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ladytrollfishes · 5 years

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>Cress and Shupaa: Ride the Train

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/07/2019

You don't hear her following you, and there's no way you're going to follow her at this point. She makes your skin crawl, and Maera's an unknown factor in this right now. Her shut off is on, the only thing you can hear from her is a focused buzz. She's slightly warmer to touch now as you grab her by the hand and tug her through the crowd, heading for the working subway station around the corner.

"Come on," you say, clutching your bag to you. "We're getting out of here."

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/07/2019

SUBJECT: AUBADE keeps focused on the path ahead. You need to keep your awareness sharp, and ensure no one behind you gets any ideas. You keep glancing over your shoulder, with no time to disguise it as a more subtle motion. You don't see anyone, but you've been wrong before.

Aubade keeps pulling you. She aims to take the subway. If you go in the opposite direction, away from the broken-down station, there's potential for safety. She must realize this, too. When you're reasonably sure you don't have a tail, you pick up your pace until you can run beside her. The hand-holding keeps you together in the crowd. That's useful. You only slow down when you meet with the turnstile, only because it physically blocks you.

You fish caegars out of your pocket, and put them into the machine until it spits out tickets. The first is for Aubade. The second is not. "Yours," you say simply, leaving it for her. You take your own ticket, but you don't push through the turnstile until she does.

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/07/2019

Thank god Maera doesn't fight you on this. She even holds onto your hand until you hit the turnstile and she's even quicker to pull out payment for the ride than you are, insisting that you take the ticket first. You can't hear anyone with the intent to follow you, but the thunder of a train passing is enough to shove you running through the turnstile and out for the train, with only a quick glance to see what direction you were heading in. Any direction would do.

Maera still sounds like a blank. It's not something you've dealt with, outside of your first meeting and you wonder if you need to call someone to see how to deactivate it. First things first, you had to get away. You run for the jade door to the tram, and hold the door open for Maera. You'll stick out there like a sore thumb, but you have plausible deniability there and you don't want to deal with the possibility of other psychics right now.

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/07/2019

You step in. You waste no time, not meandering, not busying yourself with any other thought or action. You stay single-minded to your task, and once inside the train car, you scope it out in a moment: Jadeblooded trolls, and a few friends of close colors, all separated into their own tiny factions throughout the car. None of them look up. That's Neuja city policy. You hold the door from the inside for Cress, and let go the moment she's safely inside.

She, unlike you, does draw a few looks. They don't seem to make moves towards her, but you take note of the individuals, committing their details to memory. SUBJECT: UNKNOWN 1, SUBJECT: UNKNOWN 2, SUBJECT: UNKNOWN 3...

"Do not make eye contact." Your voice is flat and unfeeling. She might know already, but you don't want to take chances right now. If any of the jades here know the superstitions you learned in the caverns, they could get aggressive, or nervous. Either would be bad. You find a handle, hanging from the ceiling, near an empty seat. You don't want to sit yet. You must keep vigilant.

"Did you see which direction this train travels."

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/07/2019

Maera’s stiff as a board. It would be easy to mistake her for your security, which then begs the question why you’re here in this car at all. She takes the handle, casing the car, but you step in closer to her, much closer than casual acquaintances care to get. She’s still cold, but no longer freezing as you grab her free hand again. When she tells you not to make eye contact, you keep your gaze fixed on hers.

“Relax,” you murmur, close to her ear. You keep your voice soft and smooth and with each word you push calm at her. “I can hear all their intentions right now. They’re hungry, bored, and stressed out, but nothing strong enough to mean something in the car.”

You reach into a pocket where you keep four sets of rings, each of them slightly tinted metal with imprints on them. You find the pair with diamonds on them, and slip one into Maera’s hand. “I’ll want that back,” you murmur again. “But this gives me a good reason to be here instead of with the other highbloods. So relax before someone gets suspicious. We’re headed towards Filler right now.”

You pull back so you can look her in the face and smile brightly.(edited)

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/07/2019

She meets your eyes with hers again. Like an electric shock, your cybernetics burst to life again. Their light is default green in the first instant, but in the moment after, they switch back to red in a snap, because oh, you are still fucking furious. It's just ever-so-slightly below your upper limit. You can't feel the ring through your gloves. You have to take your eyes off her to see it. You're wary of her now, more wary than before, but... She could have left you behind. She could have killed you, when you let her get close to you. She didn't.

Begrudgingly, you realize that counts for something, so you look at the ring, and. And you hate this, actually, quite a lot. You inhale deeply, steeling yourself, and recognizing that, logically, she's just handed you an alibi. She's trying to make sure both of you survive, for whatever reason, and you don't have enough of an advantage to refuse. So you bite the bullet. You slip off your glove.

Your hand is riddled with dark lines of hardware, faintly visible under your skin. It makes you look sickly and strange. When you put the ring on - reluctantly - the metal immediately forms ice crystals on its surface. No one wears one glove alone, so you have to take the other one off too. You fold them into an interior pocket of your coat and try not to look at her.

"This request is more easily asked than done." You're a storm of grim emotions. You don't trust Cresce and you don't trust Lyrian. You're angry - at Lyrian, because she set you up; at yourself, because you stupidly thought Cresce was different. You would be afraid of Lyrian tailing you, even now, but you're too preoccupied with how insulted you feel, that she insinuated you were incompetent at the one thing you were made to do... and you're upset, that you couldn't give her the fight you wanted to start.

Your face gives none of this away. Your implants betray you, but only in short. You grip the handle of the train car tightly. You ignore the way small, forming ice crystals dig into your skin. "Filler will take us to a safer location. This is acceptable."

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/07/2019

Maera flickers back on, green and then red and it’s only sweeps of training that keeps you from doing more than blinking when the cacophony that pours out of her.

The air around her immediately gets colder too, enough that you shiver but not enough to make you step back. You take a moment to try and unpack everything she’s feeling- anger, definitely no way to mistake those gongs. A slow boiling hatred when she slips on her ring. There’s upset and frustration, and betrayal, you think and she’s still losing control of her psi. And it’s impossible to tell which one of you is sending her into a tizzy.

“We will be fine,” you say, still pushing calm. You brush off a patch of dust you spot on her shoulder. You wanted an ally in this struggle against Lyrian, and as far as you can tell, she sure did her best to keep Maera from doing exactly that, now that you’re forced to justify how you really aren’t using her as a tool. No one likes to be manipulated, even if everyone does it to everyone else all the time. Letting go might be the only chance you have at earning a little more trust.

“I’m sorry,” you murmur. “I understand if you don’t want to work with me after this.”

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/07/2019

The effect is subtle. To you, it feels like the fire is burning out. Her power wears down your anger until it's no longer edging into that danger zone, but the embers of it are still burning, just waiting for something new to feed them. Its absence forces you to go back to thinking logically about the situation. You don't want to. Your breath clouds when you exhale out your nose. You lift your head, but you still don't look at her. You look past her, out the window of the train car, where you can see only the dark inside of the tunnel.

