JENNA: * In another part of the country, nearby and yet not terribly close, things are not a whole lot cheerier. Mackenzie's mansion has been empty of Kalaani for a couple of months now, and it would almost seem there's no end in sight -- except that around the corner comes a familiar figure in the robes of the church. She doesn't seem to be her usual, brisk self, however, almost stumbling as she makes her way up the steps and practically holding onto the doorbell for support.

JUSTIN: * The unusually long sounding of the doorbell causes Mack to stand up from his desk with an extra degree of irritation, especially since there shouldn't be anyone at the door -- there hasn't been in weeks, not since the ill-fated encounter with that acolyte boy, and he hasn't invited anyone. Sighing heavily, he tucks his reading glasses away and starts down the stairs, coming to the door with his usual promptness and opening it a crack. "Clearly I should have chosen a more remote location to hide in, as people seem to have no trouble finding my doorstep--"

JENNA: * It is, in fact, Kalaani at the door, but in the absence of anything to support her, she's fallen to her knees, looking up when the door opens to offer a weak smile. "Good.. good afternoon, Mr. Malachi." Her appearance is not nearly as neat as usual, either -- her robes are torn and slightly muddy, and she appears to have picked up a few bruises and cuts, oozing blood. One in particular is a shallow cut on her neck, much as if someone held a knife there just a little too close, and there's another cut, shallower, on her cheek.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie immediately opens the door the rest of the way, staring down at her with wide-eyed confusion and surprise. "What..." He pauses, his immediate reaction to seeing her again after so long completely sideswiped by the condition he's found her in. "What happened? You're hurt--" He kneels down to immediately examine her wounds, doing a quick test of her limbs to check for broken bones. "Can you walk?" His voice wavers, but attempts an air of professional indifference. That itself is a step up from the usual derision and displeasure, but the suddeness of the situation is making it hard for him to maintain even neutrality, threatening to dissolve into actual concern.

JENNA: "I.. I think so." She smiles gamely, attempting to get to her feet again. "I mean.. I walked all the way here." She staggers slightly, but she does manage to stand upright, smiling again as she does so. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to fall down like that."

JUSTIN: "Be quiet -- you make yourself sound a fool apologizing over something beyond your control," Mackenzie responds quietly, too distracted to give one of his usual sharp retorts. He helps her to her feet and supports her, slinging her arm around his shoulders (stooping quite a bit to make it possible) and putting his other around her waist to make sure she walks steady. His fingers gingerly examine a cut through a gash in her robe, and the fresh blood that he feels coating his fingers is enough to quicken his movement, getting her inside his house and moving her in the direction of the washroom as fast as she can manage.

JENNA: * Kalaani is about to apologize again, but she thinks better of it, instead letting him lead her to the washroom. "I.. I suppose I had better start from the beginning ..." She smiles again, but this time there's a strained edge to it. "I.. I left in the middle of service when you called me before.. and I was confined for that.. that's why I've been gone." In addition to the injuries, she is somewhat paler and thinner than before. "They released me two weeks ago, but the sisters.. had a list of chores they insisted had to be done."

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie snorts, turning to open the bathroom door without letting go of her, then bumps it open with his hip and steps inside. "Of course. Sitting and repeating rhetoric is far more important than coming to the aid of someone in need. Nevermind what they teach you in the scriptures." He untangles himself from her and sets her down on the toilet seat, the closest thing to a chair available. He stares at her for a moment with slightly more obvious concern, though he masks it partially with scrutiny. He has to figure out how to best tend to her injuries without removing her robes completely. The easiest answer is to start with the cuts and bruises on her face and neck first, then worry about the others later.

JENNA: * Kalaani only smiles faintly -- apparently even she isn't quite prepared to defend the sisters for that. "In any case.. they told me I wasn't to come out here anymore, but I told them .. I told them that I'd do so if I pleased." She scratches her cheek, not sure whether that will annoy him, then she shrugs. "They tried to confine me again, but I made it out before they had the chance." She hesitates. "Of course, that isn't how I got hurt ..." She stares at her lap, looking much as if she doesn't want to talk about it. "I.. there were bandits on the road," she says finally, quietly.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie takes her by the chin (carefully) and points her face back up at him, kneeling down to eye level and looking entirely serious. "Bandits did this to you? On the road to my house?" Something like fire begins to glow in the depths of his eyes, but his expression remains unchanged. "What did they expect a young acolyte to have," he snaps suddenly, letting her go and quickly returning to cleaning her wounds. It's obvious he's having a hard time remaining gentle, as though barely keeping in his anger at this news. "How far along the road? And what did they say to you?"

