YAWN

“Yeah. You can really tell by the fact that we have any minions left at all.”

Then again, there were still a frustrating amount of them that kept trying to de-blastproof their hoods, for whatever reason.

“I’d blow you a kiss, but, you know."

“Oh, and you’ve been such pleasant company.”

He returned the sarcasm with an irritated tone, before starting to walk off. He paused and turned around, looking back towards her.

“If I ever see you below ground again it best be in a coffin. Now get out of my sight.”

Was he being a little unnecessarily harsh? Yeah, maybe.

Mona simply smiled back and waved blithely. She was used to that sort of reaction. It wasn’t always so direct, of course, but Mona was not the sort of person who made friends easily.

‘You don’t need to worry about that,’ she thought, complacently, ‘You won’t see me at all.’  

“Thank you for your time...”

Hmph, so instead of simply bringing such small objects as a flask and tongs she decided to conjure them up with what looked to be magic. Magic really was used for anything nowadays..

“Thank heavens. This little time-waster of yours has gone on much longer than I’d hope it would.”

He stated, now realising just how much time he had wasted; a solid few minutes which were now completely gone. Those few minutes could’ve been spent on work rather than talking about such trivial things. Sure, he was slightly interested in it, but in the end the result was a complete nothing.

He motioned to his wrist and tapped it, like someone would while wearing a watch.

Mona snorted as she stooped to grab her sample, “You’re the one who insisted on sticking around.”

Even when Mona was trying not to offend someone, her snarky nature invariably slipped out. But she had what she’d come for, at least for now.

Several flasks later, Mona stood up and banished her prizes, smiling widely.

"...Okay?”

“Well, that’s why I was asking. Didn’t get your name either, though.”

Ugh. He really let this stranger walk in, interrupt him and do their petty research without even knowing them. Why he had let them stay in the first place he had no idea.

“It’s Mona,” she said, adjusting her cape a little, “I work in the Village. I’d invite you down for a game and a flagon of juice, but...”

She let the sentence remain unfinished. 

“...Anyway. I’m just going to take a few samples...”

With a small blue flash, there was a flask in one hand and a pair of tongs in the other.

He nodded along quietly as he listened. Unsure of how Slime could be important as something such as Rock, he shrugged it off as another alchemy thing he’d either never understand of forget about after ten minutes. This wasn’t exactly too important to him anyways- although knowledge is power and he liked to be known as a man of power. So perhaps he’ll try to learn a little something today.

“Got it.”

He responded, before thinking for a moment.

“Say, you’re an alchemist. You don’t see many of those around here; not unless they work for Plague Knight. Are you by any chance associated with his work?”

He asked, rather skeptical. Despite being on the same side and both serving the Enchantress, Mole wouldn’t exactly help out somebody who was too cowardly to come down and be there in person, instead sending this minion of his to do their work.

Mona smiled impassively.

“You wouldn’t. Alchemists like their privacy,” she raised an eyebrow, “And, no, I’m not in league with the Order. Don’t you think you’d have met me if I was?”