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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Mar 28, 2023 16:39:05 GMT -5
Zarius nearly flinches when he sees Mei standing around the corner instead of Caedes. In his head he knows they’re the same person, but it’s still going to take him some time to get used to it. His eyes dart to the shadows which cling greedily to her…or perhaps protectively. Briefly, Mei’s scared expression from back in the alley flashes in his mind. Knowing that Mei is Caedes, the memory now makes him sick to his stomach. He takes a breath and calms down before Mei approaches him.
Mei’s attempt at humor is met with a forced smile from the fellblood. “I think she is more upset with me than with you.”
A lot of what Eameia said still weighed on his mind. How long has she known or been holding onto her suspicions about Caedes in silence? And why did she never say anything until now? She said she had held her tongue out of respect, but was that really the reason? It was sometimes hard to tell, they were both raised to be very good liars after all.
“Do not push yourself,” he starts, but then thinks about it a bit more.
He didn’t want to put Caedes in an uncomfortable situation and he worried that his sister would not be so kind with her words. She might even literally blow up at the changeling which would be a whole other problem they didn’t need. Then again…maybe he wasn’t giving her enough credit. She may be younger and less worldly than him, but she was better with people in general. She saw things he didn’t, and knew a lot more as well. Maybe she could even help Caedes.
“You probably should,” he ends up agreeing with Caedes’ offer. “It will be hard to avoid her forever.”
Better news. So Caedes was worried about being forgiven. That was a fair thing to be concerned about given how the actions the changeling took could have resulted in Zarius losing his life. Caedes as Mei had even taken Eirynor hostage, something that was unfortunately communicated to Eameia before they had put the puzzle pieces together that Caedes and Mei were the same person.
Eameia has every right to be upset. But Zarius is certain some of her anger is not for Caedes, and much like himself, is reserved only for herself. She was the last person to see Caedes as he left the Rookery. Had she pressed for an explanation, or asked Caedes to wait until Zarius returned, then maybe none of this would have escalated as it had. Not only was her brother nearly used as a dartboard, but her childhood best friend was threatened at knife point by the same person. Someone they had all trusted and respected. Someone they let their guards down around and had started to form a friendship with.
Even if Caedes had not intended to hurt anyone or known who his foes were in the heat of the moment, the damage had been done. It wasn’t irreparable, but it would take time for them to not only forgive the young assassin, but forgive themselves.
Zarius takes another long breath. “She means well…and she figured out you are, well…she will not say anything, you do not have to worry.”
Even if they were angry and frustrated, taking it out on Caedes wouldn’t change anything. What was done was done, and they couldn’t let themselves get hung up on what happened when they had more pressing matters to attend to. Caedes is still a valuable asset, even more so if his gamble ends up being to their collected benefit. A lot was riding on this deal with Lyari, and he has no doubts Caedes knows this as well. If the past few nights of bad luck were leading up to some big pay off, this had to be it.
The fellblood looks at the changeling despite how hard it is for him to do so and he nods. “Yes.”
He pulls up his own hood and walks alongside Mei as she leads him to where Lyari is expected to be. Along the way, the awkward silence between them is unbearable. The fellblood tries to distract himself by keeping an eye on their surroundings, but the gleam of Mei’s white skin and hair keeps drawing his eye.
While they walk through the darkened streets with the ash falling gently from above, it comes to mind that how Caedes has always appeared to the fellblood might not actually be his preferred appearance. It wasn’t unreasonable to assume that the one persona Zarius was most used to is just one of many identities the changeling has. It’s hard for him to tell, and he isn’t sure if it is disrespectful to ask.
He clears his throat a bit. “Uhm…you do not have to answer this if you are uncomfortable, but are you more…at ease looking like that?”
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Post by Caedes Oleander on Mar 30, 2023 23:32:51 GMT -5
“I…” Mei trails off, brows furrowing slightly at his response. She blinks, pursing her lips instead. …Can’t imagine why. She doesn’t finish her train of thought out loud. It’s possible that Zarius is downplaying things, but from her point of view, she’s been vastly more irresponsible than the fellblood has in regards to shooting herself in the foot over the past few days.
…Unless there’s something else that’s brewing between them that she wasn’t able to overhear, nor that Zarius would tell her. The idea that Eameia is privy to, or has knowledge of something that she doesn’t sends pinpricks along the surface of her arms. It’s not that Zarius has told her everything— he hasn’t, clearly— or tonight might have been different. She doesn’t expect the fellblood to confide everything to her; he has his secrets, just like she has hers; but so close off of this wild goose chase, she can’t help but feel whatever Eameia is frustrated over likely has something to do with her.
Is that narcissistic? Maybe.
She considers asking him, but she thinks it’s a line she should not cross.
She shuts her mouth, taking a breath that lifts her shoulders. “I don’t plan to avoid her forever.” She responds, a slight hesitation in her voice. “Although, I suppose I already am.” She’s lost the humor in the chuckle that follows, brows furrowing when she considers Eameia.
She’s done a lot over the past few days; a lot that doesn’t deserve Eameia’s forgiveness, let alone Zarius’, and especially not Eirynor’s; things that were detrimental not only on a business level, but a moral one as well. For a brief time prior, she had felt the illusion of being part of something again: something which she has expertly shattered and broken at her own hands.
