JENNA: * Jo's bid to find the wagonmaster goes smoothly, though she shortly discovers the job isn't at all what she expected. It seems shady, more or less, and he wants it done right away. She's about to drop the matter, but his desperation and double pay make her reconsider, and she decides to go along with it. With any luck, she reasons, she might still make dinnertime -- the plan is straightforward enough.

JUSTIN: * Shane isn't quite so lucky about finishing up his bathing in private, and the company only encourages him to speed up the process almost to the point of making it worthless. He arrives back at their room not long after his initial departure, feeling even more tired (albeit more clean) than he was. He takes to his cot immediately, stripping down to his pants again and covering up with a thin sheet. Sleep takes him quickly, and it doesn't seem like he's going to wake as dinner time looms closer.

JENNA: * Unfortunately for Jo, her job does not go as planned. So badly does it go awry, in fact, that it's several hours after dinner before she even thinks of making her way back to the inn -- and at least one of those hours was spent hiding behind a heap of refuse in the hopes it will put her pursuers off her track. Once she's sure she's safe enough, she heads back, but even then she doesn't go in the front entrance, opting to climb in the window from the beach. She misjudges the distance to the floor, however, and takes an ungainly tumble, nearly colliding with Shane's pallet. For a moment, blinded by a throbbing pain in her leg, she just lies there and swears under her breath.

JUSTIN: * The sudden sound of a body hitting the floor jerks Shane out of his nap, and he's halfway off his bed before his eyes even awake. He immediately stumbles, nearly taking a spill himself, when he realizes it is Jo and not a thief or worse. It takes another moment for him to gain the use of his voice, the room still blurring and spinning slightly as he adjusts to wakefullness. "What... Jo..." He drops back on his cot, slowly rolling onto his stomach and crawling to the edge to squint at her. "What are you doing down there?"

JENNA: * It's another several moments before Jo can bring herself to respond, slowly easing herself upright with a hiss of pain. "Job.. could have gone better," she grits, edging away from the cot in the hopes he won't get a good look at her injuries. "Wasn't quite what I bargained for," she adds, though this explains approximately nothing at all.

JUSTIN: "Job? Job..." Shane's brain slowly catches up with her answer. "Jo! Why didn't you... I mean, if--" He pushes himself up to arms length, giving her a suddenly wide-eyed look. "You're injured!" He tumbles out of bed, rushing for their packs and the first-aid supplies.

JENNA: "It was unexpected," Jo mutters evasively. "He wanted someone on it right away." She shakes her head, trying to get to her feet. "It isn't bad -- I can clean it up." She fumbles, however, and ends up back on her rear. The injuries, one above her knee and one below, appear to be near misses from gunshots, though neither one is very deep.

JUSTIN: * Shane snorts, dragging the packs back over to her and crouching down. "That's what you said last time, and you passed out on me." He leans over to give the wounds an inspection, however, and rubs his jaw thoughtfully. "Well, they could be worse." He shoots her an angry look. "You could have lost your whole leg from the knee down. What were you thinking?" He stands back up, hooking his arm through one of the straps on the backpack, and then offering her a hand to help her up.

JENNA: * Jo gives him an aggravated look, letting him help her to her feet with a huffy sigh. "He didn't say they'd have guns. He didn't say they'd have large dogs, either. I wouldn't have taken it if I'd known." Which is probably why he didn't tell her, she reasons wearily. "I need a bath," she says after a moment. "Hiding places were in short supply." She wrinkles her nose at the smell she's giving off.

JUSTIN: * Shane is already leading her toward the door, slowly but steadily. "You can have a bath, after I make sure you get the wounds properly cleaned." He opens the door and helps her down the hall toward the bathing room, the corridor even quieter at this hour. He lowers his voice when he continues. "Just what did you take, and from who? And /why/? We don't need the money /that/ bad." He's somewhat grouchy -- partly from being woken up, partly from being uninformed about all this. He surely would have protested.

JENNA: * Jo gives him a sideways look, some annoyance in her expression. "I told you, I just went to ask. It didn't seem like it would be hard ... The wagonmaster wanted a guy investigated. I've done that kind of work before." She sighs wearily. "Things got out of hand." She tries to rest some weight on her leg and desists when she nearly loses her balance. "Damn it."

