[GRO] Eostre Diazzi - Adult

[Hivestuck]

The dossier was a slim, plain navy package delivered directly to Eostre’s hive. It was labeled clearly with a familiar blue bunny symbol. A message from the Queen, though without her personal flair it was merely a formal missive requesting immediate action.

“As you may recall, the late Epratt Kewrei was posthumously charged with treason for stealing directly from the Empress under the guise of his occupation as an orphaner. We have intelligence that others in Kewrei’s orphaning ring may be involved in similar unlawful profiteering. With this knowledge, it is imperative that an investigation take place to ensure that the orphaning field at large maintains its high standards. This cannot be abided. Any misstep in the welfare of Gl'bgolyb due to ineptitude or intentional tampering threatens the entire population of Alternia. It is therefore critical that you take on this mission.

Based upon your background, you have been assigned to the investigation of one Muayia Khmera, an affluent orphaner and private fight club operator living in Civisect City. It is believed that she has been siphoning funds, as well as using military medical supplies to rig high-profile prize fights for financial gain.

Enclosed is a personal invitation for you, as well as a fake identity and credentials should you sign up for a match. The format of the club and a detailed history and description of its operation is enclosed, as well as details of those employed and our informant, who will be expecting you. Finally, the address of Muayia Khmera is enclosed.

You are to extract all information concerning potential leads and suspects available. Once all relevant information has been discovered, remove the evidence of the investigation and take care of Khmera. Good luck, Miss Diazzi.”

Read the dossier

=> Investigate fake ID

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You look at the fake ID. There's no picture, so you can gussy up however you'd like for this mission. Small details have been altered, such as your work history and connections which detail the "facts" to tell to get into the club. Your invitation is from an actual member of the Imperial Guard, someone you vaguely recognize but don't know personally. There's not much to it - it looks like it would check out fine with a laytroll.

=> Investigate club details

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Violet Knuckles - a fashionable fight club located in the heart of Civisect City,
partially underground and highly exclusive. Its specialty is unarmed brawls and high stakes - Iron Troll matches that leave opponents bloody and unconscious for huge beetle rewards for succesful gamblers are at the forefront here. As well, powerful beverage and gourmet food is served. To get in, a secret password is given that rotates per week - as well, an invitation is needed. The password this week is "fish oil".

The club was a transplant from its previous location in New Hemisect City after the Earthquake took a heavy toll on the infrastructure and it was shuttered indefinitely.
A few highblood sponsors, including Muayia Khmera and Epratt Kewrei, revived the club after the opportunity to relocate came about during Civisect's rise. It's a popular spot for orphaners returning from the seas after feeding sessions, so the exodus of highbloods traveling from the docks on those evenings is often called "The Violet Tide".

The layout of the club is clearly denoted - it's a total of three stories, with the entertainment area underground. The top floor tends to be a regular club space with socializing and frequent fancy events, while the ground floor is an estuary of the two and primarily concerns the practical side of the club - primarily bidding and prepwork for managers and fighters.

=> Investigate trolls of interest

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Muayia Khmera: Purpleblood. Ex-Prize Fighter, co-founder and current co-operator of Violet Knuckles. Orphaner affiliated with Epratt Kewrei. Expert in short blades,
hand-to-hand combat, and thrown weapons.

Luzzid Beldan: Purpleblood. Insider in Civisect affairs for the military - your point of contact. Frequent guest of Violet Knuckles for three sweeps. Information classified at this time.

Mojaan Ruxack: Blueblood. Match coordinator at Violet Knuckles for one sweep. Possible affiliation with Kewrei - seen working similar schedules to frequent orphaners. Previous charges of public intoxication and assault.

Kelpin Bastia: Purpleblood (seadwelling). Talent coordinator and coach. Works part-time at Violet Knuckles, scouts trolls for the military. Weapons expert, ex-military, ex-orphaner. Incapacitating attack by lowblood extremist lead to an honorable discharge.

