Far Future Snippets - Recruitment Fail

With 14% of the vote, Broderick has won this month's Far Future Snippet vote. Another scenario that'll have to be broken down more in the game, as it's a bit too long for a mere 'snippet'.

The trailer door quietly squeaks open after another round of Merlin's polite knocking.

A tall man with auburn hair pulled back in a tiny ponytail peers out at the gathering of people clustered around the yard. His amber eyes narrow in suspicion as his gaze flits from person to person in the small crowd.

Merlin stands front and foremost smiling alluringly, Cassandra a few steps back with her service pistol amply on display, Gwen waves cheerfully from the side, you and Adrian hovering at the back of the pack as Lorelei looms menacingly over by the bushes with her gas-masked visage, while Percy is... crouched down doing something or other to the front stairs.

"Can I help you?" the newcomer asks in a tone of voice that makes it quite clear that the only proper answer is "No" and that he fully expects all of you to vacate the premises immediately.

The stranger's gaze once more rests upon the nominal leader of the group, and whatever he sees there makes his face darken even further with wariness.

"I know this may seem sudden, but we fear that your life may currently be in danger. Have you noticed anything strange happening around you lately?" Merlin says, sidling ever so slightly forward.

"What?" the newcomer replies, the door he holds sliding ever-so-slightly more shut. The dark eyebrow he raises while glaring around makes it clear to see that all of you are the strangest thing he's seen lately.

"Help! I've been kidnapped against my will by these people!" you helpfully add as Adrian, still hovering at your side, groans and rubs at his forehead. Oh, you'll give him a headache, all right!

"What?!" the newcomer repeats as he shuffles back, the open doorway narrowing even more.

"This is police business; may we come in?" Cassandra announces, holding up her badge at the exact same moment that Merlin says, "You must beware of anyone trying to gain access to your domicile."

Both of them pause and stare at each other.

"What... are you doing to my steps?!" the newcomer finally barks down at the squatting Percy, who continues assiduously digging into a patch of bare earth to the side of the doorway.

"Marked by the gremlins," Percy explains as he blinks innocently back up the man whose expression has been growing ever more thunderous during this entire exchange.

For a moment, the newest Harbinger merely scowls over at all of you, from arguing leaders to impromptu gardeners to those doing a smashing impression of a Friday the 13th stalker in the background. And then, with one last derisive snort, he slams the door shut in everyone's faces.

"Oh, this is a familiar feeling," Merlin says with a sigh.