Grab the scruff of her neck and pull her in for a deep kiss, but cut it short and join your friends. Tease her a little bit.

Well... maybe a little making out.

>>514798
Get a little kissing in, but save some for later.

Brom 2013/06/06(Thu)18:33 No. 514885 ID: 0eef61
File 137056882169.png - (5.20KB , 800x600 , 53.png )

Dio doesn't think there's a right answer for that, so instead he pulls her the rest of the way up and leans in for the kiss.

Right as their lips are about to meet, he whispers, "Okay, let's get out of here."
"Fuck yooouuuu." She punches him in the shoulder.
"Laterrrrr," he says, kissing her on the forehead. "Tonight. Come on. Let's go to the store so you can buy me stuff."
"Freeloader," says Dahlia.
"I'll pay you back somehow."
"Gigolo."
"You're into it. Let me up?"
"Eventually."

Brom 2013/06/06(Thu)18:33 No. 514886 ID: 0eef61
File 137056883090.png - (53.66KB , 800x600 , 54.png )

Dio and Dahlia catch up with Pyramus and Jai in time to pay for everything, then Dio creeps cautiously into his room while Random is still in class to collect his things. Dahlia's little daggers, his focus rune necklace, the essentials. He is on Tervis' Too Many Damn Sudoku Puzzles Vol. 16 by now.

In a drawer he finds his old Alienation cloak. This thing has some powerful absorption enchantment built into it, that will give him a measure of protection against conventional weaponry, but for a heist operation like this one it is quite the conspicuous shade of purple.

He has enough money to either go get it refitted into an undershirt, a tricky thing to do without disrupting the innate enchantments woven in, or get one other enchanted item of some sort to help him.
He's had his eyes on a pair of muffling slippers, and Jai's told him there's a pair of trick silk gloves for sale at Erisycthon's Antiquities that lets you turn whatever you hold in them invisible without having to keep a spell up to do it.

All these options go into the range of hundreds of gilt. Dio's been saving up just in case he needed any of them. He supposes he could ask Dahlia to just get him all of them, but he always feels kind of funny asking her for charity like that. The bad kind. He doesn't like reminding people, especially her, that he is one of the poorest mages in the Arcanopolis.

>>514886
leave the gloves. it's tricky, the slippers will help you not get caught but if you do get caught you could use the cloak.
i'm voting slippers.

couldn't you just throw and illusion around the cloak to make it look less conspicuous then?

as for things to get I think the silk gloves sound useful, especially since you're trying to steal something.

get the slippers. and something ninja-ey to wear.

I say go for the refitting yourself and have Dhalia pay for the slippers. That way at least you're coming halfway in the costs. Also she can keep them when you're done with them, if she likes. Hopefully they're, like, super comfy too. The gloves are nice but when you get down to it, you're a goddamn illusionist and can keep the spell up when really needed.

And make a mental note to try and not be so damn poor in the future.

>>514886


What? No, Dio. You don't understand how these things work.

You don't need to ask Dahlia to buy you anything as charity.
You have been hired for a mission, and it is very reasonable to request an advance on your payment to cover mission expenses. Typically people don't even have to ask, but Arcanopolis mages are basically all well-off enough that it doesn't even occur to them that a Cyclops might not have enough ready funds to fully prepare for a mission.

So, Dio, you are going to ask for an advance to cover your mission related expenses, then get all the equipment you think would be important for this mission.

To get your advance you need to ask an agent of your employer who has the means and authority to provide you with an advance from your employer's coffers. That means you are going to ask Dahlia for the advance.

You are not going to say "Hey, can you buy me these things?", because that is not what is happening.
You are going to say "I need to get some things, could your dad give me an advance so cover my expenses?", at which point she will say "I don't even have to ask; you can totally get an advance for expenses. Sending people on missions under-equipped is a thing dumb people do."

Now, you wouldn't want to upset Dahlia's dad by going on a mission under-equipped and putting his daughter at risk, would you?

So yea, go get all that equipment.

I'm way against asking Dahlia for dough, by the way. you gotta have some pride.

>>514993
except she will totaly will say "what? what advance payment? it's on the house" and then she'll be paying for you. or her dad. whatever.

i support this course though, just be adamant and refuse to let them cover it. when you need stuff to lower the risk to you and to your friends (and girlfriend) you buy those things.

>>515013
No, Dahlia is smarter than that. She knows how important it is to Dio to be able to make his own way. She wouldn't say it's on the house, she'd say expenses are included. That turns it from charity into part of the job he was intimidated into.

