Oh, is that worry in his eyes? Apprehension? Fear?
Gepard's blue gaze flickers at Sampo after his outburst, the gesture almost offhanded considering his attention is turned to Dunn and Pela. It's not the first time he's seen him so uncertain, his flight response better than anyone he's met in Belobog. But this idea certainly has placed the fear of Aeons in the man, for once. Not a bad thing, he thinks, given the pain he's brought to him and the rest of the guards.
"We'll ask her when she gets here. And if it's not yet tested ..."
Once more, he looks at Sampo, his expression turning mild as he studies him. He honestly should've just given up the cuffs, Gepard might have been kinder to him if he did. "We have a willing test subject here."
Normally, Sampo would have said that he isn't afraid, he just has a healthy sense of self-preservation, but right now? Yeah, he's pretty fucking terrified of whatever horrible contraption Serval might have built that involves shocking somebody in the neck. Why was she even making something like that? Sampo doesn't want to know what she does at night with people who aren't Dunn.
"Not willing! I didn't agree to any of this!"
Sampo can't back away any further; he's up against the wall.
"Aha, this is all very funny, Geppie, didn't know you had a sense of humor, but that's enough, right? We've had our laugh at ol' Sampo's expense, you really got me there, but we're done now?"
On a normal day, Gepard might have called him out on it. Possibly make things worse by reacting the way he would if Serval was the one who teasingly called him that. But he'll currently let it pass since it's clear he's made his sentiments about Sampo and this mission very much known. The look on the other man's face is enough for him for now.
Instead he holds his hand out again to him, an expectant look on his face.
"Handcuffs and the lock pick you used to uncuff yourself."
Not that Sampo returning those items would deter him from bringing Serval's shock collar. But of course, that's mostly for good measure and to ensure he keeps to the mission the entire time, something that he intends to keep mum about.
Wow, Gepard's really strong-arming him today. On another day, one with less threat of mad science bodily harm, Sampo might have thought it rather attractive of the good captain to be so forceful, but today? It's been a bit of a bad day for Sampo Koski, he's not into this right now.
So he pulls the cuffs out of his pocket with a small flourish and deposits it into the captain's outstretched hand, and then-- noticeably reluctantly, he's got a very nice set of lockpicks and it's really a shame to lose one like this-- puts the lockpick in his hand, too.
"I don't suppose you'd consider giving that back to me sometime? It might be useful, since we're in the espionage business now. For espionage things."
Hardly unreasonable to think that they might need to get past a locked door while on this whole mission, and it's better to quietly open it than, say, bash it in. That's why you need a man like Sampo, with his many and varied talents, some more legal than others.
No one's ever into being strongarmed, and yet, Sampo has been asking it since time immemorial.
Gepard hands the cuffs back to Dunn, who quickly stows them somewhere inaccessible, somewhere Sampo won't be able to get his hands on. The lockpick, however, is slipped into Gepard's jacket pocket, tucked under fabric and armor. It might come into use later, as Sampo had implied, but not in the conman's hands. Who knows how it could be used against him?
"I'll consider it."
Also known as "don't bet on seeing it again".
His attention returns to Pela, giving her a slight nod. "Make sure he's briefed on the mission proper. Oleg will be waiting for us in Goethe Grand Hotel with the disguises tomorrow, though I don't suppose Koski will need one."
He's aware of his antics by now. He can't hide the fact that he can hide in plain sight.
Alas. Sampo will just have to rely on all the other lockpicks that he owns-- but he really did like that one, it fit very nicely in his glove and was just perfect for getting out of those pesky handcuffs. And he doesn't believe that I'll consider it at all, not when it was coming out of Gepard Landau's mouth.
"Don't worry," Pela says. She's got more files in her arms, undoubtedly more information to get Sampo caught up on before he can be an effective member of this mission. And there he is, an entirely captive audience. "He'll be ready by tomorrow."
The next day, Pela makes her way to the Goethe Grant with someone in tow-- someone who looked entirely, almost boringly normal. A man that seemed as though he could blend into any crowd without any particularly identifiable features, nothing that stands out, nothing unusual. So commonplace that the eye almost just drifts over him as though he isn't even there. The human equivalent of a beige wall.
Sampo Koski, in one of his more utilitarian disguises. He has all sorts of disguises for all sorts of occasions, but this one in particular is good for reconnaissance; invisible without being hidden. He's in civilian clothes right now, the same as anybody on the street might wear, but swap that out for a servant's uniform and he'd be invisible in any high society household, or a guard's uniform and he'd easily pass for the new recruit that just got signed up. The right forgettable face and the right uniform, and no one even thinks to question you.
Gepard almost didn't recognize him, his brows furrowing at the sight of the man walking alongside Pela. Not that he himself is in his uniform, having exchanged it for civilian clothes as well for the mission. But his face certainly still stands out, so much so that Oleg had to fetch him a cap to hide that blond hair, blue eyes and very aristocratic face.
Still, a member of Wildfire? No, not when Oleg is with him; the man would've told him if someone from the group was recruited into the mission. So there's only one person in his mind that it could be.
"Koski?"
Pela shakes her head and puts a finger on her lips, gesturing for them to go inside the Goethe Grand. Oleg and the others have prepared rooms for them, Gertie more than happy and willing to work with Wildfire as per usual.
It's only after they've ensconced themselves in one of the rooms does Gepard turn to study Sampo's disguise. Not bad, but—
"... No wonder the guards have challenges looking for him."
Gepard's idea of a disguise is adorable-- barely more than just changing his clothes and putting on a cap, and Sampo would've bet his last credit that someone else had to give him the hat. There's something about Gepard's features that are just distinguishable, that particular combination of golden blonde hair and icy blue eyes and delicate, patrician features. It screams Landau from half a mile away. And Gepard clearly doesn't have the kind of skills that Sampo does, the ability to use a little makeup and a good wig to make his entire face look like someone else's, to erase the identifiable features of Sampo Koski for as long as he decides that he needs to be a different person. To change his voice and affect and stance to fit that new disguise.
