Cinnabar Island - Late Afternoon - Overcast
Katia Durova
She wasn't getting anywhere with this shit. So far, the only sketchy thing Nero was doing was living at another woman's place. For mission purposes, she had been told. Mission purpose her ass. Like he'd actually live at a target's place for something like that. Whatever Gregorovich had him doing must be something big, though. Katia knew the type of person Eryk was. He wasn't the type to get too deep into a mission as to actually live at the target's residence. Mostly because Niav was his fiancée and there was a reputation he had to uphold. Even if it was just for the purpose of Gregorovich's mission, there had to have been another way to get closer to the target. Eryk would have thought of one.
Pushing the thought to the back of her mind, she glanced at the current people she was with: Aidan and Rheinallt. She'd managed to drag Aidan away from the woman next door, Solomon. Katia didn't particularly care what their relationship was, but she didn't like the fact that Solomon and Aidan seemed close. And Katia was a firm believer that a man and woman couldn't simply be just friends. No, there was always some underlying attraction that would eventually surface. Katia couldn't have that, though. Aidan was going to be hers, eventually. She would have to continue weeding out any possible competition. Katia wasn't stupid to believe that she wouldn't have competition for Aidan, but she just didn't know how much. So far, it only seemed like Solomon.
“So why exactly is Nero living with the target?" she decided to ask. Nero wasn't going to say much, and Aidan could only give so much information to her. Rheinallt, however, was in no particular position to say or do anything, but Katia figured he would be the one with the most information to pry from. The only question was, how hard was it going to be to get the information she wanted from him?
Rheinallt, strolling along next to her, was eating what looked to be grilled pineapple slices out of a small paper basket. He'd picked it up from a food cart a little way back. It wasn't entirely clear why he was here, except that he'd already been with Aidan when Katia managed to hunt him down away from Solomon. It seemed like one of the others was always around him, whether it was one of those two, or Nero. At the question, he shrugged.
"Deep cover, obviously. To get closer to her, he's convinced her he's a certain type of person, and acted accordingly. It happened to end up with him renting the extra room at her place. It's not like they're fucking or something, relax."
Katia rolled her eyes heavily at Rheinallt. She wasn't concerned about that. “It wouldn't be the first time he's done that for the sake of a mission," she replied off-handedly. It was, however, a first that he'd actually decided to live with a target. For as long as she'd known him, he'd never really so much as expressed a desire to be that close to a target. There was nothing in it for him other than a quick completion of his assignment.
“But Nero's not a people person. He wouldn't want to live with someone who wasn't Niav," she stated, glancing towards Aidan for a second before turning her attention back to Rheinallt. “He's always requested to be with her whenever it came to moving around. That he'd volunteer to live with this target seems a little off. Does she know something that she's extorting him?"
Rheinallt burst into laughter; even Aidan snorted, a strange smile flickering over his face for a moment before it disappeared, its meaning unclear. While the other continued laughing, he replied. "Whatever it is—and I'm pretty sure it's just convenient since this mission is quite long-term and nebulous—it's not that. The target's not exactly the kind of person who could or would do something like that."
Katia felt her eyes narrow thinly in Rheinallt's direction. “Everyone is capable of it; whether or not she could or would is only a matter of what she does or doesn't have." Katia knew that to be a fact. Everyone was capable of some despicable thing in some form or another. It was something she'd learned outside of the clan, and inside of it as well. She rolled her eyes, though, and shook her head softly.
“Whether or not it is just convenient is irrelevant. There's something else going on," something that Nero wasn't saying. Katia would have to ask the Niavs if they were able to get anything from their daughter when she returned to Fuchsia. “So in layman's terms, why is this person so interesting to the boss?" From what she was hearing, it didn't seem that the target was too interesting. She must be from some prominent family, or was maybe of some use to Gregorovich in some way.
Rheinallt's laughter had trailed into chuckles; he tossed his empty paper basket into the nearest trash can. "Arceus, boss, can you just picture Ana trying to extort someone? I mean what's she gonna do, pout? Look really earnestly at him?" He assumed a wide-eyed, innocent expression, looking like—what was that expression—butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. He was strangely good at it, but unable to maintain it for long before he laughed again, shaking his head all the while.
