Quote from: Opaopajr;813581R U OK?

http://youtu.be/na9O13Ts4kI

*crawls back from undeath*

*typing update post...*

Sorry about that!

Denny:
The guard leads you to the side of the stage area, where there's a short set of steps, a small metal landing, and then a stage door. Beyond the stage door is a long, red-carpeted hallway. You pass at least three more guards before reaching small lobby area with three black wooden doors and a fourth door marked EXIT. A small plate along the lobby's wall reads "TALENT"--these are the performers' dressing rooms. From this lobby there is one offshoot hallway, but it takes a sharp left bend and you cannot see where it leads.

The guard brings you to the farthest door, which is slightly ajar. There is faint sounds coming from within--dissonant, halting sounds, like someone practicing an instrument.

Is anyone else going with Denny backstage?

No, Jolene wasn't explicitly invited, so she assumes this was a private affair. She'll idle around Blinov, Coy, & Nia while keeping up appearances with the pulled girls & guy from the crowd.

Could Blinov talk his way into Denny's entourage?

Oh yeah, about that--

Denny:
The security guard who summoned you looks around, then looks back at you. "You alone? DJ said you could bring whoever," he grunts. It's clear he's more used to manhandling rowdy patrons than talking to people.

Denny

"Hold on a sec" Denny says to the Security Guard as he pulls out his compad

* Text to blinov and JoJo *

"Meet me over by the stage"

Blinov heads over.

/receiving text on compad.

*sigh* And with a perfectly good dance partner, too.

Jolene leans into farm boy and beckons him to crouch closer. "I had fun, sweetie pie. You'll please a respectable lady yet. But I gotta go be a level head to me and mine... you know how business can be.

"Got a name & number? I ain't fully in the reins of where I may be next. But maybe next time I'm around we can polish the dance floor, sugar."

Ends this conversation with a peck on his cheek, hesitates, then steals a quick kiss on his lips and goes.

Jolene:
The farmboy blushes profusely when he gets the peck on the cheek, and gives you his contact info--his name is Leland Warner, and he's a Jessup-native.

Everyone:
Once Denny's "plus-twos" are gathered, the security guard sighs. "Okay, is this it?" he asks Denny. "S'MOOV is waiting backstage..."

The guard leads you to the side of the stage area, where there's a short set of steps, a small metal landing, and then a stage door. Beyond the stage door is a long, red-carpeted hallway. You pass at least three more guards before reaching small lobby area with three black wooden doors and a fourth door marked EXIT. A small plate along the lobby's wall reads "TALENT"--these are the performers' dressing rooms. From this lobby there is one offshoot hallway, but it takes a sharp left bend and you cannot see where it leads.

The guard brings you to the farthest door, which is slightly ajar. There is faint sounds coming from within--dissonant, halting sounds, like someone practicing an instrument.

Inside, sitting cross-legged on a long rectangular couch is DJ S'MOOV, still in the shimmering jumpsuit she wore during her set. As you all enter, she looks up from her guitar. "Oh--Denny," she says, her semi-synthesized voice carrying a hint of relief. "I wasn't sure you'd make it back here. These concerts can get kind of crazy. And who are your friends?" She looks at Blinov and Jolene expectantly.

Denny

"This is Blinov and this is Jolene, they're co-workers...Friends too. Blinov and Joleen this is DJ Smoov...What can we do for you "

S'MOOV is wearing a sequined flight-suit, slightly different from the one she wore for her set at UnLocal the other night.

"Ah, you made it," she says with relief, the wispy, re-dubbed digital tone of her voice hitting a high note. "Nice to meet you all. Did you enjoy the show?" When she asks this, it's more like a formality. You can see the distraction on her face--she doesn't seem to care if she was a hit tonight. She forces a smile as she leans back onto the couch and sets down her instrument, a keytar-like rectangle.

She waits until the security guard leaves, closing the door behind him with a loud click.

Her forced smile drops immediately as she bolts up from the couch. "We don't have much time," she says. "Denny, I'm sorry to lure you here like this, but I need assistance."

She scans everyone present, looking at Blinov and Jolene as well. "I know who you are--who you work for. I need the Perimeter Agency's help. If I don't leave the DeadHog tour tonight, I'm dead..."

(of course this would happen when we're all unarmed. I'm pretty sure I mentioned that Blinov was carrying the medkits.)

Blinov looks around the room for anything that could be converted into a weapon. A shiv, a bludgeon, something flammable or explosive, whatever.

He also scans for escape routes. Is there anywhere to jump from, and how deadly would it be? Any drapes, curtains, emergency fire hoses that could be used for climbing or as a distraction?

Air vents?

Did any of the security people look bribeable?

"Ooh, sneakin' a girl on out. Where's my kinfolk at a time like this? This is somethin' I grew up on. Mind you, my brothers on Waldo would have dared an extra few years for a beauty like you." Miss Rydell lingers smiling on happy memories of youth.

"Now what would my family do...?"
(Jolene dips into her family history, Qetesh or Waldo, and Perception to see what she could cook up. Her brothers & cousins in prison would likely have more hardcore plans. Ideally something more whiskey run than prison break.)

Denny

"Anything for you Smoov..., but if we're gonna help you out, you gotta help us out... Who's after you and what's going on..."

OOC: How far away from our pickup are we?

Denny and all:

S'MOOV swishes her arms nervously at her sides. "It's the Concordat--the Holy Union."

"I...was sent here to spy on the Titan Protectorate, to infiltrate it under the cover of a musical act. I was just a back-up singer before the Concordat found me, augmented me...made me over. And now--" she makes a sweeping gesture along the side of her body.

"Do you know how many dignitaries I've dined with? How many powerful business moguls who are just big fans? They don't know what they're getting into. My body is wired to absorb information and send it out into the ether in bite-sized packets..."

"Before this concert, I re-routed my central transmitter, here." She unzips her jumpsuit to her chest, where there is a quarter-sized diamond-shaped wound.

"I'm tired of playing in their games..."

(The pickup is parked near the front of the arena, and the stage/dressing rooms are at the far back. To find and leave thru a rear exit, it might take ten, twelve minutes or so to reach the front lot.)

Blinov:

There are several musical instruments scattered about the room that could be repurposed as makeshift clubs. The Thalian zither (a sort of dulcimer/lute hybrid with a whammy bar) can be broken to make a decent shiv if needed.

The room has very small air vents and no windows. You recall seeing a window back in the hallway, along with several mystery doors.

Jolene:
(I've some info in response to Jolene's planning, posting later today!)