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Post by Lucas Chevalier on May 11, 2021 1:02:21 GMT -8
The past month or so had been successful for Lucas, at least in terms of earning extra income to support a proper nightlife in Vegas, including keeping himself looking prim and proper. He finally got around to a much needed hair cut, going with a a shorter haircut. All he needed to do was throw in some product and his kith did the rest of the work for him. His cleaned up look and fine tuning of his social skills were slowly but surely helping to open up more doors for him. Through his evening adventures, he picked up on some tidbits about the Zumanity show having some juicy gossip going on. While he wasn't sure what exactly said gossip was, it was enough to lead to him looking up the show online. He was surprised to see a familiar face among the cast. While he had been on the fence about checking the show out, there was the potential to kill two birds with one spoon so to speak. Hrm, maybe he shouldn't use that phrase any more, with owning a rather rambunctious Cockatoo and all. Any who, he had business he needed to discuss with Riley and he didn't have their number yet. While he could probably track it down, he knew he wasn't going to be a priority for them to call back. The venue looked big enough that he didn't have to worry about being a distraction for them during the performance. It wasn't uncommon to catch cast and crew members socializing at the clubs located in the hotels they performed in. Maybe he could catch them after a performance and propose his Freehold business idea with them. If all else failed, he was at least going to get a good show out of his venture. He hit the buy tickets option for the upcoming performance, as well as the Coaster and Cocktail package. Come Tuesday evening, he was dressed in a semi-formal outfit, rocking his new haircut, and a splash of a nautical themed cologne. He had opted for a pair of slim fit jeans, brown dress shoes with a matching brown belt, a form fitting blue vest, and a white long sleeved dress shirt which he rolled up to his forearms. It was fancy enough to help him blend in and draw attention if he wanted to, but he wasn't going to pop out among some of the more extravagantly dressed guests. He made sure to give Luther lots of attention and playtime to keep him chill before he took his leave of the apartment to head over to the New York, New York hotel. The rollercoaster ride had been a lot of fun. Maybe there was something to this whole getting out into the world and socializing for fun instead of solely business. He even managed to win a stuffed toy for Luther at the arcade. By the time he finished his cocktail, the doors to the performance venue had opened up for seating. Lucas settled in, making small chat here and there with some of the people he sat with. Everyone he spoke with was enthusiastic about the performance, encouraging him to check out similar productions in the area. Once the show got underway, he could see why it got so many rave reviews. Despite him, he enjoyed the performance and he had to give it to Riley. They had come a long way in the past year. He joined the audience in applause at the end of the performance. Then he made his way over to the bar area, waiting to see if Riley passed by on their way out or if they were going to stop and socialize. While he was sipping away at lighter drink by one of the lounge seats, one of the performers from the show sauntered on over to him. She introduced herself as Naomi. Lucas recalled her performance from the show, which he complimented her on, and she seemed receptive to. The two of them engaged in some small banter that could easily turn into flirting. If he wasn't here for business purposes, he would have switched the tone over. However, he was here for a specific purpose and he didn't want to put himself in a position where it would be rude to take his leave from the conversation. |
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on May 11, 2021 7:19:44 GMT -8
Riley pulls off the wig setting on their makeup table. Their hair was pulled back and clipped tight to their head. The darkling grabbed a towel and began to tap the sweat from their face as they recollected over the show. Their eyes scanned the dressing room. It had been another show, another night like the ones before; Riley had gotten only the barest acknowledgment, the occasional good job, or some feedback. It was more than it had been weeks ago, but it still was minimal. It was exhausting, but Riley tried hard not to let it show. This was the job; this was the life. They didn't want to seem ungrateful; it was, as they say, paying your dues. It wasn't common for Riley to stay much past the show. These days they took off early, either to go visit Firebringer, their motley, or...other business. But tonight, Riley had decided to grab a drink and maybe make another attempt at building grace amongst the cast. Those plans were short-lived, however. This evening Riley had gone with a relaxed post-show look. Loose grey pants, a striped top that they had thrown their fringed leather jacket over. Their hair was still pinned down from the show. Stepping into the bar, the Twilight Dancer quickly noticed Naomi and Lucas sitting at the bar chatting. The Moths felt their blood boil. It was enough that Lucas was here; what did he want? Let alone that of all the tail for him to chase, it had to be her? They had half a mind to turn around and find another bar, but the Bright One was hard to miss, and they were sure both of them had noticed. With no escape without looking stuck up, the moth moved to the bar at the other end and ordered a whiskey sour. I should have just gone to Salt Bar. |
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on May 11, 2021 8:16:46 GMT -8
While the Moth was secretly fuming, the Gravewight was having himself a good ol' time with Naomi. The two of them were joking around with each other and the temptation was there to ask for her number. However, he was a Winter courtier: business first then pleasure.
