look for survivors in the tunnels.
He will however tell the spirit that if it is attacked by Ghouls or otherwise in danger itself, it can move away to safety and resume it's task when the coast is clear.

Sam does his best to appear as if he's listening to Fouchou, but he has these new glasses now. He can always see the display from his deck. So, while he's trying to pay attention to his injured friend, he's also browsing around the matrix.

Somehow, he finds himself on the Shiawase webpage, and before Fouchou is even done with his speech, Sam has ordered himself a new Shiawase I-Doll, with a Realistic Features (3) upgrade, and personality and linguistics upgrades.

He does, more or less, hear what is being said around him, though.

"If Fouchou needs the egg, we should give him the egg," he says, while loading up a game of Starcraft.

Emiko shakes her head knowing Sam wasn't paying attention and follows up to Fuchou with, " that is very brave and noble of you to want to go back in the tunnels to help the people. If there's any way I can help, I am available to support you.

"Thank you all for being understanding. I do not want to harm an innocent being, even if it is only an egg at the moment, just to be normal again...whatever that even was for me."

"We don't have all the ingredients for the potion that Taishoko told us about, but maybe she will take pity on me from the other realm and help us find a resolution to this dilemma."

Fuchou begins to contemplate religious thoughts as the only escape from the mental hell of what is about to happen to him.

A few days later, a large box arrives at the community center addressed to Sam. He unboxes the I-doll carefully, and turns it on.

In the days following the mission, Kitaro goes on a spending spree.

For starters he purchases a commlink, figuring he'd not like to hand over his real commlink anymore in the future.
Then he goes to a bookstore and buys two books: "Matrix for Dummies" and "First Aid for Dummies" figuring it's good if he could handle the situation better if Emiko or Sam started coughing up blood again.
On his way back from the book store he spots a bottle of Aztec Fly Perfume in the window of a shop and hops inside to buy it.

He then heads over to one of the major drugstores in town to buy the biggest medkit he can fit in his manbag.
He also buys 4 of the best stimpatches they sell over the counter.
Finally he chooses a nice high end respirator that looks as fashionable as possible.

When Madouka calls to say his order has arrived, Kitaro heads back to her magic store to pick it up. He inspects the scrolls he ordered, the focus and the lodge materials.
On a whim he decides he could do with some reagents and cleans out the store's supply of regular reagents, buying 10.000 nuyen worth of the stuff.

After the spending spree, Kitaro spends the next 12 days in relative solitude.
First he sets up all the lodge materials he bought in his apartment creating a force 6 lodge for himself.
Then he spends the next 6 days focused on learning his new spells.

When Kitaro is finally convinced he has mastered his new spells, he has been without much meaningful human contact for almost two weeks.
He makes his way to a fashion warehouse where he spends much of his remaining cash on high end fabrics.
He has the fabrics delivered at the community center and spends a week teaching people about the wonderful world of fashion and feng shui.
He helps them make their own designs and create their own clothes, everyone who participates gets to keep the clothes they made for themselves.
At night, Kitaro heads over to the clubs he loves so much and hangs out with his friends, often buying rounds for everyone.

Sun first goes to visit the shady shop he went to before to get his armor, to place an order for gloves [20.000 nuyen] and boots [20.000 nuyen]. He then goes on to meditate on his staff [spending 9 karma on it]. In the times off from that, he either asks community center members for contact info on the journalist, or tries to contact said journalist. He also spends a week outside, spending money while on a sort of Big Brother project that helps street kids.

Sam forwards Michiko's contact info to Sun when asked.

Sam messages back to Hanako.
>>>>>> I am fine, Hanako.
>>>>>> Those were not police. They were Yakuza.
>>>>>> I am sorry it took me multiple seconds to respond while you were concerned.

