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"Hm?" Sherry looked at Jake as she led them back out of the building. "Here," she shrugged. "We do get paid every month. Though, I suppose they haven't given you access to that, yet. We also pick up extra cash for random jobs from time to time. Most of that," she tossed a nod behind them, "was payment from a few recent jobs."

She fiddled with a bit of jewelry on her hand. "Don't worry about it, though. I don't really spend much money. Things only get expensive when you want fancy things."

Sherry was quiet for a moment. Then she looked at Jake, a contemplative smile on her face. "Because we're not dead yet."

She turned away, keeping and eye on the path in front of her. "I suppose some folks prefer not to focus on the fact that they might not be around long. Other folks might like to enjoy the time they have left. Either way, they want a few of the luxuries in life. Helps take the mind off things." She was shrugging an awful lot this evening.

"They don't pay us tons, so unless you end up behind a desk extorting people, you're not going to get rich being a hunter. But a little cash does make life easier. Especially when you need something done, like converting strange items into runic weapons." It was kind of neat, actually.

She stopped messing with the pretty things on her hand and raised her arms up above her head in a stretch. If she could have heard his thoughts, she might have told him she didn't consider the jewelry dressing up. She just liked it. The way it moved, the way it dangled. It made her feel....ok. So maybe it was dressing up.

Instead, she just finished her stretch. A nice, satisfying stretch. She was going to be so sore tomorrow. "I'm sure it'll all be worth it in the end. The climbing, the fighting, the burns and the money."

Sherry put her hands on her hips and turned to Jake. "You should sound a little happier," her tone was one of mock chastising. "We did really good today."

She stifled a yawn as they entered the dorm building. "Though I suppose we also did a lot, too. I don't know about you, but I have to get up early tomorrow." Meaning she was going to go relax and possibly fall asleep early. "See you the day after tomorrow." she said as they neared her room.

The next two days were going to seem really long.


-----

And they had. Armagnac did think being sore was a reason to slack on training, so they hadn't. But much of that training had been solo, which left a lot of time for thinking. She thought about a lot of things, not the least of which was the vial she'd left with the tech.

By the time afternoon rolled around on the second day, the anticipation was killing her. She'd gone back to her room after a morning filled with duty and training, but had only sat around for a few minutes before flipping her phone open.

Sherry, for her part was waiting for a response. She figured she'd give him a whole ten minutes before she went looking for him. Five before she would text him again.

Maybe three.

She'd been expecting her phone to buzz. Not for a loud thump! to suddenly come from the other side of her door. It nearly startled her out her chair.



"I know, I know," Sherry rolled her eyes as she moved to open the door. She hoped it was Jake. It better be Jake. She really didn't want to wait much longer. And if it wasn't Jake, then it would mean something she'd have to deal wit--

"Jake!" Her face lit up as she opened the door. "You got my message, then? Are you ready to go?" It was a silly question. He almost looked impatient.

She stepped into the hall and shut the door behind her. "Let's go."

Sherry was more or less used to Jake being quiet. She didn't mind it, but it was a little odd. Everyone else on the island was so chatty. Heck, even Armagnac could be chatty.

Still, she didn't mind the quiet walk back to the labs. They were rather quick about it, too, which probably helped her cope. She just really wanted to see what the techs had done with their items. (And her money. QQ )

"Alright," she said when they finally found their way back to the desk, "We're here for our stuff. Is it ready?"

The tech, luckily the same one as before, grinned. "Sure is! Hang on just a moment." He pushed a button, and another tech appeared from behind some door. The new tech placed two items on the counter, then disappeared again.

"What do you think?" The tech was grinning as he gestured to the items. It was pretty obvious which one belonged to who.

Sherry eyed the items before them. Wow. They....looked really different. Jake's tooth thing was a dagger, and her vial of liquid was now....a flask. A hip flask. It was kinda dainty, but still. Not quite what she had been expecting.

Armagnac's opinion was somehow not surprising.

Sherry reached out and picked up the flask. It was a nice steely-blue color, covered in the tell-tale runes. It was rather pretty. She was about to ask after the contents of the thing when Jake turned to leave.

"What?" Sherry stared after him for a second. That rude little--

"Hey! Made this for you, too," the tech from the back had returned. He was holding a small leather pouch out for Sherry. "Figured a lady didn't want to carry it her pocket and all."

"Oh, um, thanks," she accepted the pouch. Not in her pocket...but off of her belt, then? Really? She was going to look like a drunk. "Really, thanks. But, I gotta run, too."

"No problem." "Anything for a lifer!"

And then Sherry was off, running down the corridor after Jake.

"Where do you have to run off to in such a rush?" Luckily she caught up to the trainee before he'd gotten too far.