“If you three ladies would like to mingle," (Patreon)
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Headmaster Hoardblemish informed them cheerily, "there happens to be a Meet-and-Greet down the hall. Teachers, students, and parents will be in attendance. Snacks and refreshments will be provided.”
"How convenient!" I exclaimed, then sensing a bit of apprehension from Hoardblemish, I added, "Thomson, you're dressed a bit scandalously for this setting. Do you have anything more suitable for a formal -"
"Semi-formal," Xavier corrected.
"Semi-formal gathering?" I finished. "Consider this an intelligence-gathering mission. I don't want you to be conspicuous," I added in Elfmind.
"Of course," Thomson stated, as she applied some Floozy Quick-Change magick to her clothes, turning them into an approximation of peasant garb.
"O, well done!" Hoardblemish applauded as I nodded to the three femmes, giving them the go-ahead.
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Before we get into the heavy conversation with Xavier Hoardblemish, let’s cover what my three agents uncovered during their reconnaissance. They even wrote a report to give to me afterward. I’m not entirely sure why they decided to format their mission report this way, but this is how they wrote it. So, without further ado, I present: "The Three Elfettes.”
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“All right girls," Thomson said. "Mr. Calaveras agrees with Adler. If we’re gonna do this right we’ve gotta be inconspicuous. This is the first mission we’ve got on our own, so no screw ups.”
“I don’t recall anyone puttin you in charge," Burnside objected. "Says who?”
“Says Mr. Calaveras," Thomson retorted, holding the skull down close to Burnside's face. "He doesn’t take no for an answer. You wanna tell him no?”
“No, sir,” Burnside muttered, nervously curtsying. Thomson promptly poked her in the nose with the skull. “OOH!”
“Ms. Thomson, you’re acting strangely,” Rebecca observed uncertainly.
“I’m in character," Thomson replied. "Now come on. There’s no time to waste. Be serious, and remember, we’re undercover. Let’s move it.”
The three made their way to the Meet-and-Greet down the hall. Thomson was cool and in command. Rebecca had a super-serious businesslike glower on her face. Burnside , taking Thomson’s undercover comment literally, had concealed herself inside a large vase and was bumping into every wall and piece of furniture along the way.
They reached the location. It was a repurposed ballroom some Irenaeid Emperor had constructed to host social events. On this occasion it contained a large group of wizards and scholarly types mingling while they sipped drinks and munched on snacks. There was a quartet of stringed instruments playing themselves, providing background ambience.
“All right gals," Thomson whispered, "let’s spread out. We’ll cover more ground that way. Don't ask any direct questions! Never let them suspect that you're snooping. Just listen and observe. Rebecca, you cover the entertainment. Burnside, you scout out the back, and I’ll hover around the snack table.”
“Why do you get the snack table?” Rebecca asked.
“I’m hungry.”
Rebecca huffed and stomped over to mingle with the crowd gawking at the self-playing instruments. “I liked the crazy Thomson better…” she grumbled.
“Those wallflowers won’t know what hit ‘em,” Burnside chortled inside her vase.
“Hey, what do you think you’re doing coming in dressed like that?" Thomson demanded, tapping her hoof on the bottom of the upturned vase. "We’re supposed to be inconspicuous!”
“You said we’re supposeta be undercover!" Burnside insisted. "So I’m under some cover.”
“What’s the matter with you?" Thomson protested indignantly. "You’re gonna scare people like that!” She plucked the large vase off Burnside and rolled it out of the ballroom and down the hall. Someone out of sight yelped and there was a loud crash. “Now quit messing around and be serious for a change.”
“I’m a victim o' circumstance!” Burnside retorted defensively. As she scurried away, Thomson gave her an encouraging boot to the rear.
After Burnside scampered off to the edges of the crowd, Thomson held Mr. Calaveras up to her face and sighed, “I tell you, Mr. Calaveras, it’s tough being the only sane person around.”
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Hee hee hee! Even though I've read this report many times, it still cracks me up! Well well, my faithful listeners. Looks like we're out of time for this week, so I'll leave you with a question: What sort of antics and japes do you think my three lovely and questionably competent assistants got up to? Call out your guesses, and perhaps next week we'll see if you got any of it right.
Okay, cut!
This should be a good way to find out who's been reading ahead. I know they're getting advance intel from somewh - HEY! I said CUT!