[Rinrou]

Snow took the ear piece from her ear and looked at Blaze, giving her full attention.

[Kaliko]

Blaze started to walk into the bathroom. It didn't look like she wanted Raven or Frei to get any whiff of this.

[Rinrou]

Snow stood and followed her silently.

[Kaliko]

Once Blaze was convinced Raven and Frei weren't listening, she turned to Snow seriously. "... I went over the footage from last night several times," she started. "When you left Raven alone in the bar, he started a conversation with some stranger that had previously been hiding in the shadows. He posed no threat, so I let Raven have a harmless chat with him... But later I rewatched their conversation. Raven did nothing wrong... but I think he unwittingly put himself in a very interesting position."

[Rinrou]

"... Define interesting," Snow replied.

[Kaliko]

Blaze paused a long moment, still trying to find a way to put it. "... I would have to be there in person to know for sure," she began, "... but last night I think Raven just had the longest conversation anyone has ever had with Long Ko. And he'll be in the same bar tonight if Raven feels like dropping by for another conversation."

[Rinrou]

Snow blinked, "Long Ko is higher up?" she asked.

[Kaliko]

Blaze gave her the Yin Long 101 again. Long was Sheng's bodyguard. Sheng's father was the head of one of the top families. But he died when Sheng was younger. But as soon as Sheng had his son, it was believed that the Chiou family might be accepted back in as one of the top families with Sheng at the head. But there was some speculation as to whether that would actually happen or not since Sheng had taken so many risky moves, politically and otherwise, along his way to prove himself. One of these moves involved marrying Ling Ko, Long's twin sister. A few years back, Long's rather public announcement of his orientation had knocked the entire Ko family down the Yin Long pecking order quite a few pegs. Sheng marrying Ling returned most of their previous status even though the entire family, especially Long, continues to get heat for taking a stand all those years ago and trying to change the older mindset of the most powerful families. Your orientation didn't matter to the Yin Long - unless your family had a vital part to play in the grander scheme and the bloodline was expected to continue as unaffected as possible. And the Ko family was known for their genetic manipulation.

But in the end, Sheng knew most of what was going on inside the Yin Long. And Long hardly ever left his side. If it was Long at the bar last night, it was extremely out of character for him. But it would be an interesting opportunity if they could figure out how to work it to their advantage.

[Rinrou]

Snow slowly raised her eyebrows, "Raven has to go back and talk with him," she replied.

[Kaliko]

"We can't make Raven nervous about it," Blaze noted. "Long has a nose for trouble. And Long, I'd say, has the same strength, speed, and skill that Wolfe. And specializes in close range combat."

[Rinrou]

Snow whistled, "He'd faint," she summarized.

[Kaliko]

Blaze nodded. "... And probably dragged in front of Sheng. And then all hell would break lose. From our end and also from within the Yin Long."

[Rinrou]

Snow thought about it for a moment, "I'll go too and watch. If something happens, I'm not as strong as Wolfe, but I'm faster. I should be able to let Raven get away," she explained.

[Kaliko]

Blaze looked a little uneasy about that. "He might recognize you from last night," she noted. "And we're not sure if the Yin Long actually have Laurel. It might take too long to break his mind."

[Rinrou]

Snow sighed. Blaze was right. "But I don't feel comfortable leaving him unprotected," she admitted.

[Kaliko]

Blaze sighed a little. She wasn't comfortable leaving him unprotected either.