Just as Naomi was about to position herself to sit next to Lucas, he noticed Riley move towards the bar. If he wanted to get the ball rolling, this was the time to do it. He apologized to Naomi, explaining that as much as would love to continue talking with her, he did need to catch up with an old friend. To keep the mood light and to hopefully not leave her feeling blown off, he did add a flirtatious tone to his voice when he mentioned he would have to come back and watch the show again because there were parts of it that were worth experiencing again and again. He added in a playful wink and used his brightest smile which was typically helpful with defusing most mundane social interactions.
One way or another, he strolled on over to the bar where Riley was and he took a seat next to them.
"We need to stop meeting like this or people are gonna think we're a couple of lushes."
He attempted to break the ice by cracking a joke, since this was the second time the two of them had met at a bar. The Fairest and Darkling may have played nicely with each other at Ostara, but they did not actually resolve any of the conflict between the two of them.
"Also great job out there tonight. I've seen a lot of shows in Vegas and y'all put out a top notch performance."
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on May 11, 2021 11:17:07 GMT -8
Riley knew Lucas was here to see them. A part of them wished he wasn't, that he was just going to chill at the bar, ignore the Darkling.
As Lucas approached, the Bright One's gut turned. Did he just blow off Naomi to come to talk to them? Really? Damn it, this sad boi just rolling in here like a wrecking ball; it would have been better if he had just made out with Naomi instead of doing this.
Fuck, one more problem on that pile.
The Darkling smiled, though, as Lucas approached. They raised an eyebrow slightly at the joke of being Lushes. The last person who suggested that ended up being shamed in front of everyone and was so embarrassed they ran to another dimension and dragged back some awful spirits.
"Oh, don't worry, I already have that reputation" A cold undertone ran beneath the joke.
"Thanks, we work hard for this show. The troupe is top-notch, some of the best I know. Glad you enjoyed the show."
They took a sip of their whiskey sour. But, unfortunately, the winter courtier was likely not here for a simple wine and dine.
"Imagine a dinner and show wasn't your singular plan for this evenin'."
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on May 11, 2021 21:43:17 GMT -8
Unlike their last interaction, Lucas did not feel like he was being guided by fate to fulfill his destiny. However, what may end up being a greater source of annoyance for Riley was that they were dealing with a Fairest who was trying to figure out The Right Thing to Do in the midst of a political mess that appeared to have an endless amount of layers attached to it. Needless to say, he was bound and determine to try and make the business arrangement happen and the cold shoulder wasn't going to be enough to deter him.
He raised a brow at their lush related quip. The cold undertone was a red flag that warned about pursuing that topic so he left it alone, transitioning on over to their question for him.
"You're correct. I was actually hoping the two of us could head some more private to talk business. I have some information that I'm confident will be of great interest to you and you have a certain talent that's of great interest to me."
The bar tender came over to Lucas to ask him what he wanted. He settled on a Cider and declined wanting to open up a tab. However, he did cover Riley's drink when he paid his bill.
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on May 12, 2021 6:00:47 GMT -8
What I cant afford my own?
The Moth's intrusive thought lept into their mind. They were already in a sour mood.
"Sure, we can talk business."
Information? Riley wasn't sure what Lucas might have. It was surprising to hear he would have any information; he had been keeping out of sight for a while. But it was worth poking at.
Riley walked over to some booths at the far end of the bar. Glancing towards Naomi as they passed before taking a seat on one side of the booth. Propping their legs up before taking a sip of their drink.
"Ah'rite than...business."
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on May 12, 2021 6:42:21 GMT -8
Lucas sighed inwardly. He wasn't expecting any real accolades for attempting to bridge some goodwill between the two of them by paying for Riley's drink, but at the very least a "thank you" or even a nod of acknowledgement towards the gesture would have been nice. Riley was proving they didn't need to be in Winter to still be an expert of giving off a cold shoulder vibe.
You have to be the only Lost who has gone from Winter to Spring and somehow become less fun.
However, the situation that was brewing was bigger than the two of them and their personal hang ups. There were other avenues he could explore if this didn't pan out but Riley was an ideal candidate to partner up with on this fact finding mission for a number of different reasons. He followed behind them to the booth in the far off corner, flashing Naomi another charming smile on his way over, and he made sure to take the time to allow their eyes to meet. Once he arrived at the booth, he sat his can of cider down on the table.
