That Could Have Gone Better (Leon/GM)

[Allison Kazim]

Welcome to the fastest way to shut Ali up that anyone's ever seen!

Ali remained silent for several moments after Winters's explanation, the reminder of what came before as Violet chimed in how even just trying to do the right thing meant she suffered, too. The mage wasn't oblivious to what Cabal's history had been, even if it wasn't exactly the focus anymore. But it was a harsh reminder that teh world hadn't been easy before for many, and it wouldn't now with fewer people - and more important, fewer resources.

The silence actually ended lasting a lot longer as she dwelled on the comparison she understood and related to more. She knew she was one of the lucky ones, one of those gifted enough with the spark of otherness, that qi that they valued and trained so highly. The experiments they did and the ingredients offered were given freely, done in safety with consent and nowhere near the monstrous things you could hear about. Not usually. Things they didn't share with the rest of the world for many reasons.

"...You're right."

[Zack Asiv]

Winters and Violet would continue on before reaching the destination they were searching for. Entry into the Palace.

[Lucifer]

The palace was massive and guarded behind another set of walls with guards. Where getting into the city was as simple as walking in, they were stopped at once outside of the Palace gates.

"What business do you have with The Punk?"

[Allison Kazim]

Ali is letting Violet and Winters handle things at the moment since they have the thicker skin!

[Zack Asiv]

Winters would smile and greet the guard, however Violet would cut him off. Winters would cross his arms and pout, but nod.

"Just some Cabal Agents needing to confirm some information on a possible gun trade with recognized enemies of Cabal."

Winters however, would tap Violet on the shoulder.

"Perhaps, ze Frau should remain, ja?"

Violet would look at Ali, and her body would begin to shift like water before a very dark brown wooden sword began to come out, with chains, paper seals, and other kinds of binding all over it. Winters would take it and hand it to Ali.

"Lets zink about zis logically. You use zis to protect yourself and wait here. Ve vill only be a few minutes, I'm sure."

[Allison Kazim]

Two very different approaches, for sure. Ali noted John's more easygoing approach, wondering if that was just how he was, or if there was rapport between them. She fervently hoped it was the former.

And then Violet's power was on display, and she could only marvel at the sheer amount of everything on that sword. Not her first weapon of choice, but she could handle herself well enough if someone came her way. She eyed the chains and the seals, fully intending to ask her about it later, but for now she took it with a frown.

"I don't see how where you're going could be worse." They were just going to leave her here? Surrounded by this?

[Lucifer]

They were taken inside to deal with Punk leaving Ali to her own devices in the city of vice and decadence to explore as she sees fit!

[Allison Kazim]

This was going to be...unsettling at best. Ali would keep the advice Winters and Violet had given her about trying not to stand out, and made her way towards the market stalls where they had been advertising arcane ingredients!

[Lucifer]

She found a stall that had a wide assortment of ingredients that seemed to be surprisingly authentic! And only a fraction of the price they would find back home. Ingredients such as the final breath of life, tears of a virgin, human eyeballs, and much much more!

"Got a taste for the arcane do you lass? Well you'll find no finer ingredients across the land than right here. That I can promise you."

The old man that ran the stall was bald and his skin tanned and thick like hiding from the sun, it was impossible to tell just how many wrinkles were from age and how many were from the sun. But his big bushy white eyebrows and mustache indicted that at the very least a large portion of them were age realated.

[Allison Kazim]

"You could say that." Ali nodded at the man's question, looking over the ingredients with a neutral expression. This part, at least, she could handle well enough on her own. It was mind boggling that the old man had them priced so low, but showing him would make her a target for others and false goods. And certain objects like virgin's tears were a little easier to come by, even if there may be a question of quality.

"What can you tell me about the final breath here?" She indicated a container of final breath of life with a nod.

[Lucifer]

"Ah yes. I believe that vial of it came from a young man of twenty years old. My records say he came from a town roughly twenty miles to the north."

[Allison Kazim]

Locals could mean discounts.

"I see. Was he well-known for anything?" It might be worth testing it a sample if she got it.

[Lucifer]

"No, he was quite unremarkable in most ways. If you are looking for the final breath of a specialist that can be arranged but the cost is higher."

[Allison Kazim]

So it was the breath of a commoner like herself.

"Understandable." It was tempting, but Ali also didn't want to have to wait around here longer than she had to, let alone come back. She nodded.

"I'll take that one, then." She pointed to the bottle in question.

[Lucifer]

"Very well."

He held out his hand for her payment first.