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Post by Cantio von Lumen on Oct 5, 2022 18:15:31 GMT -5
Cantio speaks briefly with the bartender; who is more than happy to give him one of the VIP rooms for a time. He's never actually used one before, so it is a bit exciting in an innocent sort of way; he motions for Zarius to follow, before leading the other Tiefling up the stairs. Drink in his only free hand, he unlocks the door to the room and takes a step inside. "Fancy," he remarks simply; stepping aside to make room for Zarius. "Y'know, I've never actually been in one of these? Seems kind of over the top, but I guess it's nice..." He seems to be under the impression that whatever Zarius wanted to talk about, it wasn't all that serious; because when he looks at Zarius, he's still smiling lightly and trying to make idle chitchat— seemingly unaware of the fact that Zarius has corralled him away from the door. "Oh, I'm..." Zarius' friendliness suddenly seems to dissipate; and Cantio blinks as the Tiefling stares at him. "Um...?"
His tail begins to flick back and forth nervously— but he starts to comply as Zarius' voice grows more firm.
The Tiefling takes a seat with the energy of a scolded child while Zarius speaks firmly. "Okay..." he agrees; but he sounds a bit hesitant; perhaps even overwhelmed by the sudden change in the atmosphere. In all honesty, he thought Zarius just wanted to gossip about an annoying noble family away from eavesdroppers; and maybe he's had one too many drinks, but his trips to Sol City can be a bit... lonely, when he tucks himself away in his room only to emerge to play for his performances. He misses socializing; perhaps that was why he was so keen to entertain the request, despite the oddness of it.
"I am actually in Sol City to investigate those scathing rumors against the Meadowblooms and their various business ventures. The gala they are throwing is a unique opportunity to slip into their home and search for clues no one else can get close to due to their social status."
"You're... investigating the Meadowblooms...?" he repeats slowly; his voice sounds meeker in the silence of the private room.
His eyes follow the paper that Zarius flicks towards him as it flutters across the table; and he sets down his cup to reach for it. He pulls it closer, scanning the contents; it lists a bunch of things that Cantio, even in his drunken state, knows is bad news to be caught with. He furrows his brows beneath the mask, reading each note carefully as Zarius continues in front of him.
"I need your help in this venture." Cantio takes a slow breath, closing his eyes as Zarius speaks. "The Meadowblooms obviously think highly of you despite your own reservations about them. If you require compensation, I can provide that should you agree to cooperate."
For just a moment, the Tiefling sits in his silence; he's tried plenty of hangover tonics, but he's not sure anything sobers a man up as much as unsavoury news. "I..." he trails off, looking nervously away from Zarius. "Listen, I'm not..." He blinks a few times, seeming to have a bit of trouble wrapping his head around the news. "...This is a heavy claim; I mean— some of this stuff is really... and they've already been investigated once for it..." He looks back to the piece of paper in his hands. "..." His tail flicks nervously, back and forth, under the table. "... but, you think the original investigation was paid off...?" It sounds like less of a question and more of a fact with the tone he uses.
He never liked the Meadowblooms; but he never thought he'd be in a position that would directly... potentially... ruin them. The things they're smuggling through on this paper would certainly put a black mark on their name; ruin their business; tarnish their family; which is exactly why the Meadowblooms would pay off an official investigation. He feels great disappointment in his city for allowing such a thing to pass.
After several quiet moments of looking everywhere except for Zarius, Cantio finally looks up with a slight frown. "How sure are you there's definitely something there?" he asks, tilting his gaze back to the paper slowly. "...If they've paid off an official investigation, then it should be known... They should be punished for that, and this whole smuggling thing should be stopped, but... If they have the money to pay off a city-wide guard, the things they could do if you got caught— to the both of us?"
He flicks his tail worriedly, a slight shudder shaking his shoulders.
"I don't... really want to imagine it." He looks at the table nervously. "You know we'll be the first people they look at... So if whatever you're looking for isn't enough to implicate them immediately..."
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Oct 5, 2022 20:17:49 GMT -5
Despite his outward appearance, Zarius was kicking himself mentally. This had not gone as planned at all and was getting messier with every passing moment. He misjudged and underestimated Cantio. Somehow, the tiefling had caught on to every misstep, every loose string, every contradiction. It was bad. He hadn't had things go this badly in a long time. Maybe it was what he ate the night prior. He thought that meat at the food stand on the docks was suspicious tasting. Regardless, he was off his game and it showed.
That said, Cantio actually wasn't immediately screaming for help or trying to escape. He has only responded with logical questions. Was he trying to get more details out of him so he could backstab him later? That would be very clever of him. He didn't strike Zarius as that underhanded though. But maybe that was an act. He was a bard after all.
Zarius nods at Cantio's guess about the nature of the investigation. "I am certain the guards were paid off. Which is why I will not be taking any evidence we find to them. It would be pointless and they would just turn the charges of breaking and entering on myself. No. The local authorities will not be involved in this part of the operation ideally."
