5402/'A Needless Flashy Escape' Can Have Two Meanings Depending On How You Read It

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'A Needless Flashy Escape' Can Have Two Meanings Depending On How You Read It
Date of Scene: 27 July 2017
Location: The Quilt
Synopsis: The Starlight Bandits clue in the Watch on corruption in Chapter's new rebel government.
Cast of Characters: Starlight Bandits, 1108, 857, Sanary Rondel, Lyria Mason, August Kohler, Leyanne Mace, William Pauwel


Starlight Bandits has posed:
    Though there is an air of tension and uncertainty in Chapter, that won't keep citizens from visiting the local markets, even though the stalls aren't exactly groaning under the weight of wares. Turns out that when all the farmers move to the city and stake out new homes and positions, there's not a lot of food being grown or butchered. The government is pushing a new work programme for the 'rotten nobles to wear out their soft hands with hoes and scythe,' but it takes time for them to learn the basics, and they lack the stamina to work all day.

    Many are realizing that the glorious revolution may not be all it was cracked up to be. But none ever accused the working class of being weak. They struggle on out of principle, pride, or having no other alternative. It's plain on the face of everyone here, haggling over overpriced limited supplies and trying to scrape together anything they can.

    As a result, the Starlight Bandits stick out like a sore thumb, happily sitting together on a dry fountain. Irvine is carefully cutting slices from an apple, likely obtained illegitimately, stabbing them, and letting Molly eat from the blade. Their jovial laughter draws more than a few annoyed looks.

A2 (1108) has posed:
    A2 is here because August asked.

    That's about it. The whole revolution thing sounded pretty nice. Good for these people. They actually won, too, and the punishment for their former overlords seems fitting enough. The android isn't really sure what she's supposed to do here, that said. She isn't particularly up to speed on even the bare minimum of civil (or even digestive) knowledge to know that these supplies on the market are overpriced, or in short supply at all. She's hanging around in a pretty badly mangled cloak, badly in need of a new one, pretty much lurking by the fountain.

Eve (857) has posed:
    Eve's admittedly curious about all this. Not just the Bandits, who she's been advised to regard with interest. They're pleasant people, though she's not sure if she's interacted with them enough to consider them friends. They're friendly though, and she has no reason to dislike them. That's close enough. In addition to that though, there's Chapter; a city she's had reason to be interested in for a while now and one she helped overthrow. It's not exactly been a shining bastion of enlightenment after the terrible book-hoarding nobility was overthrown... and having her best intentions fail isn't the sort of thing she enjoys.

    There's no particular sign of this on her face as she enters the city however. Oh, she frowns, but then she's generally prone to glowers on occasion when seeing dirty people, filth in the streets, or people being ground down in poverty. She's not actually angry though, which generally provokes a lot more than just anger. She's also moving slightly stiffly, her back unnaturally straight, though she gives off no signal of actual pain.

    Eve's expression loses its scowl when she sees Molly and Irvine, instead greeting them neutrally with a bow of the head. There may even be the slightest of tiny smiles ghosting her lips, though it'd take a keen eye indeed to detect it.

Sanary Rondel has posed:
Sanary's been following the situation in Chapter fairly closely ever since she got inadvertently involved in the whole mess with the book and rebellions and sticking it back at those asshole nobles. She may not know the ins and outs of the whole situation, but she can certainly sympathize with the farmers' new plight.

     Seeing what they're going through does help put some things into context, though. The healer's keeping a low profile and wearing a simple tunic and shorts combo instead of her usual coat today to try and blend in. She's also got a crappy brown rucksack slung over one shoulder, and it definitely doesn't have anything useful inside it whatsoever.

     Spotting the Starlight Bandits, Sanary takes a roundabout path towards them, eventually propping one foot up on the fountain to peer at them, A2, and Eve alike. She doesn't say anything, though, just playing the role of a curious gawker for now.

Lyria Mason has posed:
So she wasn't very happy with the situation here but the Starlight Bandits had her respect if only for their sense of style in their capers. So here she was to just see what hte heck was going on. She rubbed the fish hook tattoos on her face for a moment then pressed on as she looks to see Molly and Irvine. She looked htem over with her green eyes size up evertying but hte pirate lass is otherwise fairly quiet at the moment as she arrives.

