[All things considered, Bryn is glad that Taako texted her about this dog situation rather than just jumping in. They may have missed out on vital information if they'd simply taken the dog and gone, and what Bryn suspects to be some sort of illicit undercover activity would have gone undiscovered. Whatever is happening stinks of illegal at best and immoral and inhumane at worst. She grew up with a mercenary for one of her fathers, one who took her to all kinds of places to meet all kinds of people, interactions that would prove useful to her when she began her work as an agent. But of all of the people she met and all of the black market operations she's witnessed there were a few that were impossible to ignore, and they almost always involved the exploitation of children and animals.
Moments like these make her happy that her sword is so easily taken with her when she's out of the apartment, and her gun is one that's easily concealed beneath her leather jacket. By all accounts, she looks like a girl out for a walk to meet a friend by the time she finds Taako. During her walk she spent time examining the area and the map on her phone, checking out what sorts of businesses were present. It was the best she could do on short notice, forced to do a little recon work for herself. Her attention is diverted by the expression on the elf's face, however, as she comes to a stop by his side.]
[Wanda hadn't realized how much she'd missed having female friendships in Riverview until meeting Peggy. Despite being separated by decades the two women were the same age and still found things enough in common to form the beginning of a friendship. Or at least, Wanda liked to think so, in as much as two women could make friends subtly discussing their respective work keeping the world safe, association with the same teammates and drinks at what struck Wanda as a somewhat successful multiversal dinner party. Taking the connection out of the awkward setting had seemed best, and focusing on the deal they'd struck had seemed like an excellent beginning. Wanda introduced Peggy to more modern clothing and in return Peggy has taken the time to show her some hair styling tips.
For the most part, Wanda thinks that the day has been a success. She hadn't been able to properly explain what the appeal of distressed clothing was to Peggy, or get her into a pair of jeans, but they'd found a respectable amount of modern clothing that Peggy had not only deemed acceptable but admitted she actually liked and would wear. She would have been happy to have even just accomplished that, honestly, finding it easy and enjoyable ot be in the other woman's company. That Peggy followed through on her end of the deal, showing Wanda what could be accomplished with curlers and hairpins and the like only made the day that much better. A busy day, but one that was extremely rewarding.
Tugging at her curls, Wanda looks at herself in the mirror, fascinated by what they managed to accomplish in a surprisingly short period of time.]
[Things Taako is not equipped for: anything involving secrecy. The whole thing on the Rockport Limited ended well enough, but he's willing to admit they totally fucked up on the "pretending to be someone else and not drawing attention to themselves" aspect of the whole thing.
So he's glad he's got Bryn to turn to, since this is sort of her whole deal, although he still looks a little worried when she turns up.]
They went inside. [He gestures to a nearby apartment.] This is all super fucking weird, right, it's not just me?
[Sometimes it's good to check, since his baseline for 'normal' can be wildly off.]
[ for a woman who spent several months living in the Griffith with many other ladies, Peggy never really had many female friends. She was friendly enough at meal-times, certainly but the only one she had considered to be a friend was Angie, a sassy to-be Broadway star ( Peggy was sure of it ), she was just stubborn enough to worm her way to Peggy's heart and the rest was history.
Wanda is hardly as outgoing and in a way, that fits Peggy just fine. She's clever and perceptive and so very extraordinary in her powers and her determination to put them to good use. young but very much mature which means she had seen the less-than-kind ways of the world, she guesses.
Still, she had never really done this before. Buying clothes with someone else, giving hair advice. She never had that sort of friend.
Wanda did help in easing her confusion and her bringing down a few of her walls, helping her find some items which she found acceptable.
in return, Peggy gave her a short but extensive lesson about hair curlers. ]
Imagine what a night's sleep with those would do. Those curls will hold all day.
[Well, weird in the sense that it doesn't seem above board at all. Bryn would like to say she hasn't seen sketchy shit like this before but 90% of her job revolves around sketchy shit exactly like this.]