Mackie Piazio: Blueblood. Bookmaker running out of the Violet Knuckles, as well as other sporting clubs in the area. Known for running a tight ship and having an extremely savvy analytical mind. Offered jobs as a financial assistant that he turned down. Powered troll: Body Pigmentation Manipulation

Only purplerosesbeauty may post in this thread. This growth will take the form of a RP-CYOA-Investigation Hybrid Extraordinaire!

purplerosesbeauty

This reply can be a single solo or divided however you’d like. Post to the point where Eostre heads out for the club and quote the mule!

 

[purplerosesbeauty]

Sitting in her nutritionblock, Eostre crossed her legs at her table, a warm early-evening drink in hand. The dossier was in front of her, and she was poring over every detail, carefully trailing her gloved finger across the words, sifting through the documents, taking notes. This was it. A serious mission, an official investigation - and she was to take care of it. She was important now, of course, so it made sense that she would get to do things like this. Extract information, remove the evidence, take care of Khmera. She hadn't stopped smiling since receiving the sensitive information, and even now, she could feel something fluttering inside of her chest that felt a bit like utter excitement.

She remembered Kewrei well enough, a lousy old fish that got offed unceremoniously at the gala, along with a bunch of other high-profile traitors to the Empress. Seemed he'd left behind some other orphaners in his ring, and they still needed to be taken care of. Khmera, a fight club operator. She took a sip of her tea, and looked carefully at the file for her. Purpleblood, of course. A former prize-fighter, expert with in hand-to-hand, blades and thrown weapons. Orphaners could be nasty pieces of work, what with the violent, but necessary, job they had. There were other names on the dossier, potential suspects she'd have to check out. And a bit more importantly, her point of contact. She was a bit disappointed to see their information was classified, but when she met with them she could get what she needed. The suspects were intriguing. Ruxack - a criminal history, Bastia - ex-military and ex-orphaner, and Piazio - a powered troll. She'd have to be careful in her approach.

Eostre turned to the club details. A fancy place, something she’d be into normally, if she wasn’t here to investigate. Its exclusivity was probably the only thing barring her from previous entry, requiring an invite and a password. Well, she’d get a chance to get in now, before she shut it down. There was that. She smiled. She might have to enter a match to get closer to some of the suspects, and thankfully she was given the paperwork she’d need to make that happen. And also, she was excellent at hand-to-hand combat, and would be able to hold her own against even seasoned fighters. “Right, Volcano? Are you proud of me? I’m going to get into all kinds of nasty brawls,” she lilted with a laugh, addressing her lusus, lounging nearby. Yeah, yeah. Of course I’m proud, kiddo. Yeh better knock some teeth out. Enter the matches, punch ‘er lights out, yeah? ‘N don’t get caught. I won’t be able t’ save yeh if yer in a pinch now, girly. He crossed his paws, an amused expression on his face.

Eostre waved her hand dismissively, as though her lusus had helped her get out of anything since she was a wriggler. And she might not even enter, if she didn’t have to. “I won’t get caught, Volcano.” She looked at the layout and the information about its history. Used to be in NHC, but moved after the earthquakes. Civisect was a better spot for it anyway though, closer to the ocean and would get way more highblood traffic. The Violet Tide was their cutesy name for it, all the highbloods returning from their orphaning duties. Underground was where all the fun happened, while the ground floor looked like where she’d have to go to sign up for a fight. The top floor was for parties and other things like that. Easy enough to remember.

The last bit of information was a fake identification. It’d be easy enough to dress up. She was already the sort of troll they wanted, right? All she had to do was make sure it couldn’t be linked back to Eostre, her actual self. And destroy all evidence she’d even been there. She’d assumed false identities before, for fun, and this would just be one more in a long line. She twirled her hair in her fingers. Maybe she’d straighten it out this time?

Eostre put down her cup and went to get ready. She could only review evidence and mission details for so long, and she was eager to get started. This was going to be fun. She’d finally be able to prove herself, and get the recognition she deserved and craved. It would be so easy!