August Kohler has posed:
Despite a stressful past few weeks, August came as soon as the Bandits asked for him. He's very fond of the two, and they've been a spot of constant cheer that he doesn't normally see, so when they ask /specifically/ for him, he grabbed his stuff, kicked out of his room, and headed over immediately to the warpgate.

The redhead is dressed in a light teal hoodie, and is approaching the Bandits as soon as he spots them at the fountain. Their laughter is the big giveaway to their position, and August steps up to them. "Irvine, Molly. I'm here. How are you two?" He glances at the others who are with him (not recognizing Sanary) and nods in their direction. "You wanted to talk, but obviously not over the broadband. You two usually take things on your own - what's the matter?"

Leyanne Mace has posed:
Leyanne Mace is here because it seems like people need help. She saunters towards the town, towering over... well, pretty much everyone. Even then, weirdly, she blends in as part of the scenery. People watch her go past, but nobody wants to enquire.
She spots August and the bandits, sauntering over. "Ello"

William Pauwel has posed:
Will has been travelling! There's a certain sort of wisdom that can only be gained by meandering the multiverse like some kind of particularly puissant murderhobo and occasionally shooting problems in the face. That is hopefully not what Will will encounter here, as this particular set of problems appears to involve the Bandits and he rather likes them and would not like to see them get shot in the face.

"Heeeeeeeey there folks," Will calls from aboard his thundering steel steed. The oversized motorbike's engine purrs and chuffs with tiny but mighty explosions, and makes its rider not quite completely impossible to hear. "Irvine, Molly! I came as soon as I heard. It's been a while, huh? Y'all been doing good?"

Starlight Bandits has posed:
    "Young man!" Irvine shouts, suddenly getting an arm around August's shoulder and running his knuckles over his scalp. "Good to see you, and your little friends too!" He looks around, smiling at the new and unfamiliar faces. "Ah, young lady! I do hope that book is treating you right," he adds to Sanary.

    William meanwhile, being in absentia for a while, gets a full hug from Molly, one that ends in your feet off the floor. "William! Oh, it's been far too long. Where have you been? Are you doing well?" she babbles, dusting him off and looking him over.

    But finally, business beckons, and they nod. "Yes, a grave matter needs tending to, but I would rather not talk about it in public. This way please." He and Molly put their arms around as many people as possible and begin guiding them away from the market... and on their way out, Molly's hand grabs a stall and pulls hard, making it collapse behind them as they both break into a sprint. Irvine drops a smoke bomb as he yells, "Distractions! Make them as big as you can!"

Sanary Rondel has posed:
"The book? Y... Yeah, sure." Sanary chuckles awkwardly while adjusting her stance and tightening the strap on that rucksack a bit. Is she hiding something? Probably. Whatever the case is, Sanary isn't going to elaborate. Instead, she clears her throat, then starts to follow the group as the Bandits begin leading them away!

     It doesn't really make much sense even after Irvine calls for distractions. "The hell are you going on about?!" She's still sprinting, of course, although the healer is unlikely to be as fast as anyone else in the group. She does have momentum carrying her forward, though, in case something unexpected and fragile pops up in front of them!

     If nothing else? Sanary does take a moment to fire off an explosive laser into the sky from her eye. She'll just have to hope there aren't any birds in the way.

William Pauwel has posed:
OH GOD THOSE ARE HIS BONES.

"Ahahahahahaha~" Will wheezes as he's HAULED BODILY OFF HIS MOTORCYCLE. "I've-- I've been doing good! Mostly!" He hugs back, finally. This is also a signal to please let go so he can return a hug properly and also stop being slowly smothered to death. "I was, uh. Taking a trip around Ar Ciel, now that the surface is in better shape and things have cooled down. I wanted to see as much of it as I could before heading back, but now here I am!"

Also, he was recovering from literally burning his soul to speak to a planet.

That kind of sucked.

"So uh. This grave matter is pretty grave, then? What's going o--" A STALL IS SMASHED. SMOKEBOMBS ARE DEPLOYED. "Oh. Oh no, uh." Will... fishes around his hips.

He draws his gun.

HE FIRES IT INTO THE SKY.

"THIS IS A DISTRACTIONNNNN!!?"

