Children of The Divine (IC)

[Naamah]

Fiona's pronouncement makes Aiden give a wide eyed look briefly, then shrug it off with a grin playing on his lips.

"Um. I'm thinking staying here. If you need to bullshit your way into anything, I might just be the man for that. As long as Sol keeps his big mouth shut, that is."

[Mytical]

Lupo chuckles "Normally I prefer to keep the lives separate. Otherwise I might get too big an ego. For you I'll make an exception. When we get a chance, we will spar. Would be my pleasure" he chuckles. Then he turns to the rest of the group. "Since stealth and me are not on good terms, think Colorado for me."

[Chanlin]

Fiona eyes the room, "I don't suppose 'I'll stay here, drink, and play cards' is an acceptable option?" She gives a halfhearted smile, "We need a combat specialist to stay here I think, so I suppose I'll go with the Denver group..." She gives her staff a slight heft, "I'm going to hold you to that sparring match Champ."

[Jay 2K Winger]

Location: Johnny's Hotel Room, Denver

Johnny nods. "All right. Let's gear up, then."

Selene speaks up: "Temperatures to be at winter-like levels in both cities. Dress appropriate."

Solomon does not rise to Aiden's bait, and pulls out a cell phone. "I call up me helicopter pilot buddy."

// Wardrobe and Armory are open again. Remember, the Denver team is going to be infiltrating a corporate office building. The Colorado Springs team is probably going to have to do some stealthy stuff, but less of it. But both teams will have something to keep them busy, and plan for at least some minor combat.

Later, as the helicopter arrives on the roof of the hotel, the teams split up. Johnny takes Lupo and Jack up to the helicopter, which soon heads south to Colorado Springs, while Solomon and Selene take Emmett, Aiden, and Fiona down to an SUV in the carpark, which they take toward Pyke Brands HQ.

Location: Pyke Brands HQ (Emmett, Aiden, Fiona -- with Solomon (driving) & Selene)

A six-story office building, Pyke Brands has a security gate to get past, with a pair of stern, humorless-looking security guards watching cars go past with stony expressions. A check by Emmett would tell him they're human, no illusions in place.

Location: Gunnar Forson's Mansion, Colorado Springs (Lupo & Jack -- with Johnny)

After the helicopter touches down at a hotel in the city, Johnny leads the two to a car which he takes out toward Forson's mansion. It's a decent-sized one, with a high fence and some security patrolling the grounds. Jack would detect at least six guards, but two of them had a deeper heartbeat, indicative of Titanspawn, but which kind wasn't clear. Probably jotun, though; it was cold enough they'd feel at home.

[Scorpodael]

Jack was dressed a little more warmly this time... A plaid, flannel shirt underneath the leather biker jacket he had chosen, with the gun tucked more or less securely away in a holster at his hip, opposite his knife, and flannel-lined pants. He glances over at Lupo, then back at the mansion. "At least half a dozen guards. A couple of titanspawn in there. Probably best not to tangle with them just now- security might have guns, and I'm not feeling particularly bulletproof," he says, stroking at his chin a bit, as if at an imaginary beard. "Carport might be a viable mode of entry, if he's got one attached- security systems sometimes don't extend to internal doors like that. Patrols would probably catch a broken or open window at ground level- maybe not a second story window, but I'm not confident in my ability to climb quick enough to not be spotted. With a ladder, maybe, but ladders attract attention, too... I suppose we could claim to be messengers from MacBride... that'd probably get us in the door, at least."

[Mytical]

Lupo has picked out some warm clothing, and a billy club other then that he is happy with what he has. He also changes into something resembling a black jumpsuit type outfit, complete with hood. He knew his presence would cause most stealth he tried to fail, but he could at least mitigate it a bit.

[Naamah]

Location: Johnny's Room, Denver

Aiden slips back into the Closet to pick out a pair of fur-lined gloves and fuzzy socks to wear beneath his loafers. Another trip is also made to the Armory, where he keeps the ring and non-metallic knife, adds a keychain-sized can of pepper spray and a packet or two of those warm-hands squares.

Location: Outside Pyke Brands

Aiden takes a long look at the guards, then at his two companions with a particular eye on Fiona, adding a few dozen things in his head. Then he grins, and that twinkle in his eyes comes back.