----

Altering her appearance was mostly superficial. She straightened her hair, letting her short bob take a new place brushing the edges of her shoulders, no longer curled against her cheek. She took her hairbrush and shifted the part to the side of her head. Eostre changed up from her usual makeup routine - still simple, because if she entered the fight it’d get messed up anyhow. Dark liner, thick lashes, eyeshadow, gloss. She covered up the hatchmark by her lip. There was something to be said for being able to look plain, unassuming.

Clothing was simple. She would need to be able to look both highblooded and fashionable enough to have an interest in their dealings, but also show off that she was, in fact, a fighter. If she needed to sign up for a match. She wore clean black slacks and zippered combat boots, something not in her usual ensembles of course, but that only made them a better disguise. Eostre put on a blue cropped undershirt, a darker quarter-sleeve jacket, and removed her lacy white gloves to exchange them for black fingerless boxing gloves. Eostre would never be caught with her bruised and scarred hands exposed, but for a fighter ring it exposed the fact she had sweeps of training with her bare hands. Besides that, Eostre was pleased. She looked slick, casual, dangerous. She would be Bunnie Lepori, a blueblood girl who wanted to fight, and wasn’t afraid to bust a few jaws.

The last order of business was weaponry. She wasn’t going in unarmed, and Eostre generally kept only a small armory, not one for armed combat, personally. She had a few folding knives, trench blades, brass knuckles, nothing too out there, and all for hand-to-hand, her specialty. And Khmera’s too, if the file was accurate. She put a knife in her boot, one inside her jacket, one in her waistband, and took a pair of knuckle dusters and kept them in her jacket pockets. She might not get the chance to use them, but she certainly hoped an opportunity came up. If they made her disarm for the battles, she’d find a way to keep the hidden weapons hidden.

Dressed for success, Eostre put away the dossier and her notes in a safe place and paused before leaving. “Volcano, this is my first real mission, for the Empress and everything…” She turned to her lusus, hand on the doorframe. She had everything she needed. She’d memorized the information, she was ready to go, just, this one question. Eostre smiled. “ So, do I look great or what?”

Hivestuck

she's headin' out now!

 

[Hivestuck]

Civisect City is bustling tonight, and it seems especially glamorous the closer you get to the Violet Knuckles. It’s a huge black shape wedged between the other buildings nearby, a glittering black bricked building more geometric than the other organic Alternian shapes surrounding it. It has a flow to it, with reflective glass catching the deep purple lights that have been erected to give it a mysterious and dramatic look. A huge tealblooded bouncer stands outside, grimacing. When you show him your invitation and present the password, however, he easily lets you in.

Monitors and underlit tables around the groundfloor make the space look cool and chic. There is a murmuring from all around, some trolls stopping to view the betting monitors while others take a look at fight playbacks elsewhere. This is clearly the business area, though a number of trolls are resting at tables with beverages and chatting between themselves. A gently spiraling staircase leads upstairs, accompanied by an elevator that can take you to the second floor or what is known as the Underground (not to be confused by the club of the same name in Chittentown). Speaking of the underground floor, a match is about to start. Last-minute bets begin to come in, and the bookmakers are suddenly swamped with customers.

In the immediate vicinity, you do notice Mackie Piazio from the dossier. He’s working away, collecting bets and updating an enormous projected list of percentages and wagers. The blueblood is slighter than most of the crew of this club, bandy but well-dressed in a vest and tie. His sleeves are pulled up around his elbows, revealing what appear to be full sleeves of writings up and down his forearms. He looks to be quite busy. You could chat with him now, or come back later when things settle down.

What do you do?

=> Investigate the Floor

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You take a look around. You’re still fresh at this game, so the mass of information hitting you from all angles is quite foreign. This looks like the place for discerning gamblers and mathematicians to be. That being said, the bookmakers in this room have mobile set-ups. If you were to sneak in after hours, it would be likely that them, their husktops and their beetles would be stowed away elsewhere.

=> Talk to Piazio

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Quote the mule!

Head Upstairs:
=>

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Quote the mule!

Head Downstairs:
=>

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Quote the mule!

purplerosesbeauty

Thanks for your patience!

