ic Viva Val Verde (IC)

[Blarghy]

"/I have heard wonderful things,//" Warne agreed.  He considered how to drop subtle hints to reinforce his character, in case Gallo had this driver questioned later for whatever reason.  Señor Chavez, he decided, would want to protect the president's privacy and avoid discussing his exact business, as a matter of professionalism.  At the same time, it seemed reasonable that he might venture a few questions about the dangers of this regime change, to a local who might have useful perspective.

 

"/Business, at least at first.  Afterward, perhaps I may enjoy the fruits of Val Verde; I am sure they are succulent.//"  He paused, put a little hesitation into his voice, and went on, "/Yes, business at the Palace.  I am in the field of security consultation, and...well, we will see what President Gallo wishes.  Such a great man, I hope he will allow me to help with the good work he continues to do.  But, ahh...tell me, my friend: I am told that for reasons no sane man can comprehend, not everyone is happy with our new President.  Some people...have been very unhappy, yes?  So much that they threaten to take uncivilized action.  Do you know anything of this?//"

 

And if you do not, then that means Gallo is good at hiding his problems, and considers it necessary to hide them.  A useful thing to know in advance. 

[Heritage]

"I'll be fine," Lynn said as she waved him off. "Anything I make out of glamour is still linked to me, which has its ups and downs; good for spying and teleportation, but bad if it takes any damage."

 

Meanwhile, Gretchen saw the Palace and began to head in that direction, swooping over the rooftops of the picturesque city. "I could be wrong," she said as she gave Sam a withering glance in the rear view mirror. "But I think 'El Presidente' left a few key points out of his letter." Peering out the window at the ground below, the snarky musician brought the improvised aircraft down for a perfect four point landing, and a visibly-impressed Lynn dismissed the shell with a wave of her hand, leaving the battered vehicle exposed on the pad.

 

"Wow, that was amazing, Gretch; I had no idea you could do that!"

 

Gretchen merely shrugged as she undid her seat belt. "Never did it before. But I played a lot of Microsoft Flight Simulator, so..."

Edited March 22, 2017 by Heritage

[Sophistemon]

@Heritage

Sam saw Gretchen's glare and found he couldn't meet it. Turning away, hiding his cowardice behind tending to Lynn, he meekly protested. "I didn't know," he said. "I'm sorry, Gretch. Lynn, I didn't know. It wasn't like this." Here was that old enemy, change, rearing its ugly head again. "We'll leave. Right now, we'll go. I can... conjure up a portal back home or something. It shouldn't take me long to work the magic, less time if you guys give me a hand with the sorcery. It's clear now that whatever Gallo wanted by asking me here, it's not worth putting you two in danger." He opened his mouth to say something else, but it was at that point the limousine was surrounded by a cadre of large men wielding large guns, all of whom began shouting in gruff Spanish. Their meaning was clear: hands up, exit the vehicle, no funny business.

 

@Blarghy

The driver laughed, then shook his head. "Only fools," he said. "Val Verde has always had its share and Perez, the old Presidente, had them wrapped around his..." he blanked on the word, then lifted one hand from the wheel and crooked his finger. "You know? Socialists. Ran the island into the ground. Gallo, he's opened us up again. Rebuilt, and built new. We have jobs now; I used to farm beans to feed mi familia, but now I drive, and people tip me, and life is good. That's thanks to Gallo. The only people who are unhappy are the ones who were rich on our taxes under Perez, who lived like kings in a system that we thought was equal. That's why you're here, yes? To drive the socialists off of the island? To protect what Gallo's building?"

Edited March 24, 2017 by Sophistemon

[Heritage]

Noting all the automatic weapons pointed in their direction, Gretchen sighed and shook her head. "We are well and truly f###ed right now."

 

But Lynn was having none of it. "Not necessarily; just let me do the talking." Holding up her hands so the guards could see them, the changeling smiled nervously and spoke in perfect Mexican Spanish.

