2433/Costume Upgrade

Costume Upgrade
Date of Scene:	12 July 2020
Location:	Kyle's workshop
Synopsis:	Bolo met with Porter to upgrade his suit and gear. He got a job in trade to protect a VIP and makes some suggestions for gear he might like long term. Porter agreed to make inquiries.
Cast of Characters:	Kyle Porter, Jovian Anderson

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Kyle Porter has posed:
Situated in a suitably posh neighborhood, Porter's shop is located in a four story building he's purchased and renovated to suit his needs.  The front door is open and leads to a richly decorated foyer.  An elevator and grand staircase lead up, while a double-wide arch opens into his tailor's facilities. 

Like every portion of Porter's personal space, the tailor's shop is not only opulent, but is tidy to the point of neat-freakishness. It cuts a strong contrast to the proprietor.  He's currently leaned back in a comfortable leather chair with traces of shaving cream along his jaw, still wearing a housecoat with a half-buttoned shirt and a pair of loose silk pants beneath.  Above him, an older man stands with a straight razor in hand, clearly finishing this morning's grooming. 

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson comes in wearing his gear, which, upon inspection, immediately shows the problem. Bolo is wearing a motorcycle helmet with a mirrored visor, a ski suit and an ammunition belt with eight bolos. Its not exactly loaded for bear and enough people saw potential in his skills to recommend an upgrade. Finally giving in to the idea, he sought out Porter. He knocks on the door and enters from the shadows, which crawl around him almost like living things but subtle, never seen to move by the naked eye but concealing him well until he enters the door.

Kyle Porter has posed:
Both Porter and his associate perk up at the sound of an arrival, though the older man seems to be the perkier of the two by far. 

The tailor picks up a glass pitcher with a thick straw sticking out of it, sucks out the reddish contents from the bottom, and hands it to the man with the razor.  Then he snags a towel and starts wiping his face.  "Come in, come in.  You must be my newest referral.  Oh.  My.  I can see why you're here.  Another pitcher, Runcer, along with a cup for our guest.  And bring me... one of the Russian vests. No, two, a Class 3 and a 5A, plus some of the PE and a handful of the ceramic plating to get us started."

So bidden, the older man nods and departs, leaving proprietor and client alone for now.

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson blinks but realizes the other man can't see his face. He decides that, realistically, he can't keep the helmet off here if this is going to work properly, he takes off the helmet still wearing a N95 mask with dark facepaint under the helmet. He should be offended at the obvious fashion police violation that he commits by...existing, but that's why he is here and frankly if he is going to keep doing this he should look like something less scruffy than John Constantine. "Name is Bolo. I hear that you can....improve my costume. Potentially my equipment.

Kyle Porter has posed:
"That won't be difficult."  Porter is laughing, but the sound is warm and unmocking.  "I'm sensing from your current outfit that discretion, at least visually, not a big concern for you.  Runcer will bring us down something I can work with." 

Now he stands and walks a circle around his new client, considering him the way a horse trader might look over a prospective purchase.  He seems casually confident for a man doing business while wearing his pajamas.  "Tell me more about what you're looking for."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson considers. Why not be completely honest? "I am mostly doing super heroics. Its just...happening. So it should be...lighter, nothing dark or ominous. But I also work enough shady jobs that it can't look like I'm something out of a kid's cartoon. I agree, my sense of asthetic is..." he pauses, "poor. If it can look cool, great. If it can keep me alive or help me store more bolos without getting in my way, even better." He considers, looking around before Runcer returns, "Something else...." he seems...reluctant.

Kyle Porter has posed:
Having finished his pacing, Porter is now rummaging through a desk drawer for sketching paper and some pencils.  As Bolo speaks, Porter imagines a finished product and starts to draw it up.  "Sensible goals.  I took the time to learn a little about you after I got the call from our mutual friend.  You're a retrieval expert, yes?  Believe it or not, so was I.  In a former life, of course.  Anyway, I can put together something modular for you. Light to start, but heavier when you need it." 

He nods, then reaches out to press a button on an old-fashioned intercom.  "Runcer?  Cancel the 5A, I'll just need the 3 for now.  And see if you can find me something discreet for when our friend needs to dress down."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson relaxes a bit with Runcer's distraction. He wouldnt bring this up at all, but if he can do this, he might as well do it well. It is nothing that happens visually in the concience mind. It is subtle, and a little terrible. If it is the darkforce, it is an odd manifestation of it, since it only advances in the perephial vision. It takes about twenty or thirty seconds but bit by bit the shadows of the room darken and spread around him, the lights dim and the sunshine outside seems like it is through tinted windows until he is harder and harder to see. It is subtle, very subtle, but there is no question what is happening to someone who can see it from start to finish. "Yes, I am a retrieval expert.

Kyle Porter has posed:
If Porter notices the difference, it's not immediately apparent, though he does switch on a lamp to give him a better view of his sketch.  "Excellent news for you, because I'm looking for one and this suit isn't going to be cheap.  Or...  better yet..."

He pauses his drawing to shuffle through some more papers until he comes up with a single sheet that has a business card clipped to it.  "Yes.  I have a client who's in need of a bodyguard.  One night gig, relatively low risk, but wants to know her protection comes with something a little... extra.  Above and beyond the average thug, and most importantly, someone who won't be seen if they aren't needed.  Think that sounds like you?" 