Gepard Landau is still Gepard Landau even if you put him in street clothes and toss a cap on his head.
The good captain studies him a bit, really takes in all of the changes that Sampo made to his appearance. Sampo stays still and lets him look his fill, take in the eyes that are now brown rather than green, his mousy brown hair that's a little on the shaggy side, like he's gone a month or two past when he should get a cut; the seamlessly applied makeup that makes his cheeks look a little more gaunt and changes the shape of his jawline.
He ruins the disguise with one very Sampo Koski-esque wink to the good captain. He can't resist.
"I'll take that as a compliment," he says. If he wanted to remain unseen by the Silvermane Guard, he generally could do so. Being able to have a different face whenever you want it is a valuable skill. "So, Geppie, do I pass muster?"
Since Gepard had been so skeptical about his inclusion on this mission in the first place, he ought to get the man's approval, right?
Look, it's not his fault. He really isn't meant for any espionage mission; that's not what the Landau family stands for, after all.
"It'll do."
He returns the wink with an eye roll, Sampo's entire disguise falling apart just from that one action. They really need to talk about resisting the urge to horse around later on. For now, Oleg provides them with more information about the group they're chasing after. It seems that they've colluded prior with Scott to run their operations in the Fight Club, but were chased out by Luka.
One would think that that would be the end of it, but despite many investigations done, none of the missing individuals resurfaced and the group seems to have disappeared altogether. There's a possibility, even that they may have retreated up to the Overworld when the restrictions in place were removed.
"Do we know where they're hiding now in the Underworld? Surely, they have a base of operations somewhere if all the disappearances are happening here."
Moving from the Underworld to the Overworld when the borders opened again would be a sound business decision for a group like this; a whole new market is now available to them, full of people with very deep pockets and far too much free time. The Underworld is small potatoes when compared to that, and it's the perfect time for a very enterprising person to take advantage of the situation.
Infrastructure in the Underworld is too disjointed to ever have a full census of the people who live there, and the Overworld hasn't had access long enough to get a full count organized and successfully implemented. The citizens underground are desperate for a way to lift themselves out of over a decade of poverty. That makes it very easy for someone to disappear down below and for no one to even realize they're gone, and even if they did show up in the Overworld-- living or not-- there are no records to identify them by. Find the vulnerable, take them somewhere unfamiliar so that even if they did manage to get away, they don't know where to go or who can help them. No money, no paperwork. Vastly exploitable.
"They aren't operating out of Boulder Town proper, but they must be close," Pela says. "Most of the victims that we know of are from there. We have some confirmed disappearances from the Vagrant Camp, but they aren't the majority."
"Wildfire has already searched through Rivet Town and found no traces of them," Oleg adds.
Sampo leans against the wall while they talk, just... absorbing. Thinking. If he were a man with even fewer morals than he already has, how would he make money off of abject suffering? Kidnapping is a noisy business, so it makes sense to remove the victims to a location well away from anyone who would help them. That rules out Boulder Town-- too many people, too much Wildfire presence. You wouldn't want to go out too close to the Robot Settlement either, not when Svarog's there to keep track of things. He's insular, but he doesn't suffer anything that would be a threat. That leaves--
"You won't find anything in Rivet Town if you send anyone from Wildfire in," he says, his head tipped back to rest against the wall, looking up towards the ceiling. Not really looking at the ceiling, it's just somewhere to point his eyes while he thinks. "I'd bet my last credit they've already got at least one person in your group, probably more. By the time you set foot in Rivet, they're all looo-ong gone."
That's what he would do-- have a few people in Wildfire as an early warning system. Any time Wildfire plans on getting too close, a little birdie sings and they pack everything up and disappear before any of Nat's people can even catch a glimpse. Make sure it's more than just one guy-- two's good, three's better, so long as they work well together-- so that even if one person gets caught or has suspicion thrown on them, there's a backup already in place.
"If I were running this racket, Rivet's the place I would pick. It's close enough to Boulder that you have access to your supply. It's already been cleared out and not a lot of people go up there, and the ones that do are usually going alone. The monsters are just even more reason for no one to go poking around too much. And if you want to get back to the surface, you don't have to go back to Boulder Town. There are ways."
Gepard has been listening to Sampo's insight on the matter despite his gaze being trained intently on the map of the Underworld in front of him. There's nothing wrong or stupid about what he said; in fact, it's very smart, a glance into the mind of someone who operates in the shadow. If he had doubts about Pela's decisions yesterday, then he's slowly warming up to it now.
Boulder Town is indeed full of Wildfire members with Oleg and Natasha's men crawling in every nook and cranny of the area. Of course, this group will not operate in a place where they can be caught very easily. Rivet Town, on the other hand ...
"I've never been to Rivet Town before," he admits to Oleg, his frown deepening. That place had been sealed off for a while now since the Fragmentum has invaded its streets. "We'll need someone to go there and see what's going on."
But also, without alarming those on the inside. Which means they can't have someone from Wildfire check it out.
"Koski, are you familiar with the streets in Rivet Town?"
While Oleg isn't pleased by Sampo's assessment about the integrity of Wildfire-- no one would be happy to hear that their organization had been infiltrated by outside agents-- it's the only logical reason why they could go searching for these smugglers time and time again and keep coming up empty handed. He has to accept it, even if he doesn't like it. It'll be a difficult thing, trying to locate the infiltrators and purge them from Wildfire, but it'll be necessary for this whole operation to continue without interference. Oleg will have his work cut out for him.