This is what we're going to do. We're going to head around the building and see if we can find anything from the outside. We'll head in if necessary. Anything you can do to keep us from being found out, making us invisible or silent or whatever you can think of, go for it. If we end up engaging any of them, we want to disable them, not kill them, so we can get answers. We don't know for sure what's happening...
[And unlike back home, she couldn't avoid murder charges here.]
Do you think so? [She tugs at one of the curls again, making a face in the mirror.] It seems like the weight would pull it all down before long...
[It is something of a blessing to have this right now. The friends she had were few and far between, never close. She had Pietro, and the twins never spoke about clothing and hair the way she might with another girl. The way she might have with her mother, perhaps, if their parents hadn't died in the shelling.
It's a delight to enjoy it now, without the weight of her past tainting something as simple as bonding like this.]
I ought to if nothing else than for how strange I look with them in. I could add a face mask and perhaps I can take Sam by surprise and see if I can make him scream.
[As much as he can be a contrary asshole, Taako knows when to follow orders, and the perfect time to do that is when they're being given by someone who actually knows what the fuck they're doing.]
I can totally do invisibility, but I gotta be concentrating to maintain it, so I can't cast anything else so long as that's going.
[He just wants to make that clear from the get go, in case it comes down to a situation where they have to decide between invisibility and another spell.]
[She nods, accepting that at once. She may not have magic herself but she's worked with enough people who have magic to know how to handle it. How to work as a team.]
Okay, then don't worry about casting it until we actually need it. Hopefully this will go well enough it won't ever be necessary...
[But in her gut she knows that won't be the case. Something foul is happening here and it's all going to go badly. It's just a matter of time. Frowning, she stuffs her hands into her pockets and jerks her head to the side.]
Come on, let's head down the sidewalk, keep your focus a block ahead of where we're going at all times. [The less they look like they're headed to that building, the more they look like they're on their way to somewhere else, the better. Bryn leads Taako toward it and past, ducking down the first alley she finds behind it. If they went in the front door then they'll take a peek at things somewhere less obviously in view.]
[There's a not a whole lot of confidence in that, honestly, but he at least has faith in Bryn to not let them get themselves killed, so he tucks his hands into his pockets and walks with her, following those instructions about looking ahead.]
Remember that shit I cast in the tunnels, I can do that again, take a look inside.
Absolutely. Let's just...see what we can find at the outset first.
[Bryn's voice drops as they get closer to the building, as they approach a window with dim lighting. It's low enough at least that she can peek in without having to stand on anything at least.
Of course, what she sees inside is perplexing. Cages. So many cages. It looks like the back of a veterinarian's or maybe a dog groomer's waiting room perhaps but...]
[While Bryn peers in the window, Taako does his best to look super casual leaning against the side of the wall, keeping an eye out for anyone approaching in either direction. He has a banishing spell ready to be fired off, since that's the best way to temporarily neutralize a threat without actually like, killing anyone.]
It didn't say shit, my dude, it's playing at being residential.
[Okay. Bryn purses her lips together with consideration. This whole thing stinks of something bad and this close to the cages she notices that the place just sort of...stinks too.
Backing up, she jerks her head toward the door.]
Got any spells to unlock the door or should I try my picks?
[Yep. They're breaking in. She'd rather deal with the justice system and ask forgiveness than be too cautious here.]
[Well, if Peggy says that it's so, then she'll just have to believe her. Turning away from the mirror she grins at the other woman and pulls her phone from the counter.]
I'd never deprive you of such a performance. If anything I can wait until you're over again sometime and we can do it together. Surely the two of us launching a surprise attack on two fronts ought to appeal to you.
[Well, that sounds quieter than Bryn fussing with lock picks. Who knows if they're all built the same way here that they are back home? She really ought to have tried a few when she arrived...]
You go then.
