#thread.apollo

[wrvtchedhearts]

CLOSED STARTER from the perspective of VEER SIVAKUMAR ( The Little Cobra - - leader of The Grey Lilies ) for APOLLO LADRÓN ( @g0ldenparad0x )

Veer was a leader simply by chance and good connections. They had no credentials, no qualifications, no experience. Simply the eagerness of someone who’d been done wrong by the system, who wanted nothing more than to change the status quo, to save his people in the Slums.

And the Grey Lilies was the way to go for those. 

Some choose different routes.

“First time the Tears still out of the news, bhai,” they said to Apollo when their paths crossed. They didn’t think either of them had the time for small talk, but they weren’t after anything else now. Just a break.

[mc-adarsh]

Adarsh couldn’t really explain the weird sensation that set off when the other said ‘he’d pay for all of it’. It wasn’t jealousy, or frustration. Just… judgement. And it felt unfounded, because he had no idea if he had any experience with rich people or if he was just thinking like this because he was most likely a homeless person. He turned his eyes to the pools and tried to force the opinions that led nowhere down. He felt that… if he was truly homeless… and they really got a bill, he should be happy someone offered to pay for him. It would make things a lot easier. “I’d appreciate that,” he said, as he sat down at the edge of the pool and pulled his beat up sneakers off of his feet. “Because I’m very sure I was homeless before I woke up on that ship, can’t imagine this hair is a result of good choices.” Or he had been some weird bohemian. 

He pulled the tank top over his head and contemplated taking off the cargo pants, even if there was nothing in there, and they’d probably dry quickly enough. Thinking he’d look weird in just his undies and the UV shirt. But the decision would have to be made later, because his eyes shot back to the stranger. “A swimming pool? Dressed like that?” He must’ve misunderstood the comment, because it confused him. It wasn’t an UV shirt, it looked like it might be made of wool or cotton. 

“Sadly don’t have one for you,” he said, through slightly gritted teeth, as he decided he didn’t want to get the cargo pants wet, and stood to pull them off. “My first actual memory is waking up on the cruise ship,” he admitted, focussing on lowering himself into the water before the frustration could take hold and fuck with his mental state. He felt like hitting something, but tried to think of good breathing exercises, anything to force down the feelings that were bubbling to the surface. “The rest of it is just blank.” 

"Don't worry, I'll pay for it," Apollo shared his bitter joke, filled with anger and frustration of his own. There used to be a time when he thought his money -his father's money- could get him out of anything, fix every wrong. And in a way, that was true until the end- even though his issues were far from fixable, he was rather certain that all his hospitalization and plastic surgery and physiotherapy was draining money out of one of the innumerable off-shore bank accounts that he had learned to take from granted. Still, he couldn't find it in himself to be grateful for any of that any more. Maybe it would have been better if he hadn't gotten out of the fire and that was a thought that took up a big part of his brain that his confidence used to occupy.

It felt strange to talk about sun protection, under these circumstances. Everything going on around them felt just one too many steps away from reality for him to think that something as mundane as the sun could hurt him. It felt like his whole body was burning anyway, way more than usual, and that wasn't something sunscreen could fix. "I will go get something lighter then, thank you for the information," he probably lied, still not ready to abandon the false confidence of his turtlenecks.

The man's question made him give a chuckle at the sad parallel of the situation. "I was in a swimming pool," he answered truthfully, absentmindedly swishing his bare feet through the water of the tidal pool. He didn't think his company would be interested in hearing more about hydrotherapy, so he didn't elaborate. "And you? French art critiques such as myself do love exciting stories."

[wrvtchedhearts]

CLOSED STARTER from the perspective of MENTARI AG ( detective - - associated with The Overseers ) for APOLLO LADRÓN ( @g0ldenparad0x )

There was always business to be done in the name of X, and they really liked to make it as difficult as possible for Mentari to shift to make the chatter die down.

He certainly didn’t intend to bust any heads from the Skeleton Crew this early, but he hoped connections within the Tears had luck already. Though several inquiries later and he was still at a dead end. 

He settled in to talking with the Tear’s underboss at a secure location, even if he could feel X breathing down his neck for such a risky move. The tension had even settled in his bones.

[wrvtchedhearts]

CLOSED STARTER from the perspective of ZAKIR SETHUPATHI ( rapper / interpreter / informant - - associated with The Golden Tears ) for APOLLO LADRÓN ( @g0ldenparad0x )

Zakir could safely say he was neither up-to-date nor in the loop on current affairs. There were times when his language skills made him one of the few to understand the full picture, but other times he was the one left out. As an informant, it was the safest route. 

He found himself in the Slums around midday, glad to be out of the transportation chaos in Mawar even though he knew he’d have to return by nightfall. 

Zakir walked into the first shop on the Bartori he could find and settled down to order lunch. He made it look natural as he entered the place, as if he’d happened upon it. 

