'Nora' the Lilligant
The Gracedia Order
Lytala city, the Blood Pit Arena Stands
Affected RPers: @Death's Spook, others indirectly

((Telefare: The Teleport counterpart to Uber.))

Nora's eyes did not entirely leave Anthony alone as she kept her head looking about. Searching everywhere, for anything out of place. Even the presence of Gramme, a weird orb of shadows, was only a moderate surprise-a reminder to Nora that she had much to learn, or at least, a reminder to keep moving while talking to someone to make sure they weren't hiding things behind their backs like that. If nothing else, Nora's ability to actually act like a woman frightened by scary terrorists was going to check any thoughts of assassination fair enough-and anything like screaming would make any security guard worth their salt rush to the scene, a scene that could lead to the downfall of the Steel Scavengers. It was a risk Nora knew of, a risk Anthony knew of, and a risk that both knew the other knew of. Failing that, a really quick Protect would suffice. The minutes were tense-Anthony had to pause to give instructions over comms regarding a 'Max,' a name Nora instantly recognizes as an interesting Klingklang, and 'Magenta,' who Nora recalls from that rather public incineration, the one she didn't watch because that was simply macabre, not her thing.

Nora could only chuckle at Arlington's summation of the whole plan, really. And it was a joke, but it was much less of a joke than what Nora wished it would have been. It was like this: no matter how hard or flashy their clever plans happened to be, the Black Lotus were just flat-out stronger than them, a foe that only recently exposed a vulnerability. Any slipup was a death sentence and it could legitimately doom all three rebels.

The announcer outside got very agitated, something about cheating-Nora couldn't focus everywhere at every-time, but she knew this was probably the moment the Scavengers were going for, and why she said they were taking from the Prankster's playbook. Sending a message. An... Unorthodox message. Whatever it was.

The word 'Ante' caught her attention, and her focus waned enough to make Anthony her second priority, as it was the Grand Lady speaking. "-to take the memories of those you kill-" oh, that was a theory. A theory indeed. Nora almost agreed with it. Onyx Circle fellows were always skilled, dangerous combatants, and Nora had assumed that this was the reason they had been chosen for the job... And it was said that all the Onyx Circle had Ante. Nora had assumed that the former was the reason for the latter. The alternative wasn't a possibility she considered.

It was really only the 'How did?!-' afterwards that completely confirmed it, the only thing that could. Before it was speculation-or a really crazy guess-but now it was obvious. Vurden would be killed by Taiya herself for that if the Tsareena didn't do it first. And with that fact out there, there were a few logical implications to go upon-unless the Onyx Circle wasn't chosen explicitly for Ante, it meant there was a great chance the Onyx Circle promotions were made on the basis of having Ante, rather than Ante being the reward for promotion-meaning it was handed out lower on the totem pole than expected, or they were picked for the circle for having Ante and thus were not inducing it. Either way it turned a lot of conceptions she had about it on her head. Her mind raced-such delightful news to tell, if Yesley hadn't already heard.

"-onestly, and we will do the same. But I strongly advise you not to use this as a ruse. If you betray us, the Seven Knights will personally come after you," Anthony said. Wait, no, he didn't say 'onestly,' that was 'honestly.' She was a bit preoccupied by that news. was juicy-too juicy to leave well enough alone all to itself. But it sounded like he was actually agreeing at its face value, and his wording was so wonderfully straightforwards. It could be a really blatant lie, but more likely than not it wasn't, if Anthony's reputation was truly founded.

Nora grinned. "First off, congrats on sending your message. I guess seven heads are better than one," Nora says. Seven Knights, seven heads. "All I was gonna give you on the matter of Ante was that they're not immune to poison, heh, but that's kind of irrelevant now. But, uh, caught off-track by the juicy tidbit there, sorry. Yeah, that's pretty much as groovy as it gets. I accept-and trust me, I'd think of myself as an even bigger idiot if I was trying to con you, of all people."

'As groovy as it gets' was a massive understatement. The initial confrontation seemed to be so utterly flawless that Nora was extremely wary, but at the same time extremely happy that it went so well. He seemed so perfectly open. She was knowledgeable enough to take Anthony's threats at face value-after all, she was already marked by Arlington in more ways than one, and Nora failed to give them the really crippling information-like when the attempted theft would occur, for instance. Of course, she would have to feed him that.

