isleofavalon | — closed.

( it's a late night for Izumi, one which ends with her locking up the Kaika Theatre and setting off home after the sun has set and everyone else is gone. sure, she's heard about the strange man starting fights, the subject of one of the quests on the questboard, but it should be fine, right? it's not like she wants to force any of her boys to drop everything they're doing and babysit her. she's twenty four years old. she can walk a street at night, and she knows her way home well enough to know it's reasonably safe.

or. well, it should be anyway. it's just fine until she hears a commotion coming from a side street a few feet away from her. )

Uh.

( oh... dear. it definitely sounds like someone's in trouble. Izumi hesitates, magic sparking at her fingertips. should she...? she should, shouldn't she? she's been given this power for a reason, right? to help people? even if she can't fight (well, not yet. she's only barely organised those swordfighting lessons, after all), she can still use light magic well enough to help... hopefully.

so, with her heart hammering in her chest, she strides towards whatever's going on before she can make herself think twice. )

[ All right... all right! So the rumors are true!! Sasara, though—after somehow convincing his partner, that this oughta not be as bad as the animal transformations they'd dealt with—insisted on not needing to be walked home. He's a big boy, ya see, with his own job at the Roost and able to find his own way home after-hours. ]

A-ah, ya know— [ That sorta thinking doesn't really go with the trouble he's finding himself attached to. Again, the rumors're true! ] —I really ain't one for cinematics, ya see!?

[ Being backed into some alleyway, that could be any kind of yakuza flick. ~~And he's actually been there...~~ All angles tell him this figure in front of him means bad business. Sasara keeps walking back, and seemingly reaching both blindly and aimlessly. But dusky back streets like that, they usually have something lying around and he's holding his hand out for the kinetic magic to trigger and pull something into his palm. ] M-more like, I'm sorta rusty on any scripted lines...! [ Explaining his career might not save his ass, but some time—at least, he imagines that mysterious guy to be slowing down in mild confusion.

Ah, finally!! A crowbar... that's as nostalgic as it is theatrical, yeah!? Sasara just swings it, going more for surprise than aim. ] I'm more into improv, ya know! [ (Hah! That's really good, right!? )

That movie maniac stumbles backwards a few steps, just out onto the street. ]

Whoa—!

( it's a good job Izumi steps back just in time, watching the mysteriously decked out man stumble past her, a flicker of bright light appearing in one of her hands and just as rapidly extinguishing.

(also, did someone mention improv?)

there's just enough light from the night sky above to give some illumination to the other man, to catch the edge of a weapon, and for a moment she worries that the thug has crossed the wrong person and now she's stumbled into a terrible situation.

oh, she really hopes that isn't the case. any chance of her leaving her apartment alone will be well and truly scuppered if it is.

Miho! are you nearby?

it's a relief when she feels the tail of her lion familiar flick against her shin as she appears and prepares to guard Izumi against... well. whatever's going on.

but for now, Izumi will chance it with the guy with the weapon, forming a small ball of light in her hand to see better. )

Are you okay?

( unfortunately, that question, and the amount of time she hesitated, is more than enough for the assailant to get himself together and take stock of the situation. )

Ah, two against one, huh? All the better for me!

[ If he wasn't sure enough about having knocked the guy back, Sasara'd think he sees the light after getting whacked in the head himself. Man, that wouldn't be as funny an ending...! But he can just about make out someone else having stepped onto the scene, as unclear as Izumi's figure appears in her own kind of shadow.

Just as that even more mysterious character gathers himself, there is the sound of metal clattering on concrete as Sasara drops the crowbar, in place of him answering. He just about bolts out of the alley he'd been backed into too, only so slipping past the cultist. ]

A-ah–haha! [ Geez, he's made a chilling script for himself. ] I'm not a fighter– [ Sorry, Izumi! Though, it ain't that Sasara just leaves her standing there. As he suddenly sprints past, he grabs her wrist. ] Just cheese it!

[ He tells her— Ahem, that might also be a good set up for another joke! It all depends on how soon they get stuck in another corner after zig-zagging through the dark streets. He's also not a runner and by the time they stop anywhere Sasara about breaks down with his hands on his knees, bent over to catch his breath. ]

Phew... I think he might'a... [ He really oughta pick up some cardio exercises, and ditch the cigarettes again. But safe for his own pulse hammering in his ears it seems quiet, right? ] Looks like we lost that guy, yeah?

