tushanshu_logs | let's all mission board!

[even as incredibly spacious as the suites in the fire sector are, qilby's first floor is practically packed to the brims with people -- his contacts all there to coordinate with him in person, displaced kedan from the earth and metal sectors, potential help… even for a supposed king, adept at dealing with the needs of many people at once, he looks and feels harried. the bing, bing, bing of his constant, rapid-fire portaling all over the place (to save time walking to people) certainly doesn't help with the illusion of calm.

need mission details? he can oblige-- if you can catch him in a spare moment.]

[Unrest is such a deceptively small, simple word. A word that often masks terrible things, in Shepard's experience. She keeps vaguely up-to-speed on gang movements in her own sector, so she's not completely in the dark about what's going on, but the idea that the police might actually be willing to accept help from foreigners is - well, it's heartening.

So Shepard wastes no time, arriving at Qilby's place suited up and with her sidearm at her hip. He's clearly a very busy guy, so she dispenses with the introductions for the moment.]

Is there anything in particular the kedan police want us to do? The sooner we can nip this in the bud, the better off we'll all be.

[in but a moment, he looks shepard up and down -- eyes resting for just a second on the weapon at her hip -- before flashing a small smile. competence is good. competence is nice to see, and the way she just gets straight to the point is encouraging. pausing in the middle of fetching some more parchment, qilby turns to fully face her.]

Well. While the police are mainly occupied with quelling the larger-scale fights and dealing with threats closer to the palace, it's up to us to help with the more... [after a brief pause, he lowers his tone.] Low-priority matters.

[it doesn't exactly sound good, but there isn't really another way to put it.] Dealing with very specific civilian issues, mostly. Evandau and his men are "nipping this in the bud" as we speak -- our job is to minimize or fix the damage that's already occurred, as it occurs.

Civilian safety is never a low priority. [Shepard says that with the long conviction of a woman who's always done what she can to help innocent people when bad situations occur.] Anything else you can tell me? Hot spots? Who's being targeted?

[not exactly low, just... lower. the civilians themselves would probably agree on the importance of palace security. nevertheless, shepard's sentiment is a noble one, so he doesn't try and correct the point.

waving her over, he gestures at a map pinned to the wall which is peppered with circles made in red ink.] Most of our specific requests come from kedan whose property is being occupied by one gang or the other. We're lucky that neither side has ill intent for any of them -- in all cases, these victims simply have something that the gangs can use in their petty battles. These are shopkeepers, farmers, merchants, all of them.

[he motions to some marks in blue-- on street corners, entire blocks, even one outside the city walls.] The others points of interest are areas of heightened gang activity... Drug trafficking, recruitment efforts and such. These nuisances are nothing new, but with this war, both sides are trying ever harder to stake their claim. [pausing, he eyes her levelly.] You're not new to this sort of thing.

[She nods at his words, eyes scanning the map. It's a fact - a sad fact, but a fact nonetheless - that civilians, especially tradesmen, tend to get caught in the crossfire of conflicts like this. Shepard is no stranger to any of it - and in fact, she's been on both sides.]

Career military. This isn't my first rodeo. Have there been safehouses set up in the districts affected yet?

[it had to have been something like that, he figures -- she certainly looks the part. he'd always enjoyed working with her type. they tend to take orders.

after nodding approvingly, he continues.] Those who can have made it out of the more dangerous parts of the sectors entirely. The rest are safe with my associates in the area... And if I know one thing about them, it's that they're quite capable of defending themselves-- and others, if it comes to that.

All right, so it'll mostly be liberating property and containing criminals. Good to know. [Really, the fewer civilians involved, the better, as far as Shepard is concerned. They make really easy targets.]

Correct. [it's not glamorous, but it needs to be done-- and honestly, the glamour (or lack thereof) isn't much of a concern for him when he's fortunate enough to stay behind a desk.

he tilts his head down, looking up at her expectantly.] I have some areas here that could use someone with your experience, if you're interested.

Of course. [She gives a short nod.] Just point me in the right direction, and I'm your woman.

[Frankly, she needs more things to do. Active things. Physical things. Things to wear her out so she can sleep at night.]

[oh, good, he can provide things!

he smiles brightly and shuffles a few more papers and maps, forefinger trailing over the hotspots circled in blue before pausing and lingering on one-- the one outside the city walls.]

Here... How does shutting down an animal fighting ring sound? [again. not glamorous, but he's serious enough about it.] The rings have always been a large source of income for the gangs and, naturally, their activity has only increased since the fighting broke out. They've even begun to affect the farms and institutions in the surrounding area... Raiding them, stealing animals as fodder for fights. Causing trouble.

