jinxxes
[disgust in gucci]
rikki.
mood
Calm and collected
outfit
Running this shit
location
Various
The tap of fingers along the desk was incessant. Four rolling knocks, swinging legs, a whistle-
Rikki’s eyes shut once again to continue the thought process when the perpetrators' voice rang out. “Who do you have so far?” And the blond was forced again to drag a tired gaze to him in silence. “What? I thought I could help choose.”
Rikki folded his hand, placing his face on them.
That wouldn’t stop Mishka though. “You don’t like all the candidates?”
A couple blinks, then a giant grin spread across Mishka’s face. “You want me?” As a new member, Mishka wasn’t the most trusted. Not to mention, his skills typically had him working solo and in secret. But Mishka traveled across a lot of Ravka, and he had even stickier fingers than Rikki. It was time to bring him in.
“Who else, who else?” And here was why Rikki wasn’t excited to deal with collecting the team. Nearly every single one, if not all, were going to be hell in one way or another. For Mishka, that was the never-ending energy and mouth.
Rikki didn’t answer, instead, he stood, sheathing his knife and stretching. At least this was one person he didn’t have to explain all the details toom which brought some relief. Mishka had been the one to bring forth this wonderful job. And despite the neverending talking- The brat knew what he had to hold his tongue about. He could keep a secret.
Ignoring the outburst was the best call, it was like training a dog, don’t give it any reactions and it will settle. Mishka was completely ignored like a little yapping pup, in turn, to pick up his things. Without a spared glance, don’t give the dog anything until it’s calmed, he began his descent out of his office and off to the streets. Like the obedient mutt he was, Mishka scaled down from the office window to join, seeming to understand that Rikki wasn’t going to give anything as the situation was. Finally some quiet.
They traveled together in uneasy silence, Rikki had a habit of taking the back roads to avoid foot traffic and attention. Someone else might catch wind of the storm brewing if he was spotted bringing together a group like this. It was in their best interest to keep this as low as possible, and most advantageous to stay weary from the get go.
There was some sort of bristle to Mishka, as if he wished to say something, but appeared to have decided against it to follow Rikki’s demand. Good dog.
Rikki felt more at ease like this, there was information to be gained from both what Mishka could and could not see, and the more control he had over that the better he could plan.
Winding through the streets, sticking to shadows, the destination was in reach: The Orchid. It was time to pick up a Heartrender.
Rikki entered the building with an ease as if he owned the place, waltzing right up to the front desk.
“She’s with someone right now.”
The warning meant nothing to Rikki, he gave a dismissive wave to start heading towards the room he knew of her work, steps silent as to avoid alerting the two of his presence. Bending down, he produced a lockpick and got to business. Within seconds, he was straightening back up, hand on the knob, and stepping in.
Mishka was right back at Rikki’s side as he opened Nikolai’s room, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. They were with a man, soothing out whatever godforsaken problem his money bought him instead of taking care of its source. He’d much rather have walked in on them unclothed, Rikki thought messing with emotions was disgusting.
Rikki couldn’t say whether or not the fool was smart enough to see the threat, or calm enough under Grisha spell to not be bothered. It didn’t matter either way, just that he was leaving before long. Mishka dutifully locked the door behind him.
Clearly, the correct answer was something along the lines of amazing, with an intelligent ‘too good to be true’ attached along. So Rikki continued.
"Be quiet, I'm trying to think."
Rikki’s piercing eyes glared at the one responsible for all the noise, a small fellow perched at the edge of his space waiting ever so patiently. Rikki gave him three seconds to consider how to proceed, then jammed a knife right by the young boy's hand. There was no flinch, just silence finally encompassing the air, and a slide off the edge to stand.Rikki’s eyes shut once again to continue the thought process when the perpetrators' voice rang out. “Who do you have so far?” And the blond was forced again to drag a tired gaze to him in silence. “What? I thought I could help choose.”
"Mishka."
The voice was low and in warning, that if things continued on, the next knife might not go into the desk.Rikki folded his hand, placing his face on them.
"I have a general idea but...."
He was not looking for Mishka’s input as he started speaking, just to word his dilemma to make a decision.That wouldn’t stop Mishka though. “You don’t like all the candidates?”
"I don't like any of the candidates."
Rikki corrected. "But id doesn't matter if they're the right for for the job."
