"Alright. Works for me. That'll give me time to work on people, and get in proper contact with my friend. Let's say, next Monday, around this same time? Does that work for you?"

"I'll see you then."

Scott takes his leave.

She spends the week talking to the dock workers, trying to get them to see that they have a common cause with the Clay Men. It's difficult, what seems to her unusually slow - many of them have dug in their heels. Still, she makes some progress, and does manage to contact her philanthropist friend, Lianne.

Eventually the time for the meeting rolls around.

Scott does what he can to talk the Clay Men around. They're willing to listen, but stubborn and slow to change. They want a more unambiguously cooperative ally, and he can't promise yet that the dock workers will be one.

He attends the meeting, as discussed.

She's there as promised, and it's not just her - there's a blonde woman somewhere in the vague area of her twenties leaning against one wall. 

"Hello. It's nice to see you again. And meet you for the first time. I'm Scott."

"Hi Scott. I'm Lianne Arrington. Sarah told me something about the situation, but not much."

"I'm apparently becoming an ambassador between the Clay Men and the docks. I was hoping we could all work together before things get worse."

"Yeah, from what I've heard the situation is bad. I can get some of the society types behind some changes if I burn enough favors, I think. I can interface with the Masters if it becomes necessary, I've done them favors before, too."

"Hopefully we don't need to resort to that. Call in any other favors you have. Otherwise, I think we're risking all-out war."

"Yeah. Anything in particular you're looking for?"

"I'm hoping we can find some reason for everyone to work together, but it's not like we can make up a crisis that affects both groups. I was hoping we could brainstorm."

"It's clear in my head why both sides should band together. Increased negotiating power's a big one."

"It's not much of a help if they want different things. Do you think they have the same goals?"

"Better pay, better working conditions, limits on how long you can be required to work, compensation in case of injury - I'd figure those are fairly basic."

"Those are basic. Is that enough for your people?"

"It's where we're starting."

"The Clay Men can handle working with the dockers, but they're not so great with negotiation. If I'm the person representing them, I'm going to need concrete evidence that your people are invested. I'm not sure what works best. If one of you shows up in a show of good faith, maybe."

"Shows up where?"