2017-10-15: Alliance in the Night

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<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied has spent the week after the assault on Jolly Roger's shipyard largely in recuperation, and investigation -- the set-up brings a lot of questions of exactly who was involved; it doesn't seem that the Drifters or even the Gunsmoke company were in the know, from how things went down... and after sending out feelers and those in the know to investigate, it's now come to this -- a meeting with a representative from the company pragmatic enough who agreed to talk to them.

The meeting is, once more, taking place under cover of night -- it's in a fairly open space outside the city this time, closer to the Ferry. Riesenlied is present with a darker-colored cloak covering her, awaiting the moment of their gathering.

A nearby signal is lit, to those in the know -- a blue-colored gas lamp. No Dragons are present around the area, but several of the Ebony Wings are on watch -- just as much for the presence of those that might try to ambush them again just as much for security.

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Noeline has been back and forth between Jolly Roger in the last few weeks, doing what she can to investigate those who might have the ability or the motive to set up a trap of such extensive means - for all that she postures and shows off being a spy /is/ in her blood, and she's ingratiated herself as an employee of the Gunsmoke company while she hunts, slipping into the building each day with a string of explanations and disarming smiles.

So it's understandable - if a little strange - to see her without her flame-red hair or her twintails, dark hair instead laying loose around her shoulders. Rather than her flamboyant dresses, she's wearing a simple skirt and buttoned-up shirt. ... or... is she, because the air around her does shimmer ever so slightly if you know what to look for, an indication of their hard-light disguises working as intended. Well, even the good spies prefer to cheat whenever possible.

She's slipped towards Riesenlied at the first sign of the gaslight going up, joining at her side; she's aware this kind of breaks her cover to some extent, but in the end a meeting like this is a much more direct and safe way to go about things, generally speaking.

<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.

Fortunately, in Josie's case, the weapons against her were largely rubber bullets (and one oddly-shaped dragon) so -- having part of the warehouse fall on her aside -- it could have been worse, as far as recuperation and so on went.

It's a little funny, coming back to the scene of the crime, as it were. While Josie's far from going unarmed -- the rifle slung over her shoulder does, as usual, speak volumes -- she has already made a show of demonstrating that /this/ ARM, at least, is unloaded. Call it a compromise, of sorts.

Someone set them up, and she's not going to let that go, as she had said before.

So by now, the archaeologist has made herself comfortable, propped up against a nearby wall and smoking a cigarette.

<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.

Ambrosius had spent some time recuperating, as well. The fight and the subsequent conjuring of that tidal wave had taken a lot out of him, not to mention being swept up in it afterward.

When he heard that Riesenlied intended to meet with the Gunsmoke company he was...suspicious. He did not trust them. He believed this to be their doing, a way of eliminating a potential threat that could jeopardize further business.

Still, if this was what she wished he would follow. If he was wrong then he would admit it, but if not...well, he would be there to help thwart any possible traps. And so he was there as well, standing nearby. As before, he was not dressed in his typical outfit - instead wearing the typical equipment of a Veruni soldier.

He was not, however, armed. None of the usual bags he wore on his person were present, and neither were the knife or holster for his revolver.

Not that this really meant much. He didn't need a weapon to be a threat, but it was more for peace of mind for the humans than anything else.

He stands nearby Riesenlied silently, his arms folded behind his back as he scans his surroundings. Though it was dark, the technology in his helmet made seeing no issue at all.

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.

One thing about being isolated from polite society and even most of impolite society most of the time on account of being fugitives, and caring for someone almost wholly steeped in malevolence- is that it's more difficult to be in the know.

That's why the odd favor to be kept in the loop with someone willing to do that was important. And news of this raid here had been... interesting.

As the gas lamp goes on, he walks up too, a ways back from even Noeline. A dragoncat perched on his shoulder, her pink pawsies nervously covering her mouth as she looked warily about. His sword is peace knotted right now.

While he didn't exactly need it to be a threat either- appearances were important surrounding the most threatening weapon in his arsenal.

He stays a ways back knowing his role. Ruby was less on board so maybe that's why she has her mouth covered.

Every so often she whispers something to Hiro, though even if his nods or head shakes were subdued, arms crossed, as he waits...


<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

The company people are here somewhat grudgingly, but they are here.

There are over a dozen of them, and they're dressed professionally, though they're all obviously carrying. There's a small launch further down the beach, with a few more company people milling in and around it. Out to sea, a small, chartered steamship has set anchor.

One of the company's speakers is recognizable from the warehouse fight: Jimmy Shen Long, the man who was talking with Ida. He's a big, imposing man--his head is shaved, and a derby is perched atop it, askance. The right side of his face is covered with small, deep scars, and there's a patch where his right eye should be. His suit is well-tailored, but not expensive-looking, and he has gone jacketless in order to roll up his shirtsleeves and show off a pair of very impressive sleeve tattoos. Those familiar with the concept will recognize the Two Dragons of Guild Galad: Water Dragon, the serpentine patron of trade and seafaring, is on the left arm, and Fire Dragon, the winged patron of industry and artifice, is on the right. Beside him is Debra Longknife, a woman in a skirt and blazer with bright red hair and a friendly smile. She doesn't look like she should be anywhere near a meeting like this.

