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CREE.
Owner of the discreet Gilded Cage hideout. Cree has traveled all of El Nysa and established his spies, or "little birds" in every corner of the world. He knows intimate details about important figureheads of both factions, and suspects that the refugees are not all that they seem to be. Despite being a known criminal and the apparent orchestrator of the VIOLET 2710 attacks, he provides work for the lower class and seems to have a generally positive reputation. He has a strong dislike for Ashti.
Cree is almost never seen without a small bird on his shoulder. You might find that you have seen this bird before, and if you listen closely enough, you will hear it speak common to its owner. If you specifically request contact with the the bird alone, it is entirely possible it will carry out a conversation with you.
A character's first interaction with Cree is free of any favor, but they will be required to take up a job (thief, enforcer, informant) before they can return for more information. Sign up at the EMPLOYMENT THREAD and direct any other inquiries by characters here. IC consequences for breaking silence on his whereabouts to their other NPCs will be discussed by PM.
[ He's actually been looking for an avenue like this for a few good weeks. His old job? It paid the bills, but he didn't earn near enough to afford the luxuries he was used to. It also didn't feel natural to him, to go in at the same time each day and clock a certain number of hours doing the same, mundane thing. It didn't leave him very satisfied.
While he's here to find out more about this mess they've found themselves in, he also wants to make a contact for the future.]
You're the guy in charge of this place, huh? [ He then spots the bird and ... frowns. It's definitely dawning on him that he's seen that bird before. ] That bird --
[ Rude. Stop spying on him?? For no reason at all, Chuuya has a small salamander sitting on the rim of his hat, so this is the meeting of two edgy guys with cute animals. ]
[ The man initially only takes a brief glance, but he finds himself raising his brows at the salamander. It wasn't often he was graced with the company of another small animal lover. ]
You are correct. [ The bird leans closer to his ear, and he slowly smiles. ] It is a pleasure to be in your presence, Chuuya. How can I help you?
[ Byerly sits as Cree greets him. He takes pains to look comfortable and relaxed, legs crossed at the knee, leaning back with a casual smile. But his eyes are bright and watchful, and he's arranged in such a way that he can push off from his seat at a moment's notice - elbow braced to give himself leverage, left foot flat on the floor. It's absurd, of course: he may well have walked into a lion's den, and if they decide he's dinner, holding his stick tighter won't let him fight them off. But it makes him feel better.
In response to that greeting: ]
Ah, the whole world runs on the exchange of favors. I certainly don't mind scratching a few backs if it means I can have my own itches soothed.
[ But: no wasting time. This handsome fellow is, no doubt, not someone who has a great deal of it to spare. So By immediately settles into his questioning, asking: ]
I've heard you're a fellow who knows about matters both high and low. Tell me, what was all that with Simwe and Shanrian? They seem to have quite the history, and such deep emotions.
[ Cree notices easily, and seems to find amusement in the way Byerly seats himself. He shifts his own position so he's leaned further back into his seat, crossing his ankles and placing his hands at his sides. It makes him much less braced to up and go— apparently, a gesture of good will. ]
They are such deep emotions, born from war that began before they took their roles. Those two have been so blinded by grudges between their land that they refuse to acknowledge they can end it all in one fell swoop, instead performing this song-less dance. Simwe knows much but does so little, and Shanrian is too short-sighted to see how large the scale of this conflict truly is.
[The weather is hot. Too hot for a man like Victarion to be truly comfortable, even if he has been sailing the southern sees of Essos of late. It's why the weather finds him wearing less armor than what he would truly like. In a den of scum like this, a man was oft in need of protection from a shaded blade. Even so, a big man like him was the sort that did not invite trouble.
He sat as instructed and leaned back into the seat as his eyes spent more time on the peculiar surroundings than on the man in front of him.]
I have been hunting the man who poisoned my kin. Many of his agents are dead and with Olympia abandoned, his snakes have all fled into their holes. [He leans forward.] I thought mayhaps this might be one of them.
[ Cree considers Victarion as he surveys his surroundings, gaze trained his every move. His position shifts to one more braced to stand should the need arise, his eyes filled with discernment. ]
You speak as though you are a predator, but if my memory serves correctly... You are but a snake that has fled his hole to chase others into theirs. What makes you so different than those who have poisoned your kin, when you were in a cell they may occupy now?