"They're expecting us to try to sneak in, I bet. Probably got all their security watching every side entrance. So let's walk right in the front door."

He fluffs his hair up, making it a stylish mess. "If I may suggest: Emmett - Mister Emerson - do your best to look like a blood-sucking lawyer about to feed. Fiona - FiFi "Pink Poison" Sun - if you can punk-queen it up any more, do it. Because you, my dear, are the newest spokeswoman coming on board for SLAM! Energy, as they try to, aha, slam Red Bull and Monster right out of the alt-goth-punk-etc market. So crank it up to - " He pauses, considers, revises, " - an eight and a half, probably." And I'm just Alex Sormrsen, the fast-talking sweet-tongue publicist. Thoughts?"

[Chanlin]

Location: Outside Pyke Brands

Before leaving Emmett grabs a pair of gloves, his Duster already being made for the winters of Chicago this is all he really needs.

Fiona grabs a coat and pair of gloves as well.

At Aiden's suggestion to punk it up a bit more she smiles, "Give me a moment." She gets inside the SUV takes off her coat and proceeds to rip the jeans and t-shirt she is wearing in strategic places effectively making them into cut offs and a halter top. She hops out of the SUV toting her staff glammered to look like a skateboard. "Let's do it!" She pumps a fist in the air.

[Jay 2K Winger]

Location: Gunnar Forson's Mansion

For his part, Johnny was dressed in dark winter clothing and had armed himself with a simple Glock 9mm and a collapsible baton.

Johnny considers Jack's suggestion. "That's supposing that MacBride isn't already here," he points out to Jack. "I'm pretty sure Aiden did say that he saw him and Carrefour heading south toward the highway. Probably delivering the Heart of Winter here or something."

He points. "There's the carport." He squints and produces a small pair of binoculars. "I don't see any cameras." He hands them over to either of the others. "Two guards, though. Shouldn't be hard for you two to take 'em down. Then I can get through the door inside the carport and open it for you."

Jack's senses would tell him the two guards are mundanes, just mortals, although their heartbeats seem slower than they should be. Up closer, their skin seems somewhat pale, as if they'd been out in the cold for too long, but even here, it's nowhere near that cold. Strange, then.

Location: Outside Pyke Brands

Solomon and Selene share a look at Aiden's suggestion. "Works for me," the Aussie decides. He was wearing a dark overcoat over his usual croc-skin vest, and had stashed his hat under his seat. Selene had a light-colored parka along with other winter clothing.

"I'll pass m'self off as your driver, Mick, then," Solomon says. "And stay in the car, Fi," he advises the punked-up 'monkey girl.' "Until we're inside."

"I'll be the personal assistant, Sally Hollis," Selene says, closing her laptop and just using her tablet.

Once the group has prepared themselves, Solomon drives up to the main gate, where one of the humorless security guards approaches. "Purpose of visit?" he asks Solomon, who rolls down the window next to Aiden, who is sitting on his side of the car, so the tale-spinner can work his 'magic.'

[Scorpodael]

Jack stares at the two guards outside of the carport, and grimaces a bit. "MacBride... son of the Morrigan? The Carrion Crow doesn't strike me as a motherly type, really... how much would you like to bet that he has some serious mommy issues somewhere?" He mutters, looking down at the guards more... "There's something off about those guards. Not titanspawn, as far as I can tell, but he might have non-human guards that can look a lot more human than we'd like. Zombies, maybe. Be careful until you can tell what they are," He says, before moving off toward the guards, trying to move more casually than not- furtiveness is not a friend, at this point.

[Naamah]

Location: Pyke Brands, Automobile Gate

Aiden gives off the aura of a man who knows that there is no bump in the road he cannot either float over or steamroller flat as he addresses the guard.