Which is, perhaps, the point.

Jimmy folds his arms, and takes a moment to size the 'Ebony Wings' up. Debra turns back at the sound of approaching footsteps, and squints at Hiro a moment.

If Ida is here, she is not making her presence obvious.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Salamandra and Icedrake, accordingly, probably look a bit too lame to really be the physical, living incarnations of the Dragons of Guild Galad, although they're a little bit more respectable than Muni-Muni or Devet's little thing that still doesn't like eating its carrots.

But alas, that's what you get when you're with the Tainted. These aren't your passing-grade Dragons, just the refuse that the Metal Demons saw unfit for service.

Not that they're here. Riesenlied looks towards Jimmy as she speaks, "Thank you for being here. I realise that this is a highly unusual situation, but from what we've understood of the outcome, the sabotage was not of Hartwell Gunsmoke's doing."

A pause.

"Which leaves us at the prime question: who set the trap up?"

She glances to those assembled as she expresses, "The Ebony Wings' desire is to prevent Kislev from obtaining the means to repair their currently damaged Golem, Sado. That there is an individual or group that would mean to divert such large resources is no trivial matter at all."

She sighs softly as she looks towards the company folk to say, "... thus, for the purposes of discovering what has happened -- I would like to propose that we collaborate on this matter."

<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Fei went to check in with Leon, then got drunk, then sobered up, and now he's coming over here to see if he can find some leads. He is otherwise being expected to chill out as Lily engages in chicanery so he's pretty much not got much to do that except help Ida get more power, because that's what she needs, right?

Anyway he shows up late. He is pretty pragmatic but he isn't known for punctuality. It's acutally Hiro he ends up popping up behind as he says, "Hey Ruby," top billing. "Hey Hiro. How's it going? I guess we're doing this?" He glances over to Jimmy and then back to Riesenlied. He doesn't say much else besides that.

Not for now.

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

For the time being, Noeline elects to keep her trap shut; it probably would be best not to call all that much attention to herself, not when she's spent the last few days sneaking around the company offices fishing for clues - but she does slink back into the shadows for just a moment, if only to hide the way in which she deactivates her camoflage to return to her 'normal' look.

When she steps back forward it's as her more typical self, desert version - and she flicks out her red hair with a faint grin before bowing to those assembled. "... more than 'sabotage', of course - if it were just that, it would be a lot less trouble. However, we also have an accomplished thief on our hands, who appears to have skimmed quite a profit off of you."

It's sort of an attempt to sweeten the air, or at least point out that both parties here have something they could do with saving face over; Noeline lets out a slight breath as she picks at her hair. "While the question of the Fossils and what to do with them is certainly up in the air, I would suggest we need to close this hole first, hm?"

She glances side; Hiro and Fei get a light chuckle as the latter says hello, and she tilts her head towards them both in a quiet sort of greeting, and then offers Josephine an almost comically glum look at the way her rifle is held - if unloaded then at least at the ready.

<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.

Noeline gets a grin back that's only /quasi/ sheepish.

"/Not/ Hartwell?" Josie comments, from where she leans against the wall. She taps some of the ash of the end of her smoke, then slowly sadly shakes her head. "Damn, that's one lost bet. And here I was, making assumptions about hired help and so on..." Dark eyes lift to glance over at Jimmy, as if some wry apology. "Oh well, you win some, you lose some."

Her gaze slides back over to Riesenlied, to Noeline.

"So we've got a mystery saboteur on our hands, do we. Hmm, so we're back to square one: who gains if we all die? Or at least, if the Ebony Wings look monstrous."

She pauses a moment.

"And makes a quick profit on top of that. So, anyone feel like listing off known enemies?"

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.

As Jimmy looks at him, Hiro stares back a moment, then as if realizing finally /why/ he's being stared at finally, he sort of awkwardly rubs the nape of his neck as if to silently say: 'Well, ya know... 'not all hu-mans'...' In a way that only someone whose a traitor to humans on two worlds can... Ruby just stares back at the guy and his tattoos as if fascinated. She even whispers something excitedly at Hiro, who doesn't say anything back.

Otherwise though, the idea of Kislev wanting resources to repair its golem. It makes him intensely uncomfortable after seeing the power of it firsthand. His feet perhaps nervously shuffle a bit, as if thinking about it. Tense. Hoping that a desire to make certain that such weapons would never be used might win the day between two unlikely groups. He continues listening to Noeline's assessment of the situation, nodding at the point she makes, and giving Josie a glance.

Which is when Fei shows up late to be another example of his earlier silent point. He's wearing this silly little grin on his expression as Fei finally manages to break his silence, "Guess so." And reaches with the knuckles of one hand to give Fei this little fist bump in a show of solidarity. "Good to have you."

This breaks Ruby's silence too, who immediately flies over from Hiro's shoulder to land on his, "Feiiii! I've been worried sick. You're doing alright right? Eating well?"

