[handmaiden of unsheathed swords] voice posted:

[darkeststars]

This is Darth Imperius. I will be brief.

By now you've presumably all heard the details of Karsa's proposal. I don't have her ability to block out extra ears, so if you haven't, take it up directly with her.

I intend to organize our half of this operation. Some of you have already told me you're coming, but I would like a count of heads to know the size of our force and what skills we'll have at our disposal. We will likely be taking point on the more dangerous part of this op, so if you cannot fight, stay home. I will speak with you all about the schedule in person and deliver a full briefing on the day of.

Any actionable details or useful intelligence are welcome, preferably not over the quartz. Bai Mingyu or Eleven generally know where to find me.


[ Anyone is welcome. If you already signed up OOCly to participate, feel free to assume your character volunteered offscreen rather than replying here. Arche will be delivering info about scheduling and operational plans to everybody offscreen for players' convenience.

I will have to pause tags on this at some point but I'll be back tomorrow (Sunday)! ]

Comments

un: anglicized

[descendency]

You're really upset about the boat name.

[darkeststars]

Hilarious.

I presume the defenseless courtesan is staying home.

[descendency]

I'm just saying. You didn't start throwing the dramatic title around until the boat edged in on your territory.

I intend to be there, so please do keep an eye out for us helpless civilians aiding your efforts Darth Imperious.

action;

[bearshermark]

[Per Archeval's request, Eleven elects to seek him out rather than chat through the quartz. He brings with him a pair of mugs filled with warm broth, and holds one out for Archeval]

So ah, I likely should have asked before now, but I know you can heal yourself. ..Can you also heal others?

[darkeststars]

[ there's a long silence from the other end of the line that cuts through their usual bickering. ]

...........you do?

un: dulcet dove of sighed surrender

[topoiran]

I perhaps could be of some assistance, but I would prefer to tell how in person.

Just in case.

[darkeststars]

[ oh, a new voice. ]

Only wise.

Can you meet me out and about in the city, or should I find you at our gathering place?

[darkeststars]

[ he's at Mingyu's a lot right at the moment, so -- mind if he waves a guest into the corner of your quarters, Mingyu? No? Yes? Too bad, he's doing it anyway. He'll courteously make sure he's not walking in on any of your clients, though. Arche will find them both seats to plop down in, accepting the mug with a look of vague surprise. From the pink in his cheeks and his wind-mussed hair, he's certainly spent some time out in the cold today. ]

How long did you carry these around looking for me?...

I can, though, yes. I would even call it something of a specialty. [ giving a wry sort of frown ] I would guess it's probably not as pleasant as what you can do, but I know a great deal about knitting injuries and extending life. For most common galactic species, anyway. [ stopping to give a thoughtful hum for a second as he raises the mug to his lips ] From what I've seen the majority of our number seem to be humans, so with any luck that won't be an issue.

[topoiran]

I can find you in the city, yes.

[darkeststars]

Perfect. Please speak to Eleven, he can tell you a spot to find me in. I will be waiting.

[ for expediency, though: Eleven will almost certainly direct Xunxian to a wide alleyway near a common tavern, not the most pleasant but relatively inconspicuous. Likely not the sort of place Xunxian would normally be caught dead in, but then again, who knows (certainly not the person writing this tag, whoops).

Right at the spot where the shadow of the neighboring building falls over the tavern wall, there's a fairly skinny boy dressed in black leaned against it, examining some papers. ]

[bearshermark]

[He smiles, a touch guilty that he doesn't have a third. Although, neither does he have three hands]

Well, it's still a little warm anyway.

[He takes a sip while Archeval explains and nods. He'd expected as much- the unpleasantness- and offers a silent prayer that he'll never be so injured as to need to find out what it feels like]

That's good, then. We don't know how well the captives will have been treated, but I'm sure at least some of them will need healed. We're the only ones I know of so far..

[darkeststars]

Mm. Just make sure you prioritize, yes? [ giving El a pointed look ] We do what we must to keep everyone on their feet, and the rest we deal with after we're all out. Can't have you running yourself ragged and collapsing because you squeezed too much out of that bleeding heart of yours.

[ he takes a long sip of his own mug, giving a brief, contented little sigh as the still pleasantly-warm broth goes down. Seems like maybe he's let his guard down, just a little. ]

un: heart-fluttering hummingbird

[downswing]

You have me.


( Very forward from a pseudo-married man, he knows.. )

voice

[darkeststars]

[ Scandalous. Luckily, he's taken twice over. ]

Roger that.

[bearshermark]

[Eleven's eyes drop, sheepish]

They're probably going to be bound in some way and I don't imagine we'll have the keys to free them with.

[He flashes a quick grin]

But run myself ragged after we get the captives somewhere safe- understood.

[darkeststars]

[ he gives Eleven an eyebrow-raised Look for a moment before reaching over to attempt to mercilessly flick him on the nose. ]

[bearshermark]

[It's half-laugh, half indignant as he bats him away] Ow.

[He massages the end of his nose for a moment, still grinning] Alright, I'll try to conserve my energy- but I can't promise if they need a lot of care.

audio

[downswing]

( Given the man's penchant for irritation, best to suit and mirror him as much as one can: )

You trust our instructors?

[darkeststars]

[ gosh, Wangji, how accommodating of you. Arche doesn't say anything one way or another about it, but is certainly noting the sound of your voice and will continue sharing his for future reference. ]

Karsa and her crew? Not particularly. [ dryly ] But she's been honest enough in her general disdain for us, so I can work with that. I trust at least in her desire to have the foreigners out of her city, so betraying us to those who would likely send us all back to be slaughtered by the warlord is not in her best interest.

[downswing]

They spoke little of what they seek.

[darkeststars]

Frankly, I didn't ask. I was already going on this operation with or without them. That the locals decided to show up in the right place at the right time is merely a welcome bonus. If we will be covering some ulterior action of theirs with this, honestly, more power to them.

Or do you have some suspicion in particular of their designs against us?

[darkeststars]

[ rolling his eyes with another long-suffering sigh ] I suppose I won't get better from you than that, so it will have to do.

But yes, cutting bonds won't be a problem. Depending on their numbers, I suppose the rate at which I can cut them might be. [ frowning ] Though perhaps Karsa is taking measures for that too. A great deal of this op is going to depend on conditions on the ground when we get there, I fear.

[bearshermark]

[He shrugs, settling. That's right; Archeval's lightsaber could likely cleave through even metal bonds]

She's providing rose quartz and intends to head a distraction. I think that's all we can plan for. We should probably be among the first few to sneak in so you can start freeing them while I look for anyone that needs healing to aid their escape.

[downswing]

I bring no evidence.

( Then, he may rest silent. )

[descendency]

Have you some protest to my presence?