Well, if we are particularly worried about having things, but do not want to beg, we could just ask the mage's school itself. The alienation office gave Dio some decent carte blanche to request whatever he wanted after the success of the alienation. Requesting to rent something from something akin to an armory, or get extra runes, or somesuch should be within his asking power. We also have Orpheo, who probably would be fine with letting Dio borrow something.

Brom 2013/06/11(Tue)01:15 No. 516188 ID: 0eef61
File 137093854828.png - (11.43KB , 800x600 , 55.png )

Dio buys the alteration and the slippers from the same place. It's a little corner tailor's Jai recommended, staffed by Pasha, one of the oldest Furlesians he's ever seen and her winsome/apologetic daughter.

"Here are items you purchase," says Pasha, handing over the newly compact cloak and the slippers. "You try on. If no like, cry about it. If you turn invisible and try to steal things, I cut off hand."

"Mother doesn't mean it," says her daughter hastily as she ushers Dio to the changing rooms. "Honestly, we're very glad for your service."

"He is illusionist. Not to trust," chides her mother. "Very sneaky people."
"Mo-therrr," hisses her daughter as she sharply draws the curtain.

The slippers are a little pointy on the end, in the style of Furlaia. The cloak's been turned into a lightweight vest, with a bit of a collared trim.
Dio notices that his arms aren't quite as ropy as they were once. This battlemage thing is starting to pay dividends on his physique.

He has just nearly destroyed his savings, and there's certainly no more money for magic items, but while he's out in town he may as well mop up if he has anything left to buy.

As of right now he's taking along his books, his brace of knives, his camera (of course), a foldable hand crossbow he got from his alienation, his focus necklace, and that's just about it. Furlaia is a humid, tropical country. He doesn't think he needs to pack much winter clothes.

Looking classy Dio, even the straightest of men will be giving you looks AND the curviest of women.

Strut your stuff and watch yourself. You don't need money or names. You got the touch. YOU GOT THE POWER!

Hmm, something to help hide your identity might be a boon. You have sudoku with your books... fake ID? Maybe some quick field medical supplies.

still might want something incase it rains, unless you can just glamour something into a rain coat then never mind you're probably good.

great! also buy an alternate mask so everybody doesn't know it was you.

ps id do you

Brom 2013/09/23(Mon)00:52 No. 541680 ID: 5a2deb
File 137992273971.png - (11.43KB , 800x600 , 56.png )

Dio brings his purchases to Pasha at the front desk, who brusquely takes his money without an offered receipt or bag.
"No refund," she says. "Repairs yourself."
"Motherrrrr."
"I do not like the boy."
"She likes no one. It's fine, mister. Thank you so much for your business."
"You guys did great work," says Dio. "I dig the shoes."
"I do all work." Pasha folds the cash into her robe. "This one sit around, not get married ever. I keep her around, why?"
"To keep you from scaring off all the paying customers," says her daughter. She smiles apologetically, with the steady expression of someone who has to smile apologetically a great deal. "Come again, sir!"

Brom 2013/09/23(Mon)00:52 No. 541681 ID: 5a2deb
File 137992274401.png - (9.33KB , 800x600 , 57.png )

Dio thanks Pasha and her daughter, and opens the curtain to leave the store. He looks outside and a slithery jolt of shock twists around the base of his spine.

Two arkers, all in black, are standing outside Pasha's. Their gaits are relaxed and loose in a you-can't-fuck-with-us-and-we-know it sort of way. They are talking in low tones to one another.

It's probably nothing, and the arcanopolis is, of course, theirs as much as it is his.

But his foot is still frozen on the threshold.

Slip on the shoes and go invisible. Problem solved.

Brom 2013/09/23(Mon)22:19 No. 541831 ID: 5a2deb
File 137999999309.png - (97.86KB , 800x600 , 58.png )

Dio slips silently into his new shoes, then shimmers out of sight as he leaves the store.
"Always to show off," says Pasha, as he leaves.

He pads by the two Arkers, who are moving in the opposite direction toward Quayside.
"That's the issue, isn't it?" asks one. "He's the issue. The wild card."
"Don't let Wendat hear you talking about him," says the other. "It wouldn't do."
"Wendat?"

Wendat. That's the name of his Ark comrade from the attack on Getlx. Dio wheels round and carefully walks after them.

"He'll be there. Him and Aarno, too."
"He's brought Aarno over?"
"He has. You hadn't heard? After Wikus and the others got themselves killed going after the Zu Veltkrik girl."