And then under her breath adds with tiny muffled giggle, "How's your looovvveee life going? Is it looking up?"

Hiro clears his throat at that moment as if to remind Ruby, "Oh right. Right. Big important meeting. Forgot."

She falls silent for a few moments as if it'd sunk in again, before whispering to Fei, "Tell me laaaater~"


<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.

Jimmy wasn't the only one sizing people up. Ambrosius does much the same, quietly looking them - and Josie - over. He takes all of them in, including their armaments. Jimmy himself will feel his gaze on him for a bit longer. Ambrosius takes note of him.

He doesn't take special of notice Hiro or Fei even though he notices they're there, but he doesn't comment, either...though he does frown slightly behind his helmet as Ruby takes the opportunity to chat without taking the situation into consideration.

Josie asks for a list of known enemies, but frankly, Ambrosius wasn't so certain Hartwell wasn't involved. It wouldn't do to say that out loud, however.

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

"Killing contractors is a good way to ensure no one ever contracts with you, ever again," says Jimmy, the first words he's spoken since he showed up. He looks at Josephine a moment, and finally gives his name. "Jimmy Shen Long, Everstead-Rey ARMs and Munitions Company. How are you folks doing?"

"Debra Longknife, Hartwell Gunsmoke," says Debra. "We have an interest in ensuring that our professional reputation remains untarnished."

"The boss sent the two of us here to be sure that happened," Jimmy says. "Now if I had a clue who was responsible, she'd be the first one to know. I don't. That said, my money's on someone who wanted to sell 'em. I can't disclose how much Kislev paid for those, of course, but it was not cheap." And they will be incredibly upset if they do not get what they paid for, but that much goes unsaid.

Debra, meanwhile, finds her attention drawn to Ruby. She gives the... bizarre flying cat entity a brief, quizzical look.

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

"If I may add my own suspicions, of course," says Debra, once the brief, surreal Ruby moment is over. "How do we know it's not your Metal Demon leadership responsible?"

<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Fei will readily bump knucks with Hiro. He feels a lot of symphonic resonance with Hiro. "Thanks, I don't know how well I'd handle this without you here, heh." Normally it's the other characters in Xenogears who do Clandestine meetings, but of course your hero and mine Ruby arrests Fei's attention with a single question. "Oh uh, my love life? Uh." Fei begins. "Well," He says. "The thing is." Pause. "It's uh......." He turns bright red. "Well, you see." he pokes his fingers together. "...It's not really a thing yet, I mean, ugh, I don't know how to put it."

He glances over towards Debra and Jimmy again.

"R..right! We're super busy. Can't talk about it right now. hahahaha..."

He then proceeds to not actually talk about it though he does listen at least.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied nods very gently towards Jimmy and Debra. While she's sure that she won't be able to convince them on the basis of her beliefs, it was still important to lay that out on the table -- on why they planned the attack in the first place. "Well enough, thank you. My name is Riesenlied, of the Ebony Wings. The scope of the trap was unprecedented, but it was fortunate that we could stop the fires from spreading..."

A pause, as Debra asks a genuinely good question. "... we'd looked into that avenue as well," Riesenlied reveals. "But we weren't able to identify any likely suspects -- and the pattern in which they were stolen doesn't seem to match."

She gestures. "When we broke into those crates, we found Symbological crests. Metal Demons aren't capable of using Symbology, nor any other kind of magic, which would at the very least mean there would need to be co-conspirators... ever since Adlehyde, subtlety has become less and less of a priority for our leadership."

She doesn't completely discount it, but... that's just the paranoia talking.

She bobs her head, gesturing towards Josie. "Josephine here is more versed in back-alley channels and routes around the Badlands region than I am -- I do agree that the intent appears to be financially motivated; perhaps to Aveh, who'd no doubt pay an even more handsome sum to deny Kislev their resources."

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Noeline-- can't resist the amused sort of snort, shrugging one shoulder. "As Riese says, if it /were/ Metal Demons, Miss Longknife, you would know about it," she responds lightly. "They would not care for subterfuge - they would not care to keep people alive, or to slip in under cover of dark." They wouldn't see any reason to frame the Ebony Wings-- yet, she adds quietly to herself, though she has to admit that Berserk probably would out of sheer spite. On the other hand, Berserk's version of subterfuge is 'they can't spot you if they're smeared against the wall', so it seems safe to say that things don't add up in that direction.

She does pause slightly, though, frowning to herself. "That aside-- that would be quite a haul of Fossils to try to sell on. I realize that keeping track of these things can be rather difficult, but I don't suppose there's been any sign of particularly large shipments showing up at the usual marketplaces? I know some are in the habit of attempting to etch a merchant's mark..." she wonders, tilting her head...

... but something else important comes up-- and she can't resist a sidelong "Oh?" of surprise, unexpectedly and suddenly grinning at Fei. Oh, dear. That's probably not a great sign.

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.

