The sniper retrieved his hand from Doug\u2019s grip, regarding him with as much recognition as one would towards a table lamp or chair. Doug recognised the focused detachment of a man who doesn\u2019t make friends with people because it will only make it harder to kill them one day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fine, thank you. 724 metres, and we have tools for measuring that sort of thing now,\u201d came a frank reply before Parkinson turned and walked away, making his way to the other side of the mingling group where Blaise had gravitated towards Annie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annie\u2019s behaviour towards Blaise could not be described as anything less than sisterly. She had an arm around the mercenary and was making sure that the others in her party were amiable towards her. Annie noticed Parkinson stalking about and waved him over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cParky! You should hear some of the stories Blaise here has from back in the day! She\u2019s quite the shooter!\u201d the Texan babbled, her face beaming with earnestness. Blaise shifted awkwardly, uncomfortable with the attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnnie, I\u2019m not sure here and now is the best time and place,\u201d she muttered, glancing around as though she expected someone to be eavesdropping. The Salmanic people weren\u2019t paying attention to them, the staff consisting of a couple of receptionists on the front desk and some security guards standing next to a door that led deeper into the building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annie was about to wave off Blaise\u2019s concerns when Parkinson cut in, eyes ever on the job at hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat did you say to the soldier in the end? Does he know…?\u201d said Parkinson under his breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe knows only what he needs to,\u201d replied Blaise in an equally hushed tone, \u201cI told you I didn\u2019t want him involved. Why, is there going to be a problem?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two stared each other down, Blaise holding Parkinson firmly within her gaze as he considered the situation, the sniper glaring unblinkingly back with accusing eyes. It was Annie that eventually answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAh wouldn\u2019t worry about Parky, darlin\u2019. He\u2019s just never held water with them PSF fly-boy types. Something about an unfortunate encounter at a demonstration back when he was still just a kid. Ah think he can suck it up for a day or so though, this being a time for professionalism and all, right Allan?\u201d the smile Annie shot at Parkinson was so sickly sweet that those it was aimed at were at risk of contracting diabetes. Those that knew how to read Annie however \u2013 which Blaise did \u2013 knew that there was an underlying message to it which was simply \u201cand if you can\u2019t then trouble is bound to occur in your vicinity\u201d. That was the thing about Annie, she was a lady through and through but the moment you did something that disagreed with her she wouldn\u2019t hesitate to bring it to your attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Parkinson merely huffed at Annie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be fine so long as he realises I have no interest in being pals,\u201d the sniper muttered to Blaise. She couldn\u2019t criticise this attitude; it was one she regularly employed herself. Annie seemed satisfied enough with the answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow that\u2019s cleared up, what have you been up to since you branched off on your lonesome and became the big bad mercenary? You must have some interesting tales from your new line of work if you don\u2019t wanna talk about the old?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell we did just come off a job recently that became rather interesting…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Doug had been left with an unimpressed Harper who remained in a sour mood after her little confrontation with Thad. She shot the gentlemen a dirty look as she let out a scoff of derision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe makes this whole thing sound like a soddin\u2019 business retreat, he does. What does he expect us to do? Stand around in a circle and tell everyone our names and something about ourselves? \u2019Ello, I\u2019m Jess and I like to hit people in the face until they stop objecting?\u201d She complained with a roll of her eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGlad to know I\u2019m not the only one who thinks he\u2019s a bit of a prat,\u201d offered Doug as he peered over at the gentleman in question, Thad currently attempting to converse with Gratin to mixed results, \u201cStill, no harm in getting to know the people you\u2019re going to be working with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, well I don\u2019t plan on working with them any longer than I have to. If it wasn\u2019t for the fact I wouldn\u2019t last long on my own, I would probably stay clear of them. There\u2019s something off about the whole group.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just me that\u2019s noticed that then,\u201d nodded Doug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAn\u2019 that\u2019s why I like you, Doug. You and me are on the same page. But these other guys…they\u2019re a little too cliquey for my liking. They like their secrets. Even now, when it makes tactical sense to team up and share resources, they\u2019re still holding off on letting newbies into the group. I bet the only reason they\u2019re tolerating you is because your girlfriend\u2019s all cosy with them. I\u2019m struggling to get my head around that as well. What makes her so special?