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

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?

[bossily]

What, to drink?

[She plays her part even as she leans in a little like she might with any other customer here. It's easy to play flirtatious, but she doesn't need to be with him. Her mouth is in near his ear as she whispers to him.]

Or are you here looking for information?

[Because she has suggestions for either, depending on what his interests are here tonight.]

[cruelyethuman]

[Mouth open to answer, Gleb stops- hands freezing against the table top as he swallows. The twitch is susceptible, but Clara might see it anyway. Being close enough to see his eyes grow just a little colder, the smile slipping from friendly to practiced in the blink of an eye and when the words do come, all traces of the native accent is gone.]

Information. This might be a place where we will not be overheard.

[Another twitch, like a flipped switch, and Gleb smiles back at her, placing a few coins on the table.]

Make it a double of whatever you've got that isn't watered down.

[bossily]

[She has to say she's impressed with how easy it is for him to slip between accents and expressions. He does it as easily as she does, which is admirable. There's a moment where she's left looking and smiling in appreciation, but then she's slipping back into her role and sliding his coins off the table.]

Be right back.

[Her cockney accent is used as she winks and heads over to get him something, leaving the coins with the barkeeper. She's back in a matter of a minute or so, leaning in close from behind him as she sets the drinks on the table.]

There's rooms upstairs. The one on the far right's empty. Drink your fill and meet me up there. No one's gonna hear us.

[cruelyethuman]

You know just how to lure a man, don't you?

[He smiles, drink in hand as he watches her pretty face. The swish of her dress as she moves, the sway of her hips. There's something clever about her, fox-like and slick, and Gleb likes it. His smile grows as his eyes flick to the upstairs, before coming back to hers.]

Sure thing, ma'am. As soon as I've had enough lubrication in me, I'm all yours.

[Gleb stays in the main room, sipping his watered-down drink and watching the people. The laughs, the sullen ones in the corners, the women swishing by in a cloud of sweet-smelling perfume and the vague undertones of sweat. He waits for twenty minutes, elbows planted on the table and the drink is gone, before making his way upstarts, finding the room.

He slinks in without knocking, closing the door behind him to lean against it.]

Hello again, ma'am.

[bossily]

[The best part about staying in a room at the saloon is she can pop upstairs whenever she needs a quick break. And she has no doubt that he'll make his way on up. For anyone overhearing it might seem like she's eager to get him alone so she can get her hands on him, and it's easier if everyone thinks they're insanely attracted to one another and are keen to have a romp because of it. The more flirty she comes across to the miners and other people in town that come in here, the less obvious it'll be she's using her flirting to get information.

Or in this case, trade information with a handsome face.

And oh, when he steps into her room he certainly does look handsome. Dark eyes that seem entirely too eager to be here with her, the lack of knocking more an amusement than a surprise by this point. She's standing close by the door when he enters, close enough that she can reach off to his side and lock the door.]

I assume you have enough lubrication in you to get the job done?

[She teases, not about to let go of that little line from earlier. But she's laughing it off, no real prodding meant by it. And she motions for him to follow her into the tiny space she shares with the Doctor. Their clothes are neatly stacked and piled around the room, little trinkets and odds and ends they've picked up resting on the lone table in the room. The dress she wears as a teacher is hanging up nice and neat on a hook on the wall.

The only real comfortable sitting space is the bed, which she nods over toward. He's welcome to sit if he likes.]

[cruelyethuman]

[Eyebrow raised, Gleb smiles back, open and friendly-like as she reaches around him to lock the door. The sound of the bolt falling in to place, sharp like a gun shot in the quiet of her room.]

Almost, ma'am.

[As he kicks off from the door, but he doesn't sit. Just walks around the room slowly, hands clasped behind his back as Gleb slides off like a borrowed coat. His shoulders square, back straightening and his head held higher during his careful stroll around the clearly shared room.

Clara looks at home in the midst of it. The clothes and the knick-knacks, the ease in her posture.]

I came to ask for a favor.

[One that would grate just as much as the sand that has been seeping in to everything from his clothes to his hair, to the bed roll. Crunching between his teeth and settling in his beard. But needs must and he looks at her, stopping in front of Clara.]

Please, hear me out?

[bossily]

[Clara at first thinks he's here to follow up on his request for a drawing. But if he was here for that he likely would've bluntly said so by now. This is another favor he's come to ask of her, and she almost finds herself asking why he'd choose her.

