This is my fifth entry for OQ Book Week. Enjoy, and let me know what you think!

Seb surveyed the room around him. The crew Gold had put together was a motley bunch, himself included. The only people in this upper room of the Fox's Den were himself, Gold, Belle, Regina, and the Sherwoodian convict they had just rescued. And for some reason that Seb had yet to deduce, the last member of their crew was a fresh-faced young man about Seb's age who to the sharpshooter had always looked like he was going to run back to wherever he had come from the minute a gun was trained on him. With the backdrop of dark, peeling walls and chipped furniture, Seb had never seen someone who looked more out of place.

To be honest, Seb was a little surprised that Gold had picked him for the mission. He looked remarkably like Regina's convict, so much so that they could easily pass as brothers. Seb likely had his superior shooting abilities to thank for his escape from being Robin's replacement. Yes, Graham looked enough like him that Regina hadn't needed to do a lot of Tailoring, but Seb was the spitting image of the freed prisoner, so his reprieve from Hellgate meant that he would be vital to whatever task lay ahead.

Gold updated them on their objective: freeing a prisoner from the Pine Court. The Pine Court? Seb observed the reactions of his fellow conspirators and smirked. They appeared concerned- particularly the man whose former home they would be infiltrating- but Seb took it all in stride. While his mother had once told him that he had a heart of gold, his true talents lay in not only boldly facing the unknown, but being ready to face any danger that came his way.

Sure enough, Robin's reaction was priceless, but his manner was still calm and collected, just as Seb had imagined it would be. His demeanor was that of a disciplined soldier, but his ire was still palpable, permeating the room as his voice shook, his eyes blazing with fury. "You want me to break into the place that was my home? Do you have any idea how impossible that is? And there's no way I can do it. I won't betray my country, my brothers, like that."

"We need you, Locksley," Gold barked. "There is a way into the Pine Court. There always is. And only you can help us find it. Think of the reward."

The former prisoner shook his head and scoffed. "There is no way you're getting me to help you break into the Pine Court. Especially if you expect me to work with her," he added, his glare now fixed on Regina.

"Depending on the plan we come up with, you may not have to, dearie," Gold reminded him. "But the success of that plan relies on you telling us what you know. Starting with when we should attempt to infiltrate this supposedly impenetrable fortress."

"We need to go during the Festival of the Trees- it's coming up soon, after all," Regina offered. Seb saw Robin glare at her. Clearly, the Heartrender knew something about Sherwood Forest that the rest of the renegades did not. Which made sense, Seb supposed. The Grisha were sworn enemies of the leones. If anyone knew intricate details about their customs, it would be Regina. However, he was sure that that knowledge was biased, given the history between the Enchanted Forest and Sherwood Forest. Due to the fact that he had come to Neverland from Fillory, he was unfamiliar with the customs and annual celebrations of either country.

"The Festival Trees is a sacred ceremony," Robin muttered. "I will not allow you and your thieving friends to desecrate such a holy tradition."

Seb glanced at Gold. Of all of them, he was perhaps the closest to the tight-lipped criminal mastermind, and as such, only he, Belle, and perhaps Regina, judging by her expression- were able to identify Gold's scheming face. And Seb decided to call him out on it. "I know that face, Gold. What are you planning?"

Instead of answering Seb's question, Gold directed an inquiry of his own at Robin. "Dignitaries from every nation visit the Pine Court for the festivities, am I correct?"

"Of course," Robin responded. He frowned. "Why do you ask, exactly?"

"Because of the layout of the Pine Court," Gold said so matter-of-factly that Seb wondered just how far his resources and knowledge reached. To him, it seemed limitless- but that was what happened when he had Belle as his informant. "There's the prison, the leones compound, and an embassy sector, correct?"

Robin scowled, a clear indication to Seb that once again, Gold was right. Seb knew that Belle was Gold's investigator, but he often wondered exactly how Gold managed to deduce the bits of information that Belle didn't uncover for him. He and Gold were alike in some ways, but Seb had to admit that he could never be as cruel and calculating as Gold often was. He would happily go into a room with guns blazing, but he had a capability for compassion that the leader of their group lacked.

And speaking of compassion… Seb glanced over at the fresh-faced newbie Gold had asked him to recruit months ago. Yes, Eliot had gifts, but Seb also suspected that he would back out at the first sign of danger. He had never been on a job before, so why Gold wanted him for this critical mission, Seb had yet to figure out. He knew that he could use cash, that he was a bottom-tier worker in one of Neverland's factories who had just started to move his way up, but how he was critical to the mission, Seb had yet to determine.

"Okay, so now that our insider is giving us information, none too willingly," Gold began. "It's time to determine what our plan will be. The entrances to the government and leones sectors will be guarded very closely, but the prison sector will not. So that's our point of entry. You can draw, correct?" he asked, his gaze swiveling to look at another member of their party.

