[h2][i][b][color=f26522]Antedate: Far Sight[/color][/b][/i][/h2]

[i][color=gray]Featuring:[/color][/i] [@GingerBoi123][@Lucky][right][i][color=gray]Climacta, Day 15 10:15AM[/color][/i][/right]
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[indent][color=gray]The great city of Tyberia, alight with colorful bulbs all along its many alleys and storefronts, celebrates the near-closing of another year. Two days ago there was a light sludge snowfall, but activities resume as the streets are cleared and the walkways are safe for tourists and locals alike. Stalls show off their best ornamentation, their most popular goods, and their cheeriest voices. One alley in particular, Oring Lane, is no stranger to the festivities as a leather umbrella salesman traipses up and down its cobblestone path and a kabob vendor barely notices the winding line of hungry customers as he happily chats and cooks on his portable copper stand.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=gray]Were it not for the delightful mood and demeanor of all the cityfolk, the dreary clouds above that make the day feel like evening would damper the effects of hot cocoa and meat-and-veggies-on-a-stick. One Gnomish Winston Wicklowe is no exception as he struts away from the covered kabob vendor with two hefty cooked stick foods, one in each hand.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=f26522]”Good-bye for now, Artun!”[/color][color=gray] He takes a surprisingly large chomp out of the biggest chunk of meat from the right kabob. With a mouthful of meat he just manages to utter out,[/color] [color=f26522]”And don’t forget, I’m workin’ on a spiffy little gadget for ya!”[/color][color=gray] The young Human could only offer a quick wave in response as he continues his work.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=gray]The engineer patters his way back to his workshop, his foot trail winding behind him like a snake with legs as he checks out his neighbors’ window fronts. Eventually he makes it back to his own familiar door, a worn-out bronze handle and a cog door knocker set into a once-beautiful finished hickory door. He looks up at the handle just out of his reach and shifts one of the kabobs over to his left hand and fishes out his Adjustable Arm Angler (™), using the personal widget with practiced efficiency and letting himself in where a fire pit awaits him. Just before the door closes, he turns on his heels and snags the “Out For Lunch” sign from the door knocker.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=gray]With a content sigh, the Gnome makes his way to his favorite winged leather chair and settles into it, focused only on the fire and his lunch.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=gray]High above the bustling streets that hosted the festival, a lone figure sat in watch. The life of a vigilante deserter had not been kind, and Ilya had to remain in the shadows for even the most mundane of tasks. Even groceries had become an ordeal to not be recognised by Asgardian soldiers. However, it felt… [i]natural[/i] to the Elf. He surveyed the streets through the scope of his precious Silent Rose. In particular, he observed the movements of a small gnome with a shock of pink hair who was walking to his shop. Ilya would wait a few moments longer before making his move.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=gray]It might’ve been only a few seconds until the Loads of Loads front door swung back open, the jingle of the bell notifying Wicklowe of a customer. Winston would notice the familiar, tired face of Ilya Scarborough who had just pulled his face covering down. Not the tallest of Elves, but Ilya certainly had the more slender frame of his kind. The only noise was the rhythmic thud of his boots as he marched towards the counter. Ilya had come to pick up his custom order that the two had agreed upon about a month ago.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=gray]Word of the eccentric Winston Wicklowe had piqued the attention of the Whisper and he saw an opportunity to further evolve his arsenal. His last pair of binoculars were destroyed from one of Ilya’s personal operations. Turns out binoculars weren’t highly effective bludgeoning tools but it got the job done when nothing else was at hand. When it came for a replacement, Ilya wanted to see what this ‘Wicklowe’ was truly capable of.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=gray]Ilya said nothing as he walked into the store, instead finding a chair to block the door behind him, making sure that no one would be able to follow or enter without a decent bit of force. Once he had the entrance covered, he would simply await at the counter.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=gray]There is a lull in the air as it is presumed that Wicklowe doesn’t notice the new arrival, still stuffing his maw with roasted vegetables and grilled meats. There is something [i]disorderly[/i] about the way he eats, practically growling at the food as he slides a small onion off the long stick. There is much to be said about the way he eats like this alone on a daily basis. Though without any warning, the Gnome hops off his small chair and tosses the bare sticks into the fireplace. He twists his body to look at the Elf in his shop, reaching down to his pants and wiping the grease off before running one of his hands through his hair to slick it back ‘professionally.’[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=f26522]”Good morning, ehh--”[/color] [color=gray]Winston finishes combing with his fingers but looks at his stained hand that is now bearing a few loose hairs between his digits.[/color] [color=f26522]”Emmett?”[/color] [color=gray]His feet quickly take him from the little space that was opposite the front counter and around to the built-in ramp that brings him just below Ilya’s eyeline. Behind Ilya is the small winged leather chair and a fire suitable for a Gnome but not quite enough to heat up the whole store by itself. Thankfully some rattling heater units line the wall’s floorboards.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=gray]Winston slides a large, leather-bound book from one side to between the two of them. With plenty of familiarity, he grabs at the center of it and the cover and pulls it open, only about two or three pages off where Ilya’s order is. With only a bit of verbal pauses and rough paper-handling, he finds it.[/color] [color=f26522]”Ah! Ilya! Scarborough.”[/color] [color=gray]He looks up at the Elf expectantly.