JUSTIN: * Shane helps her keep herself upright, aiming for the nearest bath. "And why were you investigating this man?" He sits her down on the edge of the tub, and gets some water running. He feels tired again -- even having just gotten a day's worth of sleep. "Legitimate reasons, I hope?"

JENNA: * Jo's expression becomes momentarily weary. "Well, in case you hadn't noticed, this isn't the most upright and noble town ... the wagonmaster said this guy was under suspicion for dabbling in the slave trade." She leans over let the water flow over her fingers for a moment. "Obviously I didn't get anything at his house, but he owns a pretty big.. .. establishment.. I thought we could check there."

JUSTIN: * Shane gives her a sideways glance, suspicious and unsure. "After what happened when you went to his house? What makes you think you'll have any better luck at this... 'establishment' of his?" He sets the pack down, fishing out a few medical supplies, and then working on getting her boots off -- whether she wants his help or not.

JENNA: "I can do it myself," she mutters, face going red at his insistence on helping. "I said it's not bad.." She glances at the running water, shrugging. "It's worth a look, if he keeps two sets of books. Or if he's using it as a front for whatever else he's doing. It'll be easier to get in, at least, since we can pose as clients."

JUSTIN: "Just what sort of establishment is this?" Shane asks, ignoring her other comment and working her boots off anyway. He pauses after this, however, turning her another doubtful look.

JENNA: * Jo keeps her gaze fixed on the water, going slightly redder as she brings one hand up to scratch her cheek. "Well, it's a brothel," she says finally. "It's the perfect front for a slave ring, and since they're legal here .... it's not like we'd have to actually do anything ... Just get a legitimate reason to be there." She sighs, doubting this will go over very well.

JUSTIN: * Shane sits up straighter, dropping her boots with a clatter. "Legitimate /reason/?! To be in a brothel?!" His cheeks go bright red, but his face looks far more indignant than embarrassed. "We'll do no such thing. I wouldn't be caught dead in a place of that repute."

JENNA: "Then don't go," Jo growls, leaning to grab her boots from where he dropped them. "I can manage on my own. It's not like I'm going there to use the services, is it?" She frowns, thinking over her options. "Hell, if worst comes to it, I can pretend to work there long enough to get out of the way --"

JUSTIN: * Shane gives her a look of disbelief, mouth agape for lack of immediate words but a sure desire to state some. "Wha... You must be joking! After what happened to you this time, you think I would let you go there all by yourself?! And pretend to /work/ there? What on earth would you do if someone tried to hold you to that disguise?"

JENNA: "Make sure no one found his body," Jo grumbles, reaching for a cloth to start cleaning the wounds herself. "If you're going, then stop complaining about it ... we should probably wait a day, though.. if nothing else 'cause my leg hurts." She grins briefly, shaking her head.

JUSTIN: * Shane shakes his head, completely disgusted about the whole thing. He tries to distract himself with her wounds, but gives up quickly. Doing anything more would require either rolling up her pant leg -- which she wouldn't allow -- or removing her pants entirely -- which neither of them would allow. He gets to his feet, looking very grumpy. "I'm only /going/ for your sake. So I will complain as I please." He turns and makes for the door. "I'll wait in the hall in case you need me for anything."

JENNA: "I'll be fine!" she shoots after him, expression becoming grouchy as she turns back to the water. At last, she gives up and closes her bathing area, then strips down cautiously and begins to wash, grimacing as the water stains red. "Honestly," she mutters to herself. "Always making a big deal out of nothing."

JUSTIN: * Shane sits himself across from the bathroom door to wait, but it isn't long before he's pacing, thinking too much and no less edgy after all his resting. He can't necessarily blame Jo directly -- it's this damn city's fault, really. This doesn't make him feel any better, obviously, and his pacing and muttering continues.

JENNA: * Jo finishes as quickly as she can, not really in the mood for a relaxing soak, and binds her wounds before pulling on her now-ripped trousers and stalking, still damp, from the bathroom. Her stalk turns quickly into a limp, however, as her irritation isn't quite enough to take the edge off her injuries. She pushes her way out with a sigh, boots dangling from her hands.