( yep, you know what, she's not going to argue with that one, even if his sudden yanking gets answered with a yelp and Izumi scrambling to get a move on. thankfully, she has been keeping her running up since she got here and once her legs adjust to the shock of being dragged along, she's okay.

just keep going, don't look back. Miho brings up the rear and Izumi's comforted by her familiar's presence as they scarper and duck into a myriad of twisting streets in an attempt to outrun the stranger. )

I— I think so... ( she's not as winded as this man appears to be, but she needs a moment too after all of that. jeez.

okay, but let's just make sure that they're right. Izumi conjures up a ball of light and, with a slight shakiness to her breath, directs it the way they came, lighting up the path for Miho to reach them both, relief beginning to settle in just before the sounds of footsteps — rushed, thudding footsteps — finds her ears. )

... Oh no.

( he's definitely seen the light coming from this alleyway by now. )

( so, funny story. sometimes in life you wind up talking to the sketchy old man who runs one of the places your actors perform at and you get onto the latest postings on the quest board...

and then somehow you wind up standing at the door of a strip club, waiting for the bouncer to let you in. thankfully, she's going as a customer and not as anything else, so a spruced up version of her usual attire (a shirt and a nice pair of jeans) should be just fine for this.

it's once they're in that she breathes a sigh of relief, glad that they've at least passed one hurdle. )

Do you have a plan?

( if nothing else, her light magic should be useful in making sure this goes off without violence. )

Sure I do.

[Rei, too, is playing the role as a customer. But given his personal style, he looks... a little different from Izumi. if Izumi looks like a college girl here to have explore on a friend's night out, Rei looks like a rich opening-to-close regular.]

Here. [Rei reaches into the pocket of the trenchcoat draped over his shoulders, pulls out a heavy coin pouch, and drops it into Izumi's hand.] We play nice for a while. Find a knight. Request a private dance. Smuggle them out. Easy.

( they do look a bit mismatched, if she thinks about it. but there's nothing she can do about that. she doesn't have anything nearly as flamboyant as Rei in her wardrobe, and she gets the feeling the same is true in reverse.

(she's trying to imagine Rei dressed up in something more relaxed. ... yeah, that's not really going well.) )

Eh? ( that's a lot of coin. it's a solid plan, and she doubts any business owner is going to turn up their nose at this wad of cash, but it also relies on her acting skills. which... well. there's a reason she's a director. )

R-right. ( don't think too much about it, Izumi. you bluffed your way into saving Mankai when Sakyo-san wanted to tear it down. you can't be that bad. ) Let's get a drink, Amayado-san.

( smile. now she thinks about it, she hasn't had a chance to go out drinking since she got here. maybe that'll be nice, even if...

well. there's someone ripping off a pair of trousers on a stage a few feet from the bar. )

Let's. [Rei lets out a low whistle, chuckling at the show. They sure are in a strip club alright!!!

He leans up against the bar, orders "one of their strongest" from the probably-fey bartender, and gazes out at the scene around them with interest. It all looks very aboveboard, but...]

Think we can clock 'em just by looks? [The knights, he means. Better to speak vaguely, depending on who's listening..]

( in the meantime, Izumi keeps good old tradition alive and starts with a beer. a half pint of something light and easy. )

Hm...

( do the knights have a mandatory haircut? because maybe that would give them away. nothing longer than a buzzcut?

... probably not. )

I think that might be difficult. ( but they've got to have some way of discerning them that won't be suspicious. ) But I'm sure we'll meet them soon! They wanted us here, right?

( that just sounds like they're waiting to meet others, doesn't it? ha...ha... )

Right. [Rei takes a swig of the drink the bartender puts down beside him, coming up with a sigh. He stands there a while, just watching the scenery of the club around them.

A loud cheer goes up as the nearest stripper show reaches its climax. As if he was waiting for it Rei leans close to speak right at Izumi's ear, using the noise as a cover for the necessity.]

Let's split up briefly to case the area. Find whoever looks the most uncomfortable. Since they're new, I bet the top brass'll be hesitant to let them do a private show and expose their inexperience. So we'll have to do a little acting to press them into it.

[He leans away again as the noise dies down, clearly having too much fun with this.]

You all right with that, Lady Director?

( she has... many questions about just what Rei does outside of his performance / cafe venue business, because he takes this way too easily. even if he is a regular at a place like this (no judgement intended), he acts like he does this all the time.

he's a confusing man, suffice to say, but that's a puzzle for another day. right now she needs to focus on what's going on here.

and, in the great tradition of improv drills, the right answer is always; )

Sure. ( but... just give her a second, she needs the bartender to turn back to a new customer; ) Do you think they might be, um, cheaper to hire? ( that might be a quicker option, and she's taking a semi-educated guess that a place like this charges more for a more experienced stripper. what business doesn't work that way? it's why it keeps costing more for her to get a haircut. )

You're worried about costs? [Smart girl. Still, he has to laugh.] That Sakyo-kun's got a long reach, doesn't he.

