[IRP] Vanguard Rising

[Gazetteer]

Splits the take in less pieces? How charmingly mercenary. Not even sarcastically charming -- this was such an alien viewpoint to Tangle that it somehow avoided being repulsive and wrapped around to being fascinating. Like lifting up a rock and finding something so repellent that you can't quite bring yourself to crush it. Metaphorically. The alien part wasn't in the lack of concern for Nichol's safety. Callousness, Tangle understood. This wasn't about money, it was about striving toward a goal for the sake of striving. Whether it was good for any of them or not. She looked at Priam in a considering fashion. "The take I'm here for splits just as well regardless of numbers," she murmured, before following Ambrose.

****

After Caleb had said his peace and left, Ambrose's ultimatum only seemed to earn him a crooked grin. "I never turn back, love. It's one of my worst traits." She'd come here to do a job, and she was going to do it, unless tonight was finally the night where she died in service to the cause. It would have been nice -- very nice -- to be able to conjure a small bit of fire against the cold, but instead she made due with pulling her cloak tighter around herself. It wasn't yet so threadbare that it didn't help a bit.