Ruby just nods along with Fei, as Debra peers at her. Ruby's look back is sheepish, and she waves a pink pawsie at her embarrassment. Though in her head she starts to refer to her as 'Debbie Downer' in her head. After though she has that pawsie back on her chin as if considering /why/ it's not a thing yet.

Hiro however is following the meeting, at the exchange between Jimmy and Debbie with the Ebony Wings. Given the rumors... he'd been wondering that himself, if the Quarter Knights were involved. But Riese raises a startlingly good point. Hiro gives a sidelong look to Fei and mouths, 'Any ideas?'

He wasn't about to discount the idea that Bart might be involved despite... what was said on how the attack might have went down...

Before returning to face forward at Josie when Riese mentions her. Contrary to what one might expect of a man on the run, he knows absolutely zilch about back alley channels and routes around the Badlands, so he was paying really close attention to how they handled the situation. So he's pretty interested in listening to her opinion here...

But then Noeline looks their way, or more specifically Fei's way. And Hiro gives this sort of emphatic wave as if to cover for Fei there.


<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.

"You'd think that, Mr. Jimmy." The little wink suggests it might not be entirely reverent. "Though, I guess Hartwell's a little more on the up and up than most. It wouldn't be the first time someone's tried it, though..."

Was it the Metal Demons?

"I doubt it," Josie pipes up. "Let me be clear about it, too -- I'm not their friend, but I don't bear them any particular ill will, either. Whatever they're doing has nothing to with me~" She gestures outwards with her cigarette.

"But, see, here's the thing. I've also learned a thing or two about Metal Demons, and I know they don't tolerate sorcery so well. Whoever set us up at least has a mage in their pocket who's an expert Symbologist. And believe me, I know Symbology when I see it. I'm Lovelace's daughter." A comment paired with a brief scowl, as if tasting something bitter. "So! Either we have a Symbologist with decidedly low morals taking payment from Metal Demons, or..."

Indeed, just as Riesenlied -- and Noeline -- say. "They certainly don't seem to need to use subterfuge anymore, do they~"

She takes a long drag from her cigarette.

"Yes," she says at length. "I have a few people I'm thinking about chatting with about recent activity. They might still be in business around these parts. Or, possibly not! I'll know in either case very soon." She gains a thoughtful look.

"Riesenlied, Noeline, I don't suppose either of you have any Dragon Fossils you can spare?" Well, that's a thing to ask.

<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.

Unlike everyone else Ambrosius did not introduce himself, instead electing to continue his silence. He did, however, offer them all a polite incline of his head in greeting when they introduced themselves.

The Quarter Knights were definitely a possibility. Ambrosius had considered it himself for a time, but had discarded the theory for much the same reasons as Riesenlied had said.

...And all of the Veruni agents in Ignas that he was aware of had been accounted for at that time, so he highly doubted that any of his people were responsible for it.

Aveh was a reasonable possibility, though. He wouldn't put anything past them.

His attention goes to Josie when she suddenly asks if Riesenlied or Noeline can spare any Dragon Fossils. That was...a really forward question. He had to wonder how they would respond.

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

"Can't as in 'cannot', or can't as in 'I don't know of anyone who does?" says Debra, arching an eyebrow. "And what would stop them from duping a human Symbologist into aiding them, if they so chose?" She looks thoughtful as Josie speaks. She takes out a pen and pad, writes something down, shows it to Jimmy.

"You know," Jimmy says, after a moment, "I wonder if this may be related to the other problem, which we may have a lead on. You see, something else important decided to grow legs and walk off, and we tracked it here."

There's activity at the little launch. Someone in a cloak is walking from it, towards the gathering.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

"Cannot," Riesenlied clarifies, as if it's been a personal point of soreness. "And I can't entirely dismiss that, of course. But the appearance of the bones of our ancestors is not something that tends to go quietly, where my brethren is concerned." Indeed, for a Metal Demon to steal Dragon Fossils is usually in search of personal glory and elevation of status... ...not unlike how she did, a long, long time ago.

She blinks at the mention of the other problem, though. "The 'other problem'?" she sounds genuinely curious and unaware.

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Noeline nods in turn, unable to resist the faint grin. "... you are thinking about it in the wrong mindset. The majority of Metal Demons do not think about human whims, or about being subtle. It is not a matter of planning so much as a belief that they simply need not /care/. Why bother duping a Symbologist into assisting them? What would they stand to gain? Just break down the wall and take the stuff instead." She shrugs with a rather wan smile.

Josephine's namedrop leaves her a little at a loss for words - but then, the last time she was around this area was a significantly long time ago, and the name likely doesn't mean anything to her. The request, on the other hand - "I'm afraid we do not. We-- try not to make a habit of carrying them around, hm?" she chuckles rather wryly. "Generally speaking, we pay our respects by laying them to rest - on the other hand, if anyone has a particularly fancy ARM around and you don't intend to do anything too destructive to it, that might be enough to suffice for your purposes, hm?"

She pauses, and-- lets out a slight breath as she looks towards Fei and Hiro; poor Fei got kind of a bomb dropped on him last time thanks to Noeline, and we're not even referring to the Trial Knight, and she does feel a little responsible. "... if the two of you need further explanation as to the affair around Fossils and their meaning to us, please feel free to ask. I realize it is-- ah-- somewhat cultural."

