[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/GTKeGn8.png[/img]
Collab with [@Ariamis][/center]
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It was that time again. Chloe would never knew when the time came, or by what method, but inevitably, she would be called in. When she thought she had hidden herself away from Beacon, who had pursued her, she would hear a voice from the shadows; it was the sound of an old phone ringing. Of course, she could see no phones in the vicinity, or deduce that the sound was fabricated by Sound magic. And then, out of the shadows, a dark portal opened, the ringing sound coming loud and clear from the empty jazz club in the monochrome world beyond. As she entered, the portal closed behind her, and Al Scarpe appeared. He was holding a black telephone on his hands; it was the classic, blocky design, with the speaking part he held in one hand attached by a cable to the base part he held in the other. It was rare for Chloe to meet up with her commanding officer in such a direct fashion; usually her orders and payments came in the form of dead drops, or mundane civilians brainwashed to act as disposable middle men. It was only for the gravest of matters that she would meet eye-to-eye with the Broker.

“Chloe, how ya been?” He spoke with a deep, unsettling mobster accent, and let the phone drop down into the floor; it sank into a shadowy pool that formed at the moment of contact, before disappearing. “It has been a while since your last report, eh?” He took a cigar from his pocket, and lit it up with a ruby-encrusted lighter. “Iesud hasn’t made much noise lately...Is the old boy still trucking? Or was he spooked by the new arrivals? Hah!” He laughed, and then coughed a bit as he exhaled black, swirling smoke.

She knew this day was coming, but she had been slightly hoping the Mint just left her alone. Alas, she knew better than that. The Mint always collected. Sighing, Chloe entered the portal in her normal attire, not particularly seeming to care too much about the locale or being overly cautious. She could handle the Mint. Was this serious? Quite obviously so, but she wasn't concerned.

[color=violet]“Ah, Al Scarpe.”[/color] Chloe replied with a disinterested tone. [color=violet]“It has indeed been awhile, hm?”[/color] Shifting tones, Chloe smirked lightly. [color=violet]“And yes, that old dragon is still alive, but you know his condition isn't the best. He's still hiding in his hole, licking his old wounds.”[/color] Not a lie, but most certainly not the whole truth. There was an unsettling inflection to the giggle as her smirk turned into a grin. [color=violet]“I don't suppose you're here just to see pretty little old me, hmm? I'd be flattered if so, even if I am way out of your league. Here to give me a deal I can't refuse, aren't you?”[/color]

“Hey now, everybody's in my league, missy,” Al Scarpe retorted in a friendly manner, and flicked the cigar away, the smoke coming off it making spins and twirls as it disappeared. “I just choose which ones I let win the play-off season. And speaking of players...” his tone shifted into a less amicable one. “Your odds haven’t been great lately; no home runs, just a bunch of stiffs in the street. Iesud must be desperate if he needs souls that crap. Also, real cheeky with the crystal scheme.” He lit another cigar. “Don’t really care what you’re doing, but you need to step up your game, and earn me some money. So here’s the deal.” He threw a card at her. “I need this place scouted out. I got another operative on the job as a distraction, but I need someone who gets the job done.” The card showed the Golden Trove hotel. “We know a dragon’s holed up in there with a bunch of magical girls, but they’re irrelevant. What I need to know is if this chick,” he threw another card; it was Binky’s mugshot, “Is hiding as a guest. Infiltrate the place, trash it, paint the town red; don’t care as long as she’s untouched and brought back in one piece. Oh, and no nabbing the soul; that’s the most important part of her.” He tapped his cigar, and a heavy stream of black ash dripped down, akin to ink. “Can you do this for me, Chloe?”

[color=violet]“What can I say, I'm a busy girl.”[/color] Chloe shrugged dismissively. [color=violet]“A busy girl that likes not being told what to do.”[/color] She glanced at the information given to her. Golden Trove Hotel, huh? And a girl hiding there...hiding from the Mint? Perhaps she could use this to her advantage if she was. She had a dozen questions about why he would want her, but she knew better than to ask.

[color=violet]“A simple nabbing mission, is it?”[/color] Chloe replied thoughtfully. Would be easy. Too easy, almost. [color=violet]“What do you take me for, hm? I'm not some novice. I can do it easily.”[/color] Chloe held a hand to her chin. [color=violet]“A dragon, hm? Fancy that. What's the defenses look like? Number of magical girls? Can I trust this other operative of yours for support should I need it?”[/color]

“Our latest reports estimated three magical girls working for it. One of them is a rookie Beast girl, an Air user who’s somewhat experienced, and a Sound girl; she’s the one I reckon you keep an eye on. There might be others there too, of course, so be cautious.” Scarpe threw the cigar away; it hit the performing stage, exploding into a fire that took the form of a trumpet player blowing out hot tunes. “As for support, I wouldn’t count on it. You’re on your own, kid. But if you do this, there’s Coin coming your way.”

[color=violet]“I see. About what I expected.”[/color] Dangerous. So very dangerous. Three magical girls to possibly contend with, a novice beast spec, a wind, and a supposedly dangerous sound girl.

Hm.

Well...fancy that. Fancy that indeed. With a light chuckle, Chloe placed her fingers together, already formulating a plan to deal with this. [color=violet]“Simple enough, then. If this girl isn't present, at this hotel, I suppose more work shall be coming my way then?”[/color] A pause as she flashed light smirk towards Scarpe. [color=violet]“The Mint must be quite...interested in the apprehension of this girl.”[/color]

“That’s none of your business.” Scarpe watched as the stage gradually got set on fire, beginning to spread black smoke. “You just get the girl, or confirm she’s not there. That’s all your pretty little head needs to think about at the moment.” He opened the portal again with a snap of his fingers. But, just before Chloe would step out, he interrupted her. “Actually, there is one thing: kill the Air girl, Su, and there’s a bonus. That’ll show her.” The fire took on the form of a woman in a flowing dress of flame, kneeling down and seemingly begging for mercy, before the fire was extinguished, leaving only cinder.

Su...? That named seemed familiar. Where did she – oh. Oh. Ahahahaahah. That girl from the graveyard. Oh now this would be quite interesting. Lovely indeed. Ah, she did mention potentially being friends with Penny, but alas. She supposed it didn't matter too entirely much.

[color=violet]“My, seems the Mint is quite troubled by this Golden Trove. To go so far as to request even a personal vendetta.”[/color] Chloe turned to leave, watching the display with mild interest as she dismissively shrugged. [color=violet]“What did happen in my absence? The mint wouldn't happen to be losing its grip, would it, Scarpe? Not that it's any of my business.”[/color] leaving the mobster to his devices, Chloe made to leave through the portal. [color=violet]“I'll make sure to deliver...and you know I do so love going above and beyond. Su will most certainly be begging for mercy by the time I'm done, heh.”[/color]

Now...lets see if Su was still up for that date.