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[h1][color=turquoise]E[/color] [i]m i l y[/i][/h1]  
[img]https://i.imgur.com/UCPz7e1.png[/img]

[color=turquoise]"And here's the 'Emily post' you've all been waiting for!"[/color]

[color=888888]— Emily[/color]
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[hider=Hider so relevant posts can shine]It was a dark, cold night in Penrose. 

A chilling wind blew past a lone figure walking the sidewalk, nearly yanking their hat off their head but they had luckily caught it. They cast a glance behind them and found nobody to be there. The streets were vacant and not a soul was to be found. But that was to be expected when the roads were so dangerous. 

The Ascendancy, the enraged dark magical girls, anyone looking to take advantage of the chaos... was walking alone at night really the smartest idea?  

It wasn't. 

But this person had a purpose. 

Someone or something had been stalking them for the past week and they wanted to learn why. Everywhere they went, never seemingly losing his trail despite countless attempts being made. When dealing with magical beings, it wasn't as simple as turning a corner and breaking into a sprint. There weren't people to blend into a crowd with, and they no longer had someone to turn to, having broken ties with their own circle not too long ago. 

Was it a meticulous serial killer hoping to learn everything about their prey before closing in? Perhaps it was a stalker with a twisted crush hoping to ensure nobody else can have them? Or perhaps it was someone tied to their old job? No, they would be a lot more open about it than this. 

But what sort of person was being trailed right now? 

The figure seemed to be just shy of her twenties. She stood at slightly taller than average height and had a rather wacky ensemble consisting of a brightly-colored tunic and puffy breeches with each leg being a different color between lime and yellow. They wore also wore cowl with donkeys ears. Were it not for the thick, brown coat they wore atop all of this (wasn't that comfortable, either) they would be the spitting image of a medieval jester. 

But in spite of this laughable appearance, she was far from a humorous individual. A straight-laced and objective-driven girl, as any Mint Broker should be. 

Well, former Mint Broker. 

She had worked with them for many years and was considered capable in the field of information gathering. Training inexperienced agents into fine brokers, acquiring intel the Mint used to gain leverage over various girls or factions; she had done it all. These learned skills were also how she knew she was even being tailed. Years of experience had given her an awareness that many other girls did not have. That said, she had yet to catch a glimpse of what or who it was, it was more of a feeling in her gut. But there was nothing she trusted more than her own gut. 

The girl wanted to find someone, but also live a life free of the Mint's influence, or at least as close as she could. It wasn't common for people to leave the Mint when they knew as much as she did, but the sheer amount of favors she was owed had managed to keep her from being in an 'accident' when she tried. She expected some form of surveillance -- she had personally advised such when other people in similar situations broke free -- but if it were them, they wouldn't be so sloppy. 

She turned into a huge alley that exited into a once-busy street. A nightclub was just opposite of the exit but with the evacuation there simply weren't enough people to remain open. A shame, as it was a good place to learn things you weren't supposed to. But her plan wasn't to lose herself to some weird nostalgia. No, she would confront her tail here and now and, if they were hostile, fell them. This alley could also lead to a dead-end, which she had successfully baited them into.

[b]"I tire of this charade. I know you're out there. Reveal yourself!"[/b] she called out to the quiet alley. She received no response. 

She glared at the corner, expecting someone to turn it, but a small patch of snow that landed on her head told her she wasn't looking in the right direction. 

[b]"From above?!"[/b] 

She quickly cast her gaze upwards, spotting a blurred shadow darting from the fire escapes until it landed on the snow some feet away from her. With it's lithe, cat-like figure, it wasn't too hard to tell what she was dealing with. 

[b]"A Puchuu?"[/b] she thought aloud. [b]"What do you want?"[/b] 

The Puchuu took a few steps forward until it was in the light, revealing itself before plopping down and speaking. [b]"Should that not be evident? You were a Mint Broker up until recently. As such, I desire information."[/b]

As if on cue, the former Mint girl heard the crunch of snow as a humanoid figure turned the corner. Well, not just humanoid. 