JUSTIN: * Shane stops his prowling at the sight of her, turning to look at her leg with a hint of concern on his otherwise dour face, and then up to her eyes. "All set, then?" A pointless question, but he isn't sure what else to say. He drops his arms from his chest, and walks slowly toward her.

JENNA: * She nods shortly, apparently determiend to walk on her own in spite of a heavy limp. "I guess we missed dinner," she says after a moment, forcing a smile. "Have to eat a good breakfast." She stretches, wavering slightly, but manages to recover her balance.

JUSTIN: * Shane lets her go on her own for a moment, exercising some self-control, but it quickly disintegrates, and he finds himself reaching to help her again. "I think for now you can settle for some sleep -- you need it." He bites at his lip, brow furrowing. "There's some jerky, still. It should at least keep your stomach quiet until morning."

JENNA: * Jo sighs, accepting the help more because she'll receive it whether she likes it or not than any real need. "Yeah, that'd probably be good. She glances at him sideways. "Did you really sleep the whole time I was gone? You're probably hungry, too." She stares at the floor for a moment.

JUSTIN: "More or less..." Shane stares ahead as they walk, not really paying attention to what he sees. "I'm fine. I'll be all right until breakfast." He sniffs quietly, reaching for the door handle when they reach their room, and giving it a good twist and push. He leads Jo toward her cot, then immediately moves to find some jerky for her.

JENNA: * Jo sinks down with a another sigh, feeling all at once very weary. "You ought to eat anyway." She herself lies down on her pallet, stretching her legs out carefully before giving a long yawn, pillowing her head on her arm.

JUSTIN: * Shane makes his way back over to her, settling onto his knees by her cot and offering her the pack of jerky. "I might. You shouldn't concern yourself about it, I'll be fine either way." He takes his canteen and opens the stopper, offering it to her as well. "If you lost any blood, the food will do you some good. I'm fairly confident I didn't lose any in my sleep."

JENNA: * She scrubs her eyes and pushes herself upright, taking the canteen and drinking before chewing on some jerky without enthusiasm. She eats a few pieces and drops back down, yawning again. "Wake me if I'm not up for breakfast, all right?" she says, opening one eye to fix him with a stare that indicates this is not a suggestion.

JUSTIN: * Shane gets to his feet, long enough to find his way to his own pallet, and then reclines, lying on his back and staring up at the ceiling through the dark. "I will." He says quietly, then turns her a soft look. "Goodnight, Jo." No doubt he'll be up well before breakfast, having had so much sleep already.

JENNA: * For her part, Jo sleeps well through the night, leg only twinging once or twice, and not badly enough to wake her. She murmurs once or twice, as is her habit, sleep lightening as dawn approaches. Even so, she remains comfortably unconscious for quite a while.

JUSTIN: * Shane is up early, taking the time to do some quiet exercising in the far corner of the room. Eventually, he leaves the room to fetch breakfast for the both of them, returning not long after. He sets his plate on his cot, then crouches down beside Jo and gently nudges her with a hand. "Rise and shine, Jocasta -- breakfast."

JENNA: * Jo stirs very slightly, opening her eyes and fixing him with a groggy stare. "All right." She sits up slowly, swinging her leg under her and flinching slightly as the injured one strikes the floor. "Mm, forgot about that." She bends slightly to tug up the leg of her trousers, unwrapping the bandages to have a look at the wounds. In the morning, they seem even less prominent than they did the night before, and she gives a faint nod, satisfied, before turning to her food. "They shouldn't be a problem." She picks up her plate and begins eating.

JUSTIN: "All the same..." Shane drags a pack around and fishes out fresh bandages and ointment. "No sense in slacking off when you're almost complete." He muses, giving her a look that says all she needs to know -- he's going to rebandage them, whether she likes it or not. Not waiting for a response either way, he opens the jar of ointment and begins to apply it gently and moderately to her healing wounds.

