✧ wrong target

[quicksilverwings]

[On the surface, it seemed like a simple task. From the information Wing had been given, this Aventurine guy was root of his client's troubles, so the plan was to get in good with him and find the right leverage to bring him down.

This casino's a pretty high-class place, so he's dressed nicer than usual, and a touch of magic smooths away scars and signs of sleepless nights handily.

Well. Mission start. Now, where's the target...]

Comments

[quicksilverwings]

A friend brought me along for my birthday--said she figured I ought to get the chance to spend it somewhere nice. [A beat.] And then she went and got glued to the slots!

[takesitall]

The slots? Really? They're rigged worse than anything else in this place, and she chose them?

[Disgusting. Also, good lie. People who get glued to the slots tend to stay glued to the slots.]

So you came here to watch me instead?

[quicksilverwings]

I told her she'd at least have better chances at roulette, but here we are.

[A helpless shrug.]

Came here originally to see what the crowd was gathering around for. But, well, guess I got a little entranced after seeing you play~

[And that, actually, is more or less the truth.]

[takesitall]

Aw, really? I'm not even being that flashy tonight!

[quicksilverwings]

Yep, really~

[He's a sucker for a pretty face and he knows it. Usually he's pretty good about keeping it in check for the job, but...]

It's been a real treat watching you play.

[takesitall]

Well, would you maybe want something a little more private after this hand? I'm getting bored~

[Damn, Sunday. Try harder.]

[quicksilverwings]

Ooh, that sounds wonderful.

[To be fair, Wing's real damn good at what he does, usually, and playing the easily impressed fool is simple. Aventurine's just really pretty and...

... honestly, doesn't seem like much more than just a pretty rich boy with the luck of the gods. There's something in the back of Wing's brain that's starting to wonder about the client.]

[takesitall]

Then why don't I just bet it all~

[He shoves his chips into the center of the table with a smirk.]

And then treat you to something nice?

[quicksilverwings]

[... Going all in, huh? Well, that's certainly a way to end the show, so to speak.]

I like the sound of that.

[takesitall]

[They finish the hand, Aventurine wins big, and they leave the table. As they walk through the casino, Aventurine stops every so often to cover someone's buy in or pay their tab, and in one case he straight up writes a check because it's apparently someone's bachelor party and he wants to give the happy couple a gift.

The entire time, he doesn't let go of Wing's waist.

They eventually reach the elevator. Still holding Wing:]

So, was it Sunday?

[quicksilverwings]

[Wing remains silent, watching everything Aventurine does.

Sure, anyone can put on a show when someone's watching, but Wing gets the sense that all of this is genuine.

He's been lied to. He is internally seething by the time they've reached the elevator. And he sees no reason to not answer Aventurine's questions.]

It was. [He's not making any effort to remove Aventurine's arm from his waist, however.] And I daresay he's a lucky man that I did not have any other clients at the time, otherwise I would be much more cross about being sent on what amounts to a snipe hunt.

[takesitall]

I thought so. He's been out to get me since his sister ran off. Thinks I had something to do with it, for some reason.

[He scoffs.]

I didn't, nor do I know where she is, except she likely left his house for a reason. How much did he offer you?

[quicksilverwings]

[Baffling. Utterly baffling.

Between this and the lengths Sunday's been going to from the sounds of it, Wing's starting to think no wonder the poor girl got the hell out of dodge.

He leans over to murmur the number--decent enough for this particular service, and the upfront pay was fine but...]

... tch. If I thought it'd accomplish anything, I'd bill him for wasting my time.

[takesitall]

I'll cover the rest and the "waste of time" charge. And then...well, do you want to get back at him?

[quicksilverwings]

Oh, I'm very much planning on it. Like I said, he's lucky I had no other clients. If this had been pulling my time and attention from people who actually need my help...

[takesitall]

...help? What do you do, exactly? I thought you were an assassin or something.

[And he still let him get this close!?]

[quicksilverwings]

[Aventurine, honey...]

... I worry for your sense of self-preservation.

[Anyway.]

I'm a con artist, actually. Just one that chooses to enact a little justice where the law can't--or won't--reach. I don't charge the sorts that make up my usual clientele.

Sunday seemed to think I could stir up enough trouble and make it stick, and he spun things to make you sound like my usual marks.

[takesitall]

Ah. Did he mention the part about me spending most of my life in the slums?

[quicksilverwings]

[Eyebrow twitch. Oh, he's going to have a hell of a warning shot for Sunday after this.]

He did not.

[takesitall]

Mhm. I'm sure you know about the whole messy business with the Avgin, right? First fleeing from civil war, and then all of the trouble they had here?

[He finally removes his tinted glasses so Wing can see his eyes. They're the trademark multi-color of the Avgin people.]

I simply got lucky.

[quicksilverwings]

Mm. You'd have to be living under a rock to not kn--

[--oh.]

... I see. [Because really, what do you say to that? Anything else would simply ring hollow or just sound like pity.

Stars above, Aventurine really is pretty, though.]

[takesitall]

Mhm. So if you'd like to get back at Sunday, I might know some people who could benefit.

[quicksilverwings]

Oh, I'd very much like to. I think this has earned a warning shot at minimum.

[And the gears are already turning.]

[takesitall]

Give me your contact info, and I'll send you some lists. Now, before we get to my floor--I'm not actually interested in doing anything tonight. I usually like my dates to be a little more involved first. But you are welcome to stay, if it'll help your story to Sunday.

[quicksilverwings]

Wonderful, I appreciate it.

[He'll pull his phone out so that can be ready for that.]

If it won't be too much trouble, I'll stick around. I told Sunday to not expect results for a few days, but I might as well make the story for the progress update believable. I'll just use tonight to plan some things.

[A beat.]

But perhaps a proper date later, if you're so inclined.