Shen and Astra

Li Shen

Age: 23

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

A young ex-triad who recently became a mercenary. Though he is new to the field, his prowess in combat is nothing short of professional and calculated, and despite his lack of experience, he has grown a reputation of doing good work for cheap. A somewhat introverted man, he is reserved and quiet, both during and outside of work, preferring to live an oddly ordinary personal life reading books and studying; a stark contrast to most mercenaries, whose lives are legendarily hedonistic.

Shen first caught the eye of Astra when she saved him on a job gone wrong. In lieu of money to repay her for his life, Shen offered Astra his assistance for a year to take on bigger contracts, agreeing to cede the majority of each payout to her. Thus began their partnership, and unintentionally, Astra became Shen's mentor in the field.

Astra Thomson

Age: 27

Hometown: London, England

Known as "The Red Fox" by many, Astra is a mercenary notorious for her abilities of infiltration and stealth. The cleanliness and quiet of her work are unmatched, and as a result, she demands top dollar for her services, mostly specializing in espionage, larceny, and assassination. Brash and dark-humored, Astra usually makes an abrasive first impression to most. Coupled with her line of work, her attempts at finding a relationship have been difficult, to say the least. Nevertheless, she still desires companionship, and opens up to those she holds close.

When Shen offered his partnership, Astra initially thought little of it; a rookie looking to ride her coattails. She had planned to end their deal early, but was impressed with his instincts and attention to detail at his young age, to the extent that he was an asset. Astra also found his politeness and introverted personality quite endearing, and she was intrigued by his contemplative life outside of work. Little did she know, however, that she would soon grow closer to him on a personal level as well...