Calling Iris

Grace
[Corr 2, Entropy 2 = Secure Comms -- Just try to crack my encrypted elevator music -- I dare you, Carol. Diff 5 - 1 = taking time!]

Dice: 3 d10 TN4 (8, 9, 9) ( success x 3 )

Grace
[Extends!]

Dice: 3 d10 TN5 (2, 2, 5) ( success x 2 ) [WP]

Iris
[bam - security ENABLED]

Grace
Hiding the data you want to deliver in other, meaningless gibberish is like hiding the truth in a lie. It's also one of the very basics of hacking. This data you're concerned about? Totally normal, nothing special.

The vampires are on red alert. They've taken down their email server, at least, so that shows at least some security awareness. And Grace follows suit. You never know who could be listening in.

If someone does try listening in to this phone call, they'll get some calming music and the bustle of background noise, like someone butt-dialed one of the more competent members of the vampire community in Denver, and is trying to leave a very long message of coffee-shop sounds.

Grace is not actually at a coffee shop. And that's not actually what Iris will hear when and if she picks up. Turning one's microphone on for a few hours while surfing the internet somewhere has its uses.

Grace is actually bending space and the code of the universe to offer the olive branch that is security of the kind large governments wish they had to this woman. And she's calling. Ring ring, Iris.

The number's untrackable. And for a few seconds, there will be that coffee-shop noise in the background when this call is answered.

Iris
There was a pause on the other end when Iris answered her phone. A beat of silence while she listened to the background noise and pondered the unknown person on the other end of the line. Maybe she thought about hanging up, but given the kinds of people she'd attempted to ally herself with? She likely expected something like this. So after a moment, she said, "Yes? Who is this?"

Grace
"Ahh, yes, I'm Kalen's friend," Grace says, and the background noise dissipates. There's a pause as she considers giving a fake name, but Kalen gave his.... fake name. Right. "Kit."

"I've taken care of eavesdroppers. Don't worry, I'm not actually out somewhere, though it sounds like it. I figured you might appreciate the ability to speak freely. Someone listening to us will be very bored."

Iris
"Kit," Iris repeated the name in a business-like tone. "I'm guessing you already know who I am, then. And yes, I do appreciate discretion wherever possible. Did Kalen ask you to contact me, or did you have your own business to discuss?"

Grace
"Oh yes, I know approximately who you are."

And what you are.

"I'm not really here on Kalen's behalf, though he did give me the number, so he knows. I mean..."

Okay, Grace. You're talking to a woman who likes wearing nice suits. She probably thinks your Kalen's underling or something, right? Try not to stumble over yourself...

"Kalen did tell me a curious thing about your meeting. Derrick said the emails provided were pretty damning. You said that Denver would be in some kind of nebulous extreme danger if Lilean Holdings gains a foothold here. But to be honest, all any of us have been able to determine through reading those emails is that they're probably smuggling drugs, and probably smuggling people in other cities.

"I have my severe doubts that's all that's going on, but I just can't seem to get people interested in acting on what's essentially a cloud of hazy maybe-nothingness. You understand?"

Iris
"Ah. Yes, I do." There was a beat of silence before what came next. "To be honest, I think we assumed that if you were going after Lilean, then you must already have your reasons. One doesn't dig around in the personal correspondence of a powerful criminal organization without having some motivation. Or were you simply curious? Regardless, you found what you found. I can verify that your interpretation of those findings is accurate. Lilean is involved in organized criminal activity. The drugs are where the money comes in - that and their legal business revenue. The rest is... really more where my concern lies. If they are involved in human trafficking, as these e-mails indicate, then they are a threat that needs to be taken out. I do not abide by the kidnapping and... sacrifice of innocent lives.

If I understand you correctly, you're asking me where the immediate threat lies. The truth is, the threat they pose is not to you. At least, I don't believe so. It's myself and the other people I stand for who they want to eliminate. We are the reason why they are being careful. And if they are successful - if they do eliminate us - then Denver will become just like Miami. They will have free reign to do as they wish, and people will go missing. People will die."

Grace
[Perception + Empathy = Really? You care about kidnapping and sacrifices?]



Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (1, 3, 6, 9, 10) ( success x 3 )

Iris
[From what Grace can gather, it does sound as though Iris is being genuine when she says that she is not in favor of kidnapping and sacrifice. There is, perhaps, a depressing kind of calm to her tone. As though this sort of thing is something she's... come to accept as part of the world she operates in. A terrible part, yes. But not something she finds shocking. That being said, she understands the gravity of it. And she would choose to keep that from happening in Denver if she can. That's the impression, anyway. It's a bit difficult to to be sure, over the phone. And Iris is probably a practiced liar. Then again, if she was lying, it would probably help her cause to offer up a more... dramatic smoking gun. Something that affects the mages personally.]

Grace
People will go missing. People will die. Yes, well, it seems that people die in Denver on occasion too. It's just covered over, like wallpaper over the bloodstains.

Is that better? To shove things under the rug and pretend they don't exist? Would they just be giving control over the city to people who are better at wearing expensive suits and doing their makeup and appearing nice?

It's hard to say. So far, all of the data she has points to the Black Orchid vampires as being evil murdering assholes, yes. True that. But Grace only knows approximately who Iris is.

