Pistachio # 22, Strawberry # 13, Cookies 'N Cream # 15
Story: Virago
Title: Agent Devlin
Prompts: Pistachio # 22 Caught Off Guard, Strawberry # 13 Smoke, Cookies 'N Cream #15 Throw
Rating: PG13
Characters: Georgiana Devlin, Lady Sutherland,
Summary: Another set up piece. This is when Lady Sutherland makes Georgiana's position on the mission official, much to Georgiana's confusion and dismay.
Author's Note: Sorry this post looks so crazy. Kaitygirl and I tried to fixed for a really long time. Hope it isn't too bad...
Georgiana had been given the choice between two leftover guest cabins, Lady Sutherland obviously got the more spacious one, and the choice between the two was an easy one for her. Georgiana immediately chose the room farthest away from the deck. She had listened to the conversations of pirates and analyzed their behavior patterns her whole MPIS career, but never once had she set foot on a pirate ship or even spoken to a legitimate pirate herself. It was a day of firsts. She resisted the urge to fall onto the neatly made up bed and never get up. Maybe choosing the room that would effectively put her out of the way of interacting with the crew was a bad idea. From a research point of view, it was a excellent opportunity. And it wasn't as if they were real pirates, they were just privateers. Essentially government sanctioned pirates, pirates that MPIS wasn't allowed to touch.
Georgiana briefly considered staying in the room closest to the deck too, until she had met some of the crew. First, she met Captain Thomasin, who wrote her off as useless. It was a slight blow to her pride. Useless was the last thing she ever wanted to be. Georgiana had received that look over Thomasin gave her upon their meeting before, from one particular co-worker who shall remain nameless because she never failed to inspire an angry internal tirade. It was a blow but one she could recover from, until she met another member of the crew, a Grace Clare Downs, who pointedly and straight to her face called her a fob.
Georgiana shuddered at the insult even now. A fob was the derogatory name pirates had for members of the nobility. Its also the name of the chain that hooked onto a person's pocket watch to their vest. In hindsight wearing her pocket watch with the chain was a very bad idea, but it wasn't like it was a conscious decision she had made when she had put it on. Grabbing the chain she yanked it out of her vest pocket and quickly released the clasp hold the two items together. Finally, she chucked it in the garbage without another thought. She didn't care what this crew thought of her, but that didn't mean she wanted to instigate any more confrontations in the future. Georgiana was starting to unpack when there was a loud knock on the cabin door.
“Come in.” she called out as she was pushing her heavy trunk, the one with her tools, prototypes, and work related devices, next to the desk that was set up in the corner of the room.
“Hello Ms. Devlin.” Lady Sutherland's stepped into the room, looking as official outside of the office as she did when she was inside the office. The only notable difference was that she had in one hand a newly lit cigar and a large folder in the other. The smoke and smell from the cigar wafted over of where Georgiana was standing and she struggled to prevent herself from making a face. “I see you have begun to get settled in.”
“Yes ma'am.” Georgiana said, with automatic obedience. Lady Sutherland stepped closer and handed the large folder in her hand to Georgiana. Georgiana held the folder for a couple seconds, waiting for any direction from the Lady. Upon realizing that there were none she quickly opened the folder. Her eyes widened and she felt her breathe stop in the chest. Inside the folder, sitting on top of a thick paged pocket book, was the official badge of an MPIS Agent. Georgiana ran her fingers on the outline of the crest of Myridia in the middle of the metal badge, unable to truly believe that she was holding it. When she looked up at Lady Sutherland it was with a look of pure disbelief.
“You have been promoted to agent.” Lady Sutherland explained. “We couldn't have you out doing field work without the promotion. You now have all the authority and diplomatic immunity that goes along with it.”
“You're giving me this badge so I can exercise the authority of my position on a ship of pirates.” Georgiana clarified skeptically. While she was flattered and ecstatic about the promotion, the crew of this ship wasn't going find her being a Myridian Pirate Agency Service Agent an asset in any capacity. If anything, it would only serve make the situation worse.
“Pardon?” Lady Sutherland's voice was almost menacing. This was obviously not the reaction she was expecting. Georgiana paused for a moment, taking the time to consider changing her chosen course. She decided against it.
“Please excuse my frankness on the subject my lady.” Georgiana said politely, hoping to sound less abrasive than before. “I am deeply honored by your decision to promote me to agent, however, the crew of the Harpy may find having an agent on board disconcerting.”
“They already know that an agent is on board. I told the Captain earlier, and I imagine that she has filled in her crew.”
Georgiana struggled with the rise of irritation inside of herself. Well, no wonder the crew was less than thrilled when she arrived. Deciding to drop the subject all together, Georgiana picked up the book. It also had the crest of Myridia on its cover and, when she flipped through it, the crest was watermarked on each page. It was an agent's bank book. It allowed an agent to withdrawal or transfer governmental funds from a Bank of Myridia on any of the islands of the Empire. It was practically impossible to forge and even harder to use because of all the hoops one had to jump through to get the funds. It was also the most important resource an agent could have, as it allowed the agent to have access to an unlimited, well almost unlimited, amount of money to use in during their fieldwork.
“I would suggest that you use that only when you are in need of it.” Lady Sutherland advised. “The agency frowns upon the use of government funds for things that are not necessary. As for your duties, I would like you to continue doing what you do best: tracking and analyzing pirate behaviors and travel patterns. Your specific target, as you may have guessed already, is Captain Silas M. Touzel. Inside the folder is the mission manifesto. Read up.”
“I understand.” Short and obedient were the answers that the Lady liked the best, and Georgiana knew well to supply those now. Her job and future was connected to the opinions of this one woman, and Georgiana would not forget it. What this crew of Viragos thought of her mattered very little. This was only a two week mission, but it would be the pathway that lead to the rest of her life, if she could do her job expertly and prove to Lady Sutherland that was worthy of her the trust she had placed in her. Lady Sutherland nodded and walked back to the door. Before she exited she turned and looked back at Georgiana.
“Oh yes, you are also instructed to overlook any...” she paused for a second before continuing, “less than legal activities that may occur while this mission is conducted.”
Georgiana nodded and Lady Sutherland left the room. Georgiana sighed loudly and bent over to resume moving her trunk. The sooner she got her equipment unpacked and set up, the sooner she could get to work.