THE DEBT COLLECTOR

the further you run, the bigger it gets affiliated topaz rp blog

[stonepaz]

#STONEPAZ: an affiliated topaz rp blog, collaborating with mik (21, they/them, gmt +8). reaping what other people owe. rules and portrayal notes may be found under the cut!

-—✦—-

dossier | affiliation | writer

RULES

ON AFFILIATION: this blog is affiliated with gnostic hymns. as such, personal blogs and rp blogs not affiliated with gh will be softblocked or blocked.

ON OOC: i make a lot of jokes ooc, as well as post shitposts (tagged appropriately on this blog) please don’t take them seriously!!! none of what i say ooc is canon here in gh. i try to be very clear about what i include in-character. that said, i understand that the line can get quite blurry at times, so don’t be afraid to ask me to clarify stuff or to tell me to stop doing a bit. i’ll also be doing the same.

ON ASK MEME CANOCITY: responses to ask memes will be treated as non-canon to my muse’s continuity unless it is a drabble or otherwise stated somewhere in the post. this does not apply to ask memes attached to events, which will always be regarded as canon.

ON SHIPPING: open to shipping with ooc familiarity and chemistry! i don’t multi-ship except in cases of AUs. i prefer letting the relationship run its natural course but i would also like to have a discussion beforehand regarding romance—just an explicit agreement that this is the direction we wanna go.

ON FORMATTING: i use small text and colored dialogue in my writing. if you have any issues with readability or would like me to change my format, please let me know! i try to know my partner’s preferences but i can (and probably will) forget so i appreciate a reminder. as for my own preferences: i prefer small text because it’s easier for me to read, personally.

ON CONTACT: i prefer discord dms since tumblr notifs don’t always work for me. my username is emblian! i am part of gh’s discord server so you may also ping me there.

ON REPLIES: i try to get back to my partners within 2 weeks. exceptions are lore events and months where i’m on hiatus. if it’s been longer than 2 weeks and i’m not preoccupied, feel free to dm me to ask about the reply—chances are i may have forgotten about it.

ON TRIGGER WARNINGS: i will use general trigger warnings for things such as gore, extreme violence, suicide, and other topics that i deem sensitive enough to warrant it. i will be using “tw // (word)” as a tag. if you have any triggers you’d like me to tag, please feel free to let me know through a dm. i also tag spoilers under “hsr spoilers”

ON HYV GAMES: i am not as familiar with genshin or honkai impact 3rd as i am with honkai star rail. i will defer to my partners for information but please be patient with me if i have lapses in the lore! i would also appreciate it if you could gently correct me on whatever i may get wrong. 

PORTRAYAL NOTES (SPOILER FREE)

given the nature of topaz' job, you can assume that most of the time she travels to places for work or for leisure. you can also assume that most people from hsr can tell she's from the IPC

numby will be with her at all times! the hog will play an active part in my writing so i hope you enjoy pigwriting.

while topaz carries herself differently from a typical ipc manager (are there any typical people in the ipc Tbh) that's not to say she's everyone's friend. she will not always be nice, and i don't recommend developing the expectation. remember, there are no permanent allies or everlasting enemies in the realm of business, and topaz is still a businesswoman at the end of the day.

[dukemeropide]

The Other Side of the Law

Wriothesley & Topaz - Preservation | Treasure Hoarders in Qiaoqing Village

[dukemeropide]

He didn't believe it, truth be told. Not until he saw the stranger's stranger pet teleport somewhere else with his own eyes, or until she pulled out photographs of whatever continent she claimed existed beyond Teyvat's borders, maybe even beyond the sky. Such was the Duke's nature, even though he liked the way those things sounded, and wouldn't mind if they turned out to be true.

"Sounds like a jailer's worst nightmare," he said about Numby, amusement in his voice over his own private joke, as he organized the broken goods into a pile in the dirt. Maybe with luck, and if Topaz was being truthful, the warp trotter would find its own way out of captivity and they both could leave this whole investigation business behind. The jingle of a key on its iron ring drew his attention out of his wishful thinking and turned his eyes, then his whole head as he sat back on his heels to consider the whole swath of mud and pottery.

"Doesn't look like there's anything here that could be locked in the first place." His eyes swept over the collection, from jade amulets to porcelain teacups to ornate wooden boxes designed to store tea but not keep it under lock and key. The majority of the goods hadn't been destroyed, just dirtied, and even the broken dishes could be sold for a discount with some minor repairs. Yet they'd all been left more or less untouched.

"I think we might have just figured out what's been stolen," he realized after a moment, glancing back to Topaz for her assessment of the situation. "Whatever that key belongs to had to have been more valuable than any of these goods, and likely the real target all along."

Rising to his feet, he folded his arms across his chest and looked over the mess from a higher vantage point, just in case he'd missed something. He hadn't.

"Strange that the merchant didn't even demand our names..." he muttered mostly to himself, a crease cutting between his dark eyebrows, ideas already beginning for string themselves together from his years around petty thieves and professional con artists alike. A few more seconds passed in contemplation over the merchant's coincidental appearance at the scene of the crime, then Wriothesley looked to Topaz again.

