(open) catch-all

[zauneyete]

WHO: Silco & others!
WHERE: Focused on Stygia -- particularly Mirth and the Markets
WHEN: Throughout November!
WHAT: Catch-all for the month! There are some open prompts within!
WARNINGS: Drug references, probably also references to multiple criminal activities. I'll add anything particular if it comes up!

[ If none of the below prompts tickle your fancy, and you'd like one, feel free to hit me up on my plotting post or on plurk at hundreds, or of course, just wildcard it! ]

Comments

Ⅰ - Mirth

[zauneyete]

[ It always starts small. There's no expectation, and no plans in the early days of an operation. Sure, there were all the grand plans in the afterlife, but one had to be realistic, and understand that there were things that one did not understand yet. This world was truly vast, and unknown, in a way that the Eye of Zaun was not used to. He had the basics, but this was like moving to another land entirely, and Silco had lived in the undercity his entire life. It's like being caught on the backstep, and he's had to start compensating, heavily. Starting out is difficult, but it's easier than the first time he'd started an operation from the ground up. He's done it twice now, twice from relatively nothing, and the third time was no more challenging than the last two. Sure, the challenges were different than when he'd been a boy, establishing the lanes, or an adult, putting together a shimmer operation in secret -- but they weren't harder.

And information... that was worth something. It was a good way to get his fingers on the pulse of this place, it was an even better front for any other activities, and he wouldn't want to start an operation without a front. Not in a place like this, and not with the Hierarchy breathing down the necks of those they suspected of "heinous acts", and well -- Silco certainly looked the part, didn't he? Between the eye, the scars, and the clothes, he was the picture of someone to keep an eye on. Therefore, the key was to keep his head down. At least until he had sufficient power to stand up to the Hierarchy properly, at least.

Head tipped, he listened to the child, with dirty feet, who spoke to him. He's in an alley -- somewhere off the beaten path from Mirth, but close enough that the music filtered from the bars close by. The kid doesn't look any older than 13, and Silco's down at his level, crouched, listening, his shoulders hunched as he listened, before he pulled a coin out from his pocket -- payment from the star metal -- before he handed it to the kid. Quick as can be, the child is gone, and Silco lingered in the alley, paced occasionally, smoked some truly foul-smelling cigars, and waited for the next feeler to come by. He'd passed a few coins about to the inhabitants -- generally the young adults and teenagers who looked like they were lurking in the city's streets -- to get the word out that any prized pieces of information, anything that was truly unique, there was coin to be had.

So far, not much luck, but these things never happened immediately. If approached, he will turn, and look at the interloper in the alleyway, a lift of his chin, in invitation to come close. He's expecting a secret, but you're welcome to disappoint. ]

I just finished Arcane and need CR with Silco! (Kainé will probably remind him of his daughter)

[pissoffbook]

[Leaned against a building in the alleyway, Kainé watches the exchange. She's surprised to see a man who looks as badass as this guy seeming to cater to younger people.

When he meets her yellow-grey gaze and lifts his chin, she drops her crossed arms to her sides and casually strolls towards him, her heels clicking on the cement.

The woman who approaches him is dressed in lingerie and heels with bandages wrapped around her left arm and leg. In her silvery-white hair, she wears a flower with a magical quality to it.]

What's a tough-guy like you doing out here with a buncha kids?

yee, I hope you liked it!! (And yes, she uh, absolutely will :')

[zauneyete]

[ Silco had just handed off a coin to one of the younger ones, and an extra for the information -- something to do with movements from the Hierarchy -- they were much more well informed, and younger folks saw... everything, and most paid them no mind. It was the way of cities, and Silco had been a Sump Rat in one of the worst of them, grown up scrabbling and scraping until he was at the top.

So an extra coin could go far, he well knew.