The awkward air between Zarius and herself speaks volumes without saying a single word; habitual interactions met with forced smiles and curt conversation. Eameia’s silent, lingering glance. Gods above, she hasn’t even seen Eirynor; she needs something to cling to, desperately, and she hopes that desperation doesn’t bleed into their meeting with Lyari to give her leverage on them.
It’s an uncomfortable feeling which she’s brought upon herself.
“Yeah, I’ll speak with her when we return.” she repeats, her voice falling more quietly in hindsight of her wandering mind. "She deserves an explanation."
She blinks, refocusing on Zarius when he tells her that Eameia knows— Mei feels her heart drop. The surprise flickers behind her eyes before disappearing, “Ah.” She remarks; the realization causes her chest to tighten— if Eameia knows, then she knows that Mei is ultimately a black mark in the Rookery.
If anyone were to find out who she were and track her back to them?
It would be…
She can’t think about it right now. She’s not in the right mindset to divulge deep into that rhyme and reasoning, or why it makes her feel as ill as it does. “I… appreciate that.” She murmurs, offering Zarius a weak smile before nodding; as the fellblood pulls his hood over his head, Mei turns to lead him towards Lyari’s location.
Eameia’s apparent bid for silence is more than she deserves, really.
Along the way, each ticking moment of awkward silence between them feels heavy and wieldy; but she can’t find it in her to try and strike up some conversation like she normally might otherwise. There’s no stupid jokes or backhanded compliments lingering on her tongue; just a heavy silence in light of her actions over the past few days.
One which is met with an equal silence, until it’s not.
The question that comes from Zarius is one she doesn’t quite expect; Mei’s glance from behind strands of platinum hair seems to come from a brief moment of surprise. “Oh,” She purses her lips, crimson gaze turning back towards the ash-laden Darkveil streets. She crosses her arms beneath her chest, brushing flecks of ash from the shoulder of her cloak when she turns back to Zarius. “I don’t know... Some days, yes.” She admits, a sincerity in her tone that the changeling often tends to lack— most often favoring her usual sarcasm and snide remarks. “Other days, it’s like I’m wearing a costume.”
The sounds of her boots are muted in the fallen ash on the cobblestone.
“I’ve worn a hundred different faces in my line of work.” She adds, “Different people with different personalities. Lives of their own, even if they were made up. It used to get… confusing.” She offers Zarius a glance; she shrugs, hands loosely resting against her forearms. ”But these things kind of ebb and flow; they change, even if at the core, I stay the same.” She offers him a lopsided smile before turning away, “And if that sounds more romantic than you’re used to hearing, it’s because my mother told me all of that.” Mei chuffs, though any lightness in her expression fades quickly when she continues, “Though I guess I will admit, it has been nice to spend some of my time without going through quite so many of those changes.”
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Mar 31, 2023 18:51:30 GMT -5
Zarius watches Mei from the corner of his eye just past the edge of his hood. He watches her body language, the way she folds her arms, futility brushes ash from her shoulders, and shrugs as she answers his question.
The tone of her voice tells him she isn’t lying. Though it seems more complicated than words can really convey. He does understand, to an extent. Having the ability to look like anyone at any time, it was a blessing for someone in their line of work. It doesn’t take much to imagine how the ability can be leveraged…and abused.
“It used to get…confusing.”
That was probably an understatement. If all your time is spent being someone else, how do you tell if you are really yourself or just still pretending to be something you are not? It’s hard for him to empathize, questioning one’s own identity. He’s always felt so certain about himself, who he was and who he would be. It felt immovable and unchanging. Or at least it did…
Things had changed. He had changed. But he did not know how to react to these things. He had no control over it, which should be scary. In some ways it is, but in others it’s…he doesn’t know. It’s hard to explain, and he hadn’t taken any steps to confide in someone about them. Not Caedes, not Cyran, not even his siblings or parents.
“But these things kind of ebb and flow; they change, even if at the core, I stay the same.”
There was something comforting about those words. An odd warmth that was unusual to come from the frigid changeling.
Ah. A mother’s wisdom. It rings a little heavier now. After all, those words were just memories to be recounted.
Zarius doesn’t respond immediately, but eventually breaks the silence between them once more.
"I am relieved to hear that,” he says quietly. “I would miss your snark if it was all just an act."
The sound of their footsteps through the ash blanketed streets were muffled, and soon the only other noises in the street were from the bustling taverns and the few errant wagons still moving about.
The fellblood breathes a sigh.
"I suppose I should have asked more questions about your other identities. Then we could have avoided any confusion."
Hindsight was twenty twenty. He knows Caedes blames himself for a lot of what happened over the last few nights, but the fellblood had to acknowledge that he could have done more. Maybe if he had been more forthcoming with Caedes sooner, if he had trusted the assassin more…if he reassured him that he had nothing to prove.
Ugh. This wasn’t helping. He needed to focus on the task at hand. What was done was done. He should leave it at that.
"We should be on the same page going into this conversation. What do I need to know about this persona of yours before we meet with Miss Uldreyn?”
