Steamed Off! The Pot of Controversy Boils Over!

[Vio]

^{Charlotte #16}

---

“It wouldn’t be a stretch to say we have ulterior motives, though none of our own,” Glacáin Charlotte answered as the curious quintet began to make their way away from the scene of gossip and violence. Karr’s demonstration of authority, intentional or otherwise, was duly noted: When he wanted to be, he was a near perfect specimen to cast off an aura of menace. “Captain Anstis — the exceedingly tall man from earlier — seems to have taken an interest in your people, as I’m sure you can fathom,” she confirmed, drawing a roll of the eyes from Fenn as he casually accepted Mister Kovac’s offering.

“Anstis, is it? Well,” the swordsman began, holding the piece of jerky to his nose and giving it a cursory sniff. Caution, perhaps, though Lotty silently attested to the fact that he was in no danger of poison. If anything, the only thing that would curse his stomach was a want for more. “Given a recent change in our own circumstances, and the fact you’ve at least done Vanessa a favour… Wow… This is pretty damn good,” Fenn shifted, having taken the first few tentative chews of the morsel.

^“Ee…!”

^{“Joey,” Fenn began, turning to look at his comrade:
“Did we decide where you were getting that burger?”}

“Fff! Bhad’s wish comin’ fwom you,” the thief replied, having already shoved his own piece of jerky down the hatch in the wake of the W&W’s, merrily chewing on the foodstuff before swallowing it with a loud gulp. “Oof! We wagered a cheeseburger, not an offering to the gods,” Joey mockingly approved, wiping his mouth upon his sleeve. “Anywho~! I’ll be honest, Fenn, I think we’re deep enough in the s#¡+ now that we should be considering the offer: Good paying jobs aren’t easy to come by ‘round here, plus we aren’t exactly in tight with the right crowds, am I right?”

^{“Now you’re being logical? Ugh,” Fenn murmured:
“Well, if you’re a cook, Karr, then you’re a doctor…?”}

^{“Correct.”
“Pst! Can I have her piece? That’s good jerky!”
“Physician, or…?”}

“I’m adequately trained in all necessary fields, given that medicine is never an exact science, though I personally specialise in pathology and virology,” Miss Glacáin spoke, ignoring Joey’s not-so-quiet pleas to Karr for additional snacks. Together, they advanced further, with occasional whispers catching her ears as the troupe received odd, sometimes fearful looks from passersby.

…?! Not even a second later, however, and commotion filled the air: From around a corner came the bodies of two men, flailing somewhat as they tumbled through the air and hit the ground with force. Charlotte’s eyes immediately caught it — the weapons in their hands and the way they were dressed was a clear indication of them possessing an untoward nature. It was what followed soon after, however, that was truly surprising to witness, as a partially cloaked and anguilliform figure surged towards them and spurred panic between them.

^{“Hey! Should we help…?”}

^{“No, Joey,” Fenn assured his colleague:
“I think they p¡$$ed off Rabuka…”}

“What’s the matter, cowards? Catfish got your tongues? No more jokes at the Fishman’s expense? Should’ve thought about that before that wisecrack, ‘cause it looks like we wiped the smile off your faces pretty f*¢<in’ quick,” the Gyojin seethed, both with a mix of anger and seemingly sadistic joy as the two figures scrambled for their weapons. “You’re funny guys, so, I think that deserves a smile!” Evolution was a cruel and whimsical force at the best of times, as Charlotte knew all too well: Sensory impairment, allergic reactions, and — apparently — an ear-to-ear maw lined with row upon row of needle-sharp teeth were all on the cards for the gambling addiction that was genetics.

