Dialogue: Spellbound

Nix

So, gonna gimme a listen, lend little Nix an ear?

V

1AAll right. Lay it on me.

Nix

1AWas cruisin' the net, ya feel? An' I spotted an interestin' classified.

V

1AWait. Lemme guess. Performance enhancers? A used Mr. Stud, cheap?

Nix

1ANow, I'm a serious man, V. And serious matters are what, if not all, that concern me.

1ASomebody's sellin' a book of spells. Edition datin' from before the first Net crash.

1ANow, you know a thing or two 'bout that, don't ya? Like how much that soft could run ya and earn ya.

V

1AWant me to klep it for you, don't you.

Nix

1AUh-uh, no kleppin' required. Just buy the damn thing. Reimburse ya twofold.

V

2AOK. Will do.

Nix

2AThat's my girl.

2AZippin' ya the detes on the seller. And luck be with ya all the way.

V

2BGotta give it a think.

Nix

2BDon't rightly see what there is to ruminate on, but you do you. Just don't make me wait if there ain't no need, huh?

V

2CSendin' me out to do your shopping? Want a case of Nicola with that? Algae chips?

Nix

2CThink on it, V. A treasure, and someone's willin' to part with it. Now, who does that?

2CThe hard up, V. And desperados got this... unsavory side. They're unpredictable. One word off their mood... an' they reach for their heat.

2CThat's why I need you to meet the seller. You got heat at the ready.

1AMight not mean much to you, but it sounds like a treasure to a netrunner. Fuckin' Dead-Sea-Scroll yummy.

V

1BSometime, maybe. Not now.

Nix

1BA'ight. Ain't no fire burnin'.

V, baby, listen, got a yarn for ya... Quick biz, that is. Ya interested?

Aaand? Ya thunk on it yet?

Seller

Hey! You lookin' for the book?

V

1ASounds about right.

Seller

1APrice non-negotiable. You'll need to pay in full on pick-up.

V

1AClear enough... Agreed.

Seller

1APreem. I've flicked you the address. Come by your lonesome.

V

1BCall ya back later.

Seller

I don't like this at all.

V

1ASpell book. Ya got it?

Seller

1AI do, indeed. Tucked away somewhere safe.

1AYou want coordinates? I need to see my money.

V

2ADamn, this stinks to high hell... But OK, take you at your word.

Seller

2AYou won't regret it.

V

2ABetter not. Or you will, bigly. Givin' you my word on that.

Seller

2AJust flicked you the coordinates.

V

2AMhm. We'll see.

2BAre you trying to fuck me?

Seller

2BNo, not at all, I just--

V

2B'Cause I really got it in for people who try that.

2BAlways tempted to end any conversation like that. Violently. Abruptly.

Seller

2BYou'd be making a mistake. A big one. I'm not out to con you.

2BAlso... I'm not a victim. I'm prepared just as well as you are.

V

3BNot about to do any biz with a petty con.

3BAnd you'd do good to avoid me, all the time, everywhere.

3COuch. Hard Wire customer service just ain't what it used to be...

Seller

3CHuh? I have no idea what you're talkin' about.

V

3CSure you do. Got a pretty good idea of who you are. Bargain basement dress suit, back alley implants – you are almost a cut-out from a corp recruiting brochure.

3CHang on, this is fun, lemme guess... Uh, found something in a dusty corner of the warehouse, tryna hawk it off on the side.

3CAgh... what would your manager say? I mean, not like your KPIs can include your under-the-counter deals.

Seller

3CUgh, the fuck you want?!

V

4AWant you to chill, not make any gonk moves.

4AI'll pay you – but if this isn't worth my while, if it's a con by just a hair… I'll crush you. Got it?

Seller

4AYes. And fuck you again.

V

4BDiscount. Somethin' real. Keep me from callin' your boss.

Seller

4BGet fucked, scopshitter.

V

4BGreat – got that out of your system, now let's get down to biz. We got a deal, or do I gotta make some calls?

1BNever mind.

Seller

Uh, yeah?

Look, I have no idea who you are, friend, but this won't do, oh no, no, no, no, no.

What the hell is this?!

Oh! Mistake! Big fucking mistake!

V

1AOh, fuck… a Zetatech XPR! Gotta be, like, fifty years old…

Johnny

1ALeast that. Had one, y'know. Top-of-the-line back in the day…

1ATake it to Nix.

1AYou wanna skim any data off this heap o' junk, he's your guy.

1AThe Afterlife, there's this little netrat – Nix… Kinda specializes in legacy Net artefacts.

V

1AUgh. What's this? Looks like trash…

Johnny

1AAww, the Zetatech XPR... Top-of-the-line back in the day…

Nix

So, ya got the book?

V

1AYa got my eddies?

Nix

1AAs I says, V. I am a serious man.

1AAmount as agreed, all yours.

V

2AThanks a bunch.

Nix

2ADon't mention it. It's money well-deserved.

V

2BUh… hold on, hold on, hold on.

2BThe tablet's worth heaps more. I know that and you know that.

Nix

2BMaybe it is. But I offered you a price and you accepted it.

V

2BAny contract can be declared null and void when a party thereto's proven to have acted in bad faith.

Nix

2BA'ight. Have it your way. You are hereby awarded a bonus.

V

2BPleasure doin' business with ya. Later.

Nix

2BV... word of advice. Don't pull shit like that with me. Just don't.

V

1BCame into this thing... a Zetatech XPR. Last owner claimed it houses old soft, datin' back before the first Net's crash.

Nix

1BGive it here, lemme have a look…

1BNaw, data's corrupt… Worthless heap o' junk as I see it.

1BBuuut... I'll buy this off ya. Got a soft spot for old tech, feel me?

V

3AEhh. So be it. All yours.

Nix

3AThanks, V. You on the level, girl.

V

3BWho do you think I am, Nix? Some slumpup you can fuck as you please without any consequences?

3BThe net's my home. I know its history. And I know the spellbook's worth several times more than you're offerin'.

Nix

3BUh, sorry, V. No hard feelings. Had no idea.

3BFine, you'll get a fair price. With some ennies on top by way of an apology. How's that sound?

V

4ASounds right.

Nix

4AGot a head on them shoulders, V. Respect.

V

4BFuck you, Nix.

Nix

4BHold on, V. Nobody's gonna pay you more for that tablet.

V

4BLike I give a shit. Just gonna make sure it never lands in your hands.

4BSaved your fuckin' life.

3CNot willin' to pay me near enough. I'm 'onna keep it.

Nix

3CHold on, hold on… I'll pay you double. That suit you?

V

5BPay me triple... and it's yours.

Nix

5BMotherfucker, these kids today... But OK, deal.

V

5BNix, don't try that again. Just fuckin' don't.

5CKnow what? Think I'll keep it.

Nix

5CAin't nobody gonna match what I'm willin' to give you for that heap o' junk.

V

5CMake up your mind, Nix. What is it? Worth twice what you offered at first, or is it junk?

5CLies got no legs, Nix. And liars got legs with broken knees. Suggest you remember that.