003 | video

[stealwithit]

[ Good evening, Masks and Menaces. Tonight, you will be treated (or possibly, weirded out or perplexed) by a video feed of a ~mysterious~ hooded woman, sitting at some dimly lit place with her elbow resting on a table and her chin resting on her hand. She's not looking at the camera directly -- she rarely ever does, because she's obviously too cool for that, but she does have the slightest hint of a smile across her lips. ]

So, I don't normally do this kind of thing, but I figured at this point, anything's fair game.

--and no, I'm not here to read more smutty literature out loud. A girl's gotta have some secrets.

[ said resident secret enigma lady of mystery, Kasumi Goto. ]

Anyway, to all the newbies: welcome. I don't know what you all have been told about this place so far by other people, but all I can really contribute is that it's a wild ride, being here. You may inquire below for more details if you so wish.

To the rest of us: happy new year. And I do mean that sincerely, despite the terrible start we've been off to, so far. I want to say that maybe we'll get a lull again, like we have the other times that something truly offensive has happened -- but word on the street is that the Russians are yelling angrily about something, so I kind of doubt that's going to be the case.

For now, let's just all try to relax, alright? I'm pretty sure stress is bad for your complexion.

... Also, fun fact, but I-- [ she sighs. So maybe she didn't really mean to make this post to address the general masses, because who does that? But because she's so Conflicted about the Worst (or Best?) Anniversary Ever that she needs. Something. Drinks. People to feel all bitter and/or nostalgic with. Mostly she doesn't want to be alone. ]

You know what, I've been here a year, as of today. Officially. So...

I think I speak for most of us -- whether it's because all the pandemonium [ get it? ] has got you needing a little pick-me-up, or because you've also just realized you've been stuck here for a year -- when I say: I need a drink. Or soul food. Or both. I guess that's what I really meant by relax. Let's see if we can actually enjoy something around here, for once. Maybe have a do-over of New Year's?

What're the best bars and food joints around the Porter cities? I've got my favorites picked out, mostly in Heropa and Nonah, but I'm always open to new experiences.

[ come party with space thief, y/n? ]

Comments

[thegriffinofdeath]

Being humble is admirable, but...

[Well, not for the life she expects her daughter to eventually have.]

Ah. [And a slight, embarrassed laugh.]

Thank you. Have you had any luck finding a tavern?

[WHY YES SHE DID JUST CHANGE THE SUBJECT SO SUBTLE.]

[stealwithit]

[ And that is a somewhat seamless topic change that Kasumi will detect and go along with. She's content with the little laugh she got out of the other woman, for now. ]

I always have luck finding a tavern. Spend a year in this place and you'll have your go-to spots, too. As for something new, well. Seems like people have a few suggestions.

[thegriffinofdeath]

[There's a thoughtful, perhaps slightly hesitant pause before Anastasya says anything else.]

Well, if...you find one you wish to try and are in need of company, I seem to have some time. Outside of looking to hire mercenaries, I don't believe I've ever been in a tavern.

[stealwithit]

How often do you go to hire mercenaries?

And I don't mind having the company. I guess I could use any distraction right about now, anyway. Where are you based, Anastasya?

[thegriffinofdeath]

With unfortunate frequency. Though thankfully not in the last few years. But they are a good short-term solution for military capacity problems.

[That was almost buzz speak, wasn't. 'Mercenaries were cheap and eventually they died and she could revive them as skeletons' would be pretty cold though...]

I'm living in Nonah at the moment.

[stealwithit]

[ Kasumi has had her fair share of working with mercenaries over her career, too, although usually at a distance, so at least she sort of understands needing their services now and then. For her, though, interactions with mercenaries often involved either stealing from them, or for them, in the case of high-ranking, affluent mercenary captains being part of her colorful array of clientele. Which is why she chuckles. ]

They're pretty good fodder for enemies, is what you're saying. It's okay - I understand.

Are you relatively new to this place? How much have you seen of the other Porter cities?

[thegriffinofdeath]

[Another quiet laugh.] I was trying to put it more delicately.

Not as much as I want to. I have spent most of my time either in Nonah, or at work.

Do you have something in mind?

[stealwithit]

They're mercs, Anastasya. They and anything "delicate" don't tend to go together.