Caedes had done all this to lay down a foundation for him to stand on. If they were going to have any luck in actually building something out of this mess, it would help if they both knew what kind of tools were at their disposal.
A thought crosses his mind. While he had done a good job at hiding his identity throughout the various interactions, he had shown up at the docks that morning. Luckily there had been no altercation, but it was possible that the other thugs reported seeing him there to Lady Uldreyn. He ponders that for a moment, it should be simple to explain why he was there without implicating himself in the other conflicts except…shit.
He looks at Caedes as they continue to walk. "I can explain why I was at the docks this morning if Lady Uldreyn asks, but we do have one problem. My family is currently holding several of the men you were working with at that shop captive. Releasing them means they could report back to her that I was the one who attacked that shop the night before."
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Post by Caedes Oleander on Apr 4, 2023 20:12:31 GMT -5
A chuckle escapes between her lips, head tilting just enough to glance at Zarius. “Would you, really?” She asks, the bemusement notable in the tone of her equally hushed voice; it comes crystal clear in the unusually gentle Darkveil’s night. “Well, it’s comforting to know you might’ve missed some part of me.” The quiet is interrupted by celebration from within taverns and homes; and occasionally, the creak of a wagon. “I can at least assure you, that part’s 100% authentic. You’re too much fun to annoy, Zarius.”
A snide smile punctuates her words as she turns her head away; although the winter’s night comes with only a slight chill, Mei’s following sigh reveals no heat from her lungs when he speaks again. “I could have just as easily told you,” she counters, shoulders rolling in a shrug. In hindsight, there’s a lot they both could have done to avoid what’s happened: Zarius could have asked, just as easily as Mei could have told him. Zarius could have informed her of his connections with the merchants, just like Mei could have informed him of the information she’d gathered about Lyari.
In the end, those mistakes piled up into the worst case scenario, hadn’t they? Though her intentions had come mostly from the simple desire to keep Zarius’ family out of Lyari’s radar until she knew she was trustworthy, it had all backfired in the worst kind of way.
Does her lack of transparency insinuate a lack of trust?
Maybe.
Although she trusts him, she had worried about Zarius pushing to be involved; and at the time, she couldn’t imagine anything worse than allowing her own petty desires to be the cause of his or his family’s destruction. She had targeted Lyari with the knowledge that she was involved with a prominent family: if anything went wrong, that target wouldn’t just fall on her.
And then she’d targeted Zarius, herself.
She closes her eyes, running a hand through her pale hair while she listens to Zarius’ sigh punctuating the pause between them. “Mm.” she agrees, letting her hair fall through her fingers before she wraps her arms around herself once more. “Mei Iresis; she followed Lyari into the west side of town in order to offer her deal. Recent station at the Dancer’s Den,” Mei holds up a finger in Zarius’ direction. “And before you ask, no, she does not dance. Informant duties only. Everything took place in one of their private rooms.” She lowers her hand, resting it against her forearm. “Lyari was a mess when I met her there; she was desperate for some kind of help, even from a supposed no-one and her nameless handler.”
She considers it for a moment; the original desperation and Lyari piecing herself together over the next few days. She takes a breath. “Otherwise, Lyari doesn’t know much about me; just that my name is Mei, I am the one she struck a deal with, and I have a handler who can offer her a mutually beneficial business relationship.” She looks uneasily at Zarius when he mentions the men his family is currently holding, and that…
“…That is a bit of a problem.” She admits, lowering her gaze to the ash-laden street while she considers their options. “Worse comes to worse, we use them as leverage: but that puts us on the wrong foot with Lyari off the start, and that is the last thing you need at this point.” To admit the truth wasn’t particularly an option: admitting to being on opposite sides of the page would look ill on Zarius’ family’s control of the situation and on the grasp of the members at their disposal. She watches the way the ash bunches at the tips of her boots, racking her mind for a reason.
She’s falling flat.
How do they explain this without offending Lyari?
Her connections to the Crimson Hand put them in a narrow predicament; if this goes ill, Lyari could easily turn them over after seeing Zarius, but… Her connection with them seems to be strained already; why else did she come seeking help from a nameless woman? Although…
“Her relationship with the Hand,” She blinks, looking up to Zarius from the corners of her eyes. “She really was desperate when I first met her; desperate enough to take help from someone with a mystery for a handler. For a woman of her stature, she would’ve never considered that under the best circumstances. The Hand’s got her under their palm, just like they’ve got the market under it… can we make a target of them? If she’s willing to double-cross them by allying with another family, she’s already willing to hurt them.
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Apr 5, 2023 17:08:36 GMT -5
Zarius gives Caedes a bit of a judgey look. “Iresis? That sounds like another kind of flower. I can not decide if that is stupid or cheeky.”
He then scoffs at the accusatory point and the dancing comment.
“Why is that? You are plenty light on your feet. Is your fancy footwork from sneaking around in the shadows really not transferable to dancing?”
The teasing lightens the mood a bit. Which was good. They both needed to relax and go into the conversation with Lyari as if nothing was wrong. She worked with seedy people all the time. If they were off even a little, no doubt she would pick up on it and if they couldn’t reassure her, then she may back out due to a lack of confidence in their capabilities.
