{Catch the freedom of falling

[shadowthief]

Who: Inej + Various
When: Month of September
Where: Cadens + the Horizon
What: Various closed threads
Warnings: Things that might come up in Inej's narration are: stealing; murder; descriptions of touch aversion, anxiety, depression, PTSD; heavy trust issues, paranoia; mentions of past instances of prostitution, slavery, sexual assault. Everything will be clearly marked if-when it comes up.

I took a hit of heaven

waiting for the sky to drop

Comments

{Hey bartender, pour 'em hot tonight » The Sarstina Inn, Cadens » OTA

[shadowthief]

Inej is a pretty solid fixture behind the bar most evenings at The Sarstina Inn. She has an almost natural talent for it, learning people's favorite drinks is no different than collecting information to share with the right people— the only difference is, it’s not the sort of thing she has any reason to report to anyone, and she simply stores it in the back of her mind for personal use when necessary.

Maybe you're a regular who finds your favorite drink perched in a glass in front of you as soon as she sees you approach the bar. She might give a soft smile and a, “Your usual?”

Or maybe you're newly Summoned and know a bar and a bartender are both good places and good people to get information from. New faces get an easy, "What can I get you?" Voice light, accented.

just some early september cr base building, nbd

[waywardsister]

Claire has a knack for making herself rare. Funny how in turn, Inej has a knack for existing behind the bar whenever Claire does make an appearance. It's especially impressive on late nights when it feels like Claire's the only person still awake in the whole wide world, and inevitably slinks down to the bar to try and chase away the edge of a nightmare, or else a rotating mind not coming to a halt. It's not a nightly thing - still impressive that it does happen.

She drops herself at the bar, shrugs a shoulder and taps the glass with a finger tip. So far, her usual's never been the same thing twice. Claire has a feeling it's not because Inej can't figure her out - but rather that the other young woman has clocked exactly how there is not a fixed, stable thing about Claire. Like Inej knows that any other place, Claire would flash a smirk and tell the bartender 'Surprise me'.

She appreciates that. Her usual being everchanging, at least for now. Curls her lips in amusement even though she looks tired.

"Sure. What's my usual tonight?"

[shadowthief]

Claire has a very specific feel about her, the kind that isn't all that different to street kids in The Barrel. Made of sharp wit, and even sharper knives, soaked in blood and borne of tragedy or greed and sometimes both. But it's not just that, either. It's something else. Other. Something that burns a little familiar, but not quite familiar enough to pin it down.

Something in her posture, the tightness in her shoulders, makes Inej suggest, "Seems like a night for whisky," she pours it up and slides it back toward her. A classic, really. No one frequenting bars would say no to a few fingers of whisky, would they?

{I know the price is steep » Kaz's room, The Sarstina Inn, Cadens » Kaz & Jesper

[shadowthief]

As much as Inej has tried to distance herself from her title as The Wraith, some things are too deeply ingrained in her at this point. Dean's call-out to the Summoned and the conversations that spiraled from it led her to Kaz's window like so many nights before it.

"Jesper's coming," she doesn't bother to introduce herself because she doesn't doubt he already knows she's there. "you can 'I told you so' at me later." About the war coming to their doorstep. She’s unnerved by the attack on Libertas, and it shows in the way she holds herself so rigid. Innocent people bombed, and for what?

She'll wait until both of the boys are in the room before she steps any further into the conversation just yet. She wants to know where their heads are with everything right now.

[bealufull]

It's not what Kaz was expecting... and yet it's exactly what he was thinking would happen. War would come. You didn't prepare without that knowledge. Often because you started it, which he also knew well.

"I wasn't even going to think about saying those words," he notes, turning towards the window and away from what he's been making notes of. "You didn't have to like it, none of us did, but we knew it was coming. As that gentleman said," he points out, his gaze coming to focus on her. "Someone has been orchestrating this for a very long time. The important question is which party - if not all of them - and why now."