He straightened from his crouch, and only blinked with one eye at the person who walked up to him. Ostentatious, wasn't she? He leaned against a wall, and pulled a cigar out from his jacket. It's an idle motion, and he doesn't take to lighting it quite yet. ]

Paying them for their work. [ He said, casually. ] They tend to be ignored, and see a great deal more than people give them credit for.

I loved it! And are you familiar with Nier? Kainé is also kinda cray cray but not as bad as Jinx lo

[pissoffbook]

[Being ostentatious isn't the reason she dresses like this. She has her reasons, namely the state of her body.

He's right. Children notice more than adults give them credit for. Kainé could always hear the adults in the Aerie whispering how she was some kind of demon or witch when she was ostracized from the village as a little girl. How they would close their windows and doors whenever she came into the village to get Grandma's medicine. Or how they hushed their children away from her.]

Nice to see some appreciation for the younger ones. They got it the roughest.

[Kainé would know. She was on her own for years after Grandma was murdered. Kainé stops before him and crosses her arms under her bust.]

[[ooc: lol Kainé is getting in with all the bad dudes. She's also hanging around the Darkling.]]

I'm only familiar by rp-osmosis, but I've gotten the vibe before lmaoooo

[zauneyete]

They do. [ He agreed. Of course, Silco wasn't... kind to children. He was putting them to work after all, but well. At least then they could eat. He remembered being a starving sump rat, and how he'd had to work for the topsiders to just feed himself when he'd been a boy. He'd worked hard to get out of there -- learned to read, learned logistics, all the skills that served him well as an adult, but none of them were thinks dead children would learn.

He tipped his head. ]

Besides, they don't really have many ways to safely make coin. At least this way, they can eat, hm?

[ And he got information in return. Silco was always focused on the business deal, but he wasn't opposed to putting these kids to work for it.

He snipped the end of his cigar, before he pulled out a match, and lit it. ]

Worried about them?

i.

[lackluster]

[ Mirth has an energy that reminds him a whole lot of Liyue, but not in the good way. It's electric, eclectic, a myriad of vices jampacked together with what little space there is left in Stygia. Everywhere he looks, there's something vying for his attention. It doesn't matter if he feigns disinterest. No one cares around here. Once they're interested in you, they'll do whatever it takes to lure you in.

Unluckily for all of them, Tartaglia is here with only one goal in mind. He met a man across the tempetuous waters not too long ago who offered to do business with him one way or another. Silco looked the part of a bad guy, and Tartaglia, well, he can't deny that's why his curiousity is piqued.

Silco told him that if he couldn't find him in Mirth, then all he had to do is ask around. What he doesn't expect is to find kids — some no younger than his own little brothers and sister — pointing him towards where he could find the scary man with coin. He finds out from the smallest one that Silco had been paying them for information, no matter what kind.

It figures. This guy had no lines he wouldn't cross, going as far as taking advantage of those who can't defend themselves. He doesn't like that, but he's here anyway, so he might as well find out what Silco has in mind.

He steps in the alleyway while Silco is waiting for the next kid to drop by. ]

Oh? [ Malicious amusement coils itself in every syllable. He seems a bit different from the man Silco spoke to by the shores, closer to the feral creature he saw at first. ] You smoke cigars too? You truly look the part of a villain. What's next? Are you going to welcome me to your lair?

[ As much of a lair this dinky alleyway can be, anyway. ]

[zauneyete]

[ Silco's lips quirked in that ghost of a smile, as if he was only briefly amused by it, before he took a step back into the alley -- let the shadows of the buildings cut over his head, and make his eye glow in the dark, matched by the cherry of his cigar. It's a silent welcome, but it really could be seen as welcoming him to his lair.

Silco did exude the presence of a big, bad boss. He knew he did, and if he could lean on it... he would.

How could he not, after all? He had one lever that he could pull, and he wasn't exactly going to pull in any accolades, positions, or power out of the goodness of his heart, so this was the way to go. ]

Tartaglia, yes?