[Mai's not exactly a creature of great subterfuge. She had been pretty bad at faking an attraction to Kei Lo when she first tried to play him for information and she still isn't that great at pretend. What she does have though is an excellent pokerface and a lovely apathetic exterior. And after playing both security and model at Shades Darker, she's started to learn to use both to her advantage and has grown more comfortable with these sorts of surroundings.
Ask her questions wisely, hm? Mai sits for a moment contemplating just what she wants to know first. She hasn't exactly had the chance to dig much yet so she might as well start at the beginning.]
So what's the deal with Olympia and Wyver? What's got them fighting in the first place?
[Sure, it's a question probably anyone could tell her an official reason on. When it came to politics though, the official reasons were hardly ever the whole story.]
What drives anyone to such conflict? They believe the customs of their neighbors are below them, refusing to accept their way is not any better than others'. Olympia has been allowed to nurture a sense of superiority, fueled by their technological advancements. Wyver finds strength in nature, fueled by their faith in beasts of old.
[ Cree sighs, waving a dismissive hand. ]
If you raise your children to believe if they do something they will be grounded, they will not do that thing in fear of losing what is precious to them. These societies have been built on the belief that if they share the same playground, they will lose their toys.
[Magnus feels a little guilty during the trek to Wyver. He spent the hours and days after the market bombing focused on tracking down the attackers, despite knowing that an entire guard was available to do that. Sure, he still helped with his job at the Sanctuary to the best of his ability, but he knows he should have done more. He should have helped make sure the market recovered, that there was food, that the sick were safe. That's the job he decided to take on, not running off to fight bad guys. But fighting bad guys is just what he does, and the attack especially angered him, reminding him far too much about similar attacks on his own hometown. Now that they're in Wyver, there's a lot more he can do useful, as a carpenter and to help the sick, but he needs to take a break from trying to be peaceful and constructive and do something.
Fortunately, he did manage to find one lead, which lead him to this place. There's supposed to be someone here who has a lot of information, and while he didn't get a sense that person was trustworthy, he thinks he can probably get some useful info.
He walks into the establishment and doesn't bother to pretend he's here for any other reason, approaching Cree right away. As soon as he sees Cree, he bends down a little to make direct eye contact with the bird on his shoulder.]
Hail and well met. I've heard plenty about you. [Apparently he's just assuming the bird is Cree. Why.]
[ Cree had fully anticipated being addressed with the serious-mindedness of a guard. It takes a great deal not to laugh when he realizes what's happening here, but he's a good sport. He extends his palm, the bird hopping from his shoulder so it's extended closer to Magnus' height.
After a moment, the bird speaks with the voice of a young woman. ]
Hail and well met, Magnus. I have seen plenty of you.
[ The hideout reminds Qrow of his past, and he doesn't like it. Growing up in a tribe of bandits and murderers was the worst. Still, despite his disdain for his background, he doesn't seem all too uncomfortable. He sits across Cree, leans back on his chair, and cross his legs.
A quick glance at the bird, then at Cree. It's easy for Qrow to differentiate if a bird if special or not.
He doesn't spare a greeting, but he does wave a hand as he speaks. ]
So, is this temporary truce going to do any good for either city once it's over?
[ He doubts it. The whole situation is an awkward mess, and from the display he saw between Simwe and Shanrian, things remain tense. It's probably best to hear from an "expert's opinion" at this moment, though. ]
[ Cree seems to know Qrow well enough that he can afford a glance away from him. He rolls his shoulders, crossing one leg over the other to mirror his posture before he gives his undivided attention. ]
This is not the first catalyst that has forced the cities to work together. However, it is not often that these incidents has forced the people out of their sheltered lives within them. Their rulers may not change, but those under them... who can tell, so early on?
[She shows up as Noir, because of course she does - not that it will actually do a damn thing to actually hide her identity, but it does make her feel a little less intimidated by all of this.
So. Here she is. She imagines a lot of the questions she has are being asked by other people already, but this is a rare chance, so she has to try to get something from this.]
It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. [She's polite despite her unease, bowing to him when they finally do meet face to face. As she straightens up, she looks him over, her brows knitting together.] ...what those people did... it didn't come out of nowhere. And I'm not foolish enough to believe that all of them were caught. Is there anything that needs to be done to prevent them from impacting the efforts to find what's needed for a cure?
[ It's hard for Cree not to smile as broadly as he'd like. It isn't only the garb she's arrived in, but the formalities, and most of all— the misapprehension she's voiced. He took a girl for someone more perceptive, if she's taken the time to dress in such a way. ]
The pleasure is mine, I assure you. [ Still, he bows his head in return. His eyes are full of mirth. ] I think... you will find they have no interest in impacting the efforts for a cure, now that it is already underway. What is the point in prolonging the inevitable? I would direct my attention to where they've gone to hide. Do you have any idea of where that might be?
