The Country Mouse and The Cipher Pol Agent

[CowpokeRobin]

Brie inhaled sharply as she looked over the tattered battlefield that lay beside the quaint town of Caesario. She had heard from those she sailed with that it was the frequent site of friendly skirmishes between the Marines and the Remunun Empire’s military. Today seemed no different as the sun rose over the two sides gearing up for a small-scale mock battle. The young bounty hunter watched for a bit, nibbling at a sandwich as she sat atop the hill directly across from the imposing Marine base and the beautiful, seemingly ancient brickwork buildings of the town. She pulled her coat closer to her body as she took a long sip from a thermos of hot chocolate. The morning air was nearly enough to freeze her slender frame right through were it not for her heavily padded outfit. She finished her small meal and bundled everything back up into her lunchbox. Pressing a gloved finger to the box she watched as a faint, white light emanated from it and its size gradually decreased, eventually settling at a size that she could easily slip into her pocket.

Adjusting her round glasses the young mouse stood and dusted herself off. Reaching into her jacket she took quick stock of the firearms and various weapons she was carrying on her. Panicking for a moment as she realized she was coming up short in her count before realizing why. She had only recently come into possession of the Chibi-Chibi no Mi, and was still getting used to using it. She quickly calmed down when she remembered that a small amount of her arsenal was safely contained within various pockets that they’d have never fit before being shrunk down. With this in mind she made her way down the hill as she pulled up the bounty poster of her current target. A rather rotund gentleman who was fleeing from the WG for printing counterfeit Beri, and by Brie’s estimation, shouldn’t be particularly dangerous. Nothing like the hardened criminals she had faced in prior hunts. If she was lucky the Marine base right there in town would have room in their cells and enough to pay her right then and there.

Brie strolled into the town, scanning the crowd she looked for anyone matching the picture, but was coming up with nothing. This was the usual run around associated with the job when it’s a less violent criminal. She knew that she’d be forced to ask around at local inns, and given the town's size it shouldn’t be too difficult. Letting out a small sigh she approached what appeared to be the largest, if not most noticeable inn that the town had to offer. A few Marines sat off to the side with various wounded tags, clearly casualties from the war games nearby. They were joking around about the casualties they’d been assigned.

“You got a good one! “Cannon fire”!? I got “Food Poisoning”!”

“Will you guys shut up and enjoy this? Either way we’re drinking instead of being out there getting our butts kicked by those Renmunun guys. They don’t pull punches even in a mock battle.”

Brie made her way up to the bar and hopped up onto the bar stool, her legs dangling a fair few inches above the floor as she placed the wanted poster up onto the bar with a few Beri. She knew barkeeps were more amenable to information sharing if you actually bought something.

“Whatever you have that isn’t alcoholic, and anything you can tell me about this man,” she said as she adjusted herself in the seat to sit up as tall as possible. The older lady tending bar chuckled a little at Brie, which she was very used to by this point. Money spends the same no matter how you look though.

“Hmm… Well, I’ll tell ya ain’t the only one after im. Some World Government lady was lookin for im too,” She coughed past the lit cigarette in her mouth. “She’s taken to hanging out on the roof waitin for im ta show his face. Yer welcome to see for yourself.” As soon as the lady stopped talking, the young bounty hunter slammed the drink she had been handed. It would have looked impressive or intimidating had it been an actual drink and not a glass of milk.

Brie climbed the stairs heading up to the inn’s rooms, and finally leading to a small hatch in the ceiling that had a ladder propped up against it. She pushed her way onto the roof to see a dark haired, tanned woman keeping watch over the small city from a chair she had clearly snatched from the bar room. She didn’t exactly seem like a Marine, but the lady had said she was World Government, so she maybe had some rank Brie assumed.

“Hello,” she called out, attempting to not startle the lady with her sudden presence. “I understand you’re looking for this man? I am as well, and I dislike fighting for bounties. I’m sure we can come to an agreement on how to…” as Brie approached her hair on her ears pricked up. She had gotten a sense for gauging someone's strength and she quickly realized she wasn’t dealing with some run of the mill Marine. “An agreement on trying to capture him. I’m willing to split the reward if you’d be willing to help me.”