^{“Shoot him already…!!”
“Gyojin b@$+@ŕĐ! Die–?”
Shwick…!
“Kyaaargh…!!”}

“Ease up a little, would you, Rabby?” said the familiar voice of Vanessa, herself stepping from behind the building and in the process of locking a bolt into the strange weapon upon her forearm — akin to a crossbow. One such arrow had pierced the hand of the man with the flintlock, knocking the weapon far across the cobbles and out of their reach. “Huh? Oh, hey– Alan!! You’re okay!” As if on cue, the feathered simian chirped and threw itself from Karr’s shoulder, gliding over to the woman and finding its perch upon her extended arm as their Gyojin compatriot grabbed the last man by the collar and raised him off his feet.

^{“Ah, pardon me,” Rabuka cleared his throat:
“You know how I am, Vanessa…”}

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synopsis:—}
As Karr and Charlotte walk with Fenn and Joey (and Alan), they stumble upon the scene of Rabuka and Vanessa taking down some assailants!

---

Notes: ——

---

Anstis Johnathan | #65000b
Glacáin Charlotte | #4d5d53
Karr Kovac | #ce5a3d
Fenn [NPC] | #86608e
Rabuka [NPC] | #76abdf
Vanessa [NPC] | #00ff40
Joey [NPC] | #fb607f
Alan [NPC] | #e61919
Miscellaneous [NPC] | #eeeeee | #bbbbbb | #888888 | #555555

[Kami-Gaz]

Karr quietly walked along as the others talked around him, this was turning out well and the cast of characters he was involved with reminded him of his early days as a travelling chef with Cecelia. The adventures he had all came flooding back, it was a wave of nostalgia which brought a warm smile to him. The man barely paid enough attention to the topic at hand as Joey cheekily asked for another piece of Jerky.

The chef absentmindedly angled the bag in his direction with a quick nod, “Sure.” He noted before fully getting submersed back into his nostalgic trip down memory lane. Flashes of memories washed over him. The time he challenged an islands best cook to a cook off and demolished him came to mind… all be cause CC said his style was too rigid. Another flash and this was the time a member of their group were on a cruise ship full of other up an coming chefs… Karr and his small group beat the entire ship in a cooking battle for the ages. Then when it came to battle each other the woman who was meant to be his wife smashed him with an elegantly simple but beautiful dish… Cheesy Scrambled Eggs with bacon bits.

The memories turned from nostalgic back to the stranding, it was a good thing that his train of thought was rudely interrupted by the advent of a body being flung in the groups path. This body was quickly followed by a second one. Well… it looked like they found the others. “Which beehive did you lot poke before we met?” Karr asked, his eyes watching Rabuka… A fish person was a rare sight outside of the grand line, they always made a scene in some way or another.

Vanessa appeared and Alan hopped off of his shoulder with a powerful leap from the small simian body. “Make sure you nab their wallets before the rozzers get ‘ere!” Karr called as he made a move to approach the pair, poking his bag of Jerky which was now getting pretty empty out to the pair that had been the most recent source of commotion. “Jerky? Made it meself.”

[Vio]

^{Charlotte #17}

---

“Oh, so you guys get the ones with pistols? Tch! Figures,” Joey mocked, somewhat disgruntled by the fact, for reasons that the doctor could not fathom. Rabuka, simmering down from his fury, allowed his lips to furl over his fangs into a more subdued expression as he raised his cloak over himself anew, concealing much of his physique and Gyojin anatomy. Karr had already made his move, approaching the two mercenaries with his peace offering of dried whale meat, Fenn and Joey likewise stepping forth.

^{“You were attacked, too?”}

^{“We were,” Fenn answered:
“Barely a threat, though…”}

“Feels like somebody’s trying to make an example of us,” Vanessa retorted, ruffling the featherlike fur on Alan’s head as he perched himself on her shoulder. “Either of you two wanna answer that question for us?” she asked, ominous shade cast over her face as she stared with a smile at the two snivelling grunts — neither of whom had been given an opportunity to escape. Indeed, Fenn grabbed one by the shoulder and lifted him forcefully to his feet, while Rabuka straight up tossed the wounded gunner over his own shoulder.

