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 Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 12:16 am
Their mission was a simple one: a grand duke was receiving too much backing from outside of the pride and causing discontent among the nobles, but all previous internal assassination attempts had failed, so Blackwatch was called in to see the job done.
It had been an easy trip to the lands. These lands were relatively peaceful, with herds tended around the tiered hill that made up the central hub of the entire pride. A pride that was well known by Blackwatch for being one of the most deadly ones that Overwatch had connections with. They played something call 'The Grand Game' which was nothing more than a formal name to the game of subterfuge and manipulation going on in an attempt to receive a higher rank with the ultimate goal being the throne.
Still, they through some pretty snazzy parties, so long as you stayed away from the food and drink.
While they wouldn't be meeting with the young Empress until much later, they had been given the ability to walk themselves through the bustling market that felt too for Reyes' comfort. They had no necklaces and the whispers were hard to ignore considering no one cared to really hush their voices. They were not connected to the pride, but instead were posing as wealthy merchants looking to establish trade routes with the Lejeu and they looked the part. Reyes was clad with a simple black pelt that draped across his back, with matching leg wraps and gold accents to enhance the overall appearance of wealth.
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 12:28 am
 Mikree had been more than happy to go on this particular mission with Reyes. From the sound it, the pride was a pretty swanky place. Back in his Deadlock days this would have been a pride ripe for the picking, far more wealth than they knew what to do with. But now they'd be playing fancy guests with a deadly mission, one that would surely be easy enough to accomplish with the Dream Team on the case. That was a little name he'd thought up for himself and Reyes, although he hadn't told the other lion because he was pretty sure he'd get smacked for it. He had to hide his awe upon arriving in the pride - he'd never seen anything quite like it before, considering he'd been raised first in a gully, then underground. There were herds everywhere, grass and vegetation was plentiful, and all those present wore elaborate and beautiful trinkets and necklaces. He himself had been bathed - Reyes' orders, apparently it was something he was supposed to do frequently for whatever reason - and dressed up in furs as well, although his was a decently vibrant shade of red. Ana had gang-pressed him into wearing some of her golden jewelry as well, although he only had one one ear cuff for the time being. The rest he was saving for the fancy-shmancy party they had to go to. "Psst," he said quietly to Reyes as they walked through the marketplace. "You think Ana would kill me if I traded her rings for that hat?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 12:51 am
"Do you really want to risk it?" She was one of the few members of Overwatch that Reyes still had respect for after all of these years. A mutual friend, we had somehow remained a relatively neutral party in everything going between him and Morrison. But he also feared her and with good reason. He had seen her in combat, how she inspired her own squad. They were matched, but she fought with honor, something Reyes had left behind in the dirt a long time ago.
Still, the hat would look nice on him.
They had hours before nightfall would arrive and their party would begin. Though they still a majority of the hill to still climb as the pathways rounded up and around the edge of the hill the pride called its home. They had tiers. It was always interesting to see how each pride built itself. This one happened to be one his favorite. But he was so used to going in and out with no downtime, but this waiting, this walking, was obviously wearing on the commander's nerves by the way his tail twitched on its own accord.
There were leopards chatting, lions clad in white walking, no, patrolling the grand market. It was different, but somehow it reminded him of the watchpoints during the middle of the day.
"See anything you want?" Reyes suddenly asked, "Besides the hat."
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 12:56 am
Mikree weighed his options as he eyed the hat in the stall. On the one hand, he could get a really cool hat. On the other hand. Ana would literally disembowel him. He knew because she had told him that if he lost even one piece of the jewelry she had given him, she'd do just that.
"I think I like my intestines inside me, thanks," he said with a sigh, leaving the hat behind. Another day, perhaps.
He tried to keep the wonder out of his eyes, but after taking a few more steps and seeing one of the booths with hundreds of shimmering jewels, he knew it was a lost cause. He stood gawking at the sheer amount of gems and stones and shiny things that surrounded the merchant until Reyes pulled him out of his stupor.
"Huh? Oh...naw, 's all too fancy for me," he said quietly, not wanting anyone to think he wasn't this fancy all the time. He thought the red pelt looked rather nice draped over his shoulders like that. "Lookin' is pretty fun, though. I wonder where they get all this stuff."
