un: moonage daydream (text) about 24 hours after shen qingqiu and eleven's arrest

[lancifolium]

You've all already seen the message from Shen Qingqiu about how he and Eleven have been arrested, so I will skip the redundancies.

Wei Wuxian, Five, and I have been able to piece together that they were taken by Rigarda due to the failed weapons shipment they were tasked with last month, we've learned that the two of them and the weapons will be sent out of the city eastward to be delivered to the undead lords meant to be appeased on Taravast's behalf.

Given the chaos in the city at present, the suspicious eyes on our group, and the very heavy fortifications of Rigarda's mansion, we've decided to disguise ourselves and intercept the shipment of the weapons once it's out of the city. We intend to retrieve Shen Qingqiu and Eleven and flee without leaving any casualties, so the convoy can resume the rest of its delivery.

If anyone has heard anything from or about Eleven and Shen Qingqiu, or if you've got some skill with stunning or otherwise incapacitating people while in a rush, your help would be appreciated. We need to be as discrete as possible and do what we can so that our actions go unnoticed, I have no desire to end up in prison as well.

Otherwise, if you don't mind - if asked we were with you the whole time.

Comments

[ambitiousblond]

I'll see you shortly then.

[It takes some navigating and asking a passing servant for directions but Rufus manages to get to the library.

There doesn't seem to be anyone but he's still careful as he looks around. The Merchant had been nice enough to give him clothes so he wouldn't stand out in bright white but he's still cautious. The last thing he needs is to make a target of himself.]

[somebadnews]

[ Five didn't plan on coming back here until they were done, but he can't really ignore this. The Merchant wouldn't get involved if he was only interested in saving a couple of them from being executed. And he'd be betting that they'd be too curious to go on without seeing what he sent their way. It bothers him that he hasn't pinned down his motives, but now he has someone who has had direct contact with him.

Fortunately, being able to teleport keeps from throwing him too far off schedule. He blinks just outside the door of the library, takes one look around, then enters to find it blissfully empty but for someone he easily places as the man he spoke to. He does seem like someone the Merchant would be drawn to.

Five keeps his hands in his pockets and wanders over, craning his neck up as he steps in front of him. ]

You have a delivery for me?

[ambitiousblond]

It depends on who you are. But forgive me, I must have missed your name earlier.

[Rufus raises his eyebrows at Five, someone who seemed to be a child but there was something more there. Still, he's not going to just hand over the wood box of small explosives which sat by him.

One had already been safely tucked away for future use, one could never know when having something explosive would come in handy.]

But yes, I'm here to help with a rescue mission that seems the Merchant has taken an interest in. Your friends must be very important for him to send me here.

[somebadnews]

Number Five. Lily sent me.

[ He didn't catch his name either, and he gives an expectant pause before he continues. ]

They must be. He's never gone through so many lengths to lend us a hand. Maybe he knows something we don't, hm?

[ And he doesn't buy that this man has no idea what that is after spending any amount of time with the Merchant. It'd be great if he just told him since they are in a bit of a rush here, but he's prepared to draw it out of him if he has to. ]

[ambitiousblond]

It's a pleasure, Five.

[Interesting name but now isn't the time to ask for further details, not when he's leaning his elbow on a box of explosives.]

I'm sure he does. But if your friends are in danger at the moment, sitting around musing on his motives may not be the best use of our time. I'm sure you could use all the help you can get.

[somebadnews]

[ Five eyes the box, and the way he seems to be guarding it like he's waiting for something in exchange for its content. If he wanted to be more aggressive, and if the box was all he was after, he could easily take it from him anyway. For now he only gives him a tight smile and narrows his eyes when he doesn't give his name in return.

He's no less thrilled when the man mistakes them for his friends and implies he's wasting his time asking questions. — Knowing the Merchant and bringing them a mystery gift isn't going to get him out of this. ]

Did he send any instructions, or is he expecting you to come along for the ride?

[ambitiousblond]

I'm coming along for the right at the moment, at least to meet your friends so I can give you all the instructions at once. The Merchant will want to know that his present got to the right people.

[And Rufus was curious to see what this operation entailed. If he was going to be handing out bombs then he wanted to see if any of these people could be potential allies. It was worth at least a bit of his time.]

[somebadnews]

[ His eye twitches slightly when he calls them his 'friends' while suggesting it's too much trouble to repeat himself. ]

I'm the right people. [ He keeps staring, scrutinizing the man for a long moment. It's true that he'll likely take him there in the interest of time, but it's harder to interrogate someone when there's people like Lily hovering around. ] Do you plan on reporting back to him?

[ambitiousblond]

It's the least I can do after this generous gift that he's given.

[It was best to be prepared, at least. Rufus meets Five's gaze, raising his eyebrows. He's been more or less dumped into this, he has no real loyalities yet so he's just going to see where this takes him.]

You don't seem to have much trust in the Merchant.