Rumors, Bargains and Lies

"Wow. Carrot juice. Big time drinker, huh fuzzy?"

It seemed like the bar was a typical place to find Bonnie when it came to being in the Snuggly Duckling. She didn't intend to make it that way. It just happened since it was where the juiciest information seemed to stem from. Naturally, she hopped up to sit on a chair not far from Judy and patted the bar to get the barkeep's attention. Since he was used to her, he didn't even so much as shrug before looking Bonnie's way. The little alien smirked a bit and patted the bar again. By then, shouldn't he have known her usual?

"Y'know me, bud," Bonnie told him. "The usual." Her usual was a strawberry daiquiri, surprisingly enough, and she watched with interest as the bartender worked on it. It wasn't long at all before she returned her attention to the bunny beside her. Just based on the way she looked, she could have guessed that he was right from wherever Gideon hailed from. Not an issue at all. It just was interesting to Bonnie.

"Lemme guess," Bonnie said. She reached a paw out to catch the daiquiri as it slid down to her. As she curled her little fuzzy fingers around it, she looked let her other hand rest beneath her chin. "Little town bunny wants to come hang with the big boys, right? Thought the name 'Snuggly Duckling' was cute and wanted to see what we was all about?" As far as Bonnie knew, Judy was an outsider. She wasn't about to sing like a caged canary about what was going on there. Not unless she had the approval of someone higher up. Right then? She was pretty sure she didn't have that. So she took her drink and sipped at it a bit, letting the alcoholic beverage hit her and savoring the flavor of it all the while.

It was interesting, she thought, that someone so unassuming had come their way. She was so small and seemingly meek. Then again, Bonnie was sort of the same. Small, fragile, tender... without Clyde, she didn't look like much. Nevertheless, she'd wormed her way into the Wings without much effort. Maybe Judy would prove to be similar to her.

Should it have occurred to her that maybe seeing a supposed 'naked' animal next to her might have weirded Judy out? Probably. Bonnie didn't care much.

Oh, that reaction was priceless. Evidently, the bunny girl had never seen a supposed naked illegal genetic experimentation before. Bonnie said nothing, but she did chuckle heartily at Judy's initial reaction. Honestly speaking, Bonnie couldn't even correct her. She had a feeling that Judy might have thought the same thing if she'd come across some of the more 'feral' animals within the ranks of the Wings. Though, with that being said, she did keep her attention focused on Judy between little sips of her daiquiri. If this girl wanted something, then Bonnie would be the first to know as far as anyone was concerned. So far? She had nothing to worry about insofar as talking with Judy went. The rabbit hardly seemed like someone that pulled dastardly deeds in her opinion. Then again? Bonnie probably didn't look the sort, either. Perhaps sounded it, but not looked it on first glance.

"Uh-huh. Suuuure," Bonnie said, purposefully drawing out the last word. She was about to throw in a sort of unlikely scenario at Judy when her supposed companion proposed a question. Bonnie's already perked ears rose just the slightest bit higher at catching the name of the organization she'd joined. Without so much as batting an eye at it, Bonnie gave her little shoulders a shrug. Casually, she leaned closer to Judy and offered her best unreadable expression.

"Dat depends," Bonnie told her. "S'not somethin' people talk about in more than just whispers, y'know?" Oh, Bonnie knew better than to spill everything. Flynn and Robin would not have been happy if she just casually blew the cover on their whole organization. So? She was playing the long game.

"Why d'you wanna know?" A simple inquiry for a simple situation. As far as Bonnie could tell, the other Wings were immediately occupied with other things. She could entertain Judy's questions for a little while, but sooner or later? She needed to be able to confirm if the rabbit was really on the up and up, so to speak. If she could present herself with a firm case in her mind, then she'd feel more secure with the idea of bringing her to Flynn or Robin Hood. For the moment, though, it was time to test the waters. Should Judy prove suspicions, then they'd just leave their conversation there. She'd pretend it never happened and keep drinking her daiquiri. Maybe she'd even bother the barkeep for another one. It all was up in the air as far as she was concerned.

So, in the meantime, she waited. Her gaze continued to shift up and down Judy's little form, and from where she stood? She didn't see any immediate threat. It always was the unsuspecting ones that were up to something, though. All the more reason she needed satisfactory answers in her own mind.

