Janothar : It's a few days into the new year, and things are quiet. As David is monitoring all his usual things, an alert he'd almost given up expecting to see pops up: the man who overdosed in the park woke up.

David Bartram : David first (using all the normal precautions) gets the latest updated medical file from the hospital, then contacts Lola and Maya to arrange heading over to see the man as soon as possible.

Maya Smith : Maya lets David know what she found out, that the drug is named "Ascent," and that this was not the first user. There's a rumor going around that somehow this drug had the side-effect of making you wealthy. Why? The approximately half-dozen at the homeless encampment that took it were never seen again.

Would make sense if the Technocracy was making these people disappear, but Jill Sparrow was at the very least pretending they knew nothing of the incidents.

Plans are made to meet at the hospital. She's not completely thrilled with leaving her gun behind, but it seems like a bad idea to try to bring one into the hospital.

She somewhat consoles her apprehension by bringing a razor blade tucked under a tongue, a trick she learned before even entering her teens.

"I just walked you," she says to Sir, before rolling her eyes and tossing him a treat. "I'll be back soon enough," she reassures her familiar, before getting on her motorcycle and heading over to the hospital.

VROOOOOOOOM!

Dr. Lola Armitage Forsyth, Mk. II : Lola shows up in her expensive automobile and checks her phone to see whether or not there's confirmation from the others on whether or not they are on site yet.

Dr. Lola Armitage Forsyth, Mk. II : She heads over to where the others were supposed to gather, tight lipped and considering well what has been learned about this new compound. "Have we verified that he has not yet been disappeared?" She asks David after they exchange greetings.

Dr. Lola Armitage Forsyth, Mk. II : She heads over to where the others were supposed to gather, tight lipped and considering well what has been learned about this new compound. "Have we verified that he has not yet been disappeared?" She asks David after they exchange greetings.

Maya Smith : "That appears to be the situation we're about to walk into," Maya says to Lola, "which I'm not thrilled about, but I don't know another way to verify anything about this situation." There's a look to David, hoping he might have something.

David Bartram : "He was there a few hours ago. Given everything involved I would be surprised if he can can walk right now, let alone would have left yet."

Maya Smith : "Guess we go and find out," Maya responds. "We should stop at the gift shop to pick up some props," she tells them, "flowers, teddy bear, that kind of thing. I don't know that we're going in the room, or even need to, but if we do, they might help."

Janothar : David's read of the charts indicates nothing significant has changed except he's awake and refusing to answer questions.

Dr. Lola Armitage Forsyth, Mk. II : "I concur," Lola says to Maya and makes her way to the gift shop, where she begins scooping up items for purchase. "We have not uncovered his name yet... we shall have to go by room number, then. While I am not eager to go into this blind, I am prepared to do so."

Maya Smith : "Ueno," she lets them know, "that's his friend's name, hopefully that buys us a lil more credit, along with the flowers and teddy bear."

Dr. Lola Armitage Forsyth, Mk. II : "At least we have that. I wonder if he will remember me," Lola remarks, gifts now in hand and paid for. "It is time to find out, presuming he has not been snatched from under our noses in the last few minutes." With that, she begins to head towards the man's room.

Maya Smith : Picking up some "props" for everyone from the gift shop, Maya heads with Lola to the room.

Janothar : No one seems to really be interested in stopping them, so they have no trouble getting up to the room. Sitting in the bed is the man that they saw in the park, though he's lost weight from his time in a coma. He looks at them and immediately throws out a "Who the fuck are you?"

Maya Smith : "We're from Pine Street Community Center," Maya tells him as she sets down the gifts. "Ueno asked us to stop by to check on you. He was having some difficulty with security." Then looking at him with some tenderness, she wonders, "How are you feeling?"

Dr. Lola Armitage Forsyth, Mk. II : Lola lets Maya do the talking for now, but puts some chocolates on the table. She knows that she has a knack for weirding people out, and she doesn't want to trigger traumatic memories if the man doesn't recognize her yet.

Janothar : "Ueno doesn't send people or check up on anyone." He looks at them suspiciously. In fact, he stares at them looking distinctly like he's trying to light them on fire with his mind. Of course, nothing happens.