"Unless there's anything else here that's caught your eye, we should hunt for leads around the Wharf. With luck, we'll find a lock missing a key."

[stonepaz]

She squinted. "Nope, there's nothing else. Nothing else that I can see, at least."

Numby would have done a much more thorough job of surveying the goods, but Topaz kept that thought to herself—time spent bemoaning her loss could have gone towards recuperating it. Slipping the key into her pocket, she rose to her feet and leveled her gaze with Wriothesley's, raising her chin to an obtuse angle in compensation for her comparatively short height.

"Let's go then. This path—" her head flicked down to the brown dirt line that cut through the grass, "—should lead us back to the harbor."

Back to Liyue Harbor where, if their merchant friend had kept his promise, they would not be pursued by the Millileth.

Topaz began walking. A bit slowly, to see if Wriothesley was behind her. She preferred a brisker pace normally, but she was not one to leave partners behind, even by accident. As she made her way through the foot-leveled path, she spoke.

"...You're not from here either, are you?" She glanced at him, his stature, his style—so different from the people of Liyue that anyone could clearly tell that he was a foreigner. Questions with obvious answers were always good ways to reignite conversation, though, "I mean, feel free to correct me, but you carry yourself pretty differently from everyone else."

[renascinem]

Not Mad, Just Disappointed || Dan Heng & Topaz

Commission: Mr. Kough || @stonepaz || Commission Season: Preservation

[renascinem]

When Miss Topaz voices her suggestion, Dan Heng takes a moment to process and analyze her in his mind, all while eyeing her Trotter companion, who seems quite eager to get to work and help out. The little creature seems to pick up on its owner's… displeasure, to put it diplomatically, with the situation at hand. The revelation that it has the ability to detect and trace riches is a most curious one, for in all his research and data bank updating, Dan Heng has never heard of Trotters having this particular trait; he'd almost want to doubt it… if it weren't for how he had also heard that Numby assists Topaz in combat as well, something he knows for a fact these lifeforms normally avoid with all they have. This isn't your regular Trotter, plain and simple, and he simply has to accept what he hears about this one as fact.

Back to the idea she puts forward. Part of the archiver wants to point out the presumption of guilt that this proposal involves, but… on second thought this isn't necessarily the case (maybe - he doesn't know her like that just yet, so he'll find out the hard way), and besides, he realizes that she does also make a very valid point. What kind of corrupt official would simply leave papers incriminating them in their office? Ones that aren't just deception, at any rate.

"That does make sense," he says eventually. "If anything, he might hope that the Guards will check there first - it is the most obvious first step - and spend valuable time on a pointless investigation."

Crossing his arms, he thinks for a moment, before speaking further. "Regardless of whether Mr. Kough is actually guilty or not -" which he hopes will be enough of a subtle hint for not making assumptions just yet - "if Numby can lead us to the money in one way or another, that will be a clue in itself, and should let us find further clues and the people responsible faster than whatever paperwork we find."

With that in mind, he gives Topaz a nod. "Alright, let's try that. I'll follow your and Numby's lead. That's quite an interesting Trotter you have there, I must say."

[stonepaz]

Topaz smiles. But it's more of a small quirk of her lips than anything enthused. Really, she's just glad to have his cooperation, even if they don't seem to agree on certain things. She hears his careful consideration but, where she's from, it's guilty until proven innocent. Mr. Kough's going to have to claw his way out of the pit of accusation.

"Great. Let's get to work."

She pulls out something flat and shiny from her pocket—a piece of shield. Numby senses its presence pretty quickly, which is impressive for a hog with no eyes, though Topaz supposes they might have smelled the nickel. Flicking her index finger and thumb, the coin does several flips through the air before—ding! It finally lands on the grungy cobblestone floor beneath their feet. Numby trots over to it and begins sniffling aggressively, their ribboned tail wagging. While they work, Topaz speaks.

"So, Mr. Dan Heng. I take it you're quite familiar with Belobog as a Nameless?" She knew of their heroics well, so it was more of a rhetorical question than anything—just something to get the quiet guy talking, "It's great what you've done with the Stellaron, I don't know if I've mentioned that yet. It's just a shame that what seems to be wreaking Destruction across Belobog now is coming from its own people."

There is a remark to be made about how an IPC contract could have stopped all this, and that beneath the corporate giant, Mr. Kough wouldn't even have the opportunity to hold such great sums of money without scrutiny—but Topaz is not the one to say it. Corruption, greed, abuses of power; these were all things that came part of the human experience. She, and Belobog, had made the choice to stay true to that humanity. This was the price. She couldn't truly resent it.

But that's not to say that she would let it slide, either. Belobog was still their corporate partner, and Mr. Kough was answerable to authority no matter what.

Just then, a squeal. Numby perks up and begins bullrushing (pigrushing?) down the Boulder Town streets, joyfully trotting in search of more shield. On the ground where they once stood, a crumb of metal is all that remains of the coin. Topaz huffs.

