Fortune Smiles on the Brave [Emiko]

Dagos wasn’t like any place Reina had ever been, but she was cynical when it came to traveling the world; you seen one place you’ve seen them all, right? Rich people were rich, poor people were poor and depending on whatever class you happened to be you were treated as such. That wasn’t to say Dagos wasn’t the perfect place for someone like Reina, though, as the past month she’d spent in the huge city had been quite enjoyable.

In Suraja she’d garnered a reputation that was hard to shake, though Reina would argue that anything said about her was unfair when compared to the real thing. How could these lonely wives know just how fun she was if they were warned off before she had a chance to charm them? The very notion irritated her, but it was one easily taken care of. The job she’d been offered in Dagos was just too sweet to pass up, and the danger of the mission made Reina’s blood burn with excitement. It had the right touch of everything; intrigue, suspense and the added risk that she could die as just about any moment should the façade slip away.

The dark skinned woman sat on a large wooden crate in some back alley nowhere that probably would have made her look out of place if anyone laid eyes on the scene, but Reina was more than comfortable. This was her scene, her jam, and anyone who thought otherwise had long ago been put in their place. She leaned back on one arm and lolled her head from side to side, her neck letting loose satisfying pops before going back to its default position. She gave a grunt on each crack, grunting as she did so. A yawn later and Reina hopped down off the crate to begin a series of stretches to keep her muscles warm.

Truth be told very little had been offered in the way of information about the mission, but Reina had done more with less. The need to leave Suraja fueled her eagerness, though years of professionalism had shown her that showing such eagerness would likely get one taken advantage of. Her countenance was smooth and reflective as her contact showed up at the end of the alley, a tall woman, nearly Reina’s height at five foot eleven, walked down the dingy pathway without so much as a cringed nose at the smell. She was stone faced, like a sphinx, and when she got within range held out a small pad shaped object on the palm of her hand. She paused a moment to look at their surroundings, the raised delicate eyebrow questioning Reina.

“Dun’worreh love,” Reina grinned, her hands fishing out the cigarettes from her pocket. She lit one up and offered her companion, whose steely eyes conveyed her disgust at the cancer stick. With a shrug Reina lit her own up and took a small drag. “Tis safe. Nada in’da way a’pryin’ eyes er’ ears. Hit me.”

Interesting choice of words but the blond pursed her lips to keep from saying something she probably shouldn’t. “My employer wishes to stress the…importance of this meeting. They also wish to convey their sincerest gratitude that you would undertake such a mission. As such they have agreed to your terms; half now, half later. But!!” The woman held up a long, slender finger as if to stop Reina’s interruption, which never came. “They understand that it will take time. Patience is revered, after all, and I have been told that time is of no concern, only success.”

“Got it.”

The blond sniffed, as if she didn’t believe a word of what she’d been told of Reina DeLioncourte, but she wasn’t one to object to the wishes of her masters. She simply went along with what she’d been told to do and pushed the flashing button on the pad she had in her hand. Immediately a 3D figure popped up, with various other stats and information being displayed. The woman looked a lot like the one that stood in front of Reina; tall, statuesque with a stern demeanor even though Reina had never laid eyes on the real thing. Indeed, she looked like someone that could use a good thrashing and Reina was willing to bet she liked it rough.

“Your target is Emiko Inoue, a Runic Professor,” the blond paused as if to let that sink in and when Reina showed no facial expression she continued. “She has certain information that my employers would like to have in their possession. She works at The University, and I do not think I need to tell you just how dangerous that can be…for you. She is not one to be trifled with. She is well trained and can kill you with but a thought. Or, so the rumors go.”

“Real ice queen, yeah?” Reina nodded approvingly. “Gotta say, dem’s mah favorite types.”

“Indeed,” The blond sniffed again, her disapproval more apparent. “As much as she would like to think so she is only human, and after quite some time intel has informed us that she is leaving Felici to come here, to Dagos. Sources say it is for a vacation or some such thing, but it hardly matters; we have been waiting for a moment like this for quite some time. Your task is to infiltrate and extract the information we need by any means necessary.”

“So, yeh’be needin’meh ta kill’er?” Reina recoiled, crossing her arms. “Ah’m ah thief, not a murderer.”

“Yes…” the blond put a finger to the middle of her glasses and pushed them up the bridge of her nose to a more comfortable position. “That will probably not be warranted, but do not rule it out. If she finds out what you are up to she will murder you.” Reina nodded, than took the pad when the blond switched it off and held it out for her to take. She pocketed the small device. “That device can be placed near her computer. The screen will always be locked. Enter one code and it can act as a phone when it is unlocked. Enter in the alternate code we give you and it will begin to hack the target’s computer. It will need to be near it and stay there for at least an hour to complete its task.”

