Lussuria was fortunately sympathetic with her aversion to hospital rooms...in between making some very pissed off noises upon learning why she hated them so much. Once Ottabio's former quarters were thoroughly cleaned and some new furniture acquired (his scent pissed off her dragon to no end and she refused to sleep in there if it was present), it took very little time at all for the revelation that Ottabio had been replaced by a very amusing Lighting who turned out to be a Cloud in disguise to hit the lower rank and file.
Most of Cloud division were up for debate on whether their new officer was any better than the old one.
However the second Rosethorn went through the paperwork in Ottabio's office and started to see a pattern, she quickly grew very pissed off in short order.
Without even bothering to knock, she walked right in to a meeting between Squalo and Xanxus and dumped a large box full of Ottabio's personal files and bank information.
"Voi! What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"You have a leak. Or to be more specific you had a leak and didn't know it," she informed him rather flatly.
Xanxus didn't ask anything, just started to take out several papers and read through them in quick succession.
Fifteen sheets in, and the papers were already starting to smoke from how pissed off he was. Squalo quickly started to catch on to the same thing she had spotted once she started going through the old paperwork to familiarize herself with her new position.
"Voi! That fucker was selling information to fucking Sawada?!" snarled Squalo.
"I also found signs that he's been getting payment from an outside source."
Xanxus looked downright murderous. What had started out as a major embarrassment after discovering a mere civilian had managed to infiltrate the elite assassins was quickly starting to look like an unexpected windfall instead. Not only had she exposed a major hole in their organization they hadn't known about, but she had also killed a traitor who had been high up enough to be privy to certain secrets that could have ruined them.
Secrets like the fact Xanxus was planning to shake up the Vongola by confronting Vongola Nono for lying about the fact he was adopted and not his son under the guise of a coup. Not that Ottabio knew about the adoption, but he was aware of the coup and from the looks of things was selling this knowledge to the coward Sawada.
Which meant that despite how pissed off he was about finding out he was adopted, if he went through with the coup then it would only end up with the tables being turned on them instead.
Xanxus was downright pissed finding out that the Cloud had been selling them out to Sawada of all people. And, as it turned out when Mammon went looking to where the majority of the money came from, Viscounti...Nono's own Cloud Guardian.
Which meant Nono had some idea that Xanxus was pissed off enough to plan something major and would be preparing appropriately for when it hit.
"What exactly were you planning that would have him make enough slip ups that a pattern could be formed?" she asked.
"A coup. Vongola's full of trash and Nono's doing exactly jack and shit about it," said Squalo without thinking, his anger getting the better of him.
"...Why?" she asked baffled.
"Fucker lied to me for years. Let me believe I had a chance to be Decimo and that he was my father," Xanxus grounded out.
"Uh-huh. And your best option that you could come up with was to plan a coup?" she said, raising an eyebrow.
Xanxus glared at her.
"What the fuck would you suggest, trash?" he demanded.
"Prank the living shit out of them to the point they're paranoid wrecks and jumping at shadows that aren't there. Make them question their own sanity without giving them something they can use against the Varia as a whole. Claim it's a training exercise for the mooks or something to test their infiltration and trap skills," she said without hesitation. "Hell, you could use what I did as an excuse to weed out the infiltrators or the unworthy and test the loyalty of the Cloud division."
Dead silence. The two mafioso looked at each other, then at her. A very vicious and positively evil smirk started to spread across Xanxus' face.
"I like it. I make the old bastard's life a living hell and get back at him for lying to me for all these years."
"I have access to a red head in England who is an absolute genius for humiliating and dignity-destroying pranks," said Rosethorn. George might even enjoy the challenge.
Xanxus officially loved his new Cloud officer. She was by far more competent than Ottabio had ever been, actually loyal enough to bring up the fact the shit had been selling them out to Nono and CEDEF, and she was a survivor of the highest order with a cunning streak a mile wide.
The revelation she had snuck into the Varia and was originally a civilian had been a nasty shock for the young Storm officer. Learning that the 'peasant' who amused him so much and actually played with him without being demeaning about it was his royal equal had been a slap to the face.
