Work. I guess.

The morning starts somewhat bleakly. Somehow, just overnight, the city had transformed into a winter landscape. Working in the snow wasn't anything new to you, but you didn't look forward to it. You don't bother with a heavier coat either, as most of your work will take you inside. You meet Kenji in the lobby, where you both exchange your morning greetings and then banter for a few minutes before braving the short trip across the street. Contractors weren't expected until about an hour or two after the regulars, so you had the luxury of seeing all the dancers just beginning their routines.

Being a little hungover from the night before, Kenji finds a chair and sits down on it, sucking on the dry end of a cigarette before the music even starts. You watch without many thoughts going through your head either... Until you see Mikka poking around. He wore the same suit as you and everyone else did, but he was missing the blazer. Instead, he was drinking with Zuprik. They chattered, not noticing you for a reasonable amount of time.

You lick your lips and shift your gaze, losing your actual thought process.

Your eyes land on Sachio just as she trips on the stage. She notices Kenji and bites her lip a little bit. You shift your gaze again and see Kenji smirking. You smile too, but your mouth straightens out as soon as you notice that Mikka and Zuprik are fixated on her...

Hours pass, but nothing significant happens. You remain relatively close to Kenji, but neither one of you opens up dialogue with each other. Everything is very... job-focused. However, you're the only one aware of how close the proximity of danger is.

When the dancers and their guards (including Zuprik and Mikka) start to disband, you crane your neck, waiting for Sachio and Akiko. Kenji has turned in early, and the others decided to return to the hotel. The only other members of the RTE are just the regulars, in their field gray southern uniforms, more or less hiding from the weather outside.

Sachio pops up first, but she isn’t looking for you. Instead, you can gather that she’s looking for Kenji. When her search turns up unfruitful, she perks her chin up and works herself into a playful, friendly smile.

“Warren!” She cheerfully chirps. “Thank you sooo much for last night! I had so much fun! I think I made a good impression on Kenji, don’t you think?”

“I’m glad that it worked out for you,” you look around. But, of course, the other members of your employer’s outfit aren’t minding you any business. “Next time, I’ll try to make it a little more exclusive so you guys can talk with fewer distractions.”

Her mouth becomes crooked. “The only way to do that would be if we visited each other in the hotel. And that isn’t very exciting.”

“But you wouldn’t need more than two guards, would you?” You ask.

Sachio becomes more sheepish. “We wouldn’t, but that might look bad if it’s just two guards and two girls.” A subtle burn starts to bridge cheek-to-cheek when she says that.

“No one fucks with the Japanese. If either Kenji or I touch you, we’ll be beheaded in the Tokyo Square.”

Sachio lets out a laugh as if she’s seen that before. “We’re far from Japan and our government. Our citizenships don’t mean anything when we are this far away from the mainland. We’re not even close to California; it’d take weeks-”

“I’d keep that line of thinking to yourself. Put the fear of God in anyone who tries to touch you. I’ve declined dozens of contracts that included pure-bred Japanese travelers. Dealing with your government in any hostile way would add you to a **** sentence.”

Oblivious to the Sun’s effect on post-war America, she just shakes her head. But then, she picks up where she left off. “Anyway, let me think about it. I’ve spoken to Mikka a few times. He might be able to swing a few more things in our direction.”

Ugh. Sachio, no…

“Run things by me first. As a contractor, they might let me do things since I know the ins-and-outs of what happens outside of law-bound cities.” It’s a **** attempt to get her away from Mikka and his friends.

She looks down, her smile still hopeful. “If you think that’s best...I’ll let you do what you think is good. You know more than I do.”

The day ended without fault. Aside from paying more attention to the inside, nothing changed. There was talk about the canceled shows, but nothing would require you to change your schedule.

McKinley seemed especially happy to hear that the weather was affecting the stay. While dinner was being served, he went on to explain that it’d likely lead to the city starting its lockdown, meaning every person inside would be accounted for. Everyone would know everyone, and if the track record were decent enough, they’d probably relax the security need for the Katana Art Studio’s staff, allowing more personnel to be flexed back into the contracts still waiting to be finished.

It was unprofessional for you to think this, but you wanted to stick around and chat with Akiko... not to mention, they’d pull you out before Mikka or his pals. Who’d watch over her with you clipped from the team? Suddenly, Mikka joins your table and sits down. He looks at you and then at the others you are with. You tense and lean back into your seat. Your appetite is gone, and your eyes become fixated on Mikka. McKinley notices the new company and forces a smile. He hasn't forgotten what you told him the night before.

"Ah, Mikka." He says with his fake smile. "How are you doing?"

Mikka shrugs, adjusting his glasses before he brushes a hand over his balding scalp. "Living the dream. I like my job right now. It's so laid back and easy. We even went drinking and singing last night." He looks at you. You clean your teeth and nod, confirming that was true.

"Anyway," he continued. "Spoke with the Field Director. He said that we'd be clipping off the guards from the ol' Katana gang and will be flexing out some members of my posse. I suggested Kenji, of course, we all know his background is more extensive than we let on, and then recommended that he asks me who else we should, ah, get back with the others."

McKinley nods. "Yeah, the Japanese have their own regular guards, but if they become hotel-locked, they'll have a pretty easy job keeping all their dancers in check."

"No one should be poking the dragon." You say.

Mikka nods. "Dangerous job. But, all the way out here, you never know who could be out to get at them." He leans in and clears his throat. "Anyway. McKinley, if you need an extra body or something, I'll be sure to send you a guy or two if things actually calm down. I know the brass will want to send a couple of teams out to ensure there's no build-up of bandits over the winter. Russians too."

"Don't want a repeat of Deer Park or Ruby." McKinley looks at you. "Washington State active zone areas. More or less anyway."

Active Zones were where Russians (and sometimes Canadians) still had an active military presence in the area. They were usually harmless over the warmer months. Still, they would steadily build over the following winter to stomp out any larger cities or settlements when the weather warmed up to prevent anything "non-related" bases near the border. The border ownership would usually exchange a dozen times over the summer. It depended on who the last owner would determine who was where. During late summer and early fall, military bases would just keep watch on the local area, making attack plans and gauging the threat of unification - as long as the Americans were disorganized, they wouldn't unite and fight the Big Red Bears or their Maple leaf neighbors. The Russians were ruthless and even fought with the Japanese government from time to time. You hadn't seen or fought anyone from the Red Mark, but if they were organized enough to poke the dragon, they would be organized enough to give the RTE a hard time. This close to the Canadian border, primarily since South Dakota still hadn't banded together like Montana or their Northern counterparts, towns like Deadwood in a haphazardly glued state such as this one were big targets for any nation that had any kind of influence in the area. They either get rolled over or get bought - considering the town's placement, however, it'd likely just be burned to the ground.

Finally, you snap out of it. The table was active, and you had just missed the entire last conversation. What were they talking about? When did Sasha get here? You shook your head and cleared your mind. You weren't hungry, but you didn't want to wake up hungry. When you return to your room, you find yourself bored and with nothing planned out.