[ though archer had mostly been focused on his own survival for the past few weeks, he had retained contact with some of the people in olympia he had trusted. though there were numerous motives for risking his location to get information, the first and foremost had always been one thing: finding the person responsible for his predicament.
it hasn't been long since he arrived in wyver on foot, but what the information he'd managed to piece together and uncovered had led him here. almost immediately he's sure he's found what he was looking for: this place seems to reek of deceit. ]
I've been looking for you.
[ his tone is guarded, but he can't entirely mask his hostility. what would be the point? this man almost surely knows that archer hasn't come here for a pleasant chat. ]
[ It's impossible for Cree not to know who Archer is. All that's come to light from this ordeal has made it quite obvious he has eyes and ears everywhere, be them of citizens or the animals he seems to keep so close. There is even recognition when he first lays eyes on him. But as he leans towards the chirping bird, his smile shifts into a taunting smirk. ]
[ This is so not his scene, his forte, his area of expertise - his anything, but here he is, regardless. After chasing the Shady Man's associates all over Olympia, this is the only real lead he'd been able to come up with, and everything else he'd heard - true or otherwise - has only served to frustrate his conscience further. It's probably a bad idea - no, it's definitely a bad idea - to get tied up with this guy, but...he has some things he has to know.
So he'll sit across from Cree, tight posture forcefully relaxed as he leans back in his seat, knees bouncing wildly. This is going to be...something, he can tell. What's with the bird? ]
Weeellllllll, full disclosure: I'm totally winging it right now. [ When in doubt, employ puns. ] But I-I'll make it worth your time. This place gives me the heebie-geebies, anyway.
[ So, he'll try not to mince words. Keyword being "try" - his nerves are not kind to the way he runs his mouth. ]
So...you know a lot about all this - [ he gestures vaguely ] - all this? Heard some pretty, uh...interesting things before we left Olympia. About...about Ashti.
[ He swallows hard. Ashti is someone he'd looked up to, someone who had given him a chance to prove himself without too much scrutiny. He'd thought it generosity at the time, but after the last few weeks...he's not so sure anymore. ]
[ It's been increasingly obvious this boy is a sheep among wolves since he stepped through the door, and Cree can't help but feel sympathetic. It wasn't the first time he's encountered young men who only wants to make the truth known, even if it puts them at risk. And, well, the bird pun does earn him some brownie points. ]
You're with the guard, are you not? [ His tone is gentle, despite his smile becoming strained at her name. ] Tell me what you think of her first, Prompto. Then I will tell you what is not true and more.
[Takasugi slips between the world of sovereign law and the realm of thieves' honor with ease. It's a transition he's made enough for the worlds to blur, though he doubts they were ever so different in the first place.
The blood's just a little fresher, a little bit more on display, here.
Cree's invitation comes and passes - Takasugi pausing only after his stride has come to an even stop.
He looks at the man, and with a slow dawning smile, takes the seat as bidden.] You must be hiding some exciting secrets, with a deal like that. [He leans back, splaying himself comfortably, yukata left to hang open in the stifling, humid heat.]
So. What were they hoping for, launching their grand attack? [Using terror to drive nations together isn't too far-fetched of a method, but Takasugi finds that politics are never quite so simple.]
[ Cree takes no small amusement in the way the Takasugi has put himself on display. He raises his hands in admittance with a smile, leaning back in his own relaxed state. It's similar enough, if less... open. ]
What do you think they were hoping for? Surely you must have some ideas floating around. There has been a cure all this time, known to our rulers since the first attack began... the intention was not to just make the good people suffer.
[ Dry, a little rueful, but Cain inclines his head in acknowledgement of the warning — and the courtesy that the warning is. Nothing is ever quite so easy as it seems, and he doesn't trust this meeting to be as straightforward as Cree presents it. But he's not going to turn his nose at the opportunity. ]
That means hunting down S-8 and his associates was a favor to you, then?
[ Of course this first meeting isn't truly free. No, the cost has been paid in advance, Cain's quite sure of that, and the only thing noteworthy he's done of late, as far as he's concerned, is catching one of the men with the M tattoos.
