Thankfully, the guard and doctor Eli have gone through the bootleggers territory and they respect Doctor Eli for helping take care of their peoples families. They don't mess with us and we are able to safely navigate back into the Cogs territory with out too many watchful eyes. We parted ways with Doctor Eli and the guard in the cogs territory, but on the safe road that is offered to anyone to reach the lift.
Once we make it to our safe house, Leo quickly takes my arm and pushes me against the wall.
"WHAT WAS THAT BACK THERE?!" He releases me, only to elaborate on his question. "HE kissed you?! You hit him?! YOU did not tell me?!"
Realizing how angry he was about that conversation earlier, I bow my head in defeat.
"I handled it Leo, I got your price down to ten percent... Did I not?"
He starts to pace, his hands getting thrown around in emphasis, "STILL! I need to be told when someone we are working with gets out of line like that! ALSO.. What happened in Grandstiens office?"
"The man was not mad that we were there enjoying a meal with him. He was reprimanded because I was in the smelting room with him. He mentioned the governing officials are cracking down on the smelters. He also warned us that we should avoid meeting at the smelters entirely, just because the guards will throw anyone not supposed to be there in prison." I inform him.
"How in the hell did we not get searched? Leo scratches his head still pacing.
"Um.. Um.." I hesitate as I turn scarlet from embarrassment. "At the last second, Derek, he uh.... pushed me against the wall in a passionate embrace and acted as we were a couple that was stealing a moment.... It worked." I pathetically shrug, wishing to place my face in my cold box to reduce it's crimson heat.
Leo eyed me hard, a brow lifted, "Yes, it worked. Rather well I would say. His father is absolutely smitten with you. He was constantly assuring me that you'd make a wonderful daughter in law, who could keep his son in line. Are you SURE nothing is between you two? If there is not, you two work well together....."
Quickly, I cut off his train of thought because I know where he is going with this. "NO." I say firmly.
"There is nothing, and he mentioned to me before we left that he could not risk his families well being again. He'll collect his payment tomorrow from you, and that will be the end of that. Here..."
I pull out the pocket that holds our prize from tonight. Tossing it to Leo, who opens and inspects the contents I let him know, "The ingot, plus the slag from the ore. Not sure why he gave it to me yet but he did."
Leo starts laughing, holding up a piece of slag to show me, "Because there is a layer of Tungsten on the underside! We can sell the ingot for top amount of coin and sell the slag pieces too! We're going to be sitting pretty for a while my girl!" He begins dancing a little jig, grabbing my hands and making me dance along with him.
I was starting to feel light headed and had to stop him. "Leo! I'm going to faint, if you keep this up."
I giggle as I clutch my head, grateful that Leo slows down and releases me. "I am happy that this has turned out be more profitable to the cause, pity that we may have to wait a while until the government eases up on the surveillance of the smelters."
Leo puffs up proudly, "That's quite alright. We have been working on making our own small kiln to refine the ore ourselves. Now that winter is coming soon, we can stock up on the gas bottles to fuel the kiln, that way they can not see that we're using so gas at a location. That reminds me, once the fall weather starts every member of the cogs residing in the works district, is required to supply a bottle of gas. The gas is required, so we may stock up on enough fuel to fire the kiln when we need to refine ore. You will deliver it to me, Atwood's, or Wellsew's place. Make sure your name is marked and they write you a receipt. Failure to comply for anyone, will be fined one thousand gold."
My jaw drops in astonishment. "My Elemental! Why in the world is it so much?"
Leo grumbles, "We have too many members that have grown complacent since moving up into the works, refusing to do jobs, always unavailable to make it to our council meetings and that don't bother to collect the minutes so they know what is happening . The other members of the Cog's council and I feel that it is necessary to remind them that they should be grateful to help out in a small way, other wise we will make them repay our aid forcefully. The money would help us build our own businesses up to work our way into buying our place in the gilded district and then we can move into the next phase of our plans."
I nod, "Good, everyone should do what they can to further everyone to live better. However, why do we continue selling the opium? It seems to be growing into a problem for the works and undercarriage population becoming addicted to it, instead of the gilded. Should we stop investing in this as a means to raise money? It seems a bit redundant to hurt our own."
Leo gave me an unreadable expression, until he smiled, "I'll bring the point up with the council next time we meet up."
"Thank you, Leo. It is getting late, I should get home and rest." I inform him of my intentions.
Grinning like a little boy, he offers his arm to me. "I'll escort you to the lift." On our way, I notice we have an unseen escort of our men who are keeping an eye out for anything that may seem amiss. He leaves me in the alley outside Atwood's and we bid goodnight to each other.
I make it home, still moving cautiously, leaving a few snaps here and there along the way. I make it inside and put my mask and other things away, and climb the stairs. I'm soaking in a hot bath to take the fake scars off my face, letting them soften. I had tried to peel it off, but felt like I was going to rip my cheek off instead. The water is getting cold and I still have not been able to remove the majority of the fake scars.
I climb out and get dressed in my nightclothes and dressing gown, and prepare the kettle. I hope just dabbing it with boiling water will help remove the stubborn parts. I'm standing with a cloth at my mirror pouring a little of the boiling water on the cloth and hissing when the hot water touches an uncovered piece of my cheek.
*Knock-*knock*
'Who in their right mind is here at this hour?" I cover my cheek with the scalding hot towel and take a peak with the optical viewer and look outside.