He yells, as he goes running off after Irvine and Molly

Leyanne Mace has posed:
Leyanne Mace holds her hand out for a fistbump with Will. She blinks at Irvine a moment, confusedly. "Um...?" She mutters a moment, drawing her sidearm and re-loading it with blank rounds. Even with blanks in the chamber, she takes care to aim it well away from anyone and fire off a few rounds to add to the chaos.
THen she takes off after Will, Irving and Molly.

Eve (857) has posed:
    Eve fakes a scowl at being called little but her heart's not in it. She IS little, and she's being acknowledged by people she likes. Aside from not wanting them to think they can demean her, she's happy enough to help. This makes it easy enough for the Bandits to put arms around her, one or both, and hustle her along.

    She's quite confused at first, when the Bandits start making a ruckus. She's a fast thinker though, weighing her trust for them against her general opinion of Chapter residents, along with thoughts of what sort of diversions her fellow Watchmen might come up with if the need arises for something big.

    So Eve goes along with the plan, gathering up her will along with loops of golden hair, extending that hair out somewhat to gain some reach while holding the excess up off the street so she's in no danger of tripping. Not to mention no danger of dirtying her hair!

    As she's pulled along, Eve whips out coils of hair at various targets. Stall tables and obviously-bulging money purses being her best targets. The stall tables will be much like the distraction Molly caused. The money purses will be sliced cleanly through allowing the contents to spill noisily to the street. Eve's no cutpurse normally, but she figures the sight of silver and gold and frantically-scrambling people will be as good a distraction as anything while not actually doing any significant harm to anyone.

Lyria Mason has posed:
THe Banding saying they needr to talk in private? This got her attention she was wuick to follow after them as smokebombs drop she'll pull down her googles nad press on after the pair. She says nothing. She is very much curious as she follows. She does however pause to lob some things behind her as they go, the sonic grenades go off lettoug out high piced horribley bad boy band music from her world.

A2 (1108) has posed:
    "What the hell?!" A2 cries out as Molly and Irvine so suddenly decide to cause a scene, turning on a dime to make as big and loud of a mess they can, and insisting on further distraction. Her tired and irritable voice barely rises above the clatter and crash, not to mention the blast from Sanary's laser flare and the percussion of Leyanne's gunfire. "What the /hell/?!" she just reiterates again once Eve adds prehensile, slashing hair to the mess. Most of her own form of distraction just involves having to kick and elbow smash the flying debris out of the way in her mad sprint after the Starlight Bandits, doubling the mess with chunks of spinning wood and clouds and splinters, dust, and splattered fruit.

August Kohler has posed:
"You almost sound like a supervillain there, 'your little friends'." August actually laughs, but it turns more serious when they say it's a grave matter. He nods, and moves to follow them...when they make a scene and demand the same. Everyone else is already being super flashy - smoke bombs, laser blasts, hair, A2's existence. August decides to do his the old fashioned way, shouting at the top of his lungs as they all flee into the smoke. "THEY WENT THAT WAY!", pointing in an opposite direction from where they're going before escaping into the smoke himself. When he gets up closer to the others, he's...laughing, if confused. "I don't understand you two at all."

Starlight Bandits has posed:
    It's a hell of a distraction. Twin beams pierce the sky as blank rounds and sonic grenades ring out, making everyone look over as Eve rips up money purses, drawing the immediate ire of the merchants. They attempt to follow, but many go the wrong way as August shouts as such. Those that keep with them are lost immediately in the clouds of smoke and fine debris created by A2.

    It becomes apparent as to why the Bandits have escapes incarceration for so long during their time as criminals. They run like fickle water, and can turn on a dime. From the streets they run into someone's home, up into the second floor, out the window to crash into another building, climbing to the roof before sliding down a flagpole back to the streets. For a seemingly mundane pair, they flee from something as if that something were the Devil itself.

    But finally, after ducking through several alleys, they arrive at a destination. They both stop, and funnel everyone into an abandoned, empty building before throwing themselves in behind them. A black sheet is there waiting for them, and Irvine hangs it over the door frame. The windows also have such sheets hanging over them. In the dim external lighting, it just seems as if the building is pitch-black and empty just looking in.

