Casey leaned forward, resting her forearms on her thighs. "The ball is being held in a small, secluded city in Southern Russia. It's right on the border between Russia, China, and Mongolia. The city is a very well-kept secret, it belongs to the Nebtali. As for the security-" Casey sat up again. "Tighter than any of us have ever experienced or dealt with. This is a stealth mission. We need to blend in or we will quite literally be killed on the spot."
Cinthia pursed her lips, eyes averting as she thought. This would be difficult, no doubt. They'd need more information and a plan. Being a shadow in the night had its perks, as almost no one knew what she looked like, but she and the others still needed to take some precautions when entering. It was risky, it was dangerous, and it was thrilling. She didn't show it, but the prospect of possibly pulling this off was charging her blood and bones. In other words, she was hella excited. "Who here knows Russian?" She had studied Russian a while ago, so she was set.
Cameron listened in on the plan, his eyebrows raised slightly. Russia, huh? A trip back home. Another goofy grin teased his lips at the plan anyway.
"I'm Russian, actually," He answered, looking back to Cinthia, not a face he knew very well. She was very… watchful, to say the least. He wasn't sure if he liked it or not. Sometimes he'd look over his shoulder at other missions and find her staring at him, as if prepared to do something. "I'm from Novosibirsk and I've lived there for quite a few years."
Luca sat up much too quickly for it to appear casual. Her face was tight with something that bordered on worry and anger, but when she spoke it was with a cool and icy demeanor. "I was raised by the Russian mob back in New York. To say I'm familiar with how they work is an understatement." Her gaze flicked to Casey, showing the slightest bit of concern. "Are you sure about this Boss? The Nebtali aren't fools. Messing with them is like flirting with death. Fun at times, but can get stupid dangerous before you have time to react." She trailed off, not wanting to go into how she knew all this information. Luca was a thief, bonafide modern Catwoman, but she didn't always start out that way.
(Oof the one day I'm gone y'all decide to be active lol)
Lloyd listened carefully, having still not spoken up to this point. So she must need me to hack into the system… I'm sure it'll be difficult, and possibly even suicide, but I'm sure we're getting paid well. "Are you aware of just how advanced the firewall is? It'll likely take some time to break into a place like that, and I need to know how much equipment I'll need to take." He pulled his laptop case into his lap and opened it, his eyes flickering between the different types of technology he had in it.
(I forgot to mention that Cin's "street name" is Viper. It's because when she attacks, her strikes are fast, hard, and precise)
Cinthia ran through multiple possibilities as to how they could get to the drug. One option was entering as guests to the ball. A few strings had to be pulled, but they could pull that part off easily enough. And then once they're inside, they could figure out a way to get to where they need…
She sighed dejectedly once she realized something, cursing in Greek. "I'm going to have to go unmasked for the majority of this mission, won't I?" Balls weren't exactly too kind towards masked visitors. They were usually party crashers—not saying she wasn't, but she'd at least give herself away. The others too, if they entered as a group.
Luca nodded along with the conversation. Usual this. Usual that. They were going to need the details of the location before actual planning could begin, but she was already thinking of the stretches and obstacle courses she would have to do so her body was in tip top shape. As the smallest in the crew, she was usually the one creeping along air vents and doing all of the more acrobatic bits.
She sighed, Hopefully I don't have to seduce some old government geezer. What I would give for one sexy government agent. "And me? You got me on Tiffany the Corner Girl duty or do I get to be Swiper the Fox?" She asked Casey with a lopsided grin.
(Bump?)
(I'm here, but there's not much I can do at the moment)
(we have to wait for mox to come back)
(Sorry guys I'm back now)
Casey thought for a moment. These people needed to stop talking all at once. She turned to Luca. "I'll probably need a bit of both. Just be ready for anything." She faced Cinthia. "As for you . . . yeah, the mask isn't going to work. You need to blend in and you don't scream inconspicuous as of right now."
Cinthia seemed to deflate, but nodded all the same. She figured that she'd have to unmask herself for this mission. She wouldn't unveil herself as of right now, but she would when the need arises.
Lloyd listened intently to the conversation so he could gather information, but decided to not speak again unless he was spoken to. He was aware that he was the newest member of the group and the others likely wouldn't trust him quite yet for any reason other than Casey trusting him. He closed his laptop case back up and held it firmly in his lap.
