Face Forward, Gaze Back (Squad 5 Assignment)

[Rozalin Kendal]

"Mhmm." Her lips quirked at the comparison, his disbelief not surprising. "An expensive table in my case, but yes. Or a well-collared cat."

[Preston Salabim]

"How much do you cost?"

His face scrunched up as he tried to run some calculations.

[Rozalin Kendal]

"Last I knew? Two thousand dollars." The thought about being owned left a bitter taste in her mouth before she ever spoke them. She noticed his expression, eying him like a cornered canary.

"You're lucky I like you. Most girls don't like that kind of question."

[Preston Salabim]

"Is that all? Well, where is the Captain? I'll buy you right now and let you tear up the contract. I'd rather have a partner who is free to focus on mutual ambition than worrying over some silly little man who thinks people are furniture."

[Rozalin Kendal]

"Is that all?" She blinked, staring at him. Is that all? Really? His explanation surprised her, as well. Though the idea of referring to the Captain as a silly little man was amusing. She wasn't entirely what to sure what to make of a man who was just casually offering to buy her. While she didn't expect him to use that contract, it just felt off.

Somehow, she managed to find her voice, though not after hearing Ari whistling in her head. She winced and tried to think of how much time had passed since she'd arrived.

"This time of year, he's probably back along the coast of Territory 235."

[Preston Salabim]

"So he'd be to the south."

He'd nod slowly to himself.

"Okay, we can do that as a side trip first. Let's go tell Leon that we are going to take care of conflicting obligations that may keep you from your duty at Cabal. And by sorting it out we can be a more efficient and effective unit. Sound good?"

[Rozalin Kendal]

"Correct." The conversation felt like she was watching it through a window while Preston talked with someone else. He was actually serious. This was actually happening. He was talking about it as if it would be a simple walk in the park, though for him, it might be.

"Sounds good." She shook the cloud from her mind. It was true enough; she'd thought the captain would have caused trouble before now, but so far there had been nothing.

"You're actually serious about this?"

[Preston Salabim]

"Have I lead you to believe that I'd joke about something like this?"

[Rozalin Kendal]

"No." She laughed, the sound cracking, but also more relaxed. "Not at all. It's just very surreal. The man's owned me since I was a child and now, in a place I never wanted to be, that I fought so hard not to be found by or dragged to, there's a chance for me to lose that shackle."

[Preston Salabim]

"Not a chance. If we find him I'll purchase the contract and you'll rip it up in front of him if you want. And if we can't find him, then who cares. It means he is nowhere near your life and you can do what you want."

[Rozalin Kendal]

He wasn't wrong.

"Alright then. Let's go talk to Leon."

[Preston Salabim]

He'd walk with her back to the main campus and to Leon's office where he'd knock on the door politely!

"Sir, is this a good time?"

[Leon]

"Enter"

Would be the slightly stern response to the knock. Once inside they would find a coffin in the middle of the room, with chains, and Qi chains. Leon himself was sitting at his desk, elbows on the top with his face resting in his hands. He was obviously stressed, or thinking fairly hard about what was going on.

"What can I do for you Squad Five?"

[Preston Salabim]

He'd enter. An eyebrow-raising at the sight, and some of the components around the coffin. Someone was casting a spell. Interesting. But not what he was here for.

"We are requesting a temporary leave. My partner has business outside of Cabal that could affect her performance here and by extension my performance. We desire to resolve said issue quickly so that we may return to our duties at full functionality."

[Rozalin Kendal]

Well that was interesting. Rozalin raised a brow at the coffin and chains, but otherwise didn't comment, arms folding over her chest as Preston ran through the basics of what they needed. She had no desire to go pressing into Leon's business, or personal or otherwise.

For once, she was more accepting of someone speaking for her, though it did make her eye twitch. Still, her partner kept the explanation vague, about as much as she would have told Leon herself, if not a little more than that.

She waited for Leon's response with an almost bored expression.