"Hey, good to see you. Alex Sormrsen, publicist to the up-and-coming, charmed." He offers a hand which is not accepted, shrugs with a smile and continues. "I'm sure you heard about us this morning when you got briefed. The darling cupcake next to me is FiFi 'Pink Poison' Sun," pronouncing it soon, "and as you remember, she's the newest advertising spokeswoman for SLAM! Energy Drinks. She's a major hit in multiple markets, primarily the Californian skater scene but with a ton of crossover appeal into overseas markets, you must have seen her on a magazine cover somewhere, haven't you?" He leans back to show off the (hopefully) smiling/grinning face of Fiona. "Now, we got into a pile of traffic and we're running late for the meeting to co-ordinate the contract finalization, so I think you could let us in, we'll just go right to the front door and have the desk buzz the VP's we're supposed to be meeting with, alright? Just pull up the gate and Mickey will drop us off."

He taps 'Mick' on the shoulder and looks at the guard with the total knowledge that his next action will, in fact, be letting them inside.

[Chanlin]

Location: Pyke Brands, Automobile Gate

Fiona channels pure skater punk and simply raises her hand half hardheartedly and gives a somewhat deep voiced, " 'sup"

[Jay 2K Winger]

Location: Outside Gunnar Forson's Estate

To Jack's observations about MacBride, Johnny dryly replies, "Yes. Because finding out you're not the actual child of your mortal parents is unique to our Irish psychopath." He shakes his head a bit. "We all have parent issues in some way, shape, or form. From what I saw on Selene's file on him, he's actually the Morrígan's favored child. Which bodes."

When Jack mentions the guards' unusual properties, Johnny notes, "There are stories that those of jotun stock can bind someone into their service by having them drink something that contains their blood. In higher doses, it can endow them with great strength and sometimes size." He eyes the guards. "They don't look any bigger than your usual rent-a-cop, though."

He shrugs. "Anyway, I'm bad at fighting. Just take them down. Endowed by power and bound to Titan service they may be, they're still only mortals."

Location: Outside Pyke Brands

The guard on the gate is wearing sunglasses that give his expression a degree of impenetrability, but even through the humorless stoicism, there's a momentary flash of confusion, then concern, then panic. To his credit, he hides it well. "You'll need to check in with reception when you get inside," the guard says. "We weren't informed." He addresses the driver of the SUV. "Park over there, that's the visitor's lot." 'Mick' nods at this.

The gate is opened, and they drive inside, parking where indicated. Everyone disembarks, with Solomon shifting seamlessly from 'driver' to 'bodyguard' as he climbs out of the vehicle. One of the alternate, side entrances can be seen from their parking spot, and as Aiden predicted, there are multiple guards standing in your basic 'you shall not pass' formation on it.

The main lobby of Pyke Brands has a few decorations, showing their showcase products. SLAM! Energy Drink is featured, of course, along with their other products-- Söda (aka "Umlaut Soda," their carbonated beverage line), Epic Brews (their alcoholic beverage line), and other edible foodstuffs. A model of their production facility outside Denver is included, and there's an oil painting on the far wall of Gunnar Forson himself-- a tall, well-built man of Nordic stock with pale blond hair and a winning smile.

The team has just walked up to the receptionist's desk when an elevator opens and a flustered-looking man bolts over to them. He's remarkably average-looking, in a rumpled suit, and introduces himself as Donny Cross, Junior VP of Marketing and Sales. "I'm terribly sorry about this," he babbles. "I don't know what happened. We've been running ourselves ragged the last few months, trying to get all these new ad campaigns off the ground, but somehow your arrival today completely slipped through the cracks. Let's get you upstairs and we'll talk business, get the contracts drawn up..."

Emmett's truth-sense would trigger a few lies there, but then, he's a corporate suit, and in sales and marketing, no less. Lying is their stock-in-trade. Cross gives the impression of a man who realized he's dropped the ball and is trying to cover his ass while he scrambles to salvage this before offending a celebrity into backing out of a deal.

[Scorpodael]

Jack acknowledges what Johnny has to say about parental issues with a short grunt... He probably had some, too. Somewhere. On his way to the two guards, he tries to keep it as casual as he can, and as close to concealing shadows as he can, until he gets within about 30 feet... or until he gets noticed, whichever comes first. Either way, his next actions are the same- a sprint toward the guard on the right, preparing to grab him and apply his Lightning Touch- generally folks don't keep upright or vocal after that sort of thing.

[Mytical]

Lupo heads toward the other guard, not worried about if they are tougher then they seem. In fact, hoping they are. He does as much stealth as he can, but knows it is like trying to hide a glowing green neon sign by turning it around.