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Brie Hex 90a1b4
Bartender 5df188

Cowposts: 1

[Kami-Gaz]

The disguise for this particular town wasn’t complex but one that would easily blend in, Mei-Lee had been somewhat lazy with it however. To the bar keep she had introduced herself as an off duty Marine who had gotten bored with drinking and lazing around and was aiming to dabble in catching a bounty for a bit of extra spending money. She had made sure to let him know she was taking what seemed to be an easy looking bounty that wouldn’t have much of a bite back when she finally caught him. She had made it a game, to see if she could draw in a hunter who had skills for tracking people who liked to stay low and not make big waves by splashing their cash or making a show of who they were.

Someone who had more patience than she did to be used in helping her track down the last two members of the Chattering Skull pirates. A crew that had come across some knowledge of a Higherup in the world government and were threatening to release it if they weren’t paid handsomely. They had given a month for their ultimatum and went to ground and split up to stop their chances of being hunted. This… didn’t stop Mei-Lee, she had so far systematically gone through each of the members and ensured their demise. The last one had run to their uncle and then in the fight had been blown up by said uncle in a bid to get rid of the agents coming to claim his bounty.

Now sitting on the roof of a bar that she had been staying at for the past few days as she planted seeds and touched base with some informants and her higher ups, she waited. Her hawklike eyes were scanning the crowds below, tyring to match any of the faces she needed to follow to eradicate just happened to flit through on the breeze like a bad smell.

A female voice called to her, her predatory smile was hidden behind her arm as she sat with one leg raised and her arm resting on it, obscuring her face from the full view of the woman down below. Someone who didn’t like to fight for bounties? Understandable but that world of a hunter was always survival of the fittest, and she who dares wins.

“I’ll bite.” The hunter spoke, wiping away that dangerous smirk before moving to stand up and leap down to the moose-girl that stood before her, holding out a metaphorical olive branch and an offer of teamwork. “How do you propose we do that then?” She asked, here eyes scanning this newcomer to gauge her physicality and assess her potential. “I’ve been eyeing a few places that would sell supplies that a counterfeiter may need, but that has turned up nothing… So far.” Mei-Lee explained. As she held a handout.

“Warrant Officer, Mei-Lee, I’m on shore leave for some R and R for a few months and I’m bored.” The secret agent weaved, sprinkling a little truth into her lies to make it feel far more believable.

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Post: 1
Mei-Lee: ffd1f6

[CowpokeRobin]

Brie had to tilt her head back quite far to meet Mei-Lee's eyes. Brie normally stood a little taller, but she realized shortly after obtaining the Chibi-chibi no Mi that underestimation was something she could say. She topped out at around 5"4' normally, but had shrunk herself down to about 5 feet tall in an attempt to further obscure the threat she could pose. She looked at the outstretched hand as she took in Mei-Lee's explanation and debated for a minute. Partially out of a lack of trust for things as they appear, and partially because she was made a little nervous by the Marine woman's looks. She got over her nerves as quickly as she could, but it was still obvious in the way she talked that she was trying to get her mind to catch up.

"Well, if he came here to lay low I doubt he'd hit up stores for supplies right away. Usual MO, at least in my experience, is that they tend to go looking for… drinking partners first," Brie said in almost rapid fire as she attempted to get over the minor flustering she had experienced. She only slowed down to choose her words carefully as she implied the man was more likely to be getting drunk with escorts than immediately printing again. Finally Brie took the hand extended to her and shook as firmly as she could, which in comparison to Mei-Lee's strong grip was not very impressive.

"Brie Emmental. I'm a bounty hunter. I've worked with Marines before, so I know generally how you operate," the young mouse said as she released the handshake and took a step forward to look over the edge of the building. Seeing the Marine base nearby was all it took to be sure this counterfeiter knew what he was doing. The Marines did have a tendency for missing things right under their nose as Brie had learned, and she assumed this time was no different.

"I've chased down these types before. He'll get sloppy and begin bragging to the local women about all the money he has. We just have to find out what hole he's been visiting and wait," Brie explained as she looked back to Mei-Lee and sniffed the air a little. A sulfur smell filled the air as the nearby war games continued. "You've been here for a bit, right? Which bars in the city are less frequented by Marines?" Brie questioned as she stepped back towards the center of the roof. "Anywhere particularly seedy?"