 

[purplerosesbeauty]

Eostre investigated the room she entered first, taking in everything slowly. It would be overwhelming if she weren't so good at her job. There were a few trolls milling about, and much more by the betting area. The powered blueblood Piazo was taking bets, a slight looking dude. Interesting, but he seemed a bit busy. She'd talk to him later, find him when it was a bit more important, and he was less strapped for attention. It really was a shame she was in the business of shutting this place down, because if it had been any other circumstance, Eostre would have loved this place. Still, that would make it easier to blend in. This was her kind of location, and she hardly had to pretend to know what she was doing here.

Downstairs... that was where all the fights were held, and a match was soon. She could try to catch one, see what it was all about. Or head upstairs to the club area. That might be the better start. If Eostre decided to enter a match and got a bit roughed up, she have a bit of trouble investigating the the top floor. Take this on one floor at a time.

She ascended the staircase, ghosting her hands over the rail as she walked.

Hivestuck

hi im dying in grad school but eostre is heading upstairs! sorry for the delay, i understand you'll be busy with meta so no rush!! <3

 

[Hivestuck]

You make your way upstairs; it’s bustling as expected, with trolls cradling drinks and engaged in light conversation. A few monitors arranged artfully around the space showcase the ring, where the fights have not yet begun.

At the bar you immediately recognize your contact: Luzzid Beldan. He’s dressed in a classy charcoal dress shirt and slick black tie, his black jacket draped over the back of his chair. Looks like he’s been here for a while, but he’s only got a single drink in front of him. Instead, Beldan seems occupied with a little black book he’s writing in. He looks back and forth between his work and the screens, waiting for the event to begin.

You also notice a blueblood at a table, lounging with flushed blue cheeks. She has a great deal of empty glasses in front of her, and stares intently at the screens as though she can’t look away. You recognize her from her picture in your file: Mojaan Ruxack.

What do you do?
A) Converse with Ruxack.
B) Converse with Beldan.
C) Buy Ruxack a drink.
D) Buy Beldan a drink.

Or…
E) Head to the main floor
F) Head to the bottom floor

purplerosesbeauty

 

[purplerosesbeauty]

Eostre made her way through the bustling crowd of the upper floors, keeping her eyes open and smiling lightly as she walked. There were certainly a lot of trolls here, more than she would have expected. The monitors showed the downstairs, and she thought it might be worth watching.

There were two trolls that interested her here now though - her contact Beldan, a busy looking man, and one of the trolls from the dossier, Ruxack. Public intoxication was her issue, and judging by the flushed look in her cheek, something she clearly still struggled with. Eostre glanced at her, but decided to see if she could get anything important for her mission out of Beldan for now.

Eostre took a seat at the bar next to Beldan and glanced up at the screens. Her contact had quite the look - all black and sleek looking. Busy, but hopefully not to busy to talk to her for a moment. She put an arm on the bar, her other hand on her chin. "The matches start soon, don't they? Have someone you'd put your beetles to?"

Hivestuck

sorry for the delay... picking B!

 

[Hivestuck]

“Evening,” He nodded in her direction, gesturing at the image on the screen. “Almost - Vugelm versus Kittna next. It’s a shoe-in for Kittna. Match’s delayed due to clean-up, though. Was a blood slick out there.”
He leaned back in his chair, drink in hand. “I’d rather relax up here than be in the splash zone. Can I get you a drink? Smoke?”
Beldan pulled out a packet of plain, semi-lethal inhalable incendiary sticks and gave it a shake for her to take. Inside, the contents were basic with the exception of a slip of paper rolled expertly to the same width and length of one of the smokes in the pack.

“I’ve been watchin’ these fights for sweeps. Other than the mainstays, it’s hard to tell who’ll come out on top recently. Makes for bad business for me, good business for Miss Khmera. Things are kept pretty close to the vest unless you’re a signed fighter.” He raises his eyebrows.
“Might be a good way to go if you’d like to meet her. She spends less time here and more time… Elsewhere. But she’ll always vet new talent, believe me. Gotta make sure they’re a straight arrow.”
-
Beldan sits forward again, cradling the new glass that has been delivered to him. You can keep chatting him up or head elsewhere. What do you do?

