[Riesig] Incendiary [Past]

[Nashota]

"Yes. You. Burn something. You're a walking incendiary cache, I'd wager," was her response. Her head turned at his words -- and she had to stop her hand from reaching up to grab her necklace. It felt as if it'd pulsed, like it'd somehow known she was seconds away from using it. It hadn't, of course; but in those few seconds when her heart had stuttered into the familiar gallop of surprise and she'd recognized Riesig's display of power as an attack, her senses had gone into overdrive much too suddenly.

As it was, she blinked at her newfound companion before a frown pulled the corners of her lips down in a display that would show him exactly how amused she'd been with that trick of his. "Adorable," she bit out at him before turning an continuing on her way. Judging from his devil may care demeanor, she didn't gander that her snapping would do much to affect his mood. The only thing that seemed likely enough to pull him down from his cloud would be an ice cold bucket of water.

As they entered the alley, she let her eyes scan their surroundings. As per usual, it was filthy. The cleaner alleys were closer to the center of the city, she'd found; but the comfier grounds were typically in the more rural areas. Give a little, get a little. Or so the saying goes, she thought to herself as she, too, looked for the client of this particular job.

[Arl Lotreab]

The duo might have glimpsed an eye looking at them from between a pile of neatly stacked barrels. If not, the cheerful voice that soon accompanied it surely clued them in.

"Riesig! It's good to see you again~" An armored, pointed-eared lass stepped out from behind the pile. She waved with her free hand, the other holding a leafy spear relaxed against her shoulder. Her helmet was currently missing - stowed away in her bag, most likely.

The woman smiled "You're here for the job as well, I take it? Whose your friend..? OH!" She hastily made a short bow toward Nashota "I should introduce myself first! I am Arl Lotreab. I met Riesig back in Casawek, we went after some bandits along with a few others."

[Riesig]

He hadn't in fact noticed Arl until she moved. When he saw her, he had his mist form into a row of tiny soldiers and give her a salute. "Sup! I was just looking for you sort of. This is Nashota. Met her on the docks. We stumbled into this job while discussing shiving a guy who was shoving people as he walked. It was great! She want to find money. I told her best way is to get paid to punch things." He smiled and paused there to give Nashota time to talk for herself.

[Nashota]

It didn't take long for things to start happening. The woman that stepped out from between the set of stacked barrels earned a startled look that quickly shifted into something of a glare. Her hand itched to clutch her necklace -- but etiquette and a desire for this supposed job to go smoothly dictated she ignore that urge. Her words drew a curt nod from Nashota, and as soon as she parted her lips to speak, Riesig beat her to the punch.

She turned a skeptical glance on the fiery-headed man, but spoke once he'd finished. "I am Nashota," she said simply. She couldn't help but consider it a lackluster response when compared to Riesig's. "Shiving did indeed almost happen." She made a careless gesture to the street behind them. "I know him from . . . approximately five minutes ago." She'd essentially confirmed everything Riesig had, and while that had allowed her to speak her own piece, she was dangerously close to passing her usual word limit for the day. Annoyance bit at her; she wasn't sure if the excitement was a good change from her daily routine of sulking and working or not. Either way -- "Do you happen to have any idea what this job is? Or when it begins?" she asked instead of thinking so much.

Maybe that was her problem. Too much time in LaLa Land.

[Arl Lotreab]

"Ah, yes.." Arl rubbed the back of her neck in a moment of awkward thought. "Well, my original plan was to let people infer I was also waiting, as this job needs.. trust.. but I do trust Riesig and he's generally been a good judge of character so I'll get to the point!"

The woman lowered her voice as she continued. "The short version is I need help infiltrating a gang to figure out where they are holding some children captive as leverage. The long version, however, is quite a bit more complicated. Arl turned towards Nashota "Before I continue, are you interested? There IS pay involved, but I admit it isn't much compared to the danger." She glanced towards Riesig "I think you're up for this, right?

[Riesig]

"As long as I get to watch them burn, sure I'll help you out!" He smiled at her. He really had a very simple list of things that motivated him.

[Nashota]

Nashota blinked. <i>Children?</i>

She would be the first to admit that she was a prickly person -- she didn't like other people and would avoid them, if possible. but children being abducted and held captive? She frowned. <b>"This is not a job. This is a civic duty."</b> What could a child have done to be treated so? Not much.

She glanced behind her and pulled one of the barrels towards her. It was mostly empty; something sloshed inside, indicating that it was probably a fourth of the way full. The alley was packed with <i>very</i> undesriable scents, and Nashota wasn't inclined to look inside the barrel to see if what was in there was adding to the smell. She popped up and sat on the top of the barrel; she'd been on her feet all day -- and if she were going to be going on what sounded like one hell of a rescue mission, then she'd do it with less-achy feet. <b>"I'm in. Explain what needs to be done."</b>

[Arl Lotreab]

Arl had smiled broadly at the mention of "civic duty". It seemed the notion appealed to her. "Great!" She moved closer to the duo, and once again spoke softly.

"It's common knowledge that the old families are gone, but that doesn't mean all of the older outlaws were killed. Some might have retired, I don't know that much about the underworld, but a few are managing some of the 'new' gangs vying for power and territory." Arl twisted a bit to have a better view of the alley entrance as she continued. "Anyway, about two months ago a fish cartel runner from down south figured she could rapidly gain leverage in Tiburon by kidnapping the children of these thieves and former servants of the old families. Forcing a few experts out or retirement, leaning on several of the gangs, etc. You'd think Riacoma - the runner - would have been killed by now but apparently she's managed to make enough of a name for herself to gather real support." The woman frowned. "And apparently an example was made during the first betrayal - " Arl held out her palm "-not a lethal one, thankfully! - that was still horrible enough to convince the thieves to rely on complete outsiders like us. If we fail this was 'our idea', not theirs; they won't help us directly, or even indirectly beyond what I've already been told. Until the children are safe, anyway."

Arl paused for a moment. "Any questions so far, or should I describe the plan?"

[Riesig]

Riesig's eyes almost came alight with glee and flames, well more accurately, his hair that was on fire was held in front of his eyes. "Arl, when this all begins, just make sure to point out those you don't want to be charred corpses. For this conflagration will rage upon seeing them." He knew, of course, that Arl didn't want a pile of corpses. He, however, did. Or, at least a pile of burned things.

[Nashota]

Nashota nodded as Arl spoke, keeping pace with her quick words. She didn't miss the glances to the entrance of the alley, but what else could be expected? This seemed to be a task of somewhat massive proportions. As she ended her speech, Nashota nodded and frowned at Riesig. <b>"I'm at the top of that list. I do like my skin the way it is."</b> <i>Not melted from my bones.</i> She glanced back to Arl -- <b>"Out with it, then."</b>