"Wow, they really liked it..." She remarks, then turns to Dan Heng, "We should go. We wouldn't want to lose Numby, now do we?"

[stonepaz]

#CORE VALUES.　the bedrock that informs how we live and behave, and what we pursue.　please repost, not reblog!

part one.　bold the values that apply to your muse. you can also strikethrough the ones that absolutely don't apply.

achievement　adventure　authenticity　balance　beauty　belonging　career　collaboration　commitment　community　compassion　competence　competition　courage　creativity　curiosity　dignity　empathy　equality　fairness　faith　family　fame　financial security　flexibility　freedom　friendship　fun　generosity　growth　happiness　harmony　health　honesty　hope　humor　independence　influence　inner peace　innovation　integrity　justice　kindness　knowledge　leadership　learning　love　loyalty　meaningful work　openness　order　passion　patience　perseverance　pleasure　power　recognition　relationships　reliability　spirituality　respect　responsibility　security　self-expression　service　simplicity　stability　success　teamwork　tolerance　tradition　trust　truth　wealth　wisdom

part two.　pick your muse's top 3 values from those bolded. list them below and say more.　(　i.e.　how they define it ; where does it come from ; how does it show up in them ; etc.　)　similar values may be combined.

i.　authenticity / honesty . these were grouped together because i feel that being authentic and honest is at the core of topaz's character. while she does work for the IPC and is relentless in her pursuit of success (as most people from the company are), we know that she doesn't compromise her personal values when it comes to the projects she handles. she's also quite open about sharing how she feels about certain things, at the risk of seeming rude or brash. a lot of her movement as a person stems from her not wanting to be sleazy or dishonest, or from her feeling the need to express herself.

ii. meaningful work / competence / integrity .　topaz's work is the way in which she affects the world. it is only through the IPC that she can break out of her regular sphere of influence and enact things that cause good change—because she does genuinely believe the IPC is doing good things. i added integrity there as well because i think, similarly to authenticity and honesty, it is a huge part of her principle, but more niche/specific to her work.

iii.　service .　topaz has worked for the IPC since she was young. she has quite literally grown up under a contract. i don't think she recalls an existence outside of servitude. so it makes sense that she finds immense value in what she can do for others, and what others can do for her. though i personally think that topaz is more of a giver than a receiver.

tagging.　everyone who sees this and hasn't done it yet i cast a spell on you to go do it oooooooooo my evil wizard beams compel you

[stonepaz]

— YOU WERE IN THE TOP 0.01% FOR EATERS OF WALL .

oink? oink oink oink. squeeak!

[stonepaz]

If you'd only knew the circumstances leading up to this, you'd know that Numby's hooves were washed free of sin. Topaz was busy today, you see. Very busy. So busy, in fact, that Numby had grown quite ravenous. For a Trotter, Numby could get rather greedy, and so it was not a smart idea at all to even leave them room to get hungry. But here Numby was—starving, lonely, and with an owner who seemingly loved her stock profiles more than them. It was decided, then, that Numby would flee from this wicked place and forge their own, independent path forward!

It began with searching for food. Of course, Numby had to eat before embarking on such a long journey. Though Topaz hadn't filled their bowl in about an hour, and so Numby knew they had to search far and wide, low and high just to find a tasty morsel. They wiggled their way out of Topaz's office, and with a wag of their tail, hopped into a rip through reality's Aether Code to find what they felt was a delicious meal.

Where they ended up was quite... Peculiar. It looked different from the dark, sleek walls and luxurious heights that made up Pier Point. Instead, these buildings, which were white and pillared, reached toward a different sort of heaven, one that had a gaping maw of light and a tongue made of fire. Where were they, and where could they find food?

The people, who were dressed in long, flowing capes, around them seemed startled by their trotting presence. But Numby didn't care, really. All they cared about was the growl in their stomach and the distant smell of gold that they could sniff out. Numby followed it eagerly, awaiting their meal.

Their legs took them to a stall full of golden chains, golden baubles, and golden coins. What a delicacy! Numby unhinged their jaw and began to take it all in. How sweet the taste of this gold! It was leagues better than what their owner would normally think to prepare!

Alas, all good things must come to an end. Before Numby could clean up their plate, a hand grabbed them by the tail and began violently shaking them about.

"Spit it out, you thief!"

A robed man angrily demanded. Did they know? That once this food was in the only way it was coming out was on its tail-end? Numby squealed, crying out for help. As if anyone could hope to understand their innocence.

@philiaes

[stonepaz]

— NO PLACE LIKE HOME .

this is not a place of honor - act i. part i.

[stonepaz]

"...Here's the plan."

Jelena unfurls a large piece of paper atop the rusted table. On the paper are drawings of a layout of a large building. The name 'Kalliergo Industries' is scribbled at the top corner. Everyone knows Kalliergo Industries to be one of the biggest, most powerful conglomerates here in the Wastes, owning and operating nearly a third of the existing factories in the planet. It's a difficult target that Jelena wants to hit, which is a bit strange coming from her. You know her as someone less willing to do risky maneuvers. But maybe she'll explain herself the more she speaks.