[ She chuckles. ]

Nonah's a lovely city, but you'd probably like the others, too. How are you with dark, grungy places? Or maybe you'd prefer something a little more warm and glamorous?

[thegriffinofdeath]

[This time her laugh is louder, and genuine.]

If you asked people back on Ashan, dark, grungy places were where I belonged.

[She paused.]

I am quite fine with them.

[stealwithit]

[ Perfect. She likes this woman's style. ]

Perfect. We should meet up in Maurtia Falls, then. I go there quite often [ to steal stuff and fight crime ] mostly because dark and grungy suit me more than tropical and beach-y.

[thegriffinofdeath]

You know, I'm not sure I've ever been to a beach. Well, not to simply be at a beach.

Well, let me know where you would like to meet, and I shall do my best to find it.

voice -> action

[stealwithit]

I'll forward a name and address over to your comm unit. Take your time -- I'm not in a rush.

[ In a few short moments, Anastasya would find that Kasumi sends a message with the name of a bar and its address in Maurtia Falls, as promised. But whenever she might make her way over, Kasumi isn't anywhere in plain view

Because when is she ever? Likely, the thief is waiting for her, cloaked beneath the darkness of a lonely corner of the establishment. ]

action

[thegriffinofdeath]

[Anastasya does take a bit of time to get there. When she arrives, she's dressed in a long, ankle length, swishy black skirt and a dark blue blouse, carrying a green hoodie over one arm. All the dark clothing tends to accentuate her overly pale skin and make her eyes look a bit sunken in. And she's probably younger than Kasumi might have expected, though there is a bit of an air of 'older' about her. Especially judging from the way she had spoken before.]

[She scans the bar for a moment, her eyes narrowed. She had some idea what the other woman looked like, but didn't see her anywhere in the room. So after her search turns fruitless, she moves to head towards the bar to wait. Maybe she's early?]

[stealwithit]

[ Luckily for the both of them, Kasumi is just the type of person to run a search on someone she's meeting up with. Just, you know, in case. One can never be too careful, is how she sees it -- and she certainly wouldn't be any good at what she does if she wasn't careful about these sorts of things. And in any case, the woman still seemed distinct from the other, usual patrons of this bar, which is enough of a clue. She did mention Maurtia Falls was a bit on the seedier side of the spectrum, after all, and in fact in one corner of the place it almost looks like there's a legitimate group of mobsters hanging around. But that's not important.

So Kasumi recognizes Anastasya, and silently, she makes her way over, slipping through spaces between people until she's reaching the bar just as Anastasya is, too. As though it was all so perfectly timed. ]

You look like you're looking for someone.

[thegriffinofdeath]

[So sly and clever, Kasumi. And Anastasya is just out of practice enough to not realize it was a perfect setup.]

I am. I think she-oh!

[She started answering before she turned, and then realized halfway through who it was and gave a start before she laughed softly.]

Mm. Yes, well. I suppose I'm not looking for anyone now.

[stealwithit]

[ Kasumi offers a small smile at her surprise. Even successfully sneaking up on someone in a situation so low-key as this gives her the tiniest rush of pride. Still got it. ]

No, I suppose not. It's nice to meet you in person, this time. You didn't run into any trouble getting here, did you?

[thegriffinofdeath]

[Anastasya's smile was small but self-assured, as she shook her head.] No. Unless I were to run into another import, there are very few things here that would me trouble.

[Her attention turned them, from Kasumi to the crowd, looking out across the room and then back to the hooded woman. She couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.]

You weren't exaggerating about the...seediness...of this place, were you?

[She was clearly amused, not upset.]

[stealwithit]

[ She follows Anastasya's glance out with an amusement, and grins at the other woman's question. ]

Of course not. Although it doesn't seem like that'll bother you, I hope?

Seedier places are always more interesting to me, anyway.

[thegriffinofdeath]

Aren't they, though? [She shook her head.] When I was a child, the thought of coming to a place like this would have been terrifying and alarming. The daughter of a duke in such a place, it would've been a terrible scandal, if not horribly dangerous.

[She shrugs.]

I think part of that little fear never really went away, so it's...well. There is no one here who is dangerous to me, yet I still feel that hint of excitement when I step inside.