[Winter – Parso]

Anette brushed a fallen lock of hair behind her face as she spoke to Jennings.

“To be honest, I thought it was unlikely to find you here. Someone with your reputation shouldn't be hiding in a tiny Parso where rumors spread like wildfire.” She dropped her head to display her relief as she continued, “However … I'm glad that you are.”

Jennings delivered a weighty look to both women in his presence before beginning to pace around the table where they all were seated, scratching the back of his hair. He looked up at the ceiling, knowing that the answers he was seeking weren't found upward.

“Look lil' lady, as you were talking up a sentence ago, I'm very careful to stay outta' the limelight. I ain't one for saving a damsel in distress or any foreigners' issues just because I need some excitement in my life. I'm not opposed to helping you with this problem since this corkscrew obviously has his screwy eyes on me for some damn reason. However, what's motivatin' me to not just say that you on your own and I take my chances if this half-wit really wants to come and find me to shorten his life?” says the outlaw to the woman in need of assistance for his own rationale.

Anette had only breezed over the possibility of rejection. The thought roared back into place, as her expression worsened with each passing inhale of uncertainty.

Penny shot Jennings a worried look from her seated position at the table. Annette seemed taken aback by the directness and dour tone of his voice, but she could understand the skepticism. To be honest, she wouldn’t be able to name a single person that would accept this offer, other than Pavo of course.

Anette responded feverishly, standing up to exemplify her determination.

“With all due respect sir, Pavo wasn't a dumb man. In fact, quite the opposite! When I saw the fear that was accompanied with every single word he shared outta’ fear, it quite honestly made me a bit uneasy. If Pavo said th-this 'Immortal' was a threat then I damn well believe it, and I feel you should too. What if this is something so dangerous that even you are outmatched, huh?”

Jennings halted from pacing throughout the room and instead motioned his way toward where Anette was seated with a fiery glare in his eyes. He allowed himself to listen.

He restarted with a raised voice.

“Look … you ever heard of those people who say that danger is a part of they name because they feel so confident and badass that nothing can possibly touch them?”

Anette nods slightly to indicate her confirmation of his abnormal statement. The stone-faced man seized the conversation then proceeded.

“Well I happen to be one of the men that shoot those cocky fuckers in the face and keep on living before they have a chance to smell me from too close.”

He finished his sentiment by slamming his clenched fists down on the sturdy oak table, nailing his point home.

Flinching from the sudden unexpected outburst, Anette was able to regain composure quickly and replied.

“Fine! I know a language that'll get you interested. Something all you cold-hearted, stubborn rogues always want. Money!” She wiped away at the tears beginning to take shape and began to emotionally raise her voice as well stumbled through her next words in improv fashion, “I-I don't exactly have much at the moment, but … I'll find a way. I'll get you any amount you want no matter what it takes, just please-.”

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Her words fell off a verbal ledge, that is until she collapsed to her knees, folded her arms, and embraced herself.

“Pavo deserved better than this.”

Before Anette could fully complete her plea to JJ, who easily could have been considering the factor of payment, Penny approached Anette from behind to collapse her arms around her in a sympathetic fashion.

Penny whispered in the distressed woman's ear silently hoping to comfort her and keep Jennings aware simultaneously.

“Don't worry more than need be, we'll have to figure this out together. I'm on your side. So is J.J.”

[Winter – Moonton]

Eriko marched down a dark hallway of jail cells at his compound. He hadn’t bothered to name it, but his favorite of inmate’s monikers was, ‘The Compound’ as it really highlighted the dejected aura of the facility by his own admissions. The atmosphere within the building was as bleak as the situation itself, as dreary mumbling could be heard around every turn, no matter what the time of day. The torches situated on the stone walls lit the pathway as he strummed his finger along those same walls, all while whistling out one of his favorite tunes he had learned from his time on the road alongside The Great Alimur. A traveling act with no success to account for, only traumatic memories from adolescent.

With each holding cell door he passed, he expressed an identical look of disgust inwards towards his captured servants through the bars. The captured believe his lack of empathy for their conditions was ingrained, but they had no way to prove it to themselves.

The tapping of the finger ceased towards the end of the narrow path as the overall sound quieted. The prisoners wanted to be aware of what was happening, the unpredictability of their captor made them all anxious. Eriko had halted his movement in front of where he held a popular Agist named Lucar Fel III.

“Hey there Lucar. I noticed you, noticing me before and, well, I wanted to give you my attention.”

Eriko professed in a hauntingly forceful demeanor. Lucar looked up at him from his previous fixation with the cold floors showing between the gap in his legs. The prisoner appeared exhausted with dark shadow-like circles beneath both droopy eyes, as if comfortable sleep had evaded him for too long.

“Ahh … don't look so down. You know I remember the day I caught you, in fact, I don’t truly believe I could forget. That horrifying look on your wife and children as some stranger waited within the comfort of your own home. They had to play it off like everything was fine while you walked through the door unaware and called out their names to notify them, and myself, that you were home.”

While Eriko told his account of what had occurred, Lucar once again brought his attention downward and placed his hands over his ears attempting to block out the painful words by repeating entreaties towards his detainer to no avail. The hateful man continued by swallowing a lump of spit and widening his unrequited gaze.

“You know Lucar, I'm quite proud of you. I don't get to say that very often either. You may be a special type of swine, unlike the majority here. So what I want you to do is rest…and relax. Enjoy you’re overdue beauty sleep because tonight is going to be your last chance for a lengthy while.” A wicked smile surfaced, “Even though we finished Desf and sent him on his way, it's time to create his successor and his after that. I have faith that you can rise to the occasion so don't let me down. Keep working hard.”

As Eriko left after his demeaning speech, one last unheard cry for help emerged from Lucar's lips.

“Help…anyone.”

[Winter – Parso]

A glowingly agitated Jennings barks back at Penny from across the room of his office.

“Alright, alright. Don't worry you were able to rope me into this somehow.”

A soft smile shined through the previous look of pity. Penny responded.

“So you're going to help Anette then with this madman right?” said Penny, seeking verbal confirmation.

“Yes. Although this time is going to be different. I ain't too keen on reactin' when it comes to life or death situations. Fighting on your back foot isn't how you make it in this crazy world and to be honest, I'm too damn poor to be willing to pay the ultimate price just yet.”

“What are you implying?” asks the apprehensive companion to Jennings.

“What I mean is that I'm going to get in contact with Ollie and the Sharks. They are going to help me clean up this mess.” answered the outlaw.