#anywhere

Symon breathes shallow. His inhaler is WITH him this time. He's not quite himself.

Disguised as a pooka of all things, the good news is, no one wants to hear him talk much so whispering he might get away with, but that's back up. Currently, the name of the game is stealth.

And it's a game he's good at

How did he let Siv talk him into this?

He had thought of an insect. A slug appealed, or a fly perhaps. But the pooka he settled on was one that he thought he could best pull off. A slithering sort, that speaks in soft, sibilant susurrus, and flexible squirmish motions. His forked tongue pokes at the unfamiliar set of fangs that further alter his speech, and he glances around with unblinking slit-pupil eyes. Hopefully Eden takes it as an homage and not appropriation...

To be fair, he's hardly the same SORT of snake but.. yeah, she'll let it pass probably. If she ever gets told.

And he moves through the halls of the building. You cann tell a sluagh is behind this place, old victorian manor.

Mentally, he runs through the plan. What was the plan again?

Siv went at it Fiona style .. and he remembers... 'IF anyone asks' she said, 'You're here to sign up for the bounty, and get contact information... tell them you assist Jezebel the Satyress. A new partner. Guess whos form I'll be wearing?'

Right, of course. And Siv has plenty of experience with Satyr mannerisms, at least. He slides down the hallway, appreciating the proper curling of the wallpaper, the touch of dust, just enough to show age without looking like neglect.

He wishes his mom would use wallapper like this, but she goes for that flowery un faded stuff.

And he hears voices, "Any success stories so far?"

Hugging the wall, he slides in that direction.

"We got a few. But you know the boss..." a snort "Gotta catch em all"

A few chuckles, then "Maybe, but even Leech is only so rich, can only offer so much"

Interesting. It sounds more like industry banter than a private conversation, so he isn't as concerned about intruding as he slides into the room, nodding to the occupants.

"And you are?" the redcap greeting him sounds more bored than challenging

"Ssslither." He nods.

The other one, a bored looking troll looks over a list "You're nnot in the paper work? Solo or working with someone?"

"Jezebel worksssss for me." He says, knowing it may well be taken as pooka fibs. "Interested in sssssolid gold, on the hoof." Two thin fingers rub together in the universal money symbol.

This pooka joke makes them laugh, maybe he has a future as a slime ball pooka?

"Yeah, careful friend, Jazzy will sweet talk you out of a share if you're not careful, but yeah. Good money on her. I'm surprised she's back up here and not in Clear water, but then .. you have to sign on so it's smart YOU are" He makes a note

"Leech already got a few?" He frowns, forked tongue flicking out to taste the air. "How we know he won't decide it'sss enough, and cut us off?"

The Redcap shrugs "You don't do you? Best bet is to gget one in as fast as you can so you get paid"

"How many he got. Looking to hedge my betsss."

A look then a frownn from the troll "Damn pooka , always trying to get folks talking"

His scaly lips turn up in a bit of a deprecating smile, and he shrugs a bit, as if to say, "you got me".

"It doesn't matter, man" the redcap says "look, the boss seems to want as many as possible. He wants these things stopped before they can start on a cycle, so aone or a dozen..you have his intreest"

"More intel meanssss better chance of successsss. Even better if we could get a look at the booty already bundled. A few tail hairssss, a mane sssstrand. Good for cantripsss. Or for tracking beassssts."

"Got some hot tipssss. Foal in the forests... breeding couple with young mare in the dessssert. Intel for intel, I can trade." Clearly not asking for anything for free.

"We not hunterrs, we're just the bueracrats.. " the troll starts to say

"Hold it.. I think the pooka is onnto something.. what percentage of YOUR fee are we talking if we help out?" the cap asks

He ponders this seriously.... then gives a serpentine smile practically worthy of Sir Hiss, patron saint of unsavory slitherers. "One tail hair from each you have caught to fuel my effortsssss, and in return.... 20 persssssscent? Or.... 40.... if Jazzy is not told." Tongue flicks again, oho, potentially a double cross in the making. Sly beastie.

"I Like this punk" the redcap says

"Most people do." He says, a little deprecating lie to keep the pooka facade going. "I wasssss homecoming queen."

The troll rolls his eyes "Okay, so we screw your partner in for 20 percent of the worth the boss gets you.. mm damn, wish I had Contract magic. Hard to read a pooka"

"It's all right" the cap says looking.. LESS friendly "We can find where Slither lives if need be. Or even tell Jazzy. We got about 6 of the hoofy bastards in the corral. It's a pain in the ass.. you close them off, they panic"

He holds up a hand, fingers crossed evidently, and says, "I ssssswear to the Dreaming, whatever bounty I get for turning hoofers over to Leech, you'll get your promisssssed cut. Wouldn't dream to keeping you from your jusssst due."

"Even Pooka Oath" A muter from the troll

Indeed, and he seems sincere, for what that is worth.

"Come on.. we'll show you.. well, I will" The redcap moves on

He follows. Well, followsssss.

And they move towards a Silver door

With a peep hole "Take a look" he whispers

He leans in to peer through.

And there he sees it Six Centaurs in a field... and the field is FLOATING... no edges, over a great pit. It's the size of a soccer field, but with no way off or out.

"Daaaaaamn. Fancy." He whispers to the Redcap.

"How's my odds of plucking a hairbrush?"

"Huh?" he says "try again?"

He tugs at a lank lock of his own hair. "Cantrip fuel to help catch more little ponies."