[She'll keep a look out, both outside and through the window as much as she's able to see. Just in case someone heads into the room they're breaking into at the wrong moment.]
i decided to go with a spell instead bc i think the hole stays if he uses hole thrower
[Taako waves a hand, casting passwall, which opens up a simple passage through the door, just large enough for Bryn to pass through easily (which means he'll have to duck a little, but he didn't want it too big).]
[She steps through at once, and begins scanning the area. There are cages, some supplies, and now that they're on the other side of the wall she can hear voices not far off. When she speaks, it's in hushed tones.]
Normally I'd say let's check out the parts of this place that aren't occupied but in light of these animals here and the cages I think we'd better find out what they're up to and quick. Can you send that...that...spy spell thing down the left side of the hallway?
Do you think he could handle it at all? Poor man seems like such a gentle soul sometimes.
[ they're all hardly the indestructible fighters the media must make of them in the 21st century. peggy finds them all pleasantly amiable and best of all, human. ]
[Not that he's been a terror, but the friendship between Wanda and Sam is strong enough that it's evolved to some teasing and shenanigans. Enlisting Peggy is upping the ante but he can handle it she's certain.]
Besides, he's a soldier and clearly needs to be kept on his toes.
closed to taako;
Moments like these make her happy that her sword is so easily taken with her when she's out of the apartment, and her gun is one that's easily concealed beneath her leather jacket. By all accounts, she looks like a girl out for a walk to meet a friend by the time she finds Taako. During her walk she spent time examining the area and the map on her phone, checking out what sorts of businesses were present. It was the best she could do on short notice, forced to do a little recon work for herself. Her attention is diverted by the expression on the elf's face, however, as she comes to a stop by his side.]
closed to peggy;
For the most part, Wanda thinks that the day has been a success. She hadn't been able to properly explain what the appeal of distressed clothing was to Peggy, or get her into a pair of jeans, but they'd found a respectable amount of modern clothing that Peggy had not only deemed acceptable but admitted she actually liked and would wear. She would have been happy to have even just accomplished that, honestly, finding it easy and enjoyable ot be in the other woman's company. That Peggy followed through on her end of the deal, showing Wanda what could be accomplished with curlers and hairpins and the like only made the day that much better. A busy day, but one that was extremely rewarding.
Tugging at her curls, Wanda looks at herself in the mirror, fascinated by what they managed to accomplish in a surprisingly short period of time.]
You're a miracle worker, I think.
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So he's glad he's got Bryn to turn to, since this is sort of her whole deal, although he still looks a little worried when she turns up.]
They went inside. [He gestures to a nearby apartment.] This is all super fucking weird, right, it's not just me?
[Sometimes it's good to check, since his baseline for 'normal' can be wildly off.]
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Wanda is hardly as outgoing and in a way, that fits Peggy just fine. She's clever and perceptive and so very extraordinary in her powers and her determination to put them to good use. young but very much mature which means she had seen the less-than-kind ways of the world, she guesses.
Still, she had never really done this before. Buying clothes with someone else, giving hair advice. She never had that sort of friend.
Wanda did help in easing her confusion and her bringing down a few of her walls, helping her find some items which she found acceptable.
in return, Peggy gave her a short but extensive lesson about hair curlers. ]
Imagine what a night's sleep with those would do. Those curls will hold all day.
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[Well, weird in the sense that it doesn't seem above board at all. Bryn would like to say she hasn't seen sketchy shit like this before but 90% of her job revolves around sketchy shit exactly like this.]
This is what we're going to do. We're going to head around the building and see if we can find anything from the outside. We'll head in if necessary. Anything you can do to keep us from being found out, making us invisible or silent or whatever you can think of, go for it. If we end up engaging any of them, we want to disable them, not kill them, so we can get answers. We don't know for sure what's happening...
[And unlike back home, she couldn't avoid murder charges here.]
Sound alright?
