Closed Mirror, Mirror

[Baird]

23rd Fall 512 A.V.
Mid-morning.

As new as Baird was to Ravok, even he had heard of the rumors. Ravok was a dark city after all, and all dark cities had their secrets, whispered only in the dark of the night. Some said the ravosalamen were the source of these rumors and were willing to part with them for the right price, but Baird knew how to ferret out secrets on his own - a long and checkered past working as a mercenary had seen to that.

The back alleyways, the open windows, the unlocked door - Baird had long since learned that all these and more could be used in order to hear things not meant to be heard. When people thought they were safe, they would say things they wouldn't otherwise say - and Baird used that to his advantage. Most of what he overheard was trivial nonsense about who was having an affair with who, but every now and then Baird overheard something important.

It was because of one such overheard secret that Baird was here, in the Nitrozian Plaza, on one particularly dreadful morning. The dead man was here looking for someone.

Baird kept his eyes roving as he entered the Nitrozian Plaza, looking for any signs something might be amiss. He was jumpy, and rightly so - he was here under very shady circumstances. He did not know the man he had come here to meet, nor did Baird even really know what the man looked like. The information heard out of a bedroom window only went so far.

But Baird needed this man. So he kept looking, and said in his mind -

Kelmar Hedos, where are you?

[Kelmar Hedos]

Kelmar had been in the game for quite a while, almost six years now, and during that time he'd seen a lot and done a lot. His experience had aided him on many a mission, and his reputation had helped make some fellow agents more cooperative, as well as earn him some more tasks now that he was freelance. However, that reputation was a double-edged sword, as it allowed people whom he'd been ordered to disrupt and damage in the past find him more easily. Only a couple were out for blood, but they were bent on vengeance. Now that Kelmar was once again unemployed, he was looking for work, which was never a good time. This was always the trickiest part of his jobs. Being freelance meant he had the liberty of choosing which jobs to accept and from whom, but it also meant riskier contact with possible employers. Those risks were being found by those who wanted his death, or at least his capture. Normally it wasn't a problem since Kelmar could easily sneak away or remain hidden, but it was times like these when he needed to be found by potential employers that he was most exposed. Not to mention some who had claimed to be interested in hiring were enemy agents sent to take him in. He'd avoided that so far, but there was always a bad day. The best way, he found, was to make himself seen without announcing his presence. Anyone trying to find him would be able to do so, but he would not draw attention from those who had no business. Leaning against the wall of the Silver Sliver, right beside the door where he could be easily found, he kept scanning the moving throngs of people before him, never letting his eyes rest lest he miss something in his periphery. As of yet, no one had moved to approach him, nor had anybody lingered long enough or cast glances in his direction to make him suspicious. That didn't mean he could relax though, not by far. Things could change in a moment, so he kept his guard up and kept watching the plaza for anything different or interesting. As a large, unwell-looking man emerged from one of the canal walkways connected to the plaze, Kelmar took a momentary interest in the unique individual. Rough angular features, unkempt hair, slightly red and swollen eyes, this man marked all signs of being unhealthy and tired, yet he continued on regardless. While everyone else seemed to be either moving with purpose or talking to each other easily, this man did neither and instead looked through the plaza. Apparently relaxation was a luxury that he could ill afford as his eyes scanned the crowd, as if looking for something. Perhaps it was Kelmar, but perhaps not. The agent would find out soon regardless. Reminding himself not to let himself become to focused on a single thing, he went back to scanning the mass of people himself, keeping an eye out for anyone watching or approaching him.