And he hates that he hasn't been here long enough to have a clue. It's why he hadn't responded to that particular conversation - besides unwilling to use a system that he isn't skilled enough on in his book not to risk saying the wrong thing to the wrong person. He's waiting and watching because, in the end, it's not their war and he isn't ready to dive in for the good of God and Country. People, his people's people, are another thing.

[itookashot]

Jesper has been saying since he got here that war was inevitable, so this is not a surprise, if anything he is furious that they didn't think to steal all the Thorne Summoned while they were in Nocwich. A mistake. He thought they had more time. Stupid. He and Mat have already been talking and it's emotional for him, so when he comes into the room, he is in a high state of emotion. He's angry. He's buzzing with energy. Jesper looks like he's ready go to murder people, not his typical 'a job is a job' way, as in vengeance anger.

"We need to go to Thorne," he says as a greeting. Heated, gray eyes practically glowing. "I've been saying this for months, we need to get our people out of that castle, they're being held there." Okay, obviously none of them have tried to escape, but also because they didn't know how to leave. Mat didn't know how to leave, neither did Rhy. Maybe they accepted their situation, but not now.

"The obvious next step for Free Cities is to destroy the castle. The queen likely won't even be there, she'll get away, and the rest of them will die."

[shadowthief]

She hums a quietly noncommittal response at that, unsure whether she believes it or not. “His name is Dean,” she corrects him, because gentleman feels entirely wrong as a descriptor for him, regardless of whether or not it’s technically correct.

“I’m not much a gambler, but I’d place my bets with Tho—” she blinks, interrupted as Jesper whirls into the room, livid twelve ways from Sunday, looking ready to commit regicide.

“If we do that, we need to be sure we could them out safely. You can’t slapdash a mass breakout and hope for the best,” she understands his anger, but she does not share it with him. She’s angry, yes, but it would do her no good to hold close to that which could blind her to reason. “And you can’t assume that all of them would even want out.” Ridiculous as it sounds, there’s a lot to be said for people with peacekeeping personalities and the chance that some of the Summoned have sworn some sort of allegiance to the crown in Thorne.

“And where would we take them if we did manage to escape? Surely not here,” they need someplace neutral to all of the fighting.

[bealufull]

"His name is important right now?" He's frazzled and something in him doesn't like that in the least, that she's insistent on his name in that moment, but he's shaking his head and dismissing it even as the door opens.

"The time for walking in and dragging out your people like it's nothing are gone, Jesper," he points out, knowing that talking sense is likely only to rile him up but he won't have him rushing off to his death either.

"Not discounting the likelihood of an account on the castle, we need several things to even consider it." He's already been thinking about this from things Jesper has said and having just met Wanda as well at the party. None of it made it easy though. "One is getting word to those in the castle who want to be rescued and having them disappear. Get out of the castle, away from the grounds and find a place to hole up. Close to the border hopefully. And we'll need someone that knows those lands. Got a random Matthias like friend to draw us a detailed map of Thorne? Not the official one but one that might give us details they're withholding?"

Of course he's thinking about it, even if he knows the likelihood of success are low. They were low to begin with.

"And we'll need to scout the area between here and the border. Maybe there's abandoned areas we could move them to. If we can get them past the border. Do we know what the guards on the border are like?"

Already the wheels are turning, but he's trying to make Jesper also realize how much work there is to be done.

"It was not easy before whatever happened tonight. You're not rushing in there blind. Someone needs to make a case to the the leaders here not to retaliate blindly either. They could be giving into those behind this and giving them just what they wanted. War only benefits leaders and someone is looking to capitalize on tonight."

{Quest: Rescue Efforts » Inej, Kaz, & Cass » Libertas

[shadowthief]

The city of Libertas is in distress, and that's a wild understatement. Inej knew immediately, of course, she had to go. She also knew that she wouldn't be going alone. Kaz was the most obvious choice– with Jesper gone on his own mission with Ciri and the others... he wasn't likely to be keen on letting her go it alone anyway. She had mentioned it to Cassandra in passing, and she'd agreed to tag along with the pair of them as well.