The wicked cold didn't seem to faze it, despite the bikini-like apparel she wore. Her expression was serious, yet it didn't seem hostile, unlike the Puchuu that came before. She stopped a step behind the Puchuu. [color=turquoise]"Hello, my name is Emily"[/color] she started. [color=turquoise]"I'm terribly sorry about this, but could we ask you a few questions?"[/color]

The girl wasn't sure what to think of the strange politeness this 'Emily' displayed. [b]"That wholly depends on what sort of questions they are,"[/b] she replied firmly. She was more than capable of handling herself if it came to it. [b]"And how much money you have, of course. Anything worth asking me does not come cheap, and that is especially true with the premium you've earned for your suspicious behavior."[/b] Not that she needed money anymore, but she was never the generous sort. 

The Puchuu's eyes flashed an eery crimson. [b]"Laughable Laura,"[/b] it said, referring to the moniker someone had given her long ago. [b]"Your attitude irritates me. Surely it is not beyond you to deduce we did not come here to purchase the information with coin? No, there are far more valuable things and you are a lucky girl."[/b] 

So what, then? A random, smug Puchuu would not have anything she was interested in. And considering his behavior, she imagined he was going to attempt to intimidate her when that failed. Unfortunately, he must have been rather dim. A skilled Mint Broker she would not have been if she simply rolled over like a dead fish at mere threats. The Mint could come up with far scarier punishments than most magical girls ever could. [b]"Then we are done here. I do not give handouts. Move out of the way. I am not afraid to dirty my hands."[/b] she warned them as she glared at the other magical girl. 

Emily briefly averted her eyes and sighed, as if a mix of disappointment and shame. It was, however, the Puchuu that replied. [b]"I find your attitude annoying. Is it really so difficult for you to cooperate?"[/b] he seemed to consider something before speaking again. [b]"Am I going to have to be stern with you, Selene?"[/b] 

The girl in question couldn't prevent her eyes from temporarily betraying her surprise. She did not give away her actual name lightly. Or at all. There was exactly one person who should have known it, and they had met a gruesome fate about a month ago. Unlike the mostly-stoic expression she had up until this point, Selene was practically baring her teeth when she spoke through them. [b]"How do you know that name?"[/b] she demanded.

[b]"I was given the pleasure of becoming rather close with her a short while back and she spoke rather fondly of you while we were acquainted,"[/b] he answered. [b]"Oh, and she said I should mention pomegranates to you?"[/b] the Puchuu didn't seem to know why this was. 

[b]"No... no pomegranates,"[/b] she softly said to herself. Selene hated those with a passion. It had become an inside joke between the two and then a password of sorts. Claire told this to people she felt were trustworthy, and Selene only ever trusted Claire. [b]"Well, if this is about Claire, I'm afraid she's..."[/b]

The magical cat nonchalantly licked its paw as if to demonstrate his control of the situation. [b]"She's dead, you meant to say. Yes, I'm well aware of that,"[/b] the words came out just a bit too easily for Selene's liking. [b]"And your own search for the culprit has turned up nothing, I suspect."[/b] 

Selene didn't say anything but ground her teeth in frustration at his bullseye. This Puchuu knew a lot. 

[b]"Allow me to tell you some things. I'm sure your search will go far better. You can consider this my payment for the questions I intend to ask."[/b] 

She would have preferred if he simply opened with that instead of the stalking. [b]"Very well,"[/b] she agreed.  

The cat turned to Emily. [b]"Since I know you're squeamish, give us some space,"[/b] the Puchuu demanded of her. She hadn't exactly done much up to this point. [b]"If you're required, I'll call for you,"[/b] he told her. 

Emily narrowed her eyes at the cat. [color=turquoise]"...sure,"[/color] she didn't want to hear about a grim murder or whatever had happened. It hurt her heart and she didn't have the stomach for it. All the better if he had something worthwhile he could trade to avoid the confrontation that seemed inevitable only moments ago. She turned the corner and walked a fair bit into the alley until she was out of earshot. 

[color=turquoise][i]Isn't that uncharacteristically kind of him?[/i][/color]

Something seemed off, but oh well. That Puchuu always acted suspiciously. 

Once Emily had left, the cat casually approached her and despite her better judgment, she allowed him to crawl up to her shoulder. [b]"Correct me if any of these are wrong,"[/b] he preluded, then rattled of a list of basic information about the death.