“Loud’n’clear.” Reina gave a lazy, mocking salute as she usually did when she was being instructed on what a person wanted from a job. “Dun suppose’ya fancy folk gotta’clue as’ta where she gun’be stayin’ at?”

“The Desert Jewel Casino,” the blond answered. “High end…very high end. I suggest you get yourself a dress, use some of your advance to…” she made some off hand gesture towards Reina, her nose visibly crinkling now in distaste. “Clean up.”

“Dress? Pffft, yeah.” Reina snorted, showing no signs that she saw just how much the blond didn’t seem to like her image. “Ah’tink ah got’da rest’a dis undah’ control. Dun’cha worry…eh…wass’yer name?”

“Mature,” the blond responded. “You may call me Mature.”

“Coo,” Reina winked. “An ah’m ta assume dat when’da device gets done wit’its ting ah get paid?”

“Correct.”

“Very good,” Reina practically purred, sounding very much like the lazy cat she was often compared to. “Now, if’n ye’ll excuse meh…ah got some shoppin’ ta’do.”

---

The suit was tight fitting in the right places and loose in others, and it hugged Reina’s body like a glove. Custom fit with the price tag to match it was worth every penny Reina had spent on it. If she was lying she’d say that the stares and little accidents she caused didn’t faze her in the least but…well, she’d be lying. Her hair was still in its usual style, the left side of her skull being braided while the rest was pulled back into a ponytail, this time dyed various colors of purple and gold. The cigarette she had on her lips was loose, the cheery glowing bright red as the woman took a drag and looked around the casino.

The moment she began to walk, from the first step, it was if timed slowed down to the beat of the music inside of her head, and all of the little countless events that were happening around her seemed to be timed with it. She tugged at the collar of her suit, making eye contact with more than a few ladies that walked on by. At one point she full on turned and walked when a particularly spicy looking specimen that locked eyes with Reina’s mismatched own before sauntering away, her skin tight red dress almost making Reina cartoonishly drool. The dark skinned woman bit her bottom lip, reminding herself that this was business, not pleasure, but she’d be god damned if she wasn’t going to try and make it both.

The bar area was almost empty save for a few people, including her target, which surprised Reina due to how busy the casino was. But she supposed that more were concentrating on trying to double their fortunes than drinking. Or maybe they had their drinks there with them as they mindlessly pulled the levers and pushed the buttons that drove their obsessions. She didn’t really understand the appeal of gambling but enjoyed the slight thrill it gave her when she did it. Blackjack was her game, as counting cards was almost instinctual by now but she tended to only play a few hands before walking away. Most gambling establishments frowned upon the practice, if they could catch it, and Reina was really trying to keep a low profile while she was still vaguely new to Dagos. She had all the time in the world to build up her reputation, and her access to any underground fighting tournaments were being held up by untrustworthy individuals. Which was fine, since this job paid far more upfront than she thought it would, hence the fancy suit and sweet smelling cologne the lady at the store said would guarantee a lucky night.

Emiko Inoue wasn’t hard on the eyes at all, though it was made pretty clear that Emiko wasn’t someone that people screwed with at all. Indeed that icy demeanor was something that seemed to permeate from the blond woman in waves, which made Reina all that more intrigued. She had heard all about The University, rumors mostly, though she hardly put any stock in them. Reina was all about what was in front of her face, and unless Emiko was willing to verify them Reina simply dismissed them. She strolled to the bar and sat down next to the blond, holding up a finger to signal the bartender, a huge mountain of muscle, for a drink.

“Sour-Cherry Gin Sling,” Reina said as she slapped down the cash from her wallet. “Keep da’change.” They drank in silence, as any other patron were several chairs away, though every now and again Rein would check her phone before sipping her drink. She smiled as she plucked the cherry and turned her head to look at the blond. “Hey…wanna see’a cool trick?”

Reina put the cherry in her mouth, never breaking eye contact with her unassuming drinking partner, and bit down. It was a fancy cherry, though she couldn’t place the name of it, and it was absolutely delicious. When she swallowed it she bared her teeth, showing Emiko the stem of the cherry. She sucked it back into her mouth, her tongue and teeth working together before she brought a hand and pulled it out, the stem now in a neat little knot. After an exaggerated wink Reina sets the stem in front of the other woman and gave her most winning smile, though for Reina it appears as more of a cocky half-smirk.

“Ye’should see deh’otha tricks ah’kin do with’mah mouth.”