[Kami-Gaz]

Brie’s assessment on what Mei-Lee was doing was good and a point of view she had not considered. Of course, this low life would not need to restock so soon. But he would be likely to go and splash his cash around at the bars and get drunk… and when he is drunk, he can be loose lipped. This was a strong line of thinking that Mei-Lee could use on her own real mission.

The question about bars that Marines don’t visit brought a smile to Mei-Lee’s face, those were her favourite kind! She hopped off of her perch and towered over the mouse eared young woman in a menacingly predatory way. As if she were an owl that had spotted a dormouse in a field and was swooping in for the kill. The moment only lasted for a moment before the woman swept her arms out and she chuckled. The sun was at her back so as she turned her shady sharp features came into the light.

“I know plenty, Brie, the rougher the better.” She spoke her preference of watering hole, that love for gaming and fighting oozing out of her as considerations washed through her mind. “I don’t think this would be the kind of guy to go to my sort of bar, so we have to go somewhere in the middle. Somewhere out of the Marines sight, but not too rough that he could waltz in and splash his cash without the fear of being mugged.”

Her form shifted as a hand moved to her chin whilst pondering. “I’ve got it!” She spoke and put her other hand onto Brie’s back as a thanks for pushing her thoughts into the right direction and to lead her with her back towards the door that led to the bar. “The Wailing Whaler, one of the finer joints as it hires its own bouncers to keep the rough sort out but seedy enough that a sleaze bag would go in to splash cash to pick up chicks.”

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Post: 2
Mei-Lee: ffd1f6

[CowpokeRobin]

Brie grimaced as the hand hit her back. She quickly composed herself however, and let herself be guided back towards the entrance to the bar so they could go find this Wailing Whaler place. The city wasn't too big so Brie figured it wouldn't take them long to reach their destination. It would serve as a proper viewing of the city which might make resupplying when she was to depart easier.

Making their way through the noisy bar Brie was sure to note the sort of patrons. Mostly Marines here, but a few others that appeared to be sailors of some sort intermixed with the white uniforms of the Marines. Certainly not a place a criminal would hang around.

As they made their way out of the dingy establishment Brie found herself somewhat intrigued by the Marine ally she'd found herself with. She certainly didn't look it act like any Marine she'd had to deal with in the past. She smelled oddly of metal despite a lack of visible weapons that the young bounty hunter could see. She also seemed much less reserved than someone of her claimed standing should be. Brie attributed that to ignorance on her part. Her dealings with Marines, though frequent, were often short.

"Wailing Whaler? The name sounds like it would fit. If I'm guessing his type right, it may be best to just let him tell us himself that he's a criminal," Brie offered as she thought for a moment. Counterfeiters usually leaned towards the sleazy type, and often wished to brag about their misdoings. Taking a look at Mei-Lee she gave a small sigh.

"Here's what we'll do. You point me to the bar, and I'll just make nice with the guy," Brie said clearly not relishing it, but recognizing it as the least cost incurring method. "He confesses so we're sure he's the guy, I get him outside with you following, we knock him out. Sound good?"

[Kami-Gaz]

The streets of the town were filled by an off mix of folk, both those in service to the marines and civilian. Her trained eye could distinguish those who were even out of their uniform, it was easy to do and was why she did her best to act like she wasn’t affiliated. “You’re going to be the face?” She asked moving a few steps forward and blocking the mouse’s path just outside of the bar. “And what if he catches on and either makes an escape or does something to you in the bar?” She asked, less out of concern but more for getting the logic out of Brie.

“It’s fine, I prefer it that way, I don’t think I’m his type anyway.” She said, scoffing at the fact that some people found her athletic form too much for them. The door behind her opened and a new doorman took duty, acting as the bouncer to keep unwanted types from even entering. These people could be easily bribed though and if he was given a large wad of counterfeit bills then there’s no issue.

“I’ll get the first drink at least. Just while we wait for him to turn up.” Mei-Lee announced as she turned about face and made strides towards the door. The bouncer looked her up and down, putting his hand up to stop her for a moment.

“Remember girls, this is a high-end spot. Any trouble and you run to the bar or to me.” The grunt spoke. He was big, easily seven, maybe eight feet tall and was built like a brick shit house. An imposing figure to discourage ruffians and other disreputable from coming in.