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied looks towards Josephine with a look of surprise for a moment, and thinks for a moment longer.

No, she doesn't have a secret mauseoleum in which she lays Dragon Fossils to rest after gleaning the memories embedded within them and having a cry for a while or anything, nope...

She peers at Noeline, and decides that's enough of a response for now.

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.

Listening carefully to what Josie says, he takes the wisdom of her as law. Her expertise unquestioned in his head. He didn't know about Filgaia or it's magic to think these things out logically. So instead he nods along, then at her request to Riese and Noeline arches an eyebrow. Then... when they mention the other problem, he quirks an eyebrow.

What really gets his attention though is the figure from the little launch- approaching.

For a moment he doesn't say anything. Even as Noeline gives him an opportunity to ask questions. Slowly he starts to uncross his arms and holds up a finger, "I have a lot of questions but- One sec." then walk at the flanks in that direction, canting his head that way so certain the others take notice.

He doesn't suspect there's a threat coming but right now he's one of the ones in the role to make certain anyhow. He holds up a hand as they get closer as if in greeting to the cloaked figure, "Are you expected?" He asks from a distance.


<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.

To be fair, unless anyone present is well-versed on the rivalry between Marze and Linga (or notable Symbologists of Ignas, still extant category) they probably /don't/ know Timotheus Lovelace.

"Maybe, but it does seem like an awful lot of work, doesn't it?" Josie opines after taking another drag, smoke curling up into the air.

"Oh, you don't?" Josie makes a slight dejected noise, as if she hadn't just asked if they /happened/ to have a load of their ancestor's bones just lying around. You know, for kicks. "Too bad, I guess. See, here's what I'm thinking: if we're going to try to lure them out, we'll need some bait. Probably not right away, we'll need to know who we're baiting and why. From what we know so far, fossils might work, but so might a particularly unique ARM, yeah."

Briefly, she considers the ARM she has under construction. Hmm.

<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Fei says, "Well, to be honest," to Hiro. "If it wasn't the family, then I don't really have any idea. It could have been anybody. It could have been Kislev themselves. It's too early to ask 'whodunnit' when we barely have clues to og off of. I would think we should start interviewing anybody known to have handle the goods, talk to people in the area to see if they saw unauthorized entry--I mean, if the switch was performed here, someone must have seen it--unless it was ALWAYS bombs, in which case I'm not sure I buy their claim that they're innocent." He pauses for a moment. "Though I guess it could just be incompetence. You're selling something you know people want to steal, you obviously do frequent checks, so it had to have been fossils at some point, yeah?"

He looks towards Debra for a moment before looking back to Josephine. Then he adds, "We can't worry about 'who did it' until we actually know when the switch happened. Or the timeframe, at least."

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

"...They're your comrades," Debra says to Noeline, as if politely reminding her of an important fact. She doesn't press the issue, though; she knows well the feeling of working with people who don't properly understand the craft.

"Burial, huh? Then why did you just leave hundreds of dragons to rot until Grudiev deigned to give them burial?" A little flippant, to be certain, but Jimmy is also genuienely curious. None of the remains at the Boneyard look to have been properly buried, after all. Debra looks at him, and he gets back to the point. "We were shipping something to Meria Boule," he says. "Except it never arrived there. Someone at the docks diverted it to Ignas through Jolly Roger."

To empathy, the figure in the cloak is a seething knot of emotion. It stops as Hiro approaches, pulls back the hood ever-so-slightly--

"I am," says Ida. She looks like she's struggling to keep her public face intact. "And I have a question."


<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.

Ambrosius glances to the side at signs of activity in the distance, and as a cloaked figure approaches...a cloaked figure that turns out to be Ida. He's seen her before, but it's a little hard to recognize her.

Ambrosius frowns slightly, but turns his attention back to the other conversation at hand.

"...If you need something 'unique'...I may be able to manage something, unless you have other ideas..." He offers. His voice is somewhat muffled behind the mask, and different than his usual manner of speech, so it might be difficult to recognize it as belonging to Ambrosius.

Ida has 'a question', apparently. He was curious, so he glances in her direction for a moment.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied considers the facts further, as Hiro asks whether the cloaked figure is expected or not. She pauses, frowning softly as she hears the voice, but her attention is more drawn towards the conversation going on.

She glances to Ambrosius, as if expressing a desire to leave any unexpected behaviour to him.

"What Fei says is true. We should definitively check for any witnesses of the subterfuge," Riesenlied expresses, "Though I expect that Hartwell would've well checked at this point."

She looks to Josephine as she lays her plan out. "We can work something out. I do believe we can suss out a suitable bait."

Riese does, however, look a little curious at Jimmy. "Hundreds of dragons?" she asks, with the tone of voice that doesn't understand. She thinks for a moment. "Do you speak of Guild Galad, or...?"

