Peppercorn felt her eyes widening at the sudden show of violence. Most definitely, she had stepped herself and the shop into some very murky waters here.

When Navarre turned round, she made a point of putting on a very amicable expression, one somewhere between appreciation and disapproval for ...

Peppercorn's eyes grew wide. Was this the first sign of something bad coming from her rash decision? It was far too soon for that. Wasn't it?

"I have no idea, Lady. Perhaps, we should go find out what the problem is," and Peppercorn is already heading for the door of the shop with a wave at Karrion ...

Peppercorn nodded and waved an arm at the posts near the front entrance of the shop. "Be my guest, please. Just be sure they don't obstruct the view into the shop," with her own overly cordial smile. Peppercorn could play that game too. In fact, she knew how to play a lot of games.

"In response to ...

Peppercorn nodded her head, but she kept a firm expression on her face. She was used to doing business, used to getting what she wanted, what she needed. "It isn't so much Lars himself that I'm worried about but those who might try - foolishly - to defend his honor. Magic users," she said the word ...

As Lars walked away, that twinge of guilt became a knife of fear in Peppercorn's gut. What, exactly, had she just done? The look on Lars' face had been clear. She had certainly destroyed their working relationship. First, that meant she now had to find a new tanner to fill in where his shipments had ...

Peppercorn was trying very hard not to glare at Lars now, as he suddenly turned "business-like" again. As if he was still going to shove his nose in this and come out on top. He really was a stupid gnome, wasn't he? Or, perhaps, he just didn't understand what a bad situation he was in. This wasn't ...

Peppercorn couldn't be bothered to look up at the Lady, searching for just the right invoice. Of course it was true that many of them showed how she had "adjusted" prices on Lars. Paid less for given aspects of a shipment because she was due a discount from an overcharge last shipment. This was to ...

Peppercorn was just itching for this chance. She'd have to replace the accounts from Lars after this, she had no doubt. But, frankly, it'd be well worth the replacement.

She laughed at the Lady's comment. "Often? I'll say. Practically every time I have dealings with him, he's back in my shop trying ...

Peppercorn nodded at the Lady, feeling like this definitely was her chance to bump the shop up in pro-government stance.

"You don't need to tell me twice about the problems on these streets," she shot eyes to the woman's weapon, to Lars, back to the Lady. "In fact, I could tell you all about the ...

Peppercorn turned to face the Lady Navarre, now waving Karrion away from the counter. He nodded at her, and sliding the knife into a holder on his hip - not back under the counter where it'd come from - he moved back into the background of the shop and set to work on the leather he'd been working ...

"No idea who you are," Peppercorn snapped the paper from the woman who thought she was going to come into her shop and throw some weight around for the short people of town, apparently, "but I'll deal with Lars and you can stand over there if you don't mind kindly." Her hand waved flippantly toward ...

Karrion was on the brink of having none of this. He set the knife clearly on the counter now, as if to say, "I'm not afraid to use that if I have to, jackass." This, naturally, was directed mostly at Lars. But, it wasn't outside of reason to assume it might also still be aimed at this new bodyguard ...

So, Eirene and I have got a thread going in the Downtown section called Business Interrupted. Currently, its just a fight between two NPCs but the plan is to stir up some tension and then throw some rebellion accusations around. If anyone on the government side of the rebellion issue wants to start ...

Karrion's eyes shifted from Lars to the woman talking to him, though his hand didn't move from the knife. The message clearly sent: you aren't intimidating me. His face, growing red, showed that his intent was to stand behind that message, too.

"Ah well, the blade's more about my defense against ...

Karrion was shaking his head, now, with a real confidence. His eyes were flashing with a temper that, until now, he hadn't let show. It was slipping. Lars was being pretty damn gusty today. Gutsier than he usually was. Out of line gutsy, you could say. Slap Karrion in the face gutsy. He'd had just ...