Which means that catching that man was acting, however inadvertently, in Cree's interests somehow, doesn't it? ]
[ Cain surmises much, and he might have been entirely right if it weren't for what he couldn't possibly know. Cree raises his brows in amusement at this question, gesturing towards himself as he responds. ]
You think the associates were in my way of business... Have you not stopped to think that perhaps I have extended this invitation for causing you so much trouble, instead?
[ It takes some work to learn the current location of the constantly moving hideout, but 76 has heard enough whispering among the natives and his fellow refugees to have found his way here. He's been wanting answers ever since that girl named him and two of his people as fugitives, and maybe his chance has finally come.
There's technically still a price on his head, he knows, but that seems to matter less now that they're in Wyver territory. When 76 walks into the Gilded Cage, he's got his gear back: visor and gun, smuggled here by Ana for him to reclaim. He realizes that this Cree person probably already knows exactly who he is, so there's no need for introductions.
"The next time we meet, you'll have to do me a favor."
76 scoffs behind the mask and shakes his head. ]
I'm pretty sure I already did one for you. I'm guessing you're the one who ordered for that carriage job to be misrepresented to us.
[ 76 is right to assume Cree already knows him, and thus there's no alarm in the way he looks at the man. His expression is calculating, eyes narrowed as if he were trying to determine whether or not he should anticipate violence. ]
Yet you went to great lengths to avoid clearing your name, as your companion has. Might I ask why?
[As soon as Yona was properly resting and safe, and Jae-Ha felt that she had enough eyes watching her to keep her out of trouble, he came to this place. He intends to work and help how he can, but he can't do anything unless he knows a little more. It's been frustrating trying to make heads or tails of things with only hearsay to go off of.
And as much as he's been flying around, he's seen plenty of birds, so he barely gives this one a glance before addressing Cree.]
Yo. [Might as well say hi first, even if this is the first 'free' convo. He can only imagine what favors would be requested.] It's not very beautiful to unleash an illness on the general public of any city, regardless of your intentions. If this was just trying to find the cure, it seems all wrong. So what was it for, really?
[ Such a casual greeting, with a subject so morose. Cree resists the temptation to smile, instead raising his arms in a helpless gesture. ]
It's not very beautiful that it was created in the first place, is it? This toxin was to be unleashed one way or another, and it's better for you all that it was done now. Making its distribution equal was the only way to ensure a cure would be found, rather than let one city suffer while the other takes such an unfair advantage.
Your friend... she's getting by, isn't she? Imagine if she'd gotten sick during a war.
[It wasn't the most opportune time to sneak off and rendezvous with a questionable mystery person in a questionable mystery lair -- never is it an opportune time to do that, but that's what he does. He knows the risk, has an idea of what's in store for him, but ventures onward under the cover of night, settling across from Cree and his companion hidden away hidden away beneath his latest upgrade.
It does very little but provide something of a mental security blanket for him.
He only sits so it looks less informal. More ordinary. His hands settle in his lap, the simulation of glowing, completely round eyes settle fixedly on his company.]
I'm here to ask about the institute.
[Quiet, but somehow unmuffled. Slightly motorized by design, like it was meant to disguise his voice but hit a defect.]
[ Cree purses his lips when he lays eyes on this whole display. It's a great disservice not to see the face of those he's allowed here, but after a minute of deliberation, he seems let it go for the moment. He sits back with relaxed posture, coming to smile as if it were only a minor inconvenience. ]
Doing research on our dear researchers? I'm intrigued. Ask away, but do try to speak up... I can hardly hear you over your little outfit.
[ somehow, dutch has found her way to the gilded cage. establishing cree as the one to talk to takes very little observational skills, and dutch has plenty of those.
her smile is devoid of humour, something sharp. he's a dangerous man, of that she's sure, but dutch knows dangerous quite intimately. ]
[ Too many times have people wandered in with assumptions they can strong arm their way to knowledge, so the caution in the way she carries herself is something of a sight for sore eyes. He gestures towards her with a blithe smile of his own. ]
It is not spilled without purpose, so I would not worry about losing any of yours. How can I help you, Dutch?
[ there had been a time in Ocelot's life when he'd been exceedingly unlucky. where it had felt like he was constantly outplayed, and moved around as a pawn in someone else's game. thankfully, somewhere along the line, his luck had managed to change. back home. he'd taken down most of the people who would use him as a pawn and forged ahead with his own path. here, somehow, he'd managed to avoid a similar fate that had befell his fellow Western enthusiast.
but then again, Ocelot had always been particularly gifted at avoiding detection and collecting information. and somehow, he'd ended up here. a smirk plays on the edge of his lips, wondering if perhaps he's coming face-to-face with a man after his own heart.
time to see. ]
I've been hearing a lot about you lately.
