Shuffling through the streets, Spook made his way downtown. After having received orders from his superiors, he already had headed out right away. There was a small rather impactful exchange between himself and Gilberd, a crewmate, that caused this energized movement. His goal was simple, obtain the floor plans of a building. The details, they were difficult. The building in question was the building where a very important ball was going to be held. Not this night, nor the next - but one that was coming soon. Strong figures of the underworld were going to meet at the ball, figures like his captain and the head of an organized mob.

So the task that Spook had at hand was all laid out for him, written on a dirty napkin late at night. An address was described on the napkin. Playtime, as he was nicknamed by one of his crewmates, made it a point to be unnoticed - stealth was of vital importance for this mission. The enemy musn't find out that they knew where the ball was, and even if they did, they also musn't find out that the floor plans had been leaked. Why? Because of a strategic advantage. Not only that, Spook aimed to acquire a valid invitation to the ball. So he could be there before the action starts. This, again, was important due to the strategic advantage. Based off of this task, Spook and his crew will gain two massive advantages over their prior situation. Before headed into the mentioned street, Spook bought four loaves of bread, and a packet of smokes.




It took him exactly four minutes to find a street child, that was willing to beg for money on the mentioned street and make note of the kinds of people he saw. But this information was going to be vague, Spook didn't tell the specific details on purpose - getting blackmailed by a street child seemed like a bad idea at the time.  

+5 dorito to spirit
reference: https://strawhats.rpg-board.net/t2761-small-spy-job-v

Two hours later, the street child came back for his remaining two leaves that he was supposed to get. But before Spook handed them over, he asked for the details. And details he got, this child was pretty perceptive. Either that, or he was really hungry; either way - he spat out some important details. Most of the people there were regulars, there were two taverns - and maybe a few odd places. At the center of the street, some kind of grandiose theater. The child explained that as soon as he entered the street, he knew what the objective was.

The type of attire the theaterfolk wore varied every fifteen minutes - roughly thirty to forty people entered at each interval. Though one interval it had more than a hundred people. Bingo, that most likely was going to be the main hall where the ball was going to be hosted. Spook headed to the dry cleaner to pick up a fresh suit. He had to dress to impress, and the act that he mentally prepared in his mind prior to heading to the theater was getting ready. It was going to hurt, but this act he was going to perform involved him tipping a lot of people a lot of money. Being flashy wasn't exactly in Spooks MO, but he sold it pretty well. As soon as he arrived at the main street, people were ogling him. The theater stood at the center of this street. Roughly a hundred or so people passed by almost constantly. It was a busy route - leading to the shady parts of Baltigo.  

Before he was able to weasle himself into the theater, he tipped about everyone. 'Can I get your coat, sir?' Was met with a nod and a handful of cash. This behavior opened the doors pretty easily, Spook used the excuse that there was an acquaintance waiting inside for him. Issue being that due to his tipping, large parts of the staff wanted to help him find his acquaintance. Some guests were amused by the four ushers walk behind Spook and try to help him. The amusement came from Spook who walked a bit faster than a normal person would, and the ushers had to run-walk to follow Spook. They were helping Spook indirectly, giving other attendees of the theater the impression that he is an important person. A play was starting in the big theater, and Spook could simply walk into it and sit down in the audience and not be checked for his non-existing ticket. It was difficult to play a facade this extravagant. After having ran almost out of his tip money, he sent the ushers away with a lame excuse. During all of this, Spook took deep mental notes of the layout of the land. Places that enemies could come from, could hide, that sort of thing.

There were a few statues around the place, when walking into the theatre you're greeted by an ensemble of old paintings. These paintings were so old, the colors weren't as vibrant - they were dead, the colors became bleak and as a result these paintings were desired by rich people. Even though nobody knew what was exactly on the painting.

Spook pulled out a notebook and started writing some scribbles down. It was hard, but he tried remaining incognito as he did. Sadly, someone had noticed him. They didn't cause a ruckus, but the person was curious enough to approach Spook. The man immediately started asking questions, "What are you writing down?", "If you don't comply with my questions I'm going to have to remove you from the building, sir." After he said that, Spook put his notebook back into breast pocket.



The hall was pretty quiet, all of the plays and whatnot were just starting. The man sighed, and nodded. Spook knew that the toilets were a fair bit away, so the man was likely to guide him instead of pointing at a certain direction. Spook was thinking about the struggle that was going to ensue just outside of the bathroom. It was in his desire to subdue this man. He started formulating a plan during the two minutes it took to get to the fancy toilets. Spook knew where the entrance was from a fair bit away, and saw nobody slip in for a quick pipi. He considered the area to be safe to subdue the man. 'Its right there, can't miss it this time.' The man said, a few meters away from the entrance. Spook looked at the door, made one step towards it and grabbed the mans wrist. Since this was pretty out of character, the man didn't react at first - just looked at the hand around his wrist.

Without being able to verbally respond, Spook used the man as a cannonball, with his arm being the cannon - he launched him into the mens room; with enough force to instantly break the hinges of the door during impact, knocking the person who he threw into coma. It made a loud noise, and Spook scuffled away while people started to investigate. One other person in particular bare witness to what Spook did, and decided to give chase. While not exactly in Spooks grand-plan, this was something he could use. Without knowing that he was being followed - he moved forward on his operation and decided to make some more scribbles about the place. His next objective is to acquire an invitation. The easiest way to gain valid entry was to get a ticket for the poker table that was being held at the same night. At this point, Spook had become aware of a person following him. A security guard, who acted as a lone wolf against Spook. So far, this infiltration mission wasn't going successful. But that might soon change. While the security guard started to close in, Spook headed into the staff section. Knowing that the security guard might lose the tail, he gave him a little bit of time to catch up. In one of the empty supply areas, he waited next to the open door for the security guard to follow him into the room. Instead of an ice pick, Spook made a contract in his mind prior to the guard entering the room.


The security guard stepped into the supply room, and reached for his flashlight in order to search the room. While he reached down, a hand reached out from the shadows and touched the exposed arm of the security guard. At that same moment, Spook spoke;



Nobody in the vicinity was close enough to notice what had happened. After the transformation was complete, Spook locked the doors to the supply room from the inside out. It was time for the toy to prove his worth.

The grunt had turned into a toy that looked like those old Ken dolls. It wore a classy suit, and had a pink bowtie. Spook gave a few commands in order to see how obedient that they toy will be. And as it turned out, it was perfect obedience. A new plan had been formed due to this perfect obedience. Why not just deliver the slave-toy to Gilbert? This security guard, now toy, knew the ins and outs of this place. Due to the transformation, everyone who ever was in direct contact with the guard lost their memories of the guard. Spook felt like a child again, these powers that the fruit had were insane. Needless to say, he was still sure that nobody should bare witness to his abilities, they won't be as powerful when everyone knows about it.

The security guard had a pass with his name and face on it, it wouldn't be difficult to make a doctored  pass with Spooks face and a fake name on it. Especially since the security guard team would be understaffed now technically, using the guise of a 'I'm a new employee', will be a solid cover. After dressing up like the security guard, Spook exitted the supply room - having shrunk the previous security guard. The security guard was ordered to be silent and not move until given permission to talk and move again. A strange feeling of a bald hitman came to mind as he left the theatre. Nobody seemed to notice that he wasn't a security guard, all that was left is doctoring the pass a bit further and then he should be able to enter at the night of the ball. Most important for now is the interrogation of the security guard.

Spook returned to the shack. Unaware if his superior was still around, but nonetheless. The first part of the job had been completed.

--Exit--