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 1:06 am
Reyes let out a satisfied hum. He had been prepared to get the kid something, a trinket, a memory. At least tonight's party should be plenty of a chance to make a few. Especially considering that this was a honeypot mission, seduction at it's finest. The grand duke had a thing for lions, male lions specifically, and with the two of them being from a 'far away land', they'd be hard to resist.
"They get them from guys like us, isilima." his pace picked up as shoulders ducked, body shifting as Reyes maneuvered himself through the crowds, occasionally looking back to make sure his partner was still following him. They couldn't get lost, not hear. There was too much of a chance something could go wrong with the fact that the bards, normally harmless, were also trained assassins. Claws, paws, a sample of food or drink, even a sharp piece of jewelry could be laced with something. While the pride was glitz and glamour, there was that deadly side that they both saw as a merchant suddenly dropped dead at a stall they had passed only a minute ago.
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 1:14 am
Mikree wrinkled his nose in confusion as Reyes stalked off. Them? Oh! Right! Merchants! Yes, right, of course. Them. He gave a little nod and followed after the dark lion, weaving in and out of the others that were in the marketplace as well. He glanced over his shoulder as something hit the ground and raised his brows as he noticed the now very dead leopard laying behind his stall.
"Sure are quick 'bout that," he said quietly as he caught up with Reyes. It obviously wasn't going to be all fun and games while they were here, although he was hopeful that since they didn't bear the necklaces of those within the pride they'd be spared the countless assassination attempts.
"I'm excited for this shindig," he said as they slowly filtered out of the marketplace and continued up the winding road. "Haven't been to a party...ever! They sound fun, though."
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 1:32 am
They weren't worth anything for the families to kill, yet anyways. Once they met with the Empress, they'd end up as targets, not for killing, but for poaching because obviously they would be viewed as someone important.
"You haven't?" Reyes asked, obviously curious, but he didn't really let it show. "I'm sure you'll be the life of the party. Everyone will be swarming you, wanting stories, especially with your kind of humor. I wouldn't be surprised if you walk out of here with gifts either." There was a playfulness in his voice that was uncharacteristic of him. It was a guise though, a way to protect himself in this hidden danger.
"I hope you brought your manners. I don't want to have to beat them back into you."
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 6:24 pm
"Not nothin' like this, no," Mikree confirmed, shaking his head. His mane had been groomed into obedience by all of Blackwatch, it seemed, his normal scruffy appearance rather tame for this mission. It felt a little strange to be so dapper, but hey, he had to fit the bill to go on this mission!
Reyes' words made him chuckle a bit. "Aw shucks, boss, you mean that?" he teased, giving the other lion a grin. "I'll be sure to split any gifts I get fifty-fifty. As long as they're not the kind that might kill me," he added a bit quieter. It seemed to be the norm here for people to always been on their guard, but to never speak about the murders that happened daily.
He scoffed softly as he trotted forward, holding his head up high and 'proper'. "Please, I've got so much manners they won't know what hit 'em. You know how charmin' I can be when I put my mind to it. Afternoon, ladies," he added to a passing group of lionesses, giving them a roguish wink along with his smile. He turned to smirk at Reyes as the little group whispered and giggled among themselves, clearly delighted with his little greeting.
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 7:17 pm
"I don't say what I don't mean." Came the simple reply to Mikree's questioning of his previous statement.
A brow raised, interest piqued as he kept talking, eyes training to the small cluster of youthful lionesses that he was speaking to. There was a roll of his eyes, a sigh that could be felt in the way his paws slowed only for a moment, but there was no him at the hidden jealousy that coursed through Commander Reyes' veins.
The smirk that Mikree gave him only made his blood boil. They had exchanged looks, Mikree and that damn grin that was fastly becoming a norm on his face versus Reyes and his impending scowl. The rogue-ish lion was far more sociable than he was. While Reyes got points for 'tall, dark and handsome', there was a warmer, more inviting atmosphere surrounding Mikree.
And the commander hated it.
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 7:32 pm
Reyes' glare made Mikree laugh, earning them the curious glance of a few other passers by. Mikree just flashed them a happy smile and they continued on up the winding road, the tan lion chatting to the dark as they went.
The sun slowly began to set as they rose up the incline, passing more and more finely dressed creatures on the way. Mikree was eager for this party to start and willed the sun to sink faster beyond the horizon. He could smell the beginnings of controlled fires at the top of the hill and an eager look replaced the grin he normally wore. This was going to be one hell of a night!
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