[ He blew out a trail of smoke, and it drifted up, and into the heh dead air above them. ]

I wondered if you'd think to hunt me down when you made it here.

[ He appraised him, looked him up and down. ] I don't think you came by out of only curiosity, did you?

[lackluster]

[ When Silco leans into the villainous vibe, Tartaglia can't help but laugh. At least this man knows what kind of presence he exudes, and that's already so much better than some of the members of the Fatui who likes to pretend they're anything but bad guys at the end of the day. Straightforwardness is something he will always appreciate.

So he'll be straightforward in return. ]

Nope. I'd say boredom is part of it. Maybe restlessness too.

[ He waltzes closer since Silco practically "welcomed" him in, head tilting to one side. Given how he carries himself, you'd think they were just about to have a casual conversation. ]

So? What are you after?

[ Because that's what it boils down to, right? Silco must want something from him — something only he can offer. He might as well hear it whether that's his strength or something else entirely, since he's already here. ]

[zauneyete]

[ Silco appreciated that the man was at least not turned off by the way he presented himself. Some were so... stuck in these narrow little ideas of "good" and "bad", instead of what was practical, and what must be done. Silco had never thought of himself as evil. Perhaps driven, and perhaps willing to do things that most would consider "wrong", but he'd done the "right" thing, and it hadn't gone well, had it?

He'd played by the rules, and the rules had come crushing down on him, a clapback for daring to try to upset the status quo that had relegated him to being little more than a dirty thing to be thrown away once it was used up. Just like the rest of them in Zaun.

So yes, he didn't mind the presence he exuded. It was a part of who he was. It was a part of Zaun, with its toxins and sharp edges. It was something Silco had brought with him to this odd afterlife, and something he would continue to carry with him. ]

Ah, yes. [ Straight to the point. He did so enjoy working with people who were similarly driven. ]

What have you heard of the Hierarchy?

Ⅱ - Stygia - During the Full Moons

[zauneyete]

[ Moving about the city, it's easy to get lost in the entirety of it. Faces kind of blurred together, that's normal in a large city, wasn't it? People weren't really recognizable, but he'd always been used to walking through a city's streets with full knowledge of any that were of particular import. Sure, he might not know them all, but he knew enough. Stygia -- being not the city he had been born in and died in -- was different. From the docks, further into Mirth, it was all a blur of unrecognizable faces. That wasn't new.

He doesn't even notice it, walking through his usual routine through the day, when someone tried to get his attention -- one of the younger types who'd he'd paid a few times for information. He'd seen someone wave to him, in the corner of his eye, but he hadn't even comprehended that it had been for him -- thought it was for someone past him -- but it happened again. Someone tried to meet his eye in the markets, and another when he'd been smoking in an alley.

To shake it off, he'd headed into one of the bars in Mirth, and ordered a drink, surly as he stared at the glass, a single eyebrow knitted in consternation, even though he couldn't put it together. Why were strangers waving to him. Was it something on his face -- other than... everything he already had? -- or something else? ]

[hexgem]

[ Casual as anything, Jinx drops into the seat beside Silco and lifts her legs to rest her chin against her knees. She steals a straw from behind the bar and starts chewing on one end. When she speaks, it pokes out from the corner of her mouth like one of Silco's cigars. ]

I made a new prototype today. Submarine bomb. It sinks into the water before it explodes. I'm not sure yet if it'll kill the fish or just stun them but either way they'll be easier to catch.

😭

[zauneyete]

[ The sensation has been happening all day. Seeing people that didn't seem to be all that familiar, despite the feeling that they were... someone he should know. The bartender had been like that too, although it was faint. Like swimming in a sea of vague familiarity, and Silco had kept the most of it to himself, because he could stumble through conversations easily enough, pretending that he knew who someone was. He could even use context, to fiddle out why some had approached.

Nothing had felt like this.

