✧ 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]

[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.

[takesitall]

[He smiles a little.]

I would be. Your friends are just...they're a lot.

[quicksilverwings]

Aella and Eike can be, for sure. And I'm surprised you didn't have complaints about Akabane... Though, I guess it helps that you only interacted with him extensively once.

[And there had been other things on both of their minds when that happened. Karma is so much all the time and he revels in it.

Idly, he runs his thumb over Kakavasha's knuckles.]

Aella means well, at least. And Eike will chill out when he gets used to you.

[Anyway.]

But yeah, don't worry. I'll be right there with you. [Another gentle squeeze.]

[takesitall]

[That's...soothing. He smiles a little.]

Akabane was busy and didn't bug me. The other two are just...a lot. You're not.

[quicksilverwings]

[He smiles softly.]

Well, I'm glad I'm not a lot. If Aella gets to be too much, we can give her the slip for a break.

[takesitall]

Thanks.

[The day of the con comes, and it's a resounding success. They pull it off nearly flawlessly (no one could account for the flooded bathroom), and meet up back at the rendezvous point as planned. Kakavasha hasn't changed from his honey trap outfit, but he has taken the hat off so it's not crushed as he flops on the sofa.]

[quicksilverwings]

[And Wing flops next to him, grinning.]

You were amazing, Kakavasha!

[takesitall]

Was I?

[He smiles, though he does not sit up.]

It wasn't that hard, he was way too interested in my chest to care about what he was agreeing to.

[quicksilverwings]

Still, I don't think that would've gone even half as smoothly without you.

[takesitall]

He's not kidding. That was the cleanest in and out we've ever had.

[Kakavasha jumps when Denzel, who had been outside of the whole thing, steps into the room and flops down on the floor.]

It's amazing what we can do when we're not trying to juggle ten different balls all at once.

[quicksilverwings]

[Wing nods in agreement.]

Definitely. We couldn't have done it without you, Kakavasha. With your plan and you helping distract the guy...

[takesitall]

I vote we make him a permanent member of the team.

What?

[quicksilverwings]

That's up to him, Denzel.

[He looks over as he takes one of Kakavasha's hands in his.]

Do you want to, Kakavasha? Join the team permanently.