Of course, she doesn't ask that. She's honestly pleased that he feels like he can come to her to ask. So she gives a slight nod in agreement that she'll hear him out.]

Go on. Tell me what you need.

[Outside, the sun has almost set. It's getting dark in the room, but she doesn't pull away to light the lanterns. Not yet. Curiosity wins out over practicality for now, eager to hear what she could possibly do for him.]

[cruelyethuman]

The mission- [a halting explanation as his gaze slides from her face to the window behind her. The view outside that looks more like the Wandering Isles than Ravka.] the words whispered just as I vanished from the station.

[Betrayal and sabotage on the earlier ones, and so much easier to fulfil because of it.]

I need to obey someone for twenty-four hours.

[And with that, his eyes find her again. Locked to hers, as his jaw clenches. He could throw it away, leave this one alone and come back without this one victory, had he been anyone else.

But he wasn't, he isn't and if Clara refuses, he will have to keep trying. Until there's no on left to ask.]

[bossily]

[Even in the growing darkness of the room, her face lights up with that question. Someone wants to give her complete control over them for an entire day? The control freak finally has someone willing to let her live her wildest dreams?

She takes the responsibility very seriously, of course. He wouldn't be asking her if he wasn't truly needing the help. And given she had gone to Alina for her goal...

Actually, that just makes this whole thing all the more amusing. Of course she and Kirigan would end up with similar personal goals. Maybe they're more alike in some ways than she originally thought.]

I had to let Alina make all decisions for me, for an entire day.

[Her eyes stay on his for a few more moments, before she takes her dimpled smile and turns away. She's become more used to using the charter magic after working in depth with Sabriel. She had shied away from it at first, but now it's simple for her to look within herself and find just the right charter mark to call upon.

A small flame forms on her fingertips, growing slightly in intensity as she goes to the lanterns and candles around the room to light them using the magic. She pauses lighting three candlesticks in a candle holder, glancing up and over at him.]

Tell me when you'd like to start, and I'm yours for the entire day.

[cruelyethuman]

[Had his gaze not already been locked on Clara's, they would have snapped up. But he does widen his eyes at the name, the insinuation of similar goals and maybe it had been a mistake to now compare his goals to everyone else on the station. To know who might be more like him.]

And how did it go?

[Alina was- soft. Kind, even, when directed at anyone else. But he cannot imagine giving that sort of power to her and expect it to not corrupt that part of her that is so unlike him.

He follows the fire with his eyes, flicking from the light hovering over her finger to her face.]

You said you didn't have- magic. How- [before snapping out of it, eyes front again to watch the window, only keeping track of Clara out of the corner of his eyes.]

It stated that I had to 'obey every command for a day', I took that to mean twenty-four hours or it might simply be from the sun rises and until it rises again. I have a day off from the mines two days from now. How does that fit with your schedule?

[coordination]

I know him.

[ Yzak mutters as he sends a glance over his shoulder to see who Clara's pointing out. ] Bit of a mess. Fucked up his arm the other day and I just so happened to have the time to help him out.

[ Yzak, who has established that he is a private doctor, has still put on the image of being kind enough to help others if he had the time (and in some cases, if they had the cash). So people around town have gotten a pretty good impression of him. ]

[bossily]

[Clara fixes him with a look at his saying he actually helped someone with something medical. She's willing to tell other people the story they came up with, where he saved one of the children she was a governess for years ago. But she hadn't thought he'd actually have to step up and do anything medical.]

Did you get anything useful out of him when you did?

[Which is really the only important part about learning Yzak has already met and assisted the guy.]

[coordination]

[ Good thing for all involved that Yzak not only knows the amount of first aid any soldier and commanding officer would know, but has Charter magic to sneak in when he can. ]

Unfortunately not.

[ He lets out a small, frustrated noise. ]

That seems to be the case for a lot of people, here.

[bossily]

I think the lack of anything useful is telling.

[She tries to reassure him, reaching over to pat his shoulder. It's not like there have been any big leads yet, and some people have been here for a month. So it's only natural to feel like everything is going in circles at this stage.]

It almost seems as if everyone here is talking us in circles. Though not intentionally.

[coordination]

[ He's impatient, thirsty to succeed in general, and especially driven to orb recovery. HE AIN'T LIKING THIS!!

