Thorned Hammer

Back Alleys and Black Markets

Bidder gave Jenga a smile that held no warmth or amusement, cold eyes set above it. "IT is not charity. It is an audition. You'll be competing against those who have the same task as you. The winner will move on. The loser," She shrugged, clearly meaning they would be taken out of the running.

Jenga hesitated at that, looking back down at his task and over at the others. He wondered which one had the same job as he did, stealing rather embarrassing letters from a Basin Marshall.

Back Alleys and Black Markets

there, sorry for the delay dearest Handie

Back Alleys and Black Markets

And a few looked like doing just that, shifting their weight from foot to foot and shooting furtive glances about the room. Satisfied that that seemed to have gotten their attention, Bidder beckoned to her assistant who hurried forward and began passing out a single sheet of paper to each of the candidates.
"Each of you will be receiving a test on this form." She explained, returning to her seat. "Some of you will have the same test. If you complete them before the end of tomorrow, you're in. Any questions?"

"So, we have to pull a job before we get paid? Without any guarantee of payment?" Asked Jenga with a frown, having read his sheet already and flipping it over as if to look for directions. "I don't do that, I don't do charity work,"

Back Alleys and Black Markets

She rose to her feet then, stepping around the desk and further into the room amongst the possible recruits, hands clasped behind her back as she looked them over.
"If you are here then I presume you know what I'm looking for. One pilot, a set of muscle, one picker, and at least one skimmer." She continued, circling them at the same slow steady pace she had been using from the start, clearly not in a rush at all. "You also know, I hope, that I never higher off the street. YOu will have an audition and I will choose my crew out of those that manage to not bungle it."

"An audition? What is this a highschool musical?" Sighed Jenga tiredly, rubbing an eye with the heel of his hand. The Bidder passed in front of him then, her jaw twitching briefly as if in annoyance before she moved on.

Back Alleys and Black Markets

At last the Bidder spoke up, leaning back in her chair and resting her palms on the sheet of paper covered in ink before her. Her voice was cool and clipped, just like everything else about her, and betrayed age that did not show in her face.
"Glad you all found the place. That at least tells me that not all of you are, incompetent." Her eyes darted over each individual in turn, studying. Some of them she knew and had employed before, but there were plenty of fresh faces. She skimmed over Jenga, knowing him from other recommendations and for a moment letting her attention rest on the skinny figure off in the corner, a small looking boy. That had to be Roman, right she had heard of him as well.
"That's a good start."

Jenga had been about to doze off when the Bidder started talking, straightening up in surprise and looking her way with raised eyebrows.

Back Alleys and Black Markets

jooooooooooooooooin uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuus

Back Alleys and Black Markets

*Proceeding to butter BR up*

Back Alleys and Black Markets

Here is Basin





And the surrounding territories,

Back Alleys and Black Markets

Patiently Bidder waited, seated in a high back chair with her fingers steepled together and her elbows resting atop her desk and a heap of papers. Coolly she surveyed the talent gathered before her, about twenty people total in the dark room she called her office. Hm. A few promising looking prospects here and there she supposed, but not many.

Jenga stayed towards the back. not because he was shy or being considerate of those shorter then him, it was simply because he was tired and leaning against the wall felt good on his back. The surface was cool to the touch, a reprieve in the hot summer.
They had been standing around for at least 45 minutes now, he figured. Having been ushered in awhile ago by one of the Bidder's minions to stand here in front of her in a thick uncomfortable silence. If there hadn't been a promise of good pay, Jenga might have left by now no matter how good a recommendation from the Bidder could look. He had better things to do then just hang around in some platinum blonde chick's office all day!
Fidgeting uncomfortably he folded his arms across his chest, resting his chin on his shoulder and turning his eyes up to the ceiling, tracking the outlines of the air ducts and support rafters out of boredom.

Back Alleys and Black Markets

She speaks the truth hahah