The trio arrived in the fire-torn city and have been fitted with a hound to aid them in their task. She'd helped Nadine with care packages before the city was opened to the Summoned to help, and Inej has a handful of salves and tonics in the bag she'd packed before arriving.

"All set?" she asks, glancing between her two companions, flanked on either side of her.

[enduringkestrel]

Cassandra needs to keep busy, and what happened in Libertas is... concerning. Deeply so. And there's no hesitation in volunteering, in trying to do something to help. Which is why when Inej had mentioned it she'd leapt at the chance. She's never met Kaz, but she knows that the two of them are... familiar. Deeply so. (She wonders what that's like, to know someone so well and trust someone so much.)

"As set as is possible, I think," she responds quietly, her hand resting easily on the back of their hound.

[bealufull]

In truth, Kaz isn't certain about any of this except that it all will benefit what he's already promised Jesper and so he will have to make good on that. Which means taking the chances he has to explore as much as he can. There's a map to be made and even then he needs to know the land.

"Don't I look it?" His tones dry, a brow arching, knowing that Inej is not likely to be bothered by his tones. Or that look that hides his uncertainty about this place and going in with as little information as they have.

[shadowthief]

If they were sitting somewhere, Inej might kick him under the table, as it is, she only casts him a brief glance before nodding at the pair of them. "Then let's go."

The initial part of the journey is... well, frankly, it's devastating to see all of the destruction caused by the attack from the Queen of Thorne. These are the kind of images that will stick with her for a long time to come. She keeps her eyes sharp for anything alarming as they go.

{Assaignment » Inej + Closed, 4-part montage » Cadens/Libertas, Various

[shadowthief]

The effects of the night the attack in Libertas was launched have stretched like a yawning chasm across the days and weeks that followed. Libertas will be in something of a state of emergency for a while yet to come, and it has fallen to the sister cities of Aquila and Cadens to shoulder the burden of the tragedy. Cadens has become a main hub for refugees as the military and the Summoned alike perform search and rescues in Libertas throughout the month. The city is overwhelmed with the sudden influx of population and it shows in the way shops shelves' empty quicker, how few beds are available, the way the streets are more crowded when people take the time to be outside of the relative safety of wherever they may be calling home for the moment.

This overload has tricked down through every occupation, and it's during what's become a typical errand run for Mags through the months that Inej spots the older boy– stressed, on the verge of tears as he frantically tries to collect the spilled contents of his bag, muttering curses under his breath as more and more of it drops to the ground in his frenetic attempts.

She crosses the street and stoops down to help collect the letters and packages that have fallen. "Are you all right? That's quite the collection you're delivering." That was really all it took for the building pressure to break. The courier, Alden as he'd introduced himself, explains how overwhelmed he is trying to keep up with the demands, the way it's harder to find people when he needs to.

The offer to help was an easy one to make, and the wave of both relief and appreciation that swept across his face told her it was the right thing. He explains the task, and makes her promise to keep her involvement on the low, promising he'll find a way to repay her soon.

The first deliveries she made were easy: She knew exactly where to find those first two or three recipients because they were people she was familiar with on some level or another from errands around the city. However, that wasn't the case for all of them...

» Nadine

[shadowthief]

"Oh, I'm glad I found you," Inej had been hoping she could catch Nadine in the city between any medic needs she may be attending. Her luck did not fail her this time. "Do you have time to help me with something? I'm looking for one of the professors at Cadens Academy."

She isn't as familiar with the academy or its professors at all. She wouldn't even know what Dr. Eras Thawne looked like if she'd passed him in the street.

[nadine_he_loves]

"Hey." Nadine is on her way back from delivering some supplies to one of the many places set up for treating refugees who are still recovering. At least her education is advancing in leaps and bounds, with all of this.

"The Academy of Medicine? Yeah, I know a lot of the professors there."

