With a new sense of his self, coming to terms with who he was now, Kage had returned to where he had set up a small camp in the Central Thanalan outside of Ul’dah from his time spent in the desert. The call came over the tribe linkshell. It was Natalie. Her voice brought a smile to his face before he remembered what it most likely meant. Brass Blades. His face hardened a bit before he moved to change into the uniform. He would go looking for her while she called to him. While she was explaining that she needed to see him Kage entered Ul’dah’s gates and spotted her quickly.
Kage walked up to her. Noticing that Natalie had not noticed him standing before her he said simply, “Natalie. I was just outside the city and saw you. What do you want me to do?â€
He blinked as she jerked in surprise. “Ah… you snuck up on me.†Kage gave her a small smirk, the upturned corners of his lips could be seen while the turban covered his sparkling eyes. “I think that might be good for me then,†he commented.
A tall female figure with a large hat approached them. Kage recognized her as Amadreruil Grayham, whom Natalie had once introduced him to. She had also been one of the first to see him his new form. She was also with C’kayah when he finally saw Kayah for the first time since their encounter outside of the Quicksand near Pearl lane. “Demotion must be tough,†Amad said as she came upon them.
Natalie nodded to him, “Well… you might not like this.â€
Kage glanced to the side, pursing his lips as he returned to gazing at Natalie. He asked, “What do you need me to do?â€
“I received orders from above, the Quicksand is behind on its… protection taxes.â€
“Protection taxes?†Amad interrupted. Natalie nodded to her before exhaling, “They wanted to see the new guy in action Kage.â€
Kage furrowed his brows, unseen under the turband as he felt as if he smaller than when he was shorter. “... you mean Aya?†                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Â
“If Momodi isn’t there, you’ll have to get them from her,†Natalie clarified. Kage narrowed his eyes before Amadreruil commented before walking away, “Well aren’t you two disgustingly corrupt.â€
Natalie handed Kage a paper with a large amount of gil written on it. Kage took a deep breath. Underneath the turban, his eyes were clenched shut as he took the paper.
“Kage…†She leaned down a bit to whisper into his ear. “They know about Roen, if you don’t get the money…†She grimaced before saying, “Just do whatever it takes… whatever.â€
Kage took a look at the paper, grimacing at the large sum. Fifty thousand gil. He tilted his head as slowly his nails dug into his palms. He held in a growl at her whisper, his face hardening and his eyes sparked of rage. He nodded affirmatively, “Aye, what must be done.â€
“I’ll provide back up, but it needs to be you who does it.†Natalie leaned down once more to whisper, “They’re watching…â€
Kage nodded once more before giving Natalie a salute which she returned. He glanced at the stairs leading to the Quicksand, before nodding and hardening his resolve. Inside he looked around, hoping to see Momodi where she usually was. She was not. He clenched his fists, seeing Aya working hard but cheerfully as ever. He did not want to do this to her. But he had to. Everything. Anything. For Roen.
He slowly walked up to Aya, a fist still clenched before clearing his throat softy. “Aya, I need to talk to you. Outside.â€
Aya looked surprised as she turned her head quickly to him. Taking a step back she said, “Oh.. it’s… um, oh?â€
Kage tilted his head for her to follow him to the other exit of Quicksand, towards pearl Lane. He could hear her follow, both of them. Natalie and Aya.
“Alright,†Aya asked, “What’s the matter?†She looked over her shoulder hearing Natalie’s boots on the pavement. Kage could see her squint a little at Natalie.
He shook his head, “The Quicksand’s behind on its… protection taxes, if you will. Momodi’s not around to pay it up. 50,000 gil. You work for her. You're responsible for it. Or else... Well, we can't be sure the Quicksand will be free of its unruly patrons."
Aya blinked, tilting her head, “What are you talking about?â€
Kage crossed his arms, the visor hiding his glance at Natalie over Aya’s shoulder. “You can't honestly expect that the Syndicate pays for the protection of the Quicksand out of their own pocket? Businesses must also pay the tax. Protection taxes. The Quicksand's taxes are due. It's time to pay up." He walked forward, leaning closer to whisper into her ear. “Aya, we need to do this. These are orders coming from the top.â€
Natalie walked inside. His eyes followed her and widened as she retrieved a platter of empty glasses. “You wouldn’t want anything to happen to the place while Momodi is gone.â€
“Wait, Natalie?†Aya tried to stop her. But Kage could already see what was going to happen. What was happening. She threw the tray against the wall, sending shattered glass throughout the alley.  Aya glared at her, “You bitch.â€
Under her own visor, Natalie grinned at Aya. Kage clenched his teeth. He glanced at the broken glass before looking back at Aya. He could already see this was not going to end well. All she had to do was go in, go to the box, get the gil and hand it over. No fuss, no mess. Momodi knew what had to be done. It’s the way of the Brass Blades… apparently.