The good captain, as one might expect, has no experience with Rivet Town; hardly surprising considering that the Underworld had been cut off from him for over a decade and Rivet Town has been abandoned for years besides. Additionally, he's difficult to disguise because of those distinguished Landau features and his own inability to be anybody but Gepard Landau, Silvermane Guard Captain. Man... what a terrible partner to have for an infiltration. Not subtle at all.
So he can't say he's surprised at what Gepard asks of him. He sees where this is going, and it's not... It's not the wrong thing to do, necessarily. Is it what Sampo really wants to do? Not really, it's asking him to go into enemy territory as a forward scout, trying to locate their base of operations. Something like that is a risky proposition, and getting caught means one of two things: either Sampo disappears and meets the same fate as all those other victims, or they kill him outright to keep him silent.
Sampo likes being alive and free, as most people do.
He looks sidelong at Gepard for a moment, out of the corner of his eye-- then smiles, all light and easy.
"Of course I do, your ol' friend Sampo's been all over. Thinking of sending me in, Captain?"
Gepard wouldn't have minded if Sampo declined. If he did, he would've told Pela to get him out of the mission right away and find someone else to replace him. It wouldn't have been surprising either, considering what he's asking of him is not a simple "get in and then get out" scenario; there's a chance of him getting caught, of having the same fate as everyone who was taken in the Underworld. Knowing the guy's flight response, he would bail at the very last moment.
So color him surprised that he actually agrees—though to what extent, he's not entirely sure.
"Pela, I need you to look into the possibility that this has leaked onto the Overworld. Any report of human trafficking, any sign of a sudden influx of people, any suspicious activity—have someone check it out right away."
The reopening of the Underworld will no doubt tempt a lot of scrupulous individuals who will try to take advantage of the decades-long edict of closing off the city and its residents who have never seen Everwinter City before. Lady Bronya's decision to reunite the two cities is noble and righteous, a way to correct the wrongdoings of the late Supreme Guardian. But at the same time, Gepard knows that it's fraught with uncertainties and dangers still.
"Oleg, we'll need you and the Wildfire to pretend that there has been no development regarding this investigation." To ensure that the insiders, if there are any, won't catch wind of what they're doing. "I'll stay here and join Koski in finding clues in Rivet Town."
It's risky and Pela looks like she's about to protest, but Gepard shakes his head. As if he's the type to let others do the work while he sits around, twiddling his thumbs.
Would Sampo like to say no thank you to this whole operation and leave? Sure. That would be great, he could get back to parting fools from their cash as usual and just ignore this whole unpleasant situation. But, there's a problem with that-- the Silvermane Guard knows that he's the one that tipped Wildfire off to the trafficking ring, and Pela has proof of it. If he tries to just back out of this, not only does he lose his chance at a get-out-of-all-charges free card, there's nothing stopping someone from leaking that nasty little tidbit of information to said traffickers. And maybe Gepard wouldn't be the kind of man to do that sort of thing, what with his upstanding moral code and whatnot, but not everyone is like Gepard Landau. There are plenty of people who might not have very many moral qualms at all with facilitating the disappearance of Sampo Koski.
When Sampo said they had him by the throat, he meant it.
Gepard issues orders with the ease of a man used to command-- leadership suits him well. Pela would be useful for finding out information in the Overworld, giving them that half of this trafficking equation, and Oleg could manage things in his own backyard. That left Sampo and the good captain, unlikely partners in this infiltration.
"You know that I love your company, Captain," he says, "but you're a little... how should I put it... high visibility? For what's essentially a scouting mission?"
He has a feeling that it's unlikely that Gepard will allow him to go on his own-- probably assuming that Sampo would run off, despite all of their collateral on him. Still, he has to try, because he knows that he'd move faster and less restricted on his own rather than with his tenacious chaperone.
Look, Gepard, between all four of them, is very self-aware that his disguise isn't fooling anyone. Oleg may not have said something, but it's clear he's concerned about the young Captain. Pela too looks very skeptical, the shift of her gaze to his face more than obvious. So really, Sampo doesn't need to call it out.
He sighs heavily as Pela surreptitiously gathers the papers from the desk, rolling the map given to them by Oleg.
"I don't like being paired up with you either, Koski, but if you'd like to end up the same way as those missing people, then feel free to go off on your own."
Is that concern in his voice? Not at all. Gepard's also more than aware of Sampo's capability, knows that he can take care of himself even if they shoved him off to Rivet Town by himself. But he can't risk losing someone in this team, even if it's the guy he's been chasing after for so long.
Pela gives Gepard a quick nod as she excuses himself, eager to return to the Overworld and start her investigation. Oleg, too, has to speak to Natasha about the possible moles in their organization.
"Lady Bronya can issue that pardon to someone else."
Probably not. He’s probably being all pragmatic about it, thinking about how he doesn’t want to lose a resource or how Sampo is his responsibility or something. Boring.
The others take their leave, off to attend to their own affairs. That leaves him and Gepard in a hotel room, all by their lonesome. Were Gepard a more interesting and less morally upright man, this might be an entertaining way to spend an evening, but the good captain is not either of those two things.
“Miss Supreme Guardian could try to find someone else, but she’ll have a hard time finding someone like me.”
And that’s the thing— they came to him because of his very particular skill set. If they could use just any conman off the street, they’d have done so.
“Look, if this is how you want to do things, I’m not going to argue! You’re running the show,” he says, hands raised in a placating gesture. “But why don’t you let me fix your disguise a little? I have my kit with me, I’m sure I can do something!”
Gepard’s distinctive, but there are ways to mitigate that. To dull down all those handsome features into something that no one would look twice at. A shame, in a sense, to hide all that natural beauty, but a necessary thing. The things one does for the sake of pragmatism!