Belphegor almost wanted to feel betrayed... except even after being caught at her deception and taking the pathetic Cloud's place after she killed him, she still treated him like a little brother.
More to the point, she still let him use her as an odd sort of playground and even made time to actually listen to him.
He didn't mind being called "little princeling"... it was a gentle term of endearment that reminded everyone he was royalty. Exiled royalty, but still royalty.
Once confirmed that she wasn't going anywhere, Belphegor started to drift into her office whenever he was bored, or just lonely.
Rosethorn didn't bother to get up...she let him flop into her lap and put her left hand on his head and started threading her fingers through his hair without dislodging his precious crown. It felt nice and she smelled even better.
When the silence grew to be too boring, Belphegor asked the question that was on the minds of many.
Namely why on earth someone like Rosethorn went through all the trouble of infiltrating the Varia when there were less suicidal and dangerous things to do. Like base jumping off a cliff without a parachute and no wand with a half-assed mastery of wandless magic.
Rosethorn looked at the little prince with amusement.
"According to Luss and Mammon, I was drawn to the Boss. After I left England, any territory I might have had was so thoroughly ruined that the second my Flames noticed his, they brought me straight here. I figured I'd see what the place was about and found it suited me perfectly. Levi's division was simply easier to get in than the actual Cloud division...even an idiot like that traitor would have noticed an untested extra when Clouds are so rare," said Rosethorn. "According to Luss I'm in the middle of developing a new territory since my previous ones were never allowed to fully establish because of Dumbledore and my upbringing. Which also explains my knee-jerk reaction to Nono's Sky...it was close enough to that old goat that it brought up a lot of nasty flashbacks."
Belphegor snuggled into her side...he could practically hear the pain in her voice concerning the subject. He couldn't imagine what it was like to have Cloud flames and not be allowed to create even a basic territory to settle down with.
It was little wonder she had joined the Varia when her Flames noticed the Boss.
Rosethorn was in the very touchy state of creating a territory as was normal for Clouds. While she was in perfect Resonance with Xanxus (which could be mistaken for normal Harmony, not that her Cloud hadn't accepted him as her Sky), the fact remained that she was a heavily damaged Cloud who had been forced to suppress her own natural instincts and abused to the point she had extreme trust issues.
It was a miracle she was even sane with that much pressure on her.
"I heard the Sun Arcobaleno was called in last month by Nono. Something about security issues?" said Belphegor.
Rosethorn's smirk was positively evil.
"I may have diverted the Boss away from a coup and towards a more long term and much more satisfying payback for lying to him. I introduced him to a certain red head who needed a reason to get out of bed in the morning and the two have been scheming behind closed doors about pranks. Best of all the Iron Fort's wards are so shot to hell it's not even funny... they haven't updated them in over two centuries!" grinned Rosethorn.
"Ushishishi! I'm really bored right now... can we play a game, big sister?" asked Bel in an innocent tone. It was one that made him actually sound his age and not like an "adorably homicidal little boy" as Rosethorn affectionately called him.
"Hmm... what sort of game does the little princeling want to play?"
"Dragons!" said Belphegor, face lighting up with excitement. Because dragons were awesome and he knew his big sister wouldn't hurt him and still made things interesting.
"I bet Mammon could use a break from the accounting for a few hours," mused Rosethorn, an idea already growing in her head. Once they had it set up she was sure that Mammon would get some amusement out of this as well. Maybe they could rope in some bored Mists from their division to play the game and make it a regular thing to unwind.
Rosethorn let Belphegor cling to her piggyback style as she carried him to Mammon's office.
"What is it? Time is money and I refuse to waste mine on idle frivolity," said Mammon sharply.
They definitely needed a break.
"We were wondering if you want to have a little fun and kill the boredom for a few hours."
Mammon looked up to see Rosethorn (she was still Hexe on official paperwork...she had earned that Name) and Belphegor.
"I'm listening."
Rosethorn grinned and outlined the game. Belphegor was positively giddy with amusement when he heard the outline of the 'base plot' and what it entailed. Mammon looked amused and intrigued.