He crosses his arm, scowling some. Not at Clara, though: ]

It does. That's why I'm quickly getting tired of going along with it.

[bossily]

[Clara can understand his impatience, but still reaches out to press her hand against his arm as a means of getting him to stop and listen.]

What do you think might happen if we stopped?

[Stopped questioning, stopped trying to play their parts. She's curious about what might happen.]

[coordination]

[ He does stop, listen, regards her carefully when she says those words. It's something he's wondered himself. Which is good, he deduces, if others on the team are thinking similarly. ]

I don't know. But I've considered the possibility more than once, by now. Breaking the "cycle" to see what comes of it.

[ You ever just wanna go apeshit Clara.]

[bossily]

[As a matter of fact, she does. Often.]

It's something we should consider, if we run out of other ideas.

[Or patience.

It's not something she'll risk doing just yet, not wanting to expose everyone and ruin the mission. Not even her impatience will have her doing things quite that dramatic. At least not without consulting the others first.]

What's the worst that could happen, right?

[Insert flashbacks to when things went to hell in Gyeongje here.]

[coordination]

It might get us something of better use towards our goal. So I agree, we should keep the idea closely in mind.

Since thus far it's felt like we haven't made much progress. Not enough that I'm happy with, anyway.

[ And Yzak is a perfectionist who strives for progress. ]

[bossily]

You're like me. You want to be able to look at a puzzle and solve it right away.

[There's a slight laugh as she says it, because she really does understand his frustration. It doesn't feel like any of their missions have been straight forward. This one seems even more challenging than any of their previous ones.]

But have patience, at least for now. And in a couple of weeks if nothing has panned out, we'll break character and see what happens.

Saloon

[spacedisaster]

[ Watching Clara move around the saloon and captivate the hearts of many with her charm is endlessly entertaining. It also shows that she's used to working with children.

Peter is behind the bar, all dressed up and serving drinks, cleaning the spilled alcohol from the wood before it gets stained, and listening to any interesting conversation to try and find as much information about the orb as he can. Tonight, however, he's had to hear one of the miners talk about the same old story - involving his cousin, a mountain goat, and a kitchen set on fire - for the fifth time, and he welcomes any extra distraction.

He meets Clara's eyes and smiles, then starts mixing a couple of drinks for her to grab once she approaches the bar.The fact they work together gives them more room to interact and speak without looking suspicious. ]

Somehow I'm not surprised, ma'am. [ Who would resist you? Peter is not making a terrible texas accent for once, opting simply to go with his natural mid-western one that he rarely uses. He rests his elbows on the wood, smiling. To any other onlookers, it might look like he's just as charmed by her as the rest of them, but Peter only has eyes for a certain green lady. ]

One of those days, you should try fake fainting, just to see just how many of them will catch you before you hit the ground. [ Then in a lower voice, he adds. ] Don't waste time with the miners to your left, they have nothing new to say today. Unless you're interested in mountain goats.

[bossily]

[He's handsome and sweet, which makes it easy for her to play right along. Though she has to admit the idea he's put forth is pretty tempting. If only to see if anyone actually would break her fall.]

Dunno if any of them would be sober enough to properly stop my fall.

[She laughs as she takes hold of the drinks, giving him a playful wink as she slips away to go deliver the drinks. She's back after a couple of minutes, with a fresh round of orders. As he's taking care of them she leans up on her tiptoes to lean over the counter, trying to act like she's flirting with the barkeep.]

I'm starting to think we're not going to find out anything useful from any of the miners. At least not the ones that come here.

[Which really, is a disappointment. It almost feels like she's exhausting herself doing the whole double life thing for nothing.]

[spacedisaster]

[ Peter might not be flirting for real, he's got a girlfriend after all, but he can compliment people easily and Clara does paint a pretty picture. She's also fun and witty, and it's impossible not to like her. ]

Good point. But if no one caught you if you tried to faint, I would be offended on your behalf and very disappointed in the townsfolk.

[ He waves her goodbye after that wink and goes back to his duties, serving a few more drinks and making sure no one's causing too much trouble. Once Clara reappears, he goes to her side immediately, a smirk playing on his face as they talk, playing with the supposed flirting but speaking in a low voice. ]

You might be right, no one seems to say or do anything out of the ordinary. In fact...have you noticed how often they repeat themselves? Same stories and jokes every night. As if they follow a script.