Aidan rolled his eyes. "I don't know what to tell you, Katia," he said bluntly. "Misson details are classified. Nero's doing what he feels like he has to do to meet the objective. Suffice it to say that we need some pretty personal information on the girl, and she's not the kind to trust easily, or to fall for a typical seduction or whatever."
Katia felt her eye twitch lightly at Rheinallt's antics. She wanted to smack him, but decided against it. He was taller than her by at least a foot, and had a way about him that was slightly intimidating. It didn't necessary warrant fear, but it did make her slightly cautious. As for the mission being classified, Katia would just have to see if Gregorovich would be willing to shed a little more light about it. It would be more difficult that way for her, but from the way Rheinallt was reacting, she wasn't going to be getting much information from him.
“If that's the case for Nero, then what's your case, Aidan? Boss doesn't normally send you in to babysit." No, Gregorovich valued Aidan too much to send him on such a menial job. He had to be back up just in case Nero failed. Not that Nero failed his missions before, but perhaps this might be his first? Katia felt a small spike of happiness at that thought. If he failed... he'd likely fall from favor. And if he fell from favor...
He blinked slowly, then lifted his shoulders with his usual nonchalance. She'd never seen him get angry about anything, really, or excited for that matter. "Project's important," he said, drawing a carton of cigarettes from one pocket and his lighter from another. He flicked it a couple times, then lifted one of the sticks of tobacco from the packet with his mouth, lighting the end and then putting the carton and lighter away.
Taking a long draw, he exhaled. "Important enough that he wants me directly supervising. It's not the most eventful job I've ever been given, but I don't make a point of questioning my orders." It's subtle, but she can detect a faint emphasis on the last few words.
She rolled her eyes at it, nonetheless. It was apparent that she wasn't going to get much information from either Aidan or Rheinallt. They were useless to her for the moment, but she'd figure something out eventually. For the time being, she'd just have to make due with the information she had, now. It wasn't much, though. Not enough to use it against Nero, and not enough to make any implications that she could.
“I'll find out sooner or later," she stated more to herself with a light shrug. And she would find out. She wasn't quite that good at gathering information, but she could be creative when she wanted to be. She wouldn't have obtained her rank thus far if she wasn't. She would just have to keep a close eye on Nero, for now, but she didn't have much time. She was leaving the day after tomorrow. Maybe she'd ask the boss to be relocated here so she could? On different pretenses, of course. Maybe he had work she could do, or something of that nature.
“What does this island have to offer in way of entertainment; I'm bored," she asked. Might as well entertain herself one way or another, she supposed.
Aidan threw a look at Rheinallt, who grinned. "Well that depends," he said. "What entertains you? Club scene? Long, romantic walks on the beach at sunset? Cuddly baby pokémon? Roller derby?"
“And if I said long romantic walks on the beach, you gonna provide just that, Rheinallt?" she replied with a bit of a bite to her words. He was an annoying little fuck, wasn't he? She didn't know how Nero put up with it, let alone Aidan. But from the looks of it, Aidan seemed to be doing just fine in Rheinallt's company.
“Forget I even asked," she continued. She wasn't sure she could be in Rheinallt's presence for much longer, anyway. He was like a beedrill: annoying. “Whatever, I'm heading back to the apartment. You coming or are you going to be with the shit head?" she asked, glancing in Aidan's direction. She had a feeling she knew the answer he was going to provide. She'd make it one day so that he wouldn't even have a choice. For now, she was going to bide her time until it was right.
"I dunno, Katia, you just stood me up. Boss here might have to do the honorable thing and take your place." Casually, he swung an arm over Aidan's shoulders and made a show of leaning into it, even going so far as to bury his nose in Aidan's red hair, a sly grin playing at his mouth.