"My reasons are that when things go bump in Denver, it usually means the world's about to end," Grace says, and maybe Iris can hear the exasperated, eye-rolling going on. The world ending is not something Grace finds terribly shocking anymore. "Things went sideways. We investigated. We found shifting, nebulous maybe-danger. That's when we contacted you guys.

"Who do you think they're sacrificing to?"

Iris
Ah, see. Here was a question that our dear Iris seemed rather reluctant to answer. The pregnant pause on the other end of the line went on for longer this time.

"To be honest, I don't know. It could be some kind of fringe religious cult. Or it could just be wolves killing for the sport of it. I wish I could say that we were immune to that kind of extremism. Most of us find it disgusting. But... it does happen. As you've seen. And then the rest of us must contend with dangerous but well-meaning hunters who think the solution is to murder every... vampire in sight. I wonder if that's a situation your kind can relate to."

Grace
Hydra comes to mind. Only they weren't exactly well-meaning. More like vengeful idiots.

"Witch hunts you mean? History is full of that sort of shit."

And the present. But Grace isn't here to talk about Hydra and the Technocracy and its pogrom.

"Well, I can't promise I can turn anyone to the side of doing something, to be honest. There's a lot of talk back and forth about whether this alliance will actually be a benefit to Denver. I have been trying to convince people that action is worth it, that it's in everyone's best interests. That's been difficult. All I know is that they're assholes who definitely need to be out here. I just don't know if allying with other vampires is going to be an easy sell. More like, definitely won't be an easy sell.

We mostly deal with existential threats to the world, the universe, all human life everywhere, that sort of thing. I had a friend once who had a disaster scale where everyone dying at once didn't even rate to the halfway mark... But yeah. Even if I can't convince others, I am always willing to dosomething. Lilean Holdings might just up and disappear someday. I just like to know what it is that I'm trying to fight first."

Iris
"To be honest, it's reassuring that you feel that way. I did half-expect you to jump at the chance to trap us all in a room together. Granted, I'm not an expert on the capabilities of witches and sorcerers, but some of my friends are certain you're going to set us all on fire. Rather anachronistic, I suppose. You seem more like the type to empty out our bank accounts."

Was she really this calm? Or was it simply an act to make Grace feel more at ease? Whatever the answer, it certainly felt believable.

"I do hope that we can work together, as I'm quite certain that it will benefit all of us. But I don't blame you for being cautious. You have the luxury of being able to walk away from this. I do not. I do, however, fully believe that if Lilean Holdings and Grayson Addario win this fight, they will turn their sights on any other threat that gets in their path. Including you." After a pause, she seemed to consider something.

"There is... another way that you could help. Grayson has someone on his side. A very old and very dangerous ally named Elgin. There may be a way to convince him to... not involve himself in this fight. Doing that would increase our odds considerably. I believe your friend Kalen has already met the man who could help us with that. Wesley Edevane? Once upon a time, the two of them were friends. But Wesley is on this whole... Switzerland kick. He told me he doesn't want to get involved. Maybe you can convince him otherwise."

Iris
[Edit: That was supposed to say "Elgan" but apparently I forgot my own NPC's name.]

Grace
They are so honest, aren't they? All those honest beings. Grace laughs a little at the thought, something Iris might chalk up to the Mage laughing at her.

"We are capable of many things. Including bank accounts. But money is so distasteful anyway. I could set fire to some money..." All of it. In the world. Heh.

Come on, Grace, you're talking to somebody who eats people as a general course of action.

"Yeah, Kalen told me about Wesley too. Is Elgin the one with black mirror eyes?"

Iris
"I would ask if you'd met him, but if you had I doubt you'd remember. Yes, that is an accurate description. Though I don't recommend you try to seek him out. I wouldn't recommend antagonizing Wesley, either. He seems harmless but he's stronger than he looks. I was going to try to force his hand, but I would prefer a gentler option if it's available. He loved Elgan once. Old love affairs are hard to break, for us."

Grace
Vampire love affairs? Eww. Grosstastic. Grace squints at that one. Then again, she did the same when Kalen told her he was going dancing with one of them, acting like it was such a fine date.

"I had to make Wesley some fireflies," Grace says, and groans. Well, Iris? You were expecting strangeness and unpredictability? Check.

"I won't try to antagonize him. I will tell Kalen about that one, thank you. He might have better luck there than anyone."

Iris
"Fireflies? That... somehow does not even surprise me." (Maybe Wesley was the Vampires' version of Kalen.) "But good. That eases my mind a little. I do still think the negotiations with Grayson would go better with more force on our side, so please... don't discount the idea too quickly. It's a risk but it's a calculated one. I wouldn't put us in danger needlessly. Regardless, any help you're prepared to offer, we will gladly accept. And I hope we can remain... tentative allies, as it were."

Grace
"Thanks. I want to do something, that's for sure. Anyway, it's been fun," Grace says and lies. At least, that last bit was less than true.

"We might be back in touch. I'll see what I can do."

That, however, is the absolute truth. She always seeks what she can do.

Iris
Iris gave a small huff of laughter at Grace's attempt at diplomacy, but she was kind enough not to call out the lie. It was the sort of obvious courtesy that people said all the time and didn't actually mean.

"I hope to hear from you soon. Have a good night."