"With how big those ears are? I'd be surprised if it hadn't," chuckled Bonnie. Okay, maybe that comment had been cruel. She couldn't help herself, though. Judy's ears just had been so perky and upright! Anyone would have been able to notice it. Not that Bonnie was one to talk, of course, and she just shrugged the thought off a moment later anyway. She allowed Judy to continue talking, and while she wasn't quite sure what Judy's expression was meant to be? She rolled with it regardless. Bonnie let herself continue dragging her little claw against the rim of her drink cup, and occasionally she threw in a small nod. The bunny wanted to hang out with the big bad Wings, it seemed. If Bonnie was reading her right, that is. The way Judy talked made her think as such, and the second Bonnie opened her mouth to comment on Judy's appearance again the bunny beat her to the punch. Huh. Smart bunny, it seemed.

"Eh. I pro'lly don't look like much ta anyone else, either," Bonnie admitted. She was small, green, and on Flynn's personal account? He thought she was something of a gremlin. Nevertheless, she had her uses too. If Judy had them as well, then maybe she really would be a beneficial member to hang around with as well. Of course, it wasn't Bonnie's choice to make. She'd still keep talking, though.

Idly, she shifted her position and turned her gaze toward the wall for a beat. She looked about as relaxed as could be in that moment. Probably for the best. That way, she didn't come off as too stiff. What could she even tell Judy with confidence? She'd more or less already confirmed to a degree that the Wings did exist. Judy also had more or less told her that there was an interest in joining their cause. She hummed and scratched her chin. Then, she reached a sort of conclusion. Little bits and pieces wouldn't hurt anything.

"I might know somethin', fuzzy," Bonnie told her. "Just so happens, this here place? Might happen ta be somewhere guys frequent. Guys who could help ya get in, if you know what I mean." She looked back to Judy, and a light smirk tugged at her fuzzy green lips. Before she said anything too revealing, she had to be absolutely sure of Judy's conviction.

"How far you willin' ta go ta get what'cha want? 'Cause from what I hear? It can be rough ta get in." That wasn't the truth, really. More than anything, Bonnie wanted to see if she could shake Judy up a little bit. If Judy could withstand that much, though? She'd let it slip that she might have been a recruiter. Of course, it was still up in the air whether Flynn, Robin, or even the fair Maid Marian might show their faces. That was precisely why she was holding off saying anything big and truthful just yet. Just a little more waiting, she told herself. Just a little more.

Something flashed across Judy's face for half a moment at the derogatory comment, but quickly vanished behind her mask again. Sure, it had been rude - and maybe just a little bit racist by Zootopian standards - but Judy had heard plenty worse; and, again, she was here with a purpose. She wasn't about to let herself get suckered into a petty argument.

Another half-expression, this one a slight raise of the brow, touched the bunny's face at her companion's confession. It sounded like Bonnie, too, knew what it was to be underestimated, and while that didn't necessarily make her trustworthy - just look at Bellwether, Judy reflected with just a small pang - it was at least a starting point. Out the corner of her eye, she could see the green animal lounging, looking as relaxed as anything; but, for the initial moment at least, not offering any hints. Deliberately keeping her own aura confident, Judy casually gathered up her own drink, sipping the familiar juice as she continued to scan the crowd.

There was, of course, a lot more she wanted to ask; but something told Judy that if she played it cool, Bonnie would volunteer information in her own time. But if she pressed too hard, the green girl would clam up, and she'd be right back to step one. So Judy didn't rush her; didn't do more than sip her drink and act like she, too, was perfectly at ease and not keeping company with a nudist; and wasn't surprised at all when, in time, Bonnie voiced the words she'd been hoping for.

"Really...?"

Without even meaning to, it seemed, she'd come to the right place. Judy had just seen the pub as a good place to quietly turn up information; but if the Gilded Wings frequented this place, that put her much nearer to the mark than she'd initially thought. Anyone here, it seemed, might be one of the Wings... she supposed Bonnie would be able to point her to the right people, but most likely for a price.

Or for... proving herself? That was what the other's statement sounded like, at least... and that was something that Judy had no big concerns over. Something very akin to confidence settled into the bunny's expression.