“That is good,” he responds to Mei’s claims that she kept most of her identity and his own a secret.
From what Mei has said about her meeting with Lyari, it certainly did sound like the blackmarket coordinator was in a tricky position. Their best shot was to leverage her desperation and frustrations, but not in such a blatant way that she felt like she was just exchanging one headache for another. They needed to work with her, collaborate, and negotiate. It was critical that Lyari felt like an equal partner in this new arrangement.
“I would prefer not to have a strained relationship with her if possible. Though some sort of explanation will be needed.”
He ponders on the issue a bit himself. How could they sell to the woman that her men being captured by his family was not because of a disjointed and messy operation on their end? He perks up when Mei mentions the Crimson Hand, the common enemy the fellblood and the changeling held and the target of their eventual sabotage and eradication.
“It is not a terrible idea. We will just have to be very careful about how we approach it. If we can lead the discussion in that direction without us outright suggesting it, just plant the seeds in her mind, perhaps she will do all the hard work for us. As much as my own reputation has grown in the past year, taking down the Crimson Hand is still a tall order. The more allies we have and the more ways we can weaken them before we ultimately confront them, the better.”
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Post by Caedes Oleander on Apr 11, 2023 21:37:51 GMT -5
“Who are you, the name police?” Mei huffs, a lopsided smirk quirking the corners of her red-stained lips; her eyes narrow at Zarius’ comment over her chosen name. “It’s elegant, fitting for a presumed dancer. The resemblance to flowers is just coincidental.” Her voice holds restrained bemusement behind it; but she raises a hand, waiving away his next comment as though it had taken physical form in the buzzing of a particularly annoying mosquito.
Had there been any life left in her, Mei’s cheeks might have reddened over the comment; memories flooding back to her in the form of ballroom dance classes skipped and personal lessons abandoned in favor of anything else at the time. She breathes a chuckle, “I just have better things to do with my time, that’s all; the dancing is completely unrelated to what I’m there for. Why would I waste my time on it?” she answers, her tone abnormally haughty; the teasing is familiar, moreso than the awkward silence that has been bleeding between them for much of their walk.
Unlike the awkward tension, it is short-lived as they descend back into talks of Lyari and the underground. “Luckily, they seem to be doing most of the job for us,” Mei reminisces, tapping a manicured finger against her bottom lip. “I learned of Lyari’s position when I met a dwarven sea man with… well… My family’s possessions on board his ship; they convinced one of Lyari’s own to lift the product after selling it to her to scatter evidence. I wouldn’t be surprised if this isn’t a terribly new phenomenon... I mean, what is she going to do about it at the end of the day?”
She breathes a sigh, lifting a hand to brush her nails through her platinum hair; it falls in disheveled strands back around her face. “If they keep leveraging their power the way they are, it’s only a matter of time before people start getting tired… and they’ll push back.” She lowers her hand, blinking as she raises her head; she shifts her arms to cross beneath her chest again, cloak drifting with the movement.
“It’s just a matter of finding who’s ready to get that push; having a major dealer like Lyari under you would be a boon to not only your family, but the underground as a whole… And there’s no telling who else out there is sick of the same status quo...”
Lyari’s headquarters are almost as humble as the Rookery farther on the east side of town, lies a shipyard in which the elven woman has planted her roots. A perfect location for anyone well-versed in the art of black market dealings; and a perfect location to hide the many skeletons in her closet— allowing them to be washed away— far from where anyone can point fingers at her.
Which, admittedly, makes this meeting a little more ominous than it otherwise might be.
The ghosts of ships linger there; frozen in time. Their hulls are cracked, snaggled by repairs and reclamation of their materials; making many of them look as though they hold great, gaping maws in the darkness. Upon arrival, Mei’s personality makes a shift; any remnants of what lingers of Caedes devolves into something haughtier, cockier, and more venemous— replicating the tones that Zarius might have heard in the storeroom.
All things considered, she is awfully generous with Lyari’s calling card in addition to the attitude— ensuring that none of Lyari’s ship hands— her guards, lackies, and henchmen— are too quick to try and take some kind of action on the son of an Ashen Father.
Luckily, they’re more likely to fear Lyari’s punishments than they desire to cause trouble; and although Zarius is met with furrowed brows, hostile glances, and lingering looks of recollection; it isn’t long before they’re standing in a familiar office, unscathed.
Familiar to Mei, anyways.
As the door opens and Mei steps in with Zarius at her heels, the elven woman looks up; a stream of smoke leaves her lips from a long cigarette held between her fingers. She looks through her, hazy eyes focused on the man who she’s escorting.
“Mm... A Rha’Oriyn? A Winter’s Crown surprise, indeed...” She reaches out with slender fingers, tapping the ashes gathering at the edge of her cigarette, before placing it back between her lips. She gestures with her free hand for them to take a seat across from her, eyes narrowing. “Please, have a seat; I would be a poor host to make you stand on a holiday's eve.”
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Apr 13, 2023 14:09:17 GMT -5
“That is unfortunate.” His tone comes off more disappointed than he intended. Realizing that, he quickly adds, “seems like dancing would be a good way to get close to a target in a crowded room.”