JENNA: * Kalaani shakes her head slowly. "It.. it was near the cliffside," she says, voice still very quiet, and she lets her gaze drop again. "They.. didn't ask for anything." She wrings her hands slightly, but she does continue talking. "They just.. grabbed me.. they tore my robes when I tried to get away and.. and pushed me down.. One of them told me not to scream." She pauses, attempting to smile, but it comes out very strained. "I.. I remember a light spell.. my mother daught me .. it blinded them.. and then I ran."

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie gets the wounds on the girl's face and neck cleaned and dressed, as well as the one he'd felt on her side, where the tear in the girl's robe is big enough to properly deal with it. He works in silence, actions getting more and more determined as she relates the story. When she's done, he throws the bloody cloth he was using into the sink and gets to his feet. "Will you be all right for an hour without me?" His voice is quite possibly the quiestest and yet most intense she's ever heard out of him.

JENNA: * Kalaani looks up at him a little blankly, and she gives a small nod. "I can take care of the rest myself.. do you need my help with anything?" she asks, clearly unsure what he's going off to do. She straightens her slightly tattered robes, doing her best to look as if she can handle it.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie shoots her an aggravated look, though it's tempered a bit by concern. "Don't be ridiculous. You're going to clean up and rest until I return." He pulls open the curtain on the bath, indicating she's to use it if she deems it necessary. "I have to take care of something, before I lose the opportunity." There's a hint of aggression in his tone, but he doesn't give her the opportunity to wonder about it before he exits, closing the door behind him. He swipes his gloves from his pocket and tugs them on harshly, his boots echoing in the main hall as he makes for the front door.

JENNA: * Kalaani watches him go with a faintly puzzled expression, but she doesn't give it too much thought, instead getting slowly to her feet and slowly stripping out of her robes. A hot wash does her good, and it doesn't take her long to tend to the rest of her injuries, most of them minor. She's reluctant to put her dirty clothes back on, but she doesn't have any other option, so she pulls them on and slips quietly out of the washroom, wondering where she should wait for Mack's return.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie is gone slightly over an hour, in fact, and when he finally returns, it's with much less fire than he left with. The door closes quietly behind him, and the echo of his boots is muted as he moves to check the bathroom. Not surprised to find it empty, and knowing where to look, he makes a pitstop in his bedroom before going to locate her. He's silent when he enters the library, a robe, shirt, and shorts from his closet draped over his arm -- and spattered blood covering his face, shoulders, and gloves.

JENNA: * Kalaani, in spite of her best intentions, is seated in one of the chairs, looking weary but at least a little cleaner. She stirs when he enters, having almost fallen asleep, and looks up, relieved expression turning almost immediately to one of alarm. "M-mr. Malachi -- are you all right?" She lurches out of the chair, taking an unsteady step toward him.

JUSTIN: "/Sit/...down, Kalaani," Mackenzie says in a stern, yet tired voice, lifting a halting hand. Only then does he seem to notice the blood covering his own glove, and quickly lowers it, lips twitching in a slight frown. He removes his gloves and tucks them into his pocket, stepping over to her and holding out the clothing. "Get out of those dirty rags and put these on," he says quietly, then turns to start for the door to give her privacy. "If there's... blood on any of them, let me know. I'll get you replacements..."

JENNA: * Kalaani nods, unable to wipe concern from her face entirely, but she takes the clothes and nods slowly. "I.. I don't think there is," she offers quietly, waiting until he's gone to strip out of her robes again and change into the clothes he gave her. They're large, but she does what she can with them, stepping into the hall once she's finished.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie is leaning with his back against the wall when she comes out, his face seemingly lost in thought. He looks up, however, and his eyes refocus immediately upon sighting her. "I suppose I can't very well send you back to Juno like this," he says, with only the vaguest hint of annoyance at the fact. He moves from the wall and makes a sharp motion his hand, indicating she's to follow him, then starts in the direction of the kitchen. "I'll prepare an early dinner, you can eat as you prefer. If you're tired, there's the guest bedroom -- do you recall where it is?"