Gepard hates to admit it but Sampo is right. If this was an operation that they can easily sort out, Bronya or Pela can find a different person to join them. But as it stands, the role landed to Sampo, no doubt for his ability in the field. The fact that they even managed to catch him in time for the mission feels more deliberate than a coincidence, though Pela would've most likely found another way to get ahold of him if he weren't in jail.
He throws Sampo a look of suspicion, arms folded across his chest. It makes sense that he'd offer to help out, especially when they're on the same team for once. And he's not going to lie that his features are probably too distinctive, but—
"How certain are we that you won't do something ridiculous on my face?"
He's been too wary, he knows, but he's also aware of Sampo and his tricks. The last thing he wants is to walk out of the hotel looking like a clown. That's not going to help their mission at all.
But if the guy can assure him that this will work, then Gepard will have no choice but to relent.
On the average day, Gepard's suspicion would have probably been warranted. Sampo rarely does anything for free, and when he does, there's usually an ulterior motive to it that benefits him in some way. So to be offering--
Well. It's not a normal day. There's an obvious benefit to having Gepard in a decent disguise and a distinct detriment to him standing out any more than he already does.
"Just look at it before we go," he says. "If you don't like it, than you can wash it off! You won't want to, though, I'm good at what I do."
He shoos Gepard towards one of the chairs, sort of flapping a hand in his general direction. "Go on, sit down."
He has to pull out all of his things; compact cases that he can store easily in the pockets of street clothes. Has much more extensive supplies in his safe houses, of course, but he keeps enough on him so that he could toss together something if need be. It isn't the best-case scenario, he could really transform Gepard if he had everything at his fingertips, but this will be enough.
He arranges things on the table next to where Gepard is sitting, sorting everything into groups-- foundation, concealers, color correctors, contour, eye palettes, an array of compact brushes and sponges.
"You know, Captain, part of the problem is that even when you're trying to look casual, you look too put-together. It's useless to tell you to loosen up, but you could try pretending to!"
It's with reluctance and a great deal of self-control for Gepard to allow himself to be herded towards a chair, especially by Sampo. In fact, he throws him a glare right before he finally settles down, his eyes flickering suspiciously towards the implements he starts pulling out from his pockets one at a time. He recognizes a few, mostly because he has sisters (or at least, a sister) who use them, and almost dreads what he's about to do.
And receiving a lecture from him about loosening up ...
"Am I not supposed to look put-together?"
Maybe he's simply used to making sure he looks like a decent person from the years ingrained in him by his mother about etiquette and good manners. It's a courtesy to everyone, after all, that one looks neat and tidy. Changing that part of him will take time, time they don't have if they're chasing after human traffickers.
"Or are you telling me I should look like you during this mission?"
Wearing clothes that are not at all appropriate for the cold weather, please.
“Well, you might want to look a little less like a guardsman in plainclothes,” he says, popping open the lids of some of his palettes.
Where to start? Sampo hooks a finger under Gepard’s chin, to nudge it up so that he’s looking at him, and examines his face. Granted, he knows Gepard Landau’s face very well by this point, he’s seen it on many occasions, but this isn’t just him admiring the good captain.
“It’s a bit of a shame, really. You have good bone structure. Those cheekbones! All the pretty girls must be chasing after you.”
He laughs; those poor girls, chasing after a man like Gepard. Too serious and married to his job to ever think about courting some lovely young thing. It’s a fool’s errand.
He takes a palette and starts to work. A little contour here, a highlight there, soften up that sharp jawline a little. Make that straight nose look like it has a little shift to it, like it had maybe once been broken.
“There’s nothing wrong with how I dress! But I’m not looking like me for this mission, so you definitely shouldn’t. Me, my clothes are part of the brand,” he says with a wink. “It’s part of the Sampo Koski business model.”
Outward portrayal is important! In the same way that the Silvermane uniform tells everyone who the guards are, Sampo’s particular fashion sense is part of the image of the man that he tells everyone he is. And part of that, yes, is being a man with a boob window and hip cut-outs in a blizzard.
“You think you’d be able to grow a beard…? Or at least a little stubble.” He traces his thumb along the edge of Gepard’s jaw— smooth. Either the good captain is one of those men who can’t grow facial hair to save his life, or he’s got an incredibly sharp razor and a very steady hand.
Gepard can't tell if Sampo is making fun of him. He wouldn't be surprised if that's the case, the expression the other man wears is nothing but amusement as he studies his face, tilting and nudging and shifting it here and there as if needing to investigate every angle. What else does he need to look at his face to decide how to change it?
"There's no one chasing after me."
Or at least, that's what he knows of.
None of his men has certainly told him anything. His sister has never mentioned anything, either. And he's pretty sure he's made an impression of someone disinterested in dating or someone intimidating to be approached. It works well in many cases, especially in circumstances where he doesn't want to be disturbed.
He wrinkles his nose when he starts putting on the makeup, already feeling uncomfortable by the weight of the powders being piled on top of his skin. Is he supposed to work like this every day while this operation is underway?
At his question, Gepard's frown deepens. "No, I wouldn't be able to. Stop asking for unreasonable things."
His father never had issues, and yet, facial hair is simply something Gepard wasn't blessed with. A shame, since it would've helped him cement a sterner expression with the guards, too.
If Sampo really, really wanted to, he could have avoided Gepard more than he did. He's entirely capable of blending in, making himself disappear into a crowd, becoming an entirely different person for a while. He could hide himself better when he's in the Overworld, to keep himself from the hassle of being chased by one overzealous guard captain. Time and time again, though-- he's spotted, there's the game of cat-and-mouse. Sometimes he's caught, sometimes he escapes, every time he wins. Gepard just hasn't realized yet that 'winning' for Sampo is a completely separate thing from whether he gets arrested or not.
Winning is having those pretty blue eyes on him. Winning is Gepard's undivided attention.
So this, too, is winning of a sort. He's got Gepard's attention, without even having to commit a crime or run through the streets to get it.