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cApparently she and Annie worked together once on another gig,\u201d Doug shrugged. Harper\u2019s face contorted in thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMusta been one hell of a gig. Blaisey doesn\u2019t exactly strike me as the socialising sort,\u201d Harper observed. Laughter echoed across the room as Blaise reached an amusing part of her anecdote. Doug\u2019s eyes narrowed at the rare sight of Blaise being amiable with what should have been a group of strangers. She was participating in the mirth, a grin on her face as she laughed along with the others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe\u2019s not,\u201d Doug muttered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thad\u2019s attempts to get to know the mage weren\u2019t going particularly well. Such opening lines as \u201cand what do you do?\u201d or \u201clovely weather we\u2019re having\u201d had thus far been ineffectual, Gratin continuing to stare off into space as though the particular line of questioning the Gentleman was employing were the openings of a new philosophical train of thought. What, in the grand scheme of things, can any of us truly be said to \u201cdo\u201d and can any variant in the set weather patterns of a particular planet really be described as \u201clovely\u201d? It had Thad feeling like the very mention of the word \u201chello\u201d would send him spiralling on an existential quandary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was either that or the Mage truly did find the speck of dust floating just above one of the light fixtures to be truly mesmerizing. It was hard to tell when two thirds of a person\u2019s face was covered by a decorative but non-emotive mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou seem to be far more inquisitive than your peers,\u201d the mage eventually pointed out as though this was the stranger\u2019s only interesting quality, the statement arriving out of the blue much to The Gentleman\u2019s surprise. Thad was just thankful that the mage was showing signs of participation, even if it was only to comment on his quirks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIs that a problem?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, just an observation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI see. You do strike me as the…um… \u2018observing\u2019 type,\u201d was Thad\u2019s rather weak response. Gratin merely shrugged at the man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou ain\u2019t much of a talker, are you?\u201d Gratin again shrugged. Thad waited to see if Gratin would say anything else, the mage resolutely staring off into the middle distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou know, I find conversation flows easier if both sides says somethin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat if I do not wish to say \u2018something\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI only wanna make your acquaintance and come to know you a little better, pal,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat purpose would that serve?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI find teams work together a lot better if the members get along with one another,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou have yet to offer me with any insight into your character,\u201d Gratin turned to peer at the gentleman as he spoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you wanna to know?\u201d Gratin considered this for a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have always been fascinated by the relationship between aetheric clumping and cognitive development. I have read many papers on the subject but they always failed to elaborate on the cognitive properties of the aether particles themselves. The peoples aether particles choose to bind with seem to me to be more of a conscious choice rather than a response to genetic or environmental criteria,\u201d Gratin offered. Thad felt rather like an engine that refused to start, his brain failing to enter the same gear as Gratin\u2019s and so merely stalled as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what you want to know about?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes. And Bees.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBees?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCertainly. They fly despite their weight and the size of their wings and yet they don\u2019t seem to be attune with any magical force that I can detect2<\/a><\/sup>. I would rather like to know how they do it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUm, I don\u2019t really know if I can help with that. I meant what would you like to know about me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh. I am not particularly interested in you, to be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAh, Well…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut then I\u2019m not particularly interested in most people,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI see.\u201d Gratin, as socially unaware as he was, felt like he may have made a faux pas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSorry?\u201d He offered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t be, I suppose idle chit chat must seem kinda boring when you can warp physics just by thinkin\u2019 about it,\u201d Gratin merely shrugged for a third time in response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thad grew tired of his attempts to get to know the mage and decided to take a seat next to Annie and the others with the intent of joining their conversation. Doug decided to follow suit, curiosity getting the better of him. Harper trailed behind him simply as she had nothing better to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSeems like this is the side to be on! What\u2019s everyone laughing at?\u201d asked Doug the moment he was close enough. Parkinson stopped laughing the moment he noticed Doug was there and went quiet. Blaise attempted to regain her composure, turning sheepish as she realised that she had just been caught talking about Doug behind his back. Annie however wiped a tear from her eye as she turned to address Doug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKa- err, Blaise was just tellin\u2019 us about some of the stuff the two of you\u2019ve been up to. Never a dull moment with you, is there Dougie?