For him, dance lessons had been a part of growing up and was something important to his mother. All her children learned how to dance with her guidance and it's hard not to think about the joy it brought to her face as they got better at it. There were many fond memories of their practice in the parlor. Memories of Eameia and her two left feet. She would often stomp on Karize’s toes on accident which would send the more sensitive brother crying into the corner.
He listens to Mei's explanation of how she got on to Lyari's situation in the first place. The changeling sure has been busy...and hunting down these leads all on his own. It doesn't sit well with the fellblood. Weren't they supposed to be working together? Zarius pushes those thoughts to the back of his mind for now. He couldn't let himself get frustrated again.
“We just need to be careful that we do not push things too far. Darkveil is in a precarious situation as it is.”
All of this could easily blow up in their faces if they weren't on their guard. They were walking into a hornet's nest and it wouldn't take much to aggravate them into violence.
The docks were a known shady locale where all manner of dark dealings often began and ended. Though most of his family business was conducted further into town, there were a few smugglers Zarius used on the regular to move things about, or as transport for when he had to travel across Charon. Still, he didn't hang around the area too much if it could be helped. Many of the other families had eyes and ears all over the place.
Entering the shipyard, Zarius ignores the looks of the lackeys as Mei leads him back to Lyari's office. Much like the changeling, his composure also changes for the occasion. His eyes get sharper, he stands a bit taller, holding himself with an intimidating confidence he learned from his father.
In Lyari's presence, the false smile appears once more on the fellblood's face. Despite the lingering fatigue and the internal turmoil he feels, this is his element and he falls back into the comfort of that easily.
“Pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Uldreyn.” He gives the woman a bow out of respect before taking a seat across from her. "I thank you for taking such good care of my associate these past few nights. Sounds like it was quite the venture you tasked her with."
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Post by Caedes Oleander on Apr 22, 2023 12:04:51 GMT -5
Smoke passes through the crease of Lyari’s lips, her iron gaze unwavering as she studies Zarius’ body language upon entry to her office. Mei lingers off to his side, fixing Lyari with a gaze best interpreted as challenging when they meet; the elf sighs through her nose, letting her gaze drift to rest on the fellblood as he bows before her.
She purses her lips, blowing a thin stream of smoke from between her lips.
“Likewise, Mister Rha’Oriyn.” She answers, never letting Zarius leave her peripheral as she crushes the smoking ashes of her cigarette into her ash tray. “I thank you for lending me her assistance.” Lyari twines her slender fingers together after gesturing to her men outside to shut the door for their privacy.
Mei takes a seat only after Zarius has taken his, folding her hands together against her lap, with little intention to attempt speaking over her presumed superior.
“She made herself useful, despite the few…” Lyari’s gaze sweeps between them, “…mishaps.”
Mei narrows her crimson eyes, a weak but present smile creasing her red lips while she watches the elven woman make her monologue; it’s unclear how much Lyari actually knows about said mishaps, but there’s a wariness in the octaves of her elegant tone, cracked by years of vices. She opens her hands, shrugging in a gesture that seems apathetic, “Although, I am sure she has informed you of such after your check-in at the docks this morning, no?”
She closes her hands together after gesturing between them. “I thought it odd to hear the reports of your interaction at the docks, but this… this makes it make more sense.”
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Apr 22, 2023 21:46:34 GMT -5
Zarius listens to the sound of the door close behind them, but does not give it a glance over his shoulder. They may be in treacherous waters for lack of a better metaphor, but if they had to they could likely overwhelm Lyari and take her hostage to ensure a safe escape if needed.
He does a quick scan of the room without moving his head-- one of the advantages of having solid eyes meant it was harder for people to see if your eyes were wandering-- for anything that looks like it could be troublesome. All in all, the room was fairly bare of any personal touches. Knowing Lyari's line of work, she probably moved around a fair amount to avoid getting tracked by anyone who would wish her harm.
The woman herself didn't appear to be armed or the type to cast spells, but it was possible that was intentional. He wouldn't be surprised if she had many tricks up her sleeve in case she needs to defend herself from thugs and clients alike.
"How someone reacts to failure tells you more about their integrity than how they react to success." He glances at Mei then back at Lyari. "I have no doubts that Miss Mei used her best judgement."
He sits back in the chair and assumes a more casual posture. Despite how he may appear, he was ready at any moment to move either behind cover or towards the woman. Still, appearing tense wouldn't serve them any good in this negotiation. Appearing more relaxed would either do one of two things, make Lyari relax as well, or put some healthy unease into the back of her mind.
"Yes, I have been briefed on all that transpired over the past few nights. I hope you understand why I had to keep my involvement secret during that time. With how much influence and how many connections you have, I had to be cautious."
His eyes drift down to the underside of the desk Lyari sits at. It was solid. No way to tell if there was a trapdoor or a weapon concealed under it. Something to keep in mind should things go south.
"Speaking of connections, Miss Uldreyn, now knowing who you are associating with, are you still interested?"
