The Red Hand
"Espionage is just theft with a better outfit."
- [REDACTED]
"Само собой. Ты же знаешь, настоящий язык танца — русский. /// Of course. You know the true language of dance is Russian." Daiya's coquettish response demonstrated her natural affinity to adapt.
"Стой, изложи суть дела. /// Halt, state your business." The consulate guard at the first checkpoint gestured at the duo, using the universally recognized implied threat of violence with a hand resting on his rifle hanging across his chest to translate for him in the event a passerby walking too close didn't understand Russian. Cassus complied and raised his hands slowly, one just slightly ahead of Daiya's path, just in case, and he replied slowly and calmly to the consulate guard.
"У меня семейные дела с Жуковыми, я хотел бы послать защищенное сообщение моему дяде. /// I have family matters with the Zhukov's, I would like to send a secure message to my uncle."
The guard's demeanor changed at the mention of the Zhukov family and Cassus' connection to it. Though his face was mostly obscured, his posture revealed either a latent fear or respect, possibly both. Remaining professional despite this unverified claim, the guard pressed further.
"А девушка? /// And the girl?"
"Она друг семьи... /// She is a family friend—" Cassus began to say the rehearsed cover story before abruptly hearing Daiya's voice once again, loud and boisterous and more than anything annoyed.
"Я невеста этого Лох! Ты не можешь этого понять, потому что его кольцо такое дешевое, что я забыла его дома. /// I am this gonk's fiancé! Not that you can tell, because his ring is so cheap I left it at home."
Both guard and Cassus turned their faces to her and shared a commiserating moment of silence as the embarrassment rendered both men impotent. The guard's gaze wandered up to see Daiya's upturned hands, and sure enough, he found no ring while Cassus sagged his arms and head. Hearing soft snickering in his earpiece, Cassus was glad, at the very least, the active translation software was working for their Netrunner to pick up on their conversations...
Hopefully, the discretion they paid the Netrunner for extended beyond the mission and accounted for personal and professional embarrassment.
"Дорогая... /// Dearest..." Cassus said with a tone that, without any additional words, could be understood as meaning, Not cool, as he grabbed Daiya's hand. He fumbled with his other hand briefly in his jacket for a Russian passport he had made years ago by his surrogate uncle back in Brooklyn and began to stride toward the guard, who seemed to be mentally disarmed by the situation.
"Следите за своими манерами. /// Mind your manners." Holding up the passport, the guard, trying to get rid of his second-hand embarrassment as soon as possible, waved them onward without asking Cassus to remove his mask to verify his identity.
"Проходите, товарищ... может быть, поговорите со своим дядей насчет кольца. /// Move along, comrade... maybe speak to your uncle about the ring." Cassus groaned, passing into the consulate interior without even a security check, unsure if it was due to his alleged family connection or Daiya's impromptu humiliation.
Feel free to jump in as our hired Netrunner, as another team going for the gig, or find a spot to hop in that feels fits your character!
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