Aylin didn't talk about where they came from. Indeed, they may as well have sprung up fully formed in the Barrel, and Jesper often made such remarks. There was a much darker truth, as there often was, but it scarcely mattered. Gathering information for the Dregs wasn't easy by any stretch, but Brekker paid well and kept them from going back to work at the Orchid. It was simple, they'd get their orders, go spy on whoever they needed to spy on, get the required information, and come back to collect their money.

   Simple, straightforward, and just what they needed to claw their way out of that hell they had the nerve to call a brothel.

   But besides the pay, what Aylin liked most about working with the Dregs was Brekker himself. Every part of him fascinated Aylin, from the gloves to the immaculately tailored suits to the cane. Saints, the cane.

   The attraction could potentially be an issue. Falling for notorious gang members had gotten them in deep shit before, and they weren't keen on repeating that. Not when the aftermath had brought them to the Orchid. Brought them to him.

   No, that wasn't important. Not anymore. They were out now, for the most part at least. They only had to go back to the Orchid to cover incidental expenses now. And as long as they dodged Rollins, it wasn't too hard to slip out after a few clients.

   Oh for fuck's sake. They kept thinking about it. About the Orchid, about Rollins, about everything that led them to Ketterdam. Why did they keep thinking about it? Hadn't they moved on with life? No, it was still too fresh. The wounds were still bleeding, and nobody was there to help bandage them.

   "Hey. You." Aylin jumped as Jesper waved a hand in front of their face, "You alive?"

   Aylin sighed and downed another shot. "Just reflecting on the sad state of my life. You?"

   "Much the same, I'm afraid. Kaz chased me away from the card tables, and I'm not quite sure what I'm to do now." Jesper sat next to him, ordering a drink.

   "How about your job?"

   Jesper made a scene of pretending to think about it before shaking his head, "Nah, the door'll be fine,"

   "Mhm." Aylin tried to shoot Jesper their best "disappointed mother" face, but was quickly distracted by familiar movement on the balcony. Brekker.

   The moment they locked eyes with him, they knew they were on for a job. Brekker nodded, and then gestured toward his office. "Duty calls." Aylin stood up, sliding their last shot over to Jesper. It'd be in his best interest to be as sober as possible.

   Going up to Brekker's office was as nerve wracking as ever. It almost reminded them of getting called into their father's office as a child, but they stopped themself before they could solidify that comparison. Brekker was far more merciful.

   He was sitting at his desk, doing a bit of paperwork when Aylin came in, a carefully neutral expression on his face. "Are you up for another job?" He asked, not looking up.

   "I am. What do you need?"

  Brekker stood up, "This job is a bit different. I need you to retrieve something for me." He handed Aylin an envelope, presumably containing an address. "It's a small wooden box, with a tree engraved in white. Shouldn't be hard to miss,"

  Aylin raised an eyebrow, "Wouldn't you normally send Inej on this sort of mission?"

   "I would. However, she's on another mission at the moment and won't be back until sunrise tomorrow,"

   Great. "Alright then. I'll be back as soon as possible." Aylin turned to leave the room, pausing when they heard Brekker's voice behind them.

   "Be cautious,"

   They were taken a little aback. In the month they had been collecting information, slowly entering the orbit of the Crows, they had never heard him warn anyone directly. It was always "the mission will be dangerous" or "don't be an idiot, Jesper" but this...

   No. No, Aylin wasn't going to fall for the fucking Bastard of the Barrel. Not now, not later, not ever. They nodded back at Brekker before turning again and almost aggressively marching out the door.

   This was just another payday. Nothing more.