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[flyingsolos]

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[purrtagonist]

Aw. I was looking forward to it, too.

[faux disappointment. the barmaid returns with a makeshift ice pack, and Akira takes it from her with gratitude. then he turns around and--]

[-- hm]

Why don't we sit at one of these tables?

[she looks like she needs to get off of her feet for a bit]

[flyingsolos]

Your friendship level's got to be at least seven.

[ but Rion is quick to nod, shifting properly upright and giving Akira a nudge to direct him to her table of choice. On the way there, she'll get a few friendly calls from some of the natives, which she'll return with a warm, slightly softer smile. ]

[purrtagonist]

And we're still at level three, so I've still got four more ranks to go.

[he makes note of the people who call out to Rion with familiarity, letting out a thoughtful noise as he does so. and when they reach her table of choice, he takes a seat and slides the ice back across said table towards her]

You seem well-connected.

[flyingsolos]

[ wow he seems very matter-of-fact about their friendship level?? Akira sure is weird.

Rion laughs, though, accepting the bundle and placing it on her shoulder. ]

That's what happens when you sing in the marketplace every day! I managed to snag a few fans.

[purrtagonist]

[ha ha! he sure is! he must just be a weirdo who likes making weirdo references that don't make sense!]

Every day, hm?

[he must have been working on the opposite side of the marketplace to have missed so many performances]

What time, and where?

[so he can catch the next one]

[flyingsolos]

In the morning for about two hours... and the afternoon for another hour. It's right by that one stand that sells the really big rugs.

[purrtagonist]

[oh. that's why. he is not a morning person. no excuse for missing the afternoon performances, though]

Noted. Look for me in the crowds the next time you're out there.

[THUMBS UP]

[flyingsolos]

What's this, Kurusu-kun? Am I finally going to win you over as a fan?

[purrtagonist]

Friend first, fan second. But who knows? Maybe I'll be forming your very own El Minha fanclub after only one performance.

[flyingsolos]

You'll have to fight the current president first. But just you wait, I'll completely win you over!

[ ... yeah, her eyes are shining. ]

[purrtagonist]

[. . . Kou was totally right, wasn't he]

Who's the current president? Is it our waitress? The rug shop owner?

[flyingsolos]

[ Kou is usually right. ]

The rug shop owner, yep! He says I'm great for business.

[purrtagonist]

[especially in matters related to Rion]

No wonder he lets you perform there every day.

[. . . all joking aside, this conversation does make him wonder--]

If you've made so many new contacts, have you been able to talk to people about-- [waves at]

[everything??]

[he means the political situation in El Minha]

[flyingsolos]

... Oh.

[ Rion's gaze flashes inquisitive, and she takes a quick look around the room. ]

Not so much in the marketplace, though they did say to ask them anything if I needed to. But I've been hearing things in some of the taverns...

[purrtagonist]

[he's about to chalk this question up as a lost cause before she mentions something about the taverns, and his attention on her sharpens. he's careful to keep his voice low too, so no one can casually eavesdrop on their conversation. as the shadier types are apt to do, he's realized]

What have you heard?

[flyingsolos]

[ Rion looks very clearly uncomfortable at first, as though she's trying to figure out the best way to word it and... no options are helpful.

But finally, she sighs and speaks just as quietly. ]

They've been talking about the past few assassinations-- the ones happening to the nobles. And more and more, I keep hearing about how they feel that the Syndicate is going to have to do something big-- much bigger, to get the attention they want.

[purrtagonist]

[something big-- much bigger]

[she's right; there's really no good way to couch that at all. and it wasn't as though Akira missed the frantic whispers of the people blaming the Syndicate on many, many murders. he wasn't sure exactly how much he believed those rumors-- especially when, in his experience, all the Syndciate wanted was economic equality and care paid towards the poor and suffering-- but. . .]

[. . .]

[he chooses his next words extremely carefully]

Nobody has mentioned how big that "something" will have to be, have they?

[flyingsolos]

... No. But... if they're saying that these assassinations aren't enough to make them heard, that's...

[ It's scary. Something bigger than assassination is enough of an alarming thought to make Rion pale. ]

It's... not going to be pretty.

[purrtagonist]

[something bigger than an assassination. . . a wide-scale attack on many people at once, perhaps? but Akira can't picture the Syndicate harming the needier people of the city. maybe. . . only on the ricer parts of the city, if what the rumors said about them killing nobles is true]

[. . . he's making assumptions, here. neither he nor Rion know enough to understand what any of this means. but for as much as Rion goes pale, Akira tenses, gaze narrowing behind his glasses]

[wordlessly, he pulls a piece of paper out of his pocket, sliding same across the table towards her. then he leans back and folds his arms, watching her expectantly should she choose to pick it up and examine it]

[if she does, she'll find a simple note written across it: Your work has been noticed, loyalty is rewarded. If interested in allies, respond to the first child you see next light.]

[flyingsolos]

[ There's a part of her that doesn't want to read it; maybe she already suspects, having seen what Akira had done for that child, knowing how watchful the Syndicate could be--

But Rion picks it up anyway, reading it silently with furrowed brows before gently placing it back down in between them. It's about what she'd suspected, but she'd really wanted to be wrong. ]

... What are you going to do?

[purrtagonist]

I'm not going to turn them down.

[his answer is calm and even, which may be surprising considering the gravity of their situation. but Akira seems relaxed. determined, even, as he continues to watch her from across the table]

Neither of us really know what's going on in this city. We know what we've heard through rumors and gossip, but that only takes us so far. We need a way to weed out the truth underneath every bit of hearsay.

If allying with them gives us a direct line to better, more reliable information, then I'll do it.

[flyingsolos]

That's-- you--

[ Why is he so calm? Like, yeah, that's really just how he's always been around her but there's a difference between calmly lizard gambling and calmly accepting admittance into a group that kills people.

In perfect contrast, Rion couldn't look any more distressed. ]

You have to know what you're getting into, right? You know how much danger you'll be put into, right?? Kurusu-kun, that's-- you're risking your life here!

[purrtagonist]

[allegedly kills people]

Am I?

[he leans forward, folding his hands together, pressed thoughtfully against his mouth]

What kind of people do you think are members of the Syndicate, Kugayama?

[flyingsolos]

Slightly violent Robin Hood types? With some diversity?

[ yes, continue. ]

[purrtagonist]

[oh my god. a soft snort]

Maybe. Who knows? Have you actually met anyone who is a member of the Syndicate? I haven't.

[these orphans he picks pockets for are very careful not to sell out their benefactors]

But we do know they at least care about helping people in need. Even if those rumors about them being violent are true, there's a part of them that wants to do something good.

And that's a starting point.

[to. . . do what? he isn't completely sure. he doesn't really have a plan, only instincts that guide him into doing what feels right. but if the Syndicate is the type of group to use violence as a means to an end, then maybe. . . maybe someone can appeal to their desire to help to stop them from executing whatever harmful plot they may be planning next]