ZincAboutIt
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Arun, Renata realized with a chill. "Arun's in the cellar," she whispered, voice hollow with dread. She looked from Lisa, to Lizanne, to Aderet. "If we leave her there, she'll die." It doesn't matter, something inside her pleaded. Just leave. Go. But that eye... It would follow them wherever they went. She knew it like she knew her own name - that is to say, she was almost sure of it. "We can't leave, not yet. If we let everyone else die, we're good as dead ourselves." @kenod @Sorana
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Lita reached out for the coin again, feeling an odd sort of dejavu as she recalled taking it from the Stranger's Shade just a few days before. The weight of it was familiar in her hand, a cold little sun. Feruchemical gold, she thought, with no small amount of wonder. This changed things quite a bit. Don't get cocky, that little voice chided. This is no time to play Ascendant Warrior. Lita looked up at the Stranger, forcing herself to meet his eye. It was terrible, and extraordinary. "Thank you," she said, and smiled a small true smile. It felt rather trite, but it wasn't exactly like she could give anything but gratitude in return. She decided to file those two caveats about the coin away for later research. Informational kiosks were easy enough to avoid, but she had exactly no idea what a binturong was, and she had no desire to be melted - spiritually or otherwise. Perhaps Laurelai would know. Of course, he could also be joking with her, though that was a dangerous assumption. But why did you give this to me? Now that was a secret Lita desperately wanted to know. Did the Stranger know something about her that she didn't yet know herself? Had he seen her future? Or was it simply random, a true flip of the coin in every sense of the word? Lita wasn't sure which possibility was more daunting. The question burned on her tongue like liquor, but she swallowed it. This wasn't a story, and she wasn't the Ascendant Warrior. There was no great destiny laid out for her - not unless she made it so. She held up the coin, and was proud that her hand only shook a little. Anything is attainable, but what is the price for power like this? But in that moment, looking at the coin in her hand, Lita knew that she'd be willing to pay. Her smile curved slightly wicked, and she turned her tin back on. Life sharpened. She sharpened. It was time to finesse some secrets from the world.
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Lita blinked at that last hypothetical question. Well now I want to know, she thought, slightly peeved. Still, he was right about the lack of time. She held up the coin, and her hand shook a little. "What is this, Sir?" She asked, then amended. "Besides a coin? I think it grew hot to warn me of danger, earlier. Is there anything else I should expect or... um... avoid while carrying this?" Why did the faces disappear? How do they change? Have you been living inside this coin for the last however-many years? Will this kill me or my companions on accident during our highly-dangerous espionage mission? That last question took forefront in her mind at the moment, though a thousand others chased each other around her brain. There were so many things that he knew. Focus, Lita. The secrets she needed to chase right now were in PlasmaCore. Mission first, unraveling the mysteries of the world later. @Fatebreaker
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The message took Lita a bit by surprise. Support? She thought, giving Laurelai the slightest smile. Support was the last thing she had expected to find here in the Alleys, and while this place was indeed strange and terrifying, it wasn't nearly as viciously cut-throat as she had anticipated. They seemed to look after their own here, or at least, leave each other largely to their own devices. A larger, more cowardly part of her than Lita cared to admit wanted to accept Laurelai's company, but an even more insistent portion knew she needed to ask her questions alone. Don't lie to yourself, came that small voice. You want to ask your questions alone. Lita chewed her lip, knowing it for the truth. These kinds of secrets, these were what she had come for. And she didn't wish to share them. It made her a bit guilty, but then, Laurelai had plenty of secrets of her own, plenty of things she likely hoped to tease out of the fabric of the world and spin into something new. Lita twirled her pen. Privacy, I think, she said. Fingers crossed I don't get disintegrated. She managed a weak grin. I'll contact you when I've learned what there is to know. Lita took a deep breath, then set her sights on the three leaders speaking. She wasn't so foolish as to attempt to eavesdrop again, so she kept a respectable distance as they spoke, turning off her tin for what felt like the first time in days. Her vision suddenly fuzzed to vague shape and color, and she pushed her spectacles further up her nose so she could see. The lack of metals made her feel even more vulnerable as she stood and waited for some kind of lull in conversation. She sent Laurelai one more message. Maybe find some wine, if you can? Honestly after this conversation I imagine I'll drink anything. She took another deep, measured breath, then flipped the coin. "Anything is attainable, Lita," she whispered to herself, and waited for the right moment to catch the Stranger's eye. @Fatebreaker
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Lita caught Laurelai's raised brow at her comment, realizing she'd probably gone a bit too dark with that last quip. Tell you what, why don't we all just stay alive and then have drinks together? Came Laurelai's reply. A better idea, Lita sent, smiling a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. The vague shape of their mission was beginning to reveal itself, and it seemed a daunting prospect. She flipped the coin again, then caught it quickly as Voidus moved over towards them. He fixed them with that cold, measuring gaze, then directed them to Mac for guidance on the mission. Lita noticed him give the girl, Whisper, a slight frown before he turned back and walked towards Mac and the Stranger. Odd, Lita thought. She looked down at Whisper herself. The girl was strange, to be sure, but hardly the strangest person in the room by far. At that thought, her eyes flicked toward the Stranger, and she flipped her coin again. What had he said to her at the beginning of the meeting? He wished to speak with her about the coin? The thought both excited and terrified her. There was a wealth of secret knowledge hidden within that dark, bottomless eye of his. More secrets than someone could learn in a lifetime. But if even one of them could help her in the coming days, she wanted to know. "Shall we get our orders and gather everyone in someone's quarters to plan, then?" She asked Laurelai. Speaking aloud felt a bit strange after so much Alleycant. As she spoke, she sent the woman a silent message, twirling her pen with fingers that shook slightly. I want to ask him about the coin, Lita relayed. She flipped it again in her other hand, meeting Laurelai's eyes and nodding her head towards the three leaders. Her mouth felt like she'd been eating dust. If there's any hidden advantage to this thing, I want to know now, before we go wading into that mess. @Voidus
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@I think I am here.
