Reaver sighed as he straightened himself before reaching his destination. The monochrome altered reality field muted all colors in his vicinity, like it was always when in the presence of his Office. Mentally he thought it could have been worse. With that much of an oath? That girl had completely wasted it. Deep in the end he wasn’t thankful he would not be put in a direct conflict of interest in that regard, as he knocked on Al’s door to report some minor odd jobs and hand some reports. The Mint didn’t have the same connection as he had with the Allfather, so it wasn’t instantaneous. The door opened, and Reaver entered the office. There, he saw as Al was writing something on an antique typewriter. He briefly glanced from underneath his fedora. “Put them on the desk,” he mentioned, before going back to his work. Reaver did so, as he nodded. “By the way… capo, I did run into a bit of trouble the other day. Women. I do never learn.” He said. “Nothing major that will harm the Mint’s interests…” “Hm?” Al didn’t stop writing, but he leaned his head so that one of his yellow, glowing eyes stared at Reaver. “What, got lost in the love life? Your problem, peguci.” “Well yeah. She’s quite a looker. Also heck of a swindler. Turned Cradle, and put me in a bit of a pickle.” He shrugged. “I owed her big time.” He paused. “But thing is she called the favour on Betty. Says you stuff that other pretty minx in a closet. Can you imagine wasting my man’s word on that trifle?” He said. “Nevertheless…”He added. “...A man’s word is a man’s word… so I’ve come to pester you about it. They want to buy her back.” Al was initially uninterested, until Crimson Cradle came up. He stopped his writing, and with a sweep of his hand, the typewriter disappeared, sinking into a dark shadow. “Betty, you say? And you say you owe her?” He put a hand to his chin. “How did she learn about you? Is she an old flame?” “Wiped my wallet and broke my heart a couple of years ago.” Reaver said.” But she’s gone a bit soft. With that much sway over me she could have asked for more. I’m relieved and disappointed at the same time. I just gotta try to convince you to set up a meeting, rather than, dunno… more radical stuff, capo.” Al frowned, and shook his head. “You’ve been playing bad. She shouldn’t have learned you were part of the family. But, this could also be a new opportunity.” He took out some files, and Reaver could recognize Betty’s mugshot from them. “The broad is currently serving in the Ace of Diamonds. You know the story.” He sighed... “Ransom is better than chattel slavery, capo.” Reaver sighed. “Offer and supply, isn’t this what this world keeps spinning?” “Damn right it is, peguci.” Al threw the file to Reaver. “Pick her up and bring her to Warehouse K. She’ll need to put on some makeup first.” “That bad huh? My heart bleeds…” Reaver said, mentally thanking that this had gone way better than expected. “...well with this my part to her is done.” He paused, as he went to do as instructed. It was a good thing he was decent at healing.” Is her mind still sound? That penal regiment is the scummiest and most desperate of deserters and traitors. As fucked up as a Horror's anus after eating chili.” “Betty followed Veronica’s lead when she defected, so she was put into simple jobs like serving drinks or running supplies,” Al mentioned with a smirk. “And only for a short time, too. She should be in mint condition.” Leaving the ominous words hanging in the hair, Al summoned the typewriter, and went back to his work. ”Oh, I almost forgot. The codeword when you retrieve her is ‘Debt.’ Report back to me when you’re done.” ------------------------------------------------------- “Sheesh, this brings me memories. From my father.” Reaver said as he coursed through to the hidden facility where the Ace of Diamonds resided. He didn’t look much at how devastated the place was. He could revel on it, but Hyeronimus Bosch paintings were still more stylish than this. “Hello, sirs. I’ve come to dig a Diamond from the mud.” He said to the wardens. They did look a bit like Al. What the hell did they eat? “Oh yes, Codeword... Debt. Name being Betty,” He added as an afterthought. The wardens nodded as one checked the database. “Diamond 11037, confirmed. Please wait a moment.” Soon, Betty arrived, escorted by a warden; she was dressed in a black military uniform that seemed heavily used, caked in blood and dirt. She had no expression in her face, and resembled a doll. She saluted, but said nothing. “Codeword Debt,” one of the wardens stated, and something happened to Betty; she blinked, as if she had woken up from a dream. “H-Huh? What is this?” The wardens seemed to expect that reaction, as they didn’t waste time. “You’re being escorted outside. Just follow him for now.” Betty looked at Reaver, and nodded. “Uhh, ok I guess?” "Mind tampering. Great trick. But she could have used a skimpy maid suit. Show some leg." Reaver said, to the eye rolling of the wardens. "Oh hi, my lady. It's your lucky day. Your parole might be accepted