MISSION: BAD COMPANY, PART 1

[ximilian]

● ● ● M I S S I O N   4 . 1

INTRO • SETTLIN' DUST • BADROCK N' ROLL • DIRTY JOBS • FYI

// INTRO. beam us down!  

This time it’s barely past noon when the familiar ping of a message alerts you that a new mission file is finally available: it’ll read Scorpion’s Bend, and the file’s arrival is immediately accompanied by Viveca’s voice.

// VIVECA.AI

Sorry that it took us this long to get the teleportation machine charged again ... though I think most of you liked the reprieve. You have two days until the next mission. Read the file carefully.

To help you blend in, I’ve prepared bundles of clothes for each of you, rations for those with special diets, and enough of the local currency to buy you a few nights in town. After that, you’ll have to provide for yourselves. I’ve also divided you into groups, and each group will arrive at the town at a different time… so those in the first group, prepare to live in the town for a month or so, while waiting for the rest of the team to arrive. Make up a good story, and don’t blow your cover.

The instructions are clear: after you’ve familiarised yourself with the file and its contents, you find that, indeed, there are neatly laid bundles marked with a name in the common room providing appropriate clothing to help you blend in better… and is somehow tailored to fit you perfectly.

Unlike previous missions, there will be plenty of time to talk to those in the same group as you, to come up with plans and stories that’ll explain your arrival in town. And as the two days pass, you all gather to the center of the station again, some for the fourth time, some for the first — it is not only Viveca, in her robot body, who is there to see you off, but Degar as well. He tips an invisible hat in your direction.

// DEGAR

Howdy partners! Just wanted to pop in real quick to wish you all luck down there. Looks like you’ve got all the things you’ll need, that’s good. We’ve got things under control here, so we’ll see you when we see you.

Having probably seen far too many bad spaghetti Westerns, Degar sends fingerguns in the team’s general direction before blowing a breath off the tops of his fingers and re-holstering said fingerguns into equally invisible holsters at his sides. It’s really all extremely cheesy, and he knows it – made obvious from the slight grin on his face.

// DEGAR

Good luck, team. You’ll be great.

The platform hums to life as Viveca, too, smiles at the gathered team — even if there’s some tightness to it.

// VIVECA.AI

The orb’s somewhere in the town, that I’m sure of. But where, and whether it’s already done something… that I don’t know. I just know that when I was trying to access the information to get you the file, something wasn’t quite right. So be on your guard. I hope to see all of you back safely.

The increasing noise of the teleportation machine nearly drowns out her words as the light around you grows brighter, brighter —

Until it’s all you can see, and the familiar tug drags you away into nothingness. There, the echoing voices speak to you once more, laying out the goal you have to complete… and then, without a chance to respond, you are wrenched away through time and space.

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// PART I.SETTLIN' DUST  

As soon as the light dissipates and the voices die away, you are left floundering in the darkness — seconds, at most, as each of you is sent to a set time on the planet. But how you arrive will depend entirely on when you arrive.

1.0A: GROUP 1   Awareness returns to you as you find yourself on your feet, suddenly standing in the Mayor’s office with a half circle of twenty other Orbers just as mildly disoriented as you are. Madam Reilly is positioned in the centre, her fierce eyes shining with approval as she looks up to meet your eyes.

“We thought a curse had befallen us when no new wagons came for such a long time ... but it’s damned near possible we were bein’ a little hasty. Thank the Gods, they haven’t forsaken our little town. By the mercy of the Eight, you’ve made it here, and our town is much in need of new blood.”

She rounds her desk, studying every new arrival with care.

“Obey the law, find work, and you’ll find Scorpion’s Bend’ll take care of you … just so long as you take care of it. Crow’s Tooth Saloon and Thornbush Inn will offer you rooms, at least temporarily. But of course, should you wish to stay … there are properties to purchase. For now as a show of welcome: here, for each of you, a voucher for a free meal in the saloon. Consider it our hospitality.”

She sounds sincere enough, but the glint in her eye betrays her, telling you that she’ll likely expect that the hospitality be repaid through hard work and the wealth it will bring the town.

So take the voucher, thank the Mayor for her audience with you, and leave to do a little exploration; and as you do, many of the locals will wave at you, though some might eye you with suspicion. As Madam Reilly said — it’s been a while since any previous wagons made it to town. New arrivals are … well. They’re something of a novelty.

1.0B: GROUP 2   The first thing you register when you regain your wits about you is that the wagon you’re sitting inside of suddenly stops, making you jolt. Above you, the steady sound of rain hitting the wagon’s fabric cover with increasing intensity fills your ears.

Without preamble, a youthful voice from outside shouts:

“Come on out, newcomers!”

With nothing to do but brave the rain and leave the confines of the wagons, you follow your fellow Orbers out on shaky legs. Once outside, blinking away the rain in your eyes, you see riderless horses pulling the wagons, parts of their heads replaced with metal.

It won’t take long before you realize you are in the middle of the town road, and in front of the wagons stand two people: a large man with an eye-patch, and a smaller, young alien with sparkling eyes.