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Post by Caedes Oleander on Apr 23, 2023 10:26:25 GMT -5
Lyari’s eyelids lower as Zarius speaks; her posture is relaxed, shoulders tilting forwards as she rests her chin against the bridge of her intertwined fingers. “M’hm.” She hums, her tone holding a significant lack of interest; Mei doesn’t react to the comment, but does offer Zarius a glance before she looks back to the elf woman.
Lyari shifts in her seat as Zarius references her connections without name; the woman leans back, resting her elbow against the arm of her chair, whilst she clicks against the top of her table with the opposite hand. A small, uncomfortable breadth of silence thickens the atmosphere; her eyes shifting between them, as if judging; and then, she opens her mouth to speak.
“That depends,” she responds, the same bluntness to her voice; Mei crosses one leg over her other while Lyari speaks, remaining neutral and quiet during the discussion. Another rhythmic tap of her nails against the wood of her desk draws Mei’s gaze to Lyari’s hands; it’s hard to tell if the woman is working out nerves, or if the clicking means something else, “What is it that the Rha’Oriyn want from me?”
She lifts her hand, opening her palm in a gesture to Zarius, “And what is it that you can offer me in return, which my current dealers cannot? Loyalty comes at a steep price; and though I have given you what little time I can salvage in return for a favor; I am willing to hear you out. But, surely, you know you cannot walk into my office with lesser, and expect something greater in return.”
Another adjustment of her seating; Lyari leans forwards, intertwining her fingers together expectantly as she gazes at Zarius, unfaltering.
“So, mister Rha'Oriyn, I await your proposal with great interest.”
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Apr 24, 2023 21:08:42 GMT -5
Zarius watches the woman closely, tracking her every movement, every gesture, and every glance. A moment’s lapse in attention was not something any of them could afford given what could be at stake. If things went poorly, it would likely go very poorly.
Her tapping doesn’t go unnoticed by the fellblood either. Though he doesn’t bother to draw attention to it. If she was secretly messaging someone and they tried to sneak up on them, they would be in for a rude surprise.
“Your services as a coordinator of course. I am expanding my business with the possibility of reaching beyond Darkveil’s city limits. I need allies in various sectors, preferably competent experts I can trust to do their job and do it well.”
He rests his arm over the back of the chair.
“Access for one. I already have allies with various skills, inside access to the resources of the Fighter’s Guild, and contacts in other shady operations across Charon. Having you be a part of that network would no doubt be mutually beneficial, if not give you more leverage to use in your other dealings.” He gestures to himself. “I also am a public face while many of your dealers are mere shadows. There are doors I can simply walk through thanks to my reputation, while they would have to break in.”
Of course he wouldn’t mention the risks of working with a public face. Lyari already likely knew them all too well. But he wasn’t wrong in pointing out that having a connection with someone involved in politics across Charon did have its advantages. Especially if that connection was willing to pull strings.
“Our business can be strictly transactional if that is your preference. A favor for a favor, information for information. I am open to an ongoing conversation and negotiation of terms.”
He pauses for a moment, judging by the information Caedes relayed to him on their way over, it was possible that they could be more aggressive in this conversation. Lyari appeared to be someone who, while knows how to beat around the bush, would probably appreciate a bit more of a direct approach.
“If none of that is sufficient, I have it on good authority that you have had difficulties with some of your current clientele. If I understand correctly, it is challenging for coordinators to end sour partnerships out of the risks it could bring to your business and wellbeing. However, there are ways to remove those risks.”
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Post by Caedes Oleander on Apr 27, 2023 19:43:29 GMT -5
Mei pays close attention to the elf’s body language while Zarius works the negotiation; she lowers her lashes, folding her crossed hands over her lap while she listens to the dulcet tones of his voice. Lyari is, for the most part, motionless; the woman offers her full attention to the speaking fellblood; and although she doesn’t offer Mei a sparing glance, she has no doubt that the elf is likely keeping a tab on her from her peripheral vision. The changes in the elf’s posture are subtle; a quirk in her brows, a tension in her shoulders, a blink slower than the rest that Mei has observed. There’s a strange nostalgia that tightens Mei’s chest in the moments of silence and pause; it’s been some time since she was involved in this side of Darkveil’s underground… and even longer since she felt as though she had to rely on an outcome far out of her control. “ Mm.” During a pause, Lyari hums; her voice is monotone, borderline disinterested; and while Lyari leans back in her chair, Mei considers their escape opportunities and what stands in their way. The two guards outside Lyari’s door, Lyari herself, and every bastard they’d passed on the way in, could be at their throats with a snap of the elven woman’s slender fingers; but during her short visits to this area, Mei had also gotten herself accustomed to portions of the shipyard. Mei offers Zarius a glance without shifting her head, listening while he cuts straight to the point; as she shifts her gaze back, Lyari’s shoulders tense. The pale woman narrows her eyes until Lyari’s shoulders relax again; the elven woman breathes out through her nose, loud enough to cut the silence that follows the fellblood’s words. Her gaze shifts briefly to Mei, before returning to Zarius; there’s a hint of laughter in her voice when she speaks. “ Difficulties?” She repeats; Mei doesn’t like her tone; and it’s enough to cause a subtle shift in the changeling’s posture. Lyari leans back in her chair, folding her fingers against her cheek as she gazes across the table at Zarius. “ Difficulties is an understatement; but if our line of work was all sunshine and roses, we’d be doing it in the Golden Capitol instead of the Ashlands, wouldn’t we? Although… as a public face, I presume you see the sunshine more than even myself.” Another tapping of her fingers, this time against the arm of her chair; Lyari’s head lolls heavily into the curled knuckles of her opposite hand. “ You may be a public face, Rha’Oriyn; but I am a public servant. The city of Darkveil has its faces and its names, but its those of us without reputation or name that keep them all afloat; parasitic as it may be, it’s how the city thrives.” Lyari takes a breath, one which raises her chest and shoulders before she releases it in a sigh; something about her seems tired in the few moments that come to pass— something much more reminiscent of the woman who’d plead for assistance in the Dancer’s Den.