^{“Wh– What’re you doing…?!”}

^{“Oh, isn’t it obvious?” the markswoman smiled:
“Taking you hostage so we can question you…!”}

With two swift and near simultaneous blows, Fenn and Rabuka knocked the squirming, whining ruffians out cold, putting an end to the obnoxious noises of whimpering pain and panic. Lotty shook her head slowly — an act that Joey spied as Mister Kovac’s few remaining pieces of food were spread around. With an almost dainty grace to it, Rabuka slipped the morsel between his mostly closed lips before beginning to chew, nodding to himself. Vanessa seemed reluctant — almost embarrassed to accept the offering at first — until her simian friend gave an approving chirp and thumbs up gesture.

^{“What’s up, Doc?”}

“Do you all realise this is a public space?” Charlotte announced, noticeably more agitated about these ongoings. Her brain had been restless since the conversation with Captain Anstis, but now it seemed the streets of Augusteria had become just as shaky. She stepped closer, cane tapping the cobblestones for unintentional emphasis. “Each and every action taken further tears the veil of discretion — all the commotion and panic spreading through the town as of the last half hour is likely to draw more watchful eyes to us,” she stated. “Mister– Hm… Karr has already left his mark, the four of you have been clearly targeted by somebody who has previous issues with you, and it does seem as if there’s more to all this than meets the eye. So–”

^{“Hold on,” Rabuka interrupted with a raised palm:
“We should probably find somewhere to discuss…”}

^{“Agreed. Follow us…”}

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synopsis:—}
Karr, Charlotte, Fenn, Joey, Rabuka, and Vanessa regroup and take a couple of hostages, but realise the situation may be drawing unwanted attention.

---

Notes: ——

---

Anstis Johnathan | #65000b
Glacáin Charlotte | #4d5d53
Karr Kovac | #ce5a3d
Fenn [NPC] | #86608e
Rabuka [NPC] | #76abdf
Vanessa [NPC] | #00ff40
Joey [NPC] | #fb607f
Alan [NPC] | #e61919
Miscellaneous [NPC] | #eeeeee | #bbbbbb | #888888 | #555555

[Kami-Gaz]

Happy with the fact these potential comrades had each gotten a taste of his abilities with just a simple stick of what he considered subpar Jerky; Karr turned his attention to the situation tat was actually at hand. The ex-mercs were all doing their part in trying to figure out what was going on with these attacks on their persons, something that was going to need an answer sooner rather than later.

Then he noticed it again, more people staring at them. People that were gossiping about the entire group and about him again. Something he was preparing to menace away before Joey asked Charlotte the key question… What was up with the doctor? The chef turned his full attention to the misty haired physician.

It turned out she had the same inkling that he was having, this place was too public and there were to many eyes. So many in fact that giving off an aura of menace wouldn’t make them all run away like last time… it would just give off the wrong impression and put more suspicion on them instead of abate it. Then Rabuka cut the lady off to state what she was trying to say in far less words. With a nod the chef started to follow Fenn and the others of his crew, falling in beside Charlotte.

“They are quite a rambunctious lot aren’t they Lotte?” He asked the doctor, rhetorically before taking a step forward and getting close to Fenn. “How’d you plan to get the talk outta them? I can work them over quite well.” The chef stated with quite a dark flash to his eyes and a dangerous smile… for reasons he knew where to cut to cause the most pain for the least damage… that was a past he’d not like to retell.

[Vio]

^{Charlotte #18}

---

“They are quite a rambunctious lot, aren’t they?” Mister Kovac asked of her as the mercenary company began to advance through the streets again, guiding the travellers to a location as of yet unknown — yet one that could hopefully serve as a refuge until such a time as the chaos blew over. Charlotte gave the chef a glance, uncertainty plaguing her in a manner she had not felt in some time. Was this wise? Did they have a choice? Normally she cared little for such things, taking for granted the ‘freedom’ afforded by her craft, alongside her anonymity. What changed?

