She didn’t turn around when V entered the shop, as if she was expecting him. “Show me what you found,” she seemed to say as much to the magenta hued statue before her, also illuminated by candles at her altar for it. No crack about the porn from the last time. Both understood it came from Silverhhand, not V. She accepted the scan.
“A ring… huh,” she spotted. “I’ve seen these before. 3 metals involved, gold, silver, bronze. Hard to tell which this was in the light. Do you think this is an NPC or a regular character?” she tested.
“NPC. Found her standing inside a chair in front of a table in a restaurant off Sagan. Thing is, there were *2* of her, both standing in chairs not 15 feet from each other. I could tell one of the agents following me was calling in the anomaly, even though he spoke in code.
“Since I wasn’t their focus in the moment,” he continued, “I thought I could take advantage of the situation and go over and speak to Edward, who, *ahem*, just by chance was also in the area. Watching me of course, as I watched him before. The stalker had become the stalked. But the other agent following me turned around and gave me a knowing look as I was trying to leave, making sure that I knew he was also keeping watch while taking a lunch break. So no go on speaking with Edward. Couldn’t take the chance. And I still haven’t had that chance, Mysti, even 3 days after, let’s call it, The Switch.”
knowing look
“Hmm. All this stuff is fascinating, V, but I must tell you before we go any further that the woman — women — in the restaurant were not NPC’s — not really. I’ve seen them — her — before in another scan, just yesterday. Given to me by, get ready for it, Edward.”
“Edward??”
“The ring is a give away. I don’t recall any other woman wearing it in Nightsity. Only men wear the ring, V. Men of power whether they know it or not. This woman is special.”
He tried to figure this all out in the moment as Mysti continued staring with those deep, accepting eyes, as if she were trying to read his thoughts. And maybe she could, who knows? But all he kept thinking of was a snake swallowing its own tail, and that he should stop following this particular rabbit down its hole. He was looking too far, creating complexity when there was only the simple and open.
Mysti returned to her statue, seeming to seek answers there. After a moment; perhaps channeling the knowledge (the oracle speaks?):
“You must approach Edward and ask him why he is following you. Be kind to him. If you are not coercive then he will yield the answers you seek. This all ties back to Silverhhand and the Relic. He’ll tell you. If you’re nice.”
Sunklands 