For the briefest moment, she seems what she is: an elven woman, centuries old, who has lived and thrived around the worst kinds of people.
“… And when one of its nameless takes a hit, the whole of Darkveil will feel it sooner or later.” Her eyes wander to the changeling, before resting on Zarius; she leans forwards, her chair creaking slightly as she does so. “ I do not think you are stupid, Rha’Oriyn; you walked into this meeting knowing who my associates are; but I need you to understand: those thugs out there are mine. They are nameless to you, but they have families and they have children; that is why they work for me. It is not honest work, but it is work that keeps them fed and housed; and I am responsible for providing it.” Lyari folds her hands against her desk. “ You understand why then, how if your next proposition does not suit me, there will be consequences. I will not risk being double-crossed, and I will not risk the safety and well-being of those who rely on me.” Despite the words that have left her lips, Lyari’s posture is not aggressive; but Mei’s hand rests against the belt beneath her cloak nonetheless, fingertips curled around one of the knives resting there. Lyari does not spare her a glance, focusing instead on Zarius. “ With this in mind… I want you to tell me how you presume we may remove the risks at play, without bringing about the swift end of us both.”
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on May 4, 2023 15:56:21 GMT -5
Zarius listens to the woman's words. There was nothing illogical about what she was saying, and he could understand her concerns. That said, it really seemed like she had one and a million excuses not to take a calculated risk and instead just continue to suffer the status quo. Though, she did take a chance on Mei, so perhaps that was not entirely fair. Once she has finished talking, he takes a moment to get his own thoughts in order.
"I appreciate that you do not think I am unintelligent despite the years of wisdom I lack compared to yourself. Though it seems those years of wisdom have worn your patience and perhaps your passion for this line of work thin." His eyes meet hers. "You can rest assured I have no intentions of taking unnecessary risks, especially at the expense of your men. I do not believe people are so easily expendable as some of your clients do. I prefer to make allies instead of enemies, though admittedly some people are better off removed from the equation."
Zarius then reaches into his jacket and pulls out a silver emblem. He places it down on the surface of the table. The emblem is finely crafted, but smattered with dried blood. Lyari would recognize it as the emblem of the merchants the initial heist from the warehouse was carried out against.
"It is a shame some people just are not capable of seeing the bigger picture."
Sitting back, Zarius rubs some of the flaked off blood between his fingertips. "In the next few days you can expect a new power vacuum that will be easily filled by you and yours. New opportunities to make plenty of money to support all your employees," he pauses for a moment before continuing. "Including those who are currently unaccounted for."
He lets the words hang in the air for a moment, giving Lyari time to process this new information she likely did not have before. Before she can ask any other questions, he does add at least a little reassurance.
"Which, for the record, they are safe and I do know their names."
That should go without saying given that Zarius and his family are in the business of buying and selling information. Information was a powerful weapon and being an information broker took a certain level of care and finesse. After all, in a a city full of liars and cheats, the truth was hard to guarantee.
"It is a relief to hear that you care deeply for the safety and well-being of your employees. Seems we have more in common than expected. Certainly more than can be said about some of your clients."
Zarius watches her reactions closely. If everything he just said didn't manage to pique her interest, then they were quickly running out of bargaining chips of any real value.
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Post by Caedes Oleander on May 4, 2023 21:10:07 GMT -5
The elven woman’s eyes do not falter or wander in the pocket of silence that follows her monologue; Mei waits with patience, but with an itch in her fingers against the hilt of her knives. She couldn’t call this silence tension; and Lyari does not appear to be a threat at this moment; but she has very openly threatened them in the case that their deal is not to her liking. Still, Zarius remains calm; and Mei mirrors his disposition to every ounce of her best abilities. It is only when Zarius sets the emblem on her desk that Lyari’s eyes leave him.