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, well, always helps to stay busy. Never could stand a bit of boredom,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo ah hear! How did the two of you meet, anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, that\u2019s quite the tale,\u201d taking a deep breath, Doug began to address his now captive audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo there I was, surrounded by 30 guys-\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was five. Seven tops,\u201d Blaise corrected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c15 guys. And they all wanted a piece of me-\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re jumping ahead,\u201d the gunslinger interrupted before Doug could get too far into his tale of epic heroics, exasperated, \u201cWe were caught in a double booking. A gang of human traffickers had kidnapped a load of little girls and two separate sets of parents hired us on to rescue their daughters. The gang were operating out of this grotty little pub so I decided to go and pretend to be a customer in order to stake the place out and learn the lay of the land before coming back under cover of darkness to take the arseholes out,\u201d she readjusted herself, getting comfortable as she settled into telling the tale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEverything was going to plan when suddenly this lunatic comes sailing through the window on a quad bike, scaring the shit out of everyone. He jumps off, the bike crashes into the bar and he starts brushing himself down and announces-\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHope you don\u2019t mind me crashing the party but parking around here\u2019s a real bitch!\u201d Doug cut in, laughing at his own wit. Blaise rolled her eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe next thing I know, the place is in chaos and Doug\u2019s fighting the entire gang. Everyone except the leader anyway. He starts running towards the basement so I decide to give him the gift of a bullet to the kneecap. He goes down and I start interrogating him to find out where the girls are. I manage to get the information out of him just as a guy is thrown over to us and realises I\u2019m there. I shoot him and a couple of guys peel themselves away from Doug to try and take me out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI did wonder why there were less of them but I was busy throttling someone at the time,\u201d Doug added with a grin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRight. So I get pulled into the fighting. I get driven over to where Doug is, Doug realised someone was getting close to him so he whirls round with a gun drawn, I sense the movement and do the same so there we were, at a stand-off with our guns trained on each other\u2019s head,\u201d said Blaise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen what happened?\u201d Annie asked on the edge of her seat. She was enthralled with the story, eagerly waiting for the conclusion. Blaise stared into Doug\u2019s eyes, Doug staring back. He had gone quiet, waiting to see how Blaise was going to finish this tale. Blaise\u2019s mind was busy replaying the events from long ago, when she had first looked into those eyes. At first they had been the eyes of a crazed man having too much fun inflicting as much pain as possible on those around him. As they had met hers, all intent left them. Doug had frozen up, becoming as still as a statue with his bionic fist tightly clenched around the throat of a gang member. His cigarette became loose in his mouth, succumbing to gravity and slipping out of its resting place, bouncing as it hit the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe had a change of heart. I decided the bigger threat was the guy with a machete sneaking up behind him and Doug and I teamed up from there,\u201d Blaise finished, breaking eye contact with her partner in crime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cReally? That was it? It sounded like he was about to kill you,\u201d said the perplexed southern belle. Doug coughed awkwardly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI thought she was someone else\u2026\u201d he said cryptically. He caught himself absent mindedly stroking his cheek and quickly stowed the errant hand in his pocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo how about you two?\u201d Doug asked in an attempt to change the subject, \u201cI am curious how you wound up with a guy like Thad,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thad took on a wry smile, both hands placed on top of his cane in front of where he sat. The hand on top rubbed the back of the one beneath it in a comfortable motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAh, now there\u2019s a story,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019d have to clear your schedule to hear all the details of that particular tale.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Annie rolled her eyes, fanning herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJust ignore him, sugahs. He\u2019s just tryin\u2019 to gussy up the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhich is?\u201d asked Doug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe met in the pub,\u201d replied Annie, to raucous laughter. Thad\u2019s upper lip twitched his moustache left and right in a fussy little gesture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow c\u2019mon,\u201d he stated, \u201csome of those times in the local bar could easily fill several books. Pages and pages of mischief, epic drinking and banter!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAh was due to marry another man,\u201d said Annie, ignoring her partner. \u201cMy father was always a stickler for tradition, arranged marriages being the way things were done in my old community. Anyway, I used to sneak out of the house at night and make my own little way into town.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhere she stumbled into me, literally,\u201d continued Thad. \u201cShe never could hold her drink.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd you can…?