and if it goes through you might see your former buddies. Name's Reaver." He indicated. "So we will get you prepped up, if you are so kind of following me…" “Oh, that’s great to hear!” Betty answered, and the two left the facility. Their next stop was Warehouse K, where Mint agents were already waiting for him outside. “What’s the codeword?” One of them immediately asked. "Debt." Reaver said, after escorting Betty. The agents looked at Betty, and then at each other. “Got it. Miss, if you could come with us, we’ll give you a new clean uniform. Then you’ll be free to go.” Betty seemed hesitant, but then smiled. “Alright. I was tired of wearing this old thing.” Once again Reaver was forced to wait. But as part of the Mint, it was something to be expected; every part of the organization was layered in secrets and false leads, both to ensure security in the Mint’s processes, and to catch any agents too careless to cover their own tracks. Finally, Betty arrived; she now wore a clean black uniform, with not even a single speck of blood remaining on her. She was also given some light makeup, and now looked more presentable than before. “How do I look?” She asked, while one of the agents appeared. “We got a message from Boss,” one of the agents said to Reaver, and handed him a paper note. “He has arranged a rendezvous spot.” "Looking good, Black Betty." He said, humming along the namesake. "Now let's get this show on the road… Let me call the other side…" [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/UoZLzQE.png[/img] [color=tomato]"Imagine not having a fancy banner and then just seeing this half way through a post?"[/color] [color=888888]— Oros[/color] [/center] The phone rang several times, far surpassing what most would consider a reasonable time to pick up. But on the 20th ring, there was an answer. [color=tomato]“Gah!”[/color] Oros practically gasped into the phone as she picked up. She just breathed into the phone for several seconds before responding. [color=tomato]“Sorry Willy, you caught me while I was in the shower. ”[/color] She still sounded breathless. [color=tomato]“Did you get me that negotiation?”[/color] "Yes. And a spot." He said, sighing. "Better make a good offer." [color=tomato]“My offer will be the best offer in the history of offers made to the Mint. Your boss would be foolish not to take it.”[/color] Reaver could hear something sliding open on the other end. [color=tomato]“Do you guys like to dress up for these negotiations? I dunno what to wear. If it helps, I have a pair of white underwear and then this daring little black frilly thing with purple laces. Also knowing where and when to meet you would be good and shit.”[/color] "Anything will do. That's not the important part." Reaver sighed. " 20's Dry Law film kind of look if you are interested. I will text you the coordinates." He added. He made a mental note to warn Al about the offer being fishy. [color=tomato]”You guys like to roleplay even during serious negotiations? Well, I mean I guess we’re all being roleplayed, but-”[/color] There was a burst of static. [color=tomato]”Alright, they probably didn’t have underwear back then, so that answers my most pressing question. See ya later, Willy!”[/color] The call ended with a click. [hr] At a remote location some time later, the rendezvous was to take place. Reaver was there with Betty, waiting for the other party to arrive. Of course, Al was monitoring the scene through hidden means. “If there’s trouble, you know what to do,” was his last message to him before signing off. Reaver sighed, as he stood in his best looks. Hopefully that shameless girl would show up in time. He nevertheless kept a firm grip sword in hand. The mob boss had picked a misty back alley that you'd expect some shady person to pick as a place to conduct their business. There was old brickwork on either side of him, with a patina of moss and mold growing over the graffiti covered walls. There weren't many classy places left in Penrose to conduct business. Reaver would just have to put up with the smell of refuse coming from a nearby garbage can until Oros arrived. Which would not be long, as it turned out. Or perhaps she had been here the entire time and just now decided to show herself.. Oros stepped out from behind a chimney and jumped into the alley below. She still very much looked like herself, but she did dress for the occasion. Her pink hair spilled out of a baller hat and poured over her shoulders like a tumbling river. A pair of black suspenders held her pants up, and rested on the shoulders of her dress shirt. Her tie fit around her neck like a noose, lightly obscuring her cleavage. Oros was generous enough to leave the top three-four buttons of her shirt undone. If Reaver was unable to tell by how “springy” her breasts appeared, he could visibly see she wasn’t lying about what she was going to wear under her dress shirt. But Oros did not look like someone who was here to fool around. Her gaze was sharp, and the corners of her lips were curled towards her chin. [color=tomato]”Where is your boss?” They aren't just handing her over, are they?”