fracturamods | [break-in 2] this is a crime and it’s punishable by crime.

You gave us a hundred dollars! [And some good fun, and a policeman, so that's really what they care about most. The girls giggle quietly, but it's probably REAL funny for any other rooms they pass by between the walls... hearing the muffled, unintelligible voices of some dudes and some girls. Very funny.] If you don't tell, we won't.

It'll be our secret!

[Lan Wangji, by the way, can have a little door jam, as a treat. When it swings shut after them, it'll catch, leaving a bit of a crack. But the girls continue on! Actually, everyone has to single-file through the hallway it's so small, so one girl leads, and the rest are peppered between Kangai, Tsukasa, and Lan Wangji.

After a few moments, they reach the opposite end. Which turns out to be... a dead end in that direction. The girl in front, however, turns left and hauls up a metal beam locking another door. Cool and damp air burst through the hallway over them when the door opens, and the sounds of town ring loud. The iron balcony is small, so everyone has to squeeze out onto it. From here, it looks like they are on the backside of the brothel, the river nearby on one side and the rest of town on the other. It's not a bad view!

"It kind of smells," says one girl. "It's the river," another says.] There, there! [one of the youngest calls out. She points to a few dock warehouses in the distance. Looks inconspicuous and quiet. It's really far away and kind of dark, though.

Maybe they can see better if they had something that could help...?]

[kangai, internally: well, good to know that bribery always works

but yeah, he's on it. what can he see with the telescope?]

[Thanks for giving him a door jam when they're leaving the wholeass building

Also these girls must be fuckin freezing out here without their shirts, but unfortunately taking off his coat would reveal exactly how armed he is, so they'll just. Have to suffer. It's fine. Lan Wangji doesn't have a flashlight, but he's scanning the area for guards, or any suspiciously curvy shadows. Also if they're on a balcony, did the hallway lead them upwards?? Or is it just a low one.]

Have you been? [To the warehouses; he's asking any and/or all of the girls, he doesn't really care which one answers.]

[ we'll just use tsukasa's shiny purity to light the way it's nbd.

HE'S A GOOD BOY BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH JACKETS TO GO AROUND FOR ALL THE GIRLS... he'll still take his off and offer it to the two girls who aren't around him. The girls who Are holding to him he'll just, like, adjust this so he can. Put his arms around them instead. To keep them warm, because his face sure as fuck is going to radiate heat for the next three weeks. Won't have to worry about keeping himself warm, he may never actually recover. ]

I don't suppose any of you have a light? [ ...Ahaha, they have nowhere to put it, so that's just a joke. ] We'll manage if not.

[What a very nice policeman unlike a certain MOBSTER DAD who won't be named. Some of the girls are cold, yeah, holding their arms and hunching their shoulders. But almost all four seem to still enjoy being out on the balcony getting fresh(er) air and feeling the air nipping at their skin.

It's not like being in a stuffy, hot, smoke-filled building at all.

The two girls are small enough to somewhat be able to huddle together under the jacket. The other two very much loop their arms around Tsukasa's middle and squeeze close. Godspeed, Tsukasa.]

Oh, no, we don't ever go to some nasty warehouse, [a girl says to Lan Wangji. Another girl asks,] Are you smoking? [to Tsukasa because.........they're brothel girls, this is what they expect. Which likely means they don't have any kind of flashlight.

When Kangai peers through the telescope into the distance toward the warehouses, he can see one with dim light inside. Every so often, some shadows move on the far wall across from the rows of small windows positioned near the roof's edge. The shadows don't look distinctly human, but their elongated shape probably means there might be people walking back and forth.

Hm.]

[hm!]

... Hey, are any of the warehouses supposed to be active right now? There's people moving inside one of them.

[HM. He's assuming these are the guards someone told him about.]

Do you see an entrance?

[ f............... ]

Ah, no, I don't... I think it'd be nice to be able to see a little better, that's all. [ but kangai's interested him, and he turns his attention away from the girls for the moment. thankful to have something else to focus on. ] Mm, I'd bet good money that they're security or workers... If there's not a way in you can see, then-

[ ,,,okay, back to the girls. ]

Is there a way to get into the warehouses without eliciting suspicion? That is... Without being seen or finding ourselves in any hot water. Checking things out without causing too much of a fuss would be very ideal.

[All of the girls seem surprised by what Kangai's says, and they glance between each other.] They're supposed to be empty... [one girl murmurs, now uncertain.] Maybe Madam Wren keeps things she buys in there? She always has a lot of jewelry.

[With how the warehouses are positioned together with other warehouses and buildings, it's difficult for Kangai to see the entrance. No one comes or goes out of that direction.]

They could, um, [one of the girls draped on Tsukasa's says,] go in through the sewer...

[The girls all look between Kangai, Lan Wangji, and Tsukasa, batting their lashes helpfully.] Yeah! [another girl says, and from beneath the jacket she points over the railing of the balcony.] There. [Down on the street--if Kangai, Lan Wangji, and Tsukasa shimmy down by way of the iron ladder on the balcony--is a manhole. It'd only be a few blocks over.]

Nope. Can't see one.

[of course it's through the sewer. his life really has become a video game, hasn't it?]

Not exactly my idea of a good time, but...

We are being watched. If we do not move now, they may take extra precautions.

[Add more guns, he means. He's moving over to inspect the ladder; he's absolutely ready to ditch the girls out here. ICE COLD.

to Kangai, since he doubts Tsukasa would agree to hang back--]

If you would like to stay behind, no one will fault you.

[ Good instincts, he would never agree-- ]

It might be safer for you to. [ Yeah, he's siding with mafia on this one. ] You could... keep the girls company? I'm sure your looks are much preferred to whatever men usually visit the... business.