"And what part do I play in this 'game'?" asked Mammon.
"The Misty Merchant. You get to 'fence' all the crap the knights leave behind when they're eaten by the dragon and the dragon acts as the guard dog for your hoard... I'd rather have a hoard of books than shiny objects that have no use outside of currency."
Mammon was definitely amused and could use the break.
"Mu... let's find an empty training room to set this up. But I expect to be paid accordingly."
"I know how to make strawberry cake from scratch," said Rosethorn. "And I can source you firewhiskey."
"Deal."
A few hours later...
"Has anyone seen Mammon, Bel or Hexe?" asked Luss.
Most said no, but one Mist pointed in the direction of some unused, damaged training rooms. They were due to be fixed within the month, but until then they were empty.
Or they were.
Hearing the roar of a dragon and the familiar giggling of Belphegor, Lussuria cautiously knocked before entering.
Everyone knew that Ottabio had gotten killed for entering the room Hex was in...without knocking. No one really believed she was a dragon though, regardless of what Bel said about it.
Seeing the massive beast with some rather fabulous scales 'playing' with a mock up knight before eating 'him' alive, Lussuria stared. Then the Sun figured out what was going on when they saw an 'adult' Mammon come by to pick up all the knight's things and deliver 'food' to the dragon and the giggling Prince.
"Someone looks like they're having fun~!" said Luss cheerfully.
"Ushishishi... have you come to play too?" asked Bel from his spot on the dragon.
Luss could only be struck by the difference in Bel's behavior once Rosethorn's actual status was cleared up.
The young woman was very good for him, acting as a sort of older sister/mother figure for the boy and gave Bel a proper "female role model" the same way he looked to Boss for the male one. The fact she was openly smitten and treated him like a little brother/son to the point she openly called him "little princeling" didn't hurt.
"Oh? And what sort of game is this?" asked Luss, going along.
"The young prince of a certain kingdom ran away after being overlooked in favor of his brother, only to be captured very publicly by the feared dragon of the mountains. Naturally, since it's pretty much protocol the kingdom set the usual 'ransom/reward' for any knights or adventurers who rescue the kidnapped royal...except thanks to a clerical error and the fact no one thought to ask, no one is aware the captured royal is in fact a nine year old prince, not some simpering princess," said Mammon dryly. "I play the merchant who acts as the voice of the dragon and the one to fence the crap the knights and other idiots leave behind and in exchange the dragon guards my 'hoard'. And in exchange I help grow it's actual hoard which is a library as well as deliver food so they can eat without having to raid local villages for livestock."
Luss was trying very hard not to laugh.
"How did they rope you into this?"
"I needed a break, and Hexe suggested this could be a good way for the Mist Division to play with their Flames and unwind. That and she bribed me with cake."
Luss was already laughing. This sounded like a good way for the Mists to get used to playing with their illusions and add to their skills...and possibly mend the bridges between them and the other divisions. It also meant Bel wouldn't be bored out of his mind in between missions, as well as let Rosethorn unwind.
"I have only one question... how exactly did our little Thorn convince you to turn her into a dragon?"
Bel pouted and got down.
Rosethorn's wings stretched out...before wrapping themselves around her body which shrunk very rapidly. When they moved again, she was grinning at Luss with slit eyes and slight fangs.
"Mammon didn't. I'm a dragon animagus...which is actually how I killed Ottabio. He came in while Belphegor was using my wings as a makeshift trampoline and I flash fried his ass," she grinned.
Luss snorted.
"The peasant should have knocked first," said Bel snickering. He didn't even care that Rosethorn's chin was on his head while she hugged him. She was barely taller than he was.
"Well you three have a mission tomorrow," said Luss. Considering HOW Rosethorn joined the Varia, Belphegor's age and Mammon's curse, the two had become a joint team of sorts.
Though they never sent Bel out without Mammon or Rosethorn, since they were among the only two who could keep Prince the Ripper on a leash and him out of trouble with the cops if he was out during school hours.
One because she could play the part of the exasperated older sister, the other because they could make the cops forget Bel was there in the first place.