"We'll need to move somewhere even more private depending on how the conversation goes down, but this is a fine starting point."
He took one last look around to ensure no one was watching them or advancing their way before he continued in a lowered voice.
"I have two pieces of information I want to sell you in exchange for a couple of things. The first piece of information is something that even if you don't care about, others within your court most certainly will. I don't have solid leads on that one. However, the source of the information is extremely credible so I know with some leg work, more information can be found. The second piece of information is tied into some messy political situations. Both of our courts are involved in the matter, as well as Summer. There's going to be risk involved with the second one. No matter the outcome, someone's Cheerios are going to get pissed in."
His mind wandered back to the end of the Reverent crisis and all the political fallout and blood that resulted in it. When he looked back at Riley, there was a new intensity to his eyes and there wasn't any hesitancy or uncertain in his voice.
"In exchange for this information, I want you to teach me how you're able to not show up on cameras when you use Light Shy. With the second piece of information, I want the two of us to work together to get more information, that we will both truthfully share with each other, and I may need your assistance on getting into a certain location. I thought I had more time to plan this out but things seem to be escalating fast. With how risky all of this has the potential to be, I want the two of us to agree to doing a pledge. Part of the pledge is going to include that you can't name me as a source of information or take any action with the intent of having the information come back to me. I'm not going to name my initial sources of information. However, I will include in my pledge that I believe them to be highly credible sources so you know I'm not bullshitting you. Lastly, this information is not to be shared with anyone else without my expressed, willful permission. If it falls into the wrong hands or someone decides to play hero, it's going to turn into a complete shit show."
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on May 12, 2021 7:34:23 GMT -8
Riley sat and listened to Lucas as he expressed his concerns and wants. He jumped straight into it, but given the circumstances, he didn't say much of anything. Riley took a moment, trying to read between the lines and get a sense of what Lucas's play was here and why he had come to Riley beyond wanting to learn kith secrets. However, Lucas seemed to believe in what he said to be necessary, and his words were honest. That may be, but his offer was less than satisfactory for the Darklings taste when trading in information.
"Interesting," They Wisp says in a dry uninterested tone. However, Lucas can pick up on the glint of curiosity in Riley's eye. The Moth's antenna flicked absently. Lucas could tell the unimpressed display was just the opening to bargaining.
"Here's the problem Lucas, you're asking a lot but aint offering much. At least much that I can safely measure. Has any of this information been truly verified, as in you are absolutely certain it ain't horse shit?"
Riley took a sip of their drinking, raising an eyebrow to the man across from them.
"And who else knows this information beyond yourself?"
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on May 12, 2021 8:44:14 GMT -8
A lot can change in a year, but people and Lost alike largely maintained certain quirks and tell-tale signs. When Lucas observed Riley's antenna twitch, he knew there was interest there. That was his best angle to play off of. With others, he might go the route of flattery. With a Darkling, especially a vindictive, scorned ex-lover Darkling, flattery was not going to do the trick. It was better to feed into that curiosity and tug at their craving for secrets. The balance was demonstrating the information he had was worth their time without tipping his hand and giving them enough to formulate leads of their own to pursue.
"On the contraire, I would argue that I'm offering you a lot. You're getting access to information that's offering a lot of insight into current political machinations and if you use it wisely, you've got a lot to gain. There are several pieces in the second part that I know are fact. A piece or two are more rumblings that would be easy enough for us to follow up on."
Lucas leaned back in his chair, his body language became relaxed and his eyes were open. It was as if he was daring them to try and read him because he wasn't trying to put up a poker face what-so-ever like they were because he was that confident in his information.
"Others will have bits and pieces here and there, but I don't know of anyone who has been able to put all the pieces together like I have. Maybe one other individual has figured a lot of this out but they are even harder to bargain with than I am. There are those with influence in your court who are nervous" He put a big emphasis on the word "because of the events tied into the information I have. There are those who are upset as well and a lot of feathers are being ruffled. In a lot of ways, this information is much more valuable to you than it is to me. So, ask yourself Riley, how much is it worth to you to find out what's got so many competent, socially savvy members of your court nervous, upset, and demoralized?"
He took a drink, giving them a long, hard look while he tried to read their next set of emotions.
That had been the plan, anyway. Lucas sabotaged his own thoughts by allowing an intrusive voice to remind him that while Riley may try to be helpful every now and then, the most important person to Riley was Riley and their needs and desires were going to trump whatever else was going on with anyone else.
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on May 12, 2021 16:13:52 GMT -8
The moth raised an eyebrow at Lucas. He was playing a big game, but hadn't said anything with real substance yet.