"It does not matter." You don't pad your words, but you keep them quiet, matching her volume. "Apologies are irrelevant."

That doesn't explain the balm it's putting on your anger. You conveniently ignore that. When you start again, you lower your volume even more.

"What is of relevance is the fact that this - the current situation - is in-de-fin-a-ble. If you intend to make use of a tool, there should be greater distance involved."

Yes, there's hurt behind the words. You ignore that, too.

"It is more pro-fes-sion-al." You don't mind being used, you think. At least, you try not to mind. You accepted it as a reality long ago. What you mind, or at least the part you're admitting, is that Cresce acts friendly, too. You're just as guilty of that as she is. You just want a decision.

"But if you also share her opinions of the work rendered, there is nothing more to discuss." It's a dare.(edited)

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/07/2019

The anger continues to recede but there’s pain in the calm. She still refuses to look at you, and the silence is filled with the rattle of the train and the soundtrack of other people’s lives. Her brief statements are terse and hurt, but when she all but demands to know what’s going on, you spot an opportunity.

“I don’t want a tool,” you say, low and a little sharp. “I want an ally. I want help with my crazy signmate and I don’t want to do it alone. So yeah I want you to work with me, but in my experience, treating your allies like dirt means they won’t be your allies for long.”

You pause, looking in her eyes for any changes in her mood that you can’t hear. Lyrian treated her like a tool. Archtopi labs treats her like one too. Even Maera herself does, even though she finds Lyrian’s words upsetting. It works to your advantage, really.

Keep treating her like an equal and she can grow her confidence and be attached to you. You want her to work with you and working with you could help Maera out too. It’s mutually beneficial for you, even if she needs the idea that no one’s manipulating each other to go through with it.(edited)

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/07/2019

You feel bitter, when she says she doesn't want a tool. You have no proof to say that it's a lie, but everyone you've ever met has been content to leverage people as means to an end. Everyone does it. Anyone who claims otherwise is lying. But the fact that she's trying to lie means something, doesn't it? And she doesn't insult your work. She values it enough to try to get you to stay, even when you've given her an out.

"Why this?" You finally meet her eyes. "There are easier allies to obtain. You have the option to take them." You don't trust her. You are confident she'll lie to you, but you want to see which lie she picks.(edited)

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/07/2019

She’s still bitter, hard, and angry which is frustrating. You have to respect that she doesn’t immediately melt at the idea of being more than a tool, but it’s still annoying. You huff, even as you lean in closer to her.

“Obviously you’re pretty skilled in a fight, which is helpful here. You have reason to dislike Lyrian and you’d have no other motive to screw with me, besides this. Plus you’re already in the know, so word about my crazy signmate doesn’t get out too far.”

Out of everyone you know on campus basically the only person you’d tell about this is maybe Melete. She’d understand the whole wicked signmate thing, but you’d rather keep your attempts at flirtation separate from the rest of this mess. Rumisa already knows too much as it is. She was never one whose judgement you could trust. Maera, on the other hand. She wasn’t savvy but she wasn’t hopeless either. Not so secure in her own invulnerability to be careless, and more inclined to stay mum than blabber on.

“From where I’m standing, you’re the best person to ask.” You can’t help but send a Lyrian a few curses for making her feel this way. Maera was aware that this was what Lyrian intended, right?”(edited)

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/07/2019

At least the lie she picks makes sense. You blow out another mist-filled breath, as your implants shift back to green. You don't have more interrogation to give. Your role is not to decide what does or doesn't fit. No matter what she says, you are a means to an end - but you're an effective one. You mirror her, leaning in, and you bring your free hand up until it blocks her mouth, and yours, from sight. Your bare fingertips, still cold, but not freezing, rest on her face. You tilt your head, as if you were giving a chaste kiss to her cheek.

"There are several individuals you should meet," you whisper, "who will be able to assist this effort. They are scattered throughout the area, and it is too risky to contact them remotely. You will not be able to recruit them to your program. But if you intend to gather information, they are the most valuable assets possessed. Are you interested?"(edited)

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/07/2019

Your answer satisfies her at least, though you don’t think she believes you. But she makes a move you don’t expect, touching a cold hand to your cheeks and pressing her face up to yours. For a second you don’t know what you expected, before she simply gives you more information to use. Really leaning into the alibi now was she? You nod in reply. Recruiting more people to Torrent is probably not a great idea anyway but wheeling and dealing with other informants would be important so long as you could keep them honest. “What can you tell me about them?” You ask.

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/07/2019

You have a small network left on-planet. You know plenty about them, and you don't intend to tell Cress everything, but if she's curious, you can provide some details.

"The closest contact, geographically, is Passer Luteus. He resides outside Neuja city. He is responsible for the calibration of digital signs around the city, and his vantage point allows him to see things that others may miss."

He's sharp, small and agile. Last you heard, his location was still accurate. You pull back from your false "kiss," but your hand stays. You don't want anyone to read your lips. "He is one of several. Your signmate is unlikely to stay in Neuja, but Luteus may notice where she leaves, and how. Other contacts can watch for her presence and activities."(edited)

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/07/2019

You hum, quietly as you think about it. "Who would you say would be the most useful?" you ask. "Lyrian could be leaving already, and we're still be on the way. Difficult to track someone when you don't know who you're tracking."

You shift so that she doesnt have to keep holding her hand up- clearly a gesture to hide her lip movements- and pull her into a sort of a hug, one arm slung across her shoulder. If you tilt your forehead down, it gives her cover to talk, and you're not so tall she can't see over your shoulders to the rest of the car.

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/07/2019

"That depends," you reply, "on where you believe she intends to go." You have several options. Lyrian could leave Neuja in any direction. You have contacts that cover critical points on the map, but you don't have people everywhere. If you delay, if you make the wrong choice, the trail will go cold.

"You are slightly more aware of her past habits. Data collected pertains only to her present and recent actions. However, most trolls, after causing a scene, would try to find somewhere to hide, and establish normalcy." You pause. "Where is she best known?"

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/07/2019

You pause, as she looks to you as the expert on Lyrian. You're not an expert on her. You don't know her as well as you ought. You did some poking around, but you haven't found much at all. The global database doesn't give you much more than her name, chrome, and profession, three out of three that you share with her. Her last known address was sold to a cerulean banker half a sweep ago. She's like a ghost.

She doesn't strike you as the sort to use social media but if she did, then it's like she's struck out any mentions of her name on the internet, and while you know she's a clown, you don't know which sect, where she frequents, or what she does. "I don't know," you say after a moment. "Her last known address is in Neuja though, so I assume she knows the area. She used to live right next to the Maralis Bridge."

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/07/2019

Then that makes two of you. "If she knows Neuja, she may assume she will be traced, and she may take a route known only to locals. Tracking her from Neuja would be difficult, but predicting her next move without context would be harder still." You lift yourself from Cress's embrace. You keep your head down, and cover your face partially with one hand, such that it looks as though you might be emotional, or crying. It's an intimate expression that most trolls would rather look away from, which gives you an extra defense. You stay close to her, leaning your forehead on her shoulder. Proximity is important. "Luteus may know of her public presence, if she is in fact a local. Any history she left behind may inform her future. He may be able to provide clues to assist in the choice of a starting place for our search. Beyond that, however, we will need to simply sweep the area. If she has her own transport, public transit records will be useless."