“The last time wasn’t a fluke! We’re really getting regular wagons coming in again. Oh, everything's finally in apple pie order!”

Deputy Duke speaks with a bright grin — one that the Sheriff doesn’t share.

“Yeah, sure seems that way. And they’re bringing in rain, which ain’t been seen for a while either. Sure getting all the luck today, aren’t we?” He huffs, wiping at his nose. “Well — guess we gotta tighten the security ‘round here, who knows what other strange folk we’ll be taking in.”

His one eye scans over the Orbers who are slowly getting soaked in the downpour, and snorts.

“Well, ain't you some odd sticks? Listen here, lads and lassies — the name’s One-Eyed Wilson, and I’m the law in this town, y'hear? So don’t stray from the right path, and we're gonna get along just fine. But if you find that you do, well, then I'll be nailin' you to the counter and see that the rats in the cells are the only ones keepin' you company.”

“Yeah! What he said! I’m Deputy Levi Duke, an’ I’ll be watching you! Real careful-like!”

Somehow, his cheerful disposition makes the threat not really sound like much of a one.

Still, they both watch you carefully as you walk past them. Where you go next within the town depends entirely on you, but the signs pointing to the Saloon and Inn are clearly visible, and you’ll likely want to get out of the rain. And who knows, there might even be a few familiar faces already here to greet you.

1.0C: GROUP 3   You wake up with your face buried in something rough and dirty, paired with the sensation of someone shaking at your shoulders. As you blink your eyes open, someone’s face is too close to yours, a face you’ve never seen before in your life, and they’re dressed in rough-hewn work clothing. They take a step back, crouched on their haunches, but the relief in their eyes is palpable. With a sigh, they shake their head and then yell:

“Crimany! This one’s awake, boss!”

As you get up, you’ll see others dressed similarly, all miners, rousing familiar teammates around you. Scattered in your immediate surroundings are the remains of several wagons, a piece of a roof cover flapping uselessly against a large rock. When all of you have woken — some hale and hearty, some with scabs and bruises, some with bleeding cuts — one of the older miners approaches you, his gaze taking in all your faces.

“Don’t suppose you saw what hit y’all?” He doesn’t wait for an answer before he continues. “Must’ve been one of them sandwhales. The Mayor's been suspecting it might’ve been them, why no wagons came for such a long time here. Well, you survived, so that’s more than the others got. Welcome to Scorpion’s Bend. I’m Reginald Dooley, but everyone in town calls me Rex. Head of the Miner’s Guild, that’s me. My boys and I will see that you make it safely back into town.”

“Yeah we will, especially since it’s less than a hundred feet!”

One of Rex’s miners shouts and the others laugh, hastily helping the rest of you up on your feet to escort you along the road that leads into town.

Perhaps you’ll let yourself be helped, or you’ll rush to help those who have been wounded in an attack you can’t remember … or perhaps you’ve already left the others behind to go into town, to see what it has to offer and to meet those who have come here before you.

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// PART II.BADROCK N' ROLL  

With all the introductions said and done, it’s time to take to the small town of Scorpion’s Bend and scope out opportunities for the remainder of your stay. For those of you from more temperate, wetter climates, you might find that desert life takes a little bit of getting used to. Two suns beaming bright white rise high over the cloudless horizon, soaking the land with hot light throughout the daytime. With the dust and debris and very little lush vegetation, it’ll be easy to find yourself quickly heating up, where the only form of shade in this town is found within the establishments themselves and under awnings. The evenings do bring beautiful sunsets, however, with a spectacular sight of the five small moons of Badrock glowing like dim spheres of varying sizes across the dark, night sky. There are very few stars out and the temperatures drop dramatically when the suns are down.

2.0   A Bed Too Large: In front of Crow’s Tooth Saloon and the nearby Thornbush Inn, you’ll find seating as though these buildings can read your mind and understand the need for quick refuge from the scorching temperatures. This is where you’ll be able to find yourselves beds to sleep on tonight.

Crow’s Tooth Saloon is an especially lively hub throughout the day. Mornings will see a cluster of miners grabbing breakfast before their trek out to Guncross Mountain — small breakfasts of eggs and sausage and the blackest coffee; noon will find the desk-job men and stablehands congregating for lunch and a drink — sandwiches, biscuits and meat pies with alcohol; and by mid-afternoon leading into the late night hours, fathers and sons and daughters and miners will have returned for dinner and a chance to let loose before the day’s events repeat again the next day. The occasional lone rider might be found at a table some nights before heading to the next town over. A couple of miners, both younger and old, keep to themselves, sitting alone with their whiskey at the bar. The pianist, Tommy Jellison, makes his wages by playing the evening into the wee hours of the night for tips, spinning jubilant tunes on the keys with his five hands, and belting out the odd vocal accompaniment. Sometimes there will be games of cards and coins, and opiates and stimulants aren’t uncommon: both to obtain and to use. The owner, Emzi Hanegan, turns a blind eye to most of the latter.

