tushanshu | [Video]

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[Video]

OOC:

Grey - Yorda
Blue - China

[The feed comes on and there is Yorda and China Sorrows. The former looks a bit apprehensive and the latter about as pleasantly inscrutable as ever.]

Hello. There is something important that we have to tell you.

We have seen what the cultists have done to the other kedan. They are able to make stones that contain their lives, and pushed them beyond Death and Dreaming. All doors open both ways and they have crossed into the places we came from.

This is something they have hoped to do, something ordered of them. We have seen this.

[She looks to China, hoping that this is correct. China inclines her head briefly, indulgent, and takes over.]

Suffice to say that while something seems to have gone awry with their experiments, the goal appears to have been moving kedan across planes. While it hasn't been done again, our information implies that those who have gone have not come back, and I doubt they plan to abandon their goal.

I shouldn't have to tell any of you that this is a problem. As much as it goes against my nature to suggest the free trade of information, it may be beneficial to pool knowledge and resources to see if there isn't something to be done about cultists toying with lives and planes as they please.

[Yorda gives a small nod of agreement.]

...For the Kedan whose friends have gone missing... I am sorry this has happened to you.

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Only a little. I've been here all day, after all.

[She steps out and past him, closing the door behind her. She keeps enough of a distance that she doesn't have to tilt her head back unduly to look at him.]

This way, I think. Would you be surprised, my dear, if I told you I'd left a few details out?

Honestly? Not in da least.

[If she's anything like some of his employers in the past there's probably more than a few details she left out. Normally Kevas finds this out the hard way.]

Most mons who hire be mistakin' me for a dumb thug. Wouldn't be da first time I didn't get da whole story. Won't be da last.

Good.

[The fact he's not surprised means he's sharp and knows what to expect from this business. China approves.]

However, it may benefit both of us for me to apprise you of the rest, if you're going to know what to listen for. This way.

[She leads him a meandering path vaguely in the direction of the Sky sector.]

[Kevas continues to follow.]

Won't see me arguin' with dat. Da more ya give me da better chances I have of gettin' da job done.

[To be honest, he's torn between what he wants more: information on the goings on of the city or money.]

[Look at him, being sensible.]

Yorda and I were witness to a conversation between a young woman named Indin, and the supervisor of the temporary headquarters I located, who was taken into custody when the Snakes raided it.

[China relays this briskly, with very little emotion.]

She was experiencing some significant second thoughts. She could be useful, either as an informant or a mole, but I've since lost track of her.

And ya might like a mon to poke around? See if he can find whatever hole she be hidin' in?

[Kevas tries to keep things vague and speaks as if they were just talking about the weather.]

Carefully, of course. She's no use spooked. However, the same abilities that will allow me to talk easily with her will make me very noticeable if I go looking myself.

[She's not surprised she doesn't affect Kevas; he's not even human. It's almost refreshing.]

Find me Indin, and I will go to speak with her.

[The weather sure is chilly lately, isn't it.]

[He's gotten used to the chill.]

If a mon be lookin' for her den dey gonna need a description. Maybe a place dey were last seen if ya got it.

[Kevas continues speaking vaguely for his own fun at this point.]

[China laughs quietly, not her usual affectation but something closer to genuine amusement.]

Certainly. The last location I can confirm is the abandoned spy office.

[She goes on to describe the area, the address, and the kedan. Of the last:]

It's somewhat less useful to describe kedan, of course, when they can shift their shape, but not all of them are as skilled as the best.

Myabe, but every mon be different. She might have a swagger, maybe a certain nervous tick. Things like dat.

[Sure, those weren't things Kevas normally needed to rely on, but everyone has something that makes them standout.]

It be a place to start. I'll start lookin'.

[Kevas thinks a little more, trying to gather as much information as possible.]

Think she be havin' protection? Maybe one of da gangs or somethin'?

It's possible she does. I doubt any would help her if they were aware of her cult affiliations, but it's more than possible that some of them hide in plain sight.

[China does not have nearly as much information as she likes having, or she'd give him more than a place to start.]

I'm sure she's more dangerous than she looks, but of course you can handle that.

Course I can, just be wonderin' how much to charge ya for hazard pay.

[Kevas grins slyly at her.]

I'll find her and drag her back in one piece.

[Accounting for the tusks, that might be slyness. Amused, China returns a small smile.]

One piece and living, darling, I'm aware those two things aren't mutually inclusive.

I'm sure you can bill me afterward.

[Still a pity she can't seem to charm him, but she's worked with worse handicaps.]

Yeah yeah, I don't plan on killin' any mons.

[Kevas pauses for a moment after he says that.]

At least her anyway.

[As far as he's concerned the cultists are free game. Who's going to miss them anyway?]

I do appreciate it. It's much harder for people to explain themselves when they're dead.

[The others China doesn't care about. Have fun, Kevas.]

Dis ain't be my first bounty. I be knowin' how it works. Just don't expect it to be too fast. Normally I be havin' a face to work with.

[But this just adds a little extra challenge. He's not about to back down from the first actual job he's been offered.]

As long as it happens.

Preferably before the cultists get up to anything else inventive, but we can hardly afford to be picky at this point.

[More's the pity. China enjoys being picky.]

I be sure I can slow dem cultists down while I be lookin' for our friend.

[Kevas cracks his knuckles.]

If dey be too busy chasin' a boogeymon dey ain't gonna have time to get creative.

[China sighs quietly. It's a happy sound, pleased with having someone competent at her call and the promise of causing difficulties for the cultists.]

You do know what to say to a woman. Is there anything else you need, darling?

I pride myself on just dat.

[As if to make a point Kevas offers her a gentlemanly bow.]

Only to settle on my compensation, den I'll be on my way.

Of course.

[China spares half a moment to wish she could smile at Kevas and have him forget the whole thing, and then the next half moment dismissing the idea. He's useful as-is.]

Juulan, or something else?

[Information, favours, all the other things she can provide.]

Juulan.

[He pauses for a moment as he considers something.]

And I wanna be dere when ya decide to have your little chat with her.

[Sure he could try to get the information from China afterwards, but he much rather hear from the source.]

Of course. Information's just as valuable as juulan, darling. If not more.

[It's definitely not a no, but it is an implicit warning that asking that as part of his price will lower the juulan involved.]

Which be exactly why I wanna be dere.

[He'll take a dock in pay to learn whatever secrets China's target holds.]

Very well, then.

[A smile.]

I believe we have an arrangement.

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