Tools of the Trade

Once more, Selina had used the Black Cat Lounge to cross cities as she entered through the smokey, stinkin streets of Motor City. It was the closest place from the neutral ground to any of Agil's entrances to the club. After she met the familiar demon bouncer that guarded the portal's inner gate, Selina easily slipped from her casual wear instantly to her witch's attire-- the black and orange styled outfit she wore and let her black hair hang down. In toe was her Exceed friend Hex as the cat rode on her back like a backpack-- considering the cat's larger size.

The gentle velvet lightning and jazzy music that played magically in the background always put her at ease as she came to the bar-- where her friend Agil was. "I am starting to worry about you, Agil," Selina said in a kidding fashion, "Don't you ever get out from behind this bar."

The large, dark balt gentlemen smirked as his favorite customer came around. "Heh, I like to see you run this corner of the universe. Serving demons, witches and every shade of character in Earthland and beyond. Ya think its easy?" he replied, not in anger but in a calm, informative tone. "Besides, I get my share of excitement with whatever you bring in with you."

Hex soon hopped off Selina's shoulders and onto the bar-- to which Agil glared at her for doing. "Damn it cat, I just cleaned the bar!" he shouted.

"Unlike many of your guests Agil, I wash my paws," Hex meowed lightly as she hopped off and onto one of the spinning bar stools. "See this is why she worries. You have no life." the cat said sarcastically.

Agil just grumbled at the cat and turned back to Selina. "Can I get you a drink?"

"Poinsettia Lavander," Selina replied as she sat herself down. While Agil gave a nod to prepare the drink, Selina also took out her Tarot Cards and began to spread them out on the bar top. "And maybe something nice to eat if you don't mind. I'm famished."

"Oh, we can't have that for my girl," Agil said with a friendly flirt to her.

"Oh! And my usual White Russian with only the cream, please!" Hex meowed with delight, adjusting the witch's hat on her head.

This time it was Selina's turn to roll her eyes at her Exceed friend. As Agil began to cook up a small meal for the magic thief, Selina proceeded to read her cards, finding all the tools of her magic before her. For so long she used her cards for her strengths, but now she realized she could do so much more. She didn't want to wield the Tarot-- she wanted to embody it, and it was a style she was well aware of.

"Drink for your thoughts," Agil interrupted as Selina flipped up the first card-- the Ten of Pentagrams, representing wealth on all fronts. She looked up to find her drink, a violet sparkling liquid with a raspberry drifting in the martini glass. Along with it, Agil tapped the bar to produce a demonic-like magic circle. Right out of it, came a hot plate of steak tips and greens.

"I worry if your magically conjured dishes are technically 'fast food'," Selina said as she slid the plate closer to her, taking in the aroma. "You know last thing I want is wider hips when I am pulling a heist."

He gave her a playful scowl as he soon slid over hex's drink-- who took it happily into her greedy little paws. "Girl, you wound me," the man said as he relaxed and leaned his elbows on the bar. "You know I do everything Five-star quality when it comes to my business. Of course, for anyone else my food won't come cheaply."

"Yeah," Hex replied as she licked her lips as she drank some of her milk. "Though I bet better ambiance would beat this hole in the wall."

Irritated, the large man turned to the cat with a scowl. "Keep it up and I will show you the view from the backdoor and garbage, you allycat!" he sneered, causing Hex's tail to go up in aggrivation.

Selina sighed as she sipped her drink. "Jeez you two..."

WC: 717

It did bring up an interesting topic for Selina as she finished her meal and lightly pushed her plate away to focus back on her tarot cards. As she focused, she remembered her old training raised by the Umbra Witches. Their magic was far different from her personal choice-- but with similarities. The thing that set Selina apart from them, was that they used demonic magic-- or rather black magic to conjure and use 'demon arm' weapons. WHile Selina respected her Umbran Sisters and had no doubt in the Overseers for their mission, she didn't like the idea to swear to the demons and offer her soul to them when her time would come. Even if her life was extended by an "Umbra Watch" -- the magic that allowed Umbra Witches to live for multiple lifetimes, offering almost eternal longevity and youth.

While she intended to earn such an honor, she didn't want to tie her souls to the demons, so it was why she choose this magic. Ironically, too young to understand-- she chose magic very close to the heart of the witch's pratices. The magic of the Moirei.

Either way, she had trained with them in many of their arts from 'black magic' to weaponry training.

"Agil, remember when I placed that order with you? Did you get it by now?" Selina asked as she continued her drinkr drink, nearing its end.

A bellowing laugh erupted from Agil as he rested on the bar. "Girl, you are gonna love this..." Once more, he tapped the bar to produce another magic circle. This time, it rose up higher and wider as larger objects manifested. It soon stopped glowing and revealed a pair of blades atop of a blue and reflective cloth that rested on the bar next to them. The blades were made of silver and elegantly curved with moon symbols on it.

Selina's eyes sparkled with delight to find the new set she wanted. " This looks great. I been waiting for this. This will make my little jobs much easier," she said, "SO where did you find em?"

"Find em? Woman, please..." he said again with a boastful tone as he smirked in a cocky fashion. "You know my policy. All my goods are made by these God-given hands. I smith these personally, and you can bet there are no goods, weapons or otherwise, better."