"Shame," he says, referring to Gepard's chronically un-bearded face. "It'd be an easy way to change your face if you could. You're lucky, though! Every morning I could use my cheeks to sand the edge off of a board, it's a hassle."
A little more, just to really hide those Landau features. The illusion of a broader nose with a slight bend in it from an old break, a softer jawline, and...
"And you look like you could use a little more sleep every morning," he takes a light shade of concealer and dabs a little of it underneath Gepard's eyes, then blends it out. "These dark circles aren't doing your face any favors! There. That's better. I'd be able to do a better job hiding you if I had all of my things, but this should do for now."
He doesn't think anything would change even if he grows a beard. Wouldn't he look just as he is right now, only with facial hair? Perhaps a tad bit more intimidating, but his current face does just as well in terms of commanding his men. He certainly hasn't had any of the guards slack off under his watch since he's become Captain.
At the mention of sleep, Gepard's expression twists a little, if only because he's heard that reminder far too many times than necessary.
"I sleep for enough hours without you needing to tell me."
Who needs sleep anyway when they're currently under attack from the Fragmentum? Even when he's back in the city, there's still work he needs to address that's been left to the wayside while he's assigned to the restricted zone. There are more things he needs to worry about than losing a few hours of sleep.
Gepard turns to the mirror in the hotel room, frowning at the unfamiliar face staring back at him. He tilts his head, figuring out if it really was him who was wearing this face.
Not bad is about as high a praise as Sampo can expect from Gepard, and he’s pleased to get it. It’d be better if Gepard actually used his first name, but baby steps! He’ll get there eventually.
“See, you can trust ol’ Sampo to do you right!”
No, you really can’t, but he could sometimes be trusted to do what he says. The hard part is figuring out when that is.
“Your own mother would have a hard time recognizing you. I bet you could walk right past Serval and she wouldn’t even know! Ah, but we don’t have time for that.”
Shame, it could have been fun to parade Gepard around and see how many people failed to recognize him. Maybe even the Supreme Guardian herself! And then maybe Gepard would understand the appeal of going around in disguise.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2023-07-26 06:36 am (UTC)Gepard's blue gaze flickers at Sampo after his outburst, the gesture almost offhanded considering his attention is turned to Dunn and Pela. It's not the first time he's seen him so uncertain, his flight response better than anyone he's met in Belobog. But this idea certainly has placed the fear of Aeons in the man, for once. Not a bad thing, he thinks, given the pain he's brought to him and the rest of the guards.
"We'll ask her when she gets here. And if it's not yet tested ..."
Once more, he looks at Sampo, his expression turning mild as he studies him. He honestly should've just given up the cuffs, Gepard might have been kinder to him if he did. "We have a willing test subject here."
no subject
Date: 2023-07-26 04:54 pm (UTC)"Not willing! I didn't agree to any of this!"
Sampo can't back away any further; he's up against the wall.
"Aha, this is all very funny, Geppie, didn't know you had a sense of humor, but that's enough, right? We've had our laugh at ol' Sampo's expense, you really got me there, but we're done now?"
no subject
Date: 2023-07-27 11:59 am (UTC)On a normal day, Gepard might have called him out on it. Possibly make things worse by reacting the way he would if Serval was the one who teasingly called him that. But he'll currently let it pass since it's clear he's made his sentiments about Sampo and this mission very much known. The look on the other man's face is enough for him for now.
Instead he holds his hand out again to him, an expectant look on his face.
"Handcuffs and the lock pick you used to uncuff yourself."
Not that Sampo returning those items would deter him from bringing Serval's shock collar. But of course, that's mostly for good measure and to ensure he keeps to the mission the entire time, something that he intends to keep mum about.
no subject
Date: 2023-07-28 02:15 am (UTC)So he pulls the cuffs out of his pocket with a small flourish and deposits it into the captain's outstretched hand, and then-- noticeably reluctantly, he's got a very nice set of lockpicks and it's really a shame to lose one like this-- puts the lockpick in his hand, too.
"I don't suppose you'd consider giving that back to me sometime? It might be useful, since we're in the espionage business now. For espionage things."
Hardly unreasonable to think that they might need to get past a locked door while on this whole mission, and it's better to quietly open it than, say, bash it in. That's why you need a man like Sampo, with his many and varied talents, some more legal than others.
no subject
Date: 2023-07-29 12:17 am (UTC)Gepard hands the cuffs back to Dunn, who quickly stows them somewhere inaccessible, somewhere Sampo won't be able to get his hands on. The lockpick, however, is slipped into Gepard's jacket pocket, tucked under fabric and armor. It might come into use later, as Sampo had implied, but not in the conman's hands. Who knows how it could be used against him?
"I'll consider it."
Also known as "don't bet on seeing it again".
His attention returns to Pela, giving her a slight nod. "Make sure he's briefed on the mission proper. Oleg will be waiting for us in Goethe Grand Hotel with the disguises tomorrow, though I don't suppose Koski will need one."
He's aware of his antics by now. He can't hide the fact that he can hide in plain sight.
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Date: 2023-07-29 07:13 am (UTC)"Don't worry," Pela says. She's got more files in her arms, undoubtedly more information to get Sampo caught up on before he can be an effective member of this mission. And there he is, an entirely captive audience. "He'll be ready by tomorrow."
The next day, Pela makes her way to the Goethe Grant with someone in tow-- someone who looked entirely, almost boringly normal. A man that seemed as though he could blend into any crowd without any particularly identifiable features, nothing that stands out, nothing unusual. So commonplace that the eye almost just drifts over him as though he isn't even there. The human equivalent of a beige wall.