    "Phew~! How exciting!" Molly says before flopping into a chair. "Well done, chums. If anyone was following us, they're not now." This implies that they weren't sure... "Now, I'll cut to the chase. There is a reason we got in contact with you all beyond our two biggest fans being members of the Watch." He smiles at August and Will as he says this. "The truth is, this government you have installed? It's no good. There are vipers in the nest."

Sanary Rondel has posed:
Sanary's having a hell of a time trying to keep up with anyone, finding it a lot easier to just barrel through things and go around that house instead. She's got stamina, though, as evidenced by her lack of panting once they actually reach their destination. The healer takes a quick look around the empty building, then turns to the Bandits while starting to shake her hands in front of her.

     "So that's why some of those people had teeth..." She nods slowly while being caught up to speed, then channels some healing enegry around in a faint cloud to anyone that's willing to stand in the thing that looks vaguely like cartoonishly glowing fart gas. It's not strong, but it'll help reduce the need to pant from exertion at least a little!

     "You got a plan to remove 'em, then? Or... Set someone else up to start over?"

William Pauwel has posed:
Yeaaaaah fistbump

More importantly though!! There is something to be done here. Something that sounds vaguely like... REBELLION. Or maybe just discrete political assassination. In either case, after a (pretty damn exhausting and possibly wholly unecessary) chase sequence through the backstreets of the city, Will settles into what appears to be a beanbag in one corner of the room.

It may in fact instead be a sack full of rice or something. Or literal beans.

There maybe aren't that many chairs in this Secret Hideout.

"Eheheheh, well, I can't help bein' yer fan, you know. Anyway we can help, we'll do it! Though uh. It kind of sounds like this... May be our fault to begin with...?" Will looks to August. Is this their fault!? Do they have to clean up their own mess!?!? "...Well. Anyhow. Uh, what vipers're we talkin' about here, exactly?"

A2 (1108) has posed:
    A2 is legitimately impressed by the skill with which the Bandits seem to avoid some unseen, malicious traceurs, seriously doubting she could perform quite the same feats of slippery acrobatics even given her much greater physical prowess. Still, at no point does she actually /see/ any tails, nor does she, even by the end of the imaginary chase, have any reason to believe that there were any. Oddly, for an android, her breath is actually somewhat quicker by the time she ducks into the darkened house, and then abruptly tosses her cloak.

    "What the hell was all that about? Was there /actually/ anyone chasing you? Who do you even think is after you?!" They seem like slightly more pertinent questions to her immediate safety. The bit about installing a government was something she wasn't there for. That said, when she hears those last few words, implying a whole new cycle of exploitation and abuse ready to begin anew, the artificial creak of her joints and inner skin covering can be heard from her curled fist. "Explain. Right now."

Eve (857) has posed:
    While Eve's no free-runner she's small and agile and doesn't have too much trouble keeping up with the Bandits. She has plenty of concentration to spare for a little mayhem of her own and, so long as no one's actually being hurt (by her own definitions at least) she kind of has to agree with Molly's summary.

    Eve's panting fairly hard after the run, and when she finally stops she takes some time to stretch the soreness from her back and shoulders. Her rapid and agile movement makes it quite clear she's not hampered, but her recent wound's still sore and stiffens her somewhat. That might even vanish with Sanary's healing mists, the remnants of the injury being so relatively minor.

    Either way now that she's finished with tending to soreness, Eve faces Irvine. "We didn't install anyone." she says. "Technically." They just helped overthrow a rotten regime. It wasn't their place to say what came after, and it still isn't. Though if the new ones in power are rotten, they might well come back in and overthrow them too...

August Kohler has posed:
Keeping up with the Bandits is not an easy feat, as August tries to stay behind them even as breaking and entering becomes one of their routes. They know where they're going, so splitting up might get him lost, and honestly, it's thrilling. It takes his mind off of the stress that's been pervading through him. He doesn't even assume they're being chased, honestly - he thought this was normal for them.

When the group arrives at the building, August is panting, slumping against a wall to catch his breath. He doesn't talk about the chase, taking a moment to regain his stamina, when Irvine mentions something incredibly pertinent - the new Chapter government has failed. The German straightens himself up immediately, staring at Irvine. The idea isn't one he really wanted to consider...but Perplex immediately turned tail when things went outside how exactly he wanted them. Eve mentions they didn't technically install someone, and August handwobbles slightly. "We did support them, though. Shit."