 

"/Please don't shoot! I'm unarmed and I'm coming out!/"

 

Somewhere between opening the door and stepping out onto the helipad, Lynn had changed, or at least her outfit had; that tasteful knee-length skirt was now much shorter, her wedges had become a pair of white 3 inch pumps, and her denim blouse had taken on a more corset-like appearance. Gretchen could only roll her eyes; she suspected her girlfriend had also snuck in an inch or two of height, which probably made her what, about 5 foot 8? As RuPaul would say, she was workin' it.

 

The leggy brunette held a hand to her mouth and looked so embarrassed. And gorgeous.

 

"/Gentlemen, we are so sorry! There was a problem on the way to the Presidential Palace, and my employer, Presto the Preposterous, felt it was an ideal time to try out his amazing new illusion, 'The Flying Chariot'. We certainly didn't mean to alarm anyone or put your beloved president in any danger. In fact, we have a letter showing that President Gallo personally invited my employer, and if you'd give me but a moment, I will happily produce it for your inspection.//"

Edited April 1, 2017 by Heritage

[Blarghy]

"/We will see what the president wishes,//" Warne repeated coyly.  "/But I am delighted to hear that his efforts are so beneficial.//" 

 

So the average person isn't aware of Gallo's perilous situation.  It stands to reason; these aren't riots, but rather assassins.  Good.  Quiet trouble is better than erupting chaos; I've had to work in enough war-torn hell holes already.  This speaks well for Gallo too.  Rare, for my official reports to match closely with a regular citizen's observations.  Of course, if Gallo really is such a saint, then it raises the question of why he ever dealt with scum like Steiner. 

 

Warne leaned back and decided that he would probably never get an answer to that.  He couldn't ask Gallo, certainly, and if he spoke to Presto other than at the wizard's trial back in the United States, then something would have gone terribly wrong.  Fortunately, he could live with disappointment in this case.  Boring, uneventful disappointment where no one got shot at or had to be telekinetically flung into the ocean. 

 

Hell, that practically was a vacation. 

[Sophistemon]

@Blarghy

A short, gruff laugh burst free from the driver, who flicked the turn signal and made a slow, looping left. "I hope so," he said. "Perez... we thought we knew him. We thought we knew what was happening. Every week he'd be on the television, all smiles, wearing that stupid cap and talking about how we were the Eternal Revolution. That's what he called it. 'Things are bad now,' he'd say all the time, 'But we'll keep fighting, and eventually we'll win!' It was all nothing, just his excuse to keep funneling money into the army and his secret police. The only thing we fought was our own hunger and too many of us failed while Perez got rich and partied with the foreign criminals that funded what our taxes couldn't." He reached over, hit the button to lower the window and spit out onto the street. "President Gallo, though -- General Gallo, then..." The driver chuckled. "When he realized what was going on all that money Perez gave the army to keep him safe... it wasn't even a fight." The driver beamed and used the rear-view mirror to look back at the agent. "He just told Perez to leave, and he did."

 

@Heritage

The guns came up, rising in practiced hands to find their target, but the shouting stopped. These men were professionals, hardened military bodyguards dedicated to protecting their general-turned-President. Of course, Lynn's charms weren't lost on them, and she faced the lecherous scrutiny of more than one pair of wandering eyes. Some of the men perked at the mention of Presto the Preposterous, having served back in the day when his visits to the island were a regular occurrence. "The magician is here?" one asked, gun steady. "Show him, with the letter." This man, apparently the leader, then used an elbow to nudge his comrade. "Radio H-Q and tell them we have company. Find out if Gallo really sent for them."

 

Within the limousine, along with a shocked and shivering driver, Samuel shared a look with Gretchen smiled wanly. "It'll be okay," he whispered. "I promise; I won't let anything happen." He closed his eyes, concentrated, and his clothes rippled around his body, re-configuring themselves into his classic costume. A silver-eyed domino mask appeared on his face, and his crimson waistcoat practically glowed in the muted sunlight. White-gloved hands lowered the window and waved. "It's true!" he called out. "Just a spot of turbulence, really -- we're a bit shaken up!"

[Heritage]

Ah, the male gaze! Lynn was quite familiar with it, and of course had been so for years. As a creature made of glamour, and therefore the stuff of dreams and legends, she had complete control of her appearance and what story she wanted it to tell. Sometimes you wanted to be the Little Match Girl, and thus completely ignored, and other times (like now), you wanted to be dead center in the spotlight with a lot of pizazz.