"...We'll need to work out the little devils later," Nora said, referring to the details of the arrangement. "I wish my copatriots would be somewhat more forwards-thinking on this, however... You know how it is. I need to get back before one of 'em charges in here thinking you've assassinated me in cold blood. We'll talk later today-shadow me until I separate and start leaning on a wall," Nora said. So much to arrange to make sure this worked. And to make sure that her partners didn't think she was conspiring against them. She was conspiring-but not against them. Big difference.

With that, Nora nodded to the charming Knights (and whoever Gramme was), and taking another puff of her cigarette, walked back to the stands and to her seat.

Nora was genuinely surprised when she got there. She had just walked in on the fight-it was much more close than she would ever have guessed. Athena was alive, for a start. Vurden the Volcarona was the only other mon alive and in the ring-the Grand Lady sauntered off, and considering the distance between Athena and Vurden, doubtless it was of her own will. With that said, Vurden was so utterly ruined that the announcer-and the scoreboard itself-had declared it all over in an incredibly close game with Athena and the Gracedia Order as the ultimate winners. It was already a total humiliation on the Black Lotus, even if the others had to work for a non-BL win. That was disregarding how Ante's inner workings-memory stealing-had basically been announced to everyone, including the three rebel factions who would delight in sending the message out to all of Xia just to make Taiya's life as hellish as possible. This would be one to put in the history books, for sure. Nora had to hide a smile, even now-but as she went back to her seat her smile was wiped off of her face.

Nora had sat two seats away from the isle she was closest to. While she might as well have started to leave (and several did), she wasn't going to leave without Yvonne or the Rotom, of course, who were still seated-and the Rotom looked downright bug-eyed at what had occurred. Yvonne was looking at the seat closest to the isle, instead. The yellow coloration of the small pool of liquid in it was a mild enigma, but it wasn't where she sat. The other seat was free of piss... Oh.

There were three Eeveelution siblings two rows ahead of Nora and Yvonne's spot-a row between them separated them previously. One of them, a Sylveon of familiar features, of ice-blue eyes and a wide smile Nora knew to be perpetual, was now standing on one of the stands in-between, her front legs perched upon the back of the seat, a small pink vest to complement her small pink frame as her only clothing article of choice. Nora knew this Sylveon. Nora knew that, yes, she was prone to the oddest of things, like putting piss on seats to ensure that she was talking face-to-face with someone else, or, you know, dropping pianos on people. And Nora knew that she would do so with a tone and air so sickeningly saccharine that it boggled the mind.

Nora sighed, thinking back to that Swift-Dream for a moment. The minimal hope that Nora had for no further meetings with this Pokemon-the imaginary representation of this very Pokemon as an even more obvious devil-had just been butchered in the darkest, bloodiest pit in Murhe.

Nora, her eyes drooping into a very deadpan look, took the seat free of bodily fluid, readying herself for dealing with this absolute kako.

"Hello," The Sylveon said.

"What even is your name?" Nora asked.

The Sylveon put a paw to her mouth, faux-coughed, and repeated, "Hello."

"... Hello. Would you give me your name, please?" Nora asked, again.

"Hrm... You forgot what I gave to you before? Ah, no matter, we knew it was a falsehood, you and I. My-" she faux-coughed again. "-name is... Steinway." She smiled in a manner that could convince any bystander that she was genuinely sweet and happy. And maybe she was happy under the facade-but sweet was another matter.

"...What is it?"

"Today has been very interesting, hasn't it?" The Sylveon asked in response, seemingly ignorant of Nora's question. "Ante's nature being revealed to the masses in the manner closest to official, and one of the tightest matches in Blood Pit history! Afufufu, it was magnificent to behold the looks on everyone's faces as they saw it. This pigsty of debauchery has been shaken up-and I like it, however impermanent it is. Isn't that just lovely, that the shaymin-worshippers pulled one out?"

Yvonne's face failed to conceal what was otherwise a neutral expression with patches of... Well, the blue turned a bit purple. Nora herself would probably be slightly infuriated if she could not be classified as a double agent.

"What is it that you want? Would you reveal that to us, please?" Nora asked. She knew this Sylveon had a mild obsession with politeness even though the Sylveon herself wasn't terribly polite.

"Oh, pardon me! Ahaha, I was getting to that, you see. You understand how lopsided these games usually are. Athena's exploits are going down in the history books for its even nature and surprise outcome-and the cheating, too. So... Unpredictable! This is a colossal failure for the Black Lotus, Michigo aside. But hardly enough to singlehandedly sink an empire, I would think," Steinway said. "No, no, certainly not. Pardon me for saying this, in fact, but I would dare say that, as per the usual agreement, there is [i]no way[i] these silly games are going to be bothering the Black Lotus any more than they would. I dare say that even if the entire event showcased a total void of victories for the Ebon Botanists, with not even a single victory to their name, that it would hardly be the end of the world for them."