But Thornbush Inn won’t be void of life either. A three-story rectangular building with painted black and white exterior wood walls, Thornbush Inn can easily be found not far from behind the Saloon. This is where travelers, not all that frequent lately, will come to stay during their time in Scorpion’s Bend. The Innkeeper, Terrance Trawley, has been doing this for a very, very long time, and boy the stories he could share, once coaxed, would paint a colourful picture of the town’s history. Rumour has it he’s been known to embellish a few details every now and then, though. "Adds flavour," he says. You’ll be welcome to keep a room while you’re here, but he'll encourage you to keep a roommate if you do — space is limited and so are the coins in your purse, but would you be needing the turndown service at all?

3.0   For a Fistful of Dollars: Turns out the money you’ve received to spend in this town goes out sooner than you’d like. This means making quick work of integrating yourself into the workforce by offering your services and using those airtight backstories to find a position best suited for you and your fellow townsfolk. For those of you who are good with people, you may want to speak with the owner, Priory Halhast, of Scorpion’s Bend General Store; she’s always looking for bright, gorgeous faces to greet customers daily, take their orders (simple and practical items such as hygiene products, toiletries, cleaning products, basic cooking ingredients and the like), engage in a little small-talk, and to offer the occasional home delivery service. If you’d rather keep to yourself, ask her about working as a stockist or helping to keep some of the books in the back in order.

Similar positions can be found at the Trading Post, where all it takes is a quick chat with Lawturn, the gruff, bearded stocky owner in the poncho and black stetson. Dealing with imports and exports between other towns, they’ll be expecting strong hands and quick minds to handle some of the sales and incoming stock for the town. Sometimes this includes spare wagon parts and food and supplies for the animals.

And speaking of animals, for those of you who have a sixth sense with them, or simply want to avoid the chatty townsfolk all together, the Stablemaster, known simply as ‘Horseshoe’ could always use an extra set of hands to help with the grooming, feeding, cleaning, and maintenance of the horses and other animals, as well as the travel wagons. The Stables can be found near the Trading Post; it’s just a quick-ish jog (if you can stand the heat) to the large wooden barn in faded red wood where you’ll be greeted by the sounds of dogs, cows, chickens, sheep, owl-shrews, varkdogs, and flower mantisaurs.

4.0   The Good, the Religious and the Spicy: Over the month, some of you might find that even in a place as small as Scorpion’s Bend, there is disparity between the cleaner, ‘nicer’ parts of town versus the more dilapidated and seedier areas. The town’s segregation isn’t quite as clear-cut with the main street and its numerous businesses acting as a central hub for all of the townspeople. However, the schoolhouse and the church, Celestial Mercy, stands proud on one end, while Sindown, the town’s infamous pleasure house marks its place on the opposite side and are often referred to as the ‘Light’ and the ‘Dark’ sides of town respectively, and not always with a smile.

The schoolhouse is directly connected to the church, and the children in Scorpion’s Bend spend most of their days at their desks learning to read, basic arithmetic, history, science, and the planets. While not exactly off-limits to the Orbers, in order to keep disruptions of the childrens’ education to a minimum, the headmistress, Joella Friegrass would prefer scheduling appointments to speak with her or any of the other staff in school.

Some of these students will go on to become teachers at the school, indoctrinated into the Sect of the Eight Divines, or otherwise find positions throughout the town. While not closed to other practices of worship, Father Alois of the Celestial Mercy mainly preaches the gospel of the Eight Divines and would happily spend time explaining this religion with you. The church itself is a brown wood building with a peaked roof and long, arched windows lining the sides. Above the doors is a small bell tower, used to mark celebrations, funerals, the beginning and end of a sermon, and other special occasions.

If you decide to make a thorough exploration of the length of the town, you’ll inevitably wander over to Sindown, the Bend’s pleasure house. Sindown is owned by Madame Rella, whose brief appearances at her own establishment only ever seem to happen during the latest hours of the night, and only for long enough to check in on her clients and workers, and to ensure the peace. She isn’t a woman to be reckoned with and anyone who winds up on her bad side will find themselves regretting it for the rest of their days. Find someone you might want to have a night of pleasure (or pain) with, book a room within the house (with all of the comforts provided), and be sure to pay upfront. Or simply stick around for the drinking, the drugs, and the nightly card games shared among the townsfolk and vagabonds with higher stakes than those you might find at the Saloon.

5.0   After Hours: When the novelty of the stetsons and ponchos have worn off like the shine of the spurs on your boots, the more observant Orbers might find that the whole town feels just a little off. The incoming stock coming into Scorpion’s Bend never seems to change, and so the food at the Saloon arrives at breakfast, noon, and dinner without a hitch, always exactly the same, and all of it tasting just a little less flavourful the more you start to analyze it. Eggs and sausage and bread, for example, all start to taste like the same thing.

Everyone’s got their routine, including you, and you might start paying attention to those schedules as you continue to work at your job, explore the establishments, and speak with the townspeople — both the regular folks of the day-to-day, and the ones with a little more power and sway in the town. Every now and then, someone’s temper might flare up resulting in a dramatic bar fight amongst the drunk and those who happen to arrive at the wrong place and time; or you might watch as a couple of the Saloon’s patrons challenge each other to a noontime duel. Try not to make an obvious target of yourself as you explore the town, of course, or you might wind up in a bar fight or a duel of your own. Don’t have a gun? It might be time to find one.