"Ruan Mei," Jelena points at the graceful lady with a ballpoint pen, "I need you to find a way inside the building—use anything to distract them, I don't really mind what you do—and get more information on how they operate. Anything at all."

Jelena draws a line going into the layout, symbolizing Ruan Mei.

"Meanwhile, Entropy will set up a line of short-fuse explosives along the side of the building. Aino, if you have anything that could help with that, I'd love to know. I just don't want you near the explosives."

She draws another line along the perimeter of the building.

"Then, once those go off, I'll be..."

Jelena stiffens. Something is wrong. The air here is usually still, save for when their voices ring, but she has sensed a disturbance within it long before they had convened here. She feels this blip again, this moment of chaos inside the relative peace they had been able to carve out for themselves.

Jelena sets down her ballpoint pen and glances around. You all are in a storage room of an abandoned factory—your base of operations. There are leftover boxes everywhere, towering over you like skyscrapers or chimneys.

Jelena steps aside. Following her sudden movement, the unmistakable boom of a gun being fired echoes throughout the room. A bullet grazes Jelena's shoulder.

"We're under attack!"

@geniuswhizkid @flowersembroidered @dreamsynergy

[iustitians]

Well That Escalated Quickly || Neuvillette & Topaz

Commission: Stage Incident || @stonepaz || Commission Season: Preservation

[iustitians]

If Neuvillette had a Mora for every time he saw a large piece of equipment suddenly crash onto the stage at the theater, he would have two Mora. Which is not a lot, but it is still a little weird that it happened twice. In such a short period of time, too.

At the very least, there were no casualties this time around, though two people got minor injuries (and a serious fright). That was alone for the Iudex to confirm that the large chunk of ore falling like that was indeed an incident, and not part of an overly extravagant and overblown production.

(Maybe to most, this would be obvious. But Neuvillette has seen enough shows and performances in Fontaine to know that human imagination truly knows no bounds, for better or worse.)

Anyway.

Amidst the panic that erupts, he finds himself stepping forward, completely naturally leaving behind the role of the wandering visitor and sliding right back into the one he has familiarized himself with the most in the last centuries.

"Everyone, please stay calm," his voice rises above the tumult as he starts pointing at the different guards and distribute roles. "You, report the event to the relevant authorities. You, organize medical help for the injured, and quick. You, secure the stage - nothing is to be touched until it's examined and investigated. The rest, organize the evacuation."

While he does not, in reality, hold any authority here and he is of course perfectly aware of that, it seems as though the sight of someone stepping up to take charge of the situation and the natural way in which he has done it has brought back a small element of stability to the chaos, and they follow his instructions without protest or complaint. Once the initial mess is somewhat settled, Neuvillette sighs quietly, turning back to the businesslady that has accompanied and guided him around Belobog up until this point.

Miss Topaz, an employee of an organization that, from what he has gathered so far, plays a crucial role in the universe beyond the false sky. Alas, the degree of Teyvat's separation up until recent times means he has... some catching up to do when it comes to intergalactic politics and forces that be.

"... My apologies for the inconvenience, but I would like to at least stay here until everyone is safe. If you'd rather not get delayed, feel free to leave me here for now - we can reconvene later..."

[stonepaz]

She won't be doing that.

Leave behind a client as valuable as the Iudex of Fontaine? She might as well be leaving a gemstone in a den of bandits. From where they stand in the now-empty orchestra seats, Topaz maintains a polite smile, hiding her ire at the situation with her brand of casual businessmanship.

"Oh, don't worry, I'll stay here with you. What kind of a guide would I be if I left you now, in this moment of peril?"

For it is a moment of peril, this whole incident. They're lucky no one died after the big crash—she's seen lesser accidents fell more lives. She wonders, vaguely, how this might color the good Monsieur's view of Belobog. She wonders again why it makes her upset to think that he might like it that much less after this incident.

She taps her earpiece. "Gerard? I've got a situation here at the Golden Theater. Yes, I'd like you to check up on the people that have just left. Thanks."

Then she turns to Neuvillette, sighing.

"Alright, that's that settled. Now, why don't you tell me what exactly it is you wish to do in the theater? I'll try to support you as best as I can. I know Belobog pretty well."

[stonepaz]

THIS IS NOT A PLACE OF HONOR — special AU plot for december

i've tried something like this before but it didn't push through because of event season constraints. now that we're freshly off one, however, i'd like to propose an AU idea i've had stirring in my mind for a while, where topaz's planet is not under contract by the IPC and is doomed.

if you're interested in an apocalyptic adventure, check out what i have below!

CAP REACHED — THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST!!!!

welcome to the wastes, the nickname of a planet at the edge of a local star system that's on the brink of complete and utter demise. the ecology is practically non-existent, people need respirators just to breathe, acid rains down every week, and there is no day and night cycle because of the heavy smog covering the changing sky.

meet jelena. a young idealist working to find a way to save this planet. but she's running out of time. pretty soon, this whole thing's gonna fall apart, and the wastes that is so hard to love yet still beloved will be entirely gone.

will you stand with her and save this planet of yours?