She listens. "Another shipment? Mmm..." she considers. "... I understand that my word may not count for much, but I can vouch that I do not know of what you're speaking of. Up until very recently, our operations have been limited to Eastern Ignas, and our capability to divert marine shipments in particular would not have been vast."

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.

Hiro had nodded along with Fei's assessment. Ruby did too. "Huh. All good ideas." Then she says quietly to herself as if considering, "I wonder when would a good opportunity have been after an inspection to make the switch?"

Ruby instead flies over to Noeline, and whispers to her so she won't interrupt, "Hey so like- I'm guessing Metal Demons consider using fossils to be like grave robbing right?"

That's how she makes sense of it morally at least. She has a lot of questions that she hasn't been able to ask any experts about.

As the figure reveals herself to be Ida, Hiro doesn't even question her lack of hostility. "Oh hey Ida."

Despite the 'scene' as she put it that she caused at Wayside, he always knew her to be level headed and professional so he considered that to be an isolated incident. And so he takes a step aside almost instantly and doesn't block her way, "Go right on in."

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

Noeline's grin is self-assured and light as she shrugs one shoulder. "That does not mean I necessarily agree with them, Miss Longknife, nor that I feel any particularly pressing need to mince words about the way they act - especially not in our current situation," she points out with something of a sigh. "And it is probably worth pointing out I am not terribly fond of some of them, hm? 'Metal Demon' is a race - not an organization - and one that can be as varied as humans can."

For a moment, Noeline scratches at her cheek as she mulls over Josephine's plan, and then finally lets out a sigh. "I-- hm. I wonder if that would work, admittedly. There is always the possibility that our culprit has been sated for the moment, or had a specific target of this shipment and this shipment alone and has since gone to ground. Baiting the hook a second time might work, but it might be best if we had some backup plans just in case it doesn't work," she decides as she folds her arms; her voice is remarkably solemn as she chews over the problem, but Riese's okay is more than good enough for her, it seems, as she breaks back into a smile at the commander's assent.

"Not just goods, but the warehouse as a whole, I-- suspect?" she wonders, looking to the pair from the company to clarify that. "Unless the whole thing was one shipment, those crests were rather scattered around the building, and well spaced. Some logistics had to be involved, or else access to the site.

She doesn't visibly pause at Ida's voice, but certainly something about her stance seems to tense up ever so slightly, as if expecting the worst; she keeps her tone light throughout her talk, though, nodding to the little dragon. She doesn't whisper when she responds to Ruby, as if realizing it's best to clear the air. "That is correct, but-- at the same time, the Ebony Wings realize that their use is part of life on Filgaia, and necessary to some extent to allow humans to survive," she huffs softly. "Demanding everyone stop using them immediately would be incredibly difficult, but-- we would at least like to see them not go straight to Sado, hm?"

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

"I was under the impression you were all an army," says Debra. She seems to take Noeline's explanation into account, however--this is a complicated situation. She looks at Riesenlied as the commander asserts that she has no idea what happened to the other shipment. "We do have information about the disposition of the stolen shipment before it was noted as stolen. We may, at this time, be able to share it in the interests of locating our partner's property and ensuring it makes it to its destination intact. What our clients do with our wares is none of our business."

"Yeah," Jimmy says, to Riesenlied. "The Boneyard's /big/, and the dragons in it aren't like--" Jimmy pauses. Debra looks at him, potentially heading off an insensitive remark. "They're much larger than the ones you deployed."

Ida nods to Hiro. "Thank you," she murmurs. She doesn't quite hear Ruby's question, but Noeline's response to it provides her with all the information she could need. Of course they will deign to allow you humans to use them. Just--your family is wrong. All of them. As are you for defending them. Stop, Ida thinks, but the thoughts will not stop. She rubs at the bridge of her nose.

Jimmy notices her, then, turns around. "Ida," he says. He sounds just a little concerned. "Are you--"

"I'm fine," Ida says. She walks up to the cluster of people, looks Riesenlied straight in the eye, and: "Why was the Trial Knight there? What were they talking about?"

<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.

Ambrosius nods toward Riesenlied, but doesn't say anything further. It doesn't seem as if he'll have to take action, however, at least not yet...but just in case, he's ready to intervene at any moment.

Noeline had a point, though - it was possible that there would not be a repeat occurrence. For all they knew, they were only after something specific - something that was either charred to ashes or at the bottom of the ocean by now.

His attention returns to Ida again.

...The Trial Knight? Was that the armored figure? That was an individual Ambrosius knew nothing - in fact, this was his first time hearing about them.

Curious.

<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Fei looks up briefly as if he can hear the soundtrack himself, but right now the red guy is being pretty quiet. He finds clandestine meetings like this to be really boring. Just smash everything and let the right be picked out from the remains.

"Yeah, uh, I didn't know they were ACTUALLY Metal Demon corpses. That's really sick." Fei says. "But I guess we're not exactly in a position to be picky about it." Humans NEED those fossils to survive in the wilderness. Well not all, but certainly a healthy chunk!

