They really should have hated the damp and grime of Ketterdam's streets. The way it always seemed to be dark, illuminated only by the hellish glow of brazier fires and the candlelit windows of clubs. Indeed, from the far off observer it would look as though the city were on fire. Aylin should have hated it.

   But when have they ever done what they should?

   Not once.

   No, Aylin quite liked Ketterdam. It was a much needed change of pace from the woods and fields of Ravka. Here in this city they had no face. They were part of the crowd, set apart from everyone else only by their half Zemeni heritage. And even that was only if you squinted.

   In any case, Aylin liked the relative anonymity of living in a large city. It was a nice change of pace from-

   They ran headfirst into some poor woman at the marketplace. They really needed to stop internally monologuing while moving through a crowded space, but that was neither here nor there. Most of the woman's face was shrouded by a hood, but Aylin briefly caught a glimpse of nervous hazel eyes before she looked down, "I'm sorry-"

   Aylin shook their head, "Don't worry about it,"

   The woman gave him another cursory glance, and her eyes widened. "No, I- oh, I spilled my lamp oil on you-"

   They smelled the lamp oil soaking their tunic before they ever looked down to see. But sure enough, it was there. They considered for a brief moment, they'd have to backtrack- almost the whole way back to the Crow Club- in order to go home and change, but it's not like they had a better option. And besides, they had only promised Brekker to be back as soon as possible. "It's alright, I'll just go home and change," They reassured the woman, who honestly looked as if she were about to pass out.

   She nodded, "Right. Of course,"

   The oil on their shirt was getting uncomfortable by now, but this poor soul really did look out of place and scared. "Is it your first time in the city? You look nervous,"

   She nodded, "I don't often have a reason to come into cities,"

   "Figured as much." Aylin stretched out their hand, offering it to the woman, "The name's Aylin,"

   She hesitated a moment before shaking it, "Ana-" she cut herself off and paused, like she was going to say more before deciding against it, "Ana,"

   "Well then, Ana, hopefully I'll catch you before you slip out again?"

   "Perhaps," She said, slipping back into the crowd.

   Odd things certainly seemed to be occurring more than usual, but Aylin always liked that. It meant adventure was ahead.

   It really didn't take them that long to change. It was just a matter of quickly scrubbing off the oil that had seeped through the old shirt onto their skin and then putting a new one on. The old shirt would be a bitch to clean, but maybe they just wouldn't bother. They never really liked that one anyway. They simply tossed it in the laundry bin and left again, heading for the address Brekker had written for them.

   They grew more cautious as they drew nearer to the building. It looked secure, and as they realized that their best bet would be to go in through the roof, they began to wish that Brekker had just waited for Inej to come back from whatever she was doing.

   Aylin was no Wraith, but their time sneaking out of a well guarded mansion had prepared them for scaling walls with at least some stealth and success. They were up on the roof and gazing down into a skylight before they could get second thoughts about climbing up that high. Okay. The skylight seemed to look down into the exact room they wanted. Three guards, all facing away from the box. Fuck.

   They'd just have to throw caution to the wind and go down. If they had to fight, they'd better fight fiercely. They lowered themself in, somehow managing to remain unseen.

   And there was the box. Aylin carefully plucked it from its pedestal before realizing they had no real way out. They glanced back, spotting a window. Wonderful. Now, if they were quiet...

   "Stop!" A guard had turned around at the exact wrong moment.

   Shit. Aylin wracked their brain trying to come up with a way to end this without fighting. "Oh... did they forget to tell you? I'm the new maintenance boy," Yes. Perfect.

   "Maintenance?"

   "Well yes, this is an artifact room is it not?"

   The guard blinked. "Yes..?"

   "Well somebody's got to take care of the artifacts, otherwise they fall apart and get all tarnished and dirty. And believe me, nobody wants that." Aylin put the hand not holding the box on their hip.

   "Right,"

   These guards must be well and truly dim. "Right. Now you watch the door and let me do my job,"

   "Right, yes of course. My apologies." The guard and his buddies returned to their post, leaving Aylin a clear shot at the window.

   Even as they ducked and weaved through the alleys and backroads of Ketterdam, they marveled at how a man who could afford an artifact room couldn't shell out for some decently perceptive guards. Whatever.

  They did their job.