✧ 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]

Definitely both. Especially the Xianzhou place. [A beat.] I should find other stuff to cook for you, too.

[takesitall]

Well, I certainly won't complain. You're easily the best cook I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.

[quicksilverwings]

[He turns a light pink at the praise, smiling.]

Is that so? ... I'm glad. If there's anything you'd like me to make for you, just say the word, okay?

[takesitall]

Will do. [Half-jokingly:] Maybe one day we'll find a book of Avgin cooking.

[quicksilverwings]

I mean, if one's out there, I'd like to find it. It'd be nice to be able to make that food for you.

[takesitall]

...really? You know most Avgin weren't literate, right? That's going to be like searching for an honest IPC member.

[quicksilverwings]

[It's almost comical how visibly Wing deflates at that.]

I'll admit, it was kind of a long shot. But... that doesn't change the feelings behind wanting it.

[takesitall]

[Kakavasha looks at Wing for a moment before just. Leaning against him a bit.]

I appreciate it, Wing, I really do.

[quicksilverwings]

[Wing smiles.

It's another month or two of laying low before the team comes back together to resume their work. It'll be a bit before they target anyone else in the IPC. The first one... does not go as smoothly as hoped, but they manage to pull it off and get out of there. Wing absolutely complains to Kakavasha afterward about how uncoordinated the team is.

Their next client doesn't take much longer to find them, and right now, the team's best in is a casino. Wing's taking a night at home, going over Denzel's findings, wracking his brain for a plan.]

[takesitall]

[And it is then that Kakavasha comes over and nudges Wing over on the sofa.]

Make room and hand me a map of the casino.

[quicksilverwings]

[Wing blinks but moves over, moving some of the papers aside before he picks up a map of the casino.]

Here. [A beat.] You want to help?

[takesitall]

You need someone who can do plans. I'm divinely lucky. We'll make it work, yeah?

[quicksilverwings]

[He smiles faintly, then nods.]

Divinely lucky and clever. [He picks up a few of the papers with the information on the mark.] Here's what we currently have on the mark.

[takesitall]

[He smiles as he scans the papers.]

There's no one who's good at playing a...what's the word Mama used...a hussy? On the team, is there?

[quicksilverwings]

[Excuse him, he needs to do a brief double-take at Kakavasha using that word-- He collects himself soon enough, at least.]

Not really, no. Aella's too intimidating to pull it off properly, Eike isn't allowed to interact with marks directly after the last time he did, and I... don't do well in those kinds of roles, I've found.

[takesitall]

Too bad. This guy sounds like all it would take to distract him is a pretty face and a nice chest of either gender.

[quicksilverwings]

Yeah, out of me and the other three, I'm the only one who'd be able to fulfill the physical qualifications and would be willing, but...

[takesitall]

It's not something you're comfortable with...

[Hm.]

What if you let me distract him? I'm not a very good actor, but physically...

[quicksilverwings]

[Hm.]

Would you really be okay with that?

[takesitall]

Won't know until I try, right? I want to help, and if I can do this that leaves you free to distract other people.

[quicksilverwings]

Alright. But let us know the second you feel too uncomfortable to continue and we'll cover a graceful exit for you.

[takesitall]

I will, don't worry. Now, what are we looking to get out of the guy? Confession? Goods? A hospital stay for him?

[quicksilverwings]

Money and a confession. What I was thinking was--

[This goes so much easier with someone to bounce the ideas off of.

Once the logistics talk has been finished, Wing adds:] Aella's going to want to take you shopping so you'll have clothes to fit the part, I imagine.

[takesitall]

...do I have to go alone?

[He's not terribly social outside of pretending or Wing.]

[quicksilverwings]

[... He reaches for Kakavasha's hand and squeezes gently.]

I can tag along, if you'd be more comfortable with that.