[/color] “He’s… overseeing.” Reaver said, briefly looking to any shadow corner he could. “He is the… discrete type.” Reaver added, shrugging. [color=tomato]”I think you meant to say the cowardly type.“[/color] Oros grit her teeth and pulled on the brim of her hat. [color=tomato]”This just feels like a huge waste of time, but whatever.“[/color] She shoved her hands into her pockets. [color=tomato]”Right, so here’s the deal. I have something to offer and you have something I want. Problem is I know Mint far too well, and coin brokers just love to send their minions into situations they don’t fully understand. This is a huge red flag because while your boss could easily confirm that’s Betty you’re with, it’s much harder for you or I to do.“[/color] Oros reached for her hip and drew her black katana. [color=tomato]”Fortunately, I do have a way to verify that’s Betty. But you’re going to have to move her a little closer to me.“[/color] "Please explain in detail so we may accommodate. Drawing weapons can be misunderstood." Reaver said, unfazed. [color=tomato]”This sword is a mystic tool.”[/color] She gave the blade a shake. [color=tomato]”And I’d like to confirm that she’s not just someone posing with a disguise or has some other enchantment placed on her that might fool my sword. For that, a closer inspection is necessary.”[/color] He gave a thought, as he grabbed Betty’s shoulder, and drew closer to Oros, his other hand noticeable on his own sword. “It is reasonable. You may proceed.” He said, allowing Oros to draw closer to him. [color=tomato]”Thank you.”[/color] With a nod, Oros glanced into her sword [color=tomato]”Why, it seems that the Mint has not betrayed my trust! This is truly a surprise. But that begs a question.”[/color] She lowered her sword before taking a step closer to Betty. [color=tomato]”Why do her up in so much makeup?”[/color] She extended her hand to stroke Betty’s face. [color=tomato]”Does she really need it If she needs so much...”[/color] With a sigh, her hand came to rest on the girl’s neck. [color=tomato]”…Maybe she’d look better without her head.”[/color] Her hand turned into a crab’s claw and clamped around Betty’s neck with as much strength as she could muster. A normal human’s head would pop off their shoulders almost instantly. A barrier would impede Oros from fully enclosing Betty, just as Reaver pulled her away. “If you break her, you had better pay extra. You’ve got your information.” He said, his sword skillfully drawn as she pulled the girl away. [color=tomato]”The hell are you talking about?”[/color] Oros looked perturbed, but wasn’t holding her sword in a way that suggested she would attack. If anything, she seemed fairly relaxed. [color=tomato]”Look, I don’t know what your boss is planning, but Betty has a soul stone, one that happens to be in Penrose at the moment. Cutting her head off is practically one of her features! Not to mention her brain is probably filled with vampire cooties right now. Separating her head from her body might free her from the mega mind whammy she’s under.”[/color] Her claw turned back into a normal hand. [color=tomato]”By the way, I was there when Vippy and you botched the cardinal assassination and killed Cindy. If Vippy can fool all those people with magic detection, who’s to say my sword isn’t impervious to such forms of magic?”[/color] She shook her finger at Reaver. [color=tomato]”I’m also going to call bullshit on you having enough time to block a surprise attack with your sub optimal AGI and MAG, being that they both pail in comparison to my AGI and STR scores.”[/color] She placed a hand on her hip. [color=tomato]”You still wanna deal?”[/color] “Then you must have said at first. I have been gracious alone to allow you a check, but no further. If you keep changing your mind like that, It’s not going to work for a deal.” Reaver said, in a defensive position, holding Betty close to him. “State your offer.” [color=tomato]”I’m gunna kill Penny.”[/color] “That’s a declaration of intentions.” Reaver said. “Those don’t have much value.” The Mint agent sighed. “And each moment passes, I doubt your lip promises. My boss is even less accommodating than that” He frowned. “Give me a real offer.” [color=tomato]”Maybe to you, but when your friends ran away It was pretty much just me against Penny and her friends. I took her to the overcity. Then to my Patron’s realm. Though it turns out patrons aren’t all that strong these days.”[/color] She spun her sword. [color=tomato]”I don’t see the problem. The Mint clearly wants Penny done away with. Betty has no real value to anyone ‘cept me. But with her on my side I can ensure Penny’s death is an absolute certainty.”[/color] She shrugged. [color=tomato]”Though if you doubt me, what’s going to happen? Worst case scenario I die and take some Cradle agent with me.”