He sighs and crosses his arms. "The guards did not search the house, they only searched the breweries." Leaning back against the door, he watches Cantio's body language. His mannerisms were far too similar to his sheltered younger brother. Maybe that's why the charcoal skinned tiefling was having such a hard time keeping his lies straight around him.
"When running an underground smuggling ring you avoid keeping ledgers and such at the locations where the goods are processed. You want to limit any paper trail as much as possible in case of a raid by either the authorities or the competition." He waves a hand dismissively while explaining. "Instead, you hide them somewhere both secure and accessible. A hidden vault, secret room, those sorts of places. Many nobles commission the construction of their homes and tend to include these as places to hide valuables from thieves, it would not be out of the realm of possibility to find evidence in one of these places."
Everything he says comes from experience. His family specialized in finding paper trails, it was how they gained an edge on their own competitors and keep their own smuggling operations safe. If was almost a training exercise for new recruits to stage an infiltration of one of their own smuggling dens. If they were successful then that indicated a security issue to be addressed. That and his mother was part of the nobility in Zeinav before she joined his father in Darkveil. As such, Zarius' education while being raised included things such as calligraphy, dance and etiquette.
"I know what signs to look for, I just need an easy way in so I can search without having to skulk around which would look more suspicious." His tone was slowly becoming less and less like a parent talking down to a child. He was tired. Scoping out the house for several nights was taking its toll. Maybe that was also scrambling his brain.
"You are right," he admits. "It is not as simple as just getting a hold of the evidence. And it likely runs deeper than just what you see on the surface. Understand that smugglers like the Meadowblooms are just suppliers. It is their clientele who are really dangerous. I suspect that they may be supporting one of the crime families in Darkveil City, in which case nothing good could come of this."
He had no proof to go with this suspicion yet, but that was part of what he hoped to find in the house. Any amount of leverage he could find would be worth all the trouble. At least that's what he hopes.
"I know it is a heavy claim and yes, there are incredible risks. That is why I am telling you this now. You can back out of the Gala still. Skip town entirely. Feign being sick. Whatever suits you." He looks down his nose at Cantio. "Of course, that does not mean you will be completely clear of suspicion. Patrons here did you see you downstairs talking to me. If I was caught, you would be questioned undoubtedly. For you, it is simple though. Just tell the truth that I approached you and tried to convince you to help in a heist."
He holds up a clenched fist. "I can even threaten you if you desire more plausible deniability." Honestly, knocking Cantio out and just shoving him in a closet was starting to look more and more appealing to him. He might just be more trouble than his assistance is worth at this point. He definitely knew more than Zarius was originally planning on telling him.
Like it or not, Cantio would be implicated in his heist attempt regardless of what he wants.
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Post by Cantio von Lumen on Oct 6, 2022 19:10:46 GMT -5
Cantio frowns; Zarius admits that he believes the guards were paid off, which does not look good for the city's initial line of defense. "Oh," he resounds with a gloomy tone. "That makes sense." he says curtly, his tail flicking nervously underneath the table; when he had once lived in Sol City, he never thought of the way nobles behaved... not deeply. He had been a naive child who wanted to believe in the best of people; and in many ways, he is still naive in the present. However, he is much more attuned to the ill-behaviours of the nobles than he had once been, especially after experiencing them on unequal footing.
Still, it disappoints him to know similarities run through the veins of the city of sun. He slowly sets the paper on the table in front of him, looking up at Zarius from behind the mask. "Why didn't they search the house?" he inquires, brows furrowing beneath the mask; was that all paid off, too? To skip a house-search? He looks off to the side, trying to ponder topics much heavier than his alcohol-addled mind should be tackling at the moment. He turns away from the garish wallpaper of the room, listening while Zarius speaks about smuggling rings with... great detail. Cantio blinks, still utterly clueless; he must do a lot of investigation work into this kind of thing if he knows this much about it, right? Is he... a guard? A detective? Some kind of undercover law enforcement? He's never met anyone like that, before; in fact, he didn't even know there was such a thing in reality. He thinks he's heard rumours of them here and there in bits and pieces. Cantio taps his chin anxiously with a folded paper fan; one he seems to have pulled from the sheath of a pocket on his belt. He looks back to the piece of paper, the gears turning deep in the recesses of his drunk mind. His eyes darken when Zarius mentions the crime families in Darkveil City, which... well, that's quite a heavy claim... He grimaces slightly, trying to consider his options in this scenario. If Zarius really is some kind of undercover law enforcement, then... does he need to hide, even from the Sol City Guard? Is there no one else here he could work with, or a flashy warrant to swing around, or—
"For you, it is simple though. Just tell the truth that I approached you and tried to convince you to help in a heist."
"Huh?" Cantio perks up, brows furrowing slightly when he catches up with the Tiefling's sentence. "A heist? What do you..." He finds himself looking down Zarius' fist a moment later, and the Tiefling's breath catches in his throat; all of the pieces start to click together; all of the excuses he'd been making for Zarius wiped away in a heartbeat.
