oom: THE CULTIVATOR JOB

[cultivation_npc]

The door opens, and on the other side is Jin Guangyao.

He puts his finger to his lips, opens the door wide, and lets people pass into a stone-walled passageway lit by torches in sconces.

As everybody enters, he lifts a finger in warning and points to his left -- there are guards there -- then leads the way to his right, towards a large gate in the stone wall.

Comments

[hat_and_dimples]

Jin Guangyao leads the way down the corridor and through the gate.

"Shhh," he breathes. There are still people in earshot, apparently.

[cultivation_npc]

On the right side, from the point of view of the group entering the dungeons, there are vague voices, and moving lights. Apparently, there must be guards there who might need to be distracted.

[lupintrois]

The only thing Lupin's ever cultivated is his reputation, but seeing him transform himself into Jin Guangyao still feels like something akin to sorcery. With the man's own consent for scans and photos (and a spare set of clothes), the job's even easier than usual, and it only took him a day or two to whip up a perfect disguise.

Lupin finishes tamping the mask into place around his neck, then turns to Zenigata and gives a formal bow. When he rises, Jin Guangyao's trademark tight, placid smile is on his face. "I'll try not to leave the Jin treasure room too bare," he says in Jin's native tongue, breaking character just long enough to give a flirty wink. "Say hi to the princess for me."

And then he's off around the corner before anyone can point out that Wen Qing isn't actually a princess. All women are princesses, to some degree.

[only tag for Zenigata here because Maru's running the show here]

[zenigatcha]

Pinkening in the cheeks, Zenigata clears his throat, keeping his voice whisper-tight, "Knight and thief ride again, yes? We'll get our girl. But leave the valuables alone, Lupin. I will search you if I have to."

Then he just heads off to help Lan Wangji and company.

[zenigatcha]

Zenigata's come down in more traditional Japanese clothing -- mostly because it's quieter and will be less out of place than his trench coat and suit. Doesn't mean he hasn't gotten his own thieves' tools on him, or a weapon, carrying his great ancestor's jitte on his hip.

Lan Wangji doesn't understand the significance of any of it, but he doesn't need to. He just needs Zenigata to do his side of the job, to get Wen Qing out, and to help her flee this place. He can be silent no problem.

[cultivation_npc]

There are torches in sconces, staircases coming down into the basement, and the sound of people talking ahead. On one of the staircases a fat cat is sitting, chewing on what appears to be half a rat.

[lupintrois]

Lupin puts that placid smile back on his place and glides up to a man who is clearly one of the guard types. Speaking quietly but firmly, he explains that a known thief has been sighted in the vicinity and that they need to urgently check upon the valuables. Based on the map the actual Jin Guangyao gave him, he also directs that guards be sent to this or that location, deliberately away from where he knows Pops and his friends will be headed.

[hat_and_dimples]

Jin Guangyao thinks that Zenigata looks much more human like this, but doesn't comment; people choose their own looks. Just as he chose his hat.

He quietly puts his earpiece in, relying on that future non-magical technology just as if it were magic. Something like that would be very useful when going about clandestine business with Su She.

Ahead, people are talking, and with a gesture, he tells his companions to stop.

[cultivation_npc]

The leader of the guards bows deeply to him. "If you would follow me along, Lianfang-zun?"

[lupintrois]

Lupin stays perfectly in character as they traverse the hallways, even if internally he's salivating. The kind of people who live here are the kind of people who get STUPID with their money, and those always have the loveliest toys to run off with. He tells himself that he's still got to leave them the bulk of the wealth, or Zenigata will be upset - gotta sacrifice to play the long game here - but it's soooo hard.

[cultivation_npc]

Even the guard's uniforms are splendid and valuable, embroidered with real gold.

"We should check the precious jade vaults first," one suggests, but another contradicts, "no, the rare vessels vault -- those things are priceless, not just valuable!"

[lupintrois]

"If they are such a concern, we should check them both," Lupin suggests. All the more time to waste, after all.

[zenigatcha]

In his traditional attire, with his suits and his tall collared coat and funny hat, Zenigata probably looks bigger than ever. Here, sharp lines outline him. He's still a large man, but he's far less lumpy than he his in his big, shapeless coat.

Lan Zhan, also wearing his earpiece and not enjoying it's feel, or the presence of the mic by his face, stops alongside Zenigata when signaled. Both alert, they listen and wait.

[cultivation_npc]

"We must check them all," the leader says, and the other man adds, "Who told you about the thief?"

[hat_and_dimples]

"... and that little black-hatted bastard came down and said there's a thief on the loose," one of the people was saying, "and now he wants us to check everything. My guess is it's just a fire drill. Wants to keep us on our toes, wants to see if we've still got it. Life was so much easier when it was just the old man and the boys."

Jin Guangyao smirks to himself. It's not his job to make life easy for the guards and servants.

[thesecondjade]

Zenigata's eye roll so hard they threaten to fall back into his head. He'd show them a thing or two, if they were his men. Such lack of discipline!

Lan Zhan remains placid and silent, eyes like unpolished coins in their obvious disdain.

[hat_and_dimples]

Lupin deserves to leave with his pockets full of valuables, and then the real Jin Guangyao will make life hell for the guards that fell for his con.

"Let's go keep watch over the necromancer instead," another guard says. "That way, nobody can claim we were lazy."

The voices drift away.

[zenigatcha]

Who's going to steal a necromancer, you twit?

Zenigata's thinking it as loud as he can, but his lips are pressed into a thin line, listening to the voices recede. Then he glances to Jin Guangyao at the same time Lan Zhan does.

They're just waiting for a signal to move.

[hat_and_dimples]

Jin Guangyao looks rather displeased -- he'd argues it's twats, not merely twits -- but nods, points forwards, and starts moving.

[zenigatcha]

Both apply.

Zenigata and Lan Zhan are both silent in their shadowing; one because he's trailed a thief, the other because he's learned to walk on fallen leaves without making them crackle. Still, he's duly impressed that the Big Loud Man who was very ready to adopt Wei Wuxian is... well, capable of this level of quiet.

Lan Zhan says nothing about that, though, and simply keeps an eye and ear out for possible interception.

[lupintrois]

"Ah. I would be careless to reveal my sources to anyone besides your master, of course." He uses the titles Jin Guangyao gave him as answer to 'who's the head honcho that everyone's scared of around here?'. There's one in every nest of fiends.

[hat_and_dimples]

The watchman at the beginning of the corridor leading to the prison cells is asleep, rather than joining Lupin's wild goose chase.

For a moment, Jin Guangyao is so furious he considers drawing Hensheng to end that miserable wretched life there and then; but it might be a bad idea to murder somebody right in front of Hanguang-jun.

He'll do it tomorrow.-

He takes a deep breath, puts a finger to his lips, and creeps forward.

[cultivation_npc]

They nod, and hurry on. "Here's the treasure vault," one says, producing a key. The leader produces another key, and together, they open the vault.

[zenigatcha]

It's a very bad idea to murder anyone in front of Zenigata OR the honorable Hanguang-jun. Still, both of them manage to look disgusted at his dereliction of duty.

In fact, Zenigata is just getting angrier the more he's here. This Sect is riddled with corruption and incompetence! Lan Zhan isn't as angry, because he already knew that, but still hates to see it in person.

[hat_and_dimples]

Jin Guangyao creeps past the guard, then down the corridor and around a corner. "I will clean out this nest of sleepy vipers," he murmurs as he stops at a door, and nods.

It's a heavy door, with an elaborate padlock.