[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/5ILCycx.png[/img][/center] [h3][center]and[/center][/h3] [h2][center]Darri Anquetil[/center][/h2] [hr] Other than a last-second reminder from Esben to [color=#b3ccff]”Be careful,”[/color] Éliane had been left to her own devices once the Kirins split and all went their separate ways. Hunting down the storefront of a former classmate, posing as a simple merchant in Brightlam. By Esben’s best guess, the shop would be placed within the main market, the central thoroughfare through which nearly all the trade of the city passed. If the Kirins were lucky, the shop would double as the agent’s home, though given that neither his nor Éliane’s assignment was specifically meant to put them in contact with the local agent...neither of them knew for sure. Worse yet, even at night, the market was sure to be under closer watch than most other places in the city. While the guards were lax compared to many other places, the fact that the city was nearly entirely open meant that they had more to devote to patrolling the streets rather than watching at the walls and gates. Given that some business rarely slept—and crime never did—there was no doubt they would have a near-constant presence within the market. Nothing insurmountable, and the city’s open layout extended even within the market itself, which could be as much to her benefit as to her detriment; it was only a matter of devising the right plan of attack to reach her target. It was a rare moment that the pink-haired Skaelan in question moved about in inconspicuous clothing and in a (relatively) unassuming way, but Éliane was still a woman with SEED training and experience no matter how badly she had meshed with the service. Dressed in a tunic and cloak, she felt out of place especially given she was literally infiltrating a city. The most ‘infiltrating’ she usually did came with the great din and ruckus of pitched battle, not activities like this. Éliane had been a city dweller, though, and she ultimately knew just how to look busy and occupied as she moved through the market with a fast walking pace. However, the main issue remained, finding the correct storefront… It wasn’t the most brilliant of ideas given the man was supposed to be under deep cover, but she began searching for culturally familiar stores in the guise of window shopping, looking for Skaeller or Solitude elements that might give away a shopowner’s roots. Storefront by storefront started to pass by in a blur, most as empty as could be; this late at night, it was rare to find too many outside of the larger guild houses that would still have lights on and people present. Occasionally she would peek in a window, catching a glimpse at a shopkeeper checking their books, cleaning, stocking shelves in preparation for an early start the next day. A Mystrel, a Sollan, a Mystrel, another Mystrel— Some guards passed a disinterested glance her way. At least the disguise appeared to be working for the moment. If the hood of the cloak being up despite the time and the fair weather struck them as suspicious at all, they didn’t show it...or they were, perhaps, disinclined to do anything for as long as she looked to be keeping out of trouble. While the architecture and any goods she could see didn’t strike her as anything familiar, she did eventually come across a [i]name[/i] she would recognize. [i]Anquetil Housewares,[/i] blazened over the doorway, with an unfortunate “Closed” sign in the near window. There was one lit window on the second floor, however, suggesting that the proprietor may yet be awake. Éliane arrogantly assumed that she would not get caught, and it was obvious the unfounded confidence did as much to make her blend in among the nighttime crowd in view of the guards. It didn’t stop the market search from being an exercise in frustration, though, and after the umpteenth irrelevant shop, she was about to give up and turn in for the night when a familiar word greeted her in the form of a home goods shop. Using your surname for the name of your shop when you were a spy was definitely a decision. Even she could recognize that. There was always a chance that it was still just a random immigrant from Skael, but Éliane considered the chances of that low. There were few Skaellers that wanted to live abroad in barbarian lands like this, and the lowlives that were exiled weren’t the sort of folks that would open a Housewares store in good standing, and considering it was the right name... She was confident this was the SEED operation she was looking for. Glancing behind her quickly, she stepped into the store door’s alcove and wrapped her knuckles on the surface, intent on getting the shopkeeper’s attention– or annoying him enough to respond. [b]“Hello! Are you open?”[/b] she called out innocently, her accent obviously from Solitude. There was no response. A couple passers-by gave her some odd looks for knocking and calling out at a shop that was clearly closed. Undeterred, she kept knocking. [b]“I can see you’re still in there!”[/b] As she kept knocking—loudly—she started to draw more attention than before. The light on the second floor wavered slightly as though someone started moving in the room, and a pair of guards that were passing by stopped, one calling out to her in a bored voice. [b]”Miss, even if there’s still a light on, the shop’s clearly closed, quit causing a ruckus—”[/b] Just then, the tall Faye proprietor of the shop pulled up his window and looked out. His eyes met Éliane’s, a small raise of the eyebrows the most sign of recognition he gave, before he looked over to the guards. [color=#368baa]”Don’t worry about it, gentlemen, I know this one,”[/color] he said, waving them off, before looking back down at the woman incessantly knocking on his door. [color=#368baa]”Marie, didn’t I tell you to be here by [i]nine?[/i] Late is an understatement, woman!”[/color] [b]”Ought to find this one a watch, Darri!”