6.0   Out of Town: Any hooligans and lawbreakers will find themselves facing Sheriff One-Eyed Wilson and his Deputy before you even have the wherewithal to utter: ‘yee-haw’. The Sheriff might only be working with one usable, clear eye, but he’s always been the fastest shot on this side of Badrock and he protects this town with everything he’s got. Petty crimes and rowdy behaviour will be punished in levels of severity ranging from warnings to fines to nights spent in the town jail.

One night you might wake up to the sound of shouts and gunfire. If you aren’t already awake, or if you never went to bed in the first place, you might be able to make out a group of figures on horseback, hollering and hooting with pandemonious glee as they ride through town, their faces covered by scarves and wide-brimmed hats. These bandits dash for the stores with the intention to loot the town for everything they’ve got before making their way out with their spoils. Remembering that this could be the last of the incoming stock for weeks, you might want to join your fellow Orbers and residents alike to defend the town from the pillaging or face weeks of struggling recovery.

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// PART III.DIRTY JOBS  

A substantial population of Scorpion’s Bend is made up of miners who have snatched up the opportunity for work and a promise of prosperity while in town. Early in the morning, every morning, those who have jobs at the mines wake up before the sun rises, have their breakfast, and head in split directions: some to Guncross mountain, and others, including you, to the mines located right at the edge of the town, for another hard day’s work. Wagons full of workers make the trek every day, digging for the wealth that lies underground: ore and metal and precious stone used in the formation of construction materials, jewelry, and other treasured items. It’s a lucrative enterprise but to maintain some semblance of order, all workers must first be approved by the Miners Guild, not always an easy feat for newcomers. You’ll learn that to be a full member of the Guild and have access to the mines on Guncross, you’ll need at least half a year’s work within the town, but prove yourself and you may have opportunities to gain some experience at least.

7.0   The Ecstasy of Ore: The wagon leaves just as the moons fade for the night and the barest hint of the suns begins to warm up the sky with light. You’ll be packed in with other townsfolk just like you: eager to get to the mines, or maybe still drowsy with sleep, or maybe a combination of both. During the trek there, one of the older miners might be inclined to share a bit of advice with you, give you the basic 101 in mining. “Keep a lookout for the shiny stuff,” he’ll joke. He looks to be in strangely good spirits for someone up so early.

You’re dropped off by the front with your gear and your fellow miners as the sun continues to rise. Soon it’ll be scorching hot but until then, you feel comfortable, maybe even a little chilly. You’ll be working alongside people who look human, and an alien race called tunnel hounds who have a particular talent for this sort of work. If you want to learn quickly, you might want to speak with one of them.

The tunnel is carved deep and bright lanterns lighting the way inside, hung on a long line of rope every six to ten feet (1.8 to 3 meters). As you work your way deeper, these lights become more and more sporadic, however, so it may be a good time to turn on your torchlight and continue with the group. The reflection of your light will inevitably catch on a shiny surface lodged into the tunnel around you and in crevices further in. It’s this metallic ore that you’re meant to be harvesting; this is the 'shiny stuff'. As you get to work, sweat forming along your brow, the rhythmic sound of your pick-axe pinging against stone, you may or may not hear a silent hissing sound in between. One of the tunnel hounds will suddenly reach out to stop you with sharp claws, and then make a silencing motion before gesturing to the flame-coloured serpent coiled near your foot, too close for comfort. This is an embera, a reptile that can infect their victims with a fire-hot venom that burns the blood in your veins until the heat of it kills you if the pain doesn’t first.

“They ain’t native,” one of the tunnel hounds will explain, voice gruff and muffled between his sharp teeth, “been seeing a lot more of them lately, but we’ve got the hang of ‘em. Learned how to keep to ourselves.”

Avoid getting bitten by these creatures that seem to make the tunnels their home; and if you do, there’s still a chance you can seek help if you do it quickly. The effects of the venom are slow (but still painful) and will be at its peak in a few hours.

8.0   The Countdown: Anyone that decides to explore the Scorpion’s Bend past the mines and tries to head to the desert or towards Guncross mountain may find that their long walk forward only leads them back into the other end of the town, strangely like they’ve somehow walked an entire loop. No matter the trek, this trajectory never seems to change. You might try leaving from the east, for example, only to wind up entering directly into the west side of the town.

Of course, you could try and ask around for an explanation to this bizarre occurrence, but even the most sensible of townsfolk will look at you with reactions spanning anywhere from sympathy and pity to amusement and disgust. Most will laugh and think that perhaps you should lay off the whiskey, maybe grab another black coffee. Others will simply think you’ve been out in the sun for too long or you've been chewing gravel. Either way, it might make you think; after all, that lone rider from the other night had left by the next day, hadn’t he? And what about those bandits chased out of town?

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F Y I

• The events in this log take place during the month of January.

• If you have questions about any of the prompts or the mission in general, please direct them HERE.