“Kage I know better, you’d never th-†She stopped mid-word. “That’s it. Of course… what a ridiculous story…†She backed up unexpectedly, bumping into Natalie. She drew her foot up, slamming it down with all the force she could manage into Natalie’s toes, trying to break them with the heel of her boot. She then took off as quickly as she could down the alley. Natalie tried to grab her as she herself yowled in pain. Kage twitched, jerking his head, shouting, “Hey!â€
“Get her Kage.â€
And he took off after her.
This was not going well. It was not going to end well. The puppetmaster and the Blades weren’t going to be happy. Not with him. How would this affect Roen?
He searched for her, up and down Pearl Lane. He searched through the market. There was no sign of her. He had lost her.
======================================================
After a confrontation between some busybody Quicksand patrons who were looking out for Aya, Natalie and Kage stopped to speak with one another after he failed to catch her.
“Kage, you’ll need to give your report.†Natalie grimaced, “It might be… unpleasant for you.â€
“Aye..â€
She continued, “But they probably won’t act against Roen if you clean up your mistake.. and make an example so it doesn’t happen again.â€
Kage looked up at her, before whispering, “I don’t care. I'll do whatever it takes. For you. For Roen. For Shifu."
“A bruise on that pretty face might suffice.â€
Kage grit his teeth before nodding. “Aye, she comes around.â€
Natalie said, “I’ll leave it to you though.†She sighed as she walked away, “This sucks..â€
Kage resisted the urge to scream before he noticed her walking back. “Oh, How was the desert?â€
His face turned red, “It… it was… enlightening.â€
Natalie blinked, “What..?†She looked at his face, “Did you get laid out there or something?â€
Kage shook his head furiously, “No, no. I.. I just realized just how much you and Roen and Shifu mean to me. I’ve learned to love myself. Even with all this… twelve-damned shit going on. I can’t love you all without being ok with myself.â€
Natalie grinned, tilting up his his visor before kissing him softly, “I’m glad.â€
He blushed slightly, returning her kiss softly before pulling away with a grin. “Me too.†He sighed, “I should turn in a report soon… and hopefully I can see Shifu soon.â€
Natalie’s face hardened for a moment, “I hope so too… See you later Kage.â€
===================================================
Kage quickly walked in before dropping a written paper report and a sack of gil. It detailed the events as they had happened.
It also included, falsely, that Kage had found Aya and got more than originally asked, for the trouble caused. An example for those who thought they would run. 65,000 gil would be found in the sack.
Kage walked up to her. Noticing that Natalie had not noticed him standing before her he said simply, “Natalie. I was just outside the city and saw you. What do you want me to do?â€
He blinked as she jerked in surprise. “Ah… you snuck up on me.†Kage gave her a small smirk, the upturned corners of his lips could be seen while the turban covered his sparkling eyes. “I think that might be good for me then,†he commented.
A tall female figure with a large hat approached them. Kage recognized her as Amadreruil Grayham, whom Natalie had once introduced him to. She had also been one of the first to see him his new form. She was also with C’kayah when he finally saw Kayah for the first time since their encounter outside of the Quicksand near Pearl lane. “Demotion must be tough,†Amad said as she came upon them.
Natalie nodded to him, “Well… you might not like this.â€
Kage glanced to the side, pursing his lips as he returned to gazing at Natalie. He asked, “What do you need me to do?â€
“I received orders from above, the Quicksand is behind on its… protection taxes.â€
“Protection taxes?†Amad interrupted. Natalie nodded to her before exhaling, “They wanted to see the new guy in action Kage.â€
Kage furrowed his brows, unseen under the turband as he felt as if he smaller than when he was shorter. “... you mean Aya?†                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Â
“If Momodi isn’t there, you’ll have to get them from her,†Natalie clarified. Kage narrowed his eyes before Amadreruil commented before walking away, “Well aren’t you two disgustingly corrupt.â€
Natalie handed Kage a paper with a large amount of gil written on it. Kage took a deep breath. Underneath the turban, his eyes were clenched shut as he took the paper.
“Kage…†She leaned down a bit to whisper into his ear. “They know about Roen, if you don’t get the money…†She grimaced before saying, “Just do whatever it takes… whatever.â€
Kage took a look at the paper, grimacing at the large sum. Fifty thousand gil. He tilted his head as slowly his nails dug into his palms. He held in a growl at her whisper, his face hardening and his eyes sparked of rage. He nodded affirmatively, “Aye, what must be done.â€
“I’ll provide back up, but it needs to be you who does it.†Natalie leaned down once more to whisper, “They’re watching…â€
Kage nodded once more before giving Natalie a salute which she returned. He glanced at the stairs leading to the Quicksand, before nodding and hardening his resolve. Inside he looked around, hoping to see Momodi where she usually was. She was not. He clenched his fists, seeing Aya working hard but cheerfully as ever. He did not want to do this to her. But he had to. Everything. Anything. For Roen.