JENNA: * Kalaani smiles faintly and nods, folding her torn and dirty robes over her arm. "I remember where it is." She hesitates, looking a little uncertain. "I.. I guess I would like to rest. Unless you'd like some help?" She can't help but offer, as tired as she is and as unlikely as it seems.

JUSTIN: "No," he says simply in response, and sheds his coat as he does so, holding it out in front of him and sighing at the blood spatters. He doesn't appear to be aware of the ones on his face yet, a little numb to the feel of it. "You can eat in the dining room or the bedroom at your discretion. I will let you know when the meal is ready." Their paths split, then, and he rounds the corner into the central hall, continuing across the marble tile toward the kitchen.

JENNA: * Kalaani, thoroughly worn out, shuffles somewhat wearily to the guest bedroom, where she doesn't even manage to shut the door completely before making her way over to the bed and collapsing on it. It really isn't very long at all before she's gone completely to sleep, which is really no surprise, given the events of the day.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie takes his time to prepare dinner, giving the girl time to rest before he rouses her again. He prepares something filling but easy to digest, and -- for the first time in ages -- prepares a spot of tea for the both of them. He collects everything on a tray and makes for her bedroom, spying the door ajar and stopping to knock against the frame instead of looking in. "Are you awake?"

JENNA: * Kalaani stirs at the sound of his voice, apparently halfway between waking and sleeping. "I'm.. I'm awake." She sits up slowly, rubbing her eyes, and tucks her legs underneath her, peering at him. "You can come in." She swings her legs over the edge of the bed, attempting to scrub the last of the sleep from her eyes.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie does as he's bidden, quietly nudging the door open with the toe of his boot and stepping into the room. The blood is gone from his face, and without the coat and gloves there isn't much left, save a few sparce traces on his pants and boots, long since dried. He doesn't seem too concerned with it, however. He shuts the door behind him and steps quietly over to the bed, setting the tray thereupon. "I took the liberty of assuming you would prefer to eat in the bedroom," he says matter-of-factly, tone somewhere between bored and delicate, "since you didn't show up looking for the food."

JENNA: * Kalaani nods quietly. "I guess I fell asleep." She turns to the tray, looking it over curiously, and pauses briefly before applying herself to the food. "I wouldn't have minded if you woke me up, though," she says quietly, though the statement isn't framed as a complaint. For the most part, she seems quite hungry.

JUSTIN: "The point was for you to rest," Mackenzie points out drily, sitting down on the edge of the bed before pouring tea for the both of them. "Waking you up would have been counter-productive toward that end." He watches her eat for a moment, looking as though he's fighting to keep his mind focused on the present. Shaking his head, he reaches for his cup and lifts it to take a small sip -- which he immediately regurgitates back into the container, sputtering in a most unprofessional manner. He grabs a napkin and swipes at his mouth looking wholly disgusted. "Gods. I haven't made tea in a long time, but I hadn't thought I'd completely forgotten how..."

JENNA: * Kalaani looks up at him and blinks, then smiles, clearly restraining a faint giggle, and shakes her head. "I'll make some, if you want," she offers. "If you don't mind waiting a little bit." She is, after all, still eating -- though the food is disappearing fairly fast.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie sighs, rubbing at a tired eye. Clearly he doesn't like the idea of needing to rely on Kalaani for tea for the rest of his life -- or hers, which seems more likely. "When you're done, if you feel you must." He really should be doing work, but he can't find the will in him to do it. And it's probably the first time he's felt that way in ages.

JENNA: * Kalaani nods, smiling again. "I don't mind." The thought actually seems to cheer her as she continues eating, and as she finishes, she scoops up the tray, sliding off the bed to her feet. "It won't take long," she promises, starting slowly for the door. The rest, it appears, has taken care of the bulk of her wobbling, and she's recovered much of her energy.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie gets to his feet quickly, stepping after her and reaching to take the tray from her even as she walks. "You are not my maid," he says in a grumbling tone, and steps beyond her to lead the way, lest she hold them up by protesting. He's both pleased and annoyed by her returning cheer, and that confliction alone causes him even more headache, but thinking too much about it is something he's apparently incapable of halting.