 

But any performer worth their salt knew there was a time to be a solo performer and a time to share the stage, and in the story they were telling today (with much frenzied improvisation), the true star was Presto the Preposterous and his triumphant return to Val Verde. And in this story, Lynn's role was quite clear: the lovely assistant to the great conjurer himself.

 

(Gretchen's role...well, that was still unclear.)

 

"/Ah, it is good to hear that the incomparable Presto is not so soon forgotten on the island he so dearly loves! I cannot describe the joy he felt upon receiving the letter from your president, after so many years away. A chance to once again walk your sunny streets and wander your colorful markets; a chance to once again come home!//"

 

With a dramatic flourish, Lynn opened the door so Samuel could step out and make his grand entrance. Meanwhile, Gretch slumped down in the front seat and tried to disappear.

Edited April 1, 2017 by Heritage

[Blarghy]

"/A wise decision for Perez,//" Warne agreed lightly.  He had to commend Gallo for his bloodless transition; even now, Warne wouldn't give the man praise for seizing power, regardless of his motives or progress now, but Warne had seen too many violent regime changes to fail to appreciate this smoothness. 

 

After that, he didn't have much left to say.  The driver had given him plenty to think about, and hopefully Warne had laid good groundwork for his cover story.  Now he just had the small task of finding and stopping a rogue magician, along with only God knew how many hired killers. 

 

Maybe Gallo should have thought harder about his request to Perez.  Exile causes problems that a cell could've prevented. 

[Sophistemon]

@Heritage

Sam whispered a bit of self-encouragement and stepped free of the car, long legs stretching as he emerged into the light. He was dressed resplendently, black Italian suit over a crimson waistcoat and spotless white undershirt. His white-gloved hands fluttered like doves as he waved at the assembled guards, his pearly teeth flashing as he smiled that disarming grin of his. "Buenos dias!" he called, his pronunciation only slightly off, in a way that might have been intentionally innocent. He rolled a hand and his top-hat appeared, bursting out of the air with a soft, audible pop. He placed it slowly on his head and spun in a lazy circle. "Good afternoon, my friends!" He motioned towards the limousine and the softly sobbing driver. "Don't mind all this," he encouraged. "It's just a trick we've been working on to get us out of traffic jams." His silver eyes burned in the mask, reflecting the sun like a mirror. "Believe me, comrades, we mean you know harm. Behold!" He rolled up the arms of his suit, one after the other, to reveal the bare arms beneath -- though the left wrist bore a rather battered watch. "Nothing up my sleeves!" He laughed, a deep throaty chuckle. "I have to say, I've missed this place. There's nowhere in all the world like Val Verde!"

 

@Blarghy

The driver hummed to himself for a while as they made their way through the winding streets of Puerto Rojo, but then uttered a slight grunt of annoyance. Warne looked up, peered through the windshield, and saw the cause of the other man's disgruntlement. There, before them, was a military cordon. Sharply-dressed Val Verdean soldiers had established a checkpoint, and were stopping every vehicle that attempted to approach the city center. The driver, to his credit, reached to the dashboard and disabled the taximeter. "My apologies, senor," he said. "This happens sometimes. As I said, not everyone likes what Gallo's doing." He drummed his fingers against the steering wheel and awaited their turn. Eventually, a soldier approached, clipboard in one hand, the other resting on the holster at his hip.

 

"Papers," he chuffed, voice bored. He peered into the back seat, spotted Warne, and smiled beneath his mustache. "You too, amigo. Passport."

Edited April 9, 2017 by Sophistemon

[Heritage]

When Sam stepped out of the limo, the very image of the consumate performer, Lynn stood to one and did her best Vanna White, a warm and pearly smile on her face as she gestured towards Presto, though she did take a moment to bring her 'employer' back down to Earth.

 

"They need to see the letter, boss, to see that you're on the up and up!"

 

At this point, Gretch just wanted to get out of the damn limo and get shot, but she didn't want to throw off the tale her boss and Sam were spinning.

