Can't Fight the Friction

[vonspielburg]

WHO: Ellie, Malik [CLOSED]
WHAT: Sneaking into Downapolis, Ellie and Malik go undercover to learn what they can about the cultists who massacred so many Heroes of Light. They're super spies.
WHEN: April 1st - 7th (opening log takes place on the 1st)
WHERE: Downapolis


Ellie took comfort in the fact that it was common for Elezens to walk about in leather and light armor, and to carry arms as well. It made her feel less exposed in the dark city streets of Elezen, with her dyed white hair and false pointed ears. Before coming to this place, she'd grilled Malik on everything he could remember about the people here, how they dressed, any particular mannerisms and tics they possessed. To her surprise, he was thorough, and that impressed her. Initially she'd feared that his missing arm would give him away immediately, but he'd spoken true about his ability to blend into a crowd without notice.

For her part, she remained discrete as well. If the opportunity presented itself to demonstrate her detestment of the Heroes of Light, she would have taken it, but so far she'd had to do little more than sit, drink, and listen. There was time still to learn what they needed.

Cradling a bag of groceries in her arm, Ellie ascended the steps of the inn to find her 'brother.' Posing as lovers would have been an obvious lie, as she knew she was too hard to be even a little believable as a romantic. They were here to peddle pelts, horns, and other items garnered from their hunts on the Plains of Sorrow, as well as trade information on the world outside of Mysidia now that the barrier was down.

Unlocking their room, Ellie stepped inside, her dark eyes doing a cursory sweep over the room before she stepped inside to greet Malik.

"Brother," she said with a curt nod, mimicking the Elezen accent, and shut the door behind her. Ellie sat heavily on the bed and dug into the bag to bring out a pair of apples, one of which she tossed to her companion. "Your information was good. I encountered no difficulties." And no suspicion, thus far.

Comments

[loyalrebel]

"Of course it was, Sister." He replied smoothly, catching the apple easily enough and setting it on the small table he was sitting at.

His own disguise matches hers; hair colored the same white and his clean shaven face makes him look a few years younger. The light cloak he'd been wearing out in town to cover his missing arm is draped over his chair, though he's still wearing most of his own light armor. It likely won't come off for longer than strictly necessary until they return to their fellow Heroes.

"Any luck in finding buyers for our spoils?" Malik asked with careful casualness. He may be paranoid in it, but he's going with the assumption that they're being listened to and watched no matter how alone they may seem. A certain amount of innuendo and code a layer of safety he's hoping they can hold up.

"I have been looking over our finances and we cannot afford to stay here long without them."

In other words, they need to find the cult as quickly as reasonably possible and get out without being discovered.

[vonspielburg]

His reflexes were sharp. She was impressed enough that a crooked smirk turned up the left corner of her mouth. Having only one arm did not seem to have inconvenienced him as much as she might have previously believed.

"Oh? That is troubling," she frowned. "There are others I would ask, in order to find the best prices. But if you believe our purses to be at risk, I will hasten my efforts."

She wondered if they'd aroused any suspicion already. Ellie was prone to believe this might be the case. Using money as an indication of how long they could safely remain in the city had been a good idea, one she'd keep for later use she was sure.

"I'll try some of the pubs. A merchant would surely elevate the price, so I may have better luck approaching future buyers directly. What about you, Ifert?"

She pronounced it the way an Elezen would, making the T silent, but there still remained a mischievous little glimmer in her eyes that said she wanted to say it a very different way indeed.

[loyalrebel]

"Our purses are always at risk." He grumbled, standing and stretching before pacing to the window.

"Ever since those thrice damned Heroes showed up, there is less and less profit for us." He sighed, leaning against the frame and looking at the street below. There's a vaguely amused and challenging quirk to his eyebrows at the glitter in her eyes. "I could accompany you, though there are a few locations I may check up on if you would rather your brother not glare at people making eyes at you."

[vonspielburg]

She made a short huff somewhere between annoyance and amusement, leaning back on her hands as she shook her head. "Honestly, brother, such things don't happen half as often as you seem to believe." Ellie even rolled her eyes to add flavor to the playful banter that she believed was natural for two siblings to have. Or half-siblings, as far as their cover story went.

"But I wouldn't be opposed, if that is your wish. The two of us together may be more convincing salesmen than if I were to haggle alone. We will have to choose our actions based upon how we are received."

Which was true either way. She was used to improvising on the fly, if necessary, but definitely preferred going in with at least some outline of a plan. "Intimidate if the buyer seems stubborn, but if he is friendly to me, I would ask that your knives stay in their sheaths, and not in his skull. I want to have at least some fun while we're here."

That part was a lie. Fun was the last thing she wanted while on a mission.

[loyalrebel]

"But putting knives in their skulls is fun, especially when they deserve it." He teased back. "And just because you do not notice their eyes does not mean they are not looking at you."

The waiting is always the hardest part of a mission, though it will be another day or so before he starts getting truly restless.

"A drink sounds like a good idea, especially if we are to find any of your fun around here."

By fun he means a lead on the cult beyond what little they already have.

[vonspielburg]

"Ha! I believe you compliment my appearance because we share the same blood, and similar features. Thus, does it not become a compliment to you as well?" she teased with an idle wave of her hand before dropping it to her knee. She tapped her finger in thought for a few moments, then nodded. A trip to the bar might work. Alcohol had a tendency to loosen tongues, after all.

"Very well," she agreed. "If they have an uncorked bottle of Elezen wine, perhaps I might indulge." But like hell was she going to drink anything out of a glass in this town. As far as she knew, no one was suspicious of them, but there had to be ways to detect the presence of Heroes. Ellie remembered all too well how easily Palitutu had found her, despite being hidden, and disabled her Jobs.

She pushed herself up off of the mattress with a creak of springs and stretched out her arms. Look what she can do, Malik, you can only do that with one HA HA HA HA HA.

"We should at least try not to start any bar fights this time, hm?"

[loyalrebel]

Oh no, no wine for you. You get clingly on wine, sister." He half laughs, teasing her right back and standing to swing his cloak up and on to cover his missing arm

"I promise nothing I cannot keep, if someone else swings first I must defend myself after all." Which really, he's apt to goad someone in to one given the likelihood that it might help their cause. "Lead the way dear sister, you have the nose for such places."

[vonspielburg]

"Clingy!" Her mouth fell open in shock as she echoed the insult. "What an awful accusation to make. I most certainly do not get clingy!" Ellie folded her arms and tossed her head with an indignant huff. Had he said as much in reality, she wouldn't have been needled, but feigning a quick temper would make her seem more impulsive and less intelligent...and thus, more easily underestimated, if they were indeed being watched.

"Hmph. You force them to take the first swing. I know you all to well, brother." She smiled at him slyly over her shoulder before tightening the buckles of her weapon sheaths hanging from her belt. "Do try to keep the property damage to a minimum. We are still guests in this city, remember."

Ellie opened the door with a mocking little bow as she made a motion for Malik to step through first. She suspected someone would surely attempt to force entry into their room while they were gone, if they had the poor misfortune to fall under suspicion so soon, and she'd made sure spies would find only what the two of them wanted to be found.

The bar itself was more dismal and solemn than Ellie anticipated. Most kept to themselves, drinking sullenly and casting suspicious glances at the door. The bartender bit every coin he was passed. The most noise game from the bangaa dicing in the corner, banging steins of foul-smelling liquor with shouts of triumph and camaraderie.

Ellie regarded that particular table coolly, as if the two Elezen were above such things, before selecting a stool to perch upon.