"Not alone," Nora said. "Not alone, most likely. Of course, with Ante revealed and the Master Blaze Jewel out of their hands and into a rebel group... It wouldn't matter much which rebel group it was, they'd gain a lot of traction. It would be a foundation for their fall, if nothing else."

"I would politely disagree with you there, but that is entirely upon pesky little nitpicks, and there is little time for that and I am dreadfully busy," Steinway said. "My siblings and I have become... Very interested in you, especially now with all that's happened. We heard you are competing in the next round of the Blood Pit, and we are very anxious to watch! It will be very hard to compare to what we just witnessed here, of course, in terms of spectacular must-watch action, but if all fares well, why, I suspect such action would not be strictly necessary," Steinway said. "The point is, that I would like to make sure such goes smoother for you and your lovely friends!"

Nora knew better than to look a gift hearse under the hood. Except, Steinway's gifts aren't gifts at all, they're forward payment for jobs, and this was the worst possible timing for another scheme of hers. "Oh, that would be very kind of you," Nora said, trying her best to sound as deadpan as possible without breaking polite language, "But I am not sure-"

"I insist, my dear Nora," Steinway said. "And even if you do not, I will still be rooting for you from the sidelines of these dreadful competitions in any way I can, because I know how you work, and you are one to watch, afufufufu!"

Nora sighed, but knew that she'd have to accept-again-if she was going to insist. That wasn't her politeness at work there, that was her order to take the cr*p she had and do what she wanted. There was literally no refusing her 'gifts'. The gifts weren't unhandy nor useless, far from it; Nora's best knives came from the first job with her and they could practically cut the sky in two. But Nora was practically forced upon them before she knew what they even were. Steinway asked first, presenting it in a pastel pink box with cherry-red ribbons plastered all over it. Nora thought it too straightforwards in a rather public place, ripe for theft or at least suspicion from others, a sentiment which Steinway (appeared to) respectfully understand-especially since Nora had no intent of taking the job. That is where it got creepy. Nora's address wasn't exactly hidden, so she thought little of Steinway mailing it to her-but that it was filled with poisons was where it crossed the line, and the dead thief on her doorstep confirmed their effectiveness too well, so she disposed of both before the day was out. The day afterwards, a courier Ferret ran straight through oncoming traffic to deliver that same box to Nora, nearly shoving it on her (thankfully free of toxins) before the courier, hollow-eyed, shot himself in the face. Nora threw it in the garbage bin at the nearest alleyway-suicidal couriers were a bad sign that this was not someone you worked for. It took all of hours, in the middle of the following night, for her to finally accept the Alpha-scorned things after being shot at with a T-shirt cannon.. And that T-Shirt that was shot at her? It had the box's contents within. It was followed by the actual, now-empty box, carefully re-wrapped and cleansed, to be thrown in after.

"... Fine. I accept... But I know you wouldn't be doing all of this without a polite request in mind," Nora said, trying her best to sound exceptionally weary.

"Nora-"

Nora nudged Yvonne. Yvonne fell silent.

"Ah, yes, well, happy days, my request will be considerably less obstructive than the one previous-and I must apologize for the complicated dance we did last time, again," Steinway said. "I know you're competing, and I know that any shenanigans to distract from that would only hamper your effectiveness, so I merely politely ask that you humbly allow me to compete with you in the Deadly Force competition."

"No," Yvonne said, without second thought. "And that's-"

Nora nudged Yvonne again. Yvonne turned to Nora. "That is-"

Nora grabbed Yvonne and pulled her close in the manner as to suddenly move her away from an assassin's knife. It wasn't the case-the person right next to her was the Rotom, who was just confused, but it sure shut the Heracross up. Nora pressed her mouth to Yvonne's ear and exhaled words. "She won't care for us not wanting her there. She'll do it anyways. This is the Sylveon who 'arranged' to have a piano dropped on me, she'll 'arrange' one of us out to put herself in. She's a complication we have to deal with, not an obstacle we can avoid."