 

-So what is my role in all this?-

 

-You are...the technician, the brilliant yet surly head electrician in charge of all of Presto's special effects.-

 

-Great. Typecasting.-

 

-Sorry, hon, it's the best I could come up with on short notice!-

 

-It's all good. I could play this role in my sleep.-

 

The passenger side window powered down, and a young woman wearing a pair of goggles and a mildly annoyed expression poked her head out. "Can I come out now? I have to pee, and I'd hate to do it in El Presidente's car."

Edited May 19, 2017 by Heritage

[Blarghy]

Honestly, Warne expected checkpoints earlier, so this wasn't a surprise, much less an unpleasant one.  Without any fear, he handed over his fake identification.  AEGIS wouldn't give him subpar documents, so if he ran into trouble here, then it would mark a conspiracy against him.

 

And this is a terrible place to set a trap anyway.  If Gallo or his enemies know who I am and intend to stop me, then they will wait until I am better contained at the palace, to keep me from simply peeling this car open and flying away.  Although if someone plans to embarrass AEGIS, then a public place with many witnesses and potential civilian injuries could be ideal...

 

He smiled and nodded at the soldier, hiding his thoughts behind a practiced mask.

[Sophistemon]

@Blarghy

The soldier looked over the passport, turning it this way and that in the bright tropical sun, before handing it back through the window. "Everything seems to be in order," he said. "Welcome to Val Verde, senor Chavez. Are you here for business or pleasure?" The driver sighed and began to drum his fingers against the steering wheel. He had turned off the taximeter, and was now committed to losing money until they were once again underway.

 

@Heritage

Presto nodded, grinning that winning grin. "Of course!" he reassured her. "No problemo. Gentlemen, watch here." He motioned with both hands, then snapped the fingers of his right. The letter, a slip of folded paper, appeared with a brief pop. The guards stirred, surprised, but smiled. Some even clapped, and Sam's smile widened in response to the attention. He handed the letter to the lead guard, who opened it and read. His posture shifted, and he held the paper to the sun to check for watermarks before handing it back. "Everything seems to be in order," he said. "Welcome back to Val Verde, senor Steiner. Come, we'll get you settled in and alert El Presidente to your arrival." He motioned to the car, and a few of the guards holstered their weapons and removed the luggage from the trunk. One of them passed a bundle of brightly colored currency to the driver, whose face brightened enormously.

 

"That's too kind of you," said Sam, but he didn't discourage the treatment. He looked to the girls and winked. "See?" he asked them. "Didn't I tell you this place was great?"

[Blarghy]

Privately frustrated at having this conversation a second time (the cab driver wasn't the only one on the clock), Warne still maintained his smile.  "/Business,//" he said.  "/I am to meet with the good President Gallo, if his schedule permits.  I am sure he is very busy, bringing peace and prosperity to this lovely country.  In that way, I suppose my visit must be pleasure as well; who can come to Val Verde and not feel the freedom of a leisurely vacation?//"

 

Now get the hell out of my way so I can catch a wizard and go home already.

[Heritage]

"It would a whole lot nicer if there weren't so many machine guns around," Lynn whispered through her radiant smile as she opened the passenger side door and helped her girlfriend out of the limo.

 

"Assault rifles," Gretchen reflexively corrected; the FPS veteran took these sorts of distinctions very seriously.

 

"Whatever; let's just get inside." She smiled and thanked the soldiers in her perfect Spanish, while discretely dropping a single glamoured coffee bean inside the limo; it would provide a potential link back to the vehicle if they needed to teleport out of the Palace, and could be used as a bug if need be. "So, Sam, let's go meet your friend."

Edited October 23, 2017 by Heritage

[Sophistemon]

@Heritage

While most of the guards stayed behind to assist the taxi driver with removing his recently enchanted vehicle from the finely-kept lawn of the Presidential Palace, the Captain motioned and two others walked with the vacationing magicians. The Captain led the group, but the two others carried the luggage and fell behind, their fingers flexing in anticipation of trouble. Presto the Preposterous was a beloved figure on Val Verde, a friend of both the current and former President, but he was still a criminal, and his associates -- although lovely -- were unknown. It was better to be safe than sorry. Presto, for his part, was flicking his eyes back and forth as they walked, noting the change in scenery. The interior of the Palace was oddly bare, and here and there the walls had discolorations that marked the previous presence of artwork or photographs. Samuel leaned toward Lynn and whispered. "There were paintings," he said. "All along this hallway." He pointed a gloved finger up, at a utilitarian recessed ceiling lamp. "And chandeliers. Crystal ones. What's happened here?"

