[That's Naoto for ya. He knew he couldn't fully convince her he'd be fine, and to be honest he wasn't sure himself. He just had to find a way to survive, or even throw the match somehow.
Having you back me up makes me feel more confident. Thanks.
Then, he nodded.]
...And that's just the beginning of what I'll do to 'em. But more after I hit the bathroom.
[He looked out into the crowd again. He needed to make another round and see if he could pick up anything else, or check in with the others.]
[He would sneak a kiss to the temple before he rose, fixed his coat, and 'looked for the bathroom'. He needed to see what the others had to say, or maybe plant the rumor that he was entering the Crystal Fist tournament. That'll perk some ears.
Maybe he wasn't so bad at this investigation stuff...]
[It would perk some ears alright, but she doesn't think she likes the look of those now whispering about his entry. Still, she said nothing, waiting patiently for him to return from the 'bathroom'.]
[He settled back in his seat, carrying with him a basket of skewers of various meats, seafood and vegetables. They weren't the fanciest-looking foods, however; they seemed more greasy-spoon levels.
He offered her one.]
Called it. They don't talk to anybody but fighters.
[Looking over at him once he returned, she eyed the plate. Nothing like what they made... and she doesn't know if she wanted to have any of it. Still, her 'bodyguard' was offering and she should have something.]
[It's pretty uninspired. Just seafood with a little lemon juice kicked on for a little kick. Fortunately, she wasn't going to be suffering any form of food poisoning. Kanji helped himself, naturally, to the crunchier skewers, ones cooked a little too long. He liked a little crust on the steak.]
Barney's on a shitload of Glow. He trains with it, he lives with it, and they pump him full of the shit before every single match. It makes him huge, almost godlike. Nobody knows what he was like before the circuit.
[He lowered his voice.]
Tried askin' who manages him and they got cagey. Nobody will gimme a name, only tellin' me to quit asking if I wanted to be able to walk outta Level 3 in one piece.
[Ugh... They need to cook something after this was over. This practically flavorless junk wouldn't do. Meanwhile, she also scowled over the information on Barbarus, not liking the odds and made a mental note to be present when Kanji faced him.]
It would. However, at the same time, getting a chance to see this happen isn't likely. I expect his locker or where ever this will be handled is going to be under tight surveillance.
Hmm, damn, you're right. I kinda hoped with whatever they got that bans magic, they'd put it on and maybe there's a bit of shit-talk between me n' Barney before the match.
[He hesitated. He didn't want to note that he'd heard whispers that Barnabus had killed a good number of his opponents, and figured it was a figure of speech.]
Never ignored my gut before, and it's sayin' 'don't do it'. But this is our way in. I gotta do this. Just gotta shake it, that's all.
Makes me wonder what else boils underneath all this stuff. A drug ring is pretty par for the course for underground crimes, but I wonder if there's seedier underbellies somewhere.
[He paused.]
Kinda wonder if I should look into bein' one'a those Moon Knights.
I've heard rumors of a black market of sorts on the third floor, but I wouldn't be surprised if a larger one existed down here.
[And she cringed. Organ trades were a thing... and possibly Prismal trafficking.]
I don't know... you might become more aware of what happens down here, but they don't regulate what occurs until it becomes an issue on the higher levels.
You're right. I'd keep worrying about Level 3 but watch as everything bleeds into 1 n' 2.
I thought about my own business, honestly, but... Chromawear just kicks ass. It's got a monopoly. Hell, back home we had an edge against Junes, but this is like a Mega Junes.
I think you could edge above Chromawear, though. It can be anything, but it's a drain on Chroma to use. I'd rather save it for the right occasion, so having casual or formal clothes I don't have to worry about abruptly losing would be nice.
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[Her face remains neutral, but she doesn't like this. Just... a bad feeling with all these numbers.]
[Be careful. When you sign-up, I can't go with you for that.]
[He'd be going into territory without her for Moonlacing, and there's no guarantee who else might sign-up too.]
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[He leaned closer. Rather than take the pencil back for a message, he briefly lay a hand over hers.]
...
I know. I'll be careful. I got no plans to push up daisies.
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[Leaning back, she squeezed his hand.]
Even if you did, I would have to interfere.
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Having you back me up makes me feel more confident. Thanks.
Then, he nodded.]
...And that's just the beginning of what I'll do to 'em. But more after I hit the bathroom.
[He looked out into the crowd again. He needed to make another round and see if he could pick up anything else, or check in with the others.]
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I'm already liking this plan... Well, go then. I'll wait here.
[She'll watch the crowd while he checked the parameter.]
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Maybe he wasn't so bad at this investigation stuff...]
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He offered her one.]
Called it. They don't talk to anybody but fighters.
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Makes sense. What did you learn?
[And she'll try one of the seafood skewers...]
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Barney's on a shitload of Glow. He trains with it, he lives with it, and they pump him full of the shit before every single match. It makes him huge, almost godlike. Nobody knows what he was like before the circuit.
[He lowered his voice.]
Tried askin' who manages him and they got cagey. Nobody will gimme a name, only tellin' me to quit asking if I wanted to be able to walk outta Level 3 in one piece.
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... Our main target then.
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So I'm thinkin', if he gets juiced up before matches, he might need to check in with his boss to approve a dose and oversee the process.
I mean, why have some lackey do it and potentially screw it up, and money goes down the drain, right?
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But that's the movies. This is real.
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Beside that, Glow sounds like a steroid. If anything, that amplifies physical strength so whatever they use to ban magic will have no effect.
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[He nodded, thoughtful. Or maybe to comfort himself. He couldn't help smelling a whole lot of blood emanating from the arena.]
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I'll be there, watching...
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Right. Okay. Right.
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[He hesitated. He didn't want to note that he'd heard whispers that Barnabus had killed a good number of his opponents, and figured it was a figure of speech.]
Never ignored my gut before, and it's sayin' 'don't do it'. But this is our way in. I gotta do this. Just gotta shake it, that's all.
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Makes me wonder what else boils underneath all this stuff. A drug ring is pretty par for the course for underground crimes, but I wonder if there's seedier underbellies somewhere.
[He paused.]
Kinda wonder if I should look into bein' one'a those Moon Knights.
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[And she cringed. Organ trades were a thing... and possibly Prismal trafficking.]
I don't know... you might become more aware of what happens down here, but they don't regulate what occurs until it becomes an issue on the higher levels.
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I thought about my own business, honestly, but... Chromawear just kicks ass. It's got a monopoly. Hell, back home we had an edge against Junes, but this is like a Mega Junes.
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