He is surprised to see Ida here. He looks at her for a moment before adding, "The Trial Knight? Oh right, KK. Who cares?" He mutters. "Anybody who is spreading around Malevolence like that should be destroyed. I've seen what it can do to people. It's nothing good. If the Guardians are gonna bother pulling it out of somebody because of how awful it is, it shouldn't be messed around with." He pauses and then admits, "I think K.K was just there to insult you and piss you off so you'd do something you regretted. That's what they do."

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

"It wouldn't be incorrect," Riesenlied does admit that much to Debra. Though even as far as armies are concerned, opinions still vary across the entire spectrum, whether it be Hyadean or not. "But in the capacity in what we are doing right now, our methods and interests vary considerably."

That might be the most diplomatic way to put their situation at present. She listens to Debra speak of the other shipment. "It may help Josie locate our culprit," she explains. "Even if the culprit is currently sated, their clients may not be -- and it may very well be through their clients that we will get to our target in the end."

Someone of enough skill and subterfuge to orchestrate may very well hide their tracks too well for them to follow. Their buyers, on the other hand.....

"... I've never been to Meria Boule or the lands beyond, unfortunately..." Riesenlied has to genuinely admit to Jimmy. The thought of a giant Boneyard of dragons is... ... it's unsettling to Riese. She'd like to put them all to rest, but... she would've been centuries too late for that. "So I have to admit I've never heard of the Boneyard until... well--"

She gestures towards Ida. "Until Miss Everstead-Rey told me of Guild Galad. About the City founded on Industry, on the wings of Dragons. But yes, Fei... Dragon Fossils are the bones of Metal Demons long deceased in the wars..."

She sighs. "And many of our kin are capable of synchronising with them -- like how skilled ARMs users can -- in order to... glean the memories of our ancestors. It is this in part why I, personally, pursue them -- to record the last memories and wishes of those that have come before us."

She looks towards Ida, and she stares at her in the eye with her question. "... the Trial Knight appears where they wish to go, and I certainly do not have any clout over whether or not they appear, but... what words are you speaking of, Miss Ida?"

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.

Ruby nods along, she looks mildly uncomfortable though at the idea of Dragon remains being used. "That's... very pragmatic." She mumbles as if uncertain how to evaluate it, then nodding quickly at Fei. "Yeah... it makes me feel a little sick."

But then Ida asks her question, and Hiro stops in his tracks paying careful attention.

And what Fei says- it causes his eyes to slowly lid for a moment, swallowing as he remembers Lahan and the state K.K. left it in.

Suddenly he feels a little nauseous, as if remembering the miasma of malevolence around Lucia.

Ruby had been paying attention to Riese's explanation of what she wanted to do with their remains, "Their memories, huh? That sounds..."

But then Ruby gives Hiro this look as if judging his response to Fei, and then sort of flies over to Fei after Fei finishes talking and whispers, "H-Hey Fei... you know... you mean just people who do it intentionally right?"

She clears her throat, "Because- yeah! Intent matters. Because let's say hypothetically there was someone who was cursed real bad to carry a lot of malevolence... and she- I mean they. Definitely /they/. Looks and acts wholly normal and isn't trying to hurt anyone..." She sounds more nervous and nervous as she speaks.

"You'd d-definitely not want themmmm destroyed. Right?"

Hiro after opening his eyes pays more attention to Riese asking about what the Trial Knight said in anticipation. Looking more anxious than before about where this could be going."


<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

"Yeah," Fei says simply enough. "Intentionally. I mean, if you're sick, that's completely different."

Oh no this means there can't be a huge dramatic moment where he goes after Lucia or something gosh darn it. You're just going to have to be satisfied with the fact that Fei isn't a complete nutjob and hasn't gone Full Arthas yet either for that matter.

<Pose Tracker> Josephine Lovelace has posed.

"It's possible," Josie agrees. "Of course, it's also possible they're a greedyguts. I suppose we'll have to see. All the same, we'll want a plan B, though." Her gaze focuses for a moment on the thin trail of smoke winding its way up into the nighttime air from the end of her cigarette. "If you /must/ have a plan, always have another plan. ...And be prepared to improvise, of course~"

Because no plan ever goes off without a hitch. Science fact.

It's the appearance of Ida -- of all things -- that earns a raised eyebrow from Josie. Dark eyes look the young woman over, as if conducting some silent assessment of her status at present.

Which is followed by an equally silent, evaluating glance that passes between Fei and Hiro... and Ruby. Hmm. Maybe Lily's not the only one going around with a bit of an infection, so to speak.

"...Anyway, let me ask around a bit first, and see if there are any rumors circulating. Then I'll have a better idea of the angle, here. ...If there's anything I've learned, there's always someone out there who wants artifacts." With that she angles against the wall again and contemplates the nature of the world as she continues her smoke break.

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.

Ruby exhales this long breath and looks incredibly relieved that Fei is not a complete vengeance driven nutjob.