YOUR MUSE WILL BE AN INHABITANT OF THIS PLANET, TOO! i'm planning on running this like a campaign, so with npcs and rolls and such. i have questions prepared for those interested. i'm keeping the cap at 3 people, though i might expand if more people show interest.

entropy

aino

ruan mei

ping me in the plotting channel if you're interested! ideally, you'd be in the server for this, since we might need to roll and all, but i can make other arrangements if you'd like. just let me know!

[stonepaz]

— A LITTLE MISS WITH A BIG MESS .

what's better than one life-threatening minor ... ?

[stonepaz]

"Clear the way. Make sure everyone's able to evacuate."

The IPC Senior Staff mech nodded, and began lifting fallen over pillars and roof shingles to help people make a clean exit. Topaz glanced around the Aurum Alley carnage and sighed. That Fei Yan... she knew how to cause trouble. While she hadn't been too keen on Vidyadhara politics, she knew enough to glean that this situation was a bad one. She had to intervene, else this little miss could cause huge problems for the IPC shareholders in the Luofu.

She stepped over a broken tile. Numby, ever by her side, trotted over it. What remained of this humble soup canteen was nothing short of ruin. Roofs, pillars, and tables crashed and splintered. Ahead, the dying embers of a stovetop flame threatened to spill over to the cooking oil that had been toppled all over the counter. Topaz jogged over to it and killed the flame, which let out one last burst of fire. Numby whimpered, and Topaz soothed them with a quick cooing sound.

"It's alright, there's nothing to worry about." For Numby, at least. Grown-ups like her had plenty on their minds.

"Whose child is this?"

The robotic voice of the IPC Senior Staff rang above the murmurs of evacuation, and Topaz turned to find a familiar young girl standing amidst the destruction of the shop. Those clothes...

Numby yipped. Their stubby little tail wagged, causing the bell wrapped around their waist to jingle.

"Yeah, she's from Belobog, I know," Topaz muttered in response. Quietly, like one might a frightened dog, she made her approach toward the Underworld child. She didn't know the name, but she'd seen her around enough to know that she was her own brand of trouble. Kids these days. Either they were pulling pranks or causing the political destabilization of an entire nation.

"Brendan, hold off on doing anything to the kid," Topaz raised a hand toward him, then turned to the young girl, "Hey there... uh, what brings you here?"

Numby neared the child and began sniffing around her feet.

@leaderofthemoles

[ernestcranebill]

Damn! It's cold here. Where the Heck did he take me?!

[stonepaz]

Requesting back-up here: I found this wet, shivering, cold man by the Snow Plains.

[incitomniaveritas]

Grunge or Pastoral, All En Plein-Aire

Preservation Commission ┆ Fictmemoria ┆ Dr. Veritas Ratio & Topaz

[incitomniaveritas]

Veritas gave her a nod as he lets the finality of it hang above them. "If they're ready, I can see no reason to dawdle further."

If words had power and names moved mountains, he could feel the effects as the foot traffic picks up like it could, or should, have been like this from the start. While Veritas is not moved from such a look, as his respect for her does not bleed into influence exactly, he understands the implore on a fundamental level as well. If this was anywhere else under IPC influence, it would be done before the morrow of arrival with only checks and final operations needing testing. And while Ratio had seen the common soldier or scientist rush hither and tither cause of its fair amount of issues and turbulence. While he cannot see who or what moves under the surface, something does not feel as it should.

Seeing as it's the potential hand over of personal information and their mental safety, maybe it's just his need for control. As he watches the main scientist fail to scan a key card three times, he's now resigned more than anything. If he was a sighing man...

"Check one..." The barrier is loosened. "Check two..." The lights dim, but that's not the influence of the scientific team. "Check three..."

In the room with them the fictmemoria kicks up with its shackles of a holographic field loosened, its borders of influence expanding and it's almost black ice like reflections more purple or turquoise than before. It takes a small amount of time for the memoria to kick in as shards of blue spill further and further, and the scientists behind the glass become shadows behind darkened tinting. A blue fragment of memory flies by Ratio's eye and he catches a glimpse of illness, of a darkened and unpowered hospital. The room grows darker instead of lighter, signs of memoria slipping under the consciousness as the only light stems from memories and hoarfrost.

The influence of Rememberance does not chill him nor does he react in any way as marble and stone fly past in shards of ice. He's already been under enough, but still, the travel is far too fast for a two person trip. Hm. Other than shards of memoria detailing some of his life flying past him, the world takes on something foreign to his own memories.

"I take it as we're heading in, nothing seems amiss?" Ratio breaks his silence as he can find a good number of his own influence on the world, but not all.

[stonepaz]

No, there was plenty amiss here.

Topaz did not mirror the calm demeanor of her companion—though in the little time she's known the scholar, has she ever truly seen him crash out?—and instead found herself steeped in a familiar terror. Her knees trembled, threatening to give way to the weight of her body which had suddenly felt so, so heavy.

"I..."