“Hmm… They’ll be out for a while,” Fenn confirmed, distracting Miss Glacáin from her concerns as her ears picked up Karr’s second conversation. “You seem a bit eager,” the swordsman commented, returning the cook’s crooked smile with one of his own, before turning to more hushed tones. “We have a safehouse on the outskirts of the industrial quarter. It’s an old warehouse basement we managed to procure from its owner; said we could use it so long as we didn’t name any names.”

^{“So, we just,” Joey smirked:
“Made a point of not asking his name!”}

“I think we all need answers now, so how’s about you give Rabuka a hand beating some information out of them? It might be good to build up some camaraderie between us, given what you two have signed up for, yes?” The swordsman’s words were focused, calm, spoken as if he’d rehearsed them, almost. Had he considered it? The option of joining Anstis’ crew? This motley crew of mercenaries was full of surprises and yet Fenn, the least surprising of them all, seemed to be revealing now an underhanded side of himself. They might have been democratic between themselves, but there was no doubt in Lotty’s mind that he spoke and acted like a leader.

^{“Coast’s clear,” Vanessa commented:
“Nobody’s tailing us…”}

“Alright, it’s just down here,” Rabuka added, guiding the troupe down a wider alley that the steam and smoke of the city served to shroud thanks to gentle winds. Old crates and barrels and pallets formed an unnatural slalom, though Rabuka simply used one hand to shift obstacles aside and clear the rest a path until they reached an offshoot. A narrow passageway with a wooden door reinforced with a bit of wrought iron, the entryway itself only just big enough for one at a time to walk through, with the larger folk having to adapt a sideways angle to shuffle in with their captives. One by one they entered, Charlotte the last, save for Joey who stood outside until all were in.

“And this is your hideout? How very incriminating,” Lotty quipped, raising her skirt just enough so that its hem did not catch upon the uneven yet sturdy wooden steps that led down into the depths. Sunlight still found its way inside via small barred windows, giving the locale a dingy feeling, but not too unpleasant. For all its shadiness, it was far from a bad refuge, such was made clear as her eyes scanned the surprisingly clean main room that expanded a few dozen yards in all directions. A couple of side rooms existed, and a simple set of partitions had been made with old work tables, planks, and other leftover building materials to divide the main chamber into a handful of different sections.

“Tie them to a chair each. They’re just dead weight until they wake up, anyway,” Fenn confirmed, dropping the one unconscious soul into an available seat as Joey fetched some sturdy rope from one of the corners. Rabuka did the same with his own hostage, while Vanessa turned to Karr and Charlotte, Alan already perching himself on the low rafters.

“Make yourselves at home, I guess? We haven’t got anything fancy, like a working kitchen, but we’ve got spare rations, tools, and a couple of training dummies if you need ‘em,” the tamer said, gesturing to the far end of the chamber, where a makeshift wooden training dummy stood, likely designed with a basic screw so that it would turn when struck. A few metres over, a chain suspended a sack dummy from the rafters…

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synopsis:—}
As Fenn’s group leads them to a hideout, Charlotte remains unnerved, but Vanessa tells her and Karr to make themselves at home while they wait for the hostages to wake!

---

Notes: You can skip to interrogation if wanted! I think it’ll be pairs who interrogate, so pick who you interrogate with! We can use the side rooms!

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Anstis Johnathan | #65000b
Glacáin Charlotte | #4d5d53
Karr Kovac | #ce5a3d
Fenn [NPC] | #86608e
Rabuka [NPC] | #76abdf
Vanessa [NPC] | #00ff40
Joey [NPC] | #fb607f
Alan [NPC] | #e61919
Miscellaneous [NPC] | #eeeeee | #bbbbbb | #888888 | #555555

[Kami-Gaz]

Karr followed the group on, the idea of them having a safe house was one that intrigued the chef. It meant that this lot were locals, and because of that they had the home field advantage of Karr and Charlotte. This was something that could be leveraged. “Nah, I’ve just never done it before.” He spoke, that was technically true as he had never cut up a live person that couldn’t fight back before… only dead ones, and that was for survival reasons.