[ from one or two people he managed to question, at least. nothing concrete, but a rumour or two. ]
Olympia and Wyver haven't been the best of terms for years. [ something he'd been sure to look into for his fabricated backstory. ] So tell me something. Was this whole engineered disease meant to bring them together?
[ a pause ]
Or, did someone try to get them exactly where they wanted them so that they could make a play for more power?
[ it was a song-and-dance he'd seen a few times back home. and he knew he had to play his cards carefully. ]
[ His deductions are so on the nose that it's near unsettling. Cree returns his smirk with a smile, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes as he looks the man over. ]
Influence would be a more conceivable goal, my dear Ocelot. There is no point in gaining power if the forces in which one would rule will become divided again.
[Just being here has Atsushi's skin crawling, half moral indignation and half simple fear. Maybe he shouldn't have come, after all... He's considered and reconsidered searching for this place often enough since coming to Wyver. He'd found excuses not to; there'd been more than enough other things to occupy him.
But in the end, he had to try. If he's treading on thin ice just by being here, feeling every bit as out of place as he probably looks - a skinny 18-year-old with a frown on his face that makes him look anything but impressive; perhaps even the opposite - that only makes him more determined to go through with it. He can't keep relying on other people. He managed to build a life for himself, back in Olympia; he can manage to do this all by himself, too.]
Are you the boss of this place?
[The man with the bird certainly gives that impression... and his invitation more than hints at it too, doesn't it? Atsushi takes a seat regardless of the answer, sitting too stiff, his back a little too straight. He's nervous - but what young do-gooder wouldn't be? His gaze stays strong and focused, at least; his words are sharp, lacking much of their usual politeness, even if they avoid being rude, just barely.]
I want to know about the attack in Olympia. Who's responsible for getting so many refugees involved?
[No doubt it's the wrong question to ask - and, if it helps, he has more, notably about the supposed involvement of the Institute in the development of the bio-weapon used. But what he's most concerned about, even if he should probably have other priorities, is how some of his friends got dragged into this mess - and how to keep that from happening ever again.
He can deal with bad things happening to himself. Being unable to protect his friends, or to even see something like this coming? That's intolerable.]
[ Of course she's found her way here. Peggy Carter has spent the past few weeks trying to get to the bottom of any of the clues she's managed to scrounge up and more often than not, she's turned up hideously and frustratingly empty. Having their lives uprooted from Olympia and marched south to Wyver did little to ease that but she's always known how to ask the right questions and who to ask them of to get her where she wants to go.
The Gilded Cage and its owner are the first real and promising leads she's had in a long while. So the second she notices Cree is available, she crosses the room and joins him at his side. ]
If the stories are true, introductions won't be necessary. You already know who I am. [ She keeps her voice soft and polite; the bird at the other man's shoulder gets a cursory (curious) glance. ] And who I work for.
[ She means Ashti, of course. And she does mean to ask after the commander of Olympia's Royal Guard but there's something a little more pressing that she hasn't managed to elaborate on since she heard about it. ]
I'm just wondering what you know about who I work with. [ Peggy raises her brows. ] Rumour has it they aren't to be trusted.
[ Rumour has it the Guard has spies amongst the ranks. And she doesn't mean herself. She isn't from Wyver. ]
[ Peggy doesn't often frequent the Gilded Cage outside of strict business matters, only because she is someone who errs on the side of extreme caution and discretion. She'd entertained the idea of coming in for information when the kidnappings broke out, but ultimately dismissed it because she was aware of the tensions running through both cities. But now that things have settled, at least a little bit, she decides now is as good a time as any to duck in for a quick chat with Cree.
This visit is actually in the middle of the afternoon and comes only a day after the invitations and tokens have been sent out to both rescuers and captives. Peggy was not amongst those being honoured, but that's not the reason she's here. And after enough polite small talk with Cree, she poses her question: ]
I assume you've heard about this assembly at the end of the month — the Coalition of Refugees. [ Her tone is light and conversational, but there's a telling sharpness to her gaze.: she's wary, and she isn't the only one. ] What do you make of it?
[ Cree greeted her as he always does, with a warm smile contrary to his character. He's in the middle smoking a pipe as he sorts through paperwork when they begin their conversation, requisitions and business licenses of establishments he does not own splayed across the table, but he draws his attention away from them to properly address her question. ]
I think it's going to bomb. [ He says, lightly, with a grin forming on his lips. ] No, it's a curious turn of events. We haven't had such a peculiar case of refugees in my lifetime.