She took a trembling step forward. And so did the mire of memory clear.

This place was the capital, though it was only the capital by name and not prestige. All around, fumes of varying grays spurted out from tall chimneys, mixing in with the gray of the sky. If one could call it a sky. It looked more like a rusted iron dome than anything.

Topaz glanced around. Hers and Ratio's were the only faces around not obscured by some breathing apparatus, yet she felt as though she did not need one in this instance—perhaps this was the limits of memoria, that it could not copy that suffocating feeling that living in this planet brought someone. Then again, she was not sure anything could do that.

A group of gamin kids ran whizzed her. She could hear the jerky, heavy sounds of their breaths as it passed through air filters. She might have been that kid, once. Once, before the IPC saved her.

Topaz exhaled. She hadn't realized she'd been holding in air.

"...Is there some sort of emergency off mechanism for this experiment?" Topaz asked, her tone even but not calm—even in the sense that it was too weighed down to fluctuate, even in the sense that grains of sand fell even when crushed underfoot.

[renascinem]

Not Mad, Just Disappointed || Dan Heng & Topaz

Commission: Mr. Kough || @stonepaz || Commission Season: Preservation

[renascinem]

Well, it is not as though he of all people blames the Underworld's denizens for not warming up to the surface right away. After years of mistreatment for something they had no guilt in, wounds would need their time to heal and trust would take effort to rebuild.

If there's anyone in the world who understands that, it's Dan Heng.

All that's to say, he gets it, and sympathizes.

Doesn't change the fact that if things keep up as they are, they're likely to get very ugly very quick. The hearsay accusations have already gotten out of control to where many simply accept them as fact without asking further questions, and that means that...

"... If nothing's done, then once that Mr. Kough is found, he's in for a bad time regardless of whether he's guilty or not," Dan Heng sums up his analysis of the situation, looking up at Topaz to gauge her reaction. Having been absent for the majority of Caelus and March's interactions with her, he suddenly finds himself somewhat... unprepared for cooperating with her, though naturally it makes him no less willing to do so for the sake of solving this case.

He wonders just what kind of person she truly is. His opinions on IPC representatives vary wildly depending on who exactly the discussion is about. Miss Topaz has his friends' trust, which naturally helps his initial stance a lot... but nevertheless, he is eager to form his own opinion.

Of course, he is not surprised if she wants to take this opportunity to evaluate him as well.

(He wonders, at the back of his mind, if she knows just how many IPC ships have been destroyed because of Blade's relentless pursuit of him. He assumes no, considering she seems not to blame him for anything, but...)

"The Silvermane Guards have not yet begun their investigation, meaning any clues or proof should still lie untouched. I think I would like to start in Mr. Kough's office. Unless you have any other ideas or leads?"

[stonepaz]

What a mess.

Her disappointment is beyond measurable—it seeps into ever fiber of her being, from the everlasting frown that pulls at her face to the restless twitches of her body that even Numby picks up on. There's nothing that Topaz loathes more than corruption, and this case is as shameless and as blatant as a slap to the face. She only manages to keep her composure since she's with a Nameless. Maintaining appearances with them is surely worth more than her rage.

"That sounds good," Topaz says, a finger tapping her chin. Numby rubs their body against her leg, trying to calm her. Hm... "actually, if you don't mind, I have a proposal."

She glances down at her Trotter, then to the surrounding underworld city—Boulder Town, people called it. It is gray and drab, completely unassuming (and undecorated thanks to Mr. Kough's ineptitude). It would be difficult for any ordinary human to find any traces of the money. But Topaz is no ordinary human—she's a human with a debt-collecting pet. Seeking outstanding funds like this is exactly her job.

"Are you aware of Numby's ability to find treasure, Mr. Dan Heng?" Hearing their name, Numby squeaks, "I don't know if your fellow Nameless have mentioned it to you, but was thinking that we could use them as a way of seeking out a lead. If I were Mr. Kough, I wouldn't leave behind a paper trail, so probing the office might be worthless—but money talks, and if we find the money, we'll surely find our way to him."

[cabernetsauvignor]

Brave Shine

Topaz & Eden

[cabernetsauvignor]

The diva tips her head to the side. The painted blues and whites swirl and warp, first counterclockwise, then more erratic, changing tempo frequently, keeping up the notion of a snowstorm. Nope— it doesn't seem to make more sense at a 45º angle.

But that's all well and good, Eden muses. Art isn't a problem to be solved, and she's happy to train her eye on it for some time... or, help train the eye of others.

Belobog's administrative district had been perfect for a sightseeing vacation, and though she travels alone, Eden relishes in the opportunity. Waking up to admire the architecture, the icy lights, and the city teeming with life, it all feels like some sort of prize she does not deserve. She's checked her alcohol at the door, but for now, she does not miss it. At least, so long as she can have a little company...

A passing museum attendant springs her trap. "Excuse me, can you show me to your favorite exhibit?" she pleas, already taking the young woman by the arm. "I'm Eden. It's a pleasure."

@stonepaz !

[stonepaz]

She must be mistaken.