It's Derek... 'What is he doing here? Should he not be at work still?'
I open the door and let him in. "Evening Derek, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you still be at work?"
Derek shakes his head, "No I'm only there for a few hours until the overnight crews come in. That's why no one else is normally there. I was not expecting Mr. Grandstien to show up. Is Leo upset? He won't screw me out of my cut, correct?" His concerns are reasonable, as I run them through my head before answering him.
"No, you'll get your money. He was more upset that you kissed me and I did not tell him. You were supposed to be a gentleman, Mr. Chambers." Remembering how we parted earlier, I can't help but avoid his gaze as I add. "I did not expect to see you again so soon though. Your parting words were rather forlorn."
Derek grunts in a passive tone, "Yes. I didn't expect it either. On my way home, I kept repeating the earlier scenario in my mind and I obviously let my anxiety cloud my judgement. Since you offered your friendship, who better to ask the questions I needed answers to?" He smiles and takes a second look at my face.
"Why are you clutching your cheek like that?" He comes over and I pull my hand away to show him the fake scars that are still stuck.
"Oh my... word..." He goes to take the towel and his eyes widen in shock. "OUCH! What are you doing?! Are you trying to make your self an actual burn victim?! This is too hot!" He scolds me, taking and tossing the hot towel away.
I gasp astounded at his actions. "It is not coming off! I was told hot water would remove it, After soaking in my bath, it was still refusing to come off my skin! So what should I do?" My hands are on my hips defending my actions, I can't let these stay on my face after all.
"Do you have any strong alcohol?" He ponders while clutching his chin, scratching his bearded throat in thought.
I huff, "Of course." I stomp to my icebox and pull out the strongest clear alcohol I have.
Derek opens the bottle and takes a whiff. "Whew! Yes, this will take the paint off the walls! Let me grab the towel..." He grabs the discarded towel and pours it directly onto the towel.
Motioning to the seat at the table he instructs, "SIT." He waits as I am not moving, so he adds exasperated, rolling his eyes. "Please, will you sit so I can help you, Rakara."
Reluctantly, I plop into the seat. "Hmph." I cross my arms, tilting my head so he can get a better view of my cheek.
"Oh, Stop. You're an adult, not a child." He scolds. "Although, I admit you are kind of cute when you are mad."
My mouth drops, appalled at his arrogant and brash admittance.
"Oh yes, keep your mouth open, it's helping stretch and thin the areas on the edge. We may be able to get this off you quicker than I thought." He rubs the edge of the scars with the alcohol soaked towel as I keep my mouth open. The sooner I get this off the better.
He works steadily at it, soaking the towel in alcohol some more, "Hold it there for a second." He moves the other chair closer and takes a seat, before leaning over and continuing.
We sit in silence as he continues to work on removing the scars from my skin.
He finally breaks the silence. "You know who ever did this is amazing. If I had not known better, I would have thought these were real too, like Mr. Grandstien did. You fooled him pretty good, you know. When you all had left and I went to let him know I was leaving, he stopped and talked a few minutes with me."
"He did, what about?" I ask carrying the conversation on.
Derek pulls lightly on a flap he has worked loose, making me hiss at him in pain. "Sorry, just checking. He felt remorse over your tears shed over his reaction to your face. He apologized to me and said you are a very beautiful woman, that it was a shame you had been scarred. He commended me for accepting a woman who was not perfect or considered undesirable because of incidents that were not within a persons control. "
"Wow. That must have gave your ego a boost."
Derek chuckles, "You are a brat sometimes. But. Yes, it did a little. Anyways, he asked me if I intended on marrying you and if I wanted, he could hire me on full hours for the night shift. If I liked it, he would move me to day shift once we were married."
"He did not!" I exclaim turning to look at him wide eyed and slack jawed.
Derek turns my face to continue work on my cheek. "Yes, he did." He laughs, "I thanked him for his thoughtfulness and told him that I would need to speak to my father first, since I help him by working during the day. If I work overnight, well I need to sleep sometime." He shrugs, pulling on the scars flap as he squeezes the alcohol into the seam where it connects to my face.
I realize something and inquire, my nose slightly upturned as I avoid his gaze. "You're losing sleep again, helping me too. Thank you."
Derek stops, I can feel his eyes boring holes into me as I continue to avoid his gaze.
He grunts, "It's not a problem." He pulls again and the fake scar comes free of my cheek. "See! All done." He hands me the remnants of the scar and even I feel slightly repulsed at the realistic look and feel of skin in my hand.
I feel my cheek, rubbing it lightly as it feels raw. Derek gets up and goes to my ice box, placing the towel in and adjusting the gas to freeze the towel. He pulls it out and hands it to me.
"This will help fade away the redness. When does Mr. Fairchild return?" He asks, still standing up, anxiously trying to find something so that he can stay longer.
"Tomorrow evening." I inform him, wincing at the cold.
"Oh.... I'm sure you are looking forward to his return. I shall take my leave, let you get your rest. Goodnight, Rakara." Derek's misery shows through the bleak smile he puts on display for me as I let him out.
"Goodnight, Derek." I lock the door, shaking my head as I turn off lights and go to bed.
'That poor man, I hope he finds someone.' I roll over and fall asleep, dreaming about Bav's arms around me.