For his part, Aidan rolled his eyes, but surprisingly tolerated the contact. Remi had tried something similar, once, and Aidan had nearly broken his arm seemingly by automatic reflex. But he wasn't even tense, though he did level Rheinallt with a flat look. "I ain't gonna take you out, but if you want a consolation drink, I guess I can buy one."
"Perfect."
Oh, she was going to murder Rheinallt. She wasn't sure how, yet, but she was going to.
Pushing the thought to the back of her mind, she glanced at the current people she was with: Aidan and Rheinallt. She'd managed to drag Aidan away from the woman next door, Solomon. Katia didn't particularly care what their relationship was, but she didn't like the fact that Solomon and Aidan seemed close. And Katia was a firm believer that a man and woman couldn't simply be just friends. No, there was always some underlying attraction that would eventually surface. Katia couldn't have that, though. Aidan was going to be hers, eventually. She would have to continue weeding out any possible competition. Katia wasn't stupid to believe that she wouldn't have competition for Aidan, but she just didn't know how much. So far, it only seemed like Solomon.
“So why exactly is Nero living with the target?" she decided to ask. Nero wasn't going to say much, and Aidan could only give so much information to her. Rheinallt, however, was in no particular position to say or do anything, but Katia figured he would be the one with the most information to pry from. The only question was, how hard was it going to be to get the information she wanted from him?
Rheinallt, strolling along next to her, was eating what looked to be grilled pineapple slices out of a small paper basket. He'd picked it up from a food cart a little way back. It wasn't entirely clear why he was here, except that he'd already been with Aidan when Katia managed to hunt him down away from Solomon. It seemed like one of the others was always around him, whether it was one of those two, or Nero. At the question, he shrugged.
"Deep cover, obviously. To get closer to her, he's convinced her he's a certain type of person, and acted accordingly. It happened to end up with him renting the extra room at her place. It's not like they're fucking or something, relax."
Katia rolled her eyes heavily at Rheinallt. She wasn't concerned about that. “It wouldn't be the first time he's done that for the sake of a mission," she replied off-handedly. It was, however, a first that he'd actually decided to live with a target. For as long as she'd known him, he'd never really so much as expressed a desire to be that close to a target. There was nothing in it for him other than a quick completion of his assignment.
“But Nero's not a people person. He wouldn't want to live with someone who wasn't Niav," she stated, glancing towards Aidan for a second before turning her attention back to Rheinallt. “He's always requested to be with her whenever it came to moving around. That he'd volunteer to live with this target seems a little off. Does she know something that she's extorting him?"
Rheinallt burst into laughter; even Aidan snorted, a strange smile flickering over his face for a moment before it disappeared, its meaning unclear. While the other continued laughing, he replied. "Whatever it is—and I'm pretty sure it's just convenient since this mission is quite long-term and nebulous—it's not that. The target's not exactly the kind of person who could or would do something like that."
Katia felt her eyes narrow thinly in Rheinallt's direction. “Everyone is capable of it; whether or not she could or would is only a matter of what she does or doesn't have." Katia knew that to be a fact. Everyone was capable of some despicable thing in some form or another. It was something she'd learned outside of the clan, and inside of it as well. She rolled her eyes, though, and shook her head softly.
“Whether or not it is just convenient is irrelevant. There's something else going on," something that Nero wasn't saying. Katia would have to ask the Niavs if they were able to get anything from their daughter when she returned to Fuchsia. “So in layman's terms, why is this person so interesting to the boss?" From what she was hearing, it didn't seem that the target was too interesting. She must be from some prominent family, or was maybe of some use to Gregorovich in some way.
Rheinallt's laughter had trailed into chuckles; he tossed his empty paper basket into the nearest trash can. "Arceus, boss, can you just picture Ana trying to extort someone? I mean what's she gonna do, pout? Look really earnestly at him?" He assumed a wide-eyed, innocent expression, looking like—what was that expression—butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. He was strangely good at it, but unable to maintain it for long before he laughed again, shaking his head all the while.