JENNA: * She scowls at him slightly, but she continues to eat without comment, holding still when the ointment stings, then returning to her food. Her leg may be sore, but she'll be able to run, she reasons, if they end up needing to. "Thanks," she says as she finishes eating, though it's hard to tell whether she's referring to the food or to the bandaging.

JUSTIN: * Shane half-grunts a noncommital reply, focusing his attention on making sure he gets the wounds properly redressed without slipping up. Once the bandages are tied, he tugs her pant leg down again and sighs quietly, sitting back and examining the work through the tears in her pants. "Hm. You may want to change your trousers."

JENNA: "Probably." She sets the plate aside, digging in her pack for another pair. "I can mend those later, anyway." She gets to her feet, glancing at him with a shade of a grin. "Mind turning your back?" she asks drily, sticking her thumbs in the waistband of her trousers to indicate she might as well take care of it now. "I'll be quick."

JUSTIN: * Shane doesn't require another hint, quickly turning around and snagging his plate to distract himself. "Just say when." He says quietly, followed by shoveling some food into his mouth. He manages not to blush too badly, and she can't see his face anyway.

JENNA: * Jo slips out of her ripped trousers, tossing them on her cot before pulling on the cleaner and undamaged pair, giving a long stretch before glancing back at Shane. "I'm done." She grins at him, grabbing her canteen and seating herself, then taking a long drink. She then leans back, lying across the pallet and frowning a little. "We'll want to go in during a high traffic time.. that won't be 'til later.."

JUSTIN: * Shane turns his head slowly to peek a look over his shoulder, as if distrustful, then swivels his body to face her when he sees she's telling the truth. "How much later? We'll have a lot of time to kill if it isn't until tonight." He pops some more food into his mouth and chews slowly, watching her.

JENNA: "Well.. most places don't pick up 'til after sunset, but since it's always twilight here ..." She pauses, scratching her cheek. "I'm not sure .. maybe after lunch? It's a popular place, so it's probably always a little busy."

JUSTIN: * Shane nods absently, concentrating on his food again. "I suppose I should leave my coat behind for this venture." He gives his blue, uniform jacket a sideways look. "Probably best to look as inconspicuous as possible, no matter what the laws might say."

JENNA: * Jo nods, smiling, then sits up again. "We should be okay going in together.." She glances at him sideways, poking at her plate to see if there's any food left. (There isn't.) "Some couples, well.." She trails off and shrugs. "Let's just say they wouldn't really think it was strange."

JUSTIN: * Shane isn't sure he understands what that's supposed to mean, but considering the what and the where of this job, he figures it probably isn't something he wants to think about anyway. "Well, whatever gets us in, gets us out, and gets us paid. Right?" He can't say that is really his motto for life, but he's trying hard to be optimistic about this.

JENNA: * Jo nods, scratching her cheek. "Yeah.. it shouldn't be too bad. We can say we got lost if someone catches us wandering around. At worst we'd get kicked out, right?" For some reason, the job is making her jumpy, quite possibly because of her partner. She doubts telling him not to look at anything will help it go over better, though.

JUSTIN: "That would be the hopeful way to think about it, yes." Shane smiles weakly at her, setting his emptied plate down and folding his hands in his lap. "So after lunch, then. Until then?"

JENNA: "I guess we could go see the beach," Jo says warily. "We might not have time after we're done." She reaches over to get her boots, pulling them on lazily. "With any luck there won't be anyone out there ..." She gets to her feet, grinning. "Just us and the fireworks."

JUSTIN: * Shane smiles a bit brighter, moving to collect his own boots and slip them on. "That should kill some time nicely." He gets to his feet, checking his clothing and grabbing his cloak instead of his coat to put on. "Haven't been to a beach since... well, Jawaii. But I don't think that should count." He smirks at the thought.

JENNA: "Hardly." Jo only tucks away a couple of her small throwing knives, leaving cloak and gear behind in the room. "And it'll look more natural if we just walk up off the beach -- we can get some food before we go." She starts for the door, limp considerably lessened. "What's interesting about the beach here is that the water stays warm, even though it's underground.. not sure why."