"Oh believe me, I don't think that's anything I can't handle. I've often been told that I don't know when to quit, and that's got me pretty far in life already." The most obvious example, of course, being her time at the police academy... but when she was trying to get in with a group of criminals, Judy couldn't help but feel like that was the last thing she wanted to mention.

Her ears pricked again, suddenly, as another voice sounded from her right. Judy had, quite honestly, been so focused on what her informant was saying that she'd failed to notice anyone else approaching her; but, more than that, what caught her attention was the familiarity of the voice. It couldn't be, but...

"Gideon Grey...?"

Turning revealed that it was exactly who it had sounded like; and Judy found herself blinking at the top pastry chef in the tri-burrows. What Gideon was doing here, she couldn't have said, though it seemed unlikely to her that it was anything to do with the Wings she was seeking. He'd become such a kind, gentle guy, she couldn't imagine him having a paw in anything illegal.

"Well, the surprise is mutual."

Still, she smiled at him in return. They were hardly great friends; Judy wasn't around Bunny Burrows often enough, these days, to know him much more than in passing; but that said, she had a lot of respect for the baker. She supposed, thinking about it, that he was probably expanding his business further, keeping the pub here well supplied with pastries.

And, as she opened her mouth to answer Gideon's question, it hit Judy; she would need to pick her answer very carefully indeed. No doubt the other girl - Bonnie, had Gideon called her? - was listening in, hoping to learn a bit more about her... And Gideon, well-meaning though he was, could far too easily let slip the fact that she was a famous police officer back home. Usually, Judy was as proud as anything about her job... but here and now would be the absolute worst time it could possibly be brought up. Her composure wavered visibly; she took a hasty gulp of her carrot juice to cover, choked on it by mistake.

The coughing fit, while embarrassing, gave her at least a few more moments to consider her answer. Pounding herself on the chest, the bunny quickly grasped to find her voice again.

"Oh-- You know, I actually am working on something a bit like that. But, according to our mutual acquaintance here--" at least, that seemed like an adequate way to refer to Bonnie "--it's all very hush-hush; you know how it is?"

She hoped that didn't sound like a brush-off to the fox; as long as she managed that, Judy felt her answer covered her satisfactorily. Avoid a direct lie that Gideon might pick up on? Check. Stay true to her cover story? Also check. And score points with Bonnie into the bargain?

Hopefully, check.

Judy's smile helped put Gideon more at ease. They weren't much more than acquaintances, and that only for a short time since he'd apologized for being a major jerk as a child who'd went so far as to attack her. But, it seemed she was willing to let bygones be bygones, and all that. His gaze briefly flicked to her cheek, and he found himself wondering if she might have any scars hidden beneath her fur. His ears folded back a bit and his smile slipped for a moment as he turned his attention to Bonnie.

He nodded as she spoke, smile returning, and he propped an elbow on the bar as he looked between Bonnie and Judy. "Well, I-I hope it ain't nothing like that business with them Nighthowlers. Heard that was quite a nasty thing," he ventured. After a moment he chuckled a bit. "Looks like we're both here for work, then, Judy. Turns out this new world brought some good business opportunities along with it, " he informed her, feeling a bit proud of himself. Granted, he'd ended up in another line of work entirely, but he business was good.

When Bonnie spoke up again, Gideon gazed at her for a brief moment before it dawned on him what she was getting at, and he nodded again as his smile widened before, abruptly, his expression seemed to freeze. Now he knew exactly what group of sneaky guys Judy was looking for, and, her being a police officer, he didn't need to be a genius to know why. He abruptly found himself in a pickle. He really respected Judy for making it as a police officer, and he really liked her parents. He really didn't want to upset them by getting Judy into trouble, or get Judy hurt.

On the other hand, he was a Gilded Wing. If he didn't tell somebody she was a cop, then he'd be betraying their trust. For the first time in quite a while, he found himself truly lamenting he wasn't as clever or cunning as foxes were supposed to be. "Yeah...I-I know how it. Hush-hush, and all that," he said after a moment before he cleared his throat and adjusted his shirt. Then, thinking he might sound like he was taking Judy's comment personally, he offered her a small smile. "Business talk and all that. Anyway, how are things back in Zootopia? Things must not be too bad if, ah, if you have the time to head out this way."

