[GRO] Eostre Diazzi - Adult

[Sypon]

You spot the security troll just leaving as you turn the corner. Slipping inside, the small room is covered in monitors of various places in the club.

=>Look at monitor 1:

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Backstage - outside locker room A. Bastia is talking with Huunda, who is being propped up by another troll. He seems to be in good spirits, bloodied and battered as he is.

=>Look at monitor 2:

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Backstage- outside locker room B (your assigned locker room). Ruxack, the match coordinator, enters the locker room with a briefcase. Moments later, she comes out of the locker room, her perplexed expression and mannerisms revealing she may be looking for someone.

=> Look at monitor 3:

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A split screen view of the audience. They're getting settled for the next match between two veteran fighters.

=> Look at monitor screen 4:

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The gym. A few trolls are working out.

=> Look at monitor screen 5:

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You have a good view of the bar. Beldan is there, sipping a drink. He's got a notepad in front of him - you wonder if he was taking notes on you.

=> Look at monitor screen 6:

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The betting desks. Piazio is handling a few costumers when an amazonian purpleblood walks up behind him and puts a hand on his shoulder. From this back view, you can see him bristle. It's Khmera. She says something into his ear and you see his power at work. On the otherwise clear patch of skin on the back of his neck, four numbers begin to form... 1 8 3 3.

Once you've checked the monitors, your time is up! You may either RP out the rest of the day investigating the club, or request a time-skip.  

[purplerosesbeauty]

Eostre had a limited amount of time to look, but she looked over the monitors as carefully as she could with the short amount of time she had between shift changes. Bastia went to talk to Huunda. Maybe she could see if she could talk to him later to find out what happened. Interestingly, Ruxack appeared to be searching in her locker room. Maybe for Bunnie? Eostre frowned. Too many people wanting her now, but that was part of being a fighter here. Beldan is in the bar, as expected. She might try speaking to him as well, when she had a moment.

The last bit of interest was Khmera speaking to Piazio. Numbers appeared on his neck, and she noted them mentally. 1833. A code, probably a changed password. She'd need it for something, surely. Khmera... Eostre was due for a meeting with her sooner or later as well. There was more work to be done.

As her time ran out, Eostre left the security room, making her way to the lockers. Hopefully her brief disappearance wasn't questioned too heavily. She needed to clean up and continue her investigation. Grabbing her towel, Eostre sat down on a locker bench and started wiping the sweat and blood off. She'd have some bruises to ice as well. But there was some valuable information gathered - the code Khmera whispered to Piazio and the scope of the security cameras. Now Eostre knew some blind spots that she could use if she needed to discreetly look at something, or be sure she wouldn't be seen moving to and from different locations in the Violet Knuckles.

 

[Sypon]

"Ah, Bunnie. Rux mentioned she couldn't find you. The fool." Bastia wheeled herself in, giving Bunnie a once-over. Her gaze was steely as ever.

"Your form is too tight. You should have been able to finish that fight in half the time." She pulled up a small tablet, sliding her fingers over the surface. Her view of the match, with the two fighters squared in the center of the display. "See, there? Both of your patterns are too predictable. You should be moving quickly enough to subvert that secondary jab into a counter, but you're wasting energy."

The tablet was deposited back into a pocket on the side of her wheeled device, and she crossed her arms. "You'll get shelved at this rate. The way things work around here, newbies barely make it. Not profitable enough. Get better, faster. Schedule drills with me in the early evening before opening tomorrow. I'll let you in through the back."

purplerosesbeauty

!!

 

[purplerosesbeauty]

"Yes, ma'am," Bunnie said respectfully, folding her hands in front of her. So Ruxack was looking her after all, but thankfully she was expected to be a bit... unreliable. Eostre's eyes lingered on the tablet, trying to keep a neutral face at the critiques of her form. "Of course. I'll do better," she added.

She couldn't get kicked out of the fights just yet, not when there was more to investigate, and she hadn't gotten to meet Khmera yet. She'd have to remember to not let herself get too distracted in the fights, and really put her all into the battles. At least until she had enough status in the fights that she wouldn't be shelved for taking too long. Extra drills in the early hours couldn't hurt. "I'll be there, ma'am. Bright and early!" She sat up straighter, giving her best eager fighter expression.

 

[Sypon]

"Mm." Bastia nodded and gave 'Bunnie' a flick of her wrist in acknowledgment. She wheeled away and out of sight. Her wheeled-device was shockingly silent across the slick floor.

--

Later...!

--

Early - very early. The sun was still setting, air sweltering and heatwaves beginning to fade off of the sidewalks.