 

@Blarghy

The soldier smiled. "Aha!" he said. "You know the right things to say. That will serve you well with Gallo; he likes a smooth-talker." He reached and gave the car a gentle thump, to alert the driver. "Go on, now. Welcome to Val Verde, senor. Enjoy your stay, but keep out of trouble. I'd hate to have to meet you again under less pleasant circumstances." He took a step back as the driver brought the engine to life, and stared at Warne through the rear window as the taxi pulled away. The driver, to his credit, didn't grumble about the lost revenue.

 

"They do a good job," he said, referring to the soldiers. "Gallo, he is like a father to them. They'd follow him barefoot into Hell -- and he'd lead them back out again." The driver was smiling. "You have come to the island at a good time, senor. Things are changing, getting better. It's not perfect, but nothing is. There will come a day when Val Verde's history is just that, history, and people will respect what we have done to move past it and better ourselves."

[Blarghy]

"Then I only hope I can contribute my small part," Warne claimed.  All these sweet words were giving him toothaches.  He lit another cigarette to get his fix before they arrived; these waiting periods were the hardest part.  Well, at least until people started getting shot. 

[Heritage]

"Regime changes can be very weird and scary things," Lynn murmured as she matched Sam's stride, somewhat easier to do with her current added height. "You give a man power, there's no way of knowing what he'll do with it. You may not even recognize the man you once knew." The whole time, the changeling was doing her best to memorize faces and gestures she might have to borrow later, taking particular note of anyone in her weight class. She was also looking for possible escape routes, especially any windows that looked over any rooftops or courtyards.

 

For her part, Gretchen was trying to get a handle on the local tech level, including the age and state of any wiring, lighting and visible security equipment; she might have to rig something on the fly, and liked to have at least some idea of what she had to work with here.

 

-You know we're going to have to shoot our way out of here at some point.-

 

-Definitely getting that vibe, yeah.-

 

-For the record, l like Sam well enough, but if I have to choose between you and him-

 

-I know.-

 

-He's the one who brought us into this death trap.-

 

-I know. But also remember I was dumb enough to agree to it.-

 

-I am painfully aware of that fact.-

[Sophistemon]

@Heritage

Samuel was silent for a moment, while they walked. Several steps passed while he considered her words, and his own. "People... change," he said. "But Gallo's a friend. He... deserves a fair shot, doesn't he?" Lynn noticed they were being led along a straightforward path from the building's exterior to its innermost guts. They passed the entryways into branching halls and several large and well-cleaned windows that could be used for an impromptu exit should such a thing become necessary. The building didn't seem to be very heavily protected. There were a few guards posted here and there, and she couldn't sense the presence of any magical wards. She thought that, if they needed to, there wouldn't be much Gallo could do to prevent them leaving. Gretchen, on the other hand, must have been clucking her mind's tongue at the truly abysmal state of Val Verdean technological advancement. Not much seems to have changed since the mid-1970s, in terms of the technology she could see, or guess at. Gallo's revitalization campaign must have been more of an economic one, though of course gutting an entire nation's outdated technology and replacing it with newer models would cost a great deal of money... money that the island might not be able to spare at present.

 

@Blarghy

The driver dropped Warne off at a guard post some short distance outside of the grounds surrounding the Presidential Palace. He assisted his client with his bag, was paid, and left the scene without an overabundance of fuss. The guards then checked Warne's credentials, further annoyed him by asking similar questions to those he had already answered, and then regretfully informed him that, as President Gallo was currently hosting foreign guests, he would be unavailable to discuss matters of state security until the following day -- at the earliest. "Sorry, sir," said one guard. "These things happen. The State is prepared to set you up with a room in Val Verde's finest hotel as compensation for the delay." He looked at the Agent of AEGIS with an expression of bureaucratic neutrality.

Edited May 19, 2017 by Sophistemon
What edit?