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While he's here to find out more about this mess they've found themselves in, he also wants to make a contact for the future.]
You're the guy in charge of this place, huh? [ He then spots the bird and ... frowns. It's definitely dawning on him that he's seen that bird before. ] That bird --
[ Rude. Stop spying on him?? For no reason at all, Chuuya has a small salamander sitting on the rim of his hat, so this is the meeting of two edgy guys with cute animals. ]
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You are correct. [ The bird leans closer to his ear, and he slowly smiles. ] It is a pleasure to be in your presence, Chuuya. How can I help you?
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In response to that greeting: ]
Ah, the whole world runs on the exchange of favors. I certainly don't mind scratching a few backs if it means I can have my own itches soothed.
[ But: no wasting time. This handsome fellow is, no doubt, not someone who has a great deal of it to spare. So By immediately settles into his questioning, asking: ]
I've heard you're a fellow who knows about matters both high and low. Tell me, what was all that with Simwe and Shanrian? They seem to have quite the history, and such deep emotions.
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They are such deep emotions, born from war that began before they took their roles. Those two have been so blinded by grudges between their land that they refuse to acknowledge they can end it all in one fell swoop, instead performing this song-less dance. Simwe knows much but does so little, and Shanrian is too short-sighted to see how large the scale of this conflict truly is.
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He sat as instructed and leaned back into the seat as his eyes spent more time on the peculiar surroundings than on the man in front of him.]
I have been hunting the man who poisoned my kin. Many of his agents are dead and with Olympia abandoned, his snakes have all fled into their holes. [He leans forward.] I thought mayhaps this might be one of them.
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You speak as though you are a predator, but if my memory serves correctly... You are but a snake that has fled his hole to chase others into theirs. What makes you so different than those who have poisoned your kin, when you were in a cell they may occupy now?
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Ask her questions wisely, hm? Mai sits for a moment contemplating just what she wants to know first. She hasn't exactly had the chance to dig much yet so she might as well start at the beginning.]
So what's the deal with Olympia and Wyver? What's got them fighting in the first place?
[Sure, it's a question probably anyone could tell her an official reason on. When it came to politics though, the official reasons were hardly ever the whole story.]
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[ Cree sighs, waving a dismissive hand. ]
If you raise your children to believe if they do something they will be grounded, they will not do that thing in fear of losing what is precious to them. These societies have been built on the belief that if they share the same playground, they will lose their toys.
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Fortunately, he did manage to find one lead, which lead him to this place. There's supposed to be someone here who has a lot of information, and while he didn't get a sense that person was trustworthy, he thinks he can probably get some useful info.
He walks into the establishment and doesn't bother to pretend he's here for any other reason, approaching Cree right away. As soon as he sees Cree, he bends down a little to make direct eye contact with the bird on his shoulder.]
Hail and well met. I've heard plenty about you. [Apparently he's just assuming the bird is Cree. Why.]
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After a moment, the bird speaks with the voice of a young woman. ]
Hail and well met, Magnus. I have seen plenty of you.
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A quick glance at the bird, then at Cree. It's easy for Qrow to differentiate if a bird if special or not.
He doesn't spare a greeting, but he does wave a hand as he speaks. ]
So, is this temporary truce going to do any good for either city once it's over?
[ He doubts it. The whole situation is an awkward mess, and from the display he saw between Simwe and Shanrian, things remain tense. It's probably best to hear from an "expert's opinion" at this moment, though. ]
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[ Cree seems to know Qrow well enough that he can afford a glance away from him. He rolls his shoulders, crossing one leg over the other to mirror his posture before he gives his undivided attention. ]
This is not the first catalyst that has forced the cities to work together. However, it is not often that these incidents has forced the people out of their sheltered lives within them. Their rulers may not change, but those under them... who can tell, so early on?
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So. Here she is. She imagines a lot of the questions she has are being asked by other people already, but this is a rare chance, so she has to try to get something from this.]
It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. [She's polite despite her unease, bowing to him when they finally do meet face to face. As she straightens up, she looks him over, her brows knitting together.] ...what those people did... it didn't come out of nowhere. And I'm not foolish enough to believe that all of them were caught. Is there anything that needs to be done to prevent them from impacting the efforts to find what's needed for a cure?