Topaz had simply been wandering about the museum, herself a tourist to Belobog's grand history. There are many things she doesn't know about it—many things she wishes to still learn. Her favorite exhibit? She hasn't really given it much thought.

Still, she allows her arm to be hooked by this stranger, letting her pull take her wherever it may lead. Numby, the ever-loyal pet, of course follows.

Topaz usually plays a very specific role but in this instance she's happy to play whichever one gets this lady, Eden, to stay interested in Jarilo-VI. Her shield and credit, after all, go straight into the coffers of the IPC. Belobog's success is their success.

"Pleasure meeting you, too. My name's Topaz, and this—" the Trotter lets out a squeal, "—is Numby. Our favorite exhibit..." Topaz hums, "well, it's hard to choose. There's benefits to seeing all of them. Why don't we start with one of them and make our way through the museum, yeah?"

Now Topaz is the one pulling Eden along, leading in a waltz-like stride toward the Culture Exhibit.

[dukemeropide]

The Other Side of the Law

Wriothesley & Topaz - Preservation | Treasure Hoarders in Qiaoqing Village

[dukemeropide]

"Usually I don't let people speak for me like that." Usually. It took a few moments before the surly look on Wriothesley's face unwound and his arms loosened across his chest, but even longer still for things to go back to what they'd been before the merchant had arrived. That careful curiosity and tentative levity remained encased in ice as he watched the man haul off his 'partner's' squealing pet. He'd had to stand by helplessly to watch fathers do the same to their sons, aunts to their nieces, and even law enforcement to children taken into their custody. It never got any easier, even if this wasn't a matter of children and guardianship.

The woman was lucky he was sympathetic.

"I can't imagine anyone else agreeing to what you just signed me up for." He turned to her once the merchant disappeared over the hill. It wasn't easy negotiating with something that really didn't know any better, and probably wouldn't have any idea what was happening to it for the next however-many-days it took them to track down the real thieves, so his icy demeanor began to thaw a little. Uncrossing his arms, he offered one bandaged hand to her for a handshake, and tacit approval of their new partnership.

"But it looks like I'm in it now. You can call me Wriothesley."

With introductions out of the way, he approached the boxes scattered in the mud to sift through them more carefully. A ledger would go a long way in figuring out what was missing and what wasn't, and then they could trace the valuables to a seller. Strange that the merchant hadn't seemed to have the slightest interest in looking for one, accusations of tampering or not.

"So you're from a different continent, huh? That explains your strange-looking pet." Despite appearances, Wriothesley had a knack for small talk. Or maybe not a knack, but a proclivity for it, since superficial conversation usually kept others away from deeper, more vulnerable scars. Knelt down in the mud, prying boxes of mostly broken ceramics open, they really only had two options anyway: work in silence, or try to learn a little about each other.

"You wouldn't suppose it has some special talent at escaping from irate merchants, now would you?" He laughed softly. Of course not.

[stonepaz]

She shook his hand in a firm, IPC-approved manner. "Topaz. Don't worry, I'll make this worth your while."

Her intentions had been purely selfish, she admitted, but she never made deals without letting everyone benefit. Maybe it wasn't enough to Wriothesley that he'd avoided a run-in with the authorities—that's alright. She'd find some other recompense for him soon enough.

Topaz followed him to the crates, but didn't kneel like he did. Instead she peered over his shoulder, watching as he sorted through them like some supervisor leering over her subordinates. Her eyes squinted with vague appraisal at each chipped pottery and ceramic he brought out.

"You could say that..." Topaz hummed, arms crossing, "it's a long way from Teyvat to where I came from."

She sighed. It didn't look like there were any good leads in the stock that Wriothesley was sorting through. Figures that two heads would be more helpful than one, but Topaz wasn't really keen on dirtying her suit more than she already had. Still, she supposes it would look bad if she left all the minutiae to him. In the end, she knelt beside him, her crouched back pressed up against his. She took a more active role in digging through the dirt, fingers clawing at the mud like a dog.

"Numby's species can actually teleport themselves, believe it or not. It's a special quirk of the warp trotters. So they should be able to escape pretty handily. But too much stress makes them freeze up. Numby doesn't like being caged, much like me."

Something gleamed in the mud she had been sorting through. She extracted it and held it up to the light. It was a key. She turned to Wriothesley, holding it up between her thumb and index finger.

"Hey. I found something: a key. You haven't happened upon any locks, have you?"

[stonepaz]

AFTER A RACE: DEFEAT...

It had taken her some time to get both Numby and Account Inflation off the track. As it turns out, Account Inflation ran excellently when she was being chased—and Numby just so happened to love chasing. Mercifully, the Trotters were ushered out of the snow before the next round of the races could begin, but just because harm was mitigated did not mean that Topaz was any less disappointed. Here they now stood, by the margins of the racetrack, both Trotters cowering beneath the stygian weight of their owner's dismay.

"I admit that I shouldn't have let you race, Account Inflation, so it was my own failure that led to your poor performance, but Numby?" her voice hardened—the Trotter in question lowered their head, "Numby, I expected better from you. You know you weren't supposed to race, yet you went against my orders. What happened?"

