[ 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

[sulahnan]

[ Almost surprisingly, they are both still there, and Athessa leads the way back into the office, looking first to Byerly, then to Yseult.

And that's about when she reaches the end of her well-behaved composure. ]

Scoutmaster I know I haven't exactly given you reasons to trust me, but I promise this isn't something I would lie about. You'd know if I was, but I--this is--

[keenly]

Don't make a woman suffer just because we got stupid, [Colin says, not exactly finishing for Athessa but giving her a way to avoid blurting out anything she'll regret. And, finally, admitting that lately he hasn't been acting trustworthy, to himself as well as Yseult.]

[hassaran]

[ Yseult lifts a hand to stop them both, and casts a sharp look at Colin for that suggestion, though she's quick to move on. ]

You said you were tracking the guard rota. Tell us what you've learned about his home's defenses.

[sulahnan]

[ She hesitates, thinking about what's most useful in this moment. ]

N...Nothing special that we could see. No bars on the windows, no personal attachment of guards within the house, just the three on patrol outside, in addition to the regular guards that are assigned to Hightown. The footman is old, but not to be underestimated. Devigny [ don't make a face... ] keeps late hours, not all of them at home.

And he dismisses his servants before he has guests. There wasn't a pattern for visitors that we could tell.

[hassaran]

[ Yseult seems faintly surprised. ]

That doesn't sound like much. Have you identified the best ways in and out without being seen by the guards?

[sulahnan]

Our vantage didn't overlook the rear of the estate but it wouldn't be too hard to scale one of the neighboring buildings and duck in through a window. Guards never look up as often as they should.

[hassaran]

[ Yseult nods again. ]

And you have a plan for once you're inside? [ She turns a glance back toward Byerly: ] You've told them about the Tevinter connection? We aren't likely to get two chances to go in undetected.

[bouchonne]

I have not.

[ To Athessa and Colin, with a breath out through his nose: ]

Devigny may have sensitive information that we'll want to get our hands on.

[keenly]

[A glance at Athessa. Hopefully she'll be okay with not killing him.]

There's a kitchen entrance, [he says quietly.] There always is, in fancy houses. Can't have the servants arriving through the same door as the master. I saw it when I was looking for where we could survey him. [A pause, then in a smaller voice and quicker rhythm,] Please don't make me jump between buildings.

[sulahnan]

[ Athessa frowns. ]

What--Tevinter connection?

[bouchonne]

Unclear as of yet.

[ Evasive as ever. ]

[sulahnan]

Okaaay...Well if he has sensitive information...are we talking about information in his head or files to retrieve?

[ Translation: are you saying we can't kill him? ]

We brought this to Byerly to make a plan, because we...well we're shit at planning.

[keenly]

Very shit at planning, [Colin agrees.] I just follow orders.

[sulahnan]

If we only have one shot, shouldn't we take Devigny being out as an opportunity to get in and I dunno... lay a trap or something? Get the girl out, then either get whatever information by raiding his documents or waiting for him to come back and force him to talk?

[ And then kill him. ]

[hassaran]

[ Yseult takes a moment or two to think before replying, brows faintly drawn and gaze focused through the foot of the chair before the desk. ]

It would be best if you can make it look like the girl escaped on her own, and review his papers and copy down anything useful without giving away that they've been touched. That might allow us to continue to watch him and go in again once we know more. If you find that won't work, then make it look like a normal burglary that stumbled upon the girl. We will learn most if we can continue to observe him relatively unawares.

[ After another beat, she adds: ]

It can't just be the two of you. You need a third, at least. [ Over her shoulder to Byerly: ] Or do you plan to join them?

[bouchonne]

[ A slight shake of his head. ]

I am rather conspicuous, of late.

[ He's not very pleased by this development, it sounds. ]

[keenly]

[So who isn't?

Colin's gaze goes distant as he tries to quickly manufacture a list of inconspicuous and sneaky people he knows would be sympathetic and ready to leave on a moment's notice.

It's a short list. He's not really known for his choice of quiet, discreet company.]

Bastien, maybe? [They worked together on a mission, back when Colin was sneaky as well. Colin also has other reasons to trust him that pertain more to Athessa's side of things.]

[sulahnan]

Not-- [ She bites off the rest of that argument, forcing herself to think first.

Does she want Bastien to find out about this this way? No. Does she want to tell him herself? Of course not. Does she want him to find out at all? Not particularly!

But is Bastien the most sensible option for a sneaky mission? Probably. Is he also her handler, trainer, and someone Yseult trusts more than she'd trust Athessa? Also probably. Is he someone Athessa herself trusts to keep her from doing something stupid? Definitely.

She lets out a long breath. ]

Not a bad idea.

[bouchonne]

[ Now there's an idea Byerly likes. The best one he's heard all day. In terms of balancing competence against decency and trustworthiness, Bastien simply can't be beaten. ]

Hm. Maybe.

[ He doesn't want to sound too eager. If he does, Yseult might become suspicious and resist the idea. ]

[hassaran]

Good. [ That's that settled. ] Bastien is in charge. He knows where to find me if he takes issue.

crystal

[sulahnan]

[ With that settled, and the requisite adieus bidden, Athessa takes it upon herself to message Bastien as she and Colin leave the Diplomacy office behind them. ]

Baz, you'd better not be busy because we've got time-sensitive work to do in Hightown tonight.

[cozen]

I am never too busy for time-sensitive work in Hightown, [ Bastien answers, and leaves the plans he will actually be cancelling (or standing someone up for, depending) unmentioned, because what would that do except make Athessa feel bad? Nothing! ] Or for you.

[sulahnan]

[ That last puts a hitch in her step and she has to bite her lip for a moment. ]

How about for Yseult?

[ Maybe if it's that one step removed from being for herself it'll be easier. ]

[keenly]

Just meet us at the ferry immediately. It's just a few minutes till it leaves. We'll explain everything on the way over.

[cozen]

[ Serious work, then—and he does need to delay just a little longer to confirm that he doesn’t need to wear or bring anything in particular—but then he complies readily enough and turns up at the docks without lallygagging. ]