"How deep is it? A bit of pesticide, or burn the whole nest?"

Lyria Mason has posed:
Lyria Mason takes a note to August and notes. "I'd say your better at the super villain thing." She looks to August and then to William before looking back to the badits.

"I kinda suspected as such but just how bad is it?"

She ask looking at the pair for a moment she seems pretyt intent to listen, she also keeps a firm eye on August as well.

Leyanne Mace has posed:
Leyanne Mace follows the pair on their crazy flight, before she reaches the empty building at a run, looking over her shoulder.
This... is a problem for an 8ft mouse, because entering doorframes built for even her own species at a flat run requires a carefully timed duck... one she doesn't make. Her face meets the top of her doorframe and stops, while her body continues at the same speed.
Therefore the mouse actually enters the room horizontally, landing flat on her back and sliding to a halt.
"...ow..."
She picks herself up to listen, frowning. "That's... not good..."

Starlight Bandits has posed:
    Irvine laughs at Sanary. "You misunderstand me, ma'am. We're bandits. Monsters. Degenerates of the highest order. We've no interest in making things better, they just have something on us." As everyone starts asking questions, Molly gets up, apparently recovered thanks to Sanary's healz, and rubs her partners shoulders. "Let's start at the beginning Irvine. They're all very upset and confused!" He nods and smiles back at her before launching into a full explanation.

    "So, after your little stunt at the action," he begins, pointing at August. "The government invited the Concord here to request aid in rooting out the loyalists. Molly and I happened to see them in passing, but didn't think much of it. But soon after that meeting, we were approached by one member of their council. He... managed to get something on us, don't ask what. But now he's using it to make us work for them. Apparently, the Concord asked for, and was promised, the library under the city in exchange for their help. But this bearded fellow doesn't want them to have it for whatever reason, she he demanded that we collapse it. No doubt he plans to pin it on us afterwards to make the government seem blameless."

    Irvine looks honestly mad, which might explain why Molly is kneading his shoulders. "That's why I said we should ask you all for help! I said you would all likely have a vested interest in dealing with him~ That's why we went through all that running, to shake off any tails we might have had on us. As for how many there are... we don't know. We just met with the man with the beard.""

Eve (857) has posed:
    Destroy the library? Eve's eyes blaze with anger at the mention of that crime against humanity. It's an anger that shows much more truly than her normal half-hearted glowers and scowls. She doesn't particularly enjoy the idea of the Concord getting the library but she'd far rather see that than see that much collected knowledge destroyed. Books are a bit of a sacred thing to her and, while she enjoys reading on a personal level, they more importantly represent the opportunity to better one's self. The Concord aren't evil as a whole, and Eve would never try to deny their members the opportunity to learn and to choose.

    She doesn't say anything, but her alert smouldering anger should be obvious, and she definitely pays the Bandits intense attention. There's more, and she intends to hear more before saying something obvious. Words... are precious.

Sanary Rondel has posed:
Settling back into a more comfortable sitting position by the door, Sanary strokes her chin lightly while trying to sort out everything that's happened. "Wait. That sounds familiar... The library thing, I mean." She starts, then freezes up before coughing again.

     A more astute eye may notice that she's looking uncomfortable again. It takes a moment for her to get her composure back, and she casts a cautious glance over at August in particular before rubbing her neck lightly. "So... Uh. Lemme make sure I got this all straight. The Concord's helping the government get the loyalists out so they can get to the library, but the government also wants you guys to blow up the library so the Concord can't get to it? But..."

     Now she's getting confused. Or... Already getting confused? Already. Also, stepping back a bit from Eve when she seems to be getting more and more incensed about smoething. "But then if they turn on you for doing what they told you to, wouldn't that just put them on the spot for getting targetted by everyone?"

A2 (1108) has posed:
    A2's expression, only now visible after tossing, well, her only /real/ article of factual clothing, remains hard but neutral at the mention of the government hiring on the Concord. It's not really her business either way, since her role isn't actually deciding what any government does; merely ensuring its honesty by eliminating every part of it that rubs her the wrong way. The mention of blackmail and scapegoats though . . .