The explanation of how they got that place was as expected as any nefarious hideout for a crew of miscreants. It was refreshing to be around a group of individuals who trusted each other in a tight nit group, it felt even better to be rolled into that group as easily as he was. “Sure, Rabuka can have the fun and we share stories over a pint. Sounds grand to me mate.” Karr nodded back to the Fenn, keeping close and his voice low as they snuck around the streets with the unconscious men on their shoulders.

Vanessa confirming they weren’t being followed was a small relief as Rabuka led them down the dingy alley to the under factory hideout. Karr had to shimmy in sideways due to his muscular form. Once he was in, he motioned for Joey to make his way in and chuckled. “Well, they don’t call them hide outs for nothin’ eh?” He joked, mostly in response to Charlotte and her quip. In truth it was quite cosy for something mainly used to hide whilst the heat died down…

“Will do Vanessa!” He noted before taking a good look around the little club house that the group called their own. It had training facilities, which despite lacking variety were better than nothing. With places to sit and sleep the gang had everything they needed for a short stint. As he peered around there were no cooking facilities… nothing of note at least. On one of the walls there was an array of steam pipes, a part of the network that ran throughout the city delivering it to heavy machinery that operated on it and heating to places that needed it. With a nod he looked around and spotted a couple of old wooden boxes.

With a nod of ingenuity, the chef picked up one of the spare planks and ran his hand down one edge to sharpen it into a razor fine blade. Within moment the new wooden sword was gliding through the crates in a methodical manner and rather new version of DIY. After a while he sharpened the tip and methodically started to poke some holes boxes before grabbing screws and hammering them into the creation. He was done in quite a quick time when all was said and done. “You guys were in desperate need of some way to cook food.” Karr noted to anyone that would approach his creation.

Affixed to the wall was a large box with multiple shelves, poking out of the back was a pressure release valve point that the chef had noticed. Under the set up was a knob for releasing that steam into the box… It was crude but the man had just created a basic steam oven. “Lucky for you I still have some preserved whale meat.”

[Vio]

^{Charlotte #19}

---

“Unfortunately, I require living subjects for my practise,” Charlotte replied, staying mostly still as she took in the anatomy of the safehouse — something that her company had already done and was already at work fiddling with spare timber. Her eyes hovered on his actions for a moment, perhaps curious as to what it was he was trying to accomplish, but soon shifted back to Vanessa when she realised the woman was giving her an odd look. Mostly void of emotion, the doctor returned it.

^{“Practice,” Vanessa quizzed:
“Or practise…?”}

^{“Hm… Both. Why?”}

“Well, judging by what I’m seeing,” the markswoman began, having doffed her gauntlet and set it on the table, eyes hovering over Karr as he continued his curious behaviour. “I can see where he’s useful in a fight. But you? Sure, you’re a doctor, but that’s not very useful if you’re dead, right?” she spoke, tone more hushed but not discreet as she sat herself — more or less perched herself — upon the table’s edge and began to fiddle with her weapon. The contraption itself was nothing too complex, but certainly ingenious in its own regard; it likely lacked the power and range of a proper arbalest, but made up for it in offering portability and being effectively ‘hands free’. It was then that Joey piped up.

^{“Swordplay. Hmmm~… Fencing!”}

^{“Correct,” Miss Glacáin responded:
“Though… How did you discern this?”}

“Trade secrets, I’m afraid,” the diminutive devil replied, tapping his nose in a knowing gesture, complete with a wiggle of the brow. By this point the two hostages were bound to their chairs, still unconscious, though the one’s wound had been briefly tended to — something which Glacáin noticed and moved to correct. Did she care for the man’s health? No, not in the least bit. There was a more sinister reasoning behind her actions, but they had yet to comprehend its nature. All the same, as Karr fidgeted with piping, Charlotte fetched a small roll of bandages and simple alcohol solution from her kit.