\u201d asked Doug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI partake in the odd occasional imbibement of alcoholic beverages, certainly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s a high-fallutin\u2019 way of saying you like to get as pissed as the rest of us, mate,\u201d said Doug, ever the plain speaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHeh…back then it was more business than pleasure. I always used to conduct business over a drink. I found it made my business partners more…negotiable, if you catch my drift.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat sort of business?\u201d asked Harper. \u201cConduct it anywhere I might know?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEver the curious sort, eh? You\u2019d think I was on trial!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019d quite like to know that too mate,\u201d added Doug, \u201cI think Jessie\u2019s much like myself when it comes to pubs, we like to create a mental roadmap of good boozers and who drinks in \u2019em.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, the business was whatever came along. Supply and demand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSmuggling…?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s one word for it. Sometimes the demand meant finding a supply that someone wasn\u2019t entirely willing to part with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThievery? Burglary?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet\u2019s just say that I used to move items around for clients. As for the pub, I couldn\u2019t tell you which one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI could,\u201d said Annie, \u201cit was the Crowned Pauper.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAhh, now I remember,\u201d said Thad. \u201cI used to buy the whiskey, and you used to lie about the small ring on your finger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m surprised you kept wearing it if you didn\u2019t want anyone to know you were engaged,\u201d Blaise noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, ah was rather fond of my fianc\u00e9, ah just wasn\u2019t ready to get hitched. Ah still had my best years ahead of me and ah didn\u2019t want to give that up. It also didn\u2019t help that ah found such a handsome stranger to spend my time with,\u201d Annie tickled Thad\u2019s beard as a sign of affection, causing the gentleman\u2019s cheeks to grow a shade redder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat happened to your fianc\u00e9?\u201d interrupted Harper, brow raised as she surveyed Annie, \u201cdid he find out about your night time activities and call the whole thing off?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Annie pulled her hand away from Thad and took to staring at her boot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cActually, he died.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh,\u201d was all Harper could offer, unsure if this was a sore subject or not. Annie certainly looked sad, having shrunk into her seat and put on an air of shyness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was fond of him. He was a reporter you see, writing an expansive expos\u00e9 on… to be honest, the details escape me. He didn\u2019t like talking about his work in case it got him into trouble too soon. Well the people he was writin\u2019 about didn\u2019t feel like bein\u2019 exposed…\u201d she took a deep breath and wiped a tear away behind a fan. Thad patted her on the knee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI put her in contact with a few associates in case her fianc\u00e9\u2019s assailants decided to come for her as well. They kept her safe until all that nasty business blew over. We lost contact for a few years until, by chance, we bumped into each other in another drinking hole in Undercit. We still had the same rapport and we haven\u2019t left each other\u2019s side since,\u201d he smiled at his partner, who lowered her fan enough to smile back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAw, that\u2019s sweet. A proper romance for the ages,\u201d summarised Doug. He grinned at the couple, Annie putting her fan away and grinning slyly back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMaybe, but it hardly compares to a shoot out being quashed just by getting a look at a pretty girl,\u201d she was clearly playing with Doug, eagerly watching his face to see if he\u2019d allow her to bait him. Doug merely shrugged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell I\u2019m an old romantic, me. I always know how to show a lady a good time,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHah, right, providing she\u2019s into bar brawls and shoot outs,\u201d Blaise scoffed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou haven\u2019t run off yet,\u201d Doug pointed out to her, wiggling a brow at her in mock-flirtation, \u201cso clearly I must be doing something right.\u201d Blaise\u2019s face reddened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s just… That\u2019s because… Oh, sod off,\u201d she said, getting up and leaving the group. Doug and Annie merely laughed at their friend\u2019s embarrassment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat girl always was too sensitive for her own good,\u201d the Texan said, earning a nod from Doug. The previous conversation now being thoroughly de-railed, he searched for a new topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo Blaise tells me you\u2019ve known each other for six years or so?\u201d Doug said, reverting back to small talk mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh yeah,\u201d Annie began, \u201cwe had some fun.