JUSTIN: * Shane tucks his gun into his belt and hides it under his shirt, giving a brief stretch before following after her. "That's certainly intriguing." He snags his hat, but gives it a second look. It doesn't really go without the coat. "And if the beach can give us a strategic advantage, so much the better." He says quietly, then tosses his hat back on his cot and follows after Jo.

JENNA: * Jo doesn't answer, leading the way out of the inn and don the walkway to the beach. It isn't far, as the entire city is paved with sand, from the waterside to the entrance. Fireworks go off intermittently, coloring the substance as they go. "It must be strange, living like every day's a festival." Jo cocks her head, pausing a few feet away from the water. "You'd think it would get boring after a while."

JENNA: * Jo doesn't answer, leading the way out of the inn and don the walkway to the beach. It isn't far, as the entire city is paved with sand, from the waterside to the entrance. Fireworks go off intermittently, coloring the substance as they go. "It must be strange, living like every day's a festival." Jo cocks her head, pausing a few feet away from the water. "You'd think it would get boring after a while."

JUSTIN: * Shane comes to a stop next to her, staring out over the water and watching the colored lights shimmering on its dark surface. "If it keeps the tourists coming, I guess they can't complain." He smiles a bit, though he is inclined to agree with Jo, anyway. "But then, I'm sure some would argue that living in a desert all the time would get old, and living in the sky all the time would get old. So who are we to judge?"

JENNA: * Jo puts her hands on her hips, sniffing. "I didn't live in the desert, I traveled all over." She falls silent, though, watching the water. "But I guess a lot of people wouldn't like traveling all the time, either." She turns to amble up the beach a bit, ignoring calls from food vendors nearer the wooden walkways. "I wonder where the people here go for a vacation."

JUSTIN: * Shane turns and follows after her, staring up at the fireworks in the high cavern. "Next door, I presume." He smirks, then shrugs his shoulders lightly. "My guesses would be either the quietest place they can find, or they try to find somewhere even more festive. If there exists such a place."

JENNA: * Jo shakes her head. "I can't imagine it." Or at least she doesn't want to think about it. They amble along the beach a while, until Jo spots a couple of large rocks forming an outcropping into the water and makes for them, wanting to get closer to the water without having to take her boots off. She trots ahead a bit, climbing over them with only a little effort.

JUSTIN: * Shane watches her from the sand for a moment, smiling in amusement. "You know, someday we will actually have to go swimming at a beach. But I suppose you have to settle for whatever you can in a case like this." He walks slowly over to the rocks, and begins to clamber up them beside her.

JENNA: * Jo glances down at him, seating herself and dangling her legs over the side of the rock. "Someday," she agrees, leaning back and staring upward for a moment. The cave ceiling is high above them, so dark it can't be made out, but here and there the limestone sparkles in a weak imitation of the stars.

JUSTIN: * Shane settles onto the rock beside her, leaning back on his hands and fancying her with a long look. "This city isn't so bad, when you enjoy it from a distance." He smiles wanly, moving a hand to rub his neck.

JENNA: "Like I said, the beach is worth seeing." She smiles faintly at him. "Of course, you can see it from almost anywhere, but nearest the water is best." She sighs, looking out at the water again curiously. "I wonder what's on the other side.. maybe it dead-ends at the cave wall."

JUSTIN: * Shane gives the water a look with new interest, attempting to peer as far across as he can. "Maybe... or perhaps there are channels beneath the surface, that lead to even more caves." He sits up, drawing his knees in to use as a resting place for his arms. "I wonder if anyone has ever tried to find out."

JENNA: * Jo glances back over her shoulder, expression ironic. "With that party going on back there? I doubt anyone cares ..." She swings her legs up, then drops them, grinning. "It might be interesting to find out.. if we ever learned how to breathe underwater." Behind them, a gong rings out the hour, and Jo gives a long stretch. "We probably better eat, huh."

JUSTIN: "Wouldn't want to go to work on empty stomachs, would we?" Shane smiles with resignation, accepting his fate without argument from this point. "What's on the menu, anyway?" He peers over his shoulder, noting the various food vendors back on the piers and boardwalks.