It's an overwhelming sensation, that felt like his brain had overcooked, like he was working into overdrive, because he knew that he knew this person. More than anyone he'd met in this place so far, more than any other face, he was struck like it was a board to his head. He should know this person.

So then why did their face look completely unfamiliar? Why could he not connect a face to the name?

It took him a moment, of odd searching, his eyes danced, trying to figure it out, before he looked back down at his drink, if just to get overwhelming sense of familiarity to stop. ]

Did you?

[ He asked, not really understanding if this was a good thing, or a bad thing. ] Are you trying to become a fisher?

[ He could play this off. Surely...? ]

[hexgem]

[ A crease etches itself between Jinx's eyebrows. She looks back at Silco curiously, tilting her head from side to side. The straw bobs up and down, anchored between her bite. It was a weird question but maybe he simply didn't connect the dots. ] What? No. Just trying to make some coin without dying from boredom. Which is what would happen if I had to stand there with a stick and string.

[zauneyete]

Fair enough.

[ It's said, and there's a grunt of Silco's usual acknowledgement, but...

Is she talking to him because she knows him? He can assume so, given the way she seems familiar, but the reminder slipped through his fingers like sand. It's frustrating, and he ran a hand through his hair, as if that would jog his memory.

It doesn't ]

I thought the whole fishing "job" sounded rather demeaning, personally. I suppose, though a bomb would do the trick.

[ Nice. Perfect. See? He can do this. ]

[criesofhavoc]

Ah.

[ Ares draws the word out as he takes his seat next to the scarred man. He settles into the seat and muses over how he will pay for his drinks. Turning his hand over, he stares down at his palm and think before taking in his accidental companion. ]

The best reason to drink is in celebration of a proper victory had, don't you think? [ In fact, he is thinking of having the bar experience that joy by filling the space up with malice. He isn't certain what his power will allow, but he longs for bloodshed even in this deathless place.

But he stops -- not out of any goodness in his heart, but to analyze the person sitting next to him.

Pinching his chin, he analyzes him -- there is something there; perhaps, it is the scarred face or the manner in which the man carries himself, but it is enough to give him pause. ] Wait, are you one of mine?

[zauneyete]

[ Silco has, in front of him, his usual glass of whiskey. An unfamiliar voice -- truly unfamiliar drew his glance up. It didn't come with the usual sting of overwhelming unfamiliarity, the kind of thing that felt almost close to face blindness, the way he hadn't been able to recognize them. This person was truly new.

He almost breathed a sigh of relief, but caught himself, when the man continued to speak.

One eye narrowed, and he tipped his head, curious in the way he worded it. He certainly hadn't agreed to anything. Why would he belong to someone? ]

I don't remember agreeing to belong to anyone, but my memory is a bit...sparse these days. [ His smile is tight, his hands spread, palms up. ] Perhaps you could... enlighten me on what you mean?

[criesofhavoc]

That is unfortunate to hear, and I shall hope it is not an ailment I will suffer.

[ There is a dismissive tone about lacking in memories. It comes from being uncertain if the man is being serious or not. So, he airs on the side of caution and decides to treat it as a joke -- even if it is not. ]

But you ask me what I mean... in all places, in all realms, there is war. [ A laugh follows. ] Strife, hatred, jealousy... all the things that some would say that make men no better than beasts; I say that it shapes them into something greater than what they could ever hope to be if they lived in peace and prosperity.

[ Ares smiles. ] I am the god that rules the realm of battle and destruction. Though, there are some that have guided more to the realm of the dead than I can hope to ever send... I still am quite pleased with the lot I have slain.

[ An appreciative stare. ] You have the feeling of one that has seen war and so... I must ask again, are you one of mine?

Ⅲ - Stygia - Marketplace

[zauneyete]

[ Coins exchanged hands. The wares were varied, a kaleidoscope that reflected the unique and varied residents here. Everything from jewelers, to carpenters, to anything in between. It was always thriving. That was good, at least. It was no Black Lanes, but... it was vibrant enough. There's plenty to purchase, and there's even some who sell what would have been considered illicit in anywhere other than Zaun.