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=gray]Ilya watched as Winston would sort himself out from his meal. There wasn’t much point to addressing the Gnome’s original mistake or his general cleanliness. Wicklowe got there in the end, so what did it matter? Although, it seemed the rumours were true regarding his quirky mannerisms and behaviours. Ilya gave the Gnome a small nod as he was addressed.[/color] [color=#4688C2]”Yes… I’m… sorry I have butted in during your meal…”[/color] [color=gray]The Elf answered quietly, voice afflicted with lethargy. While he did mean his apology, it probably didn’t sound like it.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=gray]The engineer’s stubby index finger is pressed against Ilya’s name in the index, some basic info scrawled out in the following lines but it is relatively empty compared to other customers. Ilya’s apology evidently went over his head like a paper dirigible, now turning large sections of the book to a separate area where full invoices are written out.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=f26522]”Ah, yes. Custom binocular goggle set, or as I like to call it, the [b]Ocular De-Obfuscator[/b]! Complete with your requested specifications: dual foci lens, mana-powered low light-vision, and ultra-cool looks!”[/color] [color=gray]Winston bends over to retrieve a small simple wooden box with a hastily handwritten tag nailed to one corner of it. While moving quickly, he carefully sets the box down on the counter and pulls open the compartment from one end to reveal a set of inactive goggles, laid atop a linen cloth within a bed of straw for cushioning.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=gray]Light, adjustable leather straps are pressed and wrapped up neatly beneath two large sights that will sit comfortably over anyone’s face, more lining on the inside of the eyes. A half steel, half glass compartment indentation sits directly in the center with a light orange crystal, ready to go. Without picking up the set, Winston reaches into the box and his fingers press against particular pieces to demo the product.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=f26522]”This here will close the mana viewer, for when you’re tryin’ to be sneaky. This switch will set up the night vision compatible lens. An’ just flip these to enable zoom enhancement. Once it sets up like this, just turn the eyes to take a closer look; they work clockwise and counter-clockwise.”[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=gray]Ilya watched intently at the demonstration of the goggles, taking in every feature that was pointed out as he leaned forward to inspect the product further. Once Winston was done explaining, he would look over the goggles for just a bit longer before gently taking the equipment and stretching the strap over his head. Various clicks and whirs would whizz to life as Ilya set about using the features himself as well as shifting his rifle, using the sling, so he could test the combination of his sights with the goggles.[/color] [color=#4688C2]”This is wonderful, Mister Wicklowe.”[/color] [color=gray]He would compliment with just as much enthusiasm as usual… which was none at all.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=gray]Pushing the goggles up to rest on his forehead, Ilya would procure a pouch of roots and set it on the table. After pushing it closer to Wick’s side of the counter, Ilya would then produce a smaller pouch.[/color] [color=#4688C2]”And this… this can be considered my gratitude.”[/color] [color=gray]Ilya had a slight smirk as he set this one down too, the familiar metal clinking meant that Wicklowe had earned himself a small little bonus on top of the price.[/color] [color=#4688C2]”You can treat yourself to some more of those kabobs with this, no?”[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=gray]While the Gnome readily accepted the remaining payment and whisked away the first root pouch to some unseen place beneath the counter, his movement slowed with the introduction of the second. He eyes it warily, looking up at the Elf several times.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=f26522]”That’s not necessary, [i]Whisper[/i]. If you’ve roots to spare, give it to the needy.”[/color][color=gray] He reaches out and pushes the pouch back across the counter to Ilya.[/color] [color=f26522]”You can find ‘em all up and down these alleys.”[/color] [color=gray]The engineer murmurs under his breath, muffled by his bushy beard and mustache.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=#4688C2]”You know of my nickname? Well then… you understand why I cannot simply roam the streets.”[/color] [color=gray]Ilya pointed out before pushing back the pouch.[/color] [color=#4688C2]”I do not care what you do with these roots, but I insist you take them. Or I will simply leave it on the counter when I leave. Your choice.”[/color] [color=gray]The Elf shrugged nonchalantly.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=gray]Winston huffs, setting both hands onto the counter’s edge and leaning in towards the Elf now.[/color] [color=f26522]”Yes, I’ve heard that nickname,”[/color] [color=gray]he drops his tone to be quieter, even as he knows nobody else is inside the shop and, thanks to the chair Ilya pushed up against the front door, nobody will stumble into their new conversation.[/color] [color=f26522]”After the first time you came in and put that order in, I asked around. An Elf, quiet as the breeze along the walls and expert sharpshooter. Takes measures to not be seen or heard. There are rumors, kid.”[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=gray]He seems to be focused on Ilya’s presence and what it could mean for him. For [i]the cause[/i]. Talking about the money is the least of his concerns for now.[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=f26522]”Are you sure you don’t want to meet those you can help?”[/color][/indent]

[indent][color=gray]Ilya raised an eyebrow. It seemed that some other rumours might be true, if what Wicklowe would be insinuating.[/color] [color=#4688C2]”I do my best work from afar, Wicklowe… but if you think there are those I can help while doing that, then I’m all ears.”[/color] [color=gray]The sniper would lean forward slightly as his tone finally had a shift of emotion. An air of gravitas fell over the shop.[/color] [color=#4688C2]”What do you have in mind?”[/color][/indent]

[hider= After Action Report ]
- Winston enjoys some kabobs
- Ilya covertly picks up his custom order goggles
- Winston hints at helping [i]the people[/i] to Ilya[/hider]