Dahlia?

"Shut up." The arker looks over his shoulder, straight through Dio. "No talking business until we're inside."

Following them would be a bad idea, of course. Of course it would. Extremely ill-advised.

>>541831
Either Wendat is going to betray you or they're going to do something Wendat won't like. Follow them and find out which it is.

>>541831
An utterly terrible idea. Really, you should have yourself committed to a mental asylum for even considering it.

...You can do that after you're done following them and eavesdropping.

>>541831
Follow and listen but wherever they are going sounds well prepared to deal with spys. Make sure you physically hide if you see another arker. A gaurd might be equipped to see through your invisibility.

Doesn't Dio have a certain someone waiting on him, though? It wouldn't do to be off having adventures and never showing up, right? Besides, wouldn't she be the sort that'd get mad about not being brought along for the snooping?

Brom 2013/09/24(Tue)22:46 No. 541979 ID: 86b8be
File 138008800272.png - (8.50KB , 800x600 , 59.png )

The Arkers walk for about ten more minutes, over toward Quayside.
It's a poorer, dingier part of the Arcanopolis. A lot of old warehouses left standing from the old cargo boom a decade ago, when importation spiked then crashed back.

They arrive at a darkened factory, and the one in front hammers on the door.

It opens on Wendat, sans helmet.
"In," he says. "The others are here, already."

>>541943
Good point.

Let's send her a quick text.

>>541979
I just realized there was no indication these guys were up to no good. This could actually be something innocent.

If you go in there, you won't be able to just walk back out the door. Wait where's Dahlia? Wasn't she in the store with you? Maybe you can send her a message that you're checking something out and you might be delayed a while. Then go in.

>>541983
They're arkers being sneaky. Even if they're not up to no good, something worth knowing about is happening.

You could just show up and see how they react. I mean maybe not take your shoes off, but illusion yourself walking around the corner and wave at Wendat. Watching their reaction would give you some insight into how much this secret meeting has to do with you, or how much personal animosity these guys have, all with reasonably plausible deniablility. And hey, if they try to jump you and murder you in a dark abandoned alley, its just a glamor.

think you could just listen in through a window or something without going inside while remaining invisible. I mean these guys probably have some way to detect people but I bet they wouldn't be as observant with the places perimeter as they would be with it's interior.

I'd like to clarify that when I said send a message I meant more along the lines of an illusion-based magical message. Operating a phone is noisy, so is receiving texts. I guess if you turned your phone to silent mode it could be ok though.

Brom 2013/10/01(Tue)01:50 No. 542705 ID: 5c9e53
File 138061743028.png - (19.41KB , 800x600 , 60.png )

Dahlia: There's something going on quayside with the Ark. I'll be careful.

Dio slips through the door and follows the Arkers inside. They duck through a low hallway and out into a wider factory floor.
There's about a dozen black-clad young members of the fraternity here.
"Diometricus Phrale Eregiorium," says one, and Dio's heart freezes for a split second.
"You were going to tell us about him, brother Wendat," he continues. "Devlin. Avi. You are both late."
"Sorry, Aarno."
"Our apologies, Aarno."
The two arkers shuffle into place and leave Wendat in the center of the ring of mages.

"Diometricus," says Wendat. "Dio."
"That is what they call him, yes," says Aarno. "You went to Hell with him. And?"
"And he didn't strike me as anything particularly special," says Wendat. "Average illusionist combat mage of no astonishing skill. Shy side."
"He could be deceptive. Wikus was-"
"Wikus was careless," says Wendat. "Wikus was stupid. And I see no reason to waste any more time on any notions of vengeance."
"He was your brother, Wendat. If Diometricus is as harmless as you say-"
"It's not about him, anymore, you silly ass."
"You will watch your tongue, Wendat."
"The girl. He took the girl too, dammit. Dahlia Zu Veltkrik. Now she's tied up in all this."
"The Zu Veltkriks are a known variable."
"If you know their variable," says Wendat, "then you know they could kill all of you as easy as breathing."
"All of us, Wendat. Diometricus is not a Veltkrik. Perhaps the daughter likes him, but he remains a valid target. And a tempting message, wouldn't you say?"
"He's just a boy, Aarno."
"He's a murderer. And a confirmation to everyone that you can bloody the Ark and sail away free as long as he's alive."
"And who do you propose kill him, then, if you're so cavalier about it?"
"You, Wendat."

>>542705
Wait, who's this Wikus guy? I don't remember Dio ever actually killing an Arker.