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[It is something of a blessing to have this right now. The friends she had were few and far between, never close. She had Pietro, and the twins never spoke about clothing and hair the way she might with another girl. The way she might have with her mother, perhaps, if their parents hadn't died in the shelling.
It's a delight to enjoy it now, without the weight of her past tainting something as simple as bonding like this.]
I ought to if nothing else than for how strange I look with them in. I could add a face mask and perhaps I can take Sam by surprise and see if I can make him scream.
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I can totally do invisibility, but I gotta be concentrating to maintain it, so I can't cast anything else so long as that's going.
[He just wants to make that clear from the get go, in case it comes down to a situation where they have to decide between invisibility and another spell.]
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Okay, then don't worry about casting it until we actually need it. Hopefully this will go well enough it won't ever be necessary...
[But in her gut she knows that won't be the case. Something foul is happening here and it's all going to go badly. It's just a matter of time. Frowning, she stuffs her hands into her pockets and jerks her head to the side.]
Come on, let's head down the sidewalk, keep your focus a block ahead of where we're going at all times. [The less they look like they're headed to that building, the more they look like they're on their way to somewhere else, the better. Bryn leads Taako toward it and past, ducking down the first alley she finds behind it. If they went in the front door then they'll take a peek at things somewhere less obviously in view.]
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[There's a not a whole lot of confidence in that, honestly, but he at least has faith in Bryn to not let them get themselves killed, so he tucks his hands into his pockets and walks with her, following those instructions about looking ahead.]
Remember that shit I cast in the tunnels, I can do that again, take a look inside.
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Absolutely. Let's just...see what we can find at the outset first.
[Bryn's voice drops as they get closer to the building, as they approach a window with dim lighting. It's low enough at least that she can peek in without having to stand on anything at least.
Of course, what she sees inside is perplexing. Cages. So many cages. It looks like the back of a veterinarian's or maybe a dog groomer's waiting room perhaps but...]
What kind of place did it say it was out front?
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It didn't say shit, my dude, it's playing at being residential.
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[Okay. Bryn purses her lips together with consideration. This whole thing stinks of something bad and this close to the cages she notices that the place just sort of...stinks too.
Backing up, she jerks her head toward the door.]
Got any spells to unlock the door or should I try my picks?
[Yep. They're breaking in. She'd rather deal with the justice system and ask forgiveness than be too cautious here.]
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[ serving in the army during a war was hardly an excuse not be as put together as possible, she had thought. ]
-- You must have the communicator with you. I have to see it. It's not the sort of thing one may keep for oneself.
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[But his only unlocking spell is super loud, so it's not useful for this situation.]
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I'd never deprive you of such a performance. If anything I can wait until you're over again sometime and we can do it together. Surely the two of us launching a surprise attack on two fronts ought to appeal to you.
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You go then.
[She'll keep a look out, both outside and through the window as much as she's able to see. Just in case someone heads into the room they're breaking into at the wrong moment.]
i decided to go with a spell instead bc i think the hole stays if he uses hole thrower
Ladies first.
works for meeee
Nicely done.
[She steps through at once, and begins scanning the area. There are cages, some supplies, and now that they're on the other side of the wall she can hear voices not far off. When she speaks, it's in hushed tones.]
Normally I'd say let's check out the parts of this place that aren't occupied but in light of these animals here and the cages I think we'd better find out what they're up to and quick. Can you send that...that...spy spell thing down the left side of the hallway?
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Do you think he could handle it at all? Poor man seems like such a gentle soul sometimes.
[ they're all hardly the indestructible fighters the media must make of them in the 21st century. peggy finds them all pleasantly amiable and best of all, human. ]
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[Not that he's been a terror, but the friendship between Wanda and Sam is strong enough that it's evolved to some teasing and shenanigans. Enlisting Peggy is upping the ante but he can handle it she's certain.]
Besides, he's a soldier and clearly needs to be kept on his toes.