She looks down at the emblem, eyes narrowing slightly upon processing what has been emblazoned upon it. After a moment of lingering, she looks between Zarius and the emblem; and then reaches out to take it between her fingers. She tilts the desecrated metal in the weak light of her office, lips pursing slightly in thought. A small dusting of dried blood flakes onto the surface of the oak desk from the disturbance and stains her fingertips in a macabre rouge. An audible sigh leaves the elven woman in a heavy exhale through her nose; and her eyes lift once more, resting on Zarius over the silver emblem between her fingers when he mentions the men that have gone unaccounted for in her ranks after the last night… She closes her eyes as she sets the emblem on the table in front of her and balances it vertically between her index finger and the desk; she rolls it as if it were a toy, and not the evidence of a clear murder. “ More than can be said of some of my clientele, indeed.” She agrees, but there’s a strange note in her tone. “ You talk a pretty talk, Rha’Oriyn…” she admits, lifting her finger from the emblem. It falls, rotating on its circular edges until it finally comes to a stop. “ I have worked at the forefront of Darkveil’s black market for an eternity; and I will likely make my grave in it; but I have nothing more to gain or lose from this life.” There’s a bitter sort of honesty to her words; she threads her fingers together. “ Those beneath me have everything to lose or everything to gain depending on how the tide sways... New opportunities… of course those are more ideal than the latter possibilities for them…” She rests her cheek against the back of her threaded fingers. “ Before we continue, though— I must ask… Why do the Rha’Oriyn have my men in their possession? In fact…” She taps the emblem after untangling her fingers, “ … How did you come in possession of this? Do not get me wrong,” she picks up the emblem, twisting it between her index and thumb. “ … These bastards deserved everything they had coming to them regardless of whom gave the final order... But my, the headaches their mysterious absence has caused me.” She drops it, allowing it to clatter noisily against her desk. " Not to mention the raid on our storefront, which burned well into the night after being left unsupervised... and the disappearance of my employees, which... while I am grateful for the Rha'Oriyn's patience and mercy with them..." She places a hand over her heart. " You know a bit more about than you're letting on, don't you?"
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on May 7, 2023 12:07:23 GMT -5
"I do not agree with that," Zarius interjects. "So long as you are alive, you will always have something to gain or lose. Whether or not you care about those things is your own decision, but as you've said, you are not willing to risk the safety and well-being of your mean. That certainly sounds like you still have something to lose."
Caedes would remember how Zarius jumped at the chance to criticize the changeling for claiming they also had nothing to lose. However, before the fellblood gets carried away with his personal stance on the topic, he pivots the conversation back to answering Lyari's questions. Questions with answers that would likely make or break this whole deal.
He eyes Lyari subtly. As far as he can tell, she does not have any items on her that suggest she has magical means of detecting lies. That said, he could not see behind the desk and she could easily have something there. He wouldn't be able to know for certain, as trying to dodge the question or peer around would only raise her suspicions and likelihood of exacting those consequences she warned of earlier.
It was a gamble, but he would just have to do his best to sell the story and appear as genuine as possible.
"It was a series of unfortunate events," he begins with a slight sigh as if out of regret for the situation they were all caught up in. "The fire at that shop drew the attention of our mercenaries. They arrived on the scene discovering your men unconscious and left behind for any scavenger to find, as well as the shop emptied of its valuables.[1] Unconscious men are not exactly the best source of information, so they brought them into our care before anyone else could take advantage of their vulnerability."
Zarius takes extra care to sprinkle in little truths with the lie. While he could not tell Lyari of his and Caedes' failure to coordinate, thus leading to the entire mess that was the past few nights, he had to give her something that sounded reasonable. Framing his associates as having arrived on the scene after the attackers had already fled and taken back what was stolen was about the best he could do to clear them of being the attackers themselves.
"Your men would not speak to us. And I do not blame them given the circumstances." He meets Lyari's gaze. "It is clear they value your safety as much as you value yours."
Even if Lyari wasn't a particularly emotional or sentimental person, playing to the success of the loyalty and respect she has managed to nurture with her men was not an point of leverage Zarius was willing to ignore.
"That said, my people are good at getting information without needing to resort to violent interrogation tactics. That is when we learned of their connection to you and to our own agent, however, we could not risk reaching out ahead of time in case the culprits of the attack retaliated."
That was true for the most part, but it was also to ensure Caedes' efforts up until that point were not jeopardized. So far, the explanation seemed wholly plausible so long as Lyari was not privvy to any specific details that would contradict the scenario the fellblood carefully describes. Now came the arguably more complicated question. If he wasn't careful, it was all too possible for Lyari to suspect Zarius as being a spy for her competitors even though that was far from the truth of things.
"In regards as to how I came into possession of that trinket, that was why I was at the docks.[1] We had managed to identify the arsonists and it was clear from our investigation that they were going to retaliate in greater force."
He pauses, his gaze growing sharper and his expression serious. It was now or never to give Lyari a better understanding of just how seriously he was taking this opportunity to gain her favor and support, and offer his in return to her.
"We could not allow that to happen, so we acted. It is not how I prefer to do things, if I am being honest. But the risk they posed not only to you, your men, my agent, and Darkveil as a whole was undeniable. It is regrettable, but chaos in Darkveil is often bloody and with many innocent casualties. There are too many jackals waiting in the shadows for any excuse to gain even the slightest amount of power."
His expression softens and he cracks a smile to ease the tension.
"Of course, I am not so bold to suggest I am not the same. I would not be here if I was not aiming to leave with something of worth, even if it is just my own life and the life of my associate here intact."
If nothing else, just being able to leave alive might have to be considered a win for today. With everything now on the table, it was up to Lyari to decide what happens next.
[1] Smooth Talking
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