It was then a snicker came from the side as they saw Hex had finished her little cream drink and now spun happily on the bar stool. "Bartender, businessman, great cook, artesian, how DO YOU not have a girlfriend?" the cat said with an obviously sassy tone to annoy Agil. "Is it because your more in love with your bar than-- MREOW!"

Hex was interrupted as Agil, having enough took his bar towl and tossed it in Hex's direction. He just caught her hat which sent it flying off-- and Hex sprinted off the stool to find somewhere else to hide from Agil's 'wrath'.

A laugh came out of Selina. She always had a kick to see the two playfully fight. THough they really were all friends here, Hex couldn't help but give any man a hard time-- partly due to the same held true to most Umbra Witches. If Selina had not known Agil at such a young age, she probably would of given him the same treatment... more often than not anyway.

"You scratch up my bar again, and you WILL be apologizing to it, got it?" Agil said, proving the little detail how he would personify his bar like it was a living thing.

"Anyway..." Selina said as she looked over the cloak and daggers, "This is good work. I'm impressed. Thank you for this--"

Just as Selina reached for the items, Agil held up a hand to stop her. "Hold on a minute. You know I am a generous man, but these goods didn't come cheap," he explained as Selina sat back down. "Mooncloth for the cloak and the silver ore bathed in moonlight from Galuna Island. Shit doesn't come cheap to make these things. Trust me, if someone asks me to make magic items, you know I only make the best."

Selina flipped over the middle card in her spread, revealing the Death-- revealing the symbol of Change. This was a powerful change all the same. Even so, she always came to Agil for almost everything, might as well make him her official armorer. "Fine, Agil. I depend on you more than I care to admit. Might as well exclusively bring my business here most of the time. So, how much for the set?"

A glint showed in his eyes. "50,000 Jewel." he said.

There was a silence between them for a bit, Selina looking at him dead in the eye, trying not to react to the large price. Even as a thief, she disliked the high price he offered. True, she needed the gear, but this was a bit high for her budget, even if she had a tab here.

"Agil," Selina sad in a soft tone as her gaze grew less intense. It was then she slid up onto the bar itself, and leaned in towards him. Her position was rather flirtatious and allowed him a good view of her features, especially with her top and dress revealing her skin more than most. "We've been friends for so long. You know your my go-to guy for almost ANYTHING." She leaned in more, revealing her bossom a bit more. "The price still is a bit much for me. Couldn't you do me a solid and cut me a tiny deal..."

She tried hard to not smirk too much at the shade of red that hinted Agil's cheeks as he looked at her-- trying hard to not look down at her body. In truth, there were parts of Agil that had been drawn to her since they were kids. He knew how flirty she was, especially with her marks, but this was a first for him to be one of her 'focused targets'.

He soon took a calm breath and closed his eyes. "Nothing doin," he said calmly, "These are not some cheap magic blades that you can get any two-bit magic shop. These are quality."

"Please...?" Selina asked, now giving her a watery-eyed look lightly via lightly biting the inside of her cheek.

This time he couldn't suppress the gulp as he even glanced down at her legs and midsection. His cheeks flushed a little redder as he soon took out a piece of paper from his chest pocket and scribbled something down on it. "I can give you a small deal to take this off..." he said as he handed her the folded up piece of paper.

Keeping her sultry and sensual demeanor , Selina took the paper and lightly opened up to see what was written.

"One free drink next visit."

Her demeanor broke as her eyes narrowed in irritation. "You cheapscate!" she said and tossed the paper right back at Agil.

This time, Agil laughed freely, smacking the bar lightly with his hand. "I'm sorry, Selina, but you deserved that. You cannot pull the wool over these eyes. I deal with demons and the worst scum in Fiore and beyond for my deals." he said, " Truth be told, that is a generous price than I would give to anyone else. ANy less would be an insulted rate, cause it is an insult to me, savvy?"

"And now we solve the mystery why he is still single," Hex chimed in, having now hopped onto the opposite stool with her hat in her paws. She smoothed it out lightly after it had been tossed from her head. "He never pays on his dates."

"I SWEAR I'LL KNOCK OFF ONE OF YOUR LIVES CAT!" Agil snarled, which only made the cat let out her tongue to make a face at him.

Selina slid off the bar and back into her seat. "Okay, okay, I can take a hint... " Selina replied with a sigh, " I'll pay for your weapons Agil. I guess as long as you broke the goods I bring, it all pans out." Selina soon reached for her final card on the spread-- The Wheel of Fortune, that last one making sense. Finally, she pickedup the 10 of Pentacles from her spread and waved it before Agil-- which suddenly materialized a pouch full of Jewel for him. "You can put the rest on my tab."

Agil still smiled kindly as he took the payment. "Trust me, girl, when you try these in the field, it be worth every jewel. All that is left is to give it that magic touch with your cards to enchant them. THen you're good to go," he said and then moved the items to her. "And don't forget. If you ever need an upgrade, bring em to me. I'll hook you up."

Selina gave Agil a kind smile as she picked up the Moon Tarot Card. With a wave of the card, the daggers and the cloak vanished-- sent into the magic inside the card. " Will do. Thanks Agil,"

WC: 1534
TWC: 2251