He wasn't law enforcement, was he?
Cantio opens his fan with a sudden thwp! and looks nervously at Zarius from over it. His tail swishes nervously, thumping against the chair leg, as he breathes an anxious laugh into the silence that follows the Tiefling's threat. "Oh, goodness— no, no... There's, um... there's no need for any of that, please." he objects, smiling sheepishly at Zarius as he folds the fan and sets both hands a little awkwardly on the table atop it.
Oh no, what did he just get himself into?
"Listen—" He doesn't make a move to stand, because he doesn't want to alarm Zarius, but he does fold his hands together. He was not actually acting before, but he is now: and there is a slight switch in his tone of voice. A feigned calm, despite his tail flicking back and forth under the table. "If you need to get into the Gala, I can help. I've been around nobles like the Meadowblooms my entire life; if you need a room worked, I can help you work it." He shrugs stiffly. "Only thing is, my ferry doesn't get here for a few days; I'd rather leave... y'know, immediately, after all of this. If you... have a way of doing that. That's my only request."
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Oct 6, 2022 20:16:23 GMT -5
Zarius lowers his fist and just tilts his head a bit at Cantio. It was his change in tone that gave him pause. He hated to admit that he was having a hard time getting a read on Cantio, especially with his own paranoia and overthinking getting the best of him. Had he just approached in earnest maybe they could have skipped all this beating around the bush. But he wasn't thinking about that, it was his nature to lie first and course correct later if it was safe to do so. His sister always warned him about getting caught up in his own lies, maybe he needs a reminder of that wisdom.
He steps away from the door and approaches Cantio as he puts his hands in his pockets. His fingertips rest gently on the concealed knuckle knives he always carries. He wasn't planning on using them, but who knew how Cantio would react to him closing in on him. Walking right up to where Cantio was sitting, he leans over in his face with narrowed eyes.
"You are taking this eerily well."
After staring him down for a second, he backs off and gives Cantio his personal space back. His stance becomes less confrontational and more casual.
Cantio's request was simple enough. He already had made arrangements for his own get away after the Gala prior to all this. Adding one more wouldn't be a problem so long as enough coin was passed around. Knowing for certain that Cantio was out of Sol City actually works out best for him.
"Getting you out of the city immediately after the Gala is no problem so long as we stroll out of there with them none the wiser. Do you have a preference on destination?"
It was a little weird. Why was this rising star so eager to leave a safe and profitable place like Sol City. He clearly was being treated well given the access he has to VIP spaces. Was he trying to avoid something? Or someone? He had been drinking. Perhaps a crazy fan has been stalking him. That would make the most sense.
A thought crosses his mind and he folds his arms and looks down at Cantio again.
"Have you done something like this before?"
He couldn't help but ask. Cantio didn't seem like the shifty type. He was more fruity than anything else. That said, he was accepting all of this fairly well. The way he talked about working the room and about how he has been around nobles all his life, it suggested he hasn't always just been a performer. He either used to be a noble himself, which would explain a lot, or it was all a performance in itself and he was some sort of infiltrator.
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Post by Cantio von Lumen on Oct 6, 2022 22:08:35 GMT -5
Cantio watches as Zarius tilts his head at him. He stays where he is, hands folded together on the table in front of him, and golden eyes focused on the charcoal tiefling; he can feel a chill creep down his spine, uncertain if Zarius is about to call him on his bluff. He blinks, tail flicking nervously under the table, as Zarius lowers his fist and puts his hands in his pockets. He approaches quietly, leaning into his personal space with a skeptical look on his face. "You are taking this eerily well." "Would... you rather I not?" he laughs softly in return; it's not actually funny, he's just nervous; and definitely sweating under the collar while Zarius stares him down for a moment. There is a temptation at the edge of Cantio's fingertips; an incredible temptation to throw up any one of his defensive spells... but he wants to be the instigator of a fight about as much as he wants to get punched in the face. Not at all. He swallows a sigh of relief when Zarius finally steps back; it takes all of his willpower not to slink into his chair.
"Getting you out of the city immediately after the Gala is no problem so long as we stroll out of there with them none the wiser. Do you have a preference on destination?"
"Good, great; that should be no problem then. No preference, just... anywhere that's not here after all's said and done, you know?" He nods to himself, as if in confirmation; but by the time he's looking at Zarius again, the man is already crossing his arms and looking down on him. Again. "Have you done something like this before?"
"Huh?" Cantio blinks at him, then bubbles into a soft laugh; he flips his fan open, waving it idly while he offers Zarius a smile. "Crashed a party? Sure I have." he remarks; but the joke doesn't feel like it goes over well, so he clears his throat and flips the fan shut with a soft thmp. He smiles sheepishly. "Sorry, I know what you're talking about; no, I haven't. I've just played for a lot of nobles in the past; and like I said earlier, they're all the same. They have their quirks. You appeal to their ego, and you can get through the night with a few less noses getting turned up at you." He shrugs his shoulders; he's lying to some degree, but there's truth to it as well.