[Shepard listens - she's not one to turn her nose up at a mission that could potentially help someone, no matter how un-glamorous it might be.]

I could definitely handle that.

[The broadcast comes over the network, and immediately the turtles come together to hold a meeting. Worlds might change, history and society might differ between dimensions, but in the end, people really don't. It's one thing he's learned throughout his life, and the kedan are no different. Gangs are no different. It takes less than an hour for them come to a unanimous agreement, gear up at their place in the Water Sector, and head towards the provided residence. Along the way they cut east into Metal, a slight detour to observe the unrest for themselves - and although they fail to run into any trace of activity in this better part of the sector, they're all experienced enough to feel the tension lingering in each empty alley and shuttered window; taste the sort of invisible snap of electricity in the air.]

[This is an area of calm within a storm. Something is happening elsewhere - and if that man on the network is to be believed, it's very likely war.]

[When they arrive at Fire's 3C building, the turtles navigate through the heavy kedan traffic until they spot Qilby. Three of them hang back at an observational distance, but the fourth, wearing blue and armed with twin katana, separates from them to approach him directly.]

My name is Leonardo. [He bows quickly and professionally before gesturing to the others behind him. If Qilby takes note of them all, he'll see that there's a second one with a blue mask and twin katana; one in purple, with the end a bo staff jutting up over his head; and one in red, with nunchaku holstered in his belt.] My team and I are here to offer our help.

[even in a crowd, the turtles aren't exactly hard to miss. seeing them coming gives him a good ten seconds to get over the fact that they're giant walking, talking turtles. it's fine. he's seen stranger, much stranger.

it just means that, even as busy as he's been, he gives them the attention that most other people today have had to work to snatch. without missing a beat, he returns the bow with a short, respectful nod of his own.]

Something told me you all were part of a group. [he smiles, glancing at the four of them in turn. goodness, they're all color-coded too. anything to make it easy for an old man like him, eh?] Well, you four came at the right time. I've a number of tasks in need of attention...

[trailing off, he turns his attention to a sheaf of papers. he glances back up at leo, peering at him over the little glasses perched on the end of his nose.] What sort of work are you and your team accustomed to, Leonardo? I'm sure we'd both like to avoid putting your talents to waste.

[The corners of his mouth twitch upward at Qilby's observation. Life in Keeliai has helped them all grow slightly more accustomed to crowds, but even in a sea of shape-shifting kedan, of course they'd stand out a little; especially grouped up as they are. Ordinarily that might bother him, but for now he's just glad it's let them capture Qilby's attention more easily.]

We're ninja. [His response is quick and smooth.] We get in, we get out. Nobody's the wiser. We have plenty of combat experience... [his expression sours for a moment, but it quickly passes] ...though I'm hoping we can avoid having to put that to use.

[he doesn't notice the dark look -- that, or he decides not to comment on it. his tone's businesslike, and nothing more.] The term's unfamiliar to me, but I think I get the idea.

Let's see, something requiring stealth... Something requiring cunning... [murmuring to himself, he runs his finger down a list written in some foreign script. a certain line catches his eye and he stops on it, tapping it and nodding.] Yes-- I think that'll work.

There's a stolen item that needs retrieving, an antique of some sort. Very valuable. The owner suspects that the thieves are planning to auction it off to fund their gang's operation, but for now it's being held in a cornerclub in Ur territory, no doubt under guard. [his smile turns up at one corner.] In and out. Something for a quartet of "ninja," wouldn't you say?

[ Sorry but you can't just portal yourself all over the place without a kid questions about that, never mind mission details. ]

How do you keep doing that? [ And why, Scott also wants to ask. It seems kind of... lazy. ]

[it's funny, in all his tens of hundreds of possibly thousands of lives, qilby can't recall a single time anyone's ever asked him that. even after more than half a year in a new universe, nobody's yet thought to question how he can do what he can do.

so when someone asks the question now, he doesn't really have an answer. he just stops what he's doing and kind of looks at scott, at a complete loss for words.]

Er-- magic?

[ Really? No one's ever asked him that before? Wow. ]

You mean actual magic? Or is it that lazy answer for something more complicated?

[hey, kid, there're some pretty weird people on the turtle. old man with portal magic is probably the least of it.]

It's... The short answer. [he purses his lips. not lazy. never lazy. quickly glancing around to make sure nothing else is in dire need of his attention, he sighs and fiddles with his glasses.] The ability to create portals is one that all members of my kind are born with. Legend says it was an ability gifted to us by our Goddess so that we may aspire to bring ourselves ever closer to Her-- [but it is what it is: a legend.

a wry smile.] You're asking me to explain how I breathe, or why my hair is brown.

[ You're probably right. And this kid is a werewolf so he's pretty weird himself. ]

Your kind? What are you?