Sampo Koski, in one of his more utilitarian disguises. He has all sorts of disguises for all sorts of occasions, but this one in particular is good for reconnaissance; invisible without being hidden. He's in civilian clothes right now, the same as anybody on the street might wear, but swap that out for a servant's uniform and he'd be invisible in any high society household, or a guard's uniform and he'd easily pass for the new recruit that just got signed up. The right forgettable face and the right uniform, and no one even thinks to question you.
no subject
Date: 2023-07-29 11:23 pm (UTC)Still, a member of Wildfire? No, not when Oleg is with him; the man would've told him if someone from the group was recruited into the mission. So there's only one person in his mind that it could be.
"Koski?"
Pela shakes her head and puts a finger on her lips, gesturing for them to go inside the Goethe Grand. Oleg and the others have prepared rooms for them, Gertie more than happy and willing to work with Wildfire as per usual.
It's only after they've ensconced themselves in one of the rooms does Gepard turn to study Sampo's disguise. Not bad, but—
"... No wonder the guards have challenges looking for him."
no subject
Date: 2023-07-30 04:28 am (UTC)Gepard Landau is still Gepard Landau even if you put him in street clothes and toss a cap on his head.
The good captain studies him a bit, really takes in all of the changes that Sampo made to his appearance. Sampo stays still and lets him look his fill, take in the eyes that are now brown rather than green, his mousy brown hair that's a little on the shaggy side, like he's gone a month or two past when he should get a cut; the seamlessly applied makeup that makes his cheeks look a little more gaunt and changes the shape of his jawline.
He ruins the disguise with one very Sampo Koski-esque wink to the good captain. He can't resist.
"I'll take that as a compliment," he says. If he wanted to remain unseen by the Silvermane Guard, he generally could do so. Being able to have a different face whenever you want it is a valuable skill. "So, Geppie, do I pass muster?"
Since Gepard had been so skeptical about his inclusion on this mission in the first place, he ought to get the man's approval, right?
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Date: 2023-07-31 04:41 am (UTC)"It'll do."
He returns the wink with an eye roll, Sampo's entire disguise falling apart just from that one action. They really need to talk about resisting the urge to horse around later on. For now, Oleg provides them with more information about the group they're chasing after. It seems that they've colluded prior with Scott to run their operations in the Fight Club, but were chased out by Luka.
One would think that that would be the end of it, but despite many investigations done, none of the missing individuals resurfaced and the group seems to have disappeared altogether. There's a possibility, even that they may have retreated up to the Overworld when the restrictions in place were removed.
"Do we know where they're hiding now in the Underworld? Surely, they have a base of operations somewhere if all the disappearances are happening here."
no subject
Date: 2023-08-01 05:24 am (UTC)Infrastructure in the Underworld is too disjointed to ever have a full census of the people who live there, and the Overworld hasn't had access long enough to get a full count organized and successfully implemented. The citizens underground are desperate for a way to lift themselves out of over a decade of poverty. That makes it very easy for someone to disappear down below and for no one to even realize they're gone, and even if they did show up in the Overworld-- living or not-- there are no records to identify them by. Find the vulnerable, take them somewhere unfamiliar so that even if they did manage to get away, they don't know where to go or who can help them. No money, no paperwork. Vastly exploitable.
"They aren't operating out of Boulder Town proper, but they must be close," Pela says. "Most of the victims that we know of are from there. We have some confirmed disappearances from the Vagrant Camp, but they aren't the majority."
"Wildfire has already searched through Rivet Town and found no traces of them," Oleg adds.
Sampo leans against the wall while they talk, just... absorbing. Thinking. If he were a man with even fewer morals than he already has, how would he make money off of abject suffering? Kidnapping is a noisy business, so it makes sense to remove the victims to a location well away from anyone who would help them. That rules out Boulder Town-- too many people, too much Wildfire presence. You wouldn't want to go out too close to the Robot Settlement either, not when Svarog's there to keep track of things. He's insular, but he doesn't suffer anything that would be a threat. That leaves--
"You won't find anything in Rivet Town if you send anyone from Wildfire in," he says, his head tipped back to rest against the wall, looking up towards the ceiling. Not really looking at the ceiling, it's just somewhere to point his eyes while he thinks. "I'd bet my last credit they've already got at least one person in your group, probably more. By the time you set foot in Rivet, they're all looo-ong gone."
That's what he would do-- have a few people in Wildfire as an early warning system. Any time Wildfire plans on getting too close, a little birdie sings and they pack everything up and disappear before any of Nat's people can even catch a glimpse. Make sure it's more than just one guy-- two's good, three's better, so long as they work well together-- so that even if one person gets caught or has suspicion thrown on them, there's a backup already in place.
"If I were running this racket, Rivet's the place I would pick. It's close enough to Boulder that you have access to your supply. It's already been cleared out and not a lot of people go up there, and the ones that do are usually going alone. The monsters are just even more reason for no one to go poking around too much. And if you want to get back to the surface, you don't have to go back to Boulder Town. There are ways."
no subject
Date: 2023-08-03 11:04 am (UTC)Gepard has been listening to Sampo's insight on the matter despite his gaze being trained intently on the map of the Underworld in front of him. There's nothing wrong or stupid about what he said; in fact, it's very smart, a glance into the mind of someone who operates in the shadow. If he had doubts about Pela's decisions yesterday, then he's slowly warming up to it now.
Boulder Town is indeed full of Wildfire members with Oleg and Natasha's men crawling in every nook and cranny of the area. Of course, this group will not operate in a place where they can be caught very easily. Rivet Town, on the other hand ...
"I've never been to Rivet Town before," he admits to Oleg, his frown deepening. That place had been sealed off for a while now since the Fragmentum has invaded its streets. "We'll need someone to go there and see what's going on."
But also, without alarming those on the inside. Which means they can't have someone from Wildfire check it out.