[Heritage]

The two heroines silently compared notes, and both came to an agreement: physically escaping from the Presidential Palace, indeed from the entire island itself, should not prove to be difficult, unless the president or his enemies had secret supers or tech hidden out of sight, which was still a possibility. The one kink might be getting Sam out as well, mostly due to loyalty to his friend.

 

-We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.-

 

-And I hope we never do!-

 

-Agreed.- 

 

In response to Sam's question, Lynn vigorously nodded. "Oh, absolutely! I'm trying very hard not to judge, and hope we get a good explanation once we meet him. I hope he's still the same friend you once knew."

 

The lovely changeling took the conjurer's arm in hers, and gave him hand an encouraging little squeeze, easily keeping pace with him while Gretchen occasionally had to hustle to catch up.

 

-Just how many inches did you add?-

 

-Three, plus the heels.-

 

-You harlot.- 

 

-Yep!-

Edited May 19, 2017 by Heritage

[Blarghy]

Inside his head, Warne shook with fury.  Not only was he met with even more delays, he also just knew that these "foreign guests" were Steiner and his patsies.  That damned wizard beat him here, and if Steiner could read the mood of this country as well as Warne, then he'd know to move quickly with his robbery--or even assassination, if Becker was right.  But what could Warne do?  Tempted as he was to sneak back onto palace grounds and try monitoring Gallo secretly, that was a very high-risk plan.  Better to fail this mission than cause a huge international incident by being caught in such a way. 

 

He'd simply have to risk it.  Hopefully Gallo could survive on his own for another day, and in the mean time, Warne could still get some work done.

 

So, he smiled and nodded to the guard.  "Of course, of course, I understand.  Now I have a little time to enjoy the beauty of Val Verde!  Who could be upset at such a thing?" 

 

Assuming that directions were provided and his hosts had nothing further to say, Warne would then be on his way to his hotel.  It fit his cover and was as good a place to start as any.

[Sophistemon]

@Blarghy

The short trip to Warne's hotel was uneventful, and the room itself was simple but clean -- immaculately so, in a way that implied someone had taken pride in their work. An open window allowed the summer sun to stream inside, coating the walls with a warm buttery glow. It was accompanied by the alluring scents of salt, sand, and surf. There was a television, old and boxy, on a cabinet, a painting of a seaside sunset on the wall, and a Bible next to a lamp on the bedside table. The bed itself was a twin, and freshly made. A closet faced the bathroom. It looked, and felt, like most every middle-class hotel room that he'd ever been. It wasn't a dive, but neither was it anything to write home about in terms of luxuries. There was a phone on the wall, and pinned next to it was a list of numbers he might find useful. An emergency contact number, the front desk, room-service, assorted take-out restaurants, and the rest. The agent held his suitcase in one hand and, in the other, he held an actual honest-to-God key to the room. Val Verde, it appeared, hadn't yet made the move to keycards.

 

@Heritage

Sam returned the gesture, and smiled slightly. "If not," he said. "We leave. If there's more to this than we're hoping, we're gone in a flash. I won't let Gallo put either of you in danger." It was then, at the mention of the man in question, that he appeared. Turning a corner, white teeth beaming out from behind a bushy black beard, the President of Val Verde stood before him. He looked almost exactly as he had in the photo Sam had shown them, as though the intervening years hadn't yet managed to catch up to him. Life as the leader of an island nation appeared to be good for your health -- until it wasn't.

 

"Samuel?" he asked, saying the name in a way that came out sam-well. And then, more assuredly: "Samuel! Presto the Preposterous, in the flesh! I know you'd make an entrance, old friend, but I didn't think you'd fly a car into my courtyard! You almost gave my head of security a heart-attack; he was ready to send out the helicopters! They're expensive, you know." He chuckled, then motioned for the guards to give them space as he approached. "God, I've missed you. When I heard what happened those years ago, my heart ached for you. So unfair, to be caught with your pants down like that. Better luck next time, eh?" Then, finally, he seemed to become aware of Lynn and Gretchen. "Are these your guests? Where did you find such, ah, statuesque beauties?" The smile returned, and he held out a hand for either one of the women to take. "It's fantastic to meet you! I welcome you all to Val Verde."