March 8, 2019

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/08/2019

“Alright,” you say, pressing a small kiss to the top of her head. “That’s a promising lead. Let’s see Luteus.” The train rattled on down the tunnel as you consider Maera’s head on your shoulder. She’s really doing much better with the alibi than you expected. Maybe you should coach her a little in how the game is played. Not a tool, an ally. Harder to use but is more useful. Then again, maybe that’s a thought for later, when you trust her more.

“Where can we find him?” You ask quietly as the train rattles to a stop and passengers step on and off the train. You get a couple glances but an obviously upset jade in your arms, you basically get a pass.(edited)

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/08/2019

You can't calibrate your map underground. You'll need to make a guess. This frustrates you, but only a small amount, compared to your levels before. "Megleno Valley." You try to pinpoint where that will be, in relation to Filler.

"Remaining on this train is the wisest option. It is reachable by bus from the end of the line."

Luteus doesn't work until morning, when slightly fewer people are out and about in the city. You can contact him to arrange a place. You'll owe him, of course, but if it's just one favor... You are willing to do that for her.(edited)

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/08/2019

"Alright," you say, and sigh. "That will take awhile. You wanna sit down?" You step back, letting your hands run down her arms so you can grab hers again. Your feet are starting to hurt in these heels, and you'd rather take your weight off of them.

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/08/2019

After a brief moment of reluctance, you relent. You let go of the handle as it starts to thaw, and you let her hold your hands. She's gentle. It's a different feeling than you're used to, most of the time, but you watched her accidentally crush a fork, then bend it back into shape. You're sure she could break you if she tried, so you don't get comfortable. You sit down beside her. The train moves on. As trolls arrive at their destinations, they leave the car. As time goes by, fewer and fewer trolls board to replace them.

You spend the quiet organizing your memory files from your meeting with Lyrian. No one will read them now, but it gives you something to do. But you finish that, because as much as you try to drag your feet, you were built for efficiency. Then, there's nothing left to do but... follow that memory, with your eyes finally resting on her neck. She touched here when you mentioned Lyrian at lunch. There's no mark, no bruising or scarring or any kind of indication as to why, but it wasn't just a standard nervous tick. It was too specific a motion.

"She ne-ver needed a tracker," you say, quiet, "did she?"

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/08/2019

You stare out of the train, as it pulls out of the underground and onto an open air tram. The sky is dark and cloudy with smog as you watch the lights of the city pass by. It distracts you from the everyone's sound for a moment- you could turn down the volume, but awareness right now was still important, even as Shupaa's suspicion of your gentle gestures still pulses next to you. Like a horror movie soundtrack. It fades though, eventually, to a gentler thought and curiosity, up until the point she speaks.

"A tracker?" you say, blinking. Lyrian? Of course she needed a tracker, to accomplish whatever she wanted to accomplish, if she hired Maera. "What do you mean?"

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/08/2019

"She already found you." Efficiency sometimes means bluntness. It's an unfortunate side-effect. (Just kidding, it's a conscious choice. You don't like beating around the bush.)

"Your reactions suggest you encountered her before. You are not exactly low-profile. Your digital presence and name recognition made it easy to find you in the early stages of tracking." You watch her face for any tells. You're certain that Torrents are trained out of them, but the topic of Lyrian strikes a chord with Cress. You've seen a reaction before. You might again.

"She did not require assistance to find you. The only assistance she may have required was to watch you, as she herself would draw suspicion."

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/08/2019

You blink twice and swallow as you smile at her again. You've referred to the meeting before, in the slightest of ways, but the meeting is not something you'd prefer to recount.

"Ah, yes we've met once," you say, low. "Before you were hired. At the 12th perigee ball, actually, so anyone could be anywhere at the time." Your free hand almost bounces back up to your throat but you keep it firmly in your lap.

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/08/2019

Sorry Cress, it's being recounted. "The point stands. It is an ir-reg-u-lar pattern. You understand this. Confirm?"

If you pull up the files in your memory, side-by-side, the information doesn't click. It doesn't fit the patterns you've seen in your jobs prior - and you've had many jobs. She wasn't desperate for help. She reached out to a relative unknown for a job where you weren't supposed to kill your target.

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/08/2019

You smile a little more thinly at her, before blinking innocently at her again. "I'm not sure I understand what you're getting at," you say sweetly. "Of course it's irregular, and I can't very well say exactly what's going on in my signmate's head, now can I?"

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/08/2019

Annoyance sparks a flicker of red in your cybernetics. "This is a matter of analysis." You hold her gaze. "Not mind-reading." Psychics. Life is so much easier when you don't have the expectation of knowing someone else's thoughts. Resentful? You? Maybe.

"It means that if she wishes to find you again, she may do so, or she may send someone else, with more information and less of a leash. It means, too, that she may have had some other motive for sending an outside tracker."

You lift your hand from hers, this time to touch your thumb to her temple, letting your fingers rest on the side of her head, tucked into her hair. It might look tender, to an onlooker. Really, you're just trying to get her to snap out of her funk. Cold touches are good at that. "Why do you continue to block out information that is uncomfortable? It does not serve you."

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/08/2019

Maera gives her measured, logical take on the situation, even as she touches your face and you have to steel yourself from the flinch and iron out any reaction you have to her prodding. You've been embarrassingly affectionate for the alibi and you're going to see her contact. You smile instead.

"Obviously," you say quietly. "I told you, I don't know what her motives might be, except, perhaps something about our line and disapproving of me. Did you hear her laughing back then? She's enjoying this, I could hear it."

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/08/2019

You had heard, but you hadn't paid it much mind. People laugh at strange and horrible things... but Cress can hear emotions, too. Whatever she heard has shaken her. But now that you understand, you have a different roadblock: You are so, horrendously bad at being compassionate. You feel sympathetic. You want to offer her comfort, but it's not something you do. You're made to hurt, not to heal. You touch your forehead to hers, which gives you a brief moment to cover your mouths again, and make her a promise.

"Your tracks will be covered." It's the most comfort you can offer. When you have more time, when you aren't hiding in plain sight, you'll work with her on some sort of disguise for these outings. Then, at least, she won't run the risk of being caught as Cress, looking for Lyrian. When you part, you put your hand on top of hers. Through your calm, you might even feel like a normal jadeblood temperature, now. "Do you have a pseudonym?"

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/08/2019

It’s not a comfortable feeling, being out on a limb like this. Have you ever felt like this? Not when you realized why you’d never see your lusus again. Not when you had realized what you’d have to do to Peggio. When you’d woken from your wetware surgery in a panic, maybe but that was so easily solved. It crystallizes, somewhat when Maera’s melody swells just a bit and presses her forehead against yours. She’s comforting you in the only way she knows how because she can see you’re scared.