"Koski, are you familiar with the streets in Rivet Town?"
no subject
Date: 2023-08-03 06:16 pm (UTC)The good captain, as one might expect, has no experience with Rivet Town; hardly surprising considering that the Underworld had been cut off from him for over a decade and Rivet Town has been abandoned for years besides. Additionally, he's difficult to disguise because of those distinguished Landau features and his own inability to be anybody but Gepard Landau, Silvermane Guard Captain. Man... what a terrible partner to have for an infiltration. Not subtle at all.
So he can't say he's surprised at what Gepard asks of him. He sees where this is going, and it's not... It's not the wrong thing to do, necessarily. Is it what Sampo really wants to do? Not really, it's asking him to go into enemy territory as a forward scout, trying to locate their base of operations. Something like that is a risky proposition, and getting caught means one of two things: either Sampo disappears and meets the same fate as all those other victims, or they kill him outright to keep him silent.
Sampo likes being alive and free, as most people do.
He looks sidelong at Gepard for a moment, out of the corner of his eye-- then smiles, all light and easy.
"Of course I do, your ol' friend Sampo's been all over. Thinking of sending me in, Captain?"
no subject
Date: 2023-08-04 01:52 pm (UTC)So color him surprised that he actually agrees—though to what extent, he's not entirely sure.
"Pela, I need you to look into the possibility that this has leaked onto the Overworld. Any report of human trafficking, any sign of a sudden influx of people, any suspicious activity—have someone check it out right away."
The reopening of the Underworld will no doubt tempt a lot of scrupulous individuals who will try to take advantage of the decades-long edict of closing off the city and its residents who have never seen Everwinter City before. Lady Bronya's decision to reunite the two cities is noble and righteous, a way to correct the wrongdoings of the late Supreme Guardian. But at the same time, Gepard knows that it's fraught with uncertainties and dangers still.
"Oleg, we'll need you and the Wildfire to pretend that there has been no development regarding this investigation." To ensure that the insiders, if there are any, won't catch wind of what they're doing. "I'll stay here and join Koski in finding clues in Rivet Town."
It's risky and Pela looks like she's about to protest, but Gepard shakes his head. As if he's the type to let others do the work while he sits around, twiddling his thumbs.
no subject
Date: 2023-08-04 08:36 pm (UTC)When Sampo said they had him by the throat, he meant it.
Gepard issues orders with the ease of a man used to command-- leadership suits him well. Pela would be useful for finding out information in the Overworld, giving them that half of this trafficking equation, and Oleg could manage things in his own backyard. That left Sampo and the good captain, unlikely partners in this infiltration.
"You know that I love your company, Captain," he says, "but you're a little... how should I put it... high visibility? For what's essentially a scouting mission?"
He has a feeling that it's unlikely that Gepard will allow him to go on his own-- probably assuming that Sampo would run off, despite all of their collateral on him. Still, he has to try, because he knows that he'd move faster and less restricted on his own rather than with his tenacious chaperone.
no subject
Date: 2023-08-06 08:55 am (UTC)He sighs heavily as Pela surreptitiously gathers the papers from the desk, rolling the map given to them by Oleg.
"I don't like being paired up with you either, Koski, but if you'd like to end up the same way as those missing people, then feel free to go off on your own."
Is that concern in his voice? Not at all. Gepard's also more than aware of Sampo's capability, knows that he can take care of himself even if they shoved him off to Rivet Town by himself. But he can't risk losing someone in this team, even if it's the guy he's been chasing after for so long.
Pela gives Gepard a quick nod as she excuses himself, eager to return to the Overworld and start her investigation. Oleg, too, has to speak to Natasha about the possible moles in their organization.
"Lady Bronya can issue that pardon to someone else."
no subject
Date: 2023-08-07 04:18 am (UTC)Probably not. He’s probably being all pragmatic about it, thinking about how he doesn’t want to lose a resource or how Sampo is his responsibility or something. Boring.
The others take their leave, off to attend to their own affairs. That leaves him and Gepard in a hotel room, all by their lonesome. Were Gepard a more interesting and less morally upright man, this might be an entertaining way to spend an evening, but the good captain is not either of those two things.
“Miss Supreme Guardian could try to find someone else, but she’ll have a hard time finding someone like me.”
And that’s the thing— they came to him because of his very particular skill set. If they could use just any conman off the street, they’d have done so.
“Look, if this is how you want to do things, I’m not going to argue! You’re running the show,” he says, hands raised in a placating gesture. “But why don’t you let me fix your disguise a little? I have my kit with me, I’m sure I can do something!”
Gepard’s distinctive, but there are ways to mitigate that. To dull down all those handsome features into something that no one would look twice at. A shame, in a sense, to hide all that natural beauty, but a necessary thing. The things one does for the sake of pragmatism!
“Won’t take ten minutes.”
no subject
Date: 2023-08-07 11:51 am (UTC)He throws Sampo a look of suspicion, arms folded across his chest. It makes sense that he'd offer to help out, especially when they're on the same team for once. And he's not going to lie that his features are probably too distinctive, but—
"How certain are we that you won't do something ridiculous on my face?"
He's been too wary, he knows, but he's also aware of Sampo and his tricks. The last thing he wants is to walk out of the hotel looking like a clown. That's not going to help their mission at all.
But if the guy can assure him that this will work, then Gepard will have no choice but to relent.
no subject
Date: 2023-08-08 01:09 am (UTC)Well. It's not a normal day. There's an obvious benefit to having Gepard in a decent disguise and a distinct detriment to him standing out any more than he already does.
"Just look at it before we go," he says. "If you don't like it, than you can wash it off! You won't want to, though, I'm good at what I do."
He shoos Gepard towards one of the chairs, sort of flapping a hand in his general direction. "Go on, sit down."
He has to pull out all of his things; compact cases that he can store easily in the pockets of street clothes. Has much more extensive supplies in his safe houses, of course, but he keeps enough on him so that he could toss together something if need be. It isn't the best-case scenario, he could really transform Gepard if he had everything at his fingertips, but this will be enough.