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The pleasure is mine, I assure you. [ Still, he bows his head in return. His eyes are full of mirth. ] I think... you will find they have no interest in impacting the efforts for a cure, now that it is already underway. What is the point in prolonging the inevitable? I would direct my attention to where they've gone to hide. Do you have any idea of where that might be?
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it hasn't been long since he arrived in wyver on foot, but what the information he'd managed to piece together and uncovered had led him here. almost immediately he's sure he's found what he was looking for: this place seems to reek of deceit. ]
I've been looking for you.
[ his tone is guarded, but he can't entirely mask his hostility. what would be the point? this man almost surely knows that archer hasn't come here for a pleasant chat. ]
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I'm sorry, who are you?
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So he'll sit across from Cree, tight posture forcefully relaxed as he leans back in his seat, knees bouncing wildly. This is going to be...something, he can tell. What's with the bird? ]
Weeellllllll, full disclosure: I'm totally winging it right now. [ When in doubt, employ puns. ] But I-I'll make it worth your time. This place gives me the heebie-geebies, anyway.
[ So, he'll try not to mince words. Keyword being "try" - his nerves are not kind to the way he runs his mouth. ]
So...you know a lot about all this - [ he gestures vaguely ] - all this? Heard some pretty, uh...interesting things before we left Olympia. About...about Ashti.
[ He swallows hard. Ashti is someone he'd looked up to, someone who had given him a chance to prove himself without too much scrutiny. He'd thought it generosity at the time, but after the last few weeks...he's not so sure anymore. ]
So - what's her deal, anyway?
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You're with the guard, are you not? [ His tone is gentle, despite his smile becoming strained at her name. ] Tell me what you think of her first, Prompto. Then I will tell you what is not true and more.
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The blood's just a little fresher, a little bit more on display, here.
Cree's invitation comes and passes - Takasugi pausing only after his stride has come to an even stop.
He looks at the man, and with a slow dawning smile, takes the seat as bidden.] You must be hiding some exciting secrets, with a deal like that. [He leans back, splaying himself comfortably, yukata left to hang open in the stifling, humid heat.]
So. What were they hoping for, launching their grand attack? [Using terror to drive nations together isn't too far-fetched of a method, but Takasugi finds that politics are never quite so simple.]
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What do you think they were hoping for? Surely you must have some ideas floating around. There has been a cure all this time, known to our rulers since the first attack began... the intention was not to just make the good people suffer.
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[ Dry, a little rueful, but Cain inclines his head in acknowledgement of the warning — and the courtesy that the warning is. Nothing is ever quite so easy as it seems, and he doesn't trust this meeting to be as straightforward as Cree presents it. But he's not going to turn his nose at the opportunity. ]
That means hunting down S-8 and his associates was a favor to you, then?
[ Of course this first meeting isn't truly free. No, the cost has been paid in advance, Cain's quite sure of that, and the only thing noteworthy he's done of late, as far as he's concerned, is catching one of the men with the M tattoos.
Which means that catching that man was acting, however inadvertently, in Cree's interests somehow, doesn't it? ]
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You think the associates were in my way of business... Have you not stopped to think that perhaps I have extended this invitation for causing you so much trouble, instead?
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There's technically still a price on his head, he knows, but that seems to matter less now that they're in Wyver territory. When 76 walks into the Gilded Cage, he's got his gear back: visor and gun, smuggled here by Ana for him to reclaim. He realizes that this Cree person probably already knows exactly who he is, so there's no need for introductions.
"The next time we meet, you'll have to do me a favor."
76 scoffs behind the mask and shakes his head. ]
I'm pretty sure I already did one for you. I'm guessing you're the one who ordered for that carriage job to be misrepresented to us.
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[ 76 is right to assume Cree already knows him, and thus there's no alarm in the way he looks at the man. His expression is calculating, eyes narrowed as if he were trying to determine whether or not he should anticipate violence. ]
Yet you went to great lengths to avoid clearing your name, as your companion has. Might I ask why?
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And as much as he's been flying around, he's seen plenty of birds, so he barely gives this one a glance before addressing Cree.]
Yo. [Might as well say hi first, even if this is the first 'free' convo. He can only imagine what favors would be requested.] It's not very beautiful to unleash an illness on the general public of any city, regardless of your intentions. If this was just trying to find the cure, it seems all wrong. So what was it for, really?
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It's not very beautiful that it was created in the first place, is it? This toxin was to be unleashed one way or another, and it's better for you all that it was done now. Making its distribution equal was the only way to ensure a cure would be found, rather than let one city suffer while the other takes such an unfair advantage.