“Yes Sir.” The agent replied, forcing a sweet tone. The hand was dropped and with a practiced sweet smile she walked past the man and made her way in to the Wailing Whaler.

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Post: 3
Mei-Lee: ffd1f6

[CowpokeRobin]

Brie's face soured at the idea of being the center of attention on this one. It was outside her preferred method of handling things, but it's not like she hadn't done it before. "I'll be fine. Ope! Before I forget!" Brie brought her hands up to her ears and, with a light tap to each of them began to shrink away. She stopped once they were thoroughly nestled into her hair so they were no longer visible. Removing her hat, she did the same, shrinking it down and inserting it into her bag as she looked into the blackened glass of the establishment. She messed with her hair for a moment before turning back to Mei-Lee.

"I may look young," Brie responded to the question at hand, "but I've done this before. I promise I can do this without a hitch." The young bounty hunter followed as her partner walked into the bar past the intimidating bouncer.

Following Mei-Lee in Brie, she was eyeing every customer in the establishment. It was an odd mixture of faces, to say the least. Pirates, but none of any real esteem, and Marines, but none of any high rank, drank side by side. It more so seemed that neither of them wanted the trouble of fighting in a place like this, and the few guards stationed about the bar looked like they wouldn't put up with it either. 

"Knowing this type of target," Brie chimed as she followed Mei-Lee up to the bar, "he's probably hired some muscle. I'll try to keep it clean, but be ready for a fight." Brie hopped up onto the bar stool near the end of the line and motioned for Mei to join her. Brie's feet dangled, not quite reaching the foot rest under her.

"Squeaking of which," Brie added as she kicked her feet under her to try to find the rest. Her face registered some defeat at not finding it, but she quickly hid it. "I assume you can handle yourself?"

[Kami-Gaz]

Mei-Lee quite envied the power of this little mouse, shrinking parts of herself, and her clothes to change her style and look was basically just cheating in the spy game. Though seeing it being used was entertaining she could understand why she had misjudged this little mouse, she knew how to use her cute assets for utility… and most likely as a weapon.

Once the pair were in the pub and sat down at the bar, the tall Mei-Lee letting her legs dangle well below the footrest where her companion struggled to reach it. “Did… did you just say Squeaking of which?” She asked, looking down to Brie with a half-smile and incredulous look. “First of all yes, I can fight. I have mastered multiple styles and have crafted my own taking the best of all of them.” She said explaining with a hint of pride.

Then her eyes narrowed on her new companion and that smile went away for a flat look. “You are adorable and I’m starting to wonder if I should be scared of you and the way you weaponised this cuteness.” The secret agent admitted, this was very much a compliment aimed to help bolster this girl’s self-worth. The better she felt then the better she was going to perform, that’s how it went in all those dating simulations.

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Post: 4
Mei-Lee: ffd1f6

[CowpokeRobin]

She definitely had said 'squeaking of which' much to her embarrassment. She'd normally drop the small oddities in her speech when dealing with someone like a marine, but she had clearly become too accustomed to that sort of punnery. Her face flushed red as she tried to compose herself. She looked away from Mei-Lee and down the bar hoping that her flustered state wouldn't be fully caught. Wasting no time she did use the opportunity to scan the small establishment for anyone that could be their target. She couldn't say for certain he was here given the bar's layout as a few patrons were obscured from her by supporting pillars.

"No," she said bluntly as she tried to play off her little slip up. It was much more effective in her mind than it was in actuality, but it at least made Brie feel better if only slightly. 

"Good. I figured I just don't like to assume," she responded once she had gathered herself just enough to be blindsided by her companion's next comment. Brie was not accustomed to compliments about anything other than her work. She made the mistake of looking at her ally and seeing the sure look in her eyes. 

"I...!" Brie exclaimed maybe a little too loudly only for it to be thankfully drowned out by the noises of the busy watering hole. She turned away quickly as she swung her feet to hop off the stool. "...will go look for the guy," she said in a more hushed tone before taking a step away. "I'll give a signal if I find him. Probably best to pretend we don't know each other. You wanna look over there?" Brie suggested as she pointed behind her not wanting to look back at the marine woman she was beginning to slightly regret accompanying given her embarrassed state.