[/color] She threw out her hand. [color=tomato]”What? Do you hope Veronica gets emotionally compromised and does something reckless? She left Penrose buddy. Betty’s just a pretty face now, and I doubt anybody wants a doll without a soul. You can dig plenty of those up. She has no value.”[/color] She rested her sword on her shoulder. [color=tomato]”You want to feel like you got something out of this? Sure, I can call myself a Mint agent if that makes you all warm and fuzzy. ”[/color] “We would appreciate all the Cradle info you’ve come across.” Reaver said in return. [color=tomato]”I bet you would. I imagine as soon as I turn over Betty, they’ll see me as an ally they can tell everything to.”[/color] Oros rolled her neck until it cracked. [color=tomato]”Does that mean you’re interested in hiring me?”[/color] “Hm.” Reaver stood by. “I’m just a middleman, let me do a quick check with my superior.” Reaver put a hand to his ear for a couple of seconds, and then nodded. “Al says the Mint is willing to write up a contract regarding possible future cooperation with the goal of undermining the Crimson Cradle.” The corners of Oros’s lips flicked up into a smile. [color=tomato]”Well, I’ll have to read the contract carefully. If there’s nothing underhanded in the fine print, I don’t see why I wouldn’t sign it. So long as you give me what I want.”[/color] “We have a deal, then.” Reaver said, as he began to discuss the logistics of the contract signing with his boss, Al Scarpe. Not long after, Al himself appeared, as if he had been whisked there by the winds of darkness itself. “What would you be having then, miss?” He spoke, and a paper made of shining gold appeared in his hand, a pen in the other. “The Mint is able to provide various goods and services.” [color=tomato]”Just Betty, that’s all I really need for the moment.”[/color] She stood beside Al and watched him write the contract. [color=tomato]”Maybe once I get set up I’ll have to rent Willy some time, but for now Betty will do.”[/color] Reaver watched intently, muttering something about women and luck under his mouth, as he looked at Betty. Al nodded. “Betty it is then.” He wrote something into the paper, and it shimmered as he let it go, letting it float over for Oros to read. [i]In exchange for receiving Diamond 11037 "Betty" in their custody, the signee for this contract will hereby provide the Ebon Mint with the currently possessed information on Betty and the Crimson Cradle, to be handed to Reaver in 24 hours after the contract is signed. The information is to be handed out as a written report or recording. As a bonus, the signee will receive a Black Coin.[/i] Al then spoke up. “Very simple terms, yes? If you accept them, you may sign it.” [color=tomato]”That’s a rather strange call-sign for Betty Biohazard.”[/color] She looked between Al and the contract. [color=tomato]”Well whatever. You guys are mega Chunni,and that’s okay.”[/color] She took the pen. [color=tomato]”By the way, why do you guys need to know more about Betty? She’s like, right in your custody, isn’t she?”[/color] Al lit a cigar. “Nothing more than a simple query, miss,” Al then answered. “We are curious to know about your association with Betty, as that is relevant to our interests.” [color=tomato]”Oh, hah, well, that’s kind of embarrassing.”[/color] Her hand hovered over the paper. [color=tomato]”I really hope she doesn’t remember any of this. It’ll make it kinda weird if Cradle decides to peek inside her head, ya know?”[/color] Her hand was still hovering. [color=tomato]”You can wipe her memories, right?”[/color] “Any classified memories will been removed of course,” Al stated, as matter-of-factly as stating the weather. “There should be no complications with her returning back to living as she has before.” [color=tomato]”Alright, thanks for the reassurance.”[/color] With a few flicks of her wrist, the contract was marked with a large “M.F.” She handed the pen back to Al. [color=tomato]”There we are. Now what?”[/color] Reaver looked at Al, then at Oros and then at Betty, before releasing her. “Enjoy your Betty. Do write the report nice and tidy.” [color=tomato]”Writing’s for chumps. You’ll get a recording, and only after the delivery. That’ll hardly take 24 hours.”[/color] Oros was full on grinning now. All signs of her aggression from before seemed to have vanished. “Naughty.” Reaver said. …… … … … … [i][color=tomato]This thing on? Hah! I’m kidding, I know it’s on. Anyway I’m not sure who’s going to be listening to this. If I had to guess I’d say Willy would give it a listen before passing it off to big Al. Maybe someone else? I don’t care. I’m gunna pretend I’m talking to Al because it’s his contract and shit. *BZZZZZZZT* So what was it again? “Currently possessed information on Betty and the Crimson Cradle?” This shouldn’t take too long. *BZZZZT* I guess I first talked with them on Glimmr. Tetrad was trying to see if anyone in Penrose would be willing to try and track down Betty Biohazard. I think there was a post by a “SUPER_SLEUTH_789” that said she was retiring, and don’t know why, but I just knew I had to help. She was standoffish at first, but