Your friend... she's getting by, isn't she? Imagine if she'd gotten sick during a war.
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It does very little but provide something of a mental security blanket for him.
He only sits so it looks less informal. More ordinary. His hands settle in his lap, the simulation of glowing, completely round eyes settle fixedly on his company.]
I'm here to ask about the institute.
[Quiet, but somehow unmuffled. Slightly motorized by design, like it was meant to disguise his voice but hit a defect.]
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Doing research on our dear researchers? I'm intrigued. Ask away, but do try to speak up... I can hardly hear you over your little outfit.
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her smile is devoid of humour, something sharp. he's a dangerous man, of that she's sure, but dutch knows dangerous quite intimately. ]
Let me guess. The blood's never dry for long.
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[ Too many times have people wandered in with assumptions they can strong arm their way to knowledge, so the caution in the way she carries herself is something of a sight for sore eyes. He gestures towards her with a blithe smile of his own. ]
It is not spilled without purpose, so I would not worry about losing any of yours. How can I help you, Dutch?
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but then again, Ocelot had always been particularly gifted at avoiding detection and collecting information. and somehow, he'd ended up here. a smirk plays on the edge of his lips, wondering if perhaps he's coming face-to-face with a man after his own heart.
time to see. ]
I've been hearing a lot about you lately.
[ from one or two people he managed to question, at least. nothing concrete, but a rumour or two. ]
Olympia and Wyver haven't been the best of terms for years. [ something he'd been sure to look into for his fabricated backstory. ] So tell me something. Was this whole engineered disease meant to bring them together?
[ a pause ]
Or, did someone try to get them exactly where they wanted them so that they could make a play for more power?
[ it was a song-and-dance he'd seen a few times back home. and he knew he had to play his cards carefully. ]
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Influence would be a more conceivable goal, my dear Ocelot. There is no point in gaining power if the forces in which one would rule will become divided again.
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But in the end, he had to try. If he's treading on thin ice just by being here, feeling every bit as out of place as he probably looks - a skinny 18-year-old with a frown on his face that makes him look anything but impressive; perhaps even the opposite - that only makes him more determined to go through with it. He can't keep relying on other people. He managed to build a life for himself, back in Olympia; he can manage to do this all by himself, too.]
Are you the boss of this place?
[The man with the bird certainly gives that impression... and his invitation more than hints at it too, doesn't it? Atsushi takes a seat regardless of the answer, sitting too stiff, his back a little too straight. He's nervous - but what young do-gooder wouldn't be? His gaze stays strong and focused, at least; his words are sharp, lacking much of their usual politeness, even if they avoid being rude, just barely.]
I want to know about the attack in Olympia. Who's responsible for getting so many refugees involved?
[No doubt it's the wrong question to ask - and, if it helps, he has more, notably about the supposed involvement of the Institute in the development of the bio-weapon used. But what he's most concerned about, even if he should probably have other priorities, is how some of his friends got dragged into this mess - and how to keep that from happening ever again.
He can deal with bad things happening to himself. Being unable to protect his friends, or to even see something like this coming? That's intolerable.]
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The Gilded Cage and its owner are the first real and promising leads she's had in a long while. So the second she notices Cree is available, she crosses the room and joins him at his side. ]
If the stories are true, introductions won't be necessary. You already know who I am. [ She keeps her voice soft and polite; the bird at the other man's shoulder gets a cursory (curious) glance. ] And who I work for.
[ She means Ashti, of course. And she does mean to ask after the commander of Olympia's Royal Guard but there's something a little more pressing that she hasn't managed to elaborate on since she heard about it. ]
I'm just wondering what you know about who I work with. [ Peggy raises her brows. ] Rumour has it they aren't to be trusted.
[ Rumour has it the Guard has spies amongst the ranks. And she doesn't mean herself. She isn't from Wyver. ]
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This visit is actually in the middle of the afternoon and comes only a day after the invitations and tokens have been sent out to both rescuers and captives. Peggy was not amongst those being honoured, but that's not the reason she's here. And after enough polite small talk with Cree, she poses her question: ]
I assume you've heard about this assembly at the end of the month — the Coalition of Refugees. [ Her tone is light and conversational, but there's a telling sharpness to her gaze.: she's wary, and she isn't the only one. ] What do you make of it?
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I think it's going to bomb. [ He says, lightly, with a grin forming on his lips. ] No, it's a curious turn of events. We haven't had such a peculiar case of refugees in my lifetime.
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