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson is curious of the lack of reaction, but given as uncomfortable as he is with his power, he is not going to bring it up if Kyle doesnt. He lets it go and the lights and shadows slowly return to normal, as if the sun came out from behind a rain cloud. He nodded, "I can pay for it but a job in trade is even better." The less he used the crypto currency, the less it could be traced to him. It was MOSTLY untraceable, but no one who worked with treasury could be ignorant of the vast powers of the NSA and other intelligence agencies to track such things. "Yes. I can handle discrete. You might say discretion is something of an expertise of mine." If you can guard a president, you can guard anyone.

Kyle Porter has posed:
"Beautiful.  We'll call it a gentlemen's agreement."  There's a pause as Porter looks up from his work.  "Damnable brown-outs.  That, or I'm more hung over than I thought." 

He ceases his drawing and sets his pencil aside.  It's a rough sketch, but it represents what he has in mind.  "I plan to start with a light-to-midweight Russian vest.  It has a pocket for a steel trauma plate, I'll replace that with polyethylene to keep the weight down and you can remove it as needed.  Throw in some ablative ceramic scales, also removable, for when you're up against serious trouble, and I think we have your torso covered.  A bit more stylishly, too.  Thoughts? You're the one who has to wear it."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson considers. "It works for protection. I'm used to a vest, and this functions better. I wore ....advanced material ceramics before, but this sounds better, but I want something that will increase the number of ordinance I can carry. Thus far, I've been lucky, short quick encounters, but a protracted conflict leaves me with ...too little ordinance." The alternative is a gun. Law Enforcement, his theory due to Gotham, but nevertheless, treated costumed individuals with guns much differently than those without. Psychological or not, he had been on the other end, and he had no desire to cross that line if he could help it.

Kyle Porter has posed:
"Adding load bearing equipment is easy, we'll touch on that after I put the initial design together.  Don't worry about the ceramics, they're easy to put on and take off.  Better to have it and not need it, right?"  Porter shrugs, apparently agreeing with his own statement. 

This is when Runcer reappears, carrying the aforementioned materials and a pitcher of iced bloody marys.  Unobtrusively, everything is set to the side. 

Without asking, Porter pours a morning cocktail for his guest, then plunks his straw back into the pitcher and drinks from it deeply and directly.  "Don't worry too much about the details yet.  It always takes a few tries to get something like this just right. Creative vision versus practical necessity, and all that."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson isnt normally an early drinker but he is quiet used to blending in, so he takes the offered drink. He nods. "Great. I did have two ideas...three actually. I think there's a market for it, and I'm willing to pay some for research, but its a long term project. I'd like a voice synthesizer, not something I can buy in a spy store but an actual 2nd voice, one that matches my voice but is totally different in cadence and pitch. I dont want to take voice acting lessons to disguise it. I've heard about Image Inducer tech...I'd be interested in something for just my face, or even better the eyes around my mask, durable, reliable and combat ready. and last..." he considers, "I'd like something woven into the suit so that if I get a bleeding wound, it mixes a chemical that renders my DNA untracable. I understand that this isnt something you have like...lying around, but I am....serious about concealing my identity." He sips the drink by lifting the mask and then asks, "Can you tell me more about the target I'm protecting or what I'm protecting her from?"

Kyle Porter has posed:
Porter pauses with the straw still in his mouth for several long moments.  A second later, he finishes his noisy drink and sets the pitcher aside.  "Those are some fairly particular requests.  I don't keep any of that tech on hand, but I'm happy to reach out to my friends and see what I can locate.  It'll be pricey enough that...  well, let's just say that if you plan to work it off, we'll have plenty of time to get to know one another.  But we'll burn that bridge when we get there." 

It's a matter for another time, after several phone calls and a bit of research.  "The client is an Austrian expat.  Don't ask me why she wanted to move here.  Wealthy.  She's throwing a party and unveiling some priceless bauble or another for her friends to gawk at, wants to make sure there are no surprises.  No pre-existing hostiles that I'm aware of. Pretty standard stuff for a lady with deep pockets."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson nods, "The chemical weave in the suit interests me more than the other two combined. Trade in skill rather than crypto coin? If you can send that much business my way, so much the better." He grunts as he mentions the bauble. Previously in Secret Service, VIP's were given twice the body guards for events like this. It was EXACTLY the kind of thing that attracted super villains by a stasticical abnormality. "Interesting. Yes, I can do this. In gear or in civilian guise, or is that left to my discretion?"

Kyle Porter has posed:
"As long as no one knows you're there in an official capacity until you're needed, doesn't matter much what you wear.  You're Plan Z, for if something truly uncivilized should happen."  Porter pauses and sucks in a half-breath while he thinks.  "You're making a tall order, but I'll see what I can do.  There are some drugs that'll do the same thing.  Just as effective, but cheaper and easier to come by.  Leave your info with Runcer when you go, I'll contact you and let you know what your options are."

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson nods and provides the requested contact information. "I will scout the location and determine the best way to remain unseen and out of sight unless required. I have a lot of experience in VIP protection." He offers to shake Kyle's hand if taken and in all occasions, nods and heads out after he is done.

Kyle Porter has posed:
Porter nods approvingly and returns the shake, his grip surprisingly strong for someone who seems so outwardly soft.  "Sounds like you've got it all buttoned up," he replies.  "You'll hear from me in a few days about your prototype, along with anything else I learn between now and then."