[open] some Kenoma come up to Godsblood the other day...

[baltimores]

WHO: Amos, Gen, Eustace, Childe, any Pleroma
WHAT: Amos wants a gun, Eustace wants to make a portal, and in order to make it happen they go to...
WHERE: Godsblood.
WHEN: Towards the end of Visoseri/start of Soviseri
WARNINGS: None, unless you count bullying of various Pleroma; will add as necessary


The content of this entry is intended to be an OOC explanation of what's going on to keep everyone up to speed; any characters who may be in Godsblood during this time period are free to top level or tag out. This is not an event and simply a unique instance that some characters are kinda sorta technically in enemy territory, which opens itself up to thread opportunities that would not otherwise be possible.

Basically: four Kenoma are journeying up to Godsblood, albeit not all together and through different means.

Amos and Gen will be arriving via a boat directly from Achamoth, and accordingly, will be outed as Kenoma Aions right from the get-go — the populace should know who they are, and word of their arrival would likely get around. Amos is there because he wants to build a higher quality gun than what they have in Achamoth and Godsblood is the place to do it; Gen is there to serve as backup/moral support/because they're friends, okay. Story plotting link here for more details.

Eustace and Childe will be sneaking in via carriage from the Artisan shrine/a portal and will therefore not be known as Kenoma Aions upon entry to Godsblood — unless there are characters there who already know who they are, that is. Eustace is setting up a portal to facilitate travel between Achamoth and Godsblood. This is not public knowledge and non-Kenoma Aions/NPCs are unlikely to know about this. Story plotting link here for more details.

The mods have also provided some guidelines for how interactions could go between characters so that any Pleroma wouldn't necessarily have to out themselves as Aions when it comes to interacting with Amos or Gen, who are publicly declared as such. Highlighting what was said further down in Amos' plotting comment:

It wouldn't be unreasonable for a visiting Aion to be chatting up people within Godsblood so sharing a meal ... wouldn't be a dead give away, but it might tie them to the Aions on the rumor network if they do it in public. Whether they are just strangers Gen and Amos are dining with or whether they are connected to Achamoth won't be clear, but it would definitely have implications ... It's definitely a risk, at any rate.

As for meeting in a busy street or a public park the connection is still possible but a lot less likely, since the odds of them chatting up some rando in the park is a lot more likely than sitting down for dinner with them. It'd also be a lot more obvious if someone was spying on them, unlike a closed environment like a pub or eatery, so that'd probably be the safest option without going somewhere deserted or private.

Comments

[baltimores]

[ The hurt he had felt at Ernesto's refusal to infect others back in Venera almost feels comical now, except for the part where if Amos thinks about what happened to him back there — really thinks about it — he's going to delve into the depths of rage. And he can't do that in Godsblood. Not without proper provocation, which Ernesto is not going to give him. He couldn't in Venera, and he certainly won't with his wits about him.

But that was in the past. Can't do anything about it now. Not until they find some way to kill the thing that brought it about, at least. So Amos just smirks at that finger, genuinely amused by it, by the role Ernesto is putting on. He slips into it so easily, it almost seems real. ]

Yeah, alright. [ He returns the jar to its original spot, then places both hands down on the table, palms flat, leaning over it a little as though he's interested in just the surface level bullshit Ernesto is peddling... because he kinda actually is. He maintains eye contact. ] What's the spiciest you've got that's also the hardest to get? I mean, not like I got the time to go find my own all that often. Tell me what'll be most worth my while.

[goldendeceiver]

[ No, Ernesto will not be provoking Amos today. He'd prefer to provoke Amos ever, because unlike some other Pleroma, he's not all that eager for a fight with any member of the Kenoma.

But he's also not as unaffected as he pretends to be. While Amos might feel a lot of rage about what happens, Ernesto's feelings are a little different. What happened in Venera had been a truly harrowing experience, and even if at the end he'd chosen to try and use himself as an infection filter, having to relive his own traumas again and again and again... and again...

It's not something you actually bounce back from that quickly, and while his interaction with Amos hadn't been particularly unpleasant on the surface, Amos has approached him with the intention to infect him at first, and then speed up the hold it had on him second.