He let out a sigh, plucking the still standing knife out of his desk and pointed it at Mishka. "I need my spy, of course. You ready to travel back home?"
A couple blinks, then a giant grin spread across Mishka’s face. “You want me?” As a new member, Mishka wasn’t the most trusted. Not to mention, his skills typically had him working solo and in secret. But Mishka traveled across a lot of Ravka, and he had even stickier fingers than Rikki. It was time to bring him in.
“Who else, who else?” And here was why Rikki wasn’t excited to deal with collecting the team. Nearly every single one, if not all, were going to be hell in one way or another. For Mishka, that was the never-ending energy and mouth.
Rikki didn’t answer, instead, he stood, sheathing his knife and stretching. At least this was one person he didn’t have to explain all the details toom which brought some relief. Mishka had been the one to bring forth this wonderful job. And despite the neverending talking- The brat knew what he had to hold his tongue about. He could keep a secret.
Ignoring the outburst was the best call, it was like training a dog, don’t give it any reactions and it will settle. Mishka was completely ignored like a little yapping pup, in turn, to pick up his things. Without a spared glance, don’t give the dog anything until it’s calmed, he began his descent out of his office and off to the streets. Like the obedient mutt he was, Mishka scaled down from the office window to join, seeming to understand that Rikki wasn’t going to give anything as the situation was. Finally some quiet.
They traveled together in uneasy silence, Rikki had a habit of taking the back roads to avoid foot traffic and attention. Someone else might catch wind of the storm brewing if he was spotted bringing together a group like this. It was in their best interest to keep this as low as possible, and most advantageous to stay weary from the get go.
"Follow from above and keep lookout."
Rikki’s voice broke the heavy air, always the paranoid. If he could bring down the numbers of people moving together, all the better.There was some sort of bristle to Mishka, as if he wished to say something, but appeared to have decided against it to follow Rikki’s demand. Good dog.
Rikki felt more at ease like this, there was information to be gained from both what Mishka could and could not see, and the more control he had over that the better he could plan.
Winding through the streets, sticking to shadows, the destination was in reach: The Orchid. It was time to pick up a Heartrender.
Rikki entered the building with an ease as if he owned the place, waltzing right up to the front desk.
"I'm here to see Nikolai."
It wasn’t a request, it was a courtesy warning that he was going there immediately.“She’s with someone right now.”
The warning meant nothing to Rikki, he gave a dismissive wave to start heading towards the room he knew of her work, steps silent as to avoid alerting the two of his presence. Bending down, he produced a lockpick and got to business. Within seconds, he was straightening back up, hand on the knob, and stepping in.
Mishka was right back at Rikki’s side as he opened Nikolai’s room, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. They were with a man, soothing out whatever godforsaken problem his money bought him instead of taking care of its source. He’d much rather have walked in on them unclothed, Rikki thought messing with emotions was disgusting.
"Wrap it up."
His voice carried an edge as he refused to look directly at Nikolai’s gentle touch. Just thinking about what she was doing sent hives along his arms. But he stood firm, just waiting. His posture and glare said it all, no room to argue, only to listen.Rikki couldn’t say whether or not the fool was smart enough to see the threat, or calm enough under Grisha spell to not be bothered. It didn’t matter either way, just that he was leaving before long. Mishka dutifully locked the door behind him.
"Hello Nikolai."
He greeted as if he hadn’t just chased away a client. Business was business and Rikki’s proposition paid more. "I hope you can pardon my interruption."
He bloomed with sarcasm. The Orchid and Nikolai could get over it, and that was exactly why he led next with: "How does around three million extra kruge to your name sound to make up for it?"
Money talks, and that price was shouting from the rooftops.Clearly, the correct answer was something along the lines of amazing, with an intelligent ‘too good to be true’ attached along. So Rikki continued.
"And as a Grisha, how does the incredible powers of Jurda parem without the deadly side effects appeal?"
A pause. "Alleged."
Rikki didn’t believe something could be so great without a take in return, but it made its price certainly desirable so he had no qualms with the rumor."There’s whispers of an amplifier that can complete such a feat, and I found someone willing to pay quite the sum to hunt it down."
He tilted his head as he looked over Nikolai to study her reactions. "Currently, the trail leads to Ravka. It's going to be a long trip."
His gaze finally traveled up to make eye contact. "I want my Heartender with me."
Borderline
Nico Collins
♡coded by uxie♡