coastal | psl || how did this slowburn happen

[ somehow he isn't surprised that they'd find each other this way. kara's expression softens when he realizes it's her, though he doesn't smile just yet. he wants to see how she'll react, before he lets himself feel too relieved. ]

Going somewhere?

[ isn't she always though ]

[it's sort of settling in that he's back, close enough to touch, and she can't deny that he's happy to see him.]

Yeah.

[she's always going somewhere, but she will make a beckoning gesture for him to bend down a little bit, like she's going to tell him the secret location of where she's headed

if he does, she doesn't actually do that, she's just going to kiss his cheek before she loses her nerve]

Ahem. Wanna come with?

[WHAT IF SHE PRETENDS LIKE SHE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WEIRD, EVEN THOUGH SHE'S OBVIOUSLY BLUSHING?]

[ he does lean down, accepting the kiss with a soft sigh. though kara probably wouldn't admit it aloud... he's missed this. he's missed lili.

but then he'll straighten, hand resting on the hilt of his sword as usual - like nothing's changed at all. ]

Yeah.

[ as if he would say no ]

You found more problems?

[ . . . soft. she's got a bad case of heart eyes for a second, letting herself just be fond -

but only a second because his question manages to prompt her further and she nods, her focus shifting]

Mm. I heard something about more drugs that are being circulated in villages close by - so I'm gonna go trade for some information.

My normal guy isn't around... [because ogi got fucking stabbed] So I have to find someone else who'll fess up.

[so she's barreling straight into the shady part of town again]

[ welp. guess kara is her security guard now. he's probably used to this by now though, so whatever, he'll follow without hesitation. ]

Whenever you're done out here, we need to talk - away from everyone else.

[ important sword business, in addition to important... drug trafficking business? whatever this is. but kara's thing can wait, since they're already out on a different mission. ]

Where are we going, exactly?

[??????

she doesn't continue her warpath just yet, because that sounds - concerning?]

... this can wait, if it's important.

[she figures kara wouldn't bring it up if it's not important? she'll try to be considerate for once in her life and it's only because she cares about him enough to stop her nonsense for two seconds]

It's...

[ well, no, he can't exactly day it isn't important. it's very important, actually? but not as pressing as a mission set right in front of him. ]

...It can wait. Let me help you with this first.

... okay. Today shouldn't take long.

[she'll at least try to reassure him of that, because now it's going to bother her if she doesn't know what's on his mind. so she'll reach out to briefly catch his hand, giving it a squeeze - and then pulling away before heading back over to slums.

she wants to hold his hand but she can't because she doesn't want to take the risk of anyone else taking her less seriously by thinking she's clinging to her protector

soon enough, though]

Alright. I'll follow you.

[ and follow lili he does, about a step behind her as they head towards the slums. his hand remains on the sword, but kara's posture is relaxed, if alert it's just another expedition. ]

You know who to look for, right?

Not today - I can probably just see who knows Ogi and would be willing to work with me.

[she's literally going to bully her way through the criminal underworld??

but it also means that she's going to ignore some of the lowlifes who end up at attention when unfamiliar faces wander into their territory - even though lili's been something more of a staple around these parts. she's still a young lady with only one man as a guard, and their gazes are hardly friendly

they are getting a big closer to ogi's main base of operations though, which is apparently where she's planning on starting her pursuit]

[ he would say something about not being too reckless, but by now, kara knows better. lili will do what she wants, risks to her person aside, and honestly? that's part of what he likes about her, even if it does get exasperating sometimes.

so he maintains a warrior's posture as he follows her, relaxed but alert, and ready to jump into action if anyone threatens her. lili probably doesn't need his help as much as she used to, but. he's not going to stand by unless she tells him to.

he will give some of these lowlifes a suspicious glance, frowning as more of them begin to appear. they don't seem that intimidated by lili and her single guard - more fool them. ]

You're sure you know where you're going?

For now, yes.

[even if she doesn't know the exact person she's looking for, she does at least know her first destination pretty well. they'll enter the den that ogi normally presides over, and the initial reception is cold as the thugs inside look over disgruntled -

before they relax and greet easily 'hey little lady, got company today? the boss is still out, you know.']

Don't call me little and that's none of your business.

[some of the newer members of their little band of shady thieves, who are less used to lili, just find themselves looking over at kara with some measure of curiosity and wariness, like they don't trust that trouble won't find a way to happen anyway.]

Either tell me what I need to know about the drugs circulating around the capitol, or point me in the direction of who to ask. I'll pay so you have enough for food until Ogi gets back.

[the thugs just manage to look a little exhausted at that before sparing glances toward kara, and asking: 'you're a new face. any chance you can get her to hold her horses?']