JENNA: "Whatever's not too expensive, I guess." She gets to her feet, teetering for a moment before starting down the rocks. She tries a hop, then decides that's unwise and settles for climbing the rest of the way. "I don't remember much about the food, but just about anything is probably good." She starts for the nearest stand, then pauses to wait for Shane.

JUSTIN: * Shane follows not too far behind, leaping down from the rock and stopping to dust himself off. He reaches her a moment later and gives her leg a brief, scrutinizing glance, before heading up to the food stand by her side. "Good afternoon, sir." He says in greeting to the vendor, bowing slightly. "What's cooking today?"

JENNA: * Jo points at the menu, even though she can't read it, but the vendor doesn't seem bothered, rattling off a stir-fry menu fit for a full-scale restaurant. Jo is momentarily intrigued by the selection, but she settles for an order involving beef, glancing at Shane.

JUSTIN: * Shane taps at his chin in thought, peering at the menu only momentarily before shrugging. "You seem rather optimistic about your stir-fry. Teriyaki chicken sounds appetizing." He reaches into his pocket and begins fishing out money to pay for the meals, eyeing Jo out the corner of his eye.

JENNA: * Jo makes a soft "tch" noise, but she lets him pay, watching the vendor instead, as he prepares their meals on the spot. He chats unconcernedly as he prepares the food, asking which condiments they prefer before adding them to the mix. Then, when he's done, he spills the food onto their plates and hands them across the counter. Jo takes hers, looking pleased. "Smells good."

JUSTIN: * Shane snags his plate and sniffs at the food lying on it. "It does, indeed." He bows quickly to the tender and turns around to look at the water briefly, twirling his wooden fork in his fingers. After a moment, he turns to Jo and shrugs his shoulders, arching his eyebrows curiously. "So, where would you like to sit and partake?

JENNA: "Mm.. wherever." She starts for the nearest empty table, still peering at her food, then seats herself and digs in contentedly. "I guess the food's good," she says after a moment, "but I don't think the food and the beach are enough to keep me coming back."

JUSTIN: * Shane finds a chair beside her and seats himself, picking at his food with a little more restraint, though enjoying it. "And what else must a city have to keep Jocasta coming back?" He pops a piece of chicken in his mouth, chews, swallows. "Or is it a matter of excess, not lack?"

JENNA: * Jo glances at him, expression momentarily unreadable, then she nods, finding his answer as good as any. "Well, this place has too much of almost everything. Except quiet." She smiles briefly, then turns back to her food, chewing thoughtfully and taking it at a slower pace than she usually does.

JUSTIN: * Shane smiles faintly, prodding his food with his fork. "I suppose I would have to agree with that assessment." He continues to eat in silence for the time being, concentrating on getting his food in before it goes cold.

JENNA: * Even at a more moderate pace, Jo's done with her food quickly leaning back in her seat and waiting for Shane. Her eyes drift past the beachfront vendors to the buildings beyond, hunting down the brothel she'll be venturing into. She gives a faint sigh, scratching her cheek, and decides it's probably just the company she's keeping that makes her uncomfortable with the idea.

JUSTIN: * Shane eventually finishes with his meal, dropping his fork onto his plate and sitting back to rest for a moment. He stares at Jo curiously, noting her gaze is off in the scenery behind him. "Looking for something?" He asks quietly, having almost forgotten about the details of the mission for the present.

JENNA: * She turns her gaze back to him and nods. "The place we're headed to. It's not too far from here, I guess." She peers through the crowd, hoping that she's seeing what she thinks and a number of people are headed in there. "Things are picking up, too." She looks momentarily relieved, despite the unease that's building in her stomach.

JUSTIN: * Shane's expression weakens somewhat, and he turns to look over his shoulder, half-frowning at the building amongst the lights and crowd. "Oh, I see." He turns back to stare at her blankly, clearing his throat a bit. "I guess we should be heading up there shortly, shouldn't we?"

JENNA: * Jo nods, getting to her feet with a faint sigh. "Better get it over with. With any luck ..." She doesn't finish her thought. The last time she mentioned things going smoothly, she got chased by dogs and nearly shot. "Anyway." She starts up the beach toward the city streets.