Luca nodded, satisfied as she relaxed back into the couch. Both. She could work with both. "So when do we get started?" Arching a brow at Casey, she really wanted to ask what the catch was because the job sounded a bit too fun, but she would hold off until later.
"We'll have four days to prepare. I won't brief you all on your assignments until we're on our way there." Casey stood up, apparently done. "You'll have the day to get ready but I want you all here, in this apartment at nine tonight. After that, you won't leave here unless I say so. Got it?" She looked around at all of them, her gaze lazy.
Cinthia dipped her chin in a slight nod, acknowledging the other woman's words. She had no problem with that arrangement. In fact, she only needed to take out her contacts and unbraid her hair, then she'd be back here. All that she needed was already on her person. Well, besides a change of clothes.
Luca stretched like a lazy cat, before leaping up from the couch. "A sleepover? Fabulous. I'll make tea." She slid over to the kitchen, eyes gleaming with mirth and a sharp cunning. Likely she was already amping herself up for the mission ahead.
(Are they supposed to show up in their mission clothes or what?)
(I mean they shoud bring them but they're not leaving yet so they don't have to be wearing them yet)
Lloyd nodded and left. He gathered some clothes and things he might need, including his mission suit, and returned to Casey's apartment within the hour. He didn't have any other arrangements or places to be, so he figured he might as well just stay there.
“Oh, fun!” Cameron leaned back in his chair with a long yawn, throwing his hood between his two large hands. “Hey, Luca, do you think you could make me some tea, too? You make the best tea.” He glanced up at her as she sauntered off into the kitchen.
Luca didn't hesitate for a second, as she made a soft scoffing noise at Cameron's request. She was smiling though, one that softened her features into a more relaxed and casual prettiness. "Nope." She jokingly chirped, taking down another mug anyway. "Boss? How about some tea, yea?" Luca gestured lazily at Casey trying to catch her attention. "And some pizza?" She threw out at the last second. "Mama is hungryyyyy."
Cinthia rolled her eyes at Luca, then slipped out of the building without another word, her footsteps as light and soundless as feathers. She darted from shadow to shadow, keeping her breathing steady and her legs bent in a slight crouch as she traveled through the city to her apartment. It didn't take her long, as she had taken every shortcut possible. She had every nook and cranny and secret this city had to offer memorized like the backs of her hands—burned flesh and all.
She dropped into her bedroom from the high window and unclipped her cloak, setting it on the bed as she changed. If she was to go unmasked for this mission, she might as well get used to being around her new crew without one.
Cinthia has a strange thing about touch. It started with random strangers eyeballing her partially-healed burn scars on the right side of her body. It made her feel self-conscious, and the need to hide started to creep into her mind. After she had succumbed to the thought and left home for good, she had never once let someone touch her. It made her think of the doting maids and tutors, the hairdressers and the stylists, her mother holding her down as she poured boiling water over the right side of her body.
You were lucky if you were ever allowed to get near enough to offer a friendly gesture and didn't lose a finger or two. Perhaps a hand if you pushed your luck. An arm was reserved for the pervs not able to take a hint.
Cinthia shook those thoughts out of her head and released them through a small sigh. She quickly undressed from her leather and cloth outfit and swapped it for some simple high-waisted skinny jeans, ankle-high boots, and a knitted sweater that fell to just below her belly button and had sleeves falling past her fingertips.
Cinthia then stepped up to the mirror and removed her colored contacts, putting them back into their case and pocketing it in case Casey wanted her to hide her heterochromia eyes. With that done, she worked on the coiled braid that she had somehow gotten her hair into. After what felt like hours, she fluffed her mass of black curls out and shook her head to let it fall naturally. The tight and unruly coils fell to the middle of her back and spilled everywhere—flowing over her shoulders, wrapping around her arms, and falling into her face.
She eyed herself in the mirror, tilting her head as she stared at the red splotches surrounding her blue eye and merging with the burn coating the right side of her neck. She then shrugged, packed her bags, jumped out the window, and headed back to Casey's. Once again, it didn't take her long to slip back in without a word.
"You know where the phone is," Casey told Luca as she started to walk down the hallway. She turned, still walking. "And tea would be great." She walked to her office and grabbed her laptop, her cellphone, and a notepad and pen. She walked back out and folded herself into a chair that faced the rest of the open space. She started typing rapidly on her laptop.