It’s a little too intense actually, the steady stare she gives you and you tuck your face into the crook of her shoulder. You might as well, so long as you’re faking the quad. “Thanks,” you say shortly, before you pull up again and look out the window. “No, actually. I don’t go into the field very much.”

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/08/2019

The motion amuses you. She's cute, when she's not trying to intimidate you. Maybe you just have lethal taste. "It would serve you to create one for our search. Give it thought." And her horns... Their distinct shape, their asymmetry. They're too unique for undercover work, especially when dealing with her signmate. You'll find some way to help her.

"Do not try one tonight. It is better to divorce your pseudonym from yourself, however possible. You still appear to look like you, and your career, in both parts of your life, would be in jeopardy." She has something to lose. You don't. "It will give you an extra layer of security. Another night, it can be finalized. Only remember that tonight, the name you give Luteus may be used after you leave." You want to advise her to use only her last name, for that reason, but she's smart. She can make her own decisions.(edited)

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/08/2019

Maera definitely enjoys the gesture, which is frankly quite a relief after all the suspicion. It's a bit of a balm even, on the embarrassment and the vulnerability, to know that she doesn't think less of you for it. She advises you on how to pick a psuedonym, and she's right, for the most part, but you have an idea. You lift up your head and take out your ponytail. "If we drop by a mall, I'll go as Lyrian," you say. "Looking to see what people are saying about me. Would that work?"

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/08/2019

You almost smile. She earns your strange half-smile for the slightest moment, because this is hilarious. "You need paint." Your thumb touches her cheek, where one of Lyrian's markings would be. Otherwise... she's the spitting image of her signmate. It could work. "And you should not make it a habit. Contacts expect pseudonyms. Identity theft is far more serious." You don't want Luteus to approach the real Lyrian by mistake. That could be really, really bad. "Do you keep makeup with you?"

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/08/2019

Maera all but bubbles with mirth at the idea, but all that shows on her face is a smile that looks strange on her face, as though she's not used to it. You've known her just long enough to know that she probably isn't. What she is getting used to though, it looks like, is touching you. Her hand touches your cheek and you have to smile yourself. That wasn't a motion meant to hide her mouth from lip readers. "I've got lipstick that would work, but I'd need to pick up some lighter foundation," you say. "And a black coat too. I remember what her paint looks like."

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/08/2019

It wasn't, but good luck getting you to admit that. "You should not be seen as Lyrian, buying it, but a detour will be made." You let your hand drop. "You are slightly too tall, but the difference is negligible. Your manner will be of most concern. Lyrian is not nearly as pleasant."

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/08/2019

Aww she thinks you're pleasant. "Her horns are a mirror image of mine too, but I'd be willing to bet most people won't notice unless we're standing next to each other," you say. "And I'm wearing heels, which is a good excuse as any for varying heights." You school your face into a flat expression, and let your eyes fall lidded. "I hate everyone," you say in a soft monotone. "And I think I'm better than everyone else." It's only slightly mocking.

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/08/2019

Only slightly. You nod, feeling more confident already. "That will do." When the subway reaches the end of the line, you and Cress are the only ones left in the car. You leave, and stick to your alibi - moirails, not allies - until you can board a bus, headed to Megleno Valley. Even before you get there, the cloud cover above and around you thickens. When you arrive, it's thick enough that you can't see more than a block in any direction. The buildings blend seamlessly into the gray nothingness of the town's characteristic fog. You lead Cress. You've been here before. "The mall is in this direction. We have not been followed so far - therefore, taking a direct route is somewhat reasonable. It will also give you more time for your disguise." You, a jadeblood, purchasing clown paint without any kind of religious symbol or garb, would draw looks and prying eyes. For Cress, it would be pedestrian. If you can keep her in sight and out of harm's way, you can spend that time contacting Luteus, and arranging a meeting. You explain this plan to her as you walk. "There is one concern," you add, "beyond the discussed hazard of being discovered for your false identity. Should you encounter any other members of the church, they may be able to single you out, in a way other trolls could not. Data surrounding the clown population in Megleno is insufficient to determine the likelihood of this. How much do you know of the church?"

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/08/2019

You tuck your purchases under your arm as you head to the bathroom. You pause one moment, and nod in response. "I know enough, I think," you say. "Not much about Lyrian's particular sect, because well. I don't know what it is, but she's got a pretty different manner to a lot of them. But enough to pass as a regular one."

You learn a lot about the church and its many sects in Torrent. They're one of the many people you're supposed to be keeping an eye on, though it's somewhat under the table. You've never considered the church for yourself- it's a conflict of interest to your work in Torrent, and it honestly seems like a load of hogwash meant to manipulate their followers into acting like they want them to.

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/08/2019

"Enough is all that is necessary," you confirm, and you let her go. You have a call to make. Passer Luteus is one of the few trolls you know who keeps a diurnal schedule. When you call him, he has only just woken up. He agrees to meet you in the mall, even on such short notice, on the condition that the meeting is kept brief. If you were alone, this would make you reconsider, but you know one thing about Cress: She's a skilled questioner. You pick a meeting place, end the call, and make your plan. Then, all you have to do is wait for Cress.

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/08/2019

You nod and head into the bathroom to look at yourself in the mirror. It's empty, but you don't expect it to stay that way for too long. You have to hurry. You look at yourself in the mirror. You almost never keep your hair down.

Lyrian has shorter bangs than you do. You brush your bangs to the side, but it's not quite the right look, but you don't think you're willing to cut them to look even more like her, for this. If Luteus sees Lyrian again, she could have always cut her hair. You start caking on the light foundation as you try to recall what exactly her make up looked like. You open your laptop and load up the footage you recorded during the meeting only a couple hours ago. You get the swipe of dark lipstick across your cheeks, carefully placing the circles and filling it in.

Clowns are particular about your make up, and you're not practiced. It'll do so long as you don't come across too many clowns. Those that aren't in the church won't look you in the eye. When you're done and you look in the mirror, you look enough like Lyrian, that you feel something bubble in your chest. You shut your laptop, slip on the black cloak and walk out the bathroom.

You're in a bad enough mood from your makeover that it's not a push to press your smile out of existence. You push out fear with each click of your heels against the linoleum floors. You look at Maera directly when you leave the bathroom. You're Lyrian. You're Lyrian right now.

It's not a great thought. You quirk an eyebrow, but otherwise school your face to stillness. "How do I look," you say, pitching your voice slightly lower.

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/08/2019

Oh, yes. That's the aura you know well enough to detest. You aren't sure how she managed to emulate Lyrian's atmosphere to a T - until you remember, right, Lyrian can influence emotions too, not just hear them. Why couldn't Cress?

"Terrifying," you say, followed by the more appropriate response, "and accurate." There's something about Essence of Lyrian that makes you miss Cress's too-cheery smiles. Maybe it's the creepy clown paint. "There is one last detail to attend to."

