[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/200314/56372802c7cec71e5fc577d906baad3c.png[/img][/center] [hider] [center] [h3]Reaver[/h3] 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 10 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 6 12 | 10 | 13 | 7 | 6 Reinforcement | Third Eye / Dark Regeneration Martial Training | Monstruous Metamorphosis | Environmental Sealing | Masculinity | Sorcery (Runes) Divine Competence | Paragon | Mana Font | Black Coin | Non-Exclusivity Rites | Arrogance | Debt | Betrayal Devourer [/center] [/hider] One day, Reaver got a message from Al, calling him in to report. Much like the last time, he arrived at the monochrome jazz club through a portal situated in one of the dark corners of Penrose. However, upon arrival, he would immediately realize it wasn’t just the two of them there, as a third person had also taken a seat there; it was Justine von Visceral, her leg crossed over the other in a most striking fashion as she swished a round glass of liquid on her palm. She had a curious look in her eyes as she examined the Mint agent. “Ah, Reaver, just in time,” Al greeted him, showing off his sharp teeth as he smiled. “You’ve made splash in the sea. The magical underground is full of news of Cindy’s morte.” [color=662d91]“He was the assassin? Oh my~”[/color] Justine responded, sounding genuinely surprised. Al extended a shadowy hand to grab a bottle of wine, and poured it into a glass. “Oh, this is Justine von Visceral, one of our newest clients. Don’t mind her. Now, tell me all about it, peguci.” Reaver would compose himself, despite being jaded and tired, and then offered his best curtsy to the new acquaintance, followed by a kiss on her hand. Vampire. He had heard these lot used to be big in old fashion and manners. "Pleased to meet you, milady. Your presence upon this place shines like a ruby upon ash." He then cleared his throat and straightened himself. "It was a sloppy, difficult affair. I had to do my utmost best to satisfy the other… issue a colleague tasked me with while at the same time dealing with my own hit. However, it seems that one can't breathe in this city without being interfered with. No less than three groups stood in the way. Cradle, Beacon and a lot of sycophants… each one trying to be the big damn hero of their own tale. Someone even summoned an Horror avatar. Lady Chloe was nowhere to be seen, and Lady Viper sustained wounds. I barely managed to get the killing blow by playing the tide of battle and people against each other. " He said, sounding really tired. "I apologize for this sloppy endeavour. Both Cindy and the Cardinal were hit, and Cindy left no corpse, as you have asked." Justine’s eyes glimmered as Reaver greeted her in a dashing manner, her smile showing two fangs poking out. [color=662d91]“Oh ho hoo, and a gentleman to boot. Aren’t you a darling little man~”[/color] Al pushed the filled glass, sliding it over the table; it continued sliding steadily in the air until it stopped to hover before Reaver, allowing him to take it. Al then leaned back on his chair, holding his cigar as he listened to the dark magical boy’s story. “Hmm...Your story checks out. I heard from little birds that a Horror did pop out at the park and plenty of punks got involved, not to mention Viper’s injury. Very messy.” Al had a frown on his face...Until it turned into a big smile. “But despite all the challenges, you pulled through, peguci. A lesser man would have given up, but you finished the job. And here at Mint, we recognize a man who brings results. The Mint always collects...But the Mint always pays.” He extended his arm out with the palm down, and Magical Coins popped out one by one, each one stacking down on the previous one until they formed a pillar of money. Reaver counted the stack to include standard mission reward of two Silver coins and 3 Bronze coins. However, there were also extra Gold Coins and Silver Coins in the stack, 2 and 2 each in total. “Here. Indennità, for job well done.” "Thank you, capo… I shall accept this gracefully." Reaver said. He was far too jaded to think whether this was enough or not. It was blood money anyway, and he did not have a good rapport enough for haggling. The coins vanished in thin air as he addressed Al. "Is Lady Viper doing well? And courtesies aside, our honored guest does have something to do with my next assignment I presume?" He said after taking a sip of the wine. “She has recovered,” Al stated with a more subdued tone. “We provided her with a new arm. She is back to working.” He then gestured to Justine. “Miss Visceral here is planning on striking back against an enemy of hers. I believe that is why you wanted him?” He asked. Justine responded with a devious smile. [color=662d91]“I am currently planning to strike back at a certain witch. Her name is Mariette Pedersen.”[/color] She changed her crossed leg. [color=662d91]“She is a servant of a Horror, and destroyed the city of Penrose with monsters. I want to see her squirm-”[/color] She suddenly lifted up her leg, nearly kicking Reaver in the face with a bright red high-heel shoe. [color=662d91]“-under my heel. But I would like to have a bodyguard for the visit. I know better than to underestimate my foes, and she is a devious one, with plenty of magical girls at her beck and call.”[/color] Al puffed a smoke as Justine lowered her leg down.. “But you’re jobbing with Beacon on this driveby, correct?” He stated. “Reaver here is in bad blood with the popo. They wouldn’t work with him just because you vouch for him.” Justine snapped her eyelashes at him with an annoyed look. [color=662d91]“So what? A daring man such as him wouldn’t be afraid of some lanternheads, aren’t you?”