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh? What\u2019d you do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSorting out gambling debts. She had some, went through hell an\u2019 back to fix \u2018em, it was a hoot,\u201d she waved a hand to indicate it was no big deal. Doug raised a brow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat doesn\u2019t sound like Blaise at all,\u201d he pointed out, glancing over at the woman in question, who had joined Gratin on the edge of the room. Blaise was the cautious type, the unknown being a cause of anxiety for her. She was no gambler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thad lent around his other half to address the other man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFirst thing to know about my darlin\u2019 Annabelle; she has one major flaw in that she\u2019s a serial liar. Even I can\u2019t tell what\u2019s real half the time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou love it though,\u201d Annie teased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo how\u2019d you really meet her? Blaise I mean,\u201d pressed Doug further. Annie sighed and huffed some hair out of her face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf ya must know, she and ah used to hang out in the same social circles. This was before I properly started seeing Thad you see, but after my engagement…fell through. I had a different beau; Alexander Garcia. I\u2019m sure… Blaise has mentioned him,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, she hasn\u2019t,\u201d Doug responded. This genuinely surprised the Texan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cReally? She and Al were like siblings, always looking out for one another. They were inseparable. Ah see a bit of him in you to be honest. You have the same sense of humour and he was pretty damn handy in a pinch as well,\u201d she paused to survey Doug for a moment and then shrugged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnyhoo, for two months ah was on Al\u2019s arm all cosy like which meant I got pretty familiar with his brother and friends, Blaise bein\u2019 one of \u2018em. I even worked a couple of jobs with \u2018em. They really were a hoot to work with,\u201d She smiled at some old memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut then me an\u2019 Al went our separate ways and Blaise an\u2019 Al\u2019s brother had their massive falling out\u2026 No one\u2019s really heard from her since,\u201d she finished. Doug\u2019s face took on a look of confusion at this information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHuh. Blaise said you\u2019d only met the once,\u201d he told her. Annie froze momentarily, her facial features doing the dance of someone trying to mentally rearrange a puzzle they were missing half the pieces for. Eventually she stared Doug right in the eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLook, Dougie, if you\u2019re hopin\u2019 ah can give ya\u2019ll some insight into your friend then you\u2019re outta luck. She\u2019s always liked to keep things to herself an\u2019 ah respect her for it. That lady\u2019s been through a lotta shit over the years an\u2019 ah only ever heard the footnotes. If you wanna know the real Blaise then you\u2019ll have to earn it. There\u2019s no cheat sheets for that gal.\u201d Doug took in this information, a contemplative look on his face as he took a drag from his cigarette.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou don\u2019t think Red\u2019s being \u2018real\u2019 with me?\u201d he eventually asked. Annie gave him a pitying look and patted him on the knee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAh\u2019m not one to say, sugah, but she\u2019s gotta like ya else she wouldn\u2019t be here. Take it slow and ah\u2019m sure you\u2019ll get your answers,\u201d she flashed him a reassuring smile. Doug still looked as though something was weighing on his mind, Doug making his excuses and getting up to use a nearby water fountain in peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gratin continued to stare off into the middle distance as Blaise approached him and took up a leaning position on the wall beside him whilst scowling at the floor in irritation. It was hard to tell if he even noticed her presence at first. When he did speak, it came as a surprise as Blaise had done very little to prompt any conversation out of him besides showing up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThese people seem peculiar,\u201d he said. Blaise glanced at him before peering around the room at their fellows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…You could say that. Of course they would probably say the same about our little group,\u201d she mused with a shrug. Gratin considered this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI suppose that makes us a good fit then. We are to work alongside them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDidn\u2019t Doug and I talk to you about this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOnly in the briefest of terms. You have seemed…distracted since we arrived here in Galmanoc.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI suppose I have been what with Doug\u2019s injuries and everything…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe seems to have recovered well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t think he\u2019d let on if he hadn\u2019t. He doesn\u2019t like people to worry about him,\u201d Blaise stated, fully aware that it was a half truth. Doug didn\u2019t like people worrying about his well being but he thought people better worry about where he was and what he could get up to if given the chance. It made things more interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHave you known this group long?\u201d Gratin asked, genuinely curious. You can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep and this group were certainly giving some new insights into his friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOnly Annie. The boys I knew vaguely before now accept for Thaddeus. He\u2019s new, I only got to know him over the past fortnight,\u201d this was an honest answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOn your little excursions into the city?\u201d Gratin queried, causing Blaise to hesitate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t sneaking off to have secret meetings, if that\u2019s what you mean. We needed to know the lay of the land and to gather supplies for our stay. Those excursions really were shopping trips. Annie helped me stay informed when it came to our business here,\u201d this was also true, to a point. At no point did Blaise go out purely to meet with Annie, there were always other errands she had to run on the way. The problem with talking to someone who can sense emotions though meant that they could tell if you were being less than truthful; all it took was the smallest bubble of guilt to give the game away. Blaise decided to go on the offensive rather than feel Gratin judging her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBesides, aren\u2019t you the one supposedly sneaking out to visit less than reputable establishments?