[Rei downs the remainder of his drink, slides the glass to the bartender, and stands up from his lean against the bar.]

All right. Gonna make the rounds. [He throws her a wink-- whether it's in a flirty manner or a conspiratorial one is hard to tell. Ah, plausible deniability.] Meet back here in a bit.

( ... well, that wasn't her logic, but he isn't exactly wrong about Sakyo-san's reach. it's hard not to keep money in mind when you've had 10 million yen held over your head for a straight year. )

Ah... ( he's a weird one. she'll just down the drink before offering a small smile to the bartender. thankfully, they don't question anything as she pushes her glass over and heads in the other direction.

who looks uncomfortable... well. she's pretty sure she does, wandering through a strip club with her hands slid in her pockets, trying to look casual. but who looks like she feels...?

hm? that blond guy. he definitely looks suspicious. jerky in his movements, eyes casting all over the place like an actor who's forgotten his lines. blond hair, brown eyes, tall and buff. he's classically handsome, the kind of man she'd probably cast as a knight in a play, someone who might cause her to fluster if he approached her in a bar.

seems like a good candidate for their rescue mission to her. )

[The candidate Izumi laid eyes upon is in fact a knight! It looks like he's on waiter duty while the pole's occupied; a notepad too small for him is clutched nervously in one hand, and the apron tied at his hips is the largest piece of fabric on his person.

As he comes closer he notices Izumi's gaze, and puts on the best service expression he can manage.]

Can I-- get you anything? [God please help him]

( oh.

oh boy... she can feel her ears going red as he approaches. dammit. next time she says yes to questing, it is going to be a far less embarrassing one.

but she's here now. and she has a job to do. just play the part. surely this will be less stressful than trying to convince Sakyo not to destroy Mankai Company. )

Uh! ( riGHT. words. there's a reason she's a director and not an actor. ) I, um, wanted to ask you for a private dance!

( god swallow her whole here and now thanks.

and just what is Rei-san up to? )

M-Me? [The poor knight immediately looks as uncomfortable as Izumi feels. Izumi's acting is at least good enough to pass as a(n embarrassed) genuine customer, rather than a fake.] Uh, I'm sorry... I'm kind of on my waitstaff shift, and...

What's that? You're not turning down my princess's request, are you?

[Rei reappears beside Izumi without much warning. He draws her easily into his side with a hand around her shoulder, standing eye to eye with the poor knight.]

I thought this was the top spot in all of Avalon, but they can't even accommodate customers? What's going on here?

[They're the same height, but the confidence with which Rei stands there is completely at odds with their target's massive discomfort.]

W-Well... [Mr. Knight does NOT want to be here. Gods.] I...I'll go ask my boss.

[Is it really okay for a knight to be this easily intimidated? He's out of his element, sure, but... He scurries off to find a manager, leaving them alone for a moment.

OH BOY]

( well, that's good. at least she wasn't so hammy as to blow their covers immediately. though the fact that she stiffen up noticeably when Rei appears and grabs her might set off alarm bells if there's anyone more observant than this knight around.

(which is a pretty weird thing. she'd think a knight would have to have a sharp wit and pair of eyes on him, but maybe it's the stress of everything getting to him?) )

Thank you!

( manners cost nothing, okay? but as soon as he's gone, she ducks out of Rei's grasp and looks around. )

Did you find anyone else?

( one target is good. but she'd really like to get all the knights out if they can. )

Yeah, one more. [He actually found a knight he knew, funnily enough; she'd bought an untethered phone from him for dark web purposes. That made for an easy rescue explanation, at least. ] She's waiting in the private room we rented.

[Rented with whose money, you ask? Don't worry about it.]

Uh oh. [The male knight did in fact go fetch his manager; they're approaching now, looking stern and clearly fey.] Look sharp, "sweetheart."