So when Amos leans over the table, putting himself just a little closer to Ernesto in the process, the Perro involuntarily jerks back, leaning away from Amos.

His smile stays shockingly steady, and he moves along with the conversation like that never even happened. In fact, after a moment the smile just gets wider, trying to figure out Amos' game here. Is he trying to pinpoint the location Ernesto got these from? He supposes it won't matter, because they all come from the same forest no matter what, and that information will be easy to ascertain. ]

It'll cost you the most too if you want it.

[ But he puts a single finger on top of a small jar of red powder. Ironically Eustace bought the same one from him already, so if this is for Ciel as well? Lets hope she really enjoys this spice. ]

[baltimores]

[ Huh.

So that smile's bullshit, too. Well, obviously it is — they're both walking fine lines here, but Amos had thought it was just a part of Ernesto's face for the outer world. It's something he does a lot... Or did, before being treated as a demigod wherever he goes. Now there isn't much of a need for him to pretend. But that flinch...

Yeah, he actually has no idea where that came from. It's noted, though. Ernesto's recovery means nothing, and Amos is watching him that much more keenly now. What he's looking for specifically, he couldn't say, just that he knows there's something there. He really had been willing to drop the game before, but now it's back on.

At the same time... ]

Sure, I can pay. How much?

[ Not like he knew that Eustace had already been out and about shopping. Really, this is all just on a whim — because he knows Ciel likes spicy foods, he likes spicy foods, and it helps him keep up the pretence. Win-win-win. ]

[goldendeceiver]

[ Dammit... Ernesto is kicking himself for faltering enough to let Amos see that. Usually he's so much more put together than this.

Then again, usually he isn't still feeling freshly raw from having to revisit old traumas so many times. It makes his stomach knot up to have Amos pay such visible and obvious attention to him now, but maybe he should be happy about this. Amos is not being particularly subtle with Ernesto right now about much of anything, and it gives Ernesto a better idea of what to brace himself for.

All he can do now is continue to play cool, even if it might be all too obvious that's an act now. ]

Twenty jools.

[ He offered it to Eustace for fifteen, but Eustace didn't try to infect him more last time they met. ]

[baltimores]

[ He's really got no reason to be subtle here. Hell, he came to Godsblood announced, his status well known from the very beginning. There's really no point to sneaking around, especially when it's more effective to just bust through things to get what you want.

(It does make the times he actually does decide to act more clandestine that much more unexpected, though.) ]

Twenty, huh?

[ He can afford it. He can afford a lot of things now, and when that happens, Amos has a tendency to spend freely. And he really has no reason not to take Ernesto's pricing at face value — except for the fact that he is giving money to Ernesto, and who knows what he's doing with it. Really could be anything.

Amos eyes him for a moment, empty smile on his face, before shrugging and pulling a sapphire out from a pouch, putting it on the table right in front of Ernesto — far closer than he needs to be putting anything down to pay him. Not that he's expecting a reaction this time, but he's curious about that. ]

Tell ya what. Throw in something that's worth another five, and you got a deal.

[goldendeceiver]

[ Amos is right to be suspicious of that, because while a cut of Ernesto's profits are lining his own pockets, the majority of it is still going back to the Pleroma. He might be ready to live a little more comfortably than most of his friends out in the woods, but he's still determined to supply them with what they need in order to get by.

Especially the next time the Kenoma come for them.

Not that he'll be saying any of that, of course. It doesn't help him in any way to, and right now he's just an innocent businessman trying to make his way in Godsblood, isn't he?

Which means he's got to play coy as he eyes that sapphire, even huffing out mock offense like Amos has deeply offended him with that offer. Admittedly all the while looking visibly amused by the whole charade. This really is an ironic situation they've found themselves in. ]

Five?

[ There are absolutely spices that have been sold at that price, but that's another thing Amos doesn't need to know. Instead Ernesto frowns as he picks up the most readily available spice, frowning at the cute little jar he has it in. ]

I could dump about half of this into an empty jar for you if you'd like... or if you have an extra pink quartz on you, you could have the whole thing.

