[attr="class","icon"]

While Aurelie made some attempt at maintaining a veneer of composure, Rhea most certainly did not. She took the extended hand with a glad smile and slightly too-tight grip, [break][break]

“And I could say the same of you!” [break][break]

Because really, it wasn't every day that she had the pleasure of meeting someone who knew their claymores from their zweihanders (though God help Aurelie if she brought up the Landsknecht that utilized the latter, because that would likely send Rhea prattling on about those mercenaries of yore for hours). And really, she was so excited to be in the presence of a fellow enthusiast that she completely missed the flush now warming Aurelie's cheeks. [break][break]

Instead, Rhea's line of sight followed the bladesmith's as she turned to the counter, the nothing could have stopped the delighted squeal that clawed its way out of the woman's throat when she finally spied the blade itself, [break][break]

“Oh, it is magnificent!” [break][break]

The tasteful scroll-work on the sheath, the incredibly thoughtful craftsmanship, the perfect balance of length and weight; it was so much more than Rhea could have ever expected. This red-headed craftsman was a goddamn saint, [break][break]

“Oh yes, Arceus willing!” Rhea replied with what was probably a little too much cheer, considering the context, “I've never been the most discrete, truth be told.” [break][break]

She walked past Aurelie and toward the blade resting on the counter, and slowly, reverently, traced her fingers across the looping designs along the greatsword's sheath.

[attr="class","bottom"]mission[break]
Aurelie Lefevre [break]

[attr="class","credit"] [attr="class","fas fa-cloud-moon"]

[attr="class","icon"]

Rhea turned back and grinned toothily at the redhead, [break][break]

“Oh? Is it all that unexpected?” [break][break]

She leaned back against the counter, sparing one more sidelong glance to her new and most favorite weapon in her arsenal before she returned her full attention to the bladesmith, [break][break]

“It takes a tactical mind to both handle a blade and to decisively command your Pokemon. Knowing when to guard, what stance to take, and what weapon to use is a lot like understanding type advantages, or utilizing status conditions.” [break][break]

Though, in truth, there were many times when it was far more optimal to let her Pokemon handle the brawling than it was to get involved herself, Rhea had to admit. But where was the fun in that? [break][break]

“Oh, you needn't change a thing!” Rhea insisted, perhaps a little too emphatically when Aurelie smiled all the wider at her. She cleared her throat with a bashful cough before continuing, [break][break]

“It's actually a bit of both. I'm a mercenary, and my contract was recently purchased by your... associates. In truth, I've only recently begun work in the region.” [break][break]

It might not have been the most valorous way to live, selling her skills to the highest bidder, but it was a lifestyle that Rhea had become quite accustomed to. The pay was excellent and there was always a fight to be had; what else could she ask for? [break][break]

Suddenly, a little chime rang out from some pocket at Rhea's side. Fishing out her phone, the merc stared at the screen for a moment before dismissing the notification and stowing the device away, [break][break]

“Though, speaking of boats, it appears I have a ride to catch.” [break][break]

Rhea reached for the blade and paused a moment, feeling a sudden pang of something bittersweet. When was the last time she'd had a chance to talk to a like-minded individual? And hell, when was the last time she had actually talked to someone who had taken any sort of interest in her? [break][break]

No, she couldn't let an opportunity like this go to waste. She secured the blade in its scabbard to her side, and the weapon sat upon her sword belt as though it was always meant to go there. Bright eyes flicked back to Aurelie with something that almost looked a little like pleading, [break][break]

“Would you like to accompany me?” [break][break]

She stopped a moment to glance around the shop; they were the only folks here, but that didn't mean that another customer couldn't waltz in at any moment, [break][break]

“If, uh, you aren't otherwise preoccupied.”

[attr="class","bottom"]mission[break]
Aurelie Lefevre [break]

[attr="class","credit"] [attr="class","fas fa-cloud-moon"]

[attr="class","icon"]

Rhea was positively beaming when Aurelie's moment of hesitation gave way to more of that delightful enthusiasm. She watched the swordsmith bustle around and close up shop, feeling as giddy as the redhead looked, [break][break]

“I'm just heading back to Sootopolis for my next set of marching orders,” she replied happily, holding the door open as they moved to leave the store, “I suppose a Flying Pokemon would have been a more expedient way to travel, but I get airsick easily.” [break][break]

The mercenary paused for a moment while the swordsmith did whatever she needed to close the place up before chiming in again, [break][break]

“Please, talk away!” Rhea grinned sincerely, “You have exceptional skill and taste; I would be delighted if you would indulge my curiosity.” [break][break]