• To submit a search request speaking to any NPCs mentioned in the log, trying to overhear conversations, or exploring any specific place during any of the prompts, please do so HERE.

• And finally, have a soundtrack for this log! ♪ ♪ ♪

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Comments

clara oswald | doctor who

[bossily]

Open + Closed starters for the month down below in separate threads. If you'd like me to write up a closed starter for your character, hit me up at trashpanda.

Open to group 3 - arrival

[bossily]

[Clara wakes with a sharp gasp and a series of coughs. She feels like she's sputtering dirt and sand out of her lungs for a solid minute, before it registers that there's a dull ache in both her recently healed arm as well as her head.

She's distracted by ensuring that her arm is just fine and completely unbroken, but manages to catch what's being said to her as her senses come back to her. A hand to the throbbing pain right above her eye leaves her with a bit of blood on her fingers. And of course, she has no idea what's just happened.

What's the deal with her only getting injured when she can't remember how it happened?

Dazed, she climbs up to her feet, and stumbles her way through the wreckage. She goes to the first orber she sees, crouching down on shaky legs to try and help rouse them with an insistent shake of their shoulder.]

[soups]

❰ before she even opens her eyes, jiang yanli knows that they're in an arid place, one that is filled with an aromatic earth. it's all she can smell — and even feel — in her nostrils; a little bit of blood, and then this very pungent soil.

hey eyes open wide, but immediately narrow as that was a bad idea. it's quite bright, and suddenly, but what she can see of the landscape is...in much disarray. it's then that she realizes the only reason she's come to be awake in the first place is because of the person shaking her shoulder, whose shadow falls on the ground in her line of vision.

rolling over, the image comes in clear. it's clara, a welcome sight even outside of her not being a random native with something up their sleeve. ❱ What's happened? ❰ a hand instinctively goes up to her face, registering that her face is covered in debris and one of her eyebrows is split. the last thing she personally remembers is getting ready to come down for the mission — how much time has she actually lost? ❱

open to established cr - checking in

[bossily]

[She knows that blending in is the most important thing she could be doing here. And she thinks she's done a good job of doing that, promptly writing a letter to be delivered to the school's headmistress. She makes sure she and the Doctor have someplace to settle in, and that she absolutely looks her best. It won't do to be on mission and not look the part, after all.

After she and the Doctor spend a better part of two hours admiring themselves in a dusty old mirror hanging on the wall, she sets out to check in with others. Of course, given everyone's various backstories, she can't just walk right up and act like she knows them as well as she does.

So Clara Oswald attempts to be sneaky.

She heads out in the evening hours and slips through the small town, finally embracing the fact that she's so small. She thinks it makes it easier for her to hide behind things like barrels and wooden crates as she quietly tries to spy on the people she cares about. Having the great stalker senses that she does, she just seems to know where people are. And she thinks she's being very discreet, watching her friends and loved ones from afar.

But she sticks out like a giant chin.

She can be caught spending a little too long observing certain people, though if anyone dares to accuse her of it she'll deny everything.

For people who seem to be struggling with things like food or basic supplies, in the days after her master spy session, they will find little cloth wrapped bundles containing just what they need. There's never a note attached. But let's be real here, she's not as stealth as she thinks she is and can be easily spied and caught red handed.]

[scarcastically]

[ one of the duties he's stuck with doing is patrolling in the evenings, so he just watches clara ""sneak"" about for a couple of minutes, before speaking up with a drawl. ]

Out late, little lady?

[droide]

[ Elthree might be better suited than her organic cohorts to be out and about in the hot suns of Badrock, but she actually prefers the nights. It's quieter, what with most of the town's residents having gone to bed until early the next morning. It gives Elthree time to work, to catch up on the duties that have stacked up during the day.

She's sitting on the steps outside Abhorsen's Tea Parlor tonight, quietly mending a tear in the fabric of one of her aprons. Sewing isn't her strong suit, but she has the manual dexterity and precision to make her decent enough at it. She doesn't appear to notice that she's being watched for some time, until she finally speaks aloud, without looking up: ] You may as well come out and say hello, Miss Oswald.

open - schoolhouse

[bossily]

[Settling into life in Scorpion's Bend is surprisingly easy. She takes to the harsh climate well enough, and seems to enjoy the challenge of trying to fit in as best as possible. Her weekdays are spent primarily at the schoolhouse, where she works with the younger children. It's a change from what she's used to doing back home. Small children are different than teenagers in many ways, but she seems to thrive with the challenge.

In fact, she seems to be entirely in her element after her first day on the job. She carries herself prim and proper; with her hair pinned up just right, perfect posture, and a perfectly conservative (and honestly, downright hideous) dress. There's a clipped, no nonsense approach to her demeanor. It's on display in the lunch hour as the children eat and play in the school yard outside, where she keeps all of her little ducks in perfect, well-behaved rows.

It's one afternoon while they're out that she observes an orber looking her way over between the church and schoolhouse. She gives them a nod to acknowledge she's noticed them, and uses her earpiece to send a quick text message that she'll meet them in that exact spot in a few hours.

