A Casual Chat

Karma hangs up, takes a moment to gather her thoughts, and grabs two beers from behind the bar, walks over to Trace's table and offers one to him, standing pointedly positioned to not see his work. "These bonfires always this eventful?"
Trace looks up from his computer and disconnects the chord from his neck that was leading to it. He regards Karma for a moment as if considering the question. "Yea... always eventful. Not sure I like the company... too much police"
Noticing the cord she says "Agreed. Bad time?"
"No just compiling some footage. No official stories yet if that's what you're after. Leak News might be independent, but if it wants to stay that way I've got to get the ok from the power players first." He makes room for Karma on a crate that has his media duffel bag lying on it. "Speaking of... you're becoming somewhat of a known entity yourself"
"Nah, I heard Woodchipper as clear as you, I'm not after your story yet." she smiles and takes the offered seat. "Been a busy day, but I feel like I didn't really live up to my promise to you earlier. You still need me to ask Woodchipper for a moment later? After the dust settles anyway."
He smiles. "I'm inclined to ask for an invite to this 'family meeting' ", he says making quotes with his fingers, "With only one person actually in a nomad family... But Dakota will be there, and I trust her to give me anything that won't hurt the nomads." He closes his laptop and taps his left temple. His left eye focuses in and out like a camera lens. "So what kind of family does three fixers and a snake nation family head make?"
Karma raises one brow, but decides to gamble one more time today. Three's a lucky number... "A resourceful one."
He sighs through another smile making it sound like a laugh. He mocks looking around the warehouse... "If this is what you call family business, I hope it pays well."
She grins and pulls out her cigarette case "You only do things for the eddies?...You smoke?" she pulls out a cigarette and offers the open case.
"As a rule no. Leak Media still has its principles. Besides if chasing money is all you do then you open yourself up to being manipulated too easily. So if not money, what's this place have for a static fixer?"
Karma nods, puts the case away and lights her own cigarette. She leans back to blow the smoke away from him before answering "Money's good, it paves the way for things to happen, but it comes and goes. It's a fluid means to an end. People though, if you can suss out the good ones, good at what they do, or reliable folk? That's a different matter. People make things happen. Right now, this place has people I value and work to be done." "Reliable folk you value? People have a word for that around here. That's family. Careful you don't let all this clear air and wide landscape tarnish your superior static sensibilities"
Karma actually chuckles at this “Afraid your warning is a bit late there pal, already here on family business, as you’ve mentioned." she gestures at him with the two fingers holding her cigarette "Not sure about the clear air part though. Must have been the cherry moonshine. It’ll just peel the layers of static superiority right off you.” Trace laughs with you "Well said; I think I'll write that one down. It's Aisha right? The family business? I heard you arrived with the rattlesnakes."
"You heard right. Aisha's got business here, you want to know about that bit though you're going to have to talk to her. Not my place to share her piece."
"Yea no worries, seems like a lot of people have business here. Cool to see so many families in one place. Makes sense though. It's big news that whole Petrochem Continental brands settlement being reopened. Did you see that stream about Biotechnica and Zhirafa trying to take a slice of the pie? Probably not real though, right?"
"Big news indeed. I did see the stream. Can't say I would be shocked to learn of two mega corps working together to line their pockets through dirty deals, misinformation, and misdirection. Their haste in deleting the video as it spread and redistributing doctored versions hints at some legitimacy. It's not proof of course, but it's telling. Especially when considering the rumored connection between Sov Oil and Zhirafa, and the suspicious patterns to their financial gains and losses...What do you think?"
Trace looks at you a little wide eyed then returns to the comfortable mien of a casual friendly conversation. "I think I'm talking to a bona fide Hijinx fan. You know I half expected to see her here today. You might say all this is fall out from her stream. I guess she'd have to have some serious safeguards in place to maintain a live stream platform with an anti-megacorp agenda... Too bad though, I might have asked for an autograph." Trace smiles
"Autograph? Sounds like you might be the fan." Karma smiles at him and takes another drag from her cigarette.
"I am a fan. I've been running Leak News for years and I haven't seen the city so riled up since I published my first book. The hacker manifesto about the volatility of the system after the SovOil convention was a little much for me, but she definitely woke some people up. I just hope it lasts honestly... it takes more than synth hair and Chem-skin to hide who you are these days." Trace stands up and reaches out to shake your hand. "I think your family meeting is waiting for you"
Karma stands as well, shakes his hand "So it is. Nice talking to you Trace." and makes her exit.