[ he's not gonna say brothel. we all know it's one but he's not gonna say the word. he's very sorry to the girls he was keeping warm, he has to- um- actually, he'll let them leave him, that seems less of a, uh, ah, risk. yes. ]

...Um, I'm sorry, but you two'll have to let go of me... I wish I had something else to give you for warmth [ :c ... ] Thank you for your help, ladies.

[Both girls squeeze Tsukasa's arm like they don't want to let go. He's brought them so much joyous entertainment tonight. In thanks, they crush him between their lips by smooching him directly on both cheeks at the same time. You're welcome. And then they let him go to instead hold onto each other.

The other two girls at least give Tsukasa the coat back! The four of them likely aren't going to stay out in the cold after the boys are gone.]

We'd take really good care of you, [one girl says, leaning in toward Kangai and fluttering her lashes.] You could show us your other "pole"! Does it extend? [Hm. Another girl chirps:] You should all come back to see us later!

[Lan Wangji will find the ladder is sturdy; the only issue would be the slight drop-off at the very bottom, maybe a foot or two from end to street. The girls will start crowding around the opening for the ladder once the boys decide if they're going down or not.]

[stepping away...]

No. I'll go. Hanging around in a brothel [he's not a coward] is not my idea of a good time either.

[50% is because of these girls and 50% is because the one who separates from the group dies. he watches horror movies.

ANYWAY LET'S GO]

[Wow Kangai is even colder than he is, just saying it like that. Lan Wangji will at least nod at the girls in gratitude.]

We appreciate your assistance. Please take care.

[DOWN THE LADDER he's probably tall enough that the drop is fine but he'll hover under it to help catch the others if they need it.]

[ SO RUDE... AT LEAST LWJ IS TRYING TO BE A LITTLE POLITE TO THE GIRLS. AS A TREAT.

just like tsukasa got (!!!!!!) kisses, eheheh. he smiles a little shyly at the girls, nodding to them too before he's also heading down. after putting back on his jacket. does it smell nice anna i need to know!!!

...also he might not need the help lwj but he'll appreciate it anyway so thank you for that. i was going to say BROTHEL SQUAD OUT but that sounds more like the girls, but KIDNAPPING SQUAD doesnt sound that cash money either so uh

anyway yeah let's hop to it, ]

[Let the records show that I did not, in fact, write this without prompting. But yes, the jacket smells really nice. Like soft powder and jasmine and honey suckle, and very much like girls. Enjoy, Tsukasa.

The girls give them a sultry, drawn-out, "Byyeeeee," as they leave and disappear into the night. Or, like, the street lights a little ways over to the manhole. The four of them lean on the railing to watch them, but once they are farther away, they start giggling and teasing each other and race back inside the between the wall cut-out they came out of.

The edge around the manhole doesn't seem to be old or weathered down and unmovable once the boys get there.

Which one of them is going to get it up?]

[well, kangai will try, but if he fails with his twink arms, then.

looks at lan wangji.]

[He hopes those girls appreciate the door jam from earlier so they don't get stuck in that hallway forever.

It's fine, though. He'll take over with his stupid arm strength. Kangai gets a brisk:] Keep watch.

[EVERYONE HELPS OUT HERE. Tsukasa can help with the manhole if he wants to, he'll just get a gentle warning to watch his fingers if he does. Otherwise, hopefully there's no traps down there just waiting to be sprung...]

[ Yeah, he can help with the manhole... He'd feel bad making Lan Wangji do it by himself to be honest, and every little bit helps!! ]

For marching order- [ oof. may as well establish this. ] I'd like to go first. You're tall enough that I don't think going second or last would be an issue, Lan Wangji, sir.

[ he wants to help and not be stuck behind a bunch of Man, okay. this seems fairly reasonable, and if he can keep the injury count down to like "just him" that's good too. ]

[Wow! The manhole sure does open up without a whole lot of elbow grease! Well, not when it's split between them. The manhole lid is kinda heavy, though, but it can be slid out of the way. Once it's open, they're hit with

the horrendous stench of the sewer. :)

There's a ladder, and it plunges down into the dark.

Go in?]

[muttering to himself,]

This is definitely how they die in the movies...

[but go ahead, tsukasa. he'll follow next.]

[At least nothing's blown up!! Yet!!!

Lan Wangji just gives Tsukasa a nod of agreement, and when they head down, he will bring up the rear, as expected. He'll also try and close the cover behind them--even if they're being watched, he wants to try and cover their tracks.

TOO BAD THEY DON'T HAVE A DANG FLASHLIGHT]

[ YES THAT IS THE TRAGEDY OF NONE OF US THINKING THAT FLASHLIGHTS EXISTED PRIOR TO, FUCK, I DON'T KNOW, WWI?

He'll be careful heading down first though, reaching out to find the wall (ick) and trying hard not to gag too badly. yeah sewers smell but Do They Really Gotta... He'll mind his footing, so they'll probably be slow going, he's just like, not gonna send them through sewer water if they don't gotta go through it. Ya Dig. ]

[The manhole and its ladder drop them down onto one of the ledges of the sewer, so they at least don't have to step in it with their feet. The stinky, glorious water runs between both sides of the rounded tunnel, smelling only a minute step up from terrible because of the briny scent of the river water.

At first, it's almost so dark they can't see their hands in front of their faces, but then... their eyes will adjust enough to see the soft glow... of a lantern a yard or so down at the edge of a corner. It looks like a lantern which can be taken off a hook! Wow, lucky!

Above the sound of the somewhat trickling water, they can hear skittering and the distant din of something low. If they get to the lantern, the tunnel branches off left and right.

Which way do they go? :)]

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