Board Thread:Roleplay/@comment-25808351-20200326185554/@comment-28358106-20200331024448

Several miles from the city, a trade settlement sits off the road. It isn't a place for common folk, but a rest stop for the road-weary, or a destination for those with nowhere else to go. A large tavern whose battered sign is barely legible is nearly empty. The few patrons inside don't speak to each other in the smoky, dim lamplight.

But those who have rented the basement room have different ideas.

In a corner, Rose is in a dead sleep, her breath deep and sputtering from the drink that has put her out. Bailey lays on her stomach atop a huge cask, her chin resting on her folded arms as she looks down on the others. Juno strums a soft melody, little more than a chord exercise, as she sits cross-legged on a crate.

"I still don't understand why we had to leave tonight," Juno sulks. "I haven't seen a feather bed in months."

"I slept on one yesterday." Bailey chirps with a satisfied smile.

"No, you fell asleep on the pile of feathers from the ducks you plucked for yesterday's dinner." Juno pauses and looks up over her shoulder with a scowl.

"Same thing." Bailey manages a shrug.

"We are here because our patron saw fit to send spies to watch our meeting." Dorian occupies the lone chair in the room, an old wooden antique that looks as if bits of it had broken off decades ago.

Juno turns to him. "And what's the problem with that? It's not as if any of us would have done anything worth spying on."

"If you had spoken to him as I did, you would understand the kind of...creature he is. He would have tried to find out anything about any of us, and then used that information to his advantage---particularly for those of us who have something that would be better off hidden."

Juno goes pale and instinctively reaches up with one hand, feeling the top of her head. Already they were beginning to grow back.

"...You...don't think that he would..."

"I most certainly do. If he knew who you were, you would be bound and off to Torwood before midnight of the next day.  He is the sort of man to whom power is everything.  Believe me when I say I recognize it.  I would not take this contract unless I thought I had a great deal to gain from it, and I'll be damned if I will take one from him again."

Juno looks down, lost in thought. Bailey reads her expression.

"I wouldn't worry 'bout it, Juno. You'll be okay with us.  We can keep you looking okay."

Juno doesn't answer. Rose's contribution to the conversation is to wake just enough to wipe the drool from her mouth and drop back into a snore. Bailey turns her attention back to Dorian, her voice going somewhat quieter.

"So, boss...what's the plan?"

Dorian doesn't immediately answer. He rubs the stubble on his chin, then adjusts the lantern beside him.

"We shall talk about it tomorrow, when Rose awakens. I don't want to have to repeat myself."

With that, he settles in his chair a little more, and tilts the open letter in his hand to catch the light so he can read it again.

(End)