[Heritage]

At the sight of Gallo, Lynn put a hand to her chest and smiled warmly...warm enough to brown toast at ten paces. She switched to mellifluous Spanish as she extended her had to Sam's friend, palm side down in case he was old-fashioned.

 

"/Mister President, my name is Lynn Epstein; it is such an honor to meet you! Our darling Samuel has told us so much about you that I feel like we're family!//"  The changeling took in the palace with a sweep of her hand. "/Everything here is so beautiful; you must be so proud to have done so much for your country!//"

 

Meanwhile Gretchen merely cleared her throat and held up a hand. "I'm Gretchen. I just change the fuses when they blow out."

Edited June 5, 2017 by Heritage

[Blarghy]

"Hm," Warne said, running his thumb over the little metal piece.  He had to admit, this place wasn't bad.  He usually stayed in nicer rooms than this back in the States, but still, this was the kind of cozy piece of paradise that most people yearned to retire to.  On the other hand, Warne hated the idea of retirement, and in any case, he was still on the clock.

 

He had a look at the list of numbers, going down the page in search of possible leads.  It occurred to the agent that Val Verde, formerly being a haven for wealthy criminals, probably had the sorts of facilities that such people typically enjoyed.  Expensive restaurants, nightclubs, maybe casinos and brothels, and so on--places to spend lots of money, often on questionable pursuits.  If they existed, then these places also probably suffered under the change in leadership; the common Val Verdian might be better off now thanks to Gallo, but that didn't put them in the same league as former rich foreign patrons.  Maybe Warne could scout them out in search of disgruntled citizens, who could in turn lead him to any troublemakers.  If he was especially lucky, then Gallo's would-be-assassins might be using their old favorite haunts as a base of operation.  He doubted this would get him closer to Presto, but he already knew where the wizard was probably lurking, and this secondary approach would help pass the time.

 

Unless the list by the phone was thorough enough to already give him what he needed, the spy left his luggage--excluding anything that might seem suspicious if ransacked, although Warne really shouldn't be carrying items that might compromise his cover anyway--and went downstairs to ask for some directions. 

[Sophistemon]

@Heritage

President Gallo melted like butter before Lynn's undeniable grace, his smile widening behind his bushy black beard. He reached forward and took her hand softly in his own. It was a large, rough-palmed paw of a limb, scarred by years of labor... but he held her gently. He shook her hand warmly, but did not kiss it. He was either unfamiliar with the practice, or familiar enough to know it had fallen out of style among the more liberated young ladies. /"I hope he's told you only the good things,"/ Gallo responded. /"Ah, but I joke; they're all good things."/ He looked about, taking in the interior of the Presidential Palace, then shrugged. /"This country has done more for me than I could ever repay,"/ he explained. /"But, in my own little way, I try."/ He then turned to Gretchen. /"And hello to you also,"/ he said. /"I know your type; you think the island won't get to you, that you won't enjoy yourself. You will; everyone does -- that's the magic of this place, and why I love it like I do. Everyone loves Val Verde."/ He smiled, warmly, and spread his arms. "Come!" he said, almost shouting. "You've traveled a long way and you must be tired, hungry, and thirsty above all. Presto, I already know what you'll have -- the same every time! But my cooks were standing by just in case you brought company, and so you have. Come! Let us be merry, then we can catch up on old times."

 

@Blarghy

The bubbly young woman behind the front desk had lips just a little too red and hair just a little too high, but she seemed friendly enough. "Hello, sir!" she chirped, her English heavy with an islander accent. "Is your room to your liking? What can I help you with today?"

[Blarghy]

Warne waved away the assistant's language choice and replied in upbeat Spanish.  "/The room is wonderful, simply wonderful.  I could stay until my final days, but first, I think I would like to see more of Val Verde.  My business has been postponed, so I wish to make the most of my time and enjoy your beautiful island.  But where should I start?  Can you recommend any entertainment for my evening?//"

 

He aimed for a light touch here.  Too specific of an inquiry might call unwanted attention, so the agent hoped that his nice suit, traditional accent of Spain, and general foreignness would bring this woman to the conclusion he wanted.