JENNA: * Kalaani glances at him and grins slightly, looking only a little embarrassed when he relieves her of the tray. "I know. But.. I like making it." This seems to be explanation enough for her, and she continues toward the kitchen with her hands folded comfortably in front of her.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie lets out another sigh, brushing his long bangs back from his face. "Of course you do, Kalaani." At least it's a hobby that has pleasant results, if nothing else. "You've done little else since the first time you stepped foot inside my kitchen." He sets the tray down by the sink and gets the kettle, pouring out his failed tea effort before rinsing it, refilling it, and setting it aside for her to use. Once that's out of the way he gets started on washing the dishes, first rolling up his sleeves, then staring depressedly out the window while he works.

JENNA: * Kalaani almost grins at him, but she instead applies herself to the tea, quickly setting it on to boil and glancing back at him. "I can make other things, too," she remarks, shrugging. Then pauses, looking hesitant. "I mean.. if you'd like. I.. in Einbroch I had a lot of people to cook for, but not at the church.. I miss cooking for people."

JUSTIN: "I'm not precisely 'a lot of people'," Mackenzie notes, in case she somehow missed this detail before making her plee. He turns his eyes down to watch what he's doing as he scrubs a particularly stubborn plate. "If I am ever so desperate as to need a cook, I will consider you -- is that fair enough?" She already has free access to the house, and certainly knows her way around his kitchen, but he's not going to give up /everything/ at the first bat of her eyelashes.

JENNA: "That's fair enough," Kalaani says agreeably, now steeping the tea and trotting around to find her secret ingredient -- which is honestly nothing more than honey. "You're still more people than I cook for now," she adds after a moment. "Though sometimes Mr. Hester lets me cook for him."

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie rolls his eyes heavenward. "Senile old fool, I warned him about letting you get your foot in the door." He sniffs and sets the dishes he's cleaned aside to dry, fetching a towel to likewise ride his hands of the water. Once done, he turns around to watch her, unrolling and straightening the sleeves of his shirt. Seeing what she's adding to his tea, his eyebrows go up in alarm. "What are you putting in my tea?!"

JENNA: * Kalaani gives him a slightly puzzled look, then turns her attention back to what she's doing. "It's honey," she says absently. "It's what I always put in it. Along with a little spice." Once she's finished, she sets the ingredients aside and holds out a cup to him. "I promise, it will taste like you expect it to."

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie furrows his brow, wondering how she could have been slipping this by him for so many months without him ever catching on. "But I don't /sweeten/--" He shuts his mouth, recalling just moments before how utterly horrible his own tea tasted. He can remember a time when it was perfectly palatable -- and now he knows what happened to change that. She's conditioned his tastebuds against his own recipe. He takes the cup with a defeated snarl, turning and walking into the dining room.

JENNA: * Kalaani scoops up the rest of the tray and follows him, somewhat dismayed at his reaction. "I.. I didn't mean -- It's just how I make it, you know?" She sets the tray on the table and seats herself slowly, still confused. He liked the tea /before/, after all.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie sighs -- he seems to be doing a lot of it this evening -- and sets his cup on the table, leaning his elbow against the table and rubbing at his forehead. "Kalaani, just nevermind. I like your tea." Even if he no longer seems to have much choice. He stares down into the steaming liquid of his cup and snorts almost silently, giving his head an unnoticable shake before sipping at it. "Any other changes you've been making around here that I should be made aware of?"

JENNA: * Kalaani gives a small smile, only slightly reassured, then shakes her head. "Not that I know of." Then she takes her own cup and sips it quietly. Aside from a general desire to cook or otherwise be of use, there aren't any she can think of to make. The tea was, for the most part, an accident.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie sets his cup down quietly and leans back in his chair, watching her absently while he thinks. His brain is as busy as it has been all night, some of its thoughts more useful and insightful than others. It's after a few minutes of this silence that he finally opens his mouth to speak again. "Before you left..." he starts slowly, not entirely sure he wants to be bringing this up, "you said some things to me that indicated a great deal of... displeasure, with me and my behavior." He pauses, eyes slowly drifting to the contents of his tea once more. "Why did you come back?"