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Renata backed away slowly, mind racing. She had her sphere bundle in her pack for light, a small bottle of the white liquor, and some food, along with what they'd gathered from the dead. Hardly enough to live on, she thought, not taking her eyes off that one red eye. But better than dying here. Hellbent was tearing into Tish's flesh like a mad dog, bathed in a halo of that garish red light. Oh Almighty, let it be satisfied with Hellbent. Whatever it wants, let it pass us over. She edged them towards a pile of rubble, placing one foot behind the other with deliberate silence. Once they were out of direct view, they'd run. Unless there are more of them. Renata banished the thought, squeezing her left hand inside its leather glove. One thing at a time. Fear is for later. Fear is for later.
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At the sight of the eye, Renata froze, watching with fascinated horror as its ruddy gaze fixated on Hellbent. Then, the man turned and began reaching for Tish's corpse, the look in his eyes unmistakable: terrible, ravenous hunger. "Oh storms," Renata whispered, reaching down very slowly to draw her boot knife again. Hellbent was terrifying, but he was only a man. That eye, though. It seemed to peer through a slit in the darkness, like something had plucked at a seam in the world and opened a hole. What would happen when the rest of the seam unraveled, letting whatever belonged to that eye step through? "We need to get out of here," she whispered hoarsely. "Just - just try not to let look at you. Move slowly." @Sorana @kenod
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Ahh, Nerin thought, looking at the girl with a more critical eye. Anxiety, no need for that right now. A little dread, perhaps? That's unhelpful. You'll want to keep your anticipation, but let's take away some of the fear. Are you doubting yourself? Not anymore... She took another sip of wine, watching the subtle changes in the young woman before her and feeling a slight thrill of satisfaction.
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Nerin bit down on the tiny flicker of irritation the rose at the girl's chatting, pushing down just a little more on the girl's nervousness. She let none of it reach her face, which remained calm, pleasant. Soothing. "Just under a year," Nerin said lightly, keeping her tone even and smooth. She sipped at her glass of wine and steered the conversation towards business. "Is there something in particular I can help you with? Some emotion you wish me to ease?"
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Renata woke with a start as someone screamed her name. Brain muddied with sleep, she moved automatically, sliding her arms into her pack and scrambling up the stairs. Her hand was on her boot knife before she'd fully come awake; the little snick! of the blade leaving its sheath sounded oddly loud in the cool, misty night. She tumbled out of the door, knife in hand, to find Lizanne screaming and cowering in front of Lisa. There was something in the fire, something large. It smoked and sizzled, filling the air with the smell of cooking meat. "What's going on!" Renata shouted, mind immediately going to the eye in the journal. She ran toward the fire. "Is it the creature? Did you--" Her words died in her throat as she saw what, exactly, lay sizzling in the fire. It was the quiet girl, the one Renata had pulled under the crossbeam as the mansion had started to collapse. She had been stabbed with the horrific, neat precision only managed by one kind of weapon. Her flesh steamed and popped on bed of coals, and her hair had begun to catch fire. Renata felt her stomach twist, and she leaned over and retched onto the floor. She took a shaky step, wiping her mouth, then sheathed her boot knife and grabbed one of Tish's feet, dragging the girl's corpse out of the fire. She stumbled back, mind reeling. "Who did this?" A foolish question. There was only one person here with a Shardblade. Still, she asked. @Sorana
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Lita felt the corner of her mouth tug upwards at the implication of Laurelai’s question. Before we saunter into our doom, you mean? Lita sent back. Depends on what you’ve got back in your rooms. And whether or not this madness has reached the tavern yet. She tapped the end of the pen against the top of her nose and sighed. Negotiations seemed to be wrapping up. Even as she watched, Voidus dissolved the cognitive link and the TUBA members flickered out of view. Lita felt a measure of anxiety at the prospect of the attention of the three DA leaders shifting back towards her now that they were done talking. She forced herself to maintain her typical pleasant, cool demeanor - it wouldn’t do to embarrass herself. Now that the link was closed, Lita shifted her arm and brought out the coin from behind her back and flipped it as she thought. It’s newly blank face blurred the distinction between heads or tails. In either case, there was nothing. I do hope that’s not an omen, she thought darkly. Their proposed group of infiltrators was good - far better than any gang she’d worked with before. She hoped it would be enough. The kandra Kumiko had spoken of seemed to have some idea of what was currently happening in the city outside, which was good. She hated going into a job blind. Tell you what, if I die on this mission you can have KanMien eat me, then go out for a drink with them. Fair? She sent to Laurelai.