So it seemed like these two were going to play a little game of catch up. That was fine by Bonnie. In fact, she rather welcomed the idea of getting to know Judy a little better through this conversation. Her ears gave small flicks now and again to show she was still listening, and a light frown tugged on her lips at the mention of Nighthowlers. She had no idea what those were, but they couldn't have been a good thing if what she was picking up was accurate. Her guess was that, whatever they were, the situation had been dealt with some time ago.

Since it seemed like she and Gideon weren't going to tell her much about the Wings at the moment, and that was fine by her, she decided to add on to what had already been said. He was well known within the ranks of the Gilded Wings for his baking. She sure knew that she'd taken her fair share of baked goods from him, as had others. The least she could do was hype his business up a bit.

"Oh, yeah. He's been doin' great out here," Bonnie answered. "In fact, he's workin' as one of the chefs here at the Snuggly Duckling part time. Ain'tcha, Gids?" Bonnie figured a wink would be unnecessary. Even Gideon could pick up on what she was putting down right then.

"Everybody loves his stuff here. All the locals are always sayin' stuff like 'Man, I could go for somea' those Gideon Grey muffins right about now.' Or 'Y'know what'd go great with this drink? Somea that pie they got here.' All good stuff. All good stuff." She nodded her head in a sort of self congratulatory way. Perhaps she was laying it on a little thick, but Bonnie didn't care too much about that. As long as she and Gideon were working together, then things would be fine. Of course, she did think that sooner or later they'd probably need to tell Judy a bit more about what she had actually come to learn. She seemed the determined sort. Therefore, Bonnie imagined that they wouldn't be able to give her the slip that easily.

It was all in a day's work of being a Wing to think of creative solutions, though. Bonnie wasn't fussed. She could keep this up all day if she had to.

"Wow. That's really great, Gideon."

She meant it, too; Judy wasn't a bunny who was ever in the habit of handing out idle compliments. Between Bonnie's extravagant praise - which was laid on thickly enough to raise Judy's eyebrows, even if she didn't doubt the truth of the words - and Gideon's bashful acknowledgement of the facts, it was clear that he was doing amazingly. If supplying pastries to help people cope with the war was Gideon's way of making a difference?

Then she would support him all the way.

The conversation, however, seemed to have got a bit off-track from where it had started. Judy's attention half drifted back to Bonnie - or at least, Bonnie's head and shoulders, not anything *below* that point - as she tried to make head or tail of the other. The green girl was lounging as casually as anything, clearly right at home here... and, equally clearly it seemed to Judy, content to keep the secret of joining the Gilded Wings all to herself. Normally, the bunny wouldn't be afraid to pry into the matter...

But, somehow, she didn't quite want to do so in front of Gideon. Partly, granted, because there was still a chance, one she didn't quite want to take, that he might let slip something about her true occupation that would blow this chance... but, also? Gideon was just such a decent, good-hearted guy that it almost felt like a betrayal of his trust in her if he saw her trying to hook up with a criminal organisation right under his very nose. She couldn't, after all, tell him it was just an act on her part... but telling him to leave was so unbelievably rude as to be out of the question.

Unnoticed to anyone who wasn't paying very close attention, her foot thumped quietly against the leg of her bar stool in an agitated way.

It seemed, at least, that the question of how to proceed was put on hold for another few minutes, as Gideon spoke up again, calling her attention to how foreign a sight his truck was around here. Truth be told, she could believe it; mostly because she'd seen for herself, poking around Corona the few days before, that motorised transport simply didn't seem to exist in this part of the world. Still, she could easily imagine that Gideon rolling up in his van must have been quite the sigh for the locals, the first time he had done so.

"It is a lot to take in," she nodded. To her, so far, that something crazy mostly consisted of the strange furless animals who dominated this world - and who seemed to find her the odd one -, running into Gideon here of all places... and, of course, she thought with a slight wince, the naked animals running amuck.

Kind of hard to forget about those.

She shrugged the thought off, however, with an air of confidence that was mostly genuine. While certain parts of this world might take her a bit longer to get used to... the sentiment, she felt, still held true.

"Luckily, adaption's always been one of my strong suits."