Quoted By:
"Sure, whatever." The Handler laughs off the warning before hanging up.
Suppose you couldn't expect much given how you aren't super knowledgeable about her either. Time to make a few phone calls. You hop out of bed and rush to the bathroom to take another hot shower before all of the hot water is frozen rock solid. You were too late, so the water was beyond ice cold, but fuck it. No time to complain. At least you SHOWER.
After hopping out and trying to dry yourself and dress yourself at the same time with telekinesis, you start dialing up some of your allies. First up, Ashley. The moment she picks up, you can already hear her mumbling to herself about 'not another god damn week long mission".
"Look, I really can't miss practice today, can we do this some other time-"
"Not actually hiring you!" You try your best to comfort her. "I actually got an offer. M-Company is apparently looking for some musicians. Maybe your band would like it? 2-222-195-2190-4421. That's the number."
The line goes silent for a moment and you thought she hung up on you but you're shocked to hear a giddy, girlish squeak coming out of Ashley. "How the f-fuck did you get that number? They only send those things out in Volcadera Bluff Monthly and, shit, I can't afford those mags. H-how?"
"What, is it that important?"
"I-I, look, no time to explain. Thank you. T-this, fuck, I." She sounds like she's on the verge of tears. "I'll call you later. I gotta tell the others about this." The line abruptly hangs up. <span class="mu-g">Well, at least you brightened up her day a bit.</span>
Next up, Benjamin and Max. You just call one of their numbers at random, if you know anything about those two they're probably together. Doing unspeakable things. Ugh.
Max is the one to pick up this time. You thank the Gods of the City that they're not in the middle of something personal. You can make out a buncha chattering and silverware clinking over the line alongside some classical sounding music. Almost reminds you of the music playing back at Sugar Mountain. "Hm? Who's this? I don't recognize the number."
"I-" You try to answer but you're immediately interrupted by a smug cackle.
"C'mon, I know who you are. Long time no see, Nolnol." You make a guttural, visceral hiss of disgust at that nickname. "PFFT! C'mon! Lighten up. What's the deal? Huh? Huh? C'mon."
"wait are you talking to Nicole?" You barely hear Benjamin's voice in the background.
"Well, I'm hiring you two on a mission. To find Valentina Vanni."
"Oh." Max's normally smugly upbeat, boyish voice immediately drops a dozen octaves upon hearing that name. "To kill her? Yeah. I'm more than fine with doing that. Right up my alley." Huh, does she have some sort of bad blood with her?
"No, no, to find out what happened to her. She's gone missing. Poof. Vanished. Apparently because she was going into some sort of W-Company mine."
"Huh? Disappeared? No wonder why she hasn't been around lately." Max clicks her tongue. "Anything else?"