Aidan rolled his eyes. "I don't know what to tell you, Katia," he said bluntly. "Misson details are classified. Nero's doing what he feels like he has to do to meet the objective. Suffice it to say that we need some pretty personal information on the girl, and she's not the kind to trust easily, or to fall for a typical seduction or whatever."
Katia felt her eye twitch lightly at Rheinallt's antics. She wanted to smack him, but decided against it. He was taller than her by at least a foot, and had a way about him that was slightly intimidating. It didn't necessary warrant fear, but it did make her slightly cautious. As for the mission being classified, Katia would just have to see if Gregorovich would be willing to shed a little more light about it. It would be more difficult that way for her, but from the way Rheinallt was reacting, she wasn't going to be getting much information from him.
“If that's the case for Nero, then what's your case, Aidan? Boss doesn't normally send you in to babysit." No, Gregorovich valued Aidan too much to send him on such a menial job. He had to be back up just in case Nero failed. Not that Nero failed his missions before, but perhaps this might be his first? Katia felt a small spike of happiness at that thought. If he failed... he'd likely fall from favor. And if he fell from favor...
He blinked slowly, then lifted his shoulders with his usual nonchalance. She'd never seen him get angry about anything, really, or excited for that matter. "Project's important," he said, drawing a carton of cigarettes from one pocket and his lighter from another. He flicked it a couple times, then lifted one of the sticks of tobacco from the packet with his mouth, lighting the end and then putting the carton and lighter away.
Taking a long draw, he exhaled. "Important enough that he wants me directly supervising. It's not the most eventful job I've ever been given, but I don't make a point of questioning my orders." It's subtle, but she can detect a faint emphasis on the last few words.
She rolled her eyes at it, nonetheless. It was apparent that she wasn't going to get much information from either Aidan or Rheinallt. They were useless to her for the moment, but she'd figure something out eventually. For the time being, she'd just have to make due with the information she had, now. It wasn't much, though. Not enough to use it against Nero, and not enough to make any implications that she could.
“I'll find out sooner or later," she stated more to herself with a light shrug. And she would find out. She wasn't quite that good at gathering information, but she could be creative when she wanted to be. She wouldn't have obtained her rank thus far if she wasn't. She would just have to keep a close eye on Nero, for now, but she didn't have much time. She was leaving the day after tomorrow. Maybe she'd ask the boss to be relocated here so she could? On different pretenses, of course. Maybe he had work she could do, or something of that nature.
“What does this island have to offer in way of entertainment; I'm bored," she asked. Might as well entertain herself one way or another, she supposed.
Aidan threw a look at Rheinallt, who grinned. "Well that depends," he said. "What entertains you? Club scene? Long, romantic walks on the beach at sunset? Cuddly baby pokémon? Roller derby?"
“And if I said long romantic walks on the beach, you gonna provide just that, Rheinallt?" she replied with a bit of a bite to her words. He was an annoying little fuck, wasn't he? She didn't know how Nero put up with it, let alone Aidan. But from the looks of it, Aidan seemed to be doing just fine in Rheinallt's company.
“Forget I even asked," she continued. She wasn't sure she could be in Rheinallt's presence for much longer, anyway. He was like a beedrill: annoying. “Whatever, I'm heading back to the apartment. You coming or are you going to be with the shit head?" she asked, glancing in Aidan's direction. She had a feeling she knew the answer he was going to provide. She'd make it one day so that he wouldn't even have a choice. For now, she was going to bide her time until it was right.
"I dunno, Katia, you just stood me up. Boss here might have to do the honorable thing and take your place." Casually, he swung an arm over Aidan's shoulders and made a show of leaning into it, even going so far as to bury his nose in Aidan's red hair, a sly grin playing at his mouth.
For his part, Aidan rolled his eyes, but surprisingly tolerated the contact. Remi had tried something similar, once, and Aidan had nearly broken his arm seemingly by automatic reflex. But he wasn't even tense, though he did level Rheinallt with a flat look. "I ain't gonna take you out, but if you want a consolation drink, I guess I can buy one."
"Perfect."
Oh, she was going to murder Rheinallt. She wasn't sure how, yet, but she was going to.