You remove the ring. By now, it has thawed, and is only cold to the touch. You slip your gloves back on, and then offer it back to her. "Personal relations within the work environment are unprofessional, and there is little wish to inadvertently begin rumors of Lyrian's romances."(edited)

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/08/2019

The fear aura definitely works. You can hear it reflected in Maera's song, though you're tempted to stop it immediately. Was this the sort of thing that Lyrian wanted to hear all the time? She did have bad taste.

Maera slips off the ring and you take it back, stripping your own off as well before tucking them into your pocket with a nod. You struggle not to smile when she mentions Lyrian's romances- she never did have any listed that didn't look like drone partners.

"Of course not," you say, when you've regained your composure. It wouldn't do to mock her too much in your head, not when you've stepped into her shoes. "Then let's go."

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/08/2019

You nod, and direct her down the appropriate street, just a few more blocks. You have one last stop to make, just before the mall: A sandwich shop. "You are familiar with the concept of a cover story. Confirm?"

She said she doesn't travel much. You don't know Torrent like she does, and you aren't sure if she's actually trained to do any of this. You're also not very talkative. If you don't need to explain what you're doing, you won't.

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/08/2019

"Of course," you say with a small nod as you enter the sandwich store, like you know why you're there. "I assume you have something in mind." You haven't been in the field much, but being a Torrent was sort of like field work, just with less paperwork.

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/08/2019

You place the order first. Your attention is on your internal clock. You need to make sure you arrive early enough to check for countersurveillance, even though you know there isnt enough time to intentionally sabotage the scene.

"Steak, horseradish and avocado," you request, with remarkable surety. The clerk gives you a funny look, but they don't protest. Then, you pause, turning back to "Lyrian." "Ma'am," you start, and you hate it already, "what would you like?"

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/08/2019

You don't blink at her strange order, as much as you want to. "Honey mustard and ham," you say, trying to keep to Lyrian's low tones. It's kind of weird to think of her in a bodega, ordering a sandwich. She usually gives off more of a "classy" sort of vibe, you guess. You wonder what sort of things she does when she goes hive."

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/08/2019

You pay for the order, without ordering anything else. Then you step back to wait, and do your best to fade into the background. "We are attending a picnic with a friend," you explain. "There is a garden on the roof of the mall that is lovely, in this season. Our schedule is tight, however, so we must make the most of the time we have. He is quite busy." Her fear aura makes it slightly harder for you to keep your cool. You're staving it off, for the moment, with the knowledge that this isn't Lyrian at all. How long that will last... you're uncertain.

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/08/2019

You nod. "A picnic at this time of year would be lovely," you say. The sound of fear is near suffocating, and you're fairly certain Maera's not very pleased with it either. You may as well drop it. The clown paint would be enough for passerby, wouldn't it? up until you meet this friend of hers. You don't need to force her to bear your aura for now.

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/08/2019

She gets it! And whether because of that confirmation, or because she's changed the aura she projects, somehow, the whole situation becomes easier to bear. When it's your turn to pick up your food, you take both sandwiches. You've played bodyguard before. With trolls that think themselves important, it comes with an element of servitude, for better... ...Or worse. The last time you were in a food establishment, guarding in any capacity, an imperial by the name of Hayato shut you down. You lost your client. You lost part of your memories. The brief recollection increases your stress exponentially as you survey the room. "There are places to go." You want to leave, and it's not just for your schedule anymore.

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/08/2019

Something changes, and it's not because of you, you don't think. You let her take the sandwich and carry it for you like an arrogant highblood would, but her melody ramps up in tension, working towards some sort of resolution that doesn't come.

"Obviously," you say dryly, without breaking character. "Come." You turn on your heels and stride out of the store. You know where the mall is. You don't need Maera to lead you there.

March 9, 2019

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/09/2019

This kind of attitude comes naturally to you. You're quick to follow her, falling into step close enough that you are leading her through the fog, just not in any noticeable way. It's an art. "Do not go immediately to the roof. There is still time. Walk around for a few moments on a lower floor, find whatever catches your fancy." You keep your voice low, and your mouth barely moves as you murmur these instructions.

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/09/2019

Maera’s stress and fear about resolves the moment you leave the shop. You moderate the aura this time. You push it out in small bursts whenever you hear someone passing by and the crowd parts around you like water around a paddle. It’s a cool feeling, really even if it sounds annoying. You know immediately what you’d want from a mall. Another sparkly eyeshadow, apple scented hand cream, and a cinnamon pretzel. And maybe if you find a cute sweater you wouldn’t turn that down either. Or some more glitter pens and matching stationary. What would Lyrian want from a mall? That stumps you quite a bit. Does she do skin care?? You had to imagine yes, with the amount of paint she has to slather on her skin every day. You can’t imagine any signmate of yours tolerating pimples. You make your way to Bath, Body, and Beyond: the Works!

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/09/2019

The smell of the store hits you like a physical wall. You keep your mouth tightly closed, and try not to cover your nose, too. Walking into the store gives you time to scope out the inside of the mall. Malls tend to be hotbeds for all kinds of people. For this reason, security is tight, but in a subtle way. If too many guards are stationed, trolls would feel too intimidated to shop. If too many cameras were obviously placed, some trolls would feel paranoid. As a result, most cameras are hidden, and guards are few and far-between. You spy one obvious camera, hanging in a corner of the shop, just inside the archway. Another is hidden under a shaded dome, along one wall. "Five minutes," you murmur. "Make them count."

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/09/2019

Again, you’re struck with the sense of walking in shoes you don’t understand. You know what scents you like. Does Lyrian have a favorite scent? Is she a Midnight Blossom or a Fresh Laundry kind of a troll. Maybe she goes with unscented lotion and wears perfume. Or- she is a clown. Maybe she just smells like Faygo. You stride through the store, casually, the customers crowding away from you. The sales trolls have clustered together to argue over who gets to approach. She’s got such bad taste, you think again, as the strings of the people around you all tremble, low, without resolution. You don’t give anyone time to wrack up their courage. It’s been five minutes. You pick up a bottle, examine it for a few seconds then idly stroll off again.

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/09/2019

With subtle movements, and adjustments in your own course, you direct her to the rooftop garden. You take the long way, making a full round of the mall's second floor, before taking the next escalator up. As near as you can tell, you aren't being followed. And once you get to the roof, the real work begins. "Act natural." You glance over at her. If you were the type to smile, you might smile here. "If you are able to gather data on other trolls present, this may play to your skills as well." You stay with her until you spot the first camera. You crack a water capsule in your hand, split off half of the water, and form a tight, frozen cap over the lens.

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/09/2019

Interrogating someone as Lyrian means something different to you. Your strategies are all about making someone feel comfortable and letting them flap their lips while you steer them towards what you want to hear. That’s not even remotely how Lyrian does it. You remember your first meeting and the strategies she used to try and establish first contact. She wants to establish superiority, make sure the other party knows what happens when they lie, follow it up with physical violence as necessary. It’s a pretty common attitude in interrogation and not your style at all. And while you can’t slip character-wise, you’re not going to get anything done her way either. Something of a happy medium then? Whatever that is. “Mmm,” you hum in response to Maera’s commands, as though you haven’t heard. There’s the sound of a crack that’s not psychic but you keep yourself from turning around and looking. Maera knows what she’s doing and she sounds calm.