He slowly walked up to Aya, a fist still clenched before clearing his throat softy. “Aya, I need to talk to you. Outside.â€
Aya looked surprised as she turned her head quickly to him. Taking a step back she said, “Oh.. it’s… um, oh?â€
Kage tilted his head for her to follow him to the other exit of Quicksand, towards pearl Lane. He could hear her follow, both of them. Natalie and Aya.
“Alright,†Aya asked, “What’s the matter?†She looked over her shoulder hearing Natalie’s boots on the pavement. Kage could see her squint a little at Natalie.
He shook his head, “The Quicksand’s behind on its… protection taxes, if you will. Momodi’s not around to pay it up. 50,000 gil. You work for her. You're responsible for it. Or else... Well, we can't be sure the Quicksand will be free of its unruly patrons."
Aya blinked, tilting her head, “What are you talking about?â€
Kage crossed his arms, the visor hiding his glance at Natalie over Aya’s shoulder. “You can't honestly expect that the Syndicate pays for the protection of the Quicksand out of their own pocket? Businesses must also pay the tax. Protection taxes. The Quicksand's taxes are due. It's time to pay up." He walked forward, leaning closer to whisper into her ear. “Aya, we need to do this. These are orders coming from the top.â€
Natalie walked inside. His eyes followed her and widened as she retrieved a platter of empty glasses. “You wouldn’t want anything to happen to the place while Momodi is gone.â€
“Wait, Natalie?†Aya tried to stop her. But Kage could already see what was going to happen. What was happening. She threw the tray against the wall, sending shattered glass throughout the alley.  Aya glared at her, “You bitch.â€
Under her own visor, Natalie grinned at Aya. Kage clenched his teeth. He glanced at the broken glass before looking back at Aya. He could already see this was not going to end well. All she had to do was go in, go to the box, get the gil and hand it over. No fuss, no mess. Momodi knew what had to be done. It’s the way of the Brass Blades… apparently.
“Kage I know better, you’d never th-†She stopped mid-word. “That’s it. Of course… what a ridiculous story…†She backed up unexpectedly, bumping into Natalie. She drew her foot up, slamming it down with all the force she could manage into Natalie’s toes, trying to break them with the heel of her boot. She then took off as quickly as she could down the alley. Natalie tried to grab her as she herself yowled in pain. Kage twitched, jerking his head, shouting, “Hey!â€
“Get her Kage.â€
And he took off after her.
This was not going well. It was not going to end well. The puppetmaster and the Blades weren’t going to be happy. Not with him. How would this affect Roen?
He searched for her, up and down Pearl Lane. He searched through the market. There was no sign of her. He had lost her.
======================================================
After a confrontation between some busybody Quicksand patrons who were looking out for Aya, Natalie and Kage stopped to speak with one another after he failed to catch her.
“Kage, you’ll need to give your report.†Natalie grimaced, “It might be… unpleasant for you.â€
“Aye..â€
She continued, “But they probably won’t act against Roen if you clean up your mistake.. and make an example so it doesn’t happen again.â€
Kage looked up at her, before whispering, “I don’t care. I'll do whatever it takes. For you. For Roen. For Shifu."
“A bruise on that pretty face might suffice.â€
Kage grit his teeth before nodding. “Aye, she comes around.â€
Natalie said, “I’ll leave it to you though.†She sighed as she walked away, “This sucks..â€
Kage resisted the urge to scream before he noticed her walking back. “Oh, How was the desert?â€
His face turned red, “It… it was… enlightening.â€
Natalie blinked, “What..?†She looked at his face, “Did you get laid out there or something?â€
Kage shook his head furiously, “No, no. I.. I just realized just how much you and Roen and Shifu mean to me. I’ve learned to love myself. Even with all this… twelve-damned shit going on. I can’t love you all without being ok with myself.â€
Natalie grinned, tilting up his his visor before kissing him softly, “I’m glad.â€
He blushed slightly, returning her kiss softly before pulling away with a grin. “Me too.†He sighed, “I should turn in a report soon… and hopefully I can see Shifu soon.â€
Natalie’s face hardened for a moment, “I hope so too… See you later Kage.â€
===================================================
Kage quickly walked in before dropping a written paper report and a sack of gil. It detailed the events as they had happened.
It also included, falsely, that Kage had found Aya and got more than originally asked, for the trouble caused. An example for those who thought they would run. 65,000 gil would be found in the sack.
