[ CLOSED ] The Buck Stops Here

[sulahnan]

WHO: Athessa, Bastien, Byerly, Colin, Deimos, Flint, Raas, Thranduil, Yseult
WHAT: Revenge for past trauma reveals a sinister plot
WHEN: The Month of Guardian (aka now)
WHERE: The Gallows and Hightown, Kirkwall in general
NOTES: CW: This plot deals with sexual assault, revenge, and murder. Mostly the aftermath of the assault, no graphic descriptions that I can foresee, but be cautious. Opting out and hand-waving is fine.

By and large, the beginning of the month of Guardian in Kirkwall is unremarkable. Business as usual, even with the ever increasing cost of sugar, coffee, and tea. But for the inhabitants of Lowtown, it comes with signs that their waking nightmares persist.

For the past few months of winter, Lowtown locals have been whispering about a rash of murders and disappearances among the Alienages. Deaths previously attributed to exposure to the harsh winter weather are rumored to be far more insidious; some have claimed that they noticed wounds on the bodies as they were being disposed of, but any attempts to bring this information to the City Guard have been met with indifference or empty platitudes.

Less widely noted, and harder to attach to a pattern, are the instances of working girls being hired to entertain at private functions and coming back...different. Or not at all. To the average person, it’s barely even news, but to anyone who spends time in the brothels and listens to the chatter within, it’s clear that these are not isolated incidents, nor are they without concern.

While the alleged murders in Lowtown have no clear culprit and thus are blamed on anyone from random strangers to demons and Crows, the goings-on at the brothels go hand-in-hand with mention of one name in particular: Devigny.

Comments

[bouchonne]

[ His lips thin. ]

I could have you removed to the dungeon for the duration of this investigation.

[sulahnan]

[ Finally, she looks at him. She's called this bluff before. ]

Then do it.

[bouchonne]

[ But did she ever call it on someone as stubborn and bullheaded as a Fereldan with his blood up? Byerly makes to rise. Hopefully, Colin will intervene with some good sense. ]

[keenly]

[Colin reaches out to catch Byerly's arm, eyes darting between the two of them again.]

You believed me when I said I could handle Lutair. Athessa's just asking you to believe her now.

[sulahnan]

[ With considerable effort, she relaxes her hands and nods slowly. ]

I can do this. [ Even if she can't, she has to. She won't be able to live with herself if she simply hands the problem off to someone else and has nothing further to do with it. ]

[bouchonne]

[ But. A muscle jumps in Byerly's jaw as he looks to Colin. ]

The situations are not the same. You were far beyond Lutair's control when we went for him. This man has connections, power in this city - safety isn't a promise here.

[keenly]

The situation is different, [Colin agrees. His eyes turn to Athessa.] So is the person in the thick of it. She's stronger than me, quicker and more ruthless. And if you don't give her the opportunity you gave me, she'll wonder about it all her life. Please.

[sulahnan]

Who gives a fuck about safety if we don't do the right thing because it's not guaranteed?

[ Sure, she might want to be safe from Devigny, but it's not her own safety she's worried about at this point. She's not the same person she was at 15, and if there's even a slim chance that she's the only survivor who has the power to do something about any of this, she has to take it. ]

And we're not talking about taking him to court. He might have connections but they can do fuck-all for him if he's dead.

[bouchonne]

[ A jerk upwards of his chin. ]

Precisely, we're not talking about taking him to court. Colin, you were the only one who was able to do what you did. [ A small gesture towards Colin. But, to Athessa: ] Any hand can slit a throat.

[keenly]

Including hers. [But she's also incredibly likely to act on emotion instead of the agreed-upon plan. Colin lets out a breath.]

We need a plan. Once we have a plan, we can work out whether or not she fits into it, or what part she plays.

[sulahnan]

[ Athessa sighs and crosses her arms, falling back into pacing. Yes, she is likely to act on emotion rather than the plan, but she's also currently driven by a need to prove herself. ]

[bouchonne]

[ A pause, and then he settles back into his chair. ]

All right. Tell me about your plan.

[keenly]

[He hesitates.]

I just said, 'We need a plan.' I mean, neither of us are any good at those. It's why we came to you. You're brilliant at them.

[sulahnan]

I'm much better at rushing in without one, so if you'd rather we take that course...

[ Heavy-handed, over-acted, but the point stands even as she takes one purposeful step towards the door. ]

[bouchonne]

You're a damned poor liar.

[ But the threat is understood. By lets out a breath and rubs his lips. Somehow, there's nothing more terrifying than being told he's brilliant. Has that word ever been used to refer to him before? He would be quite content if he never heard it again. ]

We need intelligence. From professionals. I need to reach out to Yseult.

[keenly]

[Byerly hates it when he compliments him, hates it when he insults him, hates it when he apologizes for insulting him...]

There's no time. Could we go in, let the girl out, and capture Devigny when he comes back?

[sulahnan]

Is this even Riftwatch's jurisdiction?

[ She is the worst liar, yes. Unfortunately her bard training only just started, and they started with other skills. ]

[bouchonne]

Are we worried about jurisdiction now?

[ Then, speaking into the crystal, he calls Yseult's name. The question of no time - it sends terror through him once more. But he cannot let terror rule him. ]

[keenly]

[Colin opens his mouth to protest again that there is no time, but once it's decided for them, he reaches out to take Athessa's hand to keep her from bolting off.]

[sulahnan]

[ Normally Athessa wouldn't give a damn about jurisdiction, but she was very firmly told not to bother Yseult with any antics and a breach in jurisdiction kind of seems like it'd qualify, regardless of whether or not it was the right thing to do.

When Colin takes her hand, she gives what she hopes is a reassuring nod and pats his arm with her other hand before she takes up a position by the window. ]

crystal

[hassaran]

[ Yseult answers promptly but sounds distracted, the faint scratch of a pen maybe audible in the background. ]

What is it?

[bouchonne]

[ Its a rare day: Byerly doesn't waste any time with simpering or flattery or pretense. He simply says, bluntly: ]

There is a man in Hightown who is abusing women in truly abominable ways. Athessa has witnessed exactly what this entails. It is my judgment that we need to infiltrate and stop him at once, as he currently holds a woman captive.

I am requesting your support.

[hassaran]

[ The pen stops, there is a shift of paper, and then it begins again. But she speaks over it, more brisk, more focused. ]

First, who he is, and where are you?

[bouchonne]

[ Briskly, in order: ] A man named Devigny. You may have heard the name from some of your agents - he's been the talk of the town for a few weeks now.

Currently in my office. With Colin and Athessa.

[hassaran]

Oh. [ She had imagined him standing in the street somewhere about to scale a fence or climb in a window or something. ] A moment.

[ She knocks once as she lets herself in, pulling the cuffs of her sweater back down so she can cross her arms. (Not skeptical, just cold, and settling in.) ]

I've heard the name Devigny lately but little of relevance. Nothing about holding women captive. Where is your information from?