He arranges things on the table next to where Gepard is sitting, sorting everything into groups-- foundation, concealers, color correctors, contour, eye palettes, an array of compact brushes and sponges.
"You know, Captain, part of the problem is that even when you're trying to look casual, you look too put-together. It's useless to tell you to loosen up, but you could try pretending to!"
no subject
Date: 2023-08-09 02:41 pm (UTC)And receiving a lecture from him about loosening up ...
"Am I not supposed to look put-together?"
Maybe he's simply used to making sure he looks like a decent person from the years ingrained in him by his mother about etiquette and good manners. It's a courtesy to everyone, after all, that one looks neat and tidy. Changing that part of him will take time, time they don't have if they're chasing after human traffickers.
"Or are you telling me I should look like you during this mission?"
Wearing clothes that are not at all appropriate for the cold weather, please.
no subject
Date: 2023-08-09 07:33 pm (UTC)Where to start? Sampo hooks a finger under Gepard’s chin, to nudge it up so that he’s looking at him, and examines his face. Granted, he knows Gepard Landau’s face very well by this point, he’s seen it on many occasions, but this isn’t just him admiring the good captain.
“It’s a bit of a shame, really. You have good bone structure. Those cheekbones! All the pretty girls must be chasing after you.”
He laughs; those poor girls, chasing after a man like Gepard. Too serious and married to his job to ever think about courting some lovely young thing. It’s a fool’s errand.
He takes a palette and starts to work. A little contour here, a highlight there, soften up that sharp jawline a little. Make that straight nose look like it has a little shift to it, like it had maybe once been broken.
“There’s nothing wrong with how I dress! But I’m not looking like me for this mission, so you definitely shouldn’t. Me, my clothes are part of the brand,” he says with a wink. “It’s part of the Sampo Koski business model.”
Outward portrayal is important! In the same way that the Silvermane uniform tells everyone who the guards are, Sampo’s particular fashion sense is part of the image of the man that he tells everyone he is. And part of that, yes, is being a man with a boob window and hip cut-outs in a blizzard.
“You think you’d be able to grow a beard…? Or at least a little stubble.” He traces his thumb along the edge of Gepard’s jaw— smooth. Either the good captain is one of those men who can’t grow facial hair to save his life, or he’s got an incredibly sharp razor and a very steady hand.
“It would help make you look not like… you.”
no subject
Date: 2023-08-13 10:46 am (UTC)"There's no one chasing after me."
Or at least, that's what he knows of.
None of his men has certainly told him anything. His sister has never mentioned anything, either. And he's pretty sure he's made an impression of someone disinterested in dating or someone intimidating to be approached. It works well in many cases, especially in circumstances where he doesn't want to be disturbed.
He wrinkles his nose when he starts putting on the makeup, already feeling uncomfortable by the weight of the powders being piled on top of his skin. Is he supposed to work like this every day while this operation is underway?
At his question, Gepard's frown deepens. "No, I wouldn't be able to. Stop asking for unreasonable things."
His father never had issues, and yet, facial hair is simply something Gepard wasn't blessed with. A shame, since it would've helped him cement a sterner expression with the guards, too.
no subject
Date: 2023-08-14 10:07 pm (UTC)If Sampo really, really wanted to, he could have avoided Gepard more than he did. He's entirely capable of blending in, making himself disappear into a crowd, becoming an entirely different person for a while. He could hide himself better when he's in the Overworld, to keep himself from the hassle of being chased by one overzealous guard captain. Time and time again, though-- he's spotted, there's the game of cat-and-mouse. Sometimes he's caught, sometimes he escapes, every time he wins. Gepard just hasn't realized yet that 'winning' for Sampo is a completely separate thing from whether he gets arrested or not.
Winning is having those pretty blue eyes on him. Winning is Gepard's undivided attention.
So this, too, is winning of a sort. He's got Gepard's attention, without even having to commit a crime or run through the streets to get it.
"Shame," he says, referring to Gepard's chronically un-bearded face. "It'd be an easy way to change your face if you could. You're lucky, though! Every morning I could use my cheeks to sand the edge off of a board, it's a hassle."
A little more, just to really hide those Landau features. The illusion of a broader nose with a slight bend in it from an old break, a softer jawline, and...
"And you look like you could use a little more sleep every morning," he takes a light shade of concealer and dabs a little of it underneath Gepard's eyes, then blends it out. "These dark circles aren't doing your face any favors! There. That's better. I'd be able to do a better job hiding you if I had all of my things, but this should do for now."
Take a look, Gepard, and see your brand new face.
no subject
Date: 2023-08-19 10:35 am (UTC)At the mention of sleep, Gepard's expression twists a little, if only because he's heard that reminder far too many times than necessary.
"I sleep for enough hours without you needing to tell me."
Who needs sleep anyway when they're currently under attack from the Fragmentum? Even when he's back in the city, there's still work he needs to address that's been left to the wayside while he's assigned to the restricted zone. There are more things he needs to worry about than losing a few hours of sleep.
Gepard turns to the mirror in the hotel room, frowning at the unfamiliar face staring back at him. He tilts his head, figuring out if it really was him who was wearing this face.
"... Not bad, Koski."
no subject
Date: 2023-08-19 11:25 pm (UTC)“See, you can trust ol’ Sampo to do you right!”
No, you really can’t, but he could sometimes be trusted to do what he says. The hard part is figuring out when that is.
“Your own mother would have a hard time recognizing you. I bet you could walk right past Serval and she wouldn’t even know! Ah, but we don’t have time for that.”
Shame, it could have been fun to parade Gepard around and see how many people failed to recognize him. Maybe even the Supreme Guardian herself! And then maybe Gepard would understand the appeal of going around in disguise.