Man, what are they, a petty gang?
Hardly a professional secret society.
Where's even the sacred paddle for new members! And the beer!
It just looks like it's all peer pressure and looking tough.

...just see where this goes and bug out, we can fill people in on what happens here when we get out and can plan accordingly.

>>542709
Probably Dio's first kill. Remember the Arkers that tried kidnap him and Dahlia?

>>542705
Psychic message Wendat.
"The problem is with what you don't know. Orpheo sees him as his adoptive son, and rumor is he got secretly engaged to Dahlia after their pilgrimages. Even if her dad didn't take it personally, she would when she took power. He doesn't even have a beef with us; we could make him an asset, and use that to neutralize the Velkirks. If we're willing to sabotage our efforts out of petty spite then we've clearly lost sight of our purpose.
You asked what I know, and what I know is Dio isn't going to be a problem unless we make him one. Don't make him one."

>>542727
Or just make a note to tell him about the secret engagement later. Should probably let Dahlia know, too.

>>542727
>>542728
I don't wanna reveal our presence or start some false rumor about Dahlia, and I certainly don't want to have Dahlia perpetuate the lie.

Instead, we might be able to get away with sending Wendat a message that he should wait a day. The situation is changing.

>>542736
>Illusionists
>Not wanting to deceive people to achieve their goals.

Lets not call it a lie. Look at it in a practical sense: as far as the Arker's plans are concerned Dio and Dahlia might as well be married. It's not incorrect so much as imprecise. The key here is that "Dio is marrying/has married into the Velkirk family" is two lies.
The first is, of course, that he and Dahlia are not actually that far along in their relationship, but that's mitigated by the second lie.
The second lie is the implication "Dio is not already a member of the Velkirk family". If they killed Dio before he and Dahlia became involved enough for him to count as family then his heritage would be 'discovered', and the Arkers would find themselves in the untenable position of having assassinated a Velkirk 'prince' out of what can charitably be described as petty spite.

The net truth is what matters, and it's the same either way; Dio IS a Velkirk, and it's in everybody's best interest if the Arkers know that. Lets not sweat the details.

And, really, lets be honest here. The only three people who care about the ACTUAL truth are Dio, Dahlia, and her father. A rumor that scuttles an assassination plot without making anybody commit to anything is perfectly acceptable.

>>542740
The problem is starting a rumor *about Dahlia*. If you want to tell Wendat Dio's already in the family, suggest that. Otherwise that secret only matters if Dio is DEAD, and I don't think plans that require the PC to be dead are good plans.

Also stop arguing in the quest thread.

Well I'd say this gives a bit of initiative yeah?

Maybe the one who'll be sending a message tonight is Dio.

Maybe I should actually post a real plan.

These guys came together, so lets hope they leave together. Once they are away from other arkers, we run an illusion that looks like Dio walking out of an alley in front of them. If they take the bait and give chase we let that illusion go once it's out of sight in the alley, and simultaneously put on illusion on whoever's behind the other to make them look like Dio, and futhermore silence them (we have silence, right?). One of them kills the other, we kill them.

Hopefully one of them died to I'm assuming thaumaturgy, and we'll make a point of not killing the other with a stab, which would be Dio's MO by this point.

>>542751
I fail to see how shooting the messengers is going to do anything but aggravate the situation.

How about we just listen for now, and meet with Dahlia and her father to work out a plan later?
Or text Dahlia with the message "It's a bunch of Arkers trying to convince Wendat to off me. They think the Velkirk family would let it slide. Think your dad could show up outside here and do that intimidating implications thing when the meeting gets out?"

I don't think we should be calling in favors with the mob boss until he owes us some favors.

Also, they aren't the messengers. Wendat told them going after Dio is pointless. It is not the only opinion that Dio needs to die, so when we have such a golden opportunity to off two future problems it'd be a waste not to.

Unless you wanna argue Dio is a moral person and this is an immoral thing to do, I suppose I could go along with the reasoning, even though I don't really think that would even be immoral.

>>542805
The messages are that the Arkers have a grudge against Dio, that they don't consider Dio under the protection of any power players, and that they are willing to act on it. Killing these Arkers is only going to make the underlying issues worse.
As far as calling in favors from a mob boss goes, that's not really applicable here. Killing Dio would be a serious insult to the Velkirk family, and would terribly hurt Dahlia. That means it's not a favor, just normal operating action. Family looks out for family.
Besides, that's why Dio should have Dahlia ask.

O shit. Did you set your phone to silent?! If not do it now.