"I will have to admit that I have been known for my stubbornness. I have not known any to be more relentlessly determined than I," Steinway said, as if the duo were not whispering to one another. "Failing any other advantage, I have weathered my foes down to submission with my sheer relentlessness. And Nora may vouch that I am exceptionally skilled at sharpshooting and situational awareness, enough to not be a liability in your endeavors. I would not so insist if I were anything lesser."

Yvonne's attitude did not improve, but she allowed Nora to disengage from holding her before she continued. "... We're basically hinging our success upon you. Each of our teammates must be of the highest calibur-the presence of Ante is merely an unfortunate downside, and not just for reasons of 'skill.' Skill has limits. And of course, you could die. You understand?"

"Afufufufufufuu!" Steinway said. "Oh, most certainly, Yvonne! You must take your jobs with the utmost sense of righteousness and caution! It is almost a tad overwhelming to me, how your devotion shines. Bright as a sun. Oh, what a horrible world it would be for you if the Gracedia Order did not supply the similar-why, I would say you would have felt so utterly alienated and doubtful if not for the camaraderie of like-minded individuals! And so lucky for you that your enemies are so utterly heartless, it must make your psyche so splendidly clear! Alas that so many cannot have such easy foes. But I talk too much, aha."

Bright as a sun. Blinding and damaging to stare at. As in, she was blind-as were the Gracedia Order itself-and only morally correct for their dislike of the outright vile Black Lotus. Nora couldn't say that Steinway couldn't do subtle insults well.

"So you think they need to go?" Nora asked. "The Black Lotus?"

"... A dangerous question in these times," Steinway said. Her smile perked up. "Your boldness is delightfully refreshing, compared to those more likely to be reserved or even evasive of their desires. Alas that more do not think like you, my lovely Nora! To be quick-I do believe they must go, but not the names, nor even the peoples behind them. No, no, Nora, I believe that the very ideals-the glorification of their need for death-need to perish, and that the peoples and the names that carry such ideals are merely like the seeds of dandelions. I say that they would weaken sufficiently if the Black Lotus were to be despoiled. So, to compress it, yes, they must, and you are the most efficient vector I know of to help carry out this task!"

Yvonne's face was even more skeptical, as was Nora's. Even the Rotom looked mildly apprehensive of her supposed support.

"Ah, yes, yes, time is almost up. Err, and the spectators are leaving," Steinway said. "I'll have to depart-business in Hana... Was it Jadeblossom? No, Hana. I have siblings and such living all over the place, and I must ensure their well-being, briefly. Ah, the wondrous courtesy of Telefare!" Steinway said, looking towards an approaching Alakazam in an incredibly classy suit. Nora's memory pricked her consciousness-she knew this Alakazam before, from somewhere, but she didn't know where. "My endowments to you will be given to you here tomorrow. Ta-ta!"

The Alakazam gestured to the Sylveon and her siblings, an Espeon and an Umbreon, who clung onto the Alakazam's legs while the Alakazam himself scooped up Steinway, before a flash of light consumed them, leaving them gone.

"... Who was that?" The Rotom asked.

"I've worked with her once before, and quite honestly, I'm still not entirely sure myself," Nora replied. "She isn't straightforwards, that's for sure... Put me through a lot of work for a water purifier the last time. Begs the question of what obscure objective she intends to pull off."

The crowds were flocking out of the stadium. The match was over, despite the fact not all were dead, and even the Black Lotus had admitted it. There was no way-legitimately, no way-that Athena could realistically be murdered by Vurden with all six of his wings clipped and so utterly disemboweled. The Black Lotus had lost. Even if they won as expected in Dread Metal, their performance here was utterly ruinous enough to be a huge help to the rebellions. It would go down in history as one of the biggest victories by both the Steel Scavengers and the Gracedia Order-spun each in their own way, and the Prankster Platoon would doubtless tell of how they performed admirably with a half-staffed team. An event to prove the crushing power of the Black Lotus turned into an event to prove the crushing power of the other factions instead. Now Nora just had to figure out how she was going to pull a repeat of that incredibly crushing defeat upon the Black Lotus... Or, rather, if the initial plan she had already devised was going to work in any fashion whatsoever.

If she succeeded she'd mildly undermine the Steel Scavengers, not out of direct malice, but rather that, if her plan really worked, well, she'd make the Grand Lady look considerably less... Grand.

And thus the spies left-to create and discuss plans and begin the seeds of what would doubtlessly become the convoluted, twisted, dimly-lit, barely-explained, nigh-incomprehensible, semi-nefarious tangle of plots that would become the shadowy backdrop of the Tempest Festival.