"Either way, I just don't want to get caught up in the aftermath; they might not notice something's missing for a few days, but I don't want to risk being here if they find out sooner."
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Oct 7, 2022 9:30:54 GMT -5
"Willing to go along with this and no preference on where you end up after, huh?" Zarius doubts Cantio's words a bit, but decides that it is fine to overlook for the time being.
"Sounds like you do not have much attachment to Sol City." He was just guessing, but it was a reasonable guess.
"Very well then. I have been watching the Meadowbloom estate for the past few days. It of course has been teeming with people bringing supplies in for the Gala." He reaches into his satchel and pulls out one of his notebooks. "Since you claim you have spent much time around nobility, I am sure you are familiar with the standard order of events that these gatherings tend to follow. You being an invited performer, the expectation will be that you arrive before other guests are permitted on the estate grounds."
Zarius walks over and pulls the other chair around to the table and sets down the notebook for Cantio to see. He has a roughly drawn map of the estate grounds as well as the exterior of the building sketched onto its pages.
He points to the front gates. "Guests will be filing in from here for the first hour or so, as such the Meadowblooms' estate guard and attendants will be preoccupied with receiving them there during that time. The wait staff and kitchen folk will be rushing out hors d'oeuvres, so these back doors to the estate will be in constant use."
"Guards will be present at these entrances to the home and likely will be patrolling the streets just outside the estate's fence during the whole event." He points at a few access points and possible paths the guards could take. "So long as nothing happens to raise any alarm, they should not be a concern for us."
Pulling out a quill and ink he quickly makes some new marks on the map. "There is a stage here, so this where you will be when it is your turn to perform. We will learn what the rotation of performances for the evening is when we arrive. When you are not performing, there are two possible options to consider. One is that the man of the house expects you to mingle with the rest of the attendees, and the other is that you will be provided a space to take a break between performances. It could be both, but we will not know that until we get there."
Flipping to the next page, there is another sketch that is of the his best guess of the layout of the interior. "If you are provided with a space to rest, it would likely be towards the back of the building with the chambermaid quarters or up front here with the guest rooms." He taps on the two potential locations with the end of his quill. "This would be the best situation for us as it gets me into the building without having to worry about the guards at the doors. If not though, I will have to figure out another way in while you keep the nobles entertained."
Flip.
The next pages have additional floors of the home. "These are the rooms that are the most important to check. The Meadowblooms' bed chamber, the private office, the manor study, and the stairwell. Hidden vaults and rooms tend to have access switches behind wall hangings, in bookcases, on the underside of desks, or connected to other art pieces or decorations. Squeaky floorboards are important to take notice of because having a vault in the floor wears out the wood faster."
He looks at Cantio. "I will be focusing on this so your main goal is to just perform and look pretty, but there is a chance that after the guests have left that you will be invited for drinks with the man of the house. If I have not found anything by then, you may need to see if you can pry any additional information from the man. He will likely be inebriated, so it is key that during the party you keep your own drinking to a minimum. If we both come up with nothing, then no harm done, we wash our hands of the situation and part ways. If you learn of something though, then we will have to re-evaluate what the next steps are."
Zarius sits back with his arms folded again, watching for Cantio's reaction to the deluge of information.
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Post by Cantio von Lumen on Oct 9, 2022 19:40:17 GMT -5
"... Uhm... Yes?" he affirms, brows furrowing slightly as Zarius second-guesses his words. "I..." he trails off, looking to the side as he clicks his tongue. "No, I don't; not really." he agrees, nervously running his fingers through a strand of long, crimson hair. He looks back to Zarius with his peripheral vision, frowning as the man reaches into his satchel; he pulls out a notebook while he talks about having been watching the Meadowbloom Estate for the past few days.
Oh, he's definitely not a detective, is he?
"Yes, of course I'm familiar with it." Zarius joins him at the table. In contrast, Cantio would love to leave, but he remains sitting without flinching. "They ask for musicians to arrive at least an hour early— sometimes earlier, depending on the number of musicians— and the complexity of the performance." His tail flicks nervously beneath the table; he twists it around the chair leg to avoid thumping against the floor in a way that Zarius might notice. He distracts himself, instead, by looking at Zarius' notebook; it's got a map of the estate grounds.
He feels more nervous at this reveal, for some reason.
"R-right." he agrees, trying to keep calm as Zarius points to various locations on the map and explains it to him in far too much detail for him to find remotely comfortable. Not to mention, this is all incredibly overwhelming in multiple facets; from the guards and the guests; to the wait staff and the kitchen folk; and even the stage and performers. Zarius has this all mapped out in alarming detail.