JENNA: * Kalaani glances at him sideways, setting her cup down, then pauses for a long moment, looking thoughtful. "Well.. I was very angry," she says, folding her hands in her lap and looking at him directly. "They were badly hurt, and.." She shrugs, deciding he probably knows what the anger was all about. "Being angry isn't any reason for me not to come back."

JUSTIN: "It seems a perfectly reasonable reason not to come back," Mackenzie states, tone indicating this is fact and should be obvious. "Especially when coupled with the fact that coming here gets you in trouble." He thinks back to the day the boy came to his doorstep and his grip tightens around his cup. "And starts rumors."

JENNA: * Kalaani looks puzzled for a moment at the last bit, then embarrassed. "Oh," she says. "That.. that was some of the younger sisters.. being .. stupid." She seems hesitant to use the word, but it pops out anyway. "They know it isn't true." She takes up her cup again and finishes what's left in it, sighing as she sets it down. "I don't mind the trouble, though."

JUSTIN: "And it's worth the trouble to hike all the way here, to sit at my table and drink tea?" Mackenzie watches her again, eyes steelly and unblinking. "Worth possibly losing your livelihood?" He gets to his feet, taking his cup and wandering vaguely in the direction of the central hall.

JENNA: * Kalaani stands up and follows him, assume he'll actually want to hear her answer, and she pauses once she catches up with him. "Yes," she says simply, and she shrugs. "I like it here." Her tone suggests she isn't entirely clear on why, but it's just as easy to see she's telling the truth. "My parents sent me to the church because.. they needed a place to put me. It wasn't really a calling."

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie arches an eyebrow very slightly, though he doesn't turn toward her. "And why did your parents need a place to put you?" He continues to walk until he's standing in front of a large bay window overlooking his (admittedly unkempt) front yard. The moon is already fairly visible above the canopy of the nearby forest, and it's an uncloudy evening, so the first stars are above as well.

JENNA: "They couldn't find anyone who'd marry me." Kalaani manages to quash a faint giggle, as the answer to that question really isn't as amusing as she pretends it is. "They had a lot of mouths to feed," she explains. "And they're very poor." She rubs her arm, following his gaze out the window. "The church pays them a small compensation every month."

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie snorts, a muted noise. "That is why the poor should not breed like rabbits. It only perpetuates their proplem." He doesn't seem the least bit concerned about offending the girl, though he does glance sideways at her and shift his weight slightly, a mildly annoyed expression briefly touching his features at the thought of having to mind his tongue. Before she can have a chance to reprimand him, however, he continues. "My parents weren't poor, but they discared me into the hands of the Academy nonetheless. They were politicians; having a son at the head of the most prestigious school in the Republic would reflect very well on them." He pauses, takes a sip of his tea. "Unfortunately for them, I finished last in my class."

JENNA: * Kalaani doesn't appear to notice the apparent slight against her parents, glancing at him curiously. "You finished last..?" She smiles faintly, expression becoming amused at the thought. "But you study all the time.." To the point, in fact, where it seems like he does it for fun.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie turns to look at her again, expression indicating his answer should once again be obvious. "I have something worth studying now." He drinks the last of his tea and leans against the wall beside the window, looking out once more. "Those were different times. I was a young boy, nothing more. It's taken years of research to separate what I was from what I am." His eyes flick over to her yet again, and he half-frowns. Why in the world he's divulging all this to the girl is beyond him. Perhaps he just feels obligated to be nice to her after her ordeal earlier in the day -- though even that seems starkly out of character to him.

JENNA: * Kalaani nods slowly, not entirely sure she understands, but fairly sure she gets the gist of it. She doesn't really have anything to add, however, being as young as she is, and she looks out the window again. It's another moment before her eyes suddenly widen in alarm. "Oh.. oh my. It is late, isn't it ..."

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie looks up from his thoughts, glancing out the window as though he isn't sure what she means, then sighs and rubs at his eyes. "It's at least an hour after sunset, yes." How he let it get so late without seeing her home... but then, did he really want to send her home in the condition she's in? What if there were more bandits than he took care of? "Unless you have direly urgent business back in Juno, I think it would be prudent for you to wait until morning to return to the city."