    "That's exactly like them. That's just /exactly/ like them." she says to no one in particular, having met none of these farmers before. "What the hell do they even have on you?" A2 asks, before quickly shaking her head, and then bringing her hands up to crack her knuckles one after the other, each flex of her weathered hands making exceptionally loud pops as she forces joints into proper alignment. "Actually, don't bother. All we have to do is kill the guy with the beard, right?"

Leyanne Mace has posed:
Leyanne Mace rubs the side of her head with a grumble, pulling a thermos from her flask, and several folding cups. Anyone who wants a mug of tea is provided one. "Destroying libraries almost always results in bad effects for a culture..." She sips a cup of tea. "And the Concord's not... what I would consider a group that furthers the kind of personal liberty I'm fond of."
She thinks a moment and looks at A2 "What if he's not alone?"

August Kohler has posed:
August listens to the Bandits' story with rapt intention, very obviously mulling it over. As it finishes, he nods, not asking them about what the man has on them, and instead moving to other details. "What's his name? I remember a bearded man or two on their council. We'll deal with him, but there's multiple paths we can take. We can allow him to try and blow up the library but get caught in it with damning evidence, and let the Concord get their rightful revenge, or turn him over to Perplex - if Perplex isn't in on it. If the library gets blown, he could get trapped in the rubble." And then a glance to A2. "Or do the simple part and just have someone shank him."

Leyanne's looked at with a bit of confusion when she asks about the potential of others. "Then we do the same, don't we? We cull out the toxic parts. In fact, I'm wondering how much of the government is contributing to the shitfest the commoners seem to be going through. They don't look happy, and honestly, it doesn't look much different besides a lack of indentured slavery. Is the new Chapter really that different from the old Chapter?"

William Pauwel has posed:
"Well I mean, it's kind of obvious, ain't it?" Will asks, scratching ponderously at his cheek. "You tell a bunch of folk who've never even seen a plough before to go out and cultivate the fields and you're basically askin' for a famine. I'm betting they don't even know what season to plant in and which to harvest. That's just bad policy, you know? Better to have just let the people who farmed do it for a wage and improve conditions and stuff like that, I reckon."

Beat.

O-oh right, that's not the problem here.

"H-hey now, let's see what the deal is first before we go and straight up assassinate a man. This whole mess got started 'cause we went in all guns a-blazin' without thinkin' about what might go wrong, right? So let's try and maybe make sure we don't just screw things up worse first."

Starlight Bandits has posed:
    "I doubt it was the whole government's idea," says Molly to Sanary. "If they were that against it, they would have just turned the Concord down entirely. No, this is just one or two being too proud and stupid to just play along." Irvine laughs at A2 and says "I like your style miss! But no, if it were that simple, we would have done it." He nods and gestures at Leyanne's point, before adding, "Also, we don't know if he has any plans in place for... what he has on us should he die. But that's our problem, not yours. We'll figure something out!"

    But then, the obvious question; what to do? "William is right. They are farmers, and perhaps would be happier if they had remained as such. But that means they're unlearned. Easy to fool." She grins, and looks to Sanary. "You still have that book, yes~?"

Eve (857) has posed:
    Eve's getting somewhat appalled at the various suggestions. Murder someone in cold blood. Destroy the library. She flinches rather hard at both of these but doesn't issue objections. She won't kill and she won't outright destroy books, but that's simply her choice. She has no reason to deny others the right to make that choice for themselves. She'll even go on a mission where people get killed... but she'd excuse herself and leave if it's a matter of deciding to murder in advance.

    Eve's not the type to insist. She'll offer alternatives if she thinks of any, however, or support them when they're raised. She likes the idea of letting Perplex handle his peoples' betrayer. It might result in an execution, but that's better than going out intending murder. For that matter exposing him to the Concord doesn't seem like a bad idea. Much better than destroying the library. She also likes Will's idea of letting farmers continue to work for wages and improved conditions rather than as indentured slaves... but that's something for a later time. She nods at William's suggestion to think before going in guns blazing, her angry scowl tightening into more of a neutral frown of thoughtfulness.

    "What, then? Turn him over to Perplex? Assuming Perplex isn't in league with him that is. And we can't easily act against one man without knowing who else is in the conspiracy." she notes, trying to discourage the suggestions she dislikes without being hostile to the people making them.