[ACT FOR YOUR LIFE GIRL]

( that works. the relief of added success — and success that apparently came much easier for Rei than it did Izumi (unfair, and yet somehow that tracks) — does enough to gloss over the concern she probably should have about that money, but it definitely isn't hers (given that most of that goes towards theatre, rent and curry spices).

besides, any worry to be had is quickly replaced by the more immediate concern of the manager approaching. ugh, she should have known better than to do a quest that was going to rely so heavily on her acting.

so it's a good thing she's just flustered and embarrassed enough that she continues to pass for a first timer who doesn't really know what she's doing. )

Oh, h-hello! ( smile, Izumi. just because you're kidnapping kidnapped employees doesn't mean you shouldn't be polite about it. ) You must be the, um, manager, right?

( oh boy, this fae looks like they could step on both of them and wipe the goop off their shoe without so much as blinking. that's great. )

[The manager gives them both a once over, taking in the sight of the two of them with bored eyes. They don't respond directly to Izumi's greeting, raising their dry voice above the din of the crowd around them.]

He's busy. Pick someone else.

Well that won't do. [Rei's tone matches the fey's, stern and sour.] I promised my princess she could have whoever she wanted. And she's already decided on that one. Right?

[time to put up a fuss. go izumi go]

( oh boy. well, between the restless, nervous energy and the flush on her cheeks, Izumi's resulting attempts at pouting and huffing are... something.

whether they're a good something or not is another question entirely. )

Y-yep. This is supposed to be a celebration. How can we celebrate if everything isn't perfect?

( hmph.

and then; )

This is something we should put in a review.

Ugh... [Izumi's acting might not be top shelf, but the mention of a Review still deepens the creases between the fey's eyebrows. Normally this kind of thing would be easy to laugh off, but they've already gotten so much bad press from ALLEGEDLY stealing the knights, AND from said knights' lack of practice in the job.... that is just one problem too many for poor(?) management. That, and the still-dangerous look in Rei's eyes lending credit to the little director's claims...]

Oh, fuck's sake. Fine. [EXASPERATED, the fey rolls their eyes and throws up their hands. Not very professional, but they're really at their limit here.] I'll send him to your room. Go and wait.

[The fey turns on their heel and stalks off to collect the knightly gentleman. HURDLE CLEARED! SOMEHOW!!!]

( it takes all of Izumi's self-control not to sag with relief the second she hears the word fine, but she keeps herself straight-backed and looking as serious as it is possible for her to look in this situation.

(let's be real here, Rei is like, 95% of this intimidation game, because Izumi really does look two degrees from a college student who accidentally took the wrong turn and ended up here instead of at a bar.)

but, as soon as the fey is out of sight, she chances a quick, happy smile at Rei. they're almost there! )

Well. Shall we?

( they better play along for a few more minutes, and then they can work on a plan of action to get everyone out safe and sound.

that bit? that bit is probably even more terrifying than simply standing up to the manager. )

[Aww. Izumi-tan is so cute. Rei grins back, just as pleased.]

We shall.

[Luckily, Izumi doesn't need to keep up her act for long, as they're shown the way to a private room with little fuss. They're left alone for only a short time, enough to get a small look around the room-- there's a small changing corner sectioned off, a little performance area with a pole, luxurious couches, a security camera, and a small window-- before there's a knock at the door.

The hapless knight they'd fought to hire enters sheepishly, followed by a tall, wiry woman who looks much less embarrassed as she closes the door behind them. She must be the knight Rei had corralled.

The male knight speaks first, scratching the back of his head.]

Um... I'm sorry. I didn't think you were, um... [Rescuers......................]

( that's a lot to take in. while she knows, logically, what kind of things await in rooms like this, seeing them is something entirely different and Izumi has to remind herself not to look around with the wide eyes of a startled deer as she enters. just a quick glance at each thing.

ugh... security camera. there's no sign it can record sound, but then again, this place is filled with magic. )

W-we're here to... hire you! ( that was terrible, Izumi, and gosh is it just her throat or is it really dry in here?

probably just her throat.

well, here goes nothing. her fingers seek out Rei's coat, tugging at it as subtly as she can to alert him to the quick bit of illusion magic she attempts to pull off that can hopefully cloak them all from the camera.

it isn't very well thought out, all things considered. people don't just enter a room for a private dance and vanish, even in magic worlds. )

— closed.

— sasara.

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— rei.

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god the mental image of what they must look like side by side fucking kills me

OPENS PHOTOSHOP

yells

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adheres jester's cap permanently to my head

cursed cursed cursed

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teeeempted to throw her at his open log sobs

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— closed.

— sasara.

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— rei.

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god the mental image of what they must look like side by side fucking kills me

*OPENS PHOTOSHOP*

yells

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adheres jester's cap permanently to my head

cursed cursed cursed

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teeeempted to throw her at his open log sobs

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OPENS PHOTOSHOP