Cantio is sweating under the collar; he quietly looking between points and new marks while Zarius continues talking about the most important rooms to check for the Meadowblooms' logs of their illegal activity. There's something not quite correct about something he said earlier, but Cantio remains silent. He's been looking at the notebook for the past few minutes, but almost sheepishly looks at Zarius from the corner of his eye as the man gazes at him. He mentions what he expects of Cantio— who will most certainly not be sneaking around the mansion— and understandably so.
Zarius sits back and folds his arms, looking almost expectantly at him.
For a moment, Cantio just looks at the sketches and marks that Zarius has presented to him, brows furrowed slightly as he considers his options. He's... in too deep with this now, isn't he? As if he wasn't before, but... there's not any way to back neatly out of it; and... it's not like the rumours are unfounded about the Meadowblooms... Plus, if Zarius gets caught, then he'll get dragged down with him, so...
He feels a bit guilty about it.
He takes a slow breath, looking towards Zarius with a soft sigh. "The Meadowblooms have a private sitting room for their performers." he remarks, pointing towards his map with the fan in his hand. They used to, at least. "It's not easily visible outside the gardens, because they have those decorative trees in the back around the border of the fences... but there's a balcony there." He taps a room that appears to be across the hall from the stage for performances. "Upstairs."
He doesn't meet Zarius' eyes; but he recalls those small details from the briefest visits his parents would make for their performances... way back when. He takes a breath and offers Zarius a sheepish smile, "When I met Meadowbloom here, I tried to talk him out of inviting me. I told him I was tired from my week in Sol City, and he said I'd be able to take breaks if I needed to. He said it had a nice view of the gala, and everything." It doesn't exactly explain his knowledge, but it's something; he supposes. "I suspect he'll want his musicians to socialize, though, so I doubt I'll be able to sit for long..."
He unfolds his fan, idly waving it as he looks back at the map.
"The rest makes sense, I guess, but..." he trails off, slowly closing his fan with both hands. "If you're going to be sneaking around the place, how am I supposed to get any information to you with any ounce of subtlety? Outside of short breaks, I don't believe I'm actually allowed in the home— especially the sensitive areas— unless Meadowbloom or the family take me in, themselves."
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Oct 9, 2022 21:37:37 GMT -5
Zarius listens to Cantio’s comments and makes adjustments to the sketch of the manor’s layout as necessary. He isn’t surprised that Cantio has some insider information, though he does question if Cantio might be misleading him in order to sell him out later. It’s what he would do if he was in the same position the red tiefling found himself in.
He nods along as Cantio explains his arrangement with the Meadowblooms. This was promising information.
"The rest makes sense, I guess, but..."
He glances up at him from making new notes.
"How am I supposed to get any information to you with any ounce of subtlety?”
That was a good question. It would be hard for them to have any conversations in privacy once on the estate grounds. What’s more, if he shows up as Cantio’s plus one, then it might strike others as odd that he would not be seen with the performer for most of the gala, even during breaks. He taps the quill on the page.
He sits back again and looks at Cantio with a discerning eye. “Perhaps we need to explore a different angle using our combined knowledge.”
He feels silly even suggesting it. The plan had been just to use Cantio then ditch him, but now he had promised to get Cantio out of the city and had let him in on his first plan of action. The bard was getting more and more involved, and some of that was by his own choice with the information he was willing to share.
Leaning back, he crosses his arms again and looks up at the ceiling in thought. What other options could they leverage? What other access points were there? Maybe it was better if they didn’t enter the Gala together and instead Cantio just distracted people from his infiltration. It was viable, but only if Cantio was earnest in playing along.
He lowers his gaze to meet the bard’s eyes. He clearly knew a bit about the Meadowblooms from his personal interactions with him. Perhaps he knew something more or had ideas of his own for how to approach this situation. It couldn't hurt to hear him out since he clearly was smarter than he let on with his goofy shy musician persona.
“Do you have any suggestions? And what other skills do you have other than playing the violin and looking pretty?”
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Post by Cantio von Lumen on Oct 10, 2022 21:11:33 GMT -5
“Perhaps we need to explore a different angle using our combined knowledge.”"A different angle?" he repeats, frowning at Zarius as he suggests the possibility that they might need to revisit the plan— which, isn't even his plan! Why is he brainstorming with someone on what accounts to a heist? For Solaria's sake... He rubs the back of his neck, looking away from Zarius as the man leans back and stares at the ceiling. The tiefling's tail flicks nervously, brushing against the legs of his chair, as he considers his options; which continue to look slimmer the more he actually involves himself with Zarius. He fades back into the present, blinking when he sees Zarius looking at him. "... You're asking me?" he inquires, brows furrowing slightly as Zarius asks for his opinion. "Well..." he takes a breath, and exhales heavily in slight defeat. "Light tricks," he says; no sooner has he spoke it, does a flicker of light emerge from the center of his hand.
