[Closed Network] A Series of Direct Messages to Characters

[butterfly_kiss]

[OOC: This is basically the equivalent of sending to character inboxes, including security level, and may move to in person conversations. The point is to unify it all so people can see what Tae is doing. If you want her to reach out lmk Here. Each character she's reaching out to has a thread below.]

Comments

[butterfly_kiss]

Red fruit based alcohol. It's already an inherently intoxicating fruit, but the flavors through the process of converting the rest of the fruit to alcohol leads to a lovely bouquet.

[Yes, she knows alcohol.]

[faceguy]

[Leo does not, so all of that didn’t mean much to him. But he still looks curious.]

Well maybe I’ll have some too, if it’s so good.

[butterfly_kiss]

[She raises an eyebrow at him at the suggestion.]

How old are you?

[faceguy]

[. . .]

Twenty-one.

[Not even close, but he says it with confidence!]

[butterfly_kiss]

[Not even close. But she shrugs and sighs and waves toward the bar.]

I don't do hangover cures.

[faceguy]

[Whoa, she's just going to let him get away with that? Well, Leo won't complain.]

I won't get hungover from one drink, come on!

[Actually he has no idea, he's never had alcohol before. But he'll go find the bottle she poured from and a fresh glass.

Once he has his drink he comes over and sits down.]

What'd you wanna talk about?

[butterfly_kiss]

[She snorts at that. She's known people who have. He doesn't know what will and won't happen.]

We need to talk about those boys that tried to kill your brother. It's time to start acting. I'm gathering resources to help you and Donnie. But I can't safely communicate that to him. I worry about being overheard.

[faceguy]

…Yeah. He told me you had a plan. Or were trying to come up with one.

[He looks a little hesitant, but he’s open to talking.]

I think we can talk here. Cayde’s cool.

[butterfly_kiss]

Definitely in the trying stage. And yes, I think we can too.

[Cayde did help her steal something. So she trusts him.]

The plan we're working on involves sedating the boys, whoever we can find. But we need bait, and people quick to spring the trap. I need Donnie's help refining some chemistry. And I'm hoping your desire to protect him means you have the skill to back it up.

[She hasn't seen Leo in action after all.]

[faceguy]

[Sedating them, huh? Leo has no idea how to feel about that, at least in the sense of how well he thinks it will work. He has no ethical objections.]

My skills are fine. [His tone is flat.] Why? Are you using one of us as the bait?

[butterfly_kiss]

Not one of you, at all. I need people to protect the bait. People who can defend themselves and stay out of sight. Given what little I know of you and the sorts of things you and your brother learned your skills from, the movies, I was hoping you might be willing to assist.

[And if she knew about the portals, she might want his help on administering the sedative.]

[faceguy]

[Leo hesitates at that, but then he nods.]

Well, we're ninjas, so we're good at out of sight. [In theory...] And we can defend ourselves. He has his magic-tech and I have my portals.

[butterfly_kiss]

Yes I saw the effects of the-

[Wait, no. back up. What was that other thing.]

Your whats?

[faceguy]

My portals.

[Leo unsheathes one of the swords from behind his shell and gives it a flick through the air. A shimmering blue portal opens under his drink, it's mate opening in the air just above Leo's hand. Leo catches his drink as it falls through.]

See? They let me teleport just about anything just about anywhere - guhck-

[He tried to be cool by punctuating that statement with a sip of his drink, but he's never actually had alcohol before, and it's clear from his reaction the taste was not what he was expecting.]

[butterfly_kiss]

[Oh no. Tae was going to be impressed but now she's trying not to chuckle. Because that was a whole thing.]

Well, Leo [oh god not laughing is so hard], it could be very useful to have that, yes. To help us protect York if we can get him to agree.

[faceguy]

[Leo coughs and splutters, putting the cup down, and he manages a little bit of a glare - don't laugh!

But once he can talk again, he clears his throat.]

York? He didn't sound super happy about trying to confront those guys on his own when I talked to him. Kinda seems like he hates us "organics" too.

[butterfly_kiss]

[Oh, she's not laughing. Yet. It's just so difficult not to.]

But he wouldn't be on his own. And he doesn't hate me.

[faceguy]

Ah, well, good for you.

[Leo huffs, picking up his drink again. He takes a more cautious sip this time, curling his lip after he swallows it.]

I'll have to talk to Donnie, but odds are he'll say yes.

[butterfly_kiss]

[Yes, she has found it beneficial. For someone with a surly manner at times, she was building good connections.]

Good. I'm glad to hear it. Here.

[She produces a piece of paper from her pocket and slides it over. A map of the hospital, with a room on the third floor marked.]

Where we can meet and leave messages without them being seen. I want to be cautious.

[faceguy]

[He takes the paper and looks at it, then crams it away into the side pouch hanging off his gear.]

Got it. Are we good?

[butterfly_kiss]

Yes. Thank you.

[She smiles and sips her beverage again.]

Thank you for letting me help you both, even if I am coming to it late.

[faceguy]

Yeah, well... [He takes another sip of his own. At least he's stopped reacting so strongly.] Thanks for listening eventually, I guess.

[It's something.]

[butterfly_kiss]

[She nods.]

My apologies for that. You both deserved better.

[faceguy]

...Yeah.

[Leo won't argue with her there. He does swivel so he can get out of his chair.]

I just hope catching these guys helps Dee get his confidence back.

[butterfly_kiss]

[Get his confidence back? Tae looks so surprised.]

His intelligence is quite high and he makes things to try and solve problems here. I think he should be confident. But I am sorry her has not.