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/09/2019

You are calm. This is your element - being out in the world, surrounded by danger, with enough pressure bearing down on you to boil all your ice. This is a less dangerous, less risky situation than others you've encountered, but that doesn't make it any less exciting. You've been doing this work for long enough that "exciting" is your "normal." Anything outside it feels too calm. You freeze a shell over a hidden camera. "

You can choose the location," you offer, in what is probably the most polite way you've said anything all day. "Keep escape routes in mind."

March 10, 2019

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/10/2019

“Oh I can work wherever,” you say, momentarily slipping out of character as you absently survey the roof top garden. You’ve done the stake out exercises and you know what’s supposed to be done.

But even though you had a 99% in clandestine meet ups the class had been over a sweep ago. Still, it wouldn’t do to look the fool in front of Maera. You catch the glint of ice on the lenses of the security cameras- that’d at least blur your faces out so you don’t have to worry so much about that if someone managed to get their hands on the footage. You pick a spot that’s not too far from the door to the roof, a bench sat next to the edge of the roof. There’s a way down from there- a small balcony for outdoor seating at the food court.

The both of you are sturdy enough to survive a one story fall, even if your heels don’t. You settle yourself in the bench, drawing your self up, pressing your lips down, and crossing your legs as you wait for Maera’s contact.

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/10/2019

With your job finished, you join Cress at the bench, setting down the wrapped sandwiches you'd brought. As if on cue, someone new enters the vicinity. Passer Luteus is a well-built yellowblood, with no obvious psionics. You know him to be a low-grade telekinetic, just strong enough to move mechanical parts at close range, but not strong enough to qualify for most programs.

In the absence of the ability to lift himself psionically, he has become very adept at freeclimbing, rappelling, and other rope-assisted climbing methods, in order to scale buildings and structures of all kinds for repairs. He's cheerful and energetic, wearing his usual sleeveless jumpsuit, which sparks a small amount of disgust on sight. He spies you, but makes his way over casually to the balcony, peering down before he says anything.

"Lovely weather, isn't it?" he says into the endless fog. You would roll your eyes, if you ever emoted. "Your bad taste precedes you." He just grins, before turning to both of you. "And this must be your friend!"

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/10/2019

Your first instinct is to reach out with a hand and a big smile, but you’re still pretending to be Lyrian. Instead, you give him a fixed stare. He sounds like he’s in a good mood, which you’ll probably have to ruin at some point in time. You turn to Maera and simply raise an eyebrow in question.

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/10/2019

You're with Lyrian, not Cress. That... doesn't help, you think. There's the briefest twinge of trepidation, which doesn't make it into your flat voice, when you announce her as "Client, actually. Lady Aubade." You're trying to play it safe. "This is Luteus." "Charmed!"

He isn't, really. He, like other reasonable trolls, has a healthy fear of clowns, but he still puts on a strong face. He takes a seat on the bench. You stay standing, and put your back to them. You're playing guard. It's reasonable to want to watch everyone around. He picks up the wrapped sandwiches, and finds his. "Oh, good! They got it right this time. Some trolls just don't understand a good sandwich, they try to make 'better' orders for you. Nothing beats this, though."

As he unwraps it, he says, "So I know what you want, ma'am, at least in the general sense, but I don't have time to relay the all the city's history to you. What, exactly, brings you here?"

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/10/2019

His melody drops the minute he sees the paint, and you can’t blame him. You keep your eyes flat as he settles next to you, giving his sandwich a single, barely disdainful glance. That one’s not too much of a stretch. Horseradish and avocado? Really?

“Me,” you explain breezily. “I had a previous residence here, nearly a sweep ago. I am looking to return, but I was curious to see what reputation remains in the city. Aubade. Lyrian Aubade.”

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/10/2019

For a moment, he's surprised, that this is all she asks. When she says her full name - Lyrian Aubade - you can practically hear the gear switch in his head. His temperature rises. He's nervous.

"Well, ma'am, with all due respect," he says, which is what he always says before he says something disrespectful, "you'll have a pretty rough time re-integrating after your last fiasco. A lot of people, uh... figured you had a bunch of work to do back at the H-Q? Paperwork, you know. For all the shit that blew up."

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/10/2019

He has heard of her, and it’s not great from his reaction. It’s practically a blaring alarm. You actually kind of have to admire how brave he has to be to say what he did. “I’m sorry?” You say quietly, in the even tone Lyrian never doesn’t speak in. “I don’t recall any of my fiasco being my fault.”

You have no idea what he’s talking about. What fiasco? Stuff blew up? Things were always happening in Neuja city. When was the last time something blew up here? There was the threatened attack that was circumvented a couple perigees ago, but nothing actually exploded then. No, no, it’d have to be something at least almost a sweep ago. What happened again?(edited)

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/10/2019

"You seriously don't remember?" Luteus has all kinds of emotions running high right now, but among them, you actually detect a note of sympathy. "Damn. I mean, I guess a head injury isn't out of the question, but it's cruel of them to not fill you in." He scratches behind one of his horns.

"Uh... Granite Guts Spaceport? You know, the first one. Or maybe you don't, injuries are finnicky. But you kind of blew it up? You and the other one, what's-his-face Aubade. Never met the guy, but he had his fingers in that pie too. You must remember him, right?"

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/10/2019

Granite Guts. You remember that. She was involved? Torrent had thrown an entire conniption when that happened because there hadn’t been a single whisper within your information networks something as big as that was going down, and no one had any answers as to what happened. And there was another Aubade? Man, your line liked signmates didn’t it.

It’s like striking a gold mine, but your lips don’t twitch. You stare straight at Luteus. “As I said,” you say softly. “I don’t recall being responsible for any of it. Rebels had their run of the station and stole a ship.” That much you know from the incident itself. If the street thought Lyrian was responsible... well. That was also just straight hilarious, but you keep your face still, soft, and slightly threatening.

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/10/2019

He's holding back. His temperature stays elevated, just slightly, and he fidgets with the crinkling foil of his sandwich.

"I wasn't there," he says, defensively, "but word says you were there, and so was your signmate, and yknow... it takes two to tango, ma'am. Maybe you didn't start the fire, but you sure helped finish it, and it was your signmate's show. You two were like -" He holds up his fingers, and you peer over in time to see him cross them. "Like that. Uh. Sorry, too. That might not be something you wanted to remember."

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/10/2019

“No,” you respond icily as you wonder. What the heck? Lyrian was close with this other signmate and yet insists on harassing you? “I don’t appreciate the implication that being the victim of an attack means I am implicated in the result. Especially after what happened to my signmate.” What did happen to your signmate? Your other signmate?

