✧ unexpected complication

[quicksilverwings]

[This was supposed to be an easy con. Well, easy-ish.

Taking down the entire IPC is a bit of a far-off pipe dream for Wing and his team (he's still marveling that he's ended up with a team, some days), but particular nasty individuals within or working with them is fair game. Just, you know, make sure picking them off is few and far between.

This was supposed to be a relatively routine takedown of a shithead of a mark. But there's been a wrench thrown into the works--one that the mark refuses to refer to by a name, and it leaves Wing seeing red. A slave.

This fucker has a slave.

Wing maintains his perfectly polite facade, the one meant to lure the target in, so that Wing can lure him into acting against his own best interests, too blinded by what he has to offer. Wing's all smiles, but for anyone really paying attention, he's seething.

Once the mark has left the room--he'll be out for a while, if a couple of Wing's teammates have anything to say about it--Wing makes his way over to get a better look at that slave.]

Comments

[quicksilverwings]

However long you need to, though probably at least a few months minimum. We need to make sure you can evade the IPC, get your new identity established, make sure you'll be set afterwards...

[takesitall]

[Softly:]

Why? Wait, did you read his files on me?

[Do they know about his "luck"?]

[quicksilverwings]

... No?

[takesitall]

Did your hacker friend?

[quicksilverwings]

... I'd have to ask. I feel like he would have mentioned he did if he had, though.

[takesitall]

So none of you know? About my "blessing"?

[quicksilverwings]

What "blessing"?

[Okay, water has had more than enough time-]

[takesitall]

Gaithra Triclops blessed me with impossibly good luck.

[quicksilverwings]

Huh.

[Significant, for sure, though he's not sure what to say to that. So, mostly, he's left blinking owlishly while the tea is steeping.]

[takesitall]

If you doubt me, get me a coin.

[quicksilverwings]

I mean, I'm not doubting you, necessarily, I'm just not sure what to say to that.

[He'll go ahead and dig out a coin from his pocket anyway though.]

[takesitall]

[He'll take the coin and start flipping it. It lands on heads every time.]

I'm just amazed that you didn't save me because of it.

[quicksilverwings]

[... Huh. Interesting.]

Saving you was the right thing to do, blessing or no blessing. [A shrug.] You deserve better than all of that.

[A beat.]

Every person does. That's what I believe.

[takesitall]

You're a rarity then, Wing.

[He sighs and tosses the coin back.]

Sorry. I'm tired.

[quicksilverwings]

You've had a long day.

[He catches the coin easily, putting it back in his pocket. The tea's steeped long enough by now, so he picks up the mugs and offers one to Kakavasha.]

The blend has cinnamon, I hope that's alright. [A pause.] Also, at least go sit on the sofa instead of standing around.

[takesitall]

Oh, sorry.

[He'll go sit. He's just so unsure of everything right now, can anyone blame him?]

What's cinnamon?

[quicksilverwings]

It's a sort of spice obtained from tree bark.

[takesitall]

...does it taste like bark?

[quicksilverwings]

Nah, not really. It's one of those... I'm not sure how to explain it other than "warm". The exact taste depends on the variety.

[He'll go ahead and sit down himself, taking a sip of his own tea.]

[takesitall]

[Kakavasha takes a sip before quickly taking another sip.]

That sort of tastes like chai...

[quicksilverwings]

Ah, does it?

[Note to self, do a little research...]

[takesitall]

Yeah. It's missing something, but it's still familiar.

[New favorite non-chai get.]

[quicksilverwings]

I'll make sure to keep plenty of this on hand, then!

[takesitall]

[He can't wait.

A month later, Kakavasha is walking back into Wing's apartment with a fresh change of clothes. His others were a little too bloody to be saved.]

He's dead.

[quicksilverwings]

And good riddance to bad trash. Cathartic, I hope?