[Duplicity] IC Inbox

[rogueinladysclothing]

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[Amelia's device is ready for messages. Send away as you will.

Upon reaching her inbox, there's a long pause. And then, when the caller might think this is some prank or the inbox is improperly set up, a soft voice speaks:]

"Leave your message. We'll speak later."

Comments

[rogueinladysclothing]

[If she closed her eyes, Amelia could believe for a moment that they hadn't been transported to some fucked up, sex-crazed shithole of a city. To better keep her focus on the reality of the situation, though, she keeps her eyes wide open, focusing on nothing in particular as she looks out her bedroom window.]

I've heard a few things of them. If you have more information, bring it home to me. [Dreams, this isn't home, but if Aloïs is here, she can pretend it is.] We can go over all of it alongside pins I have on a map of the Down. [Anything to keep them both as safe and informed as possible.

Ahh, the Arena. This is one thing she can speak of easily.] I've been. Its fighters are very skilled, and it's worth both of us taking time there when we can't spar with each other any longer. Be warned - some of them have magic, and they'll use it while sparring if they get a chance. [Kainé hadn't used it at her during their match, but there's no telling if the other fighters won't. Amelia can't speak to them or their methods.

Exhaling a short sigh, the rogue takes a minute to think before continuing.] You don't trust him. [Best to lay that on the table.] But he didn't threaten you, and I assume he didn't turn his weapon on you while the two of you were fighting off the Rubies. Aside from the strangeness of his face and his magic, I don't see him as a direct threat right now.

[Still, something's not adding up here. Her lips press into a thin line and she tilts her head slightly.] What haven't you told me about him?

[dancingknives]

Aye. It's fodder for the map for sure. [The beginnings of mapping out the trouble in the Down and finding a way to squeeze a place for them both into it. Then, a thoughtful beat.] Pins?

[So she's been to the Arena. Good. When their impressions of the city line up, it makes it easier to build an accurate picture of what they're dealing with. He's already planning on visiting the place when the inevitable need for the release of a fight comes for him. To her impression, Aloïs only nods.

But the rest of what she has for him starts a pulse of indignation stirring in his chest. Nothing she's saying about Chris is wrong, but it doesn't line up with his own lingering suspicions. The vague and unnameable refusal to accept something that feels like a cosmic trick.]

There's no tale here I haven't already told. [There's a grimace in his voice. He wouldn't lie to her. Especially about something like this.]

But things like this --red skies on the eve of a job, three ravens all on a bough together-- they're ill signs. [Signs that, he's sure, have paid off well for him when he's been wary of them.] Someone's fucking with me.

[rogueinladysclothing]

[...right, if it's on his device, he probably hasn't seen it. Amelia swallows her momentary frustration and nods to herself.] I'll explain later.

[When he continues down the path of suspicion without reason, though, she sighs. He's always been one to see signs where there are none. Sometimes, it's helpful; it can keep them wary when they would otherwise assume safety. Now? While they're trying to lay down roots in a place that refuses to take any seeds? She could thrash him for this coming up now.]

Bullshit. If there was nothing more, you wouldn't be nervous. Even without seeing you, I can hear it in your voice.

[There is more to all this, and she can feel it. Aloïs hiding it only makes her more certain of it.]

Tell me or no, I will find out. This is important, and I need to know everything.

[She hesitates a brief moment.] There's nothing I won't protect you from. I will burn this city down for you if it comes to that. If you need to come home before we speak, that's fine, but don't speak of omens just because a man with your face helped you in a fight.

[dancingknives]

[The grimace on the rogue's face deepens at the insistence that he's lying.] I'm not holding anything back from you. It's not my way with you, and hasn't been for a while.

[The incident of Yvain notwithstanding. This is so far from that.]

And I'm not afraid of him, [he rebuffs. And he's not-- or so he thinks. He's wary of what all of this means.] If anything, he's afraid of me-- or was, anyway. [It's what settled some of his immediate hostility. Unless it's the result of a job being upended by the target unexpectedly, fear speaks to him of sincerity.

But she's been right about him letting his cart get ahead of the horse with his snap gut judgements before. Aloïs sighs.]

All right, then how would you approach something like this? [There's a touch of stubborn grumbling there, but he's listening.] Because the way I feel, I don't want touch this with a ten foot pole.

[rogueinladysclothing]

[He sounds sincere as he says all this, but Amelia's still skeptical. This is different than what happened with Yvain, but there's still... something there. It makes her vaguely uncomfortable, even if she can't find the right words for it.]

The two of you obviously had a rough first meeting. I'm certain there's plenty on both sides that went poorly. [She'll give him that. It's unlikely Chris enjoyed meeting someone else with his face, especially one as aggressive and quick to judge as Aloïs.]

Then don't. Leave him to me. I need to speak to him, learn more about him, where he comes from, and what he can do. [This mage could be useful for a large number of reasons.] The meeting doesn't have to be anything outside a polite conversation and exchange of information, but knowing more about this other man can only help us going forward.