Though that did not mean that the conversation would be entirely one-sided as they made their way to the docks. Rhea, fixated as she was on her new prize, had much to say on the merits of the two-handed sword and its venerated history, which, of course, lead to some tangent about its cousins, the Galarian bastard sword and the Paldean espada-de-armas, which lead to another tangent about the weaponry of the ancient Paldean and Alto Marean empires, which lead to – [break][break]

Rhea had hardly realized that they had reached their destination by the time they closed in on a lonely and isolated pier. Discretion was important when traveling into and out of the city under Rocket's control, but her ferryman had apparently not been discrete enough. Distantly, Rhea's attention shifted from a familiar man and his dingy-looking speedboat to the angry shouts being hurled his way by some unfamiliar ruffians docked close by, [break][break]

“Well, this doesn't look good,” she grumbled under her breath as she moved to grab for something at her belt. Now the real question was, did she go for one of her blades, or did she go for one of her Pokeballs?

[attr="class","bottom"]mission[break]
Aurelie Lefevre [break]

[attr="class","credit"] [attr="class","fas fa-cloud-moon"]

[attr="class","icon"]

Aurelie was as sharp as the weapons she forged. Rhea nodded in agreement as the other woman whispered, but her expression hardened into something much more dour when the burly oaf at the docks shouted at the both of them. Her expression was decidedly less meek as well, even as she similarly raised her arms in mirror of the sword-smith, the mercenary leering with agitation at the crass pirates that were sauntering their way. [break][break]

How many were there? The leader was one, wide and bearded, second was some sort of lean and wiry bastard sauntering behind him, and third was an unscrupulous-looking gentleman tending to the pirate craft and eyeing the ferryman with some predatory glint in his eye. Three-on-onewasn't particularly bad odds, but the addition of the two frog-like Pokemon complicated matters a little, [break][break]

“I'll tend to them,” Rhea whispered roughly as the men drew close, “If you would kindly handle their pets.” [break][break]

“Hey! I thought I told you to stop whispering!” [break][break]

They were so close now, tantalizingly so. Rhea flashed a boyish grin to Aurelie as she suddenly moved one of her hands to her side, [break][break]

“En garde, you blackguards!” [break][break]

In one fluid motion, Rhea grasped the scabbard of her newest blade with the left hand, and quickly slipped the blade from its sheath with the right. She swung the killing edge of her magnificent sword in a wide arc toward the approaching pirates, knuckles white as she gripped the pommel with fierce determination.

[attr="class","bottom"]mission[break]
Aurelie Lefevre [break]

[attr="class","credit"] [attr="class","fas fa-cloud-moon"]

[attr="class","icon"]

Even as she fought the bastard pirates, Rhea couldn't help but steal glances to Aurelie and her own half of the fight, between the mercenary's wide-arcing swings and the dancer's grace by which she followed the momentum through and into the next strike. [break][break]

She laughed, loud and booming, as the wiry man and what she presumed to be his Poliwrath were struck almost simultaneously, knife and sword and LEAF BLADE cutting down their foes like terrible weeds. The next man, the captain, attempted to twist his body away so that he might flee, but the edge of Rhea's blade sliced across his chest, conjuring a river of blood as he collapsed to the ground. [break][break]

The third member of the enemy party, the man tending to the pirate craft, had begun to hastily unmoor his vessel from the docks with increasing panic. The wiry man lying on the ground, clutching his throat in a vain attempt to stop the cut he sustained there from spelling his end, gasped out some fitful cry for help as he was hastily abandoned by his criminal companion. Rhea laughed still, almost pitying the poor bastards and their foolhardy audacity, [break][break]

“Splendid work!” she called cheerfully to the swordsmith, a strange contrast to the maimed and dying foes at their feet, “Suppose that will prove a valuable lesson to the bastards.” [break][break]

And all the was left was to finally dispose of the trash itself. Rhea dragged the fallen foes one by one to the edge of the dock, and watched as their bodies sank into the waters below, [break][break]

“I suppose they won't stay there for long,” Rhea admitted, glancing from the nervous ferryman who still owed her transport and back to Aurelie, “Once they start to rot, they'll bob right back up. I should abscond before such a thing comes to pass.” [break][break]

She finally boarded the little boat, longsword re-sheathed, and flashed another broad smile to Aurelie, [break][break]

“Please believe me when I say I'd love to do this again sometime.” [break][break]

Roughing up some thugs was perhaps one of Rhea's favorite pass-times. Do have such exceptional company while she did so only made the task that much more enjoyable, [break][break]

“Thank you for the blade, and for your most wonderful company,” Rhea called with a wink as the boat's engine roared to life, “Until next time!”

[attr="class","bottom"]mission[break]
Aurelie Lefevre [break]

[attr="class","credit"] [attr="class","fas fa-cloud-moon"]