“Look I am not going to play ball unless I know this information is worth a damn. Think of it like this, you're askin' me to buy a product I cant look out, quality check or verify. There is nothing here that tells me I want this information, or that it is worth what you think it is. I can tell you think its valuable but i cant from where I am sittin'”
Riley sighed, taking sip of the Whiskey Sour and sitting on the table with a soft clink.
“If you were anyone else I would have said thanks no thanks. But you don't come lookin’ for me without a reason. So. Here’s my offer. You give me a sample of this information, so I can actually judge its value. If I am actually interested, than we can work out a deal.”
It seems fair enough to the Darkling. Information was a difficult commodity, it’s value highly circumstantial. The more who know the information the less valuable it is. Furthermore there was always a chance Lucas was wrong about his information, and that would be a problem.
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on May 12, 2021 16:50:22 GMT -8
"I am telling you exactly what you're asking for, the problem is you're not listening. Do you really think competent members of your court are going to be sweating over small stuff?"
Lucas found some doubt starting to make it's way into his system. While learning more about Light shy would be helpful, it wasn't vital for what he needed to do. He could connect with the Magpie instead and work on improving his good will among Spring which had a lot of value to it as well. While the Magpie may not have some of the social connections Riley was likely to have, Lucas at least had a positive working relationship with the Magpie.
"And then if you decide, nah, you're not interested, you can start digging into some potential leads based on that sample and end up agitating some of the involved parties.
Look, I'm going to be on the level with you here, Riley. There's someone else I can connect with instead who can offer me something valuable in exchange and I actually get along with them. You and I don't exactly like each other a great deal at the moment. It is what it is.
But there are people you like a hell of a lot more than you like me that are going to be impacted by what's going on. So, I'll give you this. The political situation I referenced,if it plays out as intended, has a good chance of forcing you and anyone you care about in Summer to be at odds with each other. Not because you'll want to but because your Summer buddies will be forced to because Spring will be seen as a threat if the Spring courtier is caught in the act. "
Since Lucas actually liked some of the same Summer courtiers that Riley cared about, he was willing to give that bit of insight into it. But that was the most he was willing to give without the two of them coming to a formal agreement.
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on May 12, 2021 19:33:57 GMT -8
"Competent members mean nothing. It's buzzwords, Lucas. Anyone can say that. And how do I tell if I already know what is botherin' these higher up's in my court? Also, there are half a dozen political situations that could end that way right now."
The Darkling sighs and rubs the bridge of their nose, their antenna flicking in agitations. Riley didn't like Lucas pulling their friends into this as vague threats and
"Lucas," they say softly their tone shifting.
"Look, as a professional courtesy, here is a tip. Treat secrets and info like you do blackmail. You don't just tell someone 'I have photos of you cheatin''; you show them one. So they know you mean business. The same with information applies, ya gotta show me you mean business, and you're not wastin' my time. "
They tap the table and down the rest of the sour. The Wisp takes a deep breath.
"Give me one name attached to the information, in good faith. If ya wanna work with me, you're goin' to need to trust me. Give me that, and we can talk business."
The darkling pushed, hoping to convince the winter courtier to play ball. Otherwise, this deal could be dead before it started.
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on May 13, 2021 13:48:30 GMT -8
Of all the things Riley could ask him for, they of course had to ask for the one thing he was loathed to give them; his trust.
The last time the two of them had talked, Riley had made it abundantly clear to him that the two of them weren't friends. Not that he had thought them to even remotely be close to being friends, but it left him with the impression they didn't care to be friendly with him in capacity. He was also well aware that they had no problem being vindictive towards him without feeling the least bit remorseful about it.
Lucas raised his drink to take a sip from it so he could keep his hand occupied and avoid any nervous ticks with it.
While he didn't agree with their assessment of the situation, he knew they were coming at it from two different philosophies which was an overarching problem with the Freehold. Riley thought he was trying to use buzzwords to shine up a garbage product. Lucas, on the other hand, would not dare sign a pledge with the intent of trying to manipulate the other party. In his mind, doing so was asking for the Wyrd to make your life miserable. However, if he brought that up the two of them were going to continue to debate in circles. The Darkling had made it clear what they wanted from him in order to move forward.
There were a couple of ways he could play this. The one he favored the most was offering to do a seal with them. He would share a name and in exchange they would tell him if they honestly knew of said individual being involved in a political situation with their courts and Summer. Whenever he dealt with other Cold Weather courtiers, that was the preferred method. The problem with that method is that it showed he wasn't willing coming at them from a good faith angle because it still suggested he was expecting them to screw him over with any tidbit of information he gave them. The other choice was to actually give them a name and see how they reacted to it.