[ kara will meet their gazes impassively, apparently unimpressed by the lot of them. they don’t look like much, to be frank. but if lili trusts them, they must be worth something? except they don’t offer anything but tired looks to kara when lili demands answers...

and she trusts these guys? kara wouldn’t, but she knows her own world best, he supposes

he doesn’t answer them, merely raising an eyebrow at the question. do they really think he’d let her waltz into right into the slums if he could stop her? ]

['just as chatty as the other dark-haired one...'

let kara meet ayura.

regardless, it's not like they're going to keep their mouths shut when money is so close at hand. they tell lili what they know about the drug, which sounds just enough like nadai that her expression darkens at the thought of it spreading further throughout the kingdom. they also spare the name of another informant in one of those villages that they can look for that would supposedly know more about a mastermind, and once they do, lili retrieves a small pouch from her person that's filled with gold coins, tossing it onto the table]

Thanks, that'll do. Keep an ear out - do better or I'll tell Ogi you're slacking off while you're gone.

[and that's what will actually get them to look a bit nervous, knowing full well that she'll make good on that promise.

but now that she's gotten what she needed, she moves to head right back out, though she'll at least tell kara - ]

Maybe we can leave tonight? Mm, but I don't want to rush you... Tomorrow morning then.

[ again, he doesn’t answer, merely watching silently as they give lili the information she needs and following her out. ]

...Tomorrow is good.

[ he doesn’t feel rushed, exactly? but kara does still want to talk to her, and he’s not sure how long this conversation will take, or… well. anything after, whatever that may be. he doesn’t want to cause a stir, but if they have to make arrangements for him to find a more long-term place to stay… well. it might take some time to plan? maybe?

look he doesn’t know how this works, these things have always been provided for him up to now ]

[hm.

she continues to be concerned the more that she doesn't know what's on his mind, and she nods. it's not too far to get to the inn where she's arranged for a room for him, but they do need to get out of the slums first. maybe her pace is a little quicker and maybe some of the criminals hanging out interpret it as nervousness, and that's why they feel emboldened enough to step in her path

her expression falls, unimpressed]

Move or you will be moved.

[and like clockwork, the air around them drops just a few degrees]

[ of course lili is still a magnet for trouble. kara didn’t really expect anything else - but it does make him wonder what she was doing, heading to an area like this without even her attendants. his expression will settle into a glare as the thugs approach them, and he’ll step up beside her, hand on his sword

though he does glance at her from the corner of his eye when the temperature drops. voice low so they won’t overhear, he asks: ]

...Are you sure you want to do that here?

[ he never did quite get a handle on the rules of magic in this world ]

A little scare can build character. I won't make it obvious.

[maybe she can convince them she's a ghost? either way, she's still painfully overconfident. though it seems like one of their attackers isn't intimidated by a girl that stands at 5'2" or her singular attendant and moves to charge toward them, hand outstretched like he'll grab right onto the long locks of lili's hair

except there's suddenly a patch of ice manifesting right beneath his foot in the second before he steps, making him slip and throwing him off-balance, easy enough for kara to pick off]

[ why is she like this

SIGH… he’s just going to have to get used to doing this full time, he supposes. at least it’ll be more interesting than doing chores in the citadel

that said, he doesn’t even draw his sword. kara pulls it, still sheathed, from the scarf on his waist, easily side-stepping to smack the attacker at the base of his neck as he tries to catch himself. he falls to the ground, unconscious, as kara turns back to the others as if daring them to try him, too. ]

[haha yea.

also it's hot when kara is obviously so much stronger than anyone else. lili would honestly be okay if this turned into a brawl, but given the obvious difference in skill, their would-be bandits are suddenly forced into rethinking their options here. they back off, slowly at first, before running away

lili just crosses her arms]

Really, they must be new here if they still try to attack me...

[kara is now doing the job that both ayura and tetora were assigned to]

Thank you for your help.

[ he watches until they’re out of sight before turning back to her ]

How often do you come here?

[ like of course she would but also: what the fuck ]

Fairly often... There's nothing to do in the castle if the king is busy.

[soo-won is her friend even though she won't say that out loud]

But my normal informant isn't here, so I have to improvise... What we got is good enough - I don't think I'll be able to find anything else within the kingdom. Those guys are annoying, but they know everything that happens within the gates unless they really have been slacking off.

[she's just gotten so casual with them that they don't bother trying to intimidate her anymore

she probably left out all the parts where she could've been in danger out of their tweets]

Except not all of them recognize you. But as long as you know what you’re doing…

[ he sighs. what else was he expecting. ]

How far is this village we need to go to?

Hm... about a day's travel - maybe not even that much, if I can get us horses.

[now she's going to try to get them horses. but off back to the less sketchy parts of the capitol they go!!]

You'll be alright with accompanying me?

[is this romance]

Of course.

[ he came to see her, after all. he's not going to leave her to her own mission when he just got here?

though that does leave one question... ]

Where are your attendants?

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