School lets out, she ensures the children make their way home. And once she's positive everyone else has left the school for the day, she makes her way over to meet her fellow orber. She carries herself with the same rigid, perfect posture as she has all day. It's not like she can completely drop the act now.]

Have you found out something?

[she wonders, head tipping to the side. She's always a little too eager to jump right into sharing information.]

Or is this just a social call?

[ruinously]

[ It is surprisingly easy to settle in, isn't it? Dean finds himself meshing very well with the locals, enjoying his setup at the inn and swindling them out of their money at night.

Still, they're here for a reason, and he figures it's time to check up on Clara, and share what little he's learned. ]

Can't it be both?

[groupiedrifter]

[It's so super cute, watching you do all the teaching stuff. From one teacher to another! Not that he's ever taught anyone under the age of, like 18 at most. But this is nice, gremlin children aside, and he slips into the school instead and proceeds to sit at a desk that makes him somehow look bigger. Shocking, I know.

Putting his chin in his hands, he swings his feet slightly and bats his eyelashes.]

What, can't I come to get a proper education, ma'am?

I'm just a lowly, uneducated saloon player, y'know.

[bindsthedead]

[Sabriel arrives, looking prim and proper in her white shirt and broad-brimmed hat.]

A social call, mostly. Although I did bring you a present.

[Carefully wrapped up, there's some tea and a handful of sugar cubes, from the stock Sabriel brought from the station.]

These should have more flavor than... anything you can get in this town, really. And I thought we could get some tutoring in.

[chrysology]

Not really. I'd have more time for figuring stuff out if I wasn't expected to be at this school a couple days a week. I haven't been to school in years!

[Not that it is really difficult or anything. Ed's a prodigy and all. It's just the time factor that irks him the most when he could very well be doing any number of much more important things. That do not include anything resembling homework.

That and, well. As he said, it isn't like he is in the mode or zone of being used to school anymore. Not in years, since he was about ten or so. Of course this is frustrating for him, even if just for a couple of days a week. Ed's hardly pretending to have a better posture or temper than he usually does, figuring playing his cover as close to his actual personality and situation would be the easiest to not mess anything up.]

open - Crow's Tooth Saloon

[bossily]

[By day she's no nonsense schoolteacher, establishing a position of respectable authority in town. A few nights a week she lets down her hair, puts on a completely different style of dress, and takes on a cockney accent. It's absolutely incredible to her that no one in town apart from other orbers seem to realize she's the same person.

She serves drinks and cleans around the saloon on the nights she works, going by the name Oswin Osgood. She's bubbly and friendly, and purposefully puts on the air of being simple and sweet. It's easier to chat up the miners and anyone else in town who visits the saloon if they think she's simple and sweet, with nothing but thoughts of flirting with customers on her mind.

The way she manages to move around the saloon and socialize are impressive. She never stays with one person for long before going to flatter and charm another. She makes sure to keep the drinks coming as she does, knowing that people who are drunk enough will spill better secrets with the right motivation.

It's while she's in the middle of giggling and whispering sweet words into the ear of an older man that she catches the eye of a fellow orber. Maybe they're working there with her, or maybe they're just in for a drink. She holds their gaze for a moment before finishing up her conversation and making her way over.]

Keep an eye on that one. [She whispers, letting her cockney accent slip for the time being.] He's just about ready to crack.

[cruelyethuman]

Ma'am.

[Gleb doesn't quite tip his hat, but it is a near thing. His hand hovering near the brim for a moment before it falls to the sticky table in front of him.

Leaning back in the chair, he gives her a once-over, dark eyes slithering slowing over her whole outfit before snapping back to her face.]

Somehow I recon he'd rather talk to someone like you than someone like me. What's good here?

open - bandits

[bossily]

[It's in the middle of the night when she wakes up to the commotion outside. And after hurrying out of bed to peek out the window, she sees it's pure chaos outside. She doesn't think much of hurrying on out exactly as she is to try and see what's going on. The bandits are rowdy and no good and easy to spot, and it takes her about two seconds to leap into action to try and help save what supplies she can.

And that's the story of how Clara winds up in a shouting and tugging match with one of the bandits, barefoot and wearing only her nightgown. She may be playing the part of a lady, but she's definitely not acting like one as she stubbornly refuses to let go of a burlap sack. She doesn't even know what's inside. She just knows she isn't letting this particular bandit get away with it.

It's about when he starts dragging her along to get on his horse that she realizes she just may be in over her head here.]

You wouldn't dare!

closed to Kovacs

[bossily]

[She probably should have expected to run into him here. A place like Sindown is essentially a beacon for people who have a need to lose themselves, and he's in desperate need of a distraction even without everything that transpired between them. But she doesn't stop and think about things like that before going to see Alina there, and she definitely doesn't stop to think he may be present when they begin to act completely ridiculous.

What's enjoyable because it's spontaneous and entirely out of character for her to indulge can quickly turn awkward given even the slightest change of circumstances.

A throng of men stepping away from observing their ruckus to reveal Kovacs standing there is definitely something that leaves her reeling. She could shy away, run off and hide and let him have his space. She's been so good about giving him that on the station.