Bastia, shaded under a thick opaque parasol and fanning herself, sat guard outside the door. The keys to the building hung on a coil around her wrist, which jangled with her movements. She looked particularly harsh in the dying sunlight; high cheekbones and thin weathered patterns etched on her regal features. Bastia's coarse hair was pulled back tied into a tight bun. It revealed her shredded fins; glowing through in the light. Whether or not she could match up with Eostre, she looked ready to throw down in any manner of ways.  

[purplerosesbeauty]

Bunnie reported bright and early, as expected of her. The last thin rays of the blistering sun was still able to be seen, and Eostre shielded her eyes as she met Bastia at the door. "Ma'am," she greeted politely. Eostre looked over Bastia briefly, noting the keys at her wrist and her shredded fins. It looked unnatural to see a seadweller with fins so damaged, but whatever happened to her must have been excruciating to land her in the wheeled device.

Eostre couldn't help but feel a bit pressured, knowing she had to run extra drills on top of her investigation. All she could do was hope being in the building during off hours could yield more information she wouldn't be privy to otherwise. "I'm ready when you are."

 

[Sypon]

"I've been ready," Bastia replied. Her response was brusque, but not cold. She nodded minutely and let Eostre in first, wheeling herself behind her.

Once the elder seadweller made it to the gym, her demeanor changed to something a bit more brisk and fiery. "Alright! No time to waste. A dummy is no suitable opponent, so I had a robot with variable combat AI commissioned for specialty training purposes. Do stretches and warm up while I fetch it from the data storage unit."

Bastia slid the coil of keys off of her wrist and picked out the squared-off card key to the data storage unit. She brought the coil with her, but deposited a duffel that she had stored on her four-wheeled device near her vantage point alongside the ring. "I shall return shortly."

You can hear her device roll down the hall, out of view. If you'd like, you can snoop!

=> Check the duffel!

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There are typical training supplies in here - they're very familiar to you. There is also a medical inhaler, prescribed to Bastia. There's also a plain, sealed envelope inside.

=> Take the envelope?
=> Take the inhaler?
=> Take nothing?

=> Investigate locker room A

Quote:

Ping Sypon

=> Investigate locker room B

Quote:

Ping Sypon

 

[purplerosesbeauty]

Robotic training wasn't something she typically did, but part of her did admire the lengths those at the Violet Knuckles went to in order to have engaged fighters. If it weren't for the fact she was undercover and investigating them... Eostre would have adored being here.

Eostre nodded curtly as she watched the older seadweller leave. With her gone, she quickly took time to snoop, peeking inside the duffel bag first. An inhaler, and a plain envelope... If she opened it up, it would probably have something interesting inside, but take some effort to seal back up. Eostre picked it up, holding it close to her body. It didn't seem to have any indication where or who it was from. Easier to take it and try to figure out returns later, if necessary. Tucking the envelope carefully away inside of her clothing, Eostre looked around.

She wanted to check out her locker room real quick, before Bastia returned. If she were caught she'd at least have an excuse to be there.

Sypon

To locker room b! and eostre ganked the envelope

 

[Sypon]

You take the envelope and make your way to the locker room.

The locker room is bare and empty, with each step echoing (you must be careful not to make too much noise). From within the depths of the locker rooms - perhaps the showers? - you hear something odd. Closer, you can make out quiet murmurings. The two voices are ones you recognize, speaking in hushed tones. Ruxack and Khmera. The end of a conversation buzzes in your ears.

"I don't care that she's a favorite. We're under too much scrutiny. More involvement means more insurance and more prying. Keep the few doped up and pick a stooge to take the fall if you have to. The kid - Huunda - he seems simple enough. Follow through, or Civisect gets to hear about Ophero."

There's a long pause.

"Fine."

"Go get a drink, why don't you? That seems to help you along ******** off, Muayia."

Suddenly, the stomping of footsteps. Likely Ruxack, based upon her rather graceless gait. You're quick enough to dodge into an ablution stall and quietly swing the door shut before she marches past. The light tapping of Khmera's sharp boots follow. They hesitate in front of your stall before passing by and out of the locker room.

After a carefully timed wait, the sound of wheels echo through the space.

"Bunnie? Are you in here?" Bastia calls. "If you're in there, I got held up. Ready to go when you are. Head back to the gym for training."

purplerosesbeauty

Feel free to RP out anything in the above text! For sake of time we can timeskip past training. Bastia will have you back next weekend during closing for another training session, which will be our FINAL STAGE!!

 

[purplerosesbeauty]

Eostre held her breath as she listened to the conversation, stopping so as not to make too much noise. She kept still behind some lockers. From the sounds of it, something was coming soon in the club. Ophero was a new name, and caught her spongeclots. Still too much left out, and only hearing the end of the conversation left her without full context. Interesting, despite that.

When the wheels of Bastia's device echoed through the room, Eostre let out a sigh, feeling as if she hadn't breathed that entire time she waited. She was safe still, at least for the moment. She made her way out of the ablution stall, back to the entrance.