    She actually seems to have some sympathy for Sanary and asides to the older girl, "It's traitors, betraying the government's agreements by breaking faith with the Concord." she offers quietly. She doesn't have to particularly like the Concord to disapprove of traitors. Particularly traitors who want to blow up books.

Sanary Rondel has posed:
Eve gets an understanding nod from the healer, and she hums softly before uttering a disapproving growl. "Oh. So it's... Some asshole, then." Sanary grunts again once Molly and Eve confirm her suspicions, her brow furrowing again while she starts to recall a certain bearded man. "Right... Well, if you need a hand bringing that guy down a peg or five, I'm in."

     The shoddy-looking healer cricks her neck, then raises an eyebrow as Molly addresses her. "Eh? Yeah, I got it with me. Er. S-somewhere." She even tightens the strap on the rucksack a bit tighter at that.

     Subtle. "Had something in mind with it?"

Leyanne Mace has posed:
Leyanne Mace stays quiet and simply provides tea. She's not really the planning type, but she knows it's neccessary, and in that situation it's the job of any good NCO to make sure that those who're doing the planning are as comfortable as possible.
After a moment's thought she finds herself a place to sit and, after ferreting through her bag for a few moments, sets up a little hot-plate and begins brewing up some fresh tea. A little bit of digging later, and biscuits on a plastic plate materialize.
She listens into the conversation, though. If she feels she has anything relevant to say, she won't hesitate but chip in.

At a convenient gap in the conversation, Leyanne pipes in with "Tea, or coffee, anyone? Helps stimulate the brain."

A2 (1108) has posed:
    "Then we kill them too." A2 practically spits at Leyanne, not with any personal vitriol, but for the sheer thought of more of them helping him. "There aren't an infinite number of them. Eventually, you've cut out all the scum there are." She abides William's polite request to hear more though, folding her arms over her chest and leaning from heel to heel impatiently. For a time.

    "What book?" she asks straight away, before her laboured memory catches up with her sullen attitude, and some comprehension dawns up in those weirdly translucent, lavender eyes. "You really think you can convince them?" Then a beat. "I'm pretty damn sure the Concord would make an example out of him anyway. What's even the point of overthrowing the government just to betray the new one? Why does he care? Why don't they even want the whatever. Library?"

William Pauwel has posed:
"Mmmn, we need to know more about... Stuff," Will agrees with a quiet and vaguely knowledgable nod. He's not... Really that wise. But he tries! He tries his best. "We're going to need to figure out more about this nest of vipers, and which ones are snakes and which ones aren't." But all vipers are snakes. That didn't even make sense!!

"Then once we know what's going on, we can decide more decisively what to do to solve the problem."

WILL STOP TRYING TO SOUND SMART.

"I think that's a good plan, right?" He looks to the others for verification.

His eyes are sparkling like there's nothing here that can go wrong.

Leyanne Mace has posed:
Leyanne Mace looks to Will a moment. "I'd have put it differently, but it can't hurt to find out more before we act."

Starlight Bandits has posed:
    "Gathering information before you strike is core to any good heist, it's true. But if the chance presents itself to get all the information right away, wouldn't you take it?" Irvine asks. He taps the cover of the book Sanary produces and grins. "This is a book that tells the future. And I can tell you that it does include the names of the people you will meet, and the reasons you meet them. If we can get Beard Man to read it, and somehow record what appears on the pages, we'll have everything we need. His allies, where he has hidden his materials, his plans... however, he'll be expecting something from us. So, to that end, I ask you all to do something with this."

Lyria Mason has posed:
Lyria Mason says "So it sounds like it's just one bad fish in the barrel? I think I get it. So we need to deal with them, do you got proof we could slip to the concord about this person intending to double cross them on their deal?"

She seems to get it and is also keeping fairly calm here. She gives Eve a look for amoment and thinks.

"Ya I'm not book burning, so I say out him to the concord if we can and watch them deal with it as they see fit, I agree Eve. They are stabbing their own allies in the back."

Leyanne Mace has posed:
Leyanne Mace looks thoughtful, nodding to the bandits. "Mmmh, that's never.. I don't know, that feels kinda like cheating. And it feels like the multiverse would punish us for trying." She pauses, thinking. She sips her tea. "I know I'm normally the fuckit let's do it live type, but... this don't feel like it's going to end well."