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/10/2019

"Right, right." He busies himself with unwrapping his sandwich. You keep your eyes on the passers-by, who pay you no notice. "Uhh... Anyway, aside from that, I mean, you'll probably be fine, excluding cl- uh, church politics?" He tries. He's used to talking only to you, and it's easy to speak freely, when both of you regard the church with disdain.

"If you've got that resolved, I can't say the people of Neuja will be thrilled to have you back, but it's Neuja. What are they going to do? You're one among millions, ma'am, I'm sure you'll be fine after a season or two."(edited)

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/10/2019

The poor thing is so uncomfortable, and you can clearly see he doesn’t think well of the church. Neither do you, but he doesn’t know that. “Hm,” you say instead trying to keep a straight face. “Very well. What do you want for this information?”

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/10/2019

He laughs, more out of surprise than amusement. "Is that a trick question? I mean, not to refuse your offer, ma'am - I guess I'd kind of like to... you know, go back to work alive, in one piece? Please?" You're confused, too, because you've never seen Luteus like this. He doesn't seem to be joking. He seems... genuine. What does that mean?

"Preferably with my thinkpan unscrambled, too, I kind of need that." He narrowly avoids saying this with a mouthful of food. He hasn't been so kind at your other meetings.

"Maera has a deal with me, and you're here on her dime. That's, uh, the only reason I'm doing this, really. Speaking of which, can we, like, talk?" He says that part to you, strangled and nervous. You nod to acknowledge it, and sign, "Later:" A twisted "L," with your thumb against the palm of your open hand.(edited)

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/10/2019

Well. Maera’s startled but you guess Lyrian’s got a reputation. You’ve got an inkling about what it is- you know what people in your profession are infamous for, so you raise a dismissive hand and wave him off. “It’s more trouble than you’re worth,” you say, and stand.

“Do you believe I waste all my time terrorizing everyone who crosses my path?” You glance at Maera. “Five minutes,” you say, and walk off into the garden, out of eyesight but not out of earshot.

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/10/2019

Luteus speaks first, because you don't get the chance. "What the fuck?" "It is understandable that the unconventional nature of-" "I don't give a damn about the nature," he just about growls, but he's also nearly hyperventilating, which doesn't make him very intimidating.

"You brought Lyrian Aubade? Are you fucking dumb? Have your little circuits gone and gotten fried? I could get killed! You could get killed!" You wait until he's finished to try again.

“She is dangerous," you admit. "This is why cooperation is necessary." "And I know other dangerous people, who know the kind of dangerous people she probably wants dead for what they did. They give out these lists of interrogarroters to watch out for, and she's like the very first name. This isn't news, Maera. I'm not imperial, I don't have protection against people like her, and I'm not a full-blown rebel but I've got friends, and I know you know this because -" He takes a deep breath. "Because we've talked about that! And you just brought Lyrian fucking Aubade to my hometown! How much does she know? How much did you tell her?"

"Little. Confidentiality is a priority."

The real Lyrian doesn't know anything. Cress only knows his name, and this town. And... his sandwich order. That's it. "You lack trust." "Now, yeah," he grumbles, and takes a bite of his sandwich, in the most angry way he can. "You owe me, big time. Be prepared for that. I don't know what I'll ask, but whatever it is, mark my words, it will be worth all of this, and you have no room to refuse it now."(edited)Reluctantly, you mark this in your memory. At least he's giving you a warning. "No-ted." You try looking for Cress, and can't find her. You hope she's safe. "Is this all?" "Sure," he says, with another mouthful of sandwich. "Whatever. Don't bring her back here. If she shows up again, I'm calling you to take care of it." "Then leave will be taken." You stand. "The contact information you possess is still correct. Contact as needed." Where did she go?

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/10/2019

Man, he couldn’t wait to have that conversation with Maera huh. Not even enough to check and make for sure ‘Lyrian Aubade’ of whom he was so afraid of, wasn’t listening. Rebel contacts or not, Luteus wouldn’t make it for very long if he kept messing with higher level people. When Maera comes looking for you, you step back out from behind cover and suppress the urge to smile brightly. “Let’s go,” you say. You can’t wait to take this make up off but it’s probably not safe to do that here.

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/10/2019

"A-greed." You only feel guilty for the stress you've put Luteus through. You haven't put him in any real danger, not yet, not today. Still, the guilt you have weighs on you as you leave, and you start to lead Cress through the motions of leaving, indirectly, so you don't attract attention and can check for a tail. As soon as you're out of the mall, you slow to a more casual walk. "The information provided was foreign to you too, correct?"

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/10/2019

You steal a glance at Maera and your face breaks into a large smile as you giggle. “Yes!” You exclaim. You feel like dancing. “Omgggg did you hear? I have another signmate?? Whose dead I think? This. Is. Crazy!!” You laugh again before you assume your Serious Lyrian face again. “Let’s find a bathroom quick,” you mutter, “before someone sees and wonders why Lyrian Aubade is in such a good mood.”

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/10/2019

She is whiplash, embodied. "Here." You nod to a small establishment, one you didn't stop by on the way in. You slip past attendants and into the restroom. You check for heat signatures first, and finding none, retreat to a wall. "It is clear." You rub your forehead, and lean against this wall you've found, your wall, the wall that now belongs to you- Your most burning question now is this: "Did you say "O-M-G" out loud?"

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/10/2019

It’s almost startling to see your reflection in the mirror, and even more startling for you to start smiling through the paint. God you are so going to break out. You scrub your face as she asks you if you really said what you said and you laugh. “I said what I said!” You exclaim with a smile as the paint washes off your face. “I’m very excited right now don’t judge me!”

You grab a paper towel and scrub until you’re clean to your satisfaction, then start reapplying your usual make up. Eye shadow, eyeliner, lipstick. “It’s been a rollercoaster of a day, wouldn’t you say, Maera? Geez! But this is a real good sign.”

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/10/2019

"It is a sign," you respond, in what would be a grumble, if you didn't speak in monotone. You cross your arms. "Data is insufficient to confirm its nature as 'good.'" Luteus was able to answer some questions, but his answers proposed entirely new questions in their stead. "What occurred at Granite Guts?"

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/10/2019

You roll your eyes as you put your lipstick on. "A starting point is very very good you know! It's a lead. Maybe now I can figure out what she wants from me." "Oh, I'm sure I have no real idea as to what happened," you say, leaning into the mirror as you tilt around making sure you have proper coverage.

"Intelligence community threw a fit over it, because most the big moves from the rabble have a ripple or two, and then the people who are tracking it get to be heroes or whatever, but this one barely had a whisper! Identified two of the rebels, but not anyone else involved, and they haven't been caught."

You shake your head. "Incredible. If she was involved with that," you say as you finish up, cap your lipstick and smack your lips together. You shed the black coat you were wearing and tie your hair back up, and tada! You were yourself again in the mirror.