Maya Smith : "He was worried you stumbled into a bunch of money thanks to that Ascent," Maya jokes with a smile, "and no longer wanted anything to do with him." A beat as she glances over to the presents they brought, before turning back to him and asking with some gentle concern, "How are you feeling?" (Manipulation+Empathy specialty of Charm to lower difficulty on a Mind 2 roll to get him to trust.)

Maya Smith : roll of 5 dice at difficulty 6 with relevant specialty: 2, 5, 6, 3, 5: 1

Maya Smith : roll of 3 dice at difficulty 3: 3, 4, 5: 3

David Bartram : David hangs back and lets Maya do the talking

Janothar : "No fucking money yet, feels like my brain got burned to ashes though." he frowns, and it's pretty clear he's in pain and trying not to show weakness.

Maya Smith : Maya give him a sympathetic look, and notes, "You gave everyone quite a scare, but I guess you were strong enough to pull through where others did not."

Glancing to just behind him, Maya wonders, "Do you want me to adjust your pillows for you? Help you with some water?"

She then adds, "Ueno was trying to get some for himself, but he said he couldn't figure out where you got it from. Might be for the best, though, right?"

Dr. Lola Armitage Forsyth, Mk. II : Lola nods along with that last, though she is deeply hoping to find out. Plying the man for information odd clearly outside her skill set, though she can listen and take mental notes.

Janothar : "Yeah, that shit kicked my ass. Fuck" he lays back, clearly already exhausted and not on nearly enough painkillers.

Dr. Lola Armitage Forsyth, Mk. II : Lola finds it necessary to bite the back of her lip to prevent herself from blurting out her next question, though it's hanging heavily behind those big, staring blue eyes: Where did you get it?

Maya Smith : "Do you know if there's a lot of it out their on the street?" Maya wonders, "we heard of a few people besides you having a difficult time with it. I just want to understand what we might need to prepare for at the Community Center, and if it's localized in our area, or if should be preparing other non-profits that help on the street."

Janothar : "It's expensive stuff. Not many people can get it." He shrugs "I gave them a fucking kidney for it."

Dr. Lola Armitage Forsyth, Mk. II : Lola can't restrain a mechanical cringe at that admission.

Maya Smith : Despite her internal feelings on the matter, Maya keeps her poker face, and remains cool as a cucumber. "That is a bit pricey," Maya agrees casually. She seems to weigh the options in her mind, and then adds leadingly, "Though I still have two ..."

Janothar : "Not fucking worth it, babe." he shakes his head. "Kicks like a bitch and you don't get anything out of it. Do I fucking look rich?" gestures around the hospital room.

Maya Smith : "Were you just expecting to get rich on your own?" Maya wonders, "I mean, like, if something increases your luck, you still need to buy the scratch-off, right? or am I misunderstanding how this was supposed to work?"

Janothar : "The fuck you think I've had time to do?"

Maya Smith : "I'm just saying, buy a lottery ticket when you get out of here, you still might get some luck," she says to him.

A glance is given to Lola, before she looks back to him, and wonders, "So where did you say I could get some?"

Janothar : "I didn't, but there's this tatted up dude, thinks he's white yakuza or some shit. Fuckers name is Stewy though. If he didn't have good shit, we'd all just beat the shit out of him."

Dr. Lola Armitage Forsyth, Mk. II : She nods to Maya, and quirks a brow when the man in the bed gives up a name. "Where does he hang out?" She asks, unable to hold the question back.

Janothar : "He doesn't 'hang out' he comes around when someone's got money for the stuff and he hears they're looking for him."

Dr. Lola Armitage Forsyth, Mk. II : The gynoid's brows furrow as she considers that, and she glances to Maya, considering how best to say what she's thinking.

Maya Smith : "Good to know," Maya replies, a slight nod and then a glance to Lola, as if an unexpressed plan is developing in her mind.

Dr. Lola Armitage Forsyth, Mk. II : She returns the nod, also having ideas that she would rather not express in front of the patient. "We'd probably better let you rest, then," she says, doubting that the young man has much else that's of use to say.