She scoffed. [b]"You've given me nothing of value whatsoever. I could have told you anything you just said."[/b] Sure enough, that was the case. He mentioned the time of death being 36 days ago, that there were 28 stab wounds on her body but it was the single one through her heart that took her life. All of this she had learned before. 

[b]"With that sort of attitude, I have to wonder if you even want to find the culprit. And here I was doing you a favor by agreeing to trade instead of the alternative."[/b] 

She knew she was being manipulated, she knew this, but Claire was important to her. If he didn't have any actual information, she'd make him regret it. [b]"Do not waste my time. If you have something that can truly point me in the direction of her killer, I'll tell you whatever it is you want to know."[/b] if it was about Claire, then the threat of the Mint was not going to deter her. 

Selene could almost feel his elation after she said that, perhaps sensing the girl's desperation for an answer. [b]"I simply wanted to establish that I am aware of the circumstances behind her death and not simply improvising,"[/b] he explained. [b]"But I don't blame you for your impatience. Losing someone you care for is something we have in common."[/b] 

[b]"As if you could even begin to understand what I feel."[/b] she was slipping and becoming too emotional. But anything pertaining to Claire had that effect now. 

[b]"How rude. I know what you feel more than you could possibly imagine. Those days when I might bask in the sun beside the person I care for without the slightest worry are no longer granted to me. I may no longer find humor in things others would find silly, nor shall I be able to create competitions out of each little thing. My peace has been stolen from me, and I will not rest until I've ensured they who are responsible suffer and die."[/b]

Hearing a Puchuu talk about inside jokes and things like that was quite perturbing. More often than not, they had been coldhearted beasts with no human traits whatsoever. The act they often put on around their girls was rarely worn in the meetings they had behind their backs, after all. [b]"Whatever,"[/b] she said. [b]"Were you ever going to give me something or should I leave?" [/b]

The Puchuu spoke. [b]"Ah, yes, my apologies for the digression. I am not particularly fond of having my character unjustly questioned,"[/b] he scratched behind his ear. [b]"But I must say, you are quite a lucky girl."[/b]

Selene narrowed her eyes. [b]"How do you mean?"[/b] 

[b]"Our location happens to be relevant to the information you need. Claire's life ended in this very alleyway."[/b]  

Selene's eyes lit up. [b]"What?"[/b] she instinctively looked around her. Of course, nothing that looked out of place caught her attention. [b]"You're sure?"[/b] 

[b]"Of course I am. Would you be so kind as to tip that trash can over?"[/b] he pointed with a paw to one in particular and Selene agreed. As it hit the ground, the lid fell off and the contents of it spilled out. It looked like a bunch of normal garbage at first, but then some deep crimson caught her eye. But she wasn't sure if it was a trick because of the terrible lighting conditions, so she drew nearer. She learned that this was not a trick. 

[b]"W-what?"[/b] she found a thick coat soaked red with blood. The lower half was entirely soaked in blood, while evidence of splatter littered the top half. Beside that, there was a rather plain-looking kitchen knife or, rather, it would have been were the blade not coated in the dried ichor of the wound it had been used to create. 

Jonald, unfazed by this, continued. [b]"If Penrose hadn't been so chaotic lately, I'm sure somebody would have bothered to take this out. Instead, you could leave whatever you want here and even the homeless aren't likely to disturb it."[/b]  

Selene shook her head. [b]"Let's pretend I trust your word, then and that you didn't just plant this."[/b] Selene didn't consider that possibility to be likely. She chose this alleyway of her own volition. He could not have prepared it. 