An Eliatrope. You're not likely to have known any of us, even where I'm from. We're a rather-- rare breed, nowadays.

[which is easier than saying he's one of the last of his kind after a race of giant sentient space robots wiped out his civilization nearly ten thousand years ago. rather a lot easier. he's not the sort of person to tell his life story... at least not to anyone who doesn't ask.

he smiles amicably.] Have you been here very long? Surely I'm not the strangest thing you've seen.

You're right, I've never heard of you. [ Scott can sense there's no happy story as to why they're a rare breed so he doesn't ask. ] But it's nice to meet you. [ He smiles back just as amicably. ]

Not that long... I did meet an amphibious lady with gills? But I'm not exactly normal myself so I'd be a bit of a hypocrite if I judged others for being... different.

[ Find out something about the enemy. That is what his precious friend told him, but where to begin? He thinks the best place is to make friendly with the locals. Since they had faced something similar in the past, perhaps, they would be willing to give some more information after a trouble has been eased off of their shoulders.

He slips into the place with a sweet smile. ]

My name is Yaha. [ A pause before the elf bows to the man. ] I wish to be of some service to helping the people here.

[ ooc: But seriously, sorry for being so late to tag-in. ]

[seeing yaha, his first instinct is that goddess, this young man is a delicate little flower-- and that's before he even opens his mouth.

but he wouldn't be a benevolent king if he didn't allow equal opportunity and all that nonsense, so he returns the bow with a smile and a short, respectful nod of his own.] It's a pleasure, Yaha, and you've certainly come to the right place. The kedan could use a little help...

[he adjusts the little glasses perched on the end of his nose.] We're dealing with gangs here; try as we may to minimize it, there's always the potential for violence. What sort of experience do you have in that regard? I'd like to make sure that everyone is able to help in ways that their abilities are most suited for.

They are kind enough to be helpful to us that it seems wrong to not offer the same. [ What a handsome man. His voice is so sweet and holds so much hope for this world -- just like on the initial message. And here he thought there may be something quiet and sinister beneath it all. But not all things are like home. Not all things are like he is. ]

I used to be a lieutenant for the Knights of the Seal. [ Oh yes. ] It means I ran my own district and a small portion of the army. I mostly dealt with negotiations with those of less than reputable individuals. After all, regardless of how vicious a person is, everyone wants peace, right?

The one crowning achievement I can say is that I was able to convince the assassins of my world to work under the Knights.

[quiet and sinister, him? perish the thought!

he arches a brow at the title; by the end of yaha's reply, the other one's joined as well. looks certainly can be deceiving-- but he of all people should know that, shouldn't he?]

I suppose everyone does strive for peace-- in some fashion. But a warmonger's peace may be another's annihilation. [he pauses, tapping his chin with a long forefinger and taking a moment to get a second look at yaha. still a flower, but perhaps a little less frail than he initially judged.] If you can pull off a similarly diplomatic move here, though, we needn't get to that point.

So, negotiations, you say? Would you object to doing more of the same here?

True enough. [ Yaha keeps the question of "but does that person really deserve to live?" to himself. It seems like that would end poorly.

'Course his negotiations were along the lines of murder, torture, and adoring the other person that was in charge. He lets out a small sigh as he realizes that he can't do the first two without getting into trouble -- someone will know and then the sweet smiles he gets from people will vanish.

Then what would his heart do? Break and cry, he assumes. ]

I would not at all object to doing the same here.

Excellent! [and he beams, demeanor becoming considerably warmer as it generally does when people are willing to do something for him. he doesn't bother consulting his papers for this one; even if it weren't for his flawless memory, the details would be rather hard to forget.]

The man I need you to speak with is no assassin, but I would no sooner trifle with him than I would a hired killer. [he drops his voice conspiratorially.] He is the former head of one of the gangs we've been dealing with. No particular loyalty to his old family, but plenty are still loyal to him.

You may imagine how we'd benefit from an alliance, but he's quite… Particular in who he allows to speak with him.

Particular?

Would that possibly be that he only likes to speak to women? [ So troublesome if that were the case. He really hates that about some men -- why cling to such delicate creatures that could easily break? Why can't they love the broken pieces of someone more like themselves? ]

I-- er, what? [he gives yaha a curious look. what a strange conclusion he jumped to.] No, no... Nothing like that.

The man's a bit eccentric, is all. Perhaps a few too many blows to the head in gang wars like this one. [a sigh and a helpless little shrug.] Tell you the truth, he's more concerned with entertainment than he is terms of negotiation. As I understand it, the last time kedan representatives tried to meet with him, he had them flung out for being "too boring."