Twisting and shifting, the orb elongates and swirls around his arm into a long dragon. The little beast looks at Zarius, puffing light from its snout as though it were breathing smoke. He flicks his wrist, and the beast dissipates into a flutter of soft, golden embers. "They're part of my performance; and I work with people a lot for the nature of my job, so I suppose I can speak to people..." he trails off, looking a bit begrudging. "...and flatter nobles; they're easy to read, you just tell them what they want to hear, and... Oh!" He perks up suddenly, looking at Zarius with a gleam.
"Make-up and costumes; I do my own, of course. Tailors are expensive." He looks thoughtfully at Zarius, looking him up and down. "Most of my outfits that I have with me would be a little big on you, but we might be able to make you look like someone else to get you inside." He breathes a sigh, looking away from Zarius with furrowed brows. "Er— I suppose not everyone likes getting dressed up, but..." He leans back in his chair, absently kicking the tip of his boot into the mid-beam of the table while he considers.
"I think... If you don't want to come in initially with me," he taps a finger towards the back of the garden, to a large strip behind the house. "The Meadowbloom Orchard is back here; last I remember, I..." he trails off, and clears his throat. "They take good care of it, but..." He shrugs his shoulders. "It's kind of just for show. They keep it pretty because they say it's the origin of their business, but it's closed off to parties... I doubt they'll pay it mind with everyone in the garden on the other side for the gala that night. If you're able to get in through the back there, and dress the part of a noble, people might not bat an eye at you."
He fusses with a strand of crimson hair, turning his eyes away from Zarius.
"If you look the part, a lot of nobles will believe it. Meadowbloom didn't personally invite everyone to his gala— he's too wealthy for that. He wouldn't know he didn't invite you once you're inside, so long as you're in the gala with everyone else, playing the part. He wouldn't recognize you, even if he actually knew you."
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Oct 11, 2022 11:24:22 GMT -5
A disguise? It wasn't a bad idea. He certainly had an outfit, but perhaps it would be best to get Cantio's opinion on it since he is more familiar with the style of dress nobles here use. It would be better to blend in rather than stand out as a foreigner.
"I have an outfit, not with me obviously." He gestures to his lack of any large bag. "If that is the strategy we go with then it would probably be best for you to check that it will be sufficient before we go to the Gala."
He ponders the prospects of the orchard. "That is good to know. It could also give us an alternative place to exchange information. Two tieflings arriving together may be too suspicious, and if something goes wrong you can play blissful ignorance like the rest of the party goers then meet me at the ship after I lose any pursuers should the worst case scenario play out."
Yes. This was a good plan and it should give the bard some peace of mind. He's not sure the red tiefling would be able to keep a straight face with him looming nearby. That said, it also would give Cantio a lot more opportunities to pull something. Course if Cantio really wanted to sabotage him, he would have already screamed bloody murder by now. The inn was crowded enough to have endless witnesses who could corroborate the bard's claims of being coerced into being an accomplice in the future theft.
Still, he had provided him with important information and the bard certainly was familiar with the Meadowblooms. If anyone could help him pull this off cleanly with any chance of success, it would unfortunately be Cantio. He'd need to keep an eye on him though. His display of magic actually did the opposite of what Cantio likely hoped for. Instead of instilling confidence in his kills, it only raised Zarius' paranoia and distrust. Magic users were trouble.
"Sneaking in through the orchard then putting on a disguise to look like a noble sounds like a plan I can get behind." He smirks at Cantio. "You are good at this. Guess we will see if you can actually pull it off."
He collects his notebooks off the table and stands up. There is a contemplative look on his face. He had trusted Cantio with a lot of information which could easily be used against him if the bard had intention to do so. The bard had cooperated so far though, best to reward that in some way. He looks down at him.
"I have some preparations to make. Do you want to wait here, or do you want to accompany me?" A reward of choice didn't seem like much given the situation, but it was at least some show of trust.
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Post by Cantio von Lumen on Oct 12, 2022 11:39:06 GMT -5
“ Oh, you do?” Good, that meant he wouldn’t have to burn any of his own outfits after they were used in a potential crime; he breathes a weak laugh, though it sounds nervous. He turns his gaze towards Zarius’ bag, “ Where is it? You’ve a room in the city?” he guesses, before looking back at him with a tilt of his head. “ Well… I suppose I could do that.” Where did Zarius say he was from, again? … He can’t remember if he said where he was from, actually; but nobles seem to have different aesthetics in most different regions, so he’s observed… but it’s to be expected coming from the different cultural background of each.