[b]"I should not have to tell you that Claire could not fall to such a feeble excuse for a weapon while she was transformed."[/b] the Puchuu commented as she observed the knife. [b]"Which would mean-"[/b]

[b]"That it was used after she was too weak to sustain her form,"[/b] she finished his sentence. Selene was grinding her teeth to the point she might even chip one. She only felt an unquenching desire for revenge. The person that would not only rob Claire of her life, but inflict unnecessary pain upon her when she was too weak to resist deserved nothing short of the worst she could imagine. [b]"You know way too much to simply have heard this from a third party,"[/b] she snapped. [b]"Either you're involved, or you saw it happen."[/b] 

He made a sound that could be described as a weird mix between a pur and a laugh. [b]"You aren't wrong. I just so happened to bear witness to the murder of Claire. But I cannot take credit for being the one who ended her life."[/b] 

She roared. [b]"If you were there, then why the fuck didn't you stop it?! She told you my name so she wasn't just some stranger!"[/b] 

Calmly, he cleared his throat. [b]"'To lend uncompensated aid is the sin of the ignorant.'"[/b] he quoted. Selene recognized this saying. It was on more than one occasion she had told someone else it in response to the very same question. It almost hurt her physically to have that directed back at her. [b]"I may not be heartless, but I do not fancy myself a saint. And there are more strings attached to us than you may be aware. Lending a hand has to benefit me in some tangible way, lest there be consequences."[/b]

[b]"..."[/b] Selene remained silent. She now knew what it felt like to be the one who had to deal with her as a broker. 

[b]"Moving on, I believe her name was Bianca. Supposedly, a friend of hers disappeared not too long ago and she was under the misguided impression that this particular Mint agent had a hand in it,"[/b] he explained. [b]"She desired to claim vengeance. Oh, how familiar is that?"[/b] 

Selene almost lost it and swatted the Puchuu from her shoulder. [b]"Don't you dare fucking compare her to me!"[/b] she glared daggers at the beast on her shoulder. 

[b]"My sincerest apologies."[/b] 

She exhaled. [b]"Where is she? Where's this girl?!"[/b] 

[b]"Now what sort of incentive have you given me to do such a thing? It has not been much of a trade so far,"[/b] he rejected. [b]"You should know how this works."[/b] 

The contrast here was plain as day. Jonald had the upper hand and Selene, a former broker, was being led by the nose. It was embarrassing, and retaining composure simply wasn't possible for her. [b]"What do you even want?"[/b] she barked.

Eagerly waiting for those words to come out of her mouth, the Puchuu turned its head and bit into its own side, retrieving a folded up piece of paper that had apparently been hiding in a tuft of its fur. [b]"There's a specific date on this, I want you to recount the day as best you can as well as the person you met during it. It would be all the incentive I need to set you on the right path."[/b] 

The Puchuu allowed her to take the paper which she unfolded and read. The paper dated some decades ago. In fact, Selene had just become a broker around that time. [b]"This is..."[/b] it had been so long ago she had forgotten it up until just now. [b]"Her name actual escapes me, but one of my girls was taken from me..."[/b] 

Selene did her best to recall that fateful day and the events that transpired. She couldn't remember the girl who died, but the other person she met that day was hard to forget. They, too, used a moniker. She told the Puchuu as much and, of course, what said moniker was before stating that was the extent of what she remembered.  

[b]"Is that so?"[/b] the Puchuu seemed satisfied despite not outwardly showing any emotion. [b]"A fair trade, not that I would expect you to know about those."[/b] 

[b]"How many times do I have to tell you to spit it out already?" [/b]

[b]"Very well. Though I regret to inform you of this as I'm sure you would have preferred to do things personally, Bianca is no longer with us and I sincerely doubt she'll be resurrected in the future."[/b] 

Selene's face betrayed her disappointment. [b]"She's dead?"[/b] 

[b]"Bianca was a monster girl, I should mention. And it just so happens that during this time, an Ascendancy patrol had been alerted. Bianca, a monster girl, was standing over the rather unsightly corpse she had just made when the two crossed paths. It went about as well for her as you would expect it to,"[/b] he adjusted his position on Selene. [b]"On an unrelated note, some Ascendancy patrols are much too eager to sniff out 'heresy'. I worry that the days they are taken advantage of are not far off."[/b] 

Selene was too upset to focus on the Puchuu's implication that he led the Ascendancy there. [b]"So she's already been avenged..."[/b] the Puchuu wasn't wrong about her feeling frustrated she couldn't've been the one to do the job, but the weight she felt on her shoulders and heart had fallen. Of course, just before it could hit the ground, the Puchuu added something. 