And nodded in the direction of the underboss as if the other was simply a patron, before ordering. "One coffee and... the lunch special looks good, I'd have two of those. Terima Kasih."

[mc-adarsh]

Adarsh scoffed in amusement. A free country. He too wasn’t sure who the island belonged to, but it was definitely a nice tourist spot and he could somehow imagine the cruise ship belonging here, though not on its side. “Would be something if we get a bill at the end of all of this,” he joked. It came out harshly, but everything did. Once he’d gotten over the initial shock of having no memories, he’d been quick to find anger and frustration settle. It was never far from anything he did, always lurking under the surface, waiting for either something to set him off or for sadness to be processed wrong. 

It was hard to keep his head on and listen to his brain and not to his heart. Weirdly enough the laugh helped, and he wasn’t sure why. It made him want to continue joking. Instead he offered what little help he could. 

It had been a few days ago that he’d changed tank tops because he’d used the other one to stop his nose from bleeding - unsuccessfully. “So only those…” he didn’t know the word turtleneck, so he just reached a hand up to touch his neck. “Well, if you’re looking for a change, I found this one-” he touched his red tank top “- in the warehouse among some other clothes. Also found some sunscreen.” He wore the UV shirt he’d been wearing when he woke up only during the noon of the day, when the sun was at its highest. “Technically you’re better protected against the sun than me.” He paused then, pushing the little ghost in the darkness of his void back before it could make comments he wouldn’t be able to take back. But the frustration grew, forcing him to close his eyes and take a deep breath. 

He was getting better at this though. 

“What did you do before waking up here?” he asked.

The annoyance was obvious on the other man's face, but Apollo had never been one to pick a fight, always able to find the right words to diffuse any tension or at least buy enough time for his bodyguards to sweep him away. No bodyguard in sight for the time being, he hoped any charms he had left still worked.

"I am not claiming anything. It's a free country. I think, I am not really sure who this island belongs to, to be honest." He wasn't even sure that the island was a real place and not some figment of his overactive dying imagination in its last moments, but dumping all that on a stranger with a scowl would probably not work wonders in the tension diffusion department. He had to trust that his brain was progressive enough to create a place were people had the right to sit wherever they wanted.

His comment made him laugh, realizing how much he must have been standing out. "I would say I didn't really go through a dress rehearsal for this place, but my closet lately looked like a cartoon character's, the same thing over and over again."

[wrvtchedhearts]

Veer bobbed their head, grinning. They did not intent to start any kind of trouble with Apollo, but it wasn't as if there wasn't always trouble brewing between the gangs in the Slums, and outside of the Slums. There were plenty of small fish, but the biggest organisations were the ones who ruled these streets, as much as the Overseers liked to think they had any kind of real power here. He hummed. "I have a few friends," they said. "But they also have no idea who I am."

The Grey Lilies were very much anonymous, and those who were known were only known by name: they might not even show up on any databases.

Criminals had to protect their identities, especially with the BOARD being able to see almost everything.

His offer had been genuine, but then again, Veer tended to invite people for food regardless of whether he was close to them or not. He felt like it was a good place to hide his true intentions, or to hide in general. "Of course I'm serious, yaar. We have to get out of the spotlight." Veer could never see Apollo as anything other than a close enemy again, even if he wanted to. "No better way to lay low and also get our calories."

As much as Apollo wanted Veer to be genuinely interested in his life he wasn’t naive, he knew a thinly veiled dig when he heard one. He scoffed rolling his eyes, an expression Veer was undoubtedly used to. Although less dramatic, it was a look that adorned Apollo’s face quite frequently when they were children, especially when he was being teased or not getting his way. “Stupid questions deserve stupid answers, Veer. No one is friends with an Overseer, don’t mistake a shaky truce for an olive branch. They would jump me the moment they got the order.” As would you was left unsaid.

He raised a brow, genuinely confused by the sudden offer to catch dinner. “What?” He tried but he just couldn’t figure it out, was Veer’s sincerity true or a perfect mask? Though, regardless of the truth it didn’t matter, there was no returning to what they had, they were no longer starry eyed kids running around the Slums dreaming of a better future. “If you’re serious I could go for a roll or two. Being the devil in disguise and ruining the lives of everyone I’m around is hard work. I’m starving.” Apollo replied with a smile but had no desire to spend more time than he had to with the other. It hurt to look at him, a reminder that Apollo would always be reaching out for a brother who would no longer come if he called.

[mc-adarsh]

He had been.

Sadly this hideaway seemed to already be taken. Joke was on him for trying to finally get away from the three places he knew: the beach, the warehouse, and his own bungalow.

Perhaps he should've just shut himself in the bungalow. But he felt that he was also an outside person. He certainly wasn't someone who enjoyed being in a room for hours on end. Except to sleep.

He made a face in annoyance.

"Depends if you want to claim this one."