"Coming, ma'am."

Sypon

heck yes

 

[Sypon]

Training with Bastia is on the same level as the hardest you've ever physically worked. The seadweller expects excellence: she is demanding, and despite everything gets up out of her four-wheeled device a few times to correct your form. You do see her use her inhaler after winding herself training you, getting up and about and settling back down... She seems to rifle through her bag after medicating, noticing something missing, but then shrugs off the disappearance. Back to work.

A solid pat between the shoulderblades is all you get at the end of your training, with the compliment of inviting you back same time, same place.

When you depart, you find time to examine the letter in the envelope.

"Khmera.
I have known Mack for sweeps. To say that your chaining of him to his betting desk is cruel to his destiny is an understatement. He has trained with me and proven his worth, and I see no reason for him to be barred from the arena.

Rumors around the arena are growing. Ruxack's health is an embarrassment, and the matches she sets up even more so. Even if these fights are truly fair, we are at the cusp of a fraud investigation, or worse - becoming the laughing stock of Alternia. I cannot look past my suspicions any more. However. If you allow Mack to train under myself and compete, that will be an act of good faith that I can stand behind. We can rebuild our reputation as a proper fighting organization. Respond immediately."

Written under the note appears to be a response in harsh black ink.

"You're right. Meet me in my office after hours and we'll discuss a deal." The date listed is the date you're going to be training with Bastia, later in the night.

--
Next week.

The same routine. The combat AI bot was set up from the previous training routine, so Bastia got right to work. However, combat was cut short.

"I've got to head to a meeting, Bunnie. Apologies." She exclaimed during a break, sipping water from a bottle. "I'll put away the AI and clean up. Feel free to cool down and head out when you're ready."

You can head out... But...

purplerosesbeauty

=> You can go to Muayia Khmera's office.

 

[purplerosesbeauty]

There isn't much time for Eostre to think while she's training - she is focused on maintaining the character, her appearance, her work ethic. She is on task and trying to learn what she can for the fights, just as would be expected of Bunnie. When training is over, Eostre lets out a deep breath, relieved that it's over. More intense than anything she'd done yet, but what would she expect from former military...

As she read the letter, she couldn't help but smile. The investigation's already begun, unfortunately for Bastia. And as soon as she had all the necessary information, it would end along with the Violet Knuckles. That was Eostre's job here, under order from the Queen herself. She put the letter away.

---

"Alright, ma'am," Bunnie replied to Bastia, wiping her face with a towel. That meeting tonight was with Khmera, and if Eostre could get in first, she would find more information for the investigation.

Off the hook for training, Eostre made her way to Khmera's office, doing her best to avoid the spots she remembered the cameras watched.

Sypon

 

[Sypon]

The office is at the very end of a narrow hallway: difficult to slip out of unnoticed. There is a keypad at the door. It appears you can enter 4 digits for access.

purplerosesbeauty

 

[purplerosesbeauty]

The claustrophobic halls reminded her of her hive, though without the same sense of security she felt there. At the door, she paused. Eostre remembered the numbers she watched on the monitors the other week, and pressed them into the keypad - 1833.

 

[Sypon]

Khmera's office was narrow and long, extending like a dark chasm towards a monolithic desk. Portraits on the walls showcased an orphaner's club, with kills and even a portrait with the Empress (looking like it was her 20th photo-shoot of the day with the rabble, of course). A sitting area filled up space but added no coziness to the cold office.

Next to Khmera's desk were two matching filing cabinets. Locks, fortunately, easily pickable. Inside, the treasure trove.

=> Drawer 1

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Receipts, transactions, paperwork galore. At first glance, it's hard to parse the dense information. Paperwork with ample redactions clues you in to further investigation. In the bottom of the drawer, under a false floor, are a few receipts: the smoking gun. You've found falsified reports of inventory for medical supplies.

=> Drawer 2

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After searching the first drawer, you know to look for a false floor in the drawer: bingo. Betting analyses, with notes and write-ups in the same handwriting you recognize as Khmera's. She has made specific notes on setting up fights, with specific "doped" fighters denoted under codenames who she intends to boost through the ranks. The co-conspirators should be fairly easy to trace. Khmera's notes are precise and methodical - leaving out certain staff (Bastia comes to mind) to maintain credibility, bringing in the most loyal to her cause. She's undoubtedly the single thinkpan behind the operation.

=> Drawer 3

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An inhaler, clearly one of Bastia's. Where did she Khmera this? It looks to be recently prescribed and unused.

=> Drawer 4

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A news clipping denoting the sudden death of Nausma Ophero, prominent orphaner, and a photo, taken secretly, of Mojaan leaving a warehouse. The date and location of the photo match the information noted in the clipping.

Suddenly, you hear the door opening from afar. You have to hide!

purplerosesbeauty