[shadowthief]

"Yes," she nods at the question. "That's what I'm banking on. Do you know a Dr. Eras Thawne?" hope tinges at the edges of her voice. If she can complete these deliveries, something good will come of it, she's certain. And she's a woman of her word, she made a promise, and she intends to keep it.

» Shepard

[shadowthief]

When a very military-looking title came across one of the packages she was meant to deliver, Inej knew immediately who she'd need to contact for help. Though, with everyone a little everywhere at the moment, she wasn't quite sure where to find the commander, so she reaches out in that strange, mental way they can communicate here.

Commander? It's Inej. Where are you right now, I could use some help.

[earthborn]

Still a little ways outside the city, heading in.

[Shepard's never been one to turn down a favor, particularly for a friend, and she senses one in the offing— and there it is, right on time.]

Go ahead, I've got time.

[shadowthief]

[She can't tell her too much– she'd promised Alden to keep these quiet– but it shouldn't hurt to ask for some direction.]

I need to speak with the quartermaster, do you have any idea where he is?

[She supposes he's quite busy at this point, given the state of everything.]

» Geralt

[shadowthief]

Inej strolls the desolate streets to find the next name on her delivery list. Libertas is still in such a state of disarray from the attacks, and she never knew it well to begin with it makes it hard to know where to begin.

She's almost ready to accept defeat when she comes across a familiar face in all the wreckage. "Geralt," she calls out to him in greeting with a nod of her head in acknowledgment. She hasn't seen much of him lately, but she isn't surprised to find him out here, either.

[gynvael]

She's right that he's likely to be found amongst the wreckage. One of those rare months he's not left on a job. Seems the danger is at home more than out in the desert, so. He's here. Sometimes digging, sometimes scouting what roads are open. It changes from hour to hour.

He's hauling himself out of a hole in the ground when she arrives. He sort of...hovers there for a second, palms on the crumbled jagged ledge, before he climbs up altogether. In his hand is a scruffy, sooty, straw-stuffed bear that he's retrieved from the debris, for which he offers no explanation.

"Inej." He steps forward. A moment where he looks her over. She seems all right. Tired, like everyone else. "Searching?"

For the people, he means. Dead or otherwise. That's the primary reason anyone's in Libertas these days. Not like there's any more art to look at.

[shadowthief]

She notices the way he seems to give her a quick once-over and it's appreciated. She's fine, yes, but it's the concern that she might not be that sticks to her.

"Yes," she nods. "but I'm not sure I'll find who I'm looking for at this rate." between the wreckage and the scattering of people, it's a bit hard to hope for right now.

» Claude

[shadowthief]

"Hello?" she calls out, trying to peek into the window of one of the shops in Cadens. There are lights on in the building, that much she can see, but she can't quite tell if there's anyone inside or not. "Mister Belmont?"

No wonder Alden was having such an issue getting his deliveries done. Inej has run into a number of hard-to-find people in her own attempts.

[godshattering]

Today Claude's been a bit of a courier himself with bringing whatever he's been asked to between several of the merchants on this street to save them the trips through the busy streets. There's a letter in his hand he studies once more for the address before looking up at the numbers painted, etched, or displayed on doorways. This destination isn't one he's been to before though the man's name is familiar, and he's paying more attention to committing the storefronts to memory than anything else when someone calls out the name of someone he'd visited earlier in the day.

Claude blinks as he stops in place and turns to see Inej looking through a store window. "Hey there," he greets her from a couple feet away so as to not startle her (hopefully), "Belmont's not in at this shop today. He owns a couple and moves between them, and was at another shop a few streets over when I saw him earlier. If you'd like, I can show you where it is?"

[shadowthief]

She turns at the sound of a voice addressing her, a pleased smile on her face at the greeting. "Oh, really? I had no idea," she may be familiar with the shopkeepers she frequents for Mags, but that hardly means she knows every single one in the whole city.

"That would be great," she nods at his offer. "Thank you...?" she trails off, to give space for him to give his name.