In her English class that day, Alice couldn't focus. Somebody had taken her brass, her tools, and damn near her mind.
I need my materials if I'm going to stay sane. If I can't get these ideas out of my head, I'm going to overflow... Alice thought, her eyes focused on her target. The rumor mill had been churning while she'd been sleeping, and one particular rumor had piqued her interest, especially given the situation.

The rumor said that a tan girl with blonde hair could find things. Things nobody else could find, and things that people wanted. Sex toys, booze, books, information, according to the girl she'd asked, this woman could get anything.

If she could corner this girl, and strike a deal with her, Alice could be supplied in materials for the forseeable future.

Emilla isn't just terribly hard to find, as there aren't many girls like her around the campus. Right now, in fact, she's lying in the common room, on a couch, upside down with a book in her hands. Her feet are up in the air against the wall while she lies on the couch reading. Sometimes she has get in some odd positions in order to be comfortable. She's wearing her usual clothes, jean shorts and a tanktop, nothing too fancy at all.

Returning to the dorm after her last class, Alice went to the common room, to read, and to listen to the other students as they gossiped.

The witch noticed that an odd girl was laying with her feet in the air, and her head near the floor. This girl matched the description Alice had of the scrounger.

Sitting on the couch, Alice serrupticiously slid a note down the student's shirt. The note would read as follows:

I am Alice. I heard of your certain... Capabilities, and wish to make you an offer.
Come to my room, number (@"&$) and knock twice, at around nine. We can discuss business
when you arrive. Please don't be too late.
Alice

Emilla blinks as the note is slide down her shirt, her book lifted so she can peer first at her shirt and then at the girl who had done so. She frowns for a moment and, placing her book aside, she pulls the note out and reads it. Finally she nods her head and tucks the slip of paper into her book. Not a word is said as she heads towards her own room to waste a bit of time.

And of course, precisely at nine, she knocks on the door, twice.

Alice, who'd been napping lightly, started at the knocking. Exactly twice. Alice checked the clock, noting that it was nine.

Alice answered the door, her hair messy as usual. Her goggles had slipped down her face and hung around her neck like a necklace.

Smiling sweetly, she looked at the tan blonde, and said "Ah, please, come in. I'll make some tea, and we can talk."

Opening the door fully, Alice walked into the kitchen, and set her kettle on the stove. Preparing two cups, she placed two pouches of Earl Grey tea in each.

"As you know, my name is Alice. Would you mind sharing yours?" Alice asked anxiously.

A smile is given to the woman when the door is opened. "Tea, yes." she says, stepping inside and closing the door behind herself. She moves to set herself down on the couch, leaning back and looking at Alice as she prepares the tea. "Emilla." she answers. "And you have a most interesting way of attracting my attention. Most people come to visit me in my room, not that I mind coming here.

Alice set the two teacups on two saucers, and placed them on the coffee table that sat in front of the couch. There were two sugar cubes on the saucer she had set where she wanted Emilla to sit.

"Ah, my way of getting your attention puts me at a mild, if not negligible, advantage. This is my 'home court' as it were, and should our dealings turn... Difficult, I know where almost everything is in here." Alice sipped her tea, and waved her hand at the open seat on the couch. "Please, take a seat. I prefer to talk business in a slightly relaxed environment." Alice giggled softly to herself, noting for the first time that the woman in her room was very pretty. Not the icy beauty that Kanoe had, but that beautiful that says "No, I'm not wearing make-up. Why should I?" and cute in a way that says "I'm fun, and I can blow your mind."

Alice waited for the young woman to take a seat, unleashing her mana field. No reaction. This woman didn't have a drop of magick in her. Closing her field again, Alice shifted in her seat.

Emilla settles herself down on the couch, leaning back and stretching just a little. "That's true, though I don't think it's quite the advantage you might think it is darlin." She smiles sweetly and lifts her teacup and saucer. She studies the tea for a moment before dropping the two cubes in and stirring the liquid. "I mean, I can deal with things anywhere really, nature of the business and all." She falls silent for a moment to take a sip of her tea. "Speaking of business, just what is it that I can do for you my dear?"

"Some very important things that I had with me when I boarded the plane are missing. I want you to help me get them back. I have a trait you might find very... Helpful, given your reputation, and I'm willing to offer my 'services' in exchange for your assistance." Alice listed off her missing tools, and finally ended the list with 'an exorbitant amount of brass'. "Now then, I'm certain you want to know exactly what it is I'm offering. I am capable of unlocking most things. Doing what you do, the time spent picking a lock is precious, and the more time you have, the easier your job is, no? My ability is far cleaner, and much less noticeable than a lockpick. As I see it, we can benefit each other by working together. Does this sound good?" Alice sipped her tea, looking Emilla directly in the eye as she drank.

Emilla lifts her eyebrows as she listens to the rather extensive little list. "That is..quite the selection." she says. "And that certainly won't be easy to get, you realize. Or even find. Most likely, I'd never find your things. Probably gone." she says with a shrug. She takes another sip from her tea and seems to think for a moment. "I might could find a few things that would fit the bill though...maybe." She looks towards Alice and offers a smile. "As for your ability to pick locks...perhaps...perhaps. The sort of things that I do, having more than me along worries me. What if you gave me away?"

"Good though your point is, I can't offer much else. I'm not asking to be taken along, mind you. I'm more suggesting a... Partnership. You search one place, I search another, we both get paid, and whoever we're finding stuff for gets their stuff twice as soon. Unless you'd rather have something else?" Alice asked, a serious expression on her face.

Emilla tilts her head. "A...partnership?" she asks. "Perhaps..though you know what I do isn't exactly safe. Keeping it quiet for one thing.." She trails off and rubs the side of her face. "Perhaps.." She offers the other woman a smile then. "I could trade you things for favors, if I find any of the items you're looking for while I'm out and about. I just might want you to help me get into a few places. Of course, there might be some things you find that I would want."

"Of course what you do is dangerous, especially in a place like this. With a body like yours." Alice smiled. "Oops, I said that out loud." Alice said sarcastically. "I would be willing to do certain favors, depending on the value of what I get in return." Alice stood up, and walked over to Emilla. "For example, I break into a prefect's room for something. What would I get?" Alice draped her arms over the woman. "If, let's say, I was stealing some 'contraband'?" Alice whispered into her ear.

Emilla lofts an eyebrow as the woman approaches her like that, making such comments. She tilts her head back, looking up at Alice and merely squirming a little as those arms are draped over her. "That depends on what you bring out. You break into a prefect's room and steal a few pencils, I don't think you're going to get much of a reward." she says, leaning forwards to set her teacup down before she settles back once more, her hands lifting to grasp Alice's hips. "Now, contraband? Well..you might can offer it in a trade with me..."

"Breaking in, stealing. Such strong terms for what you and I would actually be doing. We're simply taking back that which was taken from us, no? In return for finding it, we get compensated. That seems to be a lot more... Civil." Alice giggled a little, bringing her hand to Emilla's face, a small amount of electric mana flowing out. Enough to tingle, not to hurt. "Now then, how about I give you a down payment for my favor? After all, I'm not asking for your usual booze and toys. Such materials should be hard to find, you said so yourself. So, in lieu of proper payment, perhaps I give you something a bit more... Carnal? Would you appreciate that?" Alice said, nipping at Emilla's ear, licking just behind it a little.