[ it hadn't taken long for kovacs to put together the plan for his undercover background, aided by his own and his new (worried) partner's funds to find a small but decent enough storefront property to create into a working space. they wouldn't need much, just a sign to address their business and a few pieces of furniture just to arrange a look — a desk and two chairs (or, rather, one chair, since the first only lasted through the first week, coming to a tragic end when kovacs used it to knock out one of the bandits hurdling along the road after having stolen some cash from the register at the general store).

a month in, the routine is familiar at KOVACS & CABRERA DETECTIVE AGENCY, that aforementioned desk now messy with a scattered assortment of papers and a few tin mugs of coffee (along with the occasional nearly empty whiskey bottle), all typically shoved to one corner to make room for either kovacs or marta to steal a seat if the other's taken space on the solitary chair remaining. there are no high-profile cases, just the periodic minor mystery to clear up or ventured-off pet to find, enough to cover the bills while the real work remains in locating the orb, allowing kovacs to freely give attention to those details his envoy intuition is skilled at finding and marta to ask questions without having to do much lying (thus avoiding any unfortunate regurgitating incidents).

if he isn't out there under the scorching heat of the suns, anyone could find kovacs here, door open during most hours of the day, lounging back in the seat, boot propped up at the edge of the desk, already leaving faint marks on the wood from the number of times he's done it in the past month. despite the heat, he's draped in something of poncho, stetson hat propped atop his head, cigarette peeking out from his lips, and the scruff around his mouth and chin a little more grown than it had been when they first left the station. though he might look like he's taking a nap with the way his hat tilts forward over his eyes, he'll be available for a chat, business-related or casual. ]

[ if he isn't on the job, it's more than likely that kovacs can be found seeking out to wet his whistle somewhere a little more lively. wherever he goes, he's still carrying that old familiar pink backpack brought over from the station, despite it not being part of the town's more common dress code, making him all the more easy enough to spot depending on which side of town he ends up on.

if he's at crow's tooth saloon, he's probably seeking something a bit more quiet, tucked in one corner of the bar with his drink, smoke in hand, left to an assortment of thoughts, either related to the day's work, to the ongoing mystery of the orb, or to ... some kind of weight that's far more personal. he's not entirely unwelcoming in his sight, especially if it's to a familiar face, but there is a seat available next to him at the bar if anyone wants to approach.

if he's at sindown, all the quiet dissolves away with the more rowdy setting, like the chaos of the pleasure house can be distracting enough to steer him away from darker thoughts. with a keenness for reading people with talented skill, his luck at the card tables are impressively good, possible to even be an aiding voice to someone trying to get a little extra cash. he might even simply be sitting aside with a drink, a little more giddy in his demeanor than often with the tipsiness offering a bit more of an eccentric curve in his typical sarcastic wit, friendlier for company than he would have been at crow's tooth.

whether or not he's drunk, he's more than likely high on these nights, whether aided by the drugs present in the establishment itself or by whatever he has stashed in his own backpack, and at some point of the night, he'll have his fingers slipped into the hand of an unfamiliar woman, the state of her skimpy, revealing dress signaling that she's definitely a lady of the night rather than any actual romantic entanglement. the hope is always that she'll lead him away to one of the private bedrooms upstairs, but — well, unlike with the gambling, luck isn't typically on his side here, interrupted by an approaching friend (on purpose or not) or even by the sudden rush of a fight breaking out amongst the patrons, whether it's over a paid lover or a card game gone wrong. either way, it's more than likely, kovacs will either suddenly end up in the fight, accidentally or with the intention on aiding a fellow orber in trouble (no doubt suggesting he'll more than likely end up sleeping in an empty bed tonight). ]

( if anyone would like to do anything in particular that isn't listed above, just go ahead and ask, either through pm or hit me up at hepburns. options above could steer in different directions with the options present or feel free to shift details a bit to bring in your character as you'd prefer. if anyone from groups 1 or 2 want to do backdated things prior to group 3's arrival, i'm down for that as well! i've got a permissions post too, with some of his more typical warnings, along with some information on his envoy abilities. )