But he's been here a month, the passage of time longer for him than it is for her. And she figures he likely has moved on from her by now. After the things he's said, she isn't important enough to still be giving him issues. So she feels the need to play it cool. Which she promptly tries to do by ignoring the way her hair and face are completely matted with cake and frosting. She leans right up against what she assumes is a nearby wall, only to very quickly realize it's only a rickety room divider. It topples over, her falling right along with it.

Yeah. There's no way to play it cool after that. She can only pick herself up and try to wipe off her face with cake covered hands, smearing frosting across her eyes.]

Help?

[It comes out more an embarrassed squeak than her usual sort of demand. Please help this mess.]

closed to Rosinante

[bossily]

[It's about her fourth day teaching at the schoolhouse that Clara notices Rosinante hanging around with the Sheriff. She spots them walking and talking while she's out with the children at lunch one afternoon.

She observes them again the following couple of days, and so it's about ten days into her stay that she makes her way over toward the town jail hoping to catch him on his way out. It's the weekend, and she thankfully is dressed down a bit from what she usually has to wear while teaching. It makes her feel a little more comfortable as she waits outside the jail in the burning hot sun.

When he steps out of the building, he's obviously easy to spot right away. She hurries to slide over to stand next to him, her step falling in line with his even though her much shorter legs have to work double time to keep up with his longer stride.]

It looks like you've settled in nicely.

[She quietly remarks, her usual affection and warm nature far more clipped and reserved. On the outside, it has to look like a school teacher talking to a deputy. They all have parts to play here.]

closed to Xichen

[bossily]

[It's late enough to be after one of her shifts at the saloon, but not so late that she's ready to head back and crash into bed yet. She's spent the better part of this shift sharing drinks with the groups who had gathered to gamble that night, and she's more than a little tipsy when Xichen indulges her in a dance or two.

He's a gentleman that offers to walk her back home, but she has other things on her mind. There's no better time like the present to do some exploring, especially after a night where she hasn't really gotten any new information or useful gossip.

So she leads him through town, quietly talking about nothing in particular. She leads him right toward the mines, with every intention of continuing to keep going. No matter how cold it is here at night, no matter how unsafe it may be. They just keep aimlessly walking.

Only to eventually wind right back up in town. Clara's wide eyed and blinks as she looks all around, before her gaze finally settles back on him.]

Either we've drunk entirely too much, or we're caught in a time loop.

[She's hoping for the first option, to be honest.]

closed to Gwen

[bossily]

[Clara's invited her over for tea in the room that she and the Doctor are sharing. It's cramped and full of their clothes that are strewn all about, but there's a small table and she's all too happy to have Gwen over for a chat. In the quiet, private space she's able to simply be herself.

There's no roles to play, no need to worry about putting on a performance to try and charm someone out of more information.

They've been sitting and chatting idly when Clara's mind shifts back to the mission, however. It's never far from her mind.]

Your thing. [She brings up, gesturing toward Gwen's arm.] Your arm...thing. Is it working here?

[It wasn't on the station. It stands to reason it might be now.]

closed to Marta

[bossily]

[It's potentially a terrible idea to invite who she assumes is Kovacs' rebound to a ladies night. Especially when Alina and Daisy are both working, and it's just the two of them quietly drinking tea in the cluttered little room she's sharing with the Doctor.

At least she cleaned up their scattered little treasures and clothes, leaving it nice and tidy for company. Marta is someone that's as well put together as she is, so it just wouldn't do to look anything less than immaculate. It doesn't matter how much of a dumpster fire her life currently is. Everything must look perfect.

She's even pulled out the fine china that she's managed to acquire from one of the mothers of her students, pretty painted little teacups. It's not the most exciting ladies night, which is exactly why Clara gives Marta a last minute change of plans.

The saloon is a much more lively and neutral sort of place. Perfect for sipping at alcohol instead of tea. Clara's about two drinks in when she abruptly changes subjects, drifting away from their discussing betting and playing cards.]

How have you managed to settle in here the past month?

[It's a seemingly innocent question. Polite on the surface. And she genuinely does want to know how she's managed to do here. She had seemed so unsure of herself and her place on the team back at Christmas. She wondered if that was any different now.]

closed to the eleventh doctor

[bossily]

[Sure, they had been given outfits before leaving the station. Clara had even made him pick out one of her rings she could wear as a fake wedding ring for their cover story. But now that they were actually on the mission and have been here a few days, they've managed to acquire a surprising amount of clothes and trinkets.

And maybe it's vain to enjoy spending so much time together in front of the mirror, trying on different combinations of things. But they're locked away in the private little world of their room, and Clara is keen to just enjoy these little silly moments between them.

They've just spent nearly a solid minute admiring themselves standing next to one another in hats. They look good together, she had to admit. And she's only mildly jealous of his Stetson, and discards her much simpler and uglier hat so she can just admire how nice her hair looks instead.]

Have you ever braided hair before?