JENNA: * Kalaani looks at him for a moment, then gives a slow nod, mind flitting briefly past the idea of walking home alone at night and rejecting it out of hand. "I.. I would be grateful," she says quickly. She isn't even sure she wants to walk back alone in broad daylight now, but she's sure it won't be quite so frightening in the morning.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie sets his cup down inside the recessed sill of the window and motions toward the far end of the hall, where the archway to corridors beyond resides. "Let's get you situated in the guest room, then. I can't say when the last time I stocked the bathroom was, but you know where some of the others are if you need to relieve yourself or bathe." He starts off at a crisp walk, fairly eager to retire to his own bed by this point, as early as it is for him.

JENNA: * Kalaani nods quietly, following him only a little more slowly. "I'm sure I can manage," she says, also weary and less than cheerful, but doing her best not to show too much of it. "I'm.. mostly looking forward to some sleep," she admits, trotting a little to catch up with him.

JUSTIN: "Then by all means," he says simply, and pushes open the door when they arrive. "I'll wash your robes and leave them outside the door, but I won't be able to patch the holes very adequately. If you would feel more comfortable, you can wear any of my clothing along with it." He doesn't sound very pleased by this, but he can't very well send her home in something that's barely held together.

JENNA: * Kalaani smiles and shakes her head. "My robes should be okay.." She hesitates a moment, stepping beyond the door. "M-maybe a cloak.." she reconsiders, then shakes her head. "I guess I'll see in the morning." She bobs her habitual curtsey for the first time that day. "Please sleep well, Mr. Malachi."

JUSTIN: "Mhm." Mackenzie takes the door by the handle and pulls it silently closed, then rubs at his forehead to ease away a headache. The night is far from over for him at this rate. He spends the next couple of hours stiching her robes as best he can and cleaning up the last of their dishes, and as promised leaves her clothing outside her door. He hesitates for a brief moment, but eventually turns away and makes for his own bedroom, needing little encouragement to very quickly fall asleep.

JENNA: * With Kalaani's return, (a new, odd) normalcy has returned to Mack's estate, largely consisting of less hostility during her regular visits. It's several days following her return when a different figure makes her way up the walk toward his house, this one also familiar, but likely not nearly as welcome. Jo's steps are leaden and weary as she mounts the stairs to the mansion, expression flat in a way no amount of preparation can match. She stops in front of the door and gives the bell a perfunctory yank, running a hand back through her recently cut hair -- it hangs just above her shoulders now, as it did three years ago.

JUSTIN: * The door swings with an unusual lack of paranoia or anger behind its movement, opening almost entirely before Mackenzie realizes who is on the other side. At this point he freezes mid-motion to fix her with a curious, suspicious stare, door creaking to a halt. "I didn't send for you," he says carefully, voice just as suspicious as his eyes.

JENNA: "As a matter of fact," Jo says with a very dry grin, "you didn't." She slings her pack to the ground and kneels next to it, her movements a little stiffer than normal. "Just dropping by to return a couple things." She fishes inside the bag for a moment, then gets to her feet again, offering him the box that hosts his crystal 'magic detector.' "Surprised you didn't come after that earlier."

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie arches a brow at the mention of "returning things", face bored and impatient, but his expression turns to mild annoyance (just shy of sheepish) when he sees just what she has. "I was... preoccupied," he grumbles, snatching it from her hand and opening the box to check on the item. It winks back at him like it always does, enticed by his aura. "You said 'things', plural. If you're returning the maps, don't bother -- I have dozens of copies."

JENNA: "Not exactly." Jo rolls her shoulders, straightening. "I don't really remember any of it, but they told us at the infirmary we ended up on your doorstep." She glances at the pack again, weary, and runs a hand through her hair. "I suppose you'd have wanted an explanation for that."

JUSTIN: "As a matter of fact, I would," Mackenzie says, just barely keeping it from turning into a growl. He stands up a little taller in the doorway, crossing his arms over his chest and watching her with a slight glare. "You made an awful mess, and didn't bring anything to show for your troubles. I think that deserves more than an explanation, but if an explanation is all I can get -- then please, do tell."