Eliot nodded. "I can."

"Good. Then I need you and Locksley to get to work so we can finalize details," Gold ordered.

That's it? He was just the mapmaker? Seb couldn't take it anymore. He walked over to Gold and, conscious of Eliot's feelings, whispered. "Why is he even here, Gold? Surely, we need more than just a mapmaker."

"We do," he agreed, louder than Seb had intended. "He's our insurance. Everyone, meet Eliot Waugh."

Seb was shocked. The newbie was Waugh's son? No wonder he was so sheltered and timid about the things that Seb took in stride: as a merch's son, he would have never been exposed to the rougher crowd that inhabited the back streets and alleys of Neverland. His fresh face, his innocence, they all pointed to this outcome, and Seb couldn't believe he hadn't seen it sooner. He certainly spent enough time around Eliot, had been the one Gold sent to recruit him to the Foxes on Gold's orders- and now, Seb knew why. As much as he hated to admit it, having a merch's son would come in handy, especially this particular merch's son. And he couldn't help taunting him about it. "Now I see why Gold wanted me to recruit you."

"Watch what you say, Seb," Gold chastised him. "You may regret those words, as you'll likely be working with him, depending on the plan we devise. You two are the best demolitions experts we have."

Properly chastised, but never one to cower to authority, Seb merely glared at Gold, an action that was echoed on Gold's part. Neither of them was one to back down from a challenge.

"We'll reconvene once Eliot's made the map of the Pine Court," Gold stated. "In the meantime, everyone needs to stock up on any materials they think they might need."

Instead of following orders, though, as Gold, Belle, and Regina exited the room, Seb approached where Robin and Eliot were making the map. He was always a firm believer in having more than enough ammunition, so he likely had everything he needed already. Anything else, he would need to discover from Eliot's map eventually, and the sooner, the better.

As he approached them, he observed the contrast between the two. Like him, Robin had short dark blonde hair and deep blue eyes. If Seb didn't know better, he would have said they were identical twins. But he had an edge about him that Robin lacked. Or perhaps he didn't, it was just different, the hardness born of a soldier's battles instead of someone who sought the thrill of a life in Neverland.

Eliot, in contrast, had long chestnut hair that was held back in a ponytail. His thin frame was a contrast to Robin's muscular stature. Unlike both Robin and Seb, he was all softness, his wiry frame no deterrent to curves born of a life as a merch's son. His eyes demonstrated his gentle nature as well, filled with a kindness not often found in this area of Neverland- or anywhere nearby, if Seb was being honest.

At last, the plans were complete, and the group reconvened. "All right, so the prison gate is the only one always functioning. The other two are determined on a rotating schedule that guards are given the night before," Robin told them. Seb could see his reluctance in his hunched shoulders and narrowed eyes. They would need to watch him- he could give them false information, just so he could double cross them later. "There's a checkpoint before each gate-"

"Two," Eliot interrupted. "My father and I went there a couple of years ago for an important meeting he had. There were two checkpoints at each gate before we were permitted inside the embassy."

Gold's face contorted into the closest thing Seb had ever seen to a smile on his face. "I knew you had value, merchling. He's watching you, Locksley."

The soldier sighed. "Fine. Four checkpoints, two at each gate. After that, you're in. I'm assuming you want the mechanics of the gates?" he asked, glaring at Gold.

Their leader crossed his arms. "Of course."

"I don't know much about them. But I do know that what you'll want to avoid is Black Protocol. Every sector shuts down, with no one being able to cross between sectors or go in or out of the Pine Court."

"Avoid Black Protocol, got it," Gold mused, surveying Eliot's sketches. "And don't you mean 'we,' Locksley? You're coming on this job too, after all." Without waiting for an answer, he started laying out their plan. "I was right, we'll enter through the prison and exit through the embassy, since no one will be looking at someone exiting the compound. Where are they most likely holding Jones?"

The former soldier pointed at the map. "There. He's likely being housed on the Green Island, in the center of the compound. It's reserved for high-security prisoners, as well as the treasury."

Gold nodded. "Then we enter through the prison and make our way to the Green Island."

"How are we going to enter the prison, dressed as guards?" Eliot asked.

Seb smacked his forehead. With the merchling as their ally, they were never going to get very far. "That's a recipe for disaster. We may as well gift wrap ourselves and turn ourselves in before we even start."

"He's right," Gold informed them. "No, we'll enter as what we are- criminals- then make our way to the Green Island."

Seb looked around him at his fellow conspirators. Some, like Regina and Eliot, seemed apprehensive, while others- namely himself and Gold- were self-assured, confident. Only Robin was the cloud of the group, ready to ruin any plans they may have of making it out of the Pine Court alive.

"You're dead," he muttered. "We all are."