She shook her head and sighed. Her own loss was nothing too offensive. She was moreso affected by the fact that her Trotters did not obey her. She liked to imagine that she was skilled at getting people in line—that she had enough authority to control her employees. But it seems IPC underlings and Trotters were different from each other. Even if she had worked hard to train them—Numby especially—she could only exert so much influence over them. In the end, they were still animals. In the end, she was still human.

She sighed. Her expression softened slightly. There was no use lamenting this. She would just have to take her losses and recuperate. The IPC Finale was turning out to be a success, so she expected there to be another one in the following Solwarm Festival—there, she would surely bring glory to her Trotters. For now, though, it was all she could do to kneel into the snow, scoop them up into her arms, and give them a warm embrace.

"...It's alright. I'm not mad. We'll just get them next time."

[stonepaz]

[RING] With the hundreds of fights Feixiao's been in, there's hardly been a time where she's been surprised in a bout. Quick on her feet, even faster under pressure, and jabs that can easily break through a guard if she gets the right angle-- the ring is exactly where she belongs. This girl in front of her, though... Ain't she a bit small for this? It feels like the General's shoulders are twice the other woman's size, though Feixiao knows well enough that that's not true. Regardless of her stature, there's no reason to underestimate her. See, that's not the problem. The problem is.... "... You're seriously bringing a pig to a fight?" Trotter is the correct term, but it's basically a glorified pig. To-may-to, to-mah-to. "That doesn't seem fair." The General pauses, frowning down at the little trotter that she almost feels bad for. It doesn't really have eyes, but if it did, maybe she'd imagine that it looked sad and pleading for its life. Truthfully, though, she's got no damn clue. "To the pig, I mean."

By now, she has grown used to people underestimating her. Whether it was during her grueling climb to IPC's summit or in the middle of negotiations with large cosmic leaders, people take women like her for granted. They soon end up regretting this, of course, for Topaz is not just any ordinary woman—she is a woman with ambition. A hungry beast with an endless want. People might say she is too soft for the IPC, but her heart still beats with credit. There would be no denying the truth of her capitalistic nature.

"Numby—" Topaz heatedly corrects, "—will be fine. They've collected their fair share of debt."

Numby snorts by her side. They're used to being underestimated, too. But it was true—this 'pig' was sturdy, with a knack for aggression when needed. It was uncommon for Trotters like them to be so forward, but their desire for riches often superseded their instincts to flee. It was part of the reason why Topaz kept them under her care. Numby was more than just a pet—they were an asset. This general would soon know that.

Topaz flicks a strand of red off her face. "Best not to make assumptions. It's bad for business, you know."

[stonepaz]

[RING] (DM said Topaz so Hi Mik~)

THE ANNOUNCER'S VOICE RINGS SHRILL IN HIS EARS, a reminder that he's managed to sign himself up for something that will no doubt give away his otherworldly nature, and yet he's hesitantly looking forward to being allowed to truly let loose without consequence as he steps forth into the ring.

The armour encasing his form is black as night, glistening beneath the dimmed lights as he takes a moment to whisper to the announcer of his identity before all lights dim. "In the red corner, a visitor from the IPC, One of the famous Stonehearts and her trusty partner.... Topaz and Numby!" The crowd's reaction to the announcement is almost deafening, as if they're excited to see her in the ring and leaving the harbinger surprisingly nervous in a positive sense, an opportunity for a fresh start in more ways than one.

Still, the spotlight flashes to him as he feels Mistelteinn form slowly in his grasp, the speakers booming. "Annnnd in the blue corner, coming from a world called Teyvat, give it up for Capitano of the Fatui Harbingers!" The urge to bow thanks him as the cheers become almost electric, the sword in his hand fully formed as he stares down the woman from behind the veil before kicking himself into the air.

"Do not feel like you should hold back, you'll find this form... surprisingly resilient." The only words he dares to offer as the icicles form before him, a pale blue glow as the power of distant answers immortal form, before beginning a slow descent towards the woman he can only assume to be formidable based upon the reaction of the crowd.

A smile creeps along her lips. She is used to this, the lights and the scrutiny, so there is a certain air of confidence about her that one might not expect from a woman of her stature. If only this Capitano knew the true extent of her power.

She twirls her gun. "Oh, no, we Stonehearts aren't supposed to go all out. We prefer being efficient with our power when it comes to small fights like this."

The crowd ooh's to her response, but what they mistake for cocky trash talk is a very real warning—the Topaz she bears is not just for show, and she would truly hate to wield it for something as juvenile as a tournament. Besides, what would the people of Belobog think if they saw the furthest depths of her power? Her reputation among them is rough enough. She knows what these people think of the IPC. She would hate to sour relations any further.

Beside her, Numby squeals. Their ears flick up and down like the blades of a fan. Topaz huffs.

"Of course, we'll still do our best to win. Come on, let's see how resilient you really are."

The bell dings. It is a tinny, piercing sound. Without hesitation, Topaz and Numby surge forward.