[b]"Are you satisfied with this ending?"[/b] 

[b]"Of course I'm not satisfied. But there is nothing to be done about it. At least not for some time."[/b] 

[b]"Such weak desire for vengeance appears superficial, almost. Bianca is no longer of this world, but that does not mean that justice has been served. The tool has been disposed of, but what of the one who wielded it?"[/b] he asked. 

[b]"Huh?"[/b] 

[b]"Could you really fathom someone misconstruing Claire's character and believing her to be responsible for another's death?"[/b] 

[b]"No. Absolutely not. She would never do such a thing."[/b] Selene's passion-filled words were a result of the countless years she had spent with Claire. From when Selene had just become a magical girl some decades ago to now, Claire was with her. And yet, Claire had never become the jaded person most under the Mint's employ were. In fact, her optimism and kindness were a beacon of hope to a fledgling member. It was also why, despite being Selene's senior, she never became a broker. 

The Puchuu swapped to her other shoulder. [b]"Then the likely scenario is that you still have a job to do. Before she murdered Claire, the two had never met, from what I have gathered. Bianca was little more than a tool used for a violent crime. But tools have to be used. Who was using her?"[/b]  

[b]"I don't know why anyone would want to cause Claire harm."[/b] she shook her head. [b]"She wasn't... she didn't do anything wrong."[/b] 

[b]"I agree. From what I knew of her, she did not seem to be the sort of person who could gain an enemy even had she tried. Such a naive but well-intentioned girl could only ever be the subject of adoration, I imagine. Which is why it is likely that her death was a means to an end,"[/b] he proposed. [b]"Although I'm sure her death was not taken lightly by many, it would not be a stretch to assume that you were the 'true target' of this violence."[/b] 

[b]"Me?"[/b] she shuddered. Claire's death might have been her fault? She couldn't bear to even think about that possibility. [b]"That can't be... I mean I'm by no means an innocent person, but what could I have done to cause this...?"[/b] she wanted to hug herself and cry, the thought was so terrifying to her. 

Jonald hopped down from her shoulder and landed with grace. [b]"Such a pitiful sight. But is not as though I do not understand,"[/b] he began walking towards the alley where Emily had been waiting. [b]"There are other things I will want to speak to you about, but I shall give you some time to absorb what I've said and become a little more presentable for our next meeting."[/b] 

[b]"...If you happen upon anything else involving Claire, even if it's just a hint..."[/b] Selene was only a step above beginning at this point, holding back the urge to cry. 

[b]"If that is your price, then I am fine paying it."[/b]  

Selene remained stationary in the ally while the Puchuu left. When he got far enough away, his acute hearing picked up what sounded to be her sobs. He wondered why she even bothered to wait since she hadn't exactly been composed that entire time but figured it didn't matter now. He was, for the first time in so very long, genuinely happy. 

[color=turquoise]"What happened?"[/color]

Jonald passed Emily at the end of the ally and walked back onto the street, half-ignoring her. [b]"Exactly what I thought would,"[/b] he finally answered as she trailed behind him. [b]"My business has concluded and we are done here, but..."[/b] he trailed off. 

[color=turquoise]"What?"[/color]

[b]"Don't mind me, I'm simply thinking aloud."[/b] 

Emily tilted her head. Jonald seemed to be acting weirder than usual. 

[b]"Emily would never let rage consume her, would she? Not even if I told her the name of her sister's murderer, which I just learned,"[/b] Jonald didn't turn back as he was pretending to speak to himself, but Emily could imagine the wicked grin on his face. [b]"What was it again? Oh, that's right, it was __________."[/b] 

Jonald suddenly darted up a building and vanished from sight after saying as much, but Emily was stopped cold in her tracks.  She didn't believe it. This dumb escort mission he had just taken her on had revealed something they had been looking for for years? Just like that? She literally just stood at the end of that alley and waited for them to finish talking and now all of a sudden he has a lead? And that name...

Would it be better if she forgot about it? There was only one reason to remember it, and Jonald knew this. [color=turquoise][i]No, I would never do something like that... I wouldn't be me if I did...[/i][/color]

Somehow, she knew things would get more complicated from now on. She just hoped she wouldn't be swallowed whole when it did.[/hider]