Adarsh figured if he went for a swim he could just keep his eyes underwater and he wouldn't have to talk. He gave the other a once-over, especially his clothing, and frowned. "We're on a tropical island, why are you dressed like you're some French art critique?"

location: tidal pools open for everyone

Why was everything so fucking warm?

Apollo sat down on a rock on the edge of a tidal pool, dipping his feet into the water below, disappointed to find the water to be lukewarm. Ever since the craziness that had taken place on and off the ship, whose existence encompassed an absurdity he couldn't even begin to fathom, all his senses circled back to the heat he was constantly feeling. Granted, his turtleneck was a very unfortunate choice of clothing for destiny or god or whoever decided to put them there to pick for him, but that's what his closet mostly consisted of nowadays anyway.

But he definitely didn't deserve the heartburn. He rubbed at his chest as if he could soothe the pain that was building underneath and tried to take those deep breaths that the doctors had advised him to those days when burning was all he could feel. He closed his eyes for a second and tried to steady himself, when his effort for peace and quiet was interrupted by the sound of footsteps behind him.

"Looking for a hideaway as well?" he asked, instinctively trying to appear calm and collected as ever.

[wrvtchedhearts]

Veer's eyes shone for a moment, then they quickly gave a look at their surroundings. Overseers had never worried them much, despite that they really should. More often than they were right now, definitely given their current predicament. They had a few options to escape from here, but at least knowing they would have to was an edge they wouldn't have otherwise.

They were not going to thank Apollo however, they'd probably warn the other too when things got dicey, but not because they supported the alliance Apollo had chosen.

He hummed. "And what about you? Are these Overseers your friends?" he asked. Might as well be, he knew there were connections between any gang and law enforcement, even if everything was hearsay and nothing had digital footprints - at least none that they'd been able to uncover. "Bartori is open, we could go for some sushi?" they offered with a goofy smile.

It was late yet The Slums were anything but quiet. The panicked whispers and shuffle of careful footsteps rang in Apollo’s ears, gentle reminders that despite the heist the hierarchy of New Jakarta was still in play. He thought he should feel lucky that it wasn’t him nor The Tears on the metaphorical chopping block, but being the errand boy for the Academy was almost worse. Almost.

All he wanted was a break from urgency, just a brief moment where his nerves weren’t wired but the city had other plans. “I would prefer to keep it that way. We could do without the flashy dramatics The Crew likes to pull, it’s easier for us to sweep it under the rug that way. Crime is mundane, no need to jazz it up.” He didn’t approach Veer rather keeping his back pressed against the opposite wall and his exits open. “You shouldn’t be out here unless you want to tempt fate. A group of Overseers has been patrolling the area, they’re convinced they’ll find a skellie if they keep walking back and forth. Bone or Flower, it’s all the same to them.”

[wrvtchedhearts]

Mentari sighed, he had no mental energy to go in on the banter, he hadn't made it this far in his life if not for the fact that he could act like he wasn't bothered by a thing, his face a mask. Still, his exhaustion of constantly lacking the right information was pushing his eyebrows inward a bit in frustration.

"Well, perhaps it's not for either of us to figure this out, but at least it makes me better knowing that neither of us can find any leads." Or at least any leads that led anywhere. "And we both know it doesn't work like that, we're not competition, we're after the same thing. But we both think in a different way."

Or so he liked to believe. Apollo with their connections to the criminal world, growing up in the Slums, having the Intel and the experience that only native would have. While Mentari knew the procedures, those of the Mawar District, but also had plenty of contacts in Sora. As an Overseer, he could play between the cracks, and yet seamlessly move over them as well. "I wonder if the Crew and the Lilies are in any way connected, have you heard anything on that?" Chances were higher news of the Races made it to Apollo's ears than Mentari's.

He wouldn’t necessarily say he was surprised when Mentari requested a meeting, that was the curse of being the Underboss, someone always needed you or wanted something and The Boss was never available to shoulder the work. Apollo was plenty busy dealing with the chaos from the Skeleton Crew and the demands of the Academy that he didn’t have the time of day to give to an impromptu meeting, but securing and keeping connections were part of the business and he did enjoy the detective’s company even if he didn’t enjoy theirs.

They ushered their visitor into a seat and placed a cup of tea in front of him knowing fully well he probably wouldn’t take the offering. “I’m curious detective, are you truly that deluded to believe I would freely give up information about the Skeleton Crew’s whereabouts? Especially when you and I report to the same…employer. I’m gunning for employee of the month and you’re my competition.” They leaned back in their chair, a shit-eating grin on their face. They enjoyed messing with Mentari just as they enjoyed messing with anyone connected to an overseer, but the detective’s reactions were particularly amusing and Apollo really needed something to brighten their mood. “I don’t have any leads and I think we both know that no matter how hard we search we’ll end up dry. I’ll give credit where it is due, the Crew are a group of highly competent individuals who no doubt went into deep hiding after the raid. No one is finding them and if they left ‘leads’ I’m sure you’re smart enough to realize they go nowhere.”