Sanary Rondel has posed:
"That's if he even gets that far with the book." Sanary actually sounds somewhat irritated now that the book's become a topic, flicking it open and glancing at it for a moment before closing it again. "Freaking thing works... Kind of. But it's too /much/."

     Another grunt, and then she takes a seat while holding it in her lap. "But if we can bring him somewhere quiet, then yeah. Maybe we can... I dunno. Hold him down and make him read it? Probably don't need to worry about it taking too long, at least. But... I'm still keeping this thing."

August Kohler has posed:
August spends the next few moments of dialogue just thinking. Getting all the thoughts in place. He really does want to solve this decisely, but...some timing wouldn't be an issue, some planning, if it was fast enough. And then the Bandits and Sanary talk, about using the book against the man...August grins, a bit. "That's brilliant. And then, to get it back from him once he has it...we'd just need the help of a pair of the Multiverse's best thieves. I wonder where we could find that?" He shakes his head to Sanary. "No, then he knows we're on to him and immediately begins moving his people to damage control, knowing they'll die, or he might sacrifice the nation. We need to get the information off him first, and then go loud. The question is how - I'm not an expert in stealth and we don't have a lot who are. We don't even know his name or where he lives."

And then August just /stares/ at Leyanne, open mouth for a few moments. "...Cheating? /Really/? There's no such thing as cheating in situations like this. If we have a book, and we can con the asshole before we deal with him more permanently, we should use it." Pause. "And Rondel gets it back afterwards, of course."

Eve (857) has posed:
    Perhaps it's a sign of the intensity of things, but Eve hadn't even noticed Leyanne proffering drinks and cups until she actually speaks. The little blonde oohs softly and accepts tea, daintily sipping it like a tiny English sophisticate. Yes, she actually drinks it in a fashion that wouldn't look out of place at a fancy gala, despite the current location.

    As discussion continues Eve frowns, but it's in thought rather than in annoyance. She slowly nods her head. "If he's told what the book is, he'll probably WANT to read it." she notes. "And if I can see it, I shouldn't need more than a quick glance or two to read a page." she adds. "He need not even know anyone's sharing the knowledge he's gaining."

August Kohler has posed:
"We'll need to get the book back, though. It's Rondel's, and if she's going to be lending it to us, we can't just give it away. If we leave it with him for too long, we lose knowledge of where it is in the long run." August replies to Eve.

Leyanne Mace has posed:
Leyanne Mace blinks a bit "I think I misunderstood what the book does. I'm... gonna let you guys carry on with planning." She chuckles.

Sanary Rondel has posed:
Sanary rubs her chin again as August points out the flaws in her approach. "Ergh... True, yeah. If we got a quick reader, though..." She glances over at Eve at that. "... I guess the trickier part'll be getting it to him and not making it look like we're trying to do this."

     A pause. ".. And yeah, make sure I get it back when you're done! This kind of... Future-reading book could be really dangerous if someone that can actually use it gets their hands on it."

Eve (857) has posed:
    Eve nods solemnly to August's reply, turning and also nodding to Sanary. It seems more than merely a reasonable suggestion; she has no problem with Sanary keeping the book, and the whole idea sits much better than thoughts of murder or destruction. Of course there may end up being a big fight, especially if the man finds out from the book that they're opposed to his plans... but better a hot fight than cold murder. She can live with that choice.

Lyria Mason has posed:
Lyria Mason looks at Leyanne.

"This isn't a game if we got to fight a bit dirty then so be it. I'd just rather avoid a blood bath and if possible spare the texts here. She hears idea of using te book agains the rotton fish.

"Oh I like that, I like that a lot."

A2 (1108) has posed:
    "Cheating?" A2 looks to the giant mutant cyborg mouse with an expression more incredulous than usual. "Where do you think you are? You think these people are playing /fair/? Why the hell should we pass up something that could work? Why should we be 'fair' to them at all?"

    The android huffs, strongly enough to blow her hair back from the one eye it conceals, for a moment. "I don't have the first idea how to make him read the book, but I can tell you that if he isn't useful as a source of information, I'll break his neck. Simple as that. You can't put all your eggs in this basket, but if you think you can pull it off, I'm willing to try. It sure as hell saves me the trouble of hunting down the rest."