\u201d this made Gratin\u2019s jaw twitch. He cleared his throat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am never going to live that down, am I?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry, I know you didn\u2019t go to a brothel. You always were the worst liar out of the three of us,\u201d she assured him, oblivious to the fact that honour actually belonged to her and that Gratin was probably the best liar in the group, self awareness not being one of Blaise\u2019s strong-suits. Gratin lowered his head, becoming very silent even for him. Blaise sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m not going to pressure you into telling me what you were doing. You\u2019re a grown man, what you get up to is only my business if you want it to be. I\u2019d just like a heads up next time you go on one of your \u201cexcursions\u201d just so I know not to panic when you disappear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSorry Mistress.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m not your mistress, Gratin. You know I don\u2019t like it when you call me that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI mean it only as a mark of respect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI know. My name works just as well,\u201d there was a lull in the conversation, Blaise joining Gratin in staring at nothing in particular for a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf there was something bothering you, you will tell me, won\u2019t you?\u201d Blaise eventually asked. Gratin tilted his head to stare at her, the pools of black glass that were the eyes of his mask boring into her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou know you can trust me. If you\u2019re worried about the monastery then it will be better to work out a plan together rather than to feel you need to sort it out by yourself…\u201d She continued, her features softening to show that she truly cared about whatever could be plaguing him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…I believe that trust is a two way street. I can sense your unease, Mistress Blaise. I know there is more to this situation than you are telling us,\u201d Gratin stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI… You\u2019re right, of course. We\u2019re teaming up with these people mostly out of necessity more than any past connections I may have held. Strength in numbers and so on. From the sounds of it, the terrorists we\u2019re after have a white mage as part of their group. That\u2019s why everyone here has had a sudden interest in you,\u201d Blaise explained. Gratin nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI shall be expected to counteract them?\u201d He assumed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSomething to that effect, yeah. I just don\u2019t want anyone to take advantage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI can assure you that I won\u2019t let them take advantage of me,\u201d Gratin reassured her. Blaise nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI know. In truth, it\u2019s not you I\u2019m worried about…\u201d she trailed off, her gaze passing across the room and falling onto Doug as he helped himself to some water whilst maintaining a conversation with Harper, The Scouse having decided to follow him rather than be left alone with the others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnnie and I share some past affiliations. I left, Annie didn\u2019t. Those affiliations are interested in people with specific backgrounds and skill sets and…well…Doug ticks most of the boxes…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI doubt Doug will be leaving us any time soon. I felt his discomfort at the mere thought of coming to Galmanoc alone. For reasons I can\u2019t be sure of, he seems fond of our company,\u201d the mage said upon divining her meaning. It did little to uplift her spirits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, you didn\u2019t see him that night on the ship-\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat night?\u201d a third voice asked from over her shoulder, causing her to glare at the new comer in surprise. Tupper had at some point joined them in leaning against the wall and was currently staring at them intently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo you mind? This is a private conversation,\u201d Blaise told him, her demeanour regaining the icy shell that usually formed when someone she didn\u2019t know particularly well turned up. Tupper was impervious to it, his warm grin protecting him from the social equivalent of frostbite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t mind at all! What ship night was it? I like ships, but I get sea sick if I\u2019m on them for too long,\u201d the bald man told them, oblivious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, you see by private I meant a conversation between just Gratin and myself. As in no room for you,\u201d Blaise pressed, hoping he\u2019d get the hint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s loads of room. This waiting room is massive. I\u2019ve seen train stations with less room than this!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, I mean…oh forget it,\u201d Blaise gave up, the simple naivety being too much for her well-worn cynicism. She took to staring ahead, her arms crossed over her chest in annoyance. Gratin glanced from his friend to the strange man that had joined them. He couldn\u2019t sense any ill-intent from the scarred man but there was something off about him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Can we help you with something?