He nods hesitantly as Zarius mentions the orchard; particularly, using it as a place to exchange information. “It’s possible,” he agrees, although the real comfort comes in knowing that if something goes wrong, maybe he won’t be suspected as an accomplice. It doesn’t mean something still couldn’t go wrong, but… he breathes a sigh, looking towards Zarius as he concludes that sneaking in through the orchard might be their best bet. He’s not sure if he’s flattered by Zarius’ following comment; he only breathes a slightly annoyed huff in response. It’s not like he wants to do it! It’s almost like Zarius has forgotten his initial threat— although, with how compliant he is at the moment— he almost wonders if he misread it. He’s not going to test the waters, though. Running a hair through his crimson locks nervously, he watches as Zarius gathers up his belongings without comment; he remains sitting, even as Zarius stands— hoping the man will leave and allow him a moment to collect his thoughts. Instead, he mentions preparations; and then offers him the option of tagging along, or… well, not. Cantio blinks, looking up at him with a slight frown. “ Um…” he trails off, tail flicking beneath the table; in all honesty, he’d rather sit here and not participate at all. Drag himself through his performance with as much flare as he can muster, and ship himself off on the soonest boat out of the city; but that’s not an option right now, and he’s not sure if there’s a correct answer to this question. “ That depends; do you need me for something? You wanted me to look at your outfit?”
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Oct 12, 2022 13:26:08 GMT -5
Zarius just kinda stares at Cantio. He really was a bit dense wasn't he?
The charcoal skinned tiefling sighs. "You know, never mind. You wait here and I will be back. Better we are not seen in the streets together anyway." He slings his bag back over his shoulder and goes to the door.
He rests his hand on the door knob before turning back towards Cantio. That friendly smile from the first time they met has returned, but now there was something much more sinister to it. "Do not run off, alright? I do not really want to have to chase you down."
With that said he leaves Cantio alone in the space with his thoughts.
It is almost an hour before Zarius returns, having snuck into the inn through the back doors to help reduce the number of people who may have taken notice of his interactions with Cantio thus far. He returns to the room with a larger bag slung over his arm.
"Ah. Good. You are still here." He closes the door behind him and goes over to the chair and sets the bag down.
With a huff, he turns to Cantio. "You, sir, were very expensive to buy passage for. Damn woman nearly bled me dry over such short notice. That said, they agreed to take you aboard." He starts to unbuckle the bag then pauses as he remembers something. "Oh, another small detail, you will have to be blindfolded briefly. Their idea, not mine. A mere precaution, I assure you."
The smugglers he had been working with in this area were a particular bunch. They were reliable though. He had an 'understanding' with the captain of the vessel that has served to be profitable thus far. While he was annoyed with the cost of purchasing Cantio passage out of Sol City, it was better to entrust him to that group than some other easier bought privateers in the region. What's more, if they do slip and draw the guard their way, the group was more than capable of holding their own against local law enforcement.
Zarius opens the bag and pulls out a beautiful (Victorian style) onix black dress coat that is embroidered with gold patterns across the shoulders, back, bottom hem, and cuffs. It looks to be made out of very expensive material and has a slight silken sheen to it. With the coat is also some light grey dress pants, a white button up silken shirt, a black and silver patterned vest, and a pair of knee high black leather boots. It's a very elegant outfit overall, but it is strange that Zarius is in possession of such noble attire.
"I am afraid I only have the one here, if you think something else would be more appropriate I will look at acquiring an alternative." He says casually.
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Post by Cantio von Lumen on Oct 12, 2022 21:53:06 GMT -5
Zarius just stares at him.
“...Wh-what?” he objects, feeling a puzzled wave of embarrassment wash over him; did he say something wrong? He watches Zarius sling his bag over his shoulder, and he unfurls his fan; hiding the lower half of his face with it while he turns his gaze away from him. “Sure.” he agrees, tail flicking back and forth when Zarius addresses him again.
The sinister look to his smile has Cantio sinking back into his chair with a nervous laugh— and just like that, he’s gone. The door clicks. Cantio is alone. He sits there, staring at the door in silence for a stretched silence; and then bounces to his feet, snapping his fan shut. “Solaria’s sake!” he sputters, pacing nervously behind his chair; all of his repressed nerves coming out at once now that he’s alone. “What did I do? Stupid, stupid!”
He puts back the last half of his drink in a single shot on his second pass-around, his hands shaking slightly as he sets it down. He knocks it over trying to put it down, but it’s empty, so he doesn’t mind it. “It’s not bad enough that you’ve gotta be here, no, you’ve got yourself wrapped up in this!?” He’s hissing quietly to himself, terrified that someone might hear, but also too riled up to just think it.
“What were you thinking!?”
Thnp.
Distressed, Cantio smacks his forehead into the wall, covering his eyes with his hands while he tries to process everything that’s just happened; and what is about to occur.
He thought about leaving the room, but he was afraid that Zarius might think he’d left; so Cantio just ordered another drink, and slunk back to his little room to dwell regretfully in the mess he’s made for himself. By the time Zarius returns, Cantio is still in the room; looking like he hasn’t had a single panic attack since he’d left. The bard sits with one leg crossed over his knee, fan unfurled as he takes a sip of his drink.
“Oh.” he interjects as the door opens, hoping he looks more put together than he’s currently feeling. He puts both boots on the ground, scooting his chair to the side as Zarius comes back around and sits nearby. He flicks his tail somewhat nervously as the tiefling turns to him with a huff, and hesitantly closes his fan. “Oh, uh. I’m sorry abou… huh? Blindfolded? Why?” He blinks, brows furrowing slightly beneath the mask as he looks away. Wait, what kind of people did Zarius get him passage with?
