"Also any idea where someone like me can find a place to stay that isn't surrounded by junkies and sex offenders?"

Gand frowns. This kid is either Naive or ready to sell them all out to a ridiculous radio show.

'You know.'

Gand begins, digging out his wallet which Kovacs could easily describe as fat or something hed really love to find sitting unattended on a bench.

'Ive heard bad things happened to one of those radio hosts who went monster hunting. Word is she had a total nervous breakdown and cant even piss by herself anymore. Pity too, she was the sleazy hot sounding one. I think they operate mostly through call-ins anyway.'

Gand goes to remove what looks like a few crisp fifty dollar bills from his wallet when he halts and asks:

'Where have you been sleeping these last few years?'

"Ok i get it. I think this is why Niko has wanted me to find others. I didn't realize that show was so....intense."

He shuffles slightly feeling weird and out of his depth.

Then his eyes spot the wallet and the fifty dollar bills and everything he thought about this guy is confirmed.

" I have been crashing around various places mostly abandoned buildings and like roof tops and stuff...sometimes I break into peoples houses while they are at work and use the shower clean up for them..maybe take new cloths. Hence this baggy gear here." He plucks at the over sized hoodie.

"Most days it is not so bad I can find a quiet roof top some where and I kind of have a nose for trouble. but I have had a couple close calls. Methed out junkies and creepy guys trying to get me to suck their dick and shit like that... I have tried to avoid the shelters and stuff like that they tend to ask questions and I don't really have the answers for them. So mostly I have been sliding by barely surviving...but surviving none the less...but its no way to live..."

Thoughts of soft beds, hot showers, fitting cloths and food flow through his head at the sight of the money.

"I don't want to take any hand outs. I know we haven't met under the best of terms but I can be useful. I can do stuff for you. If you want to give me some money that's fine and I could sure use it. but I hate hand outs and have been trying to find some real work so I can start living again and not just surviving..."

Now he looks kind of nervous like he over stepped his bounds... on the street you don't begrudge someone giving you a couple fifties...its more money then he has seen in one place in a long time.  

--Last edited by Kovacs on 2009-02-06 10:11:51 --

'This isnt a handout, its an investment. I want you to check into a hotel for the night and clean up, get some rest. Then find yourself one of those trac-phones and some clothes that fit and come back here tommoro night. Can you handle that?'

Gand asks and holds out the wad of cash, folded over so Kovacs cant see exactly how much is there, but its definitely multiple bills.

"Of course I can handle that. Could you recommend a good hotel that is safe and will let a kid like me rent a place?"

He would take the money pocketing it before looking at how much is there.

" I do want to thank you for this. I won't let you down. I know I am young but I can learn quick and like I said I have a nose for trouble and have learned how to spot it from a mile away. I know there has got to be something a man like you needs done and I am sure I can do right by you."  

--Last edited by Kovacs on 2009-02-06 13:25:06 --

'Theres a bunch of hotels all over the city.'

Naturally Gand didnt hand over enough for him to get himself a presidential suite, but he does have options.

'Theres a real sleazy place out by the freeway, the Commons, or you can go uptown and try your luck at the Star. Youd need a fake id or something up there though. They dont play around.'

"Thanks I will find something. I will be back in the evening. Again thank you for the chance and I apologize for the paint and how this went down. Just not used to meeting good people."

He would bow to Gand and slip off into the alley with his bag and newly aquired money his mind full of dreams of a hot shower and fitting clothes.

Gand will watch the kid go. Details about the meeting starting to blur as soon as he is out of sight. Its like this with Toshi too, you always know he said something enlightening or important, but the details never stick.

Gand will stand and walk back out front to see where Seamus ended up.

Gand will find Seamus perched just around one of the front corners of the Rabbit, very intently watching an almost familiar Black Sedan, with blacked out windows.  Gand will remember like Kovacs, that they talked, though the finite details will be fuzzy. (Arcane 2)

"So how'd the grafiti artist turn out, did the little punk ever tell you who that Nikon girl is?"

'Hes just a confused kid. Nikon reminded me of the Kami Toshi always yammers on about.'

Gand will follow Seamus' paranoid gaze to the black sedan and reach into his pocket. A second later the sedan blips twice and the lights flash.

'Chill man, thats my new Mercedes. It was my birthday last week.'

"Oh god dammit, I've been standing here watching that damn thing for half an hour....Dude, buy a blue car next time."

Seamus chuckles as he visibly relaxes.

"Yeah, I'm sure Nikon is all well and good, but the kid went from "i'm a scared homeless kid" to "fuck you and the man, i'll do what I want" pretty quick.  Seemed a might twitchy."

"Happy birthday by the way, I guess I never knew when your birthday was.  

Gand shrugs.

'I dont know when it is either. I just wanted a new car. Besides, my land rover is blue, I think..'

Gand will remove a silver cigarette case from his jacket and plant a strange, orange colored cigarette beetween his lips while he considers the conversation with Kovacs- that is quickly slipping away.

'Not to defend the little punk, but we did corner him and you look like a rapist.'

Gand will offer Seamus a cigarette-plus. Thats what Gand calls them, a cigarette-plus!, they smell like new car when you light them. Most people dont make the connection beetween new car and formeldahyde. New cars smell like freshly embalmed bodies- gands cigarettes are good for embalming your brain early.