[/color] She gave a sweet look at Reaver. Al on the other hand shook his head. “I am only afraid of not dying a glorious death. Whether it’s under a pretty lady’s heel or caked in blood of my enemies, it matters little to me.” Reaver smiled, his eyes beaming back at Justine. “Can you give us a moment? I’d like to make facts straight with him.” [color=662d91]“Suit yourself~”[/color] Justine answered, and stood up from her seat, walking over to marvel at a collection of various vinyls and other paraphernalia in a corner of the bar. Al turned his attention to Reaver. “Peguci, you a good man. You get the job done, I like you. So you’ll get to make a choice. See, Visceral’s gonna pull some heat off from Penrose for this sting, see? So you got an opportunity to hit the Sanctuary.” He spread a map over his desk, and sprinkled ash on a red circle painted around a spot. “Get in, smash the place up with some girls, paint the town red, just like promised. And you’ll get another bonus. But you gotta make the call, peguci. Do you want the money-” He said as he rubbed his thumb and index finger together, “-or the boot?” Reaver rested his chin upon his own fist, pondering. “There’s no easy solution. Justine is lovely. But the thrill of battle…” He shook his head. “...I have come to realize I’m just a weak warrior on these last days. I was a middle fish in a small pond… This opportunity you bring might as well get me killed due to overconfidence.” Reaver admitted, before clenching his fist. “Then again… who wants to live forever? Is it not what the Allfather teaches, than even gods must meet the end in a battle? As much as an important person miss Von Visceral is… I am not going to hide under skirts.” Reaver said, psyching himself up. “I will paint the town red.” Al took Reaver’s hand in a firm handshake. “Very good. Don’t overdo it, but good luck with your battles.” Justine then returned. [color=662d91]“So? What have you fine gentlemen decided?”[/color] She asked coyly, to which Al shook his head. “Very sorry, ma’m; Reaver here has got another job. But don’t worry, I’ll get someone else for you as bodyguard.” Justine lifted the back of her hand to her brow in a dramatic fashion. [color=662d91]“Ah, so disappointing. Oh well, I suppose you’ll find someone who’d better appreciate a little pain~”[/color] She then began to leave. But as she passed by Reaver, she placed a hand on her shoulder; her nails extended, subtly puncturing his skin. [color=662d91]“But if you change your mind...Call me.”[/color] He felt her writing something on him in his blood, before she nonchalantly lifted her claws off him and stepped outside the door, turning one last time to wink at the two before leaving. Al leaned back on his chair, and puffed out a big ring of smoke. “You gotta watch your back with these broads. You give e’m an inch, they’ll suck your blood dry and leave you a husk.” “We all have to die sometime, capo. It’s better to die in a way you like.” Reaver sighed as he looked at what Justine had written. “Hm. I think you could’ve haggled a better price for me… get some more resources. More’s the pity.” He admitted. “Desires is what controls people. Get a hold of someone’s deepest desire, and they will be led by the nose.” He coughed as he typed the number and added it to his contact list. “Hm, I assume I will be the leader of this operation? Could I get some briefing on my colleagues? Plus the usual briefing on the hit and possible opponents.” “Ajna’s going to be leading this run,” Al stated. “She prefers to use her sword over her Spirit magic, but she's pretty good at using it. She personally requested she lead this operation, and she’s serious about it. Probably a grudge. As for others-” Al took out a notebook. “We got a few regular agents with Stone and Sound magic, and a rookie with Beast magic.” He put the book down. “No particular hits here. Just get in there and wreck the place up. If you want, you can collect fingers if you’re paranoid about the kill count, but we’ll know if you did your job or not. Opponents are going to be dark and monster girls, with maybe a couple magicals mixed in. There’s a lot of them, but the place is in chaos, so you can hit them hard. Oh, there is one gal you should watch for.” He threw a photo on the desk like a playing card. “Penny’s the new boss, and she’s a goddamn Terminator. Sound, Metal and Lightning, and she also has some acid or glue weaponry. Lots of heat packed into one box. If you see her coming, you either hit her with all that you got, or you run.” “Mmm, so I am just one blade more. Feels a bit understaffed. I’d not underestimate what people can do…” He paused for a second. ”That’s not right. Penny used to be a whiny bitch of Chloe. Has she taken this abandonment issue harder than me?” He asked, puzzled. Al nodded, and grit his teeth. “I’ve got reports that she’s done experiments with her soul. She’s a messed up gal, in more ways than one. A lot of girls get pazza if they lose what they love, capische? Better make sure what you love is something you don’t lose.” “Hmm. Spirit might be her weak point then. No amount of ordinance can shoot soul attacks, and if she’s that messed up… her ego could crumble easily.” Reaver added. “A pity we’re enemies. Those legs were lovely.” He sighed. “Alright, I guess that’s it.” He paused. “Stay sharp, Capo. I think I should take my leave now.” He waved back as Reaver returned to the world of color. “Good luck, peguci. May the enemies of the Mint fear our name.”