Heist the Colours (RP)

"20!" Jacques tries to sound disappointed but his eye are bugging out at the amount. "Done!"

He pushes the bag to you and provides you with his bank details. It probably won't matter, given what you know is going on in this sector, but there may be more anonymous ways of paying if you want to put a bit of effort into arranging that.

You can check the bag, and it appears to be what you were expecting, though Abby would need to check it to be completely sure. The desperation with which Jacques clung to it, does not suggest it is a fake.

You can take the computer, as is, in the computer bag. Some lookers-on may suspect it was a computer you bought --that is Jacques' field of expertise-- or you could take it out and flash it to everyone and make sure everyone knows he got rid of the device. Doing so may provide Jacques some level of safety and only add a little extra risk to you, especially since you are leaving.

What do you do?

- Lio -

The local day-drinkers seem curious, but no more interested than one would expect. You might not have heard Miriam's greeting and surprise about Jacques being here during the day, but you still get the impression that he is known, and does not usually come in at this sort of time.

Everyone here has noticed that a deal is going down, and some may have noticed a high amount of sweating going on, but you don't sense any immediate danger from those inside the bar.

"Hey, now. What are you accusing me of." Jacques says defensively. He does not look too worried about what you will find though.

After a long wait of a few minutes Bob enters the bar and looks around suspiciously. When he sees you at the booth he looks relieved but, instead of coming over, he steps back out into the street again. A moment later he reenters following an impatient-looking Abby.

They make their way over to the table --Bob orders a stronger drink than you might be happy with, seeing as he needs to drive-- and Abby looks disdainful at the idea of alcohol this early and orders a fruit juice, much to the consternation of Miriam who you suspect will have to go out to a supermarket.

"There are cops everywhere." Bob explains as soon as Miriam leaves to get his drink. "Had to ditch the van, just in case. And I did not want to have the princess walk these streets alone."

Abby looks mildly irritated with Bob --she has just spent most of the last hour with him-- but that is warring with the fact that she, also, would rather not have had to walk here alone. There was talk of a 'surprise' before you left, and she is excited about that but trying to hide it (in case this is more work).

Jacques' eyes almost pop out of his head at the sight of Abby approaching. But he does not say anything.

What do you do?

- Raf -

"You guys demanded I bring the noise." Bob says defensively. "Some crazy people do not like it and bring the cops. They are looking for the van, but it is no big deal, they will get bored and move on in a few minutes now that the music has stopped." He does not mention that any reports of the --unrequested-- noise of an internal combustion engine might attract more police attention looking for permits for such devices --they are not good for the atmosphere-- hopefully that means he feels has that repaired.

Jacques looks guilty at the accusation of him calling and mentioning the laptop, but you believe him when he says: "I never had time to call the police. Would have if I could have, what with that guy in my house, trashing the place and all."

When you mention Abby's fame, Jacques seems to retract into himself like a turtle. "It really is her?" He says in a small voice to himself, then in an equally small voice, directed at Abby though probably too soft to actually be heard, he mutters. "Big fan. Love your work." He seems to be feeling his pockets for something for Abby to sign, though why he does not request a 'selfie' like everyone else you don't know.

Abby takes his reaction in stride, smiling graciously and making meaningless small-talk ("What's your name. What do you do?" sort of thing) that Jacques is to overawed to answer. Abby does not seem put out by this reaction and does not make a big deal over it.

Abby takes the computer bag and sits down in the booth next to yours, her back to you. She reaches into the bag, ready to do work...

Then squeals in delight as she draws out the Cryogen. "Really! You got me one!" She exclaims turning around and hugging Ronny over the back of the booth's seatrest before even opening the lid. "Thank you, thank you." Her eyes are alight with delight, and it seems gauche to talk about the Credit amount on a gift. At least she seems to like it.

After some more enthusiastic hugging of everyone --Jacques looks like he is about to pass out when it is his turn-- she returns to the machine and oohs and aahs over it, clearly happy with it. "How did they get it so small?" She asks Jacques --though it does not look that small to you guys. He mutters something about "testing mass production techniques" and "exorbitant costs of one off batches" and Abby looks set to spend the rest of the day with him asking general questions that, while interesting, are not needed for your mission.

"Ooh!" Abby exclaims at one point. "It's got the..." she mouths something you don't catch to your booth, and Jacques looks around sheepishly. "We don't talk about that outide the lab." He whispers, but Abby looks thrilled.

All in all you might have overpaid a bit, but it is probably worth it for her reaction.

---

Out the window you see a cop car drive by, but there are no lights and sirens anymore. They might be winding down their search, and they are not looking for people on foot.

Exiting via the back will attract some more attention, but that might be a good thing for Jacques and confirm that something significant happened, and that he is shot of the machine. The back alleys are likely to have fewer cops.

What do you do?

'' The cops are only driving by, but going out the back might be a wise thing to do. I'll meet you all back at the van. Try to slip out on my signal ''
Lio puts some money on the table, he stands up very quickly pushing over his chair.
'' oops''
Trying to grab his chair he bumps into the table with his butt making the whole thing shake.
'' no nonononononooo''
His empty glass topples over and starts rolling to the other side of the table. Lio tries to grab it but gives another push instead.
The glass shatters on the stone floor.
'' oh my, I'm so sorry. '' he says to the waitress

Jacques wants to object to being left with the bill, but can't really find the words in time before Ronny has ducked out. It is a pittance compared to what he has just made, but greed breeds greed.

Lio's distraction is more than enough that everyone else can get out the back way without hassle. The alley out back contains some overflowing garbage cans, but is otherwise innocuous enough.

"We are parked over there." Bob indicates a concrete parking structure a few block over. You have no problem threading through the back roads and alleys between the houses and small businesses and make it to the van without any problems.

"I think I can get it working again in a few minutes." Bob says, pulling out an extensive toolkit --which gets Abby's interest-- and opening up some compartments to start tinkering with the electric engine. Abby watches with mild interest, willing to helping where needed.

- Lio (and Raf if you did not go out the back) -

Miriam wants to add the cost of the broken glass to your bill (not enough to bother adjusting your sheet), and the patrons laugh good-naturedly at your 'clumsiness' but soon go back to their drinks.

How do you leave? If out the front, how do you avoid the cops?

Continues in Heist the Colours 2: Now in Space.