The practice was far from endless. Four hours was all the troupe demanded of Whiskey before they returned to the actual depot hub.

"You were a natural, Whiskey. I'm impressed," Elbow said.

"Thank you. I tried my best. I'm having a lot of fun with you guys," Whiskey replied.

"No fun in the war, then? Seems like too many people look at the conflict as a joke. Like they don't understand the gravity of the situation. Partying, taking late-night lover's walks outside the protected zones, and so on. It's crazy, I tell ya," Elbow said.

"No. I agree. Crazy. Irrational. All that and more. And no... the war hasn't yet claimed many lives, but it will. And we don't yet know how the conflict is closer to the capital. How much news actually gets our way? What we do get is slow. For all we know, further west is a bloodbath."

Elbow heartily agreed. "Hear-hear! I am happy you have taken the interest in performance. Before I joined, I was a rather depressed fellow. This troupe has given me a new lease on life. Friends, community. Purpose. It's wonderful. I hope you share such a gift with everyone you meet."

Saying she planned to use every ounce of her acting abilities to better both the world and its people, Whiskey returned to the depot to say goodbye to Lean.

"You're not staying?" Lean asked.

"I would love to," Whiskey said. "My Order-Master-To-Be is going to be contacting us soon. I would like to fit in a cat's nap before then. Thank you so much for bringing me in and teaching me all of what you do. It's touched me. Love at first sight. You get my drift. I am going to go and create my own skits for my own activism, now. The next time I am in the area, I will drop by and say 'hi.'"

"Understandable! Before you leave, let me give you a small parting gift," Lean said before rifling through several boxes of his personal effects in search of something. He returned a moment later with a booklet in hand. "Take this. It is my old copy from school."

Whiskey took the offered booklet. Relief spread over Whiskey when he realized she could read the title. It would have been embarrassing to have to ask her theatrical mentor to read aloud his gift's title. It read 'Showman.'

"That book was practically my holy rites while in school. I even slept with it! It is written in an easy-to-understand way. I don't think you should have any problem with understanding the material. I only hope it helps you as much as it helped me," Lean continued.

She smiled widely before giving Lean a friendly hug. Whiskey said her goodbyes to the others in the troupe and she was on her way.

Walking away from the troupe, Whiskey brought herself nowhere in particular. She wanted to find a quiet place and read her gift. Finding a park, it was pure happenstance she encountered Jiehong sitting on one of the benches.

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"Jiehong? How has your day been?" Whiskey asked.

The surprise showed on his face when Jiehong turned and realized it was Whiskey. "What are the odds we would bump into each other? Ha! What a city! I am good! My day's been good. I joined a civil service group called Praline. I trust them being pro-monarchial will not be an issue for you?"

Though Whiskey made a slight show of considering Jiehong's revelation, she said, "No. Of course not. We are our own people. I might not be part of a rebel organization anymore, but my sympathies remain. And I intend on advocating for myself and my views. As long as you don't harm me or my personal effects, I will grant you the same curtesy."

"Ah. Like last time we spoke of this, I intend on giving you a wide berth."

With them understood, Whiskey asked about the civil group he joined. Jiehong said, "Other than being under the crown, they seem like a decent lot. Being a civil society, though, I am not expecting to be with them for very long. They don't make enough waves for me to want to do more than the minimum."

"Then why did you join?" Whiskey asked.

Jiehong fell into the bench, relaxing. "Boredom, maybe? I felt like I had to. I just want something to help me get my foot into the door at places. I guess we have to see how this invasion and rebellion works out before I can plan for anything more, right? Haha."

"Yeah. So much is being left to fate. Makes me sometimes feel like I am not doing enough--" Whiskey began.

"Never think that Whiskey. You're doing plenty!" Jiehong said, cutting her off.

Whiskey, annoyed, said, "Jiehong. Please, for future reference, do not cut me off. It's so annoying! And secondarily, thank you. It makes me feel nice to hear my teammates thinking highly of me."

Saying he would try to remember for the future, Jiehong looked warmer than he usually was. His face looked calm and mellow under his curly locks. When was the last time he got a haircut? It didn't matter, Whiskey told herself. He does look nice, Whiskey concluded, looking at her teammate while he lounged back on the bench. His face partially hidden thanks from by a tree branch's shade.

"What did you do?" Jiehong asked Whiskey.

"I performed with and learned from an acting troupe!" Whiskey said with cheer to her voice.

"An acting troupe? Since when were you the acting type?" Jiehong asked.

"Never. Or at least never until now. I always enjoyed the big and melodramatic. I saw a street performer blend activism and art. I got hooked."

"That's how it is, then? Rebel sympathizers? I ought to have figured. I guess I should've expected. Well, how does it make you feel?"

Whiskey thought about how to answer Jiehong. "It makes me feel happy. Like I can take a little break from me and pretend to be someone else. And then there is the theatre elements, of raising awareness for a good cause, all that."

Listening to Whiskey speak about her time, he nodded his head at all the major points. "Sounds like your smitten for a guy, with the way you talk about the troupe." Jiehong said.

The assertion made Whiskey giggle, then deride. "Nothing like that, I assure you! I liked the folks I met but I am planning on sleeping with any of them!"

For a while, Whiskey and Jiehong chatted. They caught up on how they spent their time. It was nice. Whiskey was about to ask about his family, since she knew it was a sore subject between Zan and he, and she wanted to get her own view of the situation. Alas, Zan sent Jiehong a message. Jiehong relayed the message to Whiskey. He said, "Zan has our reward. He wants us to meet him at the barracks."

"Then let's get going!" And Whiskey packed her scant belongings, both of their eyes locked dead ahead toward the barrack tents, whose poles were flapping madly in the wind as a storm set itself upon the land.