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Don't play coy, he'll totally do it on purpose.
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Jeb stepped over to the man who had called him "greasy" and smiled. He'd been called far worse. "How can I help you, sir?" @Dr. Dapper
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Drawing this has made me realize I really struggle to write in a straight line -
@Voidus
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Nerin looked up from her wingback armchair in the corner of the smaller room and smiled. She already had a light burn of brass going, just a basic Soothing that eased away any ambient exhaustion, worry, or fear. The new arrival was an older girl with a vigilant, watchful look that spoke of street life. Nerin reached out with a more targeted Soothing and smudged the clear lines of the girl's apprehension. No need for that, she thought. This is a place of peace. Come sit a while. She turned over one of a collection of small hourglasses, each with enough sand for thirty minutes. "No reservation needed," Nerin said, keeping her smile soft for this one. She extended her hand to the room. "Please, sit wherever you wish." @Sorana
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Thanks so much, all! I am out of upvotes for the day but I want you to know I upvote all of you :3 Cookies for everyone!!!
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It's alright, Lita returned. Better safe than sorry when it comes to counter-intelligence, though. We might be fighting PlasmaCore at the moment, but I hardly trust anyone over there not to mount some kind of heroic front against us as soon as we deal with our mutual problems. Lita cocked her head towards the TUBA members in the cognitive link. Things seemed to be getting better on that end, actually. The Stranger had... reassembled? Lita tabled her newest dozen questions regarding that for later, then slid up next to Laurelai and Whisper again. She motioned to Kumiko. Judging from how well you blended in at the party, you'd be a welcome asset if we end up trying to go deep into PlasmaCore. How did you manage it? Lita vaguely recalled the young woman turning into a cat, or... something.
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@kenod Jeb glanced up from the bar at the two new customers, momentarily startled at their apparent age and the girl's odd suit of... armor? Then, he gave a small sigh and smiled easily. "Indeed it is," he said. "How can I help you two?" @Emperor Stick
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Lita noticed Laurelai and the girl, Whisper, looking back towards the cognitive link while continuing to communicate. She followed suit, giving the impression of rapt attention while spinning her pen. I do indeed watch things, she sent to Whisper. What exactly had the girl meant by 'make other people watch things, wrong things'? Illusions, perhaps? A Lightweaver? Lita stole another sidelong glance at the girl, but she could see no spren. Perhaps it was hiding? Still banished from Voidus's earlier cognitive dissipation? She changed tack and sent a message to Laurelai. I'll need a disguise if I'm to get back into PlasmaCore without getting recognized instantly, not sure about you. Lita felt her mouth flatten a bit into an irritated line at the inconvenience of it all. But, needs must. If Whisper can change my appearance, it will be much easier for me to move about. Don't get me wrong, it was fun to flash my new spikes and look intimidating for once in my life, but I doubt that host will forget my face any time soon. @Voidus Lita flinched slightly at Kumiko's voice, which had broken her concentration. She fumbled a bit with her pen, bungling the last few words of Alleycant to Laurelai, though she was confident the woman would understand her meaning. Not wishing to alert the TUBA members on the other side of the link to any plans before negotiations were concluded, Lita edged a little further back behind the DA leaders. She turned to Kumiko, voice low. "We're trying to decide how best to neutralize this PlasmaCore nonsense," she said, "while attempting to avoid being overheard." Lita spun her Alleycant pen around her finger in a meaningful flourish, realizing as she did so that she accidentally transmitted something like 'armchair waffles exceedingly!'
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Renata took the journal back from Hellbent, then nodded to Lizanne. She bent down to help Arun stand. "Someone help me," she said, pulling one of Arun's arms around her shoulders. "We need to get her down to the cellar and keep the stitches from ripping." She cast a meaningful glance at Lizanne. "Keep an eye out for that... thing out there," she said quietly. "Whatever it is, it's watching us. Try and catch a look at it if you can - the whole thing. We'll want to know." @Sorana