[She pauses, letting all that sink in, before speaking again.] What was his name? I can find him through the network and make contact there.

[dancingknives]

[Amelia freeing him to back off and leave the matter unaddressed strikes him as wise, even as the prospect of handing off a problem of his own to someone else feels like coddling. That rankles some. All of this seems obviously suspicious to him, but if it ends up something that genuinely requires dealing with, he's not afraid to get his hands dirty. He doesn't like the idea of handing that aspect off.

But Amelia seems to accept the matter as is, however cautiously. Even seems to be considering the idea of opening up the idea of doing potential business, if his read on her words is right. She doesn't seem to think much at all of his notion that this might be trickery.

Her judgment holds sway the way it always does, but he trusts his gut on this, too. Aloïs frowns.]

Chris. I don't know the last name, but if you look him up, the picture'll give him away.

[Ugh. It's hitting him all over again. Weird-ass unsettling shit.]

You really thinking of feeling him out for help?

[rogueinladysclothing]

I'll find him. [A first name is all she needs with a network full of names and pictures at her fingertips. Once she has a full name, she can reach out to him and begin the next steps in all this.]

Yes. [No need to lie about that.] But I also need to feel him out, as a person. I need to know and understand who and what he is. We've never-- [An annoyed beat.] This is a new situation for us, and I'd rather take the time to investigate someone who isn't eager to attack us than to dig into someone who wants to tear us down.

[If what Aloïs says is true, there won't be any issues with her speaking to Chris and digging into his life. If there are, she'll be the first to admit her second's feelings of paranoia and suspicion were correct.]

I'd never contract him, but he may be someone we can bring in for the occasional job. A mage is a powerful asset in the right conditions. [And unless there was an overwhelming need to contract someone who wields magic, Amelia would never bring one into the family for Aloïs' sake. She won't say it aloud, though, to spare him the thought that she'd sacrifice an opportunity like that for him. It wouldn't be a pleasant conversation.

So, time to change the subject.]

Come home, if you can. One dust up is enough for today. We can pick up investigations tomorrow.

[dancingknives]

[He can't say any of her instincts or ideas are wrong. If he encountered someone comfortable in a fight and who seemed to have useful knowledge about their surroundings, the least he would have done is feel them out, too. Magic on its own is more iffy, but a lot of that depends on what kind it is, a person's opinions about their own abilities, and how they use them. Someone with practical powers and who has restraint is okay enough.

But he still doesn't like this. It's starting to seem like Chris' suspicion that they'd have trouble ignoring each other even if they tried is on the mark. Aloïs sighs gruffly. He just hopes Amelia knows what she's doing, even as he trusts that she can handle herself.

All other things aside, the invitation to home is compelling. He has a few minor wounds that need tending to, anyway. Amelia's right: the best thing for today is to pack it in for the night.]

I'm on my way. [And so he is.]

If you're really gonna do it [Check Chris out] you're gonna want to be politic about it. [Not that he thinks she wouldn't be, but there's a particular reason that he trusts she won't find surprising:] I pulled a blade on him. Didn't cut him, but came close. [It was the right move in the moment, as far as he's concerned, but he doesn't know if it'll cause problems for her or not.]

[rogueinladysclothing]

[Home is safe, or at least safer than the streets, and Amelia can put her hands to good use checking Aloïs' wounds and patching him up. She'll feel better knowing he's not getting beat to hell again.

The revelation that he almost cut Chris doesn't surprise her. When faced with something so unknown and unexpected, she likely would do the same. It's probably best he didn't actually strike the other man, but it's doubtful she would've been angry if he had. So long as it hadn't turned into some larger, unnecessary incident and inconvenience, Aloïs has her full confidence.

A small, soft chuckle escapes her and she nods to herself.] I'll be as diplomatic as I can be with him. He may not even want to see me at all after this, but it seems best to try. If nothing else, I can assure him we don't intend to move on him or anyone he's connected to. That'll be enough.

[She hesitates for a moment, her expression softening. She almost drops her defenses enough to express her worries, but decides against it at the last second. He doesn't need her to say that; it's something they both know. This incident is troubling, but they'll make their way through. It'll be fine, one way or another.]

I'll be ready with physician's supplies and bandages when you get back, [she finally says.] You'll be ready to hit the streets again after a night's rest.

[dancingknives]

Aye, good enough. We made an agreement to warn our people about each other anyway, so... consider yourself warned. [His one and only 'people'.

But he's not worried about that with her. Between him and Chris, he's sure he stands out like a sore thumb to her. They've known each other too long for him to not assume that's the case. The thought makes him smile slightly to himself. He can trust her with this, and to take care of herself. He knows it right down to his bones, and the notion brings a certain kind of peace with it.]

Thanks. I'll see you soon.