\u201d The mage ventured, hoping to be rid of the strange one quickly so he could return to helping Blaise with whatever was bothering her. It was clear that her head currently contained a lot of thoughts that required venting and he knew from experience that it was better to release the pressure quickly rather than allow her to wallow in her own anxieties. Gratin was generally inoffensive enough to perform that function for her. He had a logical approach that could cut through the knots of anxiety clouding her thoughts without her feeling like she was being ridiculed. Strangers had a habit of strengthening those knots though, her anxiety causing her to second guess their intentions and prepare for the worse. Tupper was no exception. He carried on the conversation, oblivious to the redhead between himself and the mage trying her best to mentally edit him out of her surroundings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNah. Thaddie just said we should all get to know each other so I\u2019m giving it a shot. You\u2019re a fire mage, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…That is correct, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo you can make fire just by thinking about it real hard?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat is a rather simplistic way of phrasing it, but yes,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCould you make some right now?\u201d Seeing no harm in the request, Gratin raised a hand and snapped his fingers, a green flame dancing above his outstretched index finger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCooool. What\u2019s the biggest fire you ever made?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…I-\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMine engulfed most of a factory, though I didn\u2019t use my mind. I mostly use whatever chemicals I have on me at the time. Most of my explosives are home-made!\u201d Tupper beamed proudly at the mage like a child showing a parent their latest drawing in hopes it would be pinned to the fridge. Gratin, however, was clearly finding it difficult to divine what was expected of him in this interaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s…um…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt must be awesome to just snap your fingers and make fire though! Do you have to chant a lot to make anything bigger, or is it basically pointing and shooting?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cErr, it usually depends on the mage. Chanting can help to focus the mi-\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat do you have to do to become a mage, anyhow? I had an aunt who used to say mages had to sell their soul to do it but I think she just didn\u2019t like magic,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI studied hard and practised. The monks certainly weren\u2019t interested in soul-based consumerism,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh. Does that mean you tried to sell your soul and they wouldn\u2019t accept it?\u201d Tupper tilted his head to one side in a display of confusion. Gratin felt exasperated, the number of times Tupper changed the direction of the conversation leaving the mage feeling dizzy from conversational whiplash. He turned to Blaise for help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMistress?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh no, I\u2019m not getting involved. It\u2019s what you get for encouraging him,\u201d she said, raising her hands and moving out of the way. Tupper took the opportunity to move closer to Gratin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo do you just do fire or is it combustion too? Can you make things explode? Do you wanna try it out on the bin over there? I could chuck a grenade in another one and we can see who makes the better explosion!\u201d Tupper asked, his face brimming with enthusiasm. Gratin felt like he had made a terrible mistake in breaking a habit of a lifetime and initiating a bout of socialization. He certainly wouldn\u2019t make that mistake again anytime soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All further conversations were cut short as a Salmanic employee in a pristine blue uniform in the form of a shirt, tie and neatly pressed trousers approached the group and announced their transport had arrived. They were quickly ushered out of the lavish lobby and into the dull beige corridors beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n There was some time to spare before they were due to meet Annie and her crew so the mercs undertook all the little tasks they knew were required when embarking on a job; the little everyday things that might not be possible for a while. They cleaned themselves, prepared their…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[71,72,32,31,68,33,37,89,22,23,92,9,73],"class_list":["post-316","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-mercenaries-tale","tag-allan-parkinson","tag-annie-stone","tag-blaise","tag-doug-mccracken","tag-galmanoc","tag-gratin","tag-jessie-harper","tag-new-dawn","tag-salmanic-incorporated","tag-salmanic-pipeline","tag-thad-the-gentleman","tag-the-mercs","tag-tupper"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.payneful.co.uk\/tales-of-sin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.payneful.co.uk\/tales-of-sin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.payneful.co.uk\/tales-of-sin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.payneful.co.uk\/tales-of-sin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.payneful.co.uk\/tales-of-sin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=316"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.payneful.co.uk\/tales-of-sin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.payneful.co.uk\/tales-of-sin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=316"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.payneful.co.uk\/tales-of-sin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=316"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.payneful.co.uk\/tales-of-sin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=316"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Doug's](\"http:\/\/www.payneful.co.uk\/tales-of-sin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/First-Meeting.png\")
<\/a>