He's leaned forward, inspecting a knife from a blacksmith, turned it over, trying to figure out if it's worth the steep price. ] Do you really think this ill-weighted thing is worth the price you're charging? I'm likely to stab myself instead of someone else.

[ His lip curled, after he said it. Likely, he hadn't meant to say that out loud, had he? ]

[deushexmachina]

Please don't. [He's within earshot, and intentionally so. Jayce caught sight of Silco walking the marketplace and followed, his footfalls stealthy as he could make them, until he opened his mouth. Ever since meeting Bruno, Jayce acquired an appreciation for careful movement — handy, in this instance. At every turn, he swore Silco caught sight of him, and yet... he made it here.

He followed Silco into the smithy, hovered at the threshold.]

[zauneyete]

[ Silco didn't jump, as much as he whipped his head around, to fix his gaze on Talis. His fingers tightened on the knife, but he carefully set it down.

No need to hold a deadly weapon, when he could tell his shadow was close to the surface, threatening his control. ] Stab myself?

Thankfully, the easy solution is to simply not purchase it. [ A beat. ] I can't imagine you're concerned about that, are you?

[deushexmachina]

Don't stab anyone else, [clarified hastily, he shoved his hands in his pockets.] Although it's not a bad idea to keep your distance from any weapon, by the look of it.

[Bold, behaving so sharply with Silco. But Jayce's veneer had been fracturing.]

Why are you even here?

(CLOSED) to FELIX

[zauneyete]

[ Moving through the market, he'd been about to head back to where he was most comfortable. Mirth held its allure over him -- how could he resist a place that made him feel like he was more at home? His eye followed along with the plethora of wares, even so. One never knew what types of things people sold, and he was still familiarizing himself with the trends, the ebb and flow of the market's wares. He'd taken notes at a few shops in a small booklet, a better memory than he could ever hope to have, before he tucked it back away into his pocket, and moved to the next, and then another.

He came on one, selling -- of all things -- monster parts. He didn't even bother to jot down what was here -- it seemed impermanent, this set up, but he did stop to look over the wares. ]

Do people...actually buy these?

[ It's only... slightly judgemental. ]

[boarwitness]

[in the gloom of the tent, leaning against one of the supports, felix watches the throngs of people pass by just an arm's length away. there was something familiar about it—the crush of a crowd, and the quiet of a vendor's tent full of wares. nearby, one of the stall's mysterious owners tallies up his hunts, marking a ledger for each different monster part he's delivered in a script all their own.

at the sound of another patron's voice, the owners look up—and immediately away, when they realize it's just another rubbernecker.

and felix, in a rare mood, answers the man's out loud wonderings.]

They do. Don't ask me for what, though.

[in the background, one of the vendors is chopping around an eye to clean off the fleshy bits. the thunk of a knife echoes in the tent.]

[zauneyete]

[ Sounds like in the back, they're dissecting them. That was a familiar sound, at least. The butchers in Zaun would dissect the sea creatures pulled up from the River Pilt all the time, and his eyes flicked up, and toward the back.

He wondered what sort of place would offer them. If there were restaurants in Mirth that sold such fare? If that was what it was used for. ]

Food, maybe? [ He turned mismatched eyes first to the shopkeeper, who was tight lipped as they came, and then to the man who was clearly selling parts, and then to the parts themselves.

Huh. He'd seen some of them around, but Silco certainly wasn't going to be challenging beasts like this. ]

Felt like fighting something, I take it? That doesn't look like a pleasant encounter.

[boarwitness]

There's only one way to keep improving skills, and that's through practical experience. [it's said matter-of-factly. he doesn't move from where he's standing, still waiting for his pay.

he does cast fresh eyes at the butchering, though, considering the question.]

Maybe different people here can stomach them. I haven't found any worth eating yet.