[/b] With a somewhat mocking laugh, the guards continued along their way, not once having gotten close enough to actually see under Éliane’s hood. Darri exaggeratedly rolled his eyes at them, before closing the window and disappearing back into the room. Moments later, he could be seen in the main room of his shop coming down the stairs, before quickly unlocking the door and letting the pink-haired woman in. [color=#368baa]”Upstairs,”[/color] he bid. [color=#368baa]”First door on the right. We’ll talk in my office.”[/color] Once they were in and the door was locked, a faint shimmer passed over it for a moment. Warded, just like Kayliss had done in the inn. He took a seat behind his desk, looking at Éliane over his steepled fingers. [color=#368baa]”You know, when [i]Mom[/i] said that the two of you had linked up and might need to talk to me, I hadn’t quite believed her. I don’t think even [i]she[/i] expected that you’d end up with wanted posters and a hefty bounty...but what’s most amazing is that [i]you’re[/i] the one that’s come to me.”[/color] [b]“Oh, um, bleh…”[/b] At the reprimand, she put her two hands to her forehead and tilted her head, making an airheaded expression as the guards moved on with their lives. With her way in secured, Éliane quickly followed in after Darri, finding a seat in front of the disguised spy. [b]“If it were up to me, we wouldn’t be having this conversation and our dreadnoughts would have been sailing up the river instead,”[/b] she replied, almost petulantly. The pink-haired woman glanced back at the man speculatively, somewhat surprised he hadn’t commented on her unorthodox (but clearly effective) way of getting his attention. [b]“Anyway, I’ve been told by a certain someone to ask if there’s any good rabbit in this godsforsaken city… but everyone that knows me also knows my opinion on rabbit.”[/b] That was, of course, that she thought rabbit tasted completely like overpriced chicken. Her opinions on foreign policy and non-standard meats went ignored as Darri closed his eyes. [color=#368baa]”So he sent you,”[/color] he muttered, [color=#368baa]”And he’s either planning on killing someone or hasn’t completely thrown out the possibility.”[/color] He opened his eyes again, his stare fixed on Éliane once more. [color=#368baa]”We’re not out in the market, and it’s not the middle of the day. My wards are quite secure—speak freely. What specifically is it the two of you are after from me? I’m not an assassin, and I can’t jeopardize my position by acting like [i]you[/i] might.”[/color] He almost seemed impatient, despite the bored tone he was using. Maybe he really had been about to tuck in for the night. [b]“Oh, that’s simple,”[/b] Éliane responded with a casual tone, leaning back in her seat. [b]“We’re probably going to need to replace one or all of the grovemasters.”[/b] [color=#368baa]”Is that all? Maybe the two of you are more reserved than I thought.”[/color] [b]“That’s the first time someone from SEED thought I was reserved. Am I communicating correctly?”[/b] [color=#368baa]”You’re as adept at sarcasm as ever. [i]Is that all,[/i] or was there anything else he sent you to ask about?”[/color] She gave a flat stare back in response. [b]“Well, yes. We’re going to need a list of candidates…”[/b] She held up one finger, paused for a moment, and then held up another. [b]“And some fall-back locations in case this whole thing goes up in smoke.”[/b] Darri nodded, pulling out a paper and a pen from inside his desk and starting to write. [color=#368baa]”I’d almost expect that knowing you’re involved, [i]Mouse,”[/i][/color] he replied as he wrote. [color=#368baa]”Good to know he’s still coherent, at least. When Mom said the two of you were together I had feared the worst.”[/color] Pen scratched at paper as he rapidly scrawled a practiced shorthand. He paused, thinking for a moment, before writing another line. [color=#368baa]”Has he had a fit yet from the stress of it?”[/color] She rolled her eyes. [b]“He’s doing remarkably well.”[/b] [color=#368baa]”Really? No psychotic breakdown? No physical health problems? Ah, but, looking at that cloak—”[/color] He nodded at her attire. [color=#368baa]”—maybe you’ve finally learned to take someone else’s counsel for once. Or is it just because of that samurai you’re travelling with?”[/color] He finished writing, holding the scrap of paper across the desk to the pink-haired woman that was the target of whatever this acerbic wit of his was. [color=#368baa]”There. Names of their top apprentices, a couple other prominent people in the city, and a few places that you all should manage to hide. He should be able to parse it if you’ve forgotten the ciphers and all.”[/color] Éliane gave him a [i]look[/i] at those words, deciding not to answer the secret agent man’s questions. [b]“Thanks for the…”[/b] The pink-haired officer glanced down at the paper after accepting it, wrinkling her nose. [b]“Rabbit stew recipe.”[/b] [color=#368baa]”Of course,”[/color] he replied neutrally. [color=#368baa]”I take it you’ll be on your way, then? If you take anything downstairs, I’ll make sure they dock it from your pay.”[/color] [b]“...”[/b] [b]“What are you selling downstairs?”[/b] [color=#368baa]”Don’t look around, it’ll be suspicious if anybody looks in the windows.”[/color] He waved her on, evidently done with their conversation. [color=#368baa]”The wards will deactivate without any issue when you open the door. Try not to get yourself caught once you’re back outside.”[/color] She stood up, lightly dusting off her cloak after folding the paper into a pocket as she made to leave. [b]“Thanks! I’ll see what I can add to my portable baking ensemble downstairs and like you said, you can add it to my tab,”[/b] Éliane responded, already beyond the threshold of the door and out of sight. Darri watched her leave without another word. Once he heard her tramp downstairs, he rolled his eyes. [color=#368baa]”Honestly can’t believe she let them stay together,”[/color] he muttered to himself, locking his desk. He was ready for bed.