I earned her trust. We knew some of the same magical girls, had some of the same ideas about Penrose. I’m actually pretty good at telling people what they want to hear, haha! *BZZZZZT* This was where I learned that Veronica was leaving Penrose. Apparently she’s leaving for a long long time, and may not even be coming back. She’s not even the head of the Cradle anymore. Passed it off to some other girl. Gotta admit, Tetrad’s good at playing the intelligence game. She didn’t tell me anything more than what I needed to know. She let me know that she had a thing going with Willy, and that I could maybe use that to get her back. But I didn’t wanna be a gopher, I wanted to get something out of this. So I agreed I’d do it under the condition I could borrow her sword arms for a while. There were no problems, a deal was struck. *BZT* Later that same day, Binky walks into my hotel, looking for work. Pretty random, but I guess he showed up to receive Betty and make sure she was okay. Gotta say, I’m almost surprised she was the real deal. OH! But the contract says I’m only required to tell you currently possessed information, so I guess you’ll have to lend me Willy at a later date if you want to know more. But yea, genuinely surprised you didn’t try to dupe me Al. Hopefully your underlings learn well from you. Keep being classy! *BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT* Only other thing I really know about Cradle is that Tetrad, Trixy, Veronica, Maria, and Blair are all outside of Penrose. So their presence in Penrose should be a bit smaller now. I’ll see about being buddy buddy with the new boss. From what I heard she’s a witch of some kind? I dunno, I’ll likely have more for you next time. Oh, and Samantha doesn't like being in a swimsuit. Maybe that can be used against her? *BZZZZZT* Now for Betty and I. Well, I hope you’ve got a box of tissues beside you Al, not for crying though. So I kind of use to do this thing where I visit other realities. I enjoyed sampling the local cuisine, you know? Like, have you ever gone to a party, and the party is just full of beautiful people, and you just wanna take all of them home with you? But since you know that would never work, you just kind of, relive that party over and over taking someone different home each time? I basically did that with Penrose. *BZZZZZZZZZZZT* Now I’m not the type of person who gets attached easily, but some of those people were better than others. I’m sure you have your preferences, Al, it was like that. Maybe you liked the cut of a girl’s dress, or wanted to examine a guy’s tommy. I don’t judge. Well, Betty was the one girl that both excited and infuriated me. Like, she’s the one person who doesn’t have a single selfish desire in her body. When I wanted to romance up Veronica, I just had to help her dominate the world, or do everything Chloe wanted to a T. You remember Chloe, right? Wild girl. You were pretty selfish too, Al. That’s fine though, that’s what makes the world go round. Anyway, Betty wasn’t like that. In order to make her think better of me, I had to help other people. Helping an old man cross the street, donating to those less fortunate, defending the weak, sure, some girls like nice people. But even on a personal level, any time I got her a gift, she would always say something like “Well why not give it to X, since they need it more?” At first I thought she was brushing me off. But then, heh, well this is a Christian forum, so I won’t go into details. *BZZZZT* But she always kind of frustrated me because I could never do anything nice for her. Even when we made love, I felt like it was something she was doing for me. So I guess this was sort of my way of doing something nice for her, even if it’s not the same Betty...and...yea… See? I told you it was embarrassing! Haha! *BZZT* Man, she is going to be soooo useful when I go to kill Penny! Normally I wouldn’t care, but it’s harder to do the deed as a normal magical girl. This is the ace up my sleeve I needed. And Willy handed over that coin, too, you sly dog! But I’m not interested in going full Mint. Though I guess a lot of people have said that, huh? [i]Sigh...[/i] Al, why are you guys bullying Cradle? Beacon is running around with the Ascendancy, becoming more powerful than ever, and you’re over here trying to crush a tiny indie upstart. What you’re doing is the equivalent of Myspace trying to put icanhas.cheezburger.com out of business because they think that’ll give them a better chance at Facebook. It ain’t gonna work, buddy. Beacon has the Ascendancy and Penny up their sleeve. and you want to mess up Cradle’s shit? This is why they totally ignored you all season long. You guys should put aside your differences and combine your edgelord powers to take on the [i]real[/i] enemy. Well whatever. No sweat off my balls. You keep handing me people and I’ll keep feeding you information about Cradle. I’m pretty sure I have their trust now. If you wanna make contact with them though, you know who to call. Oros, out![/color][/i]