^{“Ehhh?” Joey vocalised:
“You’re not gonna pry?”}

^{“What are you doing…?”}

“I’m treating my patient’s injuries,” she responded, kneeling herself down and getting to work. The awkward positioning of a bound arm made it more difficult than was probably necessary, but nothing she could not handle. It wasn’t as if it was a struggling, reluctant patient. “And, before any of you ask ‘why’, I’ll explain,” the misty-haired madam added with certainty. “I require living, ideally healthy subjects for my practise. It would be unfortunate if this one were to be compromised due to his wound becoming infected…”

“What are you suggesting…?” Rabuka asked, Fenn beside him. It was then, before the doctor could reply, that Karr announced his handiwork. An oven, crude and simplistic, yet likely effective under the cook’s command, now sat where there was formerly nothing, much to the equal parts confusion and intrigue of their hosts. “Well… The idea of this place isn’t to be homely,” the Gyojin confirmed, “just to be a place to lay low. But, I’m not complaining if you can cook something with that.”

“There’s a plan,” Fenn nodded. “We’ve two side rooms. We’ll put one in each and make sure they’re secure. In the meantime, a proper sampling of your cooking might be a better icebreaker, Karr. The jerky was delicious, but I doubt something so simple does your skills justice… As for you, Charlotte,” he continued, turning to her just as she finished wrapping the hostage’s wounded hand. “Do you want to help interrogate this one…?”

^{“If you’ll allow it: A due warning,” Glacáin said, standing:
“Some of you may find my methods… disturbing…”}

^{“Tch! Yeah, right… Are steamed whale burgers on the menu…?”}

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Post Synopsis:—}
As Karr demonstrates his handiwork, Vanessa questions Charlotte on her combat prowess.

---

Notes: None

---

Anstis Johnathan | #65000b
Glacáin Charlotte | #4d5d53
Karr Kovac | #ce5a3d
Fenn [NPC] | #86608e
Rabuka [NPC] | #76abdf
Vanessa [NPC] | #00ff40
Joey [NPC] | #fb607f
Alan [NPC] | #e61919
Miscellaneous [NPC] | #eeeeee | #bbbbbb | #888888 | #555555

[Kami-Gaz]

Karr was essentially deaf to all that was around him whilst the construction was completed, only coming back to reality when he heard Rabuka noting his lack of complaints to this rudimentary upgrade to this hiding hovel. After Fenn had made mention of the plan to interrogate the captives in separate rooms as a method to let Charlotte test her medical theories he shifted to a note about the jerky only making him want to truly test Karr. ‘Well then, this is going to be a good test.’

“Steamed whale burger Joey? Well, I do have most of what’s needed. Let’s push it to the limit…” He spoke, cracking a grin as he placed his bag on the floor and pulled the table close to himself. In a moment his knife case was placed down and the chopping board that came with it did as well. ‘I’ve only got the long-life crusty bread, so it’ll be more sandwiches and not a traditional burger… oh well.’ He thought, letting the world around him fall away as he pulled the strip of cloth from around his arm and tied it to his forehead.

“Am I feeding these victims Lotte? Or are they going to have to suffer the effects with no counter?” Karr asked, not raising his eyes from the set knives that were neatly arrayed. His right hand carefully hovered over them as if he was counting each one and visually checking up on their condition. They were all in peak shake, so now all he had to do was work with his spartan selection of ingredients.

With a lean he pulled out a few wrapped parcels, each one was waxed paper wrapping the ingredients he had brought on from Sedna, a hardy land with hardy people that lived off of a hardy diet. A large waxed paper lump of meat was the last to be brought out, the same for a box of spices and a head of lettuce that looked as if it should be a rock. “For you guys, this meal is free. Lotte, dear, are you willing to partake in this meal or are you scared it might knock you for six again?” He asked cheekily, picking up his chosen meat knife and sliding it over his skin to create a perfect *Shriiing* sound, as well as sharpen it just a bit.