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/10/2019

It's relieving, to see Cress again, not Lyrian's doppelganger. It moves your pessimistic attitude, just slightly. "If," you repeat. "Is she also part of Torrent? Is she Imperial at all? Are records kept on these occurrences?" They must be, you think. The only question then is whether or not Cress can access them. "And your second signmate... Who may be dead. What if she killed him?" You wouldn't put it past her. Your chief concern, right now, is whether Lyrian intends to kill Cress, and since the answer isn't "no," you want to make sure it isn't "yes."

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/10/2019

"Definitely not," you say. "Not Torrent. I would have known if she was in my department. She's definitely worked as an interrogarroter in Neuja, usually with policeradicator departments, but as far as I can tell, she's abandoned the work." After giving yourself another once over in the mirror you turn around to face Maera again, leaning your hips against the bathroom counter. "I have no idea!" you exclaim. "Maybe!" You shudder. If she did, maybe she wanted something similar from you. "I'll have to look into it some more."

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/10/2019

Your implants pulse in yellow as you think. You're... nervous. You exhale through your nose, and it comes out as a fine mist. After a pause, you ask, "Do you intend to return to Ghoulisar or Arkady?"

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/10/2019

You pause too, as Maera pulses with nervousness. "Arkady," you say carefully. "I can look into things far easier from there. Are you alright?" You mean to have a word with her too, about her association with Luteus.

March 11, 2019

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/11/2019

"Systems are functional," you huff, and you straighten. Your arms drop to your sides, and you roll your shoulders back. "Movement is required, and you should not travel alone. Arkady being a closed city, you will be safer once you have reached it."

Lyrian hasn't been tailing you all this time, but you can't shake the sinking feeling that you haven't seen the last of her. She's dangerous, she doesn't like Cress, and from what you've heard tonight, she has the potential to be more dangerous than you may have anticipated, especially now that you've given her a reason. And no - Cress isn't paying you, this isn't a job, but you still answer to her. And if you aren't doing what you were built for - hurting someone or protecting someone - what other purpose do you have?

"If you are satisfied with your appearance, sunrise is in approximately two hours."(edited)

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/11/2019

Right, of course she’d take it as a physical check. “I meant that you’re worried,” you explain. “I don’t think we need to be afraid just yet. I doubt Lyrian expects us to have made the moves we did today. Unless it’s about Luteus?” You glance, surprised, outside when Maera mentions the time. Damn, already? Might not be enough time to get back to Arkady and get back to your apartment without getting burned. And you didn’t bring a suncloak today.

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/11/2019

Your lights flash red with your annoyance. You've changed your mind: the empath thing isn't handy, it's a pain in the ass. "There are two options: worried, or dead." Then you realize you've admitted to the worry, and correct yourself: "It is concern for your safety. Not worry."

What's the difference? You don't know. But "concern" sounds more detached, and you don't want to admit she's right, because that means you have to talk about emotions.

"Luteus is capable. He will likely not approach Lyrian, and with luck, Lyrian will not notice him." You're concerned about him too, but... lesser, and you don't want to talk about that either. You want to keep moving, and you start towards the door. "None of this is relevant. Are you prepared?"

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/11/2019

You hum, slightly, as you listen to her concerns- she is worried about you! Adorable. “I’d be a little more worried about Luteus,” you comment. “He doesn’t seem very... smart. For example, he didn’t check to make sure I was out of earshot when you had your little conversation. And he made it pretty clear as to why, even without me prying.”

You throw a hand up to preempt any concern Maera might toss out. “Don’t worry, I won’t turn him in. I have bigger fish to fry, but if this is how he handles stuff like this I don’t expect him to survive for too much longer.”

You stand up straight and head to the door. “But yes, I’m ready. It’s three hours to Arkady, however, so I may have to stay here, or Ghoulisar if I rush.”

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/11/2019

The red of your implants lingers this time, but you don't say anything until you're out of the building.

"It may be in your best interest to remember that the existing network has existed far longer than you have been doing field work," you remark, with your voice just teetering on the razor's edge of your anger. You don't look at her when you say it. Your eyes are focused on your destination - the train station, ahead - and the people around you, as they filter off into their separate ways.

"What you participated in today was an uncommon occurrence. Contacts usually do not speak to others outside the network. If it con-cerns you -" you break, just slightly, speaking through gritted teeth, "- respectfully, you need not attend another such meeting in the future."(edited)

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/11/2019

Oh, now she's mad. You try not to be too offended- after all, you've only known her a short while, and Luteus is her friend! But now you do know it's an entire network. You don't think Maera's too different in age than you, and you've been doing field work from a fairly young age. Not that she would know that.

"Very well," you say with a sigh. "It's merely advice, you may take it or leave it as you like." You glance at your phone for a time check- Ghoulisar was maybe pushing it too. It'd take almost an hour just to get back to the city center itself. "I'll find a room in the city, I think," you say.

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/11/2019

"And I am not his keeper." She actually backs off, which you weren't expecting. You're regretful, you realize. But, without fuel, the anger fizzles out again, until it's only a background hum of slightly-elevated resentment. Then... she suggests staying in the area. You're confused, concerned, and kind of against this idea - though, then again, you're a jadeblood. The sun doesn't seem like that much of a big deal.

"In Neuja? Are you certain?"

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/11/2019

You sigh again. "No," you say. "You're right, it's risky to stay here when we've been so active in the area, but I'm also very not prepared for the sun and more tired than I realized."

It's true. The emotional rollercoaster of the night has left you feeling pretty drained. You basically just want some sopor and some quiet. You rub the back of your neck. "Perhaps we can find a place outside of the city."

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/11/2019

Even though you're hanging onto your anger, your priority has always been your mission. No matter what direction those missions take you, you strive to complete them, by any means necessary. In this case, you've determined that her safety is your mission. This helps you rationalize your decisions to yourself, when you exhale a small puff of cold air, and undo your belt.

You hang the belt around your shoulders, carefully - you don't want a repeat of last time - and unwrap your coat. It's trimmed in green and emblazoned with your sign. Underneath, your long-sleeved, high-collar shirt is still covering a majority of your skin, but there are places where your external hardware bunches the fabric. If someone looked too hard, they could see it. You're counting on no one doing that.

"Take." You hold it out to her. "It is resistant to everything under the sun. It is likely resistant to the sun itself, too. As long as your exposed skin is covered, you will not burn."

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/11/2019

You blink, surprised that she'd do something like this even though she's still angry. Your lips quirk into a small smile as you take it, a little doubtfully.

"You don't need it?" you ask, before you give yourself a tiny smack on the head. "Oh right. Jade."

You take her coat and put it on. You're slighter in the shoulder than she is, so it's not a perfect fit, but really, it was good enough. It's really pretty comfortable, and hey, it totally sells the quadrant alibi. "Thank you," you say genuinely.

Kitty | mpembasVauntlay03/11/2019

You fix your gloves, re-adjust your belt, and clip it around you again. You say nothing in response to her thanks, because it's unnecessary words. You just urge her forwards with a motion, as you start walking briskly towards the station. "Quickly. You need to be on the next train."

Tang | MD (indigo) IT (maroon)03/11/2019

> END RP

#cresce rps #cress and shupaa: ride a train

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