[His important duties as her husband include helping her do her hair and get dressed every day. He's very lucky.]

closed to the twelfth doctor

[bossily]

Doctor, wait!

[The warning is barely hissed out as Clara balances along the edge of a path along the mines. The caverns here are far more dangerous than either she or the Doctor predicted, which is exactly why sneaking into them had been required in the first place.

They've made their way deep inside, and just about everything feels haunted with how quiet and dark it is. She's more than just a teeny bit nervous about going further, but she figures it'll be fine as long as they take it slowly.

But as the path gets narrower and narrower, her anxiety ramps up higher and higher. It would be so easy for him to go a bit too far ahead and topple over the edge. It's not like these are the sort of caverns that go on forever. If they fell, they'd likely only be injured.

She's not looking to let that happen, however. With careful steps she hurries forward, balancing the lantern up high in one hand as she reaches out to try and grab his hand with the other.]

This isn't safe. I'm not sure we should keep going.

closed to shinjiro

[bossily]

[After a couple of weeks, working at the saloon starts to get a bit mundane. Sure, there's excitement in getting to socialize and be in the hustle and bustle. But it feels like living her double life here isn't really turning out any information that will help find the orb.

So one night when a miner that typically doesn't show up comes in, Clara's attention is squarely on him. She brings him drink after drink as he orders, and is surprised when he orders something to eat. She's not big on any of the food in this place, but can't fault a guy for craving a little tasteless something.

It's when she goes into the kitchen to place and grab the order that she grabs Shinji, not letting him say no. She just grabs him by the hand and drags him along after her, leaning in so she can whisper conspiratorially to him.]

Listen. You've noticed how most things here are like clockwork, yeah? Something's off tonight, and I need your help in dealing with it.

closed to billy

[bossily]

[The best part about these great backstories they all come up with is the fact that everyone involved has to hold up their end of the story to make it all work. Her telling Billy that he's to be her older brother since he's in the first group to arrive starts out as simply just coming up with an idea and forcing him to go along with it.

Of course, having him show up first and "arrange" for her to become a schoolteacher at the school next door to the church was helpful. And getting to see him on a daily basis in passing has turned out to be nice. And being able to have someone here on the mission she has every excuse to just hang out with whenever she likes is also lovely. They're siblings, no one is going to question a devoted sister spending time with her devoutly religious older brother.

It's one evening after she's stayed late at the school when she pops over into the church to see him. She's probably bothered him daily on this mission, bringing him food or checking in to see if he's found any new information. She doesn't have any food with her this time, or any information. She's just here to see him, mostly.

And since he's playing his part, she takes no issue with slipping in to embrace him with a nice big hug once she's found him. The hug is accompanied by a smirk, since she knows he has to do his brotherly duty and hug her back. It's a great position for whispering to him so no one else can hear.]

Do you ever leave this place? I'm starting to think you're turning into a hermit.

closed to daisy

[bossily]

[Clara's more than a little reluctant to head to the stables. Not because she hates animals, but because she knows they'll be plenty distracting and she's focused on trying to be useful in this mission. She's so focused that a couple of weeks in she starts to feel exhausted.

Still, she trudges through her daytime hours as the schoolteacher Clara Doctor (please don't mock her name) and half of her nights as Oswin Osgood at the saloon. By the point she finally cracks and allows herself a little fun, she does it in the guise of looking for clues.

But it's not like the stables are going to have anything other than horses and other various livestock. That doesn't stop her from taking Daisy by the hand and leading her there anyway. Which is where they currently are, Clara currently attempting to figure out how a saddle works.]

It didn't seem this complicated when I watched someone else do it. I'm sure it's perfectly safe!

[It better be, because she's getting Daisy on one of these horses.]

closed to kovacs

[bossily]

[In the weeks that follow their poorly executed conversation at Sindown, Clara quite literally throws herself into the mission. She spends most days teaching, and most nights working at the saloon. Mornings are typically spent helping Dr. McCoy with lists and rationing at the clinic, and she gives him any of her free afternoons as well. The late nights are all hers though, and she uses them to try and improve her skills.

It's hard to shake the feeling that she should be better, should be something more. The other orbers depend on having useful team members. Lists and taking care of people is well and fine, but it doesn't really do anything in the long run. So she throws herself into practicing when most everyone else is either asleep or hidden away at Sindown for the night. Some nights it's practicing with the throwing knives Itachi insists she needs better focus with, others it's the magic Sabriel is kind enough to try teaching her.

Tonight she's gotten her hand on a shotgun, and is currently attempting to figure out how to use it on her own. She's lined up a row of already cracked glass bottles and jars she found in the general store's trash, and is trying to figure out how to best take aim and fire. Her first few rounds have her missing completely, and cursing under her breath in annoyance. She's on a limited number of rounds here, and although she has a small pouch of bullets with her she's not looking to waste them all trying to hit glass off a fencepost.

Clara's so absorbed in attempting to do well with the task that she isn't particularly paying attention to anything going around her. It's so late and she's out past the stables far enough that she's sure she isn't disturbing anyone. The thought of someone else being out in the cold, late night air all the way out this far doesn't even cross her mind.]