Unflappable Coolkid Prana
Chandra glances at the guard who had the temerity to block his way and insult him. He knows the script, he's supposed to beg and plead and explain himself, the guard gets a bribe before 'deigning' to let him through or simply enjoys fucking with him before sending him off. It's stupid, pointless and demeaning, meant to 'put him in his place' as someone who isn't actually people.
Fuck the script.
Chandra adjusts his shades and stares straight into the guard's beady little eyes. He doesn't have to, the shades are utterly impenetrable, it's impossible to tell if he's actually staring someone in the eye or ogling their gun or wearing mascara under those shades (Which he'd done before without anyone noticing. It'd lasted for a week before the novelty wore off), but he figures this asshole over here is worth the full treatment. The guard does his best to look intimidating, but Chandra is an inscrutable, shades-wearing wall, entirely devoid of fucks to give about some asshole trying to shake down slummers, it doesn't work.
"I am going to deliver vital information to Abhas Pratihara," says Chandra, "And in a moment you will politely get out of my way."
"And if I don't?" says the guard. He's trying to look aloof, maybe bemused and condescending, he's been doing this for a while, after all, he thinks he has this down. He's got an issue, though, most of his victims react. They get angry, or scared, or nervous, or twitchy or something. Chandra doesn't, he stares on, watching the guard as the power-armored figure shifts from aloof and condescending to ever more nervous. The stare is unnerving and Chandra knows it's unnerving and, really, that's the entire point.
He keeps up the flat, unimpressed gaze until the guard is squirming, and then holds it just a little longer to make the guy feel two inches tall. Then, and only then, does he give him an out. "Focus on how I won't be your problem anymore once you let me through," he suggests. "Rather than whose problem you'll be if you don't." He steps forward before the man can process that, into his personal space, and it's a mark of how creeped out the guy is that he steps back and almost flinches. But Chandra merely holds out his hand expectantly.
"My sword," he says. It's not a request, and the guard hurriedly gives it to him. Anything, to get this creepy bastard out of his face. Wearing just the faintest hint of a smirk - yup, still got it - Chandra stows it back on his hip and strides forward into the complex. With any luck, the guard's an intellectual type and will be spending the next few hours wondering if he meant Abhas's problem, or Chandra's.
The complex proper is massive, a city-fortress meant to guard the manse and house the dragon-blooded family that rules it. There are parks, universities, hospitals, available only to the dynasty and the richest of the rich in the spire. A dozen styles from the last twenty centuries dot the complex in more colors of Jade and Glass+ and materials he can't even name.
Chandra's been here before, once or twice. The Dynasty had sponsored him for a stretch last year, gave him a new ship with their logo on it and everything. It'd stopped after Abhas had joined the circuit. Why sponsor a rival when you have a family member in the circuit, after all, but he'd visited the compound a few times while it lasted. Wonderful place to live in, if they'd arbitrarily decided you had enough money or value to count as people.
There are plenty of security mechs and robo-drones, as well as a few power-armored guards, on the grounds. None hassle him, though one does ask him for an autograph (He gives it, after a moments consideration, and the lizard-man practically swoons as Chandra adjusts his shades and walks away in a dramatic fashion).
Abhas' mansion (He claims it's cramped, Ravana has punched him in the jaw for saying as much in public before) is relatively close to the edge of the compound, done in, uh, some style that Abhas keeps telling Chandra about but he doesn't remember the name of. It's bright, all red jade and glass and warm lighting, and the shades become more than a questionably sane fashion choice as he enters. Chandra accidentally freezes the door, but he just pretends it didn't happen and lets everyone assume that it's jammed.
He knows the way to Abhas's room, and a short check with the receptionist ensures that the dragon-blood is there. He wastes no time heading there, drawing the slightly burnt flight computer as he flings open the door and walks into the massive expanse of-
-Ilana's there. Sitting across a mahogany table from Abhas. Just chatting as if she wasn't responsible for what happened to Ravana.
You Have Given The Guard a Permanent Phobia of Sunglasses
Pick One:
[ ] Ask what Ilana's doing here. She caused Ravana's death. She abandoned Blando-OK, you don't really blame her for that. But still. Ravana might be alive if it wasn't for her. (1.1x)
[ ] Ask Abhas if you can tell him what you've found in private. You're not sure if you can trust Ilana. Or want to. (1.1x)
[ ] Tell both of them what you've found. You can deal with your shit later, foiling assassination attempts comes first. (.8x)
[ ] Write-In