[baltimores]

[ Considering how when they first met Amos had been perfectly comfortable, already having accepted the Kenoma, while Ernesto had been suffering on a cavern floor, actually, he wouldn't have any problem contributing to the buy yourself something nice, Ernesto fund. If only that's all it was...

Either way, this is actually kinda fun, pretending to haggle. Like some weird little joke that only they're in on that actually isn't funny in the slightest. Amos gives him a stare at first, eyebrows raised, that same stupid smile on his face. ]

You're only offering me the best, right?

[ The best that he'd offered to only pay five for, though he genuinely doesn't see a contradiction there. He's never had to play businessman in his life; he doesn't actually know how this shit works. He also doesn't have to, because it really is a sign of the resources he has available to him to just be able to throw around money as he sees fit. He's already got a hand back in his pouch, idly fishing around through it, like, yeah, he's probably going to pay.

(Money isn't actually limitless for him, but... close enough. Ernesto doesn't need to the finer details.)

Either way, though. If Ernesto isn't going to give a publicly known Kenoma Aion the friendship discount (and, really, all the mock offence taken there), the least he could do is give him the good shit, right?? ]

[goldendeceiver]

[ That's actually almost sweet of Amos to be willing to fund a more comfortable lifestyle for Ernesto. It is admittedly undercut a bit by the fact that he'd also kill the Perro the minute the Regent told him too, but it's nice he doesn't want Ernesto living in squalor despite the upcharging of goods Ernesto is pulling here.

Shame that's not where most of the money goes though.

Ernesto rests his chin in his hand as he considers Amos carefully, humming thoughtfully at the question, all while he tilts the jar this way and that in his other hand. ]

Coming all the way out here to Godsblood, yeah... I bet you would want that best, huh?

[ He sets the jar down upright and reaches across the booth's counter to tap the space right above the sapphire Amos just laid down for him. ]

But I'll need two of those if you want that.

[ That's a big, big ask, and Ernesto will pretend he's playing nice. ]

But I'll toss in this whole ten jools jar as a show of my gratitude.

[baltimores]

[ Just because he'd kill him without a second thought doesn't mean Ernesto has to live in squalor, you know? Let him live a little. Amos isn't here to be a dick.

Though he would be much more inclined to get violent somewhere away from prying eyes if he knew the full extent of Ernesto's operation. Really, it's probably a good thing for the both of them that they're just playing. What's a little teeth between acquaintances.

It's a smile with some of those very teeth that Amos gives Ernesto as he waits for him to finish putting on his show; friendly bartering with a hint of don't think about pushing your luck.

Which, to Ernesto's credit, he doesn't seem to do. Now it's Amos' turn to stay still, his only movement a slight tilt of his head as though he's considering the offer...

... before finally withdrawing his hand from the pouch of jools, another sapphire extracted from it in the movement. ]

Well, so long as you're giving me the best.

[ And he puts the second sapphire down, right next to the first. He's already here, he can afford it, and he's buying something practical, so it's an easy enough decision. If it turns out this was a stupid decision, it's a loss he can easily eat. Literally.

Amos beams up at Ernesto, not a single thing about his demeanour changing. ]

We'll see if I gotta come find you again whenever I'm back up here. I mean, I hope I get the chance.

[ Is that sincere or... vaguely threatening or... both... Could mean a repeat customer. Could mean checking up on things with some more time spread out between them, how well Ernesto's business takes off, what he's doing with it.

Either way, though: yeah, he's intending to make his way back up to Godsblood at some point. Turns out he's not thinking one-time visit at all. Who would, with such great hospitality? ]

[goldendeceiver]

[ The extremely thinly veiled threats are not missed, though you wouldn't realize that just by looking at Ernesto. Whatever he was up to before coming to Horos, it's clear he's got this acting under pressure business down pat. There's even a sweep of the tip of his tail that can be seen over the edge of the booth as he gives Amos a little wag, like he's thankful for the prospect of a repeat customer.

He's not, and he understands very clearly what that "slip of the tongue" was from Amos just now. He'll still end their conversation pleasantly enough on his end with a-- ]

Pleasure doing business with you, Señor.

[ But please never come back again.

Though fate won't be that kind to Ernesto... ]