JENNA: * Jo bares her teeth in a fairly unpleasant grin. "Now, that's more like the asshole I remember." She reaches down to scoop up her pack, shouldering it before she continues. "I used to work for a guild in Morroc. Thieves, murderers, the usual type. I don't work for 'em anymore, but the circumstances surrounding my leaving the guild were a little bit muddled." She shrugs. "Suffice to say they thought I turned coat and was working for the law, so there was a blood price on my head." She pauses. "They never seemed very enthusiastic about following up on it.. so I got careless. I don't know how they tracked us, but they did. They abushed us in the ruins." She spreads her hands. "So there you go. That's your explanation."

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie's glare intensifies for a moment and he looks about ready to knock her upside the head, but he doesn't move. "So in short, I lost a priceless artifact of unimaginable worth because you're sloppy, have a record of keeping lousy company, and don't have the common sense to keep protection when there's a price on your head." He makes a derisive noise, and would probably laugh at the girl if he wasn't so angry over the entire thing. As it stands, there isn't even the vaguest hint of humor in his tone. "Remind me to do a thorough background check before hiring people from now on."

JENNA: * Jo doesn't seem the least bit bothered by this, and she shrugs again. "Guild's under new management now. There are sentries in those ruins, you know? They don't attack unless they sense hostiles.. and a big fight by the entrance was enough to get their attention. So everybody else is dead. The guild isn't a problem for me anymore." She grins again, just as humorless as before. "I stopped back by there, you see, to take care of the bodies. Found out a few things -- like that. The sentries didn't bother me when I did the burying."

JUSTIN: "Yes, because burying the bodies of people who try to kill you in cold blood is a wise use of one's time," Mackenzie mutters, looking past her with a quiet, impatient sigh. "Where's the mute? Still burying the bodies of thieves and murderers while you bring me the urgent news?" He turns his eyes back to Jo, shifting his weight. "If you have nothing but sob stories to tell me, you're wasting both our time. You could have written a letter."

JENNA: * At the mention of Shane, Jo's expression goes especially stony. "He's back in Hugel," she says flatly. "If he hasn't left yet." She slings her pack down again, unfriendly grin returning. "I just thought you ought to know all the circumstances surrounding the situation, that's all. See --" She flips the bag open again. "-- I dunno how he found out I was gonna be there, but someone hired my boss and his crew for the same job we were on ... and they got there first. And if they hadn't waited around to ambush me and set off those sentries.." She gets to her feet again, extending her hand toward Mack -- and along with it the gem he was so keen to get his hands on. "You wouldn't have your pretty new toy."

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie turns his stare down to the object in her hand, and he immediately recognizes it for what it is. He quickly, but gingerly, takes it from her and holds it in front of his face to closer inspect it, managing to keep his excitement from showing, if only barely. The gem is perfectly faceted, much like the Asgardian crystal but on a much larger scale, and a very deep, yet translucent purple. It's surprisingly light to hold for its size, but most things from the long-lost age make little sense to modern, conventional understanding. "If you're wanting me to see the irony of the situation, then you won't leave disappointed," he says in a flat tone, finally lowering the gem to look at her again, face a mixture of frustration and relief. "However, if you're expecting me to overlook what happened, then you're pushing it." He glares for a moment, then sighs and shakes his head, motioning for her to follow him inside. "Your pay will be docked, but I doubt you much care as long as you get it."

JENNA: "I don't want your money," Jo says, turning away from the door to seal her pack again. "I came here to finish the job." She straightens, slinging it back over her shoulders and adjusting the straps slightly. "That's all." She starts down the steps, then looks back at him with a dry smile. "Of course, that won't be the case if you decide to hire us again." Never mind whether they'll be available for hiring. With that, she turns away and continues down the steps.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie turns to watch her leave with a slight frown, not much liking the tone of her voice when she turns down payment. It is, in a way, a breach of contract not to pay them -- but it would be on her, not him. He snorts quietly and shuts the door, considering it their loss. At the moment, he has much more interesting things to attend to. Hefting his gem, he gazes into it for a moment, then makes his way to his office.

JENNA: * Jo stops just beyond the gate to the mansion, somewhat at a loss for what to do. She's concluded her business with Mackenzie, and long finished tending to what remained at the Jupteros ruins. She turns her gaze wearily toward Hugel, where, she supposes, one last piece of business remains, as much as she's been avoiding it. She heaves a low sigh, shifting her pack again, and starts walking toward home.