Having successfully mollified Hanako through text, Sam turns his attention back to his new toy.
"I will call you Eula," he tells Eula. "My name is Sam."
He pokes around to find some neat stuff that he can do with Eula, but finds that she's rather limited and boring straight out of the box.
Oh well. He is kind of hungry.
"Make me a sandwich, Eula," he says.
He sends a message to Kitaro.
>>>>>> I bought an Android.
>>>>>> She is pretty boring and plain looking.
>>>>>> Can you take her shopping?
((I want to get her an Argentum coat. Other than that, though, I'm not sure what clothing to get her to go with it. Nothing else extravagant))

Kitaro pulls up to the curb in his pearl-white GMC Phoenix, freshly cleaned, and gets out.
He's wearing a light-beige/white suit with a pink tie and matching white shoes with pink shoe laces.
In the air there is the soft sweet smell of the Aztec Fly perfume he bought earlier that day.

Kitaro walks over to Homura, bows politely and kisses her hand.
He opens the door and holds it for her until she has taken a seat, he then heads over to the driver side and gets in himself.
The car, with high amenities has a beautiful luxurieus interior and leather seats with massage function.

Kitaro orders the car to drive them to the restaurant where he made reservations and engages Homura in conversation.

(( I made reserverations in a restaurant appropriate for the picture of the girl I saw before, so not in a place where orks are not welcome ))

suit https://images.app.goo.gl/XKgoyfi21eAmFRsP6

car https://images.app.goo.gl/EpzYsC91Z6g1JDj3A but in pearl-white

Sun decides to sit down with Niku, ordering him a nice, fresh soyshake.

"I noticed you got some very particular friends, Niku, who give you some very peculiar assignments. Can you tell me a bit more about them?"

--------------------------
When Michiko picks up the phone, Sun replies:
"Hello, miss Michiko. I believe we briefly met some time ago, when my friends and I were hunting a jiangshi. We're looking into something else at the moment, and would like to know what you know. There's no need for you to do any snooping around to dig anything up, as it'll be too dangerous. Just the info you already know due to previous investigations, reports and articles would be much appreciated."

Less then 5 minutes after having send the message, Sam receives a response

Good for you mister Dekker!
I’m sure you will enjoy your new companion.

Just a few questions though.
- What style of clothing would you like to go for ?
- Do have any preferences about color ?
- What’s your budget ?

Sam messages back to Kitaro:

>>>>>>She will be coming with me on runs. So she will need to be well armored.
>>>>>>And she may be carrying some things. So concealability would be preferred.
>>>>>>I want to stay close to 4,000 nuyen.
>>>>>>Other than that, I do not know anything about style or colors.
>>>>>>Make her beautiful.

After a few days of relaxing and shopping, Emiko messages Setsuko Kaigara:

Hey girl, it's been forever. Let's meet up tonight for drinks.

Kitaro replies to Sam.

Mister Dekker, the coat you requested already costs about 3600 nuyen.
I can't possibly assemble a decent outfit on a budget of 400 nuyen.
If money is tight I suggest you try the pawnshop down the road.

Sam heads down to the pawn shop, as Kitaro suggested. On the way there, he notices a vending machine with clothes available for 5 nuyen a piece. He picks out a top and a bottom for Eula, and brings it back to the community center. He dresses Eula in the clothes and snaps a picture.

>>>>>>These should go well with that coat.
>>>>>>What do you think?

Sam answers the phone. "Hello, Auntie Muku."

While on the phone with Auntie Muku, he snaps a quick picture of himself and sends it to Hanaka.
>>>>>>I am at my friends' community center.
>>>>>>I am on the phone with your mother.

Sam

30 seconds after sending Sam receives a reply

"Send it over"

Homura

Kitaro smiles and spins her the tale he has told so many people in the past. He is a successful fashion designer who specializes in male fashion, particularly costumes.
He then goes on to tell her that he is an only child and that both his parents died in a tragic accident when he was young. He looks very emotional and sad while telling her that part, hoping it will stop the multitude of questions being fired at him.
He ends the story with the words

"... I don't know why I'm telling you this, but I just feel I can trust you."

(( con : 5 hits if necessary ))

Sam sends the now clothed Eula to visit Kitaro on the Dodge Scoot.

Emiko gives Setsuko a hug and says, oh my! This is perfect... almost. We need drinks! I’m thinking something with lots of fruit and an umbrella,” and waves for one of the hunks to come take a drink order. “Should I order two,” Emiko asks Setsuko?

“So, how’s everything going? I see urban brawl hasn’t changed you, you’re looking prettier than ever!” Emiko says flirtatiously.