If he dug deep enough into his subconscious he knew the real reason he was being hesitant; he was afraid. If he moved forward with this, he was likely going to be pissing in his own court's Cheerios. There was a part of him that secretly hoped Riley would provide him with some information that confirmed Zhi was justified in his actions and he could turn a blind eye. But was that the kind of Lost he wanted to be? Sedna had asked him to help stabilize Fawkes and respect Eurydice's might for a reason. If he ran away from this and holed himself up in his apartment again, he was never going to be anything more than a low mantle nobody who let others suffer because his spine was as sturdy as a half-cooked noodle.
He already knew what the right thing to do was. He just needed to commit to it and stop stumbling around in the dark trying to look for an exit.
With a resigned sigh, he sat his drink down on the table. His eyes met and held Riley's.
Please don't fuck me over, Riley. It's not going to end well for any of us, especially me.
"Alright. Zhi is in the thick of this particular situation."
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on May 14, 2021 7:37:58 GMT -8
Riley sat in silence across from Lucas. It was a heavy, lingering silence, a bit uncomfortable. They ran their finger slowly along the rim of the glass, their eyes cast to the table as they measured the name Lucas gave them.
Zhi.
"Wait here." The Darkling instructed, standing up slowly, taking the glass, and moving towards the bar.
They spoke with the bartender, gestured over to the table where Lucas was sitting. There was a quick exchange before Riley moved to the front door. A waitress came by a minute later, placing another drink on the table.
"Your friend bought you this." The waitress left.
Leaving Lucas to sit at the table alone, with his new drink, the bar's music, and his thoughts.
After a few minutes, Riley returns, walking to the table with a nod.
"It's clear. Come on, let's talk more in private"
They cant their head to the side as a gesture for him to follow. Riley guided Lucas through some staff hallways towards the dressing room for the cast. This was not how they imagined this evening going. What had Lucas gotten himself into, let alone drag them into? The last few months spiraled in the darkling's mind, cutting and biting at their doubts and anxieties.
In truth, Riley hoped what Lucas had was nothing. Meer rumors, nonsense theories, and a waste of time. That was the best results the Darkling could think of. But if it was a severe Lucas believed it to be, did they genuinely want any part of it?|
Riley unlocks the door to the dressing room and pushes it open, flipping on a light.
"So then. Tell me again what you want and what you are offerin'"
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on May 14, 2021 9:02:14 GMT -8
Well then.
That was the right name to drop to help emphasize how serious this situation was. Lucas sat his cider off to the side, partaking in his new drink.
My friend, huh?
Since it was just him, he felt more comfortable tapping his fingers against the table counter to release some of the nervous energy inside of him. Once they pulled the trigger on this deal, there was no going back for him. He had cast the die and was prepared to roll with the consequences, even if the thought caused small spikes of anxiety to ripple through him. He downed a large portion of his drink in one go to help soothe his nerves.
On the upside of things, he had a useful skill set to tackle this situation and so did Riley. If the two of them could learn to get along again, he genuinely believed they could pull this off. Save the Fury, save the Freehold.
Upon Riley's return, Lucas finished off the last of his drink. His original suggestion was going to be that they go for a drive in his car, which was why he had opted for a weak alcoholic beverage. However, the private space Riley lead to them worked just as well. His blue eyes curiously glanced around what he assumed was their dressing room. After taking in the room, he folded his arms across his chest, and leaned back into the wall.
"I want to learn how you're able to avoid being in camera when using Light Shy. I assume that it's because of you're Seeming." With some level of trust established between the two of them, he felt more comfortable expanding on his motives.
"As you're starting to put together, there's a lot of serious things going on at the moment that I'm looking into. The more discrete I can be the better. Secondly, there's an event that I'm trying to get into. I have a good idea of what I need to do to get into said event. I was hoping I would have more time to do it, but I don't know how much I have left until it's too late. You have certain connections that will make it easier for me to accomplish that task.
In return, I'm going to share two pieces of information with you that have a couple of different layers to them. The first piece of information was a lead I was pursuing that led me to the situation that involves Zhi. I have some theories on what's going on there, but nothing concrete there. In addition to the pieces of information I'll share with you, you can decide how involved you want to get. If you'd rather not help me with getting into the event then that's fine. If you do decide that you want to help me with that, then I'll keep you updated on information as I get it, and share my overall plan with you. I'll keep an open mind and if you think there's a better way to go about things or a completely different direction we should be going in, then we can discuss that. And, of course, the discretionary terms I mentioned earlier will apply."
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