He’s even less comforted than before.
He takes a slow, calm breath as Zarius starts fumbling around in his bag; he looks off to the side, perking up a little as Zarius sets out his outfit. He turns his head fully, tail swaying curiously as he pulls out piece after piece. “Oh my, it’s gorgeous.” For a moment, he almost forgets who Zarius is; pulling his hand back to keep from touching the fabric. He clears his throat, slowly standing from his seat, and stepping forwards to look at the piece. “It should work,” he agrees, cocking his head as he looks between the pieces. It’s certainly not what he expected to see. “It’s very elegant, but it looks more like…”
The nobility of…
No, no; definitely not, right?
He trails off, then laughs softly. “Nevermind; I think it should work.” He folds both hands behind his back, looking at Zarius with a weak smile. “It’s a little dark for Sol City’s tastes, but that’s not to say you couldn’t be a recent arrival to Sol City, not yet integrated into the typical garb. It’s expensive looking enough to pass; and I’m guessing you’re not one for makeup, so. It’ll do. Do you have a name?”
He hesitates, “Like, a fake one. They’re not going to check names if you’re already at the gala, but you should still be prepared to introduce yourself.”
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Oct 13, 2022 11:18:45 GMT -5
"Because the less you know, the better." He says simply in reply to the red tiefling's concerns with the blindfold situation. "Do not worry. I will be aboard as well so they will not try anything."
That reassurance probably wouldn't mean much to Cantio considering the situation, but it was true nonetheless. While this particular crew of smugglers was rough around the edges and had a crew full of weirdos and unsavory folk, they knew their place and the value of trust...and coin of course. So long as Cantio didn't put up a fuss, he would be fine.
He watches the bard's reaction to the outfit. He seemed surprised he had such attire which just makes Zarius chuckle a bit. While he was most comfortable in his adventuring outfit since it was light and for function, he did have quite the collection of finer clothes at home. It came with the territory, and his family had finer tastes. His mother was partially to blame for that as she had come from a noble line in Zeinav. Still, he can't recall seeing his father wearing casual clothes even around the house.
The reality was that he came from a fair amount of wealth. While the nobility here hides their illegal actions, those who run the show in Darkveil form their whole identities around it. His family had assets and interests in everything from fencing stolen goods and running smuggling rings to managing a spy network. They stayed away from more high profile crimes such as trafficking, arson, and assassination, but that was more out of necessity than choice. They were still growing and competition was fierce between the lesser Ashen Fathers. Everyone wanted the security of rising to the top, but the reigning top three Ashen Fathers had a firm hold on their positions within the hierarchy. It would take a lot of leverage to tip them off the top.
That's what this whole thing was about. It wasn't about bringing a stop to the Meadowblooms' criminal activity or bringing them to justice. It was about swiping their connections out from under them.
He takes note of Cantio's trailing off. Did he recognize the style? Had he been amongst Darkveil high class society before? It could be possible, but he hadn't called Zarius out much to prove with any certainty that he had figured him out.
"Yes, well, where I am from darker colors are more common." He starts putting the outfit away since it was not needed yet.
"Of course. Arden Hendroth of Zeinav." He had a list of names memorized in his head. He tended not to use them seeing that he was not terribly well known across Charon, but it was handy to have one just in case.
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Post by Cantio von Lumen on Oct 14, 2022 19:39:40 GMT -5
“O-okay.” Cantio agrees with hesitance; he fidgets with the hem of his overcoat, tail flicking against the leg of his chair nervously. Zarius seems like he tries to say something to comfort his nerves, or maybe just shut him up, but it doesn’t do much for his nerves. Between the alcohol, and the general stress of the past week, Cantio is already feeling his usual mask falling apart; and if it weren’t for the literal one covering his expression, he’s certain he’d start falling apart by now.
He chokes on a sigh, twirling a lock of crimson hair absently in some attempt to fidget in a subtle way. “Ah, I see.” he chuckles, elaborating no further. “Sol City tends to embrace their brighter colours; reds, golds, oranges, whites; warm beige and eggshells; imagery of the sun, and all that.” Cantio watches Zarius as he starts putting away his outfit, and nods as he explains his ‘noble name’.
Sounds just the right amount of stuffy to be convincing.
“Arden Hendroth… very nice.” he approves, tail flicking as he looks at the last article Zarius is putting away. “Are you from Zeinav?” he asks, trying to fill the tense, awkward silence. A moment lasts, before Cantio clears his throat; his voice sounds meeker as he answers his own question, “Nevermind. The less I know the better, right?” he laughs sheepishly, swinging his way back to his side of the table.
He picks up his drink as he passes, turning to face Zarius while he takes a hesitant sip.
“So, what now? We leave, and meet up in the orchard? I do need to be leaving before sunset to ensure they know I'm there.”
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