[not that qilby can blame the guy, he supposes. but unfortunately for him, he doesn't have luxury of throwing away everything in the world what bores him.]

Oh, is that all?

[ His hands clap together as he immediately looks relieved. If there is one thing that he feels he is not, it is boring. That may be the madness and how the reality of his world shifts based on how he feels like viewing it, but details, details. ]

Then, I would be more than happy to deal with such a man. I am certain that we can find some common ground and all will be well.

[qilby wouldn't quite call it relief, what he's feeling right now, but at least the young man seems to be confident.]

He's not dangerous, I don't believe-- but he's unpredictable. [which may be even worse, his faintly concerned tone implies. the safety of the people who trust him is his number one priority, of course.] You will look after yourself, I hope?

I shall do my very best to do that for you, Qilby. [ He takes a step back to bow at the waist. ] I would not wish to bring any shame to this organization to help others, after all.

I have no reason to doubt it.

The man is named Pa-Sek, of the Ur gang. He maintains residence here in the Metal Sector. [as he speaks, a blue light gathers in the palm of his one good hand. it takes only a few gentle, precise gestures in the air before him -- as if he's coaxing forth the picture rather than making it -- to form the familiar straight lines and blocks of streets in the metal sector. one particular spot close to the palace walls glows brighter than the others.

he could've got a normal map, sure-- but this is far more impressive-looking!] Best of luck, Yaha.

You're a mage.

[ With how much he has spoken with others, he has found that so few people actually have the ability to command magic. It's really surprising to meet someone who can use it so masterfully. His hands clap together as he brings the hands close to his mouth, enamoured already. ]

I will do my best.

[and just like that, three days have passed in the blink of an eye, and qilby feels as if he's just run several marathons back to back. he's exhausted in a way he'd almost forgotten possible-- and its not as if he's the youngest he's ever been. reincarnation undoubtedly has its perks, but the endless cycle of young-old-young just makes all the inevitable periods of old age that much more frustrating.

but at the end of the day, once the kedan have come and gone and the constant stream of correspondence has dwindled to a trickle, he's finally able to rest. sitting behind his desk and leaning over the thing with his forehead on his arm, he looks for all the world like a giant hat on a table.

the hat speaks, should he hear anyone walk in. he's a very tired-sounding hat.] Unless this is about coffee, I'm off-duty.

[oh, coffee. if only one thing has made this compulsory trip to another universe worth it, it's discovering you.]

[ Scott had seen Qilby's video on the network mentioning trouble between gangs. It was these words that had touched a chord with Scott: If any of you have wanted to use your abilities to make an even greater difference with them, now is your chance to do so.

Scott had abilities. None that he'd asked for, but he was stuck with them. He might as well use them for good.

So he'd come to the suite in the fire sector, talked to the portal guy and signed up for a mission that involved delivering medical supplies to a clinic. Seemed simple enough... except there was a possibility of being stopped by gang members. Scott didn't want to fight them, but he was capable of doing so, if they caused any trouble.

He'd been told someone by the name of Sadie Kane had signed up for the same mission, he just needed to find her and introduce himself. ]

[Sadie Kane, it turns out, hadn't been told she was working with someone else until she had gotten all the things she needed for the cloaking spell. At least it was easy enough to get more wax.

She heads to the larger clinic they're running from to wait for this other guy (Scott something? Wasn't some guy looking for a Scott a while back?). When Scott finds her, she probably looks a little crazy as she has two lumps of wax and black linen on the ground in front of her]

[ Scott considers sending Sadie a message, though she'd only see it until she got to a console, so he makes his way to the clinic, hoping he'll bump into her.

Yes, he does think she looks a little crazy, but he tries not judge a book by its cover.

He has no idea if she's the person he's looking for but he's curious to know what the wax and linen is for. ]

What are you doing?

[ooc: we're not playing out the mission here, right? because it says that needs to go in a log, so this can just be discussion first?]

Waiting for this boy I'm supposed to be working with to get here.

[She shrugs, glancing up]

They're for a cloaking spell, if you're asking about the wax.

Scott McCall?

A spell? Like, magic? Are you a witch?

Magician, actually, and that's exactly who I'm waiting for. I think.

That's me. You must be Sadie. It's nice to meet you.

So by spell you mean an illusion? [ That's what magicians did, right? Perform tricks and illusions? ]

Likewise. Also, did I say illusion?

let's all mission board!

10/19, pre-event.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

this week's been crazy, sorry for the late reply! :')

no worries!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(one million years later)

you're totally fine!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

10/22, post-event.

10/19, pre-event

no subject

no subject

totally thought that was the point of this posts, so sure!

sorry! maybe we should have started this in a log to begin with, oops

I can throw one up and we can just continue this there?

sure!

no subject