<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

"... if I can help, Miss Lovelace--" oh dear, she's picked up the name, though she does at least grin as she says it, "--then please do let me know. I have something of a knack of poking my nose in where it isn't strictly desired, and it never hurts to be a little discreet about these things in the end," she hums with an almost playful nature, flicking out some of her hair--

--but it doesn't last, especially when there's no end of more sober topics to talk of. First and foremost, her gaze fixes on Ida with a light frown. "... at the very least, I can say they were not there at our behest. We have no alliance with the Trial Knight, nor any sway over them. It's-- a little hard to clarify what we /do/ have, I suppose, though I imagine the best way I can put it is that they appear to have an interest in what the Ebony Wings does going forwards, and how Riesenlied and I respond to the challenges ahead. I was a little busy to catch their words, though, yes," she grumbles.

There's a pause - and Noeline's glance towards the little dragon is almost sympathetic. "... it is not a matter of being pragmatic, so much as being practical. Riese and I do not want to make enemies of absolutely everyone ever, after all, and we understand why things have happened the way they have," she chuckles, mixed with a sigh. "And there's simply no other option right now. Perhaps, over time, we can all look towards finding another way - but that is a very, very long way off."

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

'That's really sick.'

'It is this in part why I, personally, pursue them -- to record the last memories and wishes of those that have come before us.'

'Yeah... it makes me feel a little sick.'

Ida's brain latches onto turns of phrase, stray sentences, less-than-favorable opinions--anything that seems bad. Jimmy looks down at her. Debra looks like she's about to say something, but settles on joining him in seeming concerned about this young woman. Ida bristles, visibly. Everyone's looking at you as though you've lost your mind. How do you know you haven't? They're pretending as though they didn't see, Ida thinks. She may be making an observation, or trying to respond to the horrible thoughts.

"They said something about a pact," Ida says. "And how do you know /they/ didn't steal what was in those crates? I'm certain it would take far more than a little fire to kill them, much less so the rest of us."

<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.

Indeed, it was always a good idea to have a multitude of plans. One never knew what might happen, and so it was better to be able to change and react as the situation demanded rather than expect things to go exactly as you wished them to.

Life rarely worked that way.

Ambrosius doesn't have anything further to add, so he continues to listen impassively. He had to admit now that it seemed less likely that Hartwell was responsible. That was good, at least, even if it meant they didn't have any real suspects at the moment.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

"... it's complicated," is the first vague answer Riesenlied has given in a long while, and Ida knows she doesn't like giving those. She says, in a gentler, lower tone, "But suffice to say they are acting in the Guardians' stead as their eyes and steel in regards to what we do now and in the nearby future."

A pause.

"I had not thought of that, but you're right. I will ask them, the next time I see them," she admits. "We know as much that our ultimate goals and opinions differ, and it is only a matter of time until such a time where we must cross paths happens."

A soft sigh, as she looks to the air.

"... we shouldn't linger too long. We'll keep you updated with any new developments from our end," she answers to Jimmy and Debra. "And... thank you. For agreeing to speak to us, and for your story of the Boneyard as well..."

She shifts just a little, looking to Ida. "... is that a satisfactory answer for now?"

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

"Ma'am," Jimmy says, trying to get Ida's attention. Ida looks back at him, and manages something that would vaguely resemble calm in a bad light.

"Everything is fine," Ida says, when it is absolutely not, and every instinct in her is erupting in a cacophony of conflicting urges. She keeps her hands where the Demons can see them, and very still. "How odd. The Guardians' steel, you say? To whom? About what?" She is not okay. None of this is remotely okay. It feels like she is trying to contain a bomb as it is actively exploding.

'Is that a satisfactory answer for now?'

As if it could be, Ida wants to scream, but she does not. She's angry, but also tired, and a sort of bone-deep helplessness has set in. "I don't understand," she says.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied exhales as she turns partially around and makes to leave. "... about Wayside." She shakes her head, as she murmurs, "I do wish I could make you understand as well." She sounds like she has a lot of grief in her voice about it, but it isn't like she'll listen. "... but for what it's worth, I am sorry about last time. I lost my calm."

She steps off as she looks to the others, saying, "Thank you for being here. We'll send out correspondence when we have a new lead." And with that, she moves to depart.

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

Ida feels sick. As if the problem is me, she thinks. As if--

Willful, foolish, stubborn child. You struck her, and she still means nothing but the best for you. She wants to help you. "Stop it," Ida whispers, under her breath. Stop talking to yourself. Do you want people to think even less of you, as though it were possible? What would a being as ruthless as the Trial Knight want to do with the Guardians? Is it parole? Why grant Riesenlied and Noeline this twisted mercy, and--and torment her, when...

Purpose.

Ida pulls her hood back up, turns, and leaves before anyone can see her start to cry. Jimmy and Debra linger a moment longer, exchanging soft, worried words.

<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.

Riesenlied moves to depart, but Ambrosius lingers for a moment. He studies everyone for a moment, before giving another polite incline of his head in their direction and turning to leave along with her. His doubts had been cleared up, at least, but there were still problems on the horizon...

Problems that could be dealt with later.

At the very least, he hadn't had to actually hurt anyone today, so that was a plus. It probably might've made them look bad, if even they didn't start it.

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