A) Press Beldan further
B) Engage with Ruxack
C) Head to the main floor
D) Head to the bottom floor

purplerosesbeauty

 

[purplerosesbeauty]

"Ah, thanks," Eostre nodded as she reached into the box of incendiary sticks, noting immediately the one that didn't match. She picked it out, tapping it against her leg as she unrolled it discreetly with one hand. She glanced at the paper. "Must be hard to judge newer folk, until they get their asses kicked," she said. Eostre looked at the screen. Clean up. She wasn't afraid to get dirty, right into the splash-zone, as it were.

"I do think it'd be fun to meet her, you know. I'd like to impress her, so I'll have to see about signing up," Eostre said, trying to contain her smile as she hid the paper in her clothing. Keep a straight face, like this was a normal conversation between strangers. However, the information he provided was valuable. Her best path to getting close to Khmera was to sign up for a fight - something she'd planned on doing anyway, once she had more info. But now she was developing a more solid plan.

She ordered two drinks from the bar, and picked them up. Now, she still wanted to see if she could talk to Ruxack. Eostre stood from the bar, bidding a quick bye to Beldan before taking a seat across from Ruxack. The number of empty glasses was a bit much, but judging by how blue her cheeks were, she really downed them all. "Evening, there. Now, you got enough drinks there, hon, or can I interest you in another?" Eostre said, tapping one of the glasses.

Hivestuck

school started again so I might be a little slow, but I'll try to get responses in when I have time... I have a long bus commute which will be good for crafting responses.
Picking B!

 

[Hivestuck]

You collect the slip of paper. It reads, in very fine print:

Quote:

SECURITY 1A: 02461
SECURITY SHIFT CHANGES APPROX 10min @ 200, @ 1300

khmera’s office code changes nightly. check piazio.

Beldan tips his glass at you as you depart and returns his gaze to the monitor.

--

Ruxack’s flushed blue features barely registered Eostre until she was right in front of her. She had an inscrutable expression, body language tight and coiled. The match on the screen had begun, her gaze locked upon it as though she detested it.

At last, she registered the blueblood in front of her. “Eh??” She groaned, balling up a fist and smacking it into her thigh. “What’re you sayin’? You sayin’ I’m drinkin’ too much?” Her voice was quickly shifting into a roar. “Or you sayin’ you think I can’t take it?”

From the bar, Beldan looked over his shoulder before cocking an eyebrow and turning back to the match.

Ruxack was focused on the match, which didn’t seem to help her mood any. Finally, her sluggish focus slipped back to Eostre. She took one glance at the unfolding fight, growled, and snatched up the glass she was offered. In a second, she had downed it. And in another, she’d smashed it against the wall.

Immediately, security (who had obviously been trained to deal with this particular crew member), emerged to defuse the situation.

-

As you’re ushered away from the infuriated blueblood, you can hear her shouting and growling. Beldan catches you with a tap on the shoulder and taps the side of his sniffnode knowingly. “Kittna took the match. Bad luck, that, about Mojaan. Don’t worry, miss, wasn’t your fault. I’m off to collect my winnings.”

He slips away down the stairs. Meanwhile, security is having a hell of a time keeping Ruxack calm. She looks about ready to throw the rest of her glasses. What do you do?

A) Engage in combat!
B) Follow Beldan’s lead and head downstairs.

purplerosesbeauty

THE PLOT!! the thickening

 

[purplerosesbeauty]

That worked about as well as Eostre expected, all things considered. She had a vague hope she might get actual information out of Ruxack, but with how far gone she was, she only got more riled up and threw a goddamn fit. With her history, it was unsurprising. Violent, arrested for assault before.

Eostre let security escort her aside, glancing back at the blueblood. A fight seemed ready to erupt, and under normal circumstances she might be willing to get involved further. But she had a mission, didn't she? Sliding a bit under the radar in this particular instance might be better for her.

Taking Beldan's lead, she shrugged. "Should have known better, huh?" she said, crossing her arms. After a beat, she followed him down the stairs. Security could handle the agitated blueblood, and well, if they couldn't, that wasn't her problem right now.

Hivestuck

B!

 

[Hivestuck]

You follow Beldan downstairs. The atmosphere has calmed down significantly on the ground level now that the match of the night has ended. The hubbub of beetle exchange is a gentle murmur. Now looks to be a good time to seek practical information, as the exchange desks are open as well as the main operations counter.

Also spotted in the vicinity is Mackie Piazio, who appears to be wrapping up a large beetle deal with the troll in ‘line’ front of Beldan.

What do you do?

A) Inquire about matches at the main operations counter.
B) Inquire about the gambling scene at the exchange desks.
C) Talk to Piazio.

purplerosesbeauty

(Pluggin' right along!)

 

[purplerosesbeauty]

Well, if she needed to enter the matches, Eostre figured that would be the place to start with her information quest. Adjusting her jacket, she approached the main operations counter. She still wanted to look into Piazio, but this felt a bit more pressing. He'd still be around, wouldn't he? She'd just try to be quick. He had to deal with Beldan still.

At the counter, she leaned in and gave a smile. "Hey, can you tell a bit about the matches? I'm kinda thinkin' about entering."

Hivestuck

picking A
apologies again... school is Rough

 

[Hivestuck]

A spritely attendant greets you at the desk.

“Absolutely!” He chirps. He looks you up and down, sizing you up as he slides a portable grubtop tablet your way.

“It’s been a while since we’ve gotten new talent off the street. Usually Kelpin brings ‘em in. Actually, been a while since we’ve gotten new talent in general! The fans’ll love you I’m sure.” He coos. “Anyway, if you’re not here at the recommendation of Kelpin Bastia you’ll just go through a quick check-out process and then get a ‘tester’ match, one of the less popular slots, to start out with. Miss Ruxack handles all that, so get on her good side I guess! Ha…”

He explains the training and fighting schedule in detail, handing you some detailed documents on Violent Knuckles’ protocol.

“Just fill out your information on the grubtop tablet and you’ll be good to go.” He flashes what seems a bit too natural to be a purely customer-service smile.

What do you do? (It's getting a bit late - you have time for one more choice before a time skip!)

A) Inquire about the gambling scene at the exchange desks.
B) Talk to Piazio.

purplerosesbeauty

No worries! GL at school!

 

[purplerosesbeauty]

Kelpin, that was another name from her dossier. A scouter for the military, and apparently for the Violet Knuckles too. Eostre tapped her fingers on the counter and smiled. She'd already caused a scene with Ruxack, unfortunately. But perhaps it could be smoothed over still... Eostre took the grubtop and entered the information carefully - Bunnie Lepori was tough, she could handle some tester slots. She read over the protocol as well.

"Thanks, friend," she said to him. His cooing was offputting, but they probably had to say that kind of thing. Encourage the talent. No one would wanna join if they thought they were just going to get their a** kicked with no claim to fame and attention. Even she knew that much.

With that done, she went over to Piazio. She had to see if there was some way she could find the code for Khmera's office here, with him. She glanced at the writing on his arm."Hey, you busy?" Compared to earlier, it was practically empty in the hall.

Hivestuck

B!

 

[Hivestuck]

The ink on Piazio’s arm looks to be an intricate series of numbers and letters in table form, labeled with tiny acronyms. Most of the content is in numeral form, mostly huge numbers and likely representing gambling digits. As he counts, the patterns on his person shift in a mesmerizing fashion. One of the few images on the interior of his forearm, a large cluster point graph, begins to pepper with data points. Ink slowly fading in, appearing where there was just blank skin. New numbers appear and shift his data up his arm, past his sleeve until they are obscured, while certain numbers dim and disappear.

--
Piazio shuffles the last of